September 2017 RGSQ Bulletin ISSN 1832-8830 Vol 52 no 8 Published by The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc., a not-for-profit organisation established in 1885 that promotes the study of geography and encourages a greater understanding and enjoyment of the world around us. Patron: H.E. Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland President: Professor James Shulmeister From the President Annual General Meeting - September 19, 2017 ear members, on the weekend of the 13th-14th August, I attended the 90th anniversary of the Geographical Society of Notice of Meeting New South Wales (GSNSW). A big thank you to Phil DMcManus (the GSNSW President) for the invitation. The event was Notice is hereby given to members of the Society that the 2017 Annual held in MacLaurin Hall at the University of Sydney. It was a great General Meeting of The Royal Geographical Society of Queensland Inc evening and I congratulate them on their achievement. What struck will be held: me was how different our respective societies are. The GSNSW at “Gregory House”, 237 Milton Road, Milton, Brisbane seems to be solidly based in academia with most members either on Tuesday, the 19th of September 2017, commencing at 7:40 pm. academics or students. As such, a direct comparison to RGSQ is of The business to be transacted at the meeting is: limited value as the RGSQ is not, and should not become, a primarily (i) to receive the Council’s Report and the Statement of Income and academic organisation. What it does have some value for, though, is Expenditure, Assets and Liabilities of the Society for the year 1st in how to attract and retain student members, as that is clearly a July 2016 – 30th June 2017. focus and forte of the NSW Society. Happily, the ideas are not far (ii) to receive the Auditor’s Report in respect of the year 1st July from what we have been planning and I am keen to trial a couple of 2016 – 30th June 2017. these events in the near future. One event is an evening of talks for (iii) to appoint the Auditor in respect of the year 1st July 2017 – 30th Geography graduate students with a prize for the best presentation June 2018. and the possibility of running one for geography students across the (iv) to elect members of the Council. Brisbane area, as GSNSW does for at least the greater Sydney area, is worth investigating. Explanatory Notes The president of the RGSA (Rod Shearing) was also an invitee and the event gave us a chance to chat about the respective societies. Business items (i) – (iii) Their Society is quite similar to ours and we had a good discussion Material supporting these items (Council’s Report and the Financial on the opportunities and challenges we face. We agreed that more Reports, including the Auditor’s Report,) will be available for those cooperation between our societies would be good and Rod Shearing attending the meeting, and will be added to the Society’s website has proposed that all the societies work more closely together to following the meeting. provide a unified voice for Geography or at least Geography Business item (iv) Election of Members of the Council Societies in Australia. I think it is an excellent idea and hope that we Under the Rules of the Society, all Councilors retire from office each year, can progress this. and a new Council is elected by members. The Society Rules provide for As per usual we have a packed schedule coming up. Our monthly a Council of thirteen (13) members. Any member may nominate (and be lecture is on “18th Century publications in the wake of Cook’s seconded) for election as a Councilor, and nominations can be lodged at Endeavour voyage: rare holdings in Queensland Collections" which any time up to the commencement of the meeting. For a copy of a will be given by Simon Farley, Fryer Librarian, at the University of Nomination Form, please contact us at [email protected]. The functions Queensland. The historical theme will be maintained when our own of a Councilor are set out in a document ‘Role Description – Councilors’, Executive Officer Bernard Fitzpatrick gives the 3rd Sunshine Coast which can be obtained from the Executive Officer, or any current lecture in our 2017 series. It is on ‘Gympie Gold and Queensland’ or Councilor. The following current members of the Council have re- how Gympie saved the early Queensland colony. It is on September nominated for election to the Council for 2017 (and positions where indicated): 26th at the University of the Sunshine Coast and I encourage you to come along. There are trips to the Tramway Museum and the Bob Abnett, Paul Broad, Iraphne Childs (Vice President), Tony Hillier, Boondall Wetlands as well as the usual Map and Library Group Margaret Keates (Vice President), Margaret McIvor, John Nowill, Leo meetings. Scanlan, Jamie