North Shore Historical Society Inc. PO Box 399 North Sydney NSW 2059

Email: NorthShoreHS@Hotmail.com ABN 58 742 490 986

Secretary ph: 9929 6637 President ph: 9450 1552

BULLETIN for June 2014

NEXT MONTHLY MEETING - Thursday 12 June 2014 will be held in the 2nd floor conference room, Stanton Library, Miller St, North Sydney.

Light refreshments are served from 6.30pm prior to the meeting commencing at 7.00pm.

VALE - Phyllis Geoghegan

It is with great sadness I report the death of Phyllis Geoghegan on Saturday the 3rd of May 2014.

Phyllis joined the Society in 1978 and for 12 years was our Secretary (1987 -1999).

During her years with the Society, Phyllis worked tirelessly on the Committee and behind the scenes and

was always looking for positive ideas to benefit the organisation. Her dedication, perseverance and

recordkeeping, particularly while she was Society Secretary still remains a valued legacy.

In 1997 Hazel Hawke presented Phyllis a Royal Australian Historical Society Certificate of Achievement

award; this was a very proud moment in her life.

Additionally, in 2008, Phyllis was awarded Life Membership of our Society and continued on the

Management Committee until July 2010.

During her 35 years association with the Society, Phyllis diligently undertook numerous tasks - particularly

noteworthy included:-

-Updated historic plaque register, which included taking photos of relevant plaques. The register is now

part of the Stanton Library Heritage Databases and acknowledges Phyllis' involvement.

-Assisted with the compilation of our monthly Bulletin.

-Attended Speech Days at schools to whom we continue to donate history prizes.

-Was the Society's delegate to a number of RAHS Conferences

-Instituted afternoon meetings at Don Bank and arranged guest Speakers.

-Researched and documented our Society's first 50 years of History.

-Administered the Brierley Prize and managed the launch of several of the Society's books including A Lady

in a Thousand, Larrikins of Lavender Bay and Henry Lawson's North Sydney.

At our May General meeting, a tribute for Phyllis was given by the Chair. Tom Ingham presented a moving

tribute to her and we observed some moments of silence in her memory. The meeting also moved to send

a condolence message to her family, noting her outstanding contribution to the Society - Phyllis will be long

remembered.

On behalf of the Historical Society I offer the deepest sympathy to Phyllis' family.

We can rejoice in knowing her, but we will miss her greatly. Geoff Huntington, President

Welcome new members - Ruth Holmes, Karla Whitmore, Greg Wilson, Ross Berry, and Jill and Garry Payne.

NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 2 of 4

June Speaker: Don Eyb Former Commander of the NSW Mounted Police Unit

With 44 years of experience, Don Eyb is a very busy person with involvement in a number of organisations.

He trained the stock horses for the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and also travelled

to the Middle East to Doha, Qatar doing a similar thing for the Asian Games in 2006.

Topic: NSW Mounted Police

Don will speak on the history of the NSW

Mounted Police Unit which is the oldest

continuous operational Mounted unit in the

world. It was formed by Governor Brisbane

on the 7th

September, 1825 and consisted of

recruits from the colonial army regiment,

consisting of 2 Officers, 2 Sergeants, and 20

privates. In comparison the London

Metropolitan Mounted Police were formed

in 1828 and the Royal Canadian Mounted

Police in 1863. He will also speak on the

NSW Mounted Police Unit’s involvement

with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012

in the UK including a short DVD of the

Australasian segment.

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2014 May Meeting Report Speaker: Robert Nash