Shulmeister (President), Chris Spriggs (Treasurer). Finally, the AGM is coming up soon. The society has had a Jen Carter, current RSGQ member, has nominated for election for 2017 successful year with some great treks and activities, a variety of Council as well. active specialist groups, a very good lecture series and the development of a Sunshine Coast branch, as well as our ongoing commitment to the Australian Geography Competition. We have AGM Format ambitions to do even more than we currently do, especially in • 6:45 pm – 7:15pm: Pre-meeting drinks and nibbles. There will international travel. We also have some big issues in train including be a number of displays of RGSQ activities (e.g. Map Group) constitutional change, and the need to look closely at our premises, around the auditorium and members involved in the activities with a view to either substantially refurbishing or possibly moving. will be happy to chat about their special geographical interest; Our success (or otherwise) comes down to the commitment of our • 7:15pm - 7:40pm: Short (25 minute) Lecture by Bernard members – that means you. Please consider standing for Council. Fitzpatrick on “Gympie Gold and Queensland”; Council benefits from new and enthusiastic members. There will be some free positions as a few members of Council have indicated that • 7:40pm - Annual General Meeting; they do not wish to continue. If you want to nominate you need to do • Members’ Forum on Society’s future directions; th • Tea, coffee and light supper. so by September 14 . Jamie Shulmeister, President “Gregory House”, 237 Milton Road, Milton Qld 4064 www.rgsq.org.au Tel: (07) 3368 2066, Fax: (07) 3367 1011 Email: [email protected] In 2017, the Fryer Library acquired a copy of Sydney Parkinson’s Journal WELCOME NEW MEMBERS of a Voyage to the South Seas published posthumously in 1773. This We have much pleasure in welcoming Mr Robert Manktelow copy was once owned by Sir Everard Home, Professor of Anatomy and Surgery at the Royal College of Surgeons. and Mr Long Cheng as new members. We hope your This presentation will focus on rare books relating to James Cook’s association with your new Society is long and mutually Endeavour voyage collected in Queensland and acquired by Queensland enjoyable. institutions including the John Oxley Library and the Fryer Library. RGSQ COUNCIL CONTRIBUTORS President: Jamie Shulmeister Bob Abnett SEPTEMBER LECTURE ON THE SUNSHINE COAST Vice Presidents: Dal Anderson Iraphne Childs Simon Farley “Gympie Gold and Queensland” Iraphne Childs Bernard Fitzpatrick Secretary: Margaret McIvor Peter Griggs by Bernard Fitzpatrick, the Royal Geographical Society of Treasurer: Chris Spriggs Audrey Johnston Councillors: Bob Abnett John McWatters Queensland Ron Owen Tue September 26, 7:15 pm – 9 pm Paul Broad Kay Rees Tony Hillier Graham Rees at the University of the Sunshine Coast Margaret Keates Leo Scanlan John Nowill Rob Simson Special RGSQ Lecture organised in association with the Leo Scanlan Jamie Shulmeister University of the Sunshine Coast. Kathryn Scott Venue : Lecture Theatre 2 For a map of the USC, visit: http://www.usc.edu.au/media/3303/uscmap_brochure_web.pdf LECTURE OF THE MONTH “ ithin ten years of becoming an independent colony of the 18th Century Publications in the wake of Cook’s British Empire in 1859, the Colony of Queensland was in Endeavour voyage: rare holdings in Queensland financial hardship. In January 1867, the Queensland W Government responded by announcing a reward for the ” Collections discovery of a new gold field. In a gully to the east of the Mary River, James Nash discovered alluvial by Simon Farley, Manager UQ Fryer gold in September 1867. On registering the find in Maryborough in Library October 1867 a rush to the new gold field began. A settlement, later named Gympie, sprang up along the small watercourse. Gympie would become known as “the town that saved Queensland” and Tue September 5, 7:30 pm “Gregory gold continued to be mined in the Gympie area until the 1920s. Gympie House” has become the regional centre of the Mary River Valley agricultural district and in 2016, the Local Government Area contributed around two 237 Milton Rd, Milton billion dollars to the Queensland economy. The presentation follows the progress of the Mary River Valley region from its golden days in the mid he discovery in 2016 of what is believed to be the scuttled wreck of to late 1800s. HMS Endeavour at the bottom of Rhode Island Harbour reminds us Presenter T today of legendary map-maker and navigator Captain James Bernard Fitzpatrick is a geographer with a strong interest in regional Cook’s three epic voyages to the South Seas, between 1768-1779. His geography. Since 1980 he has worked in the areas of cartography, first Pacific voyage (1768-1771) was aboard the Endeavour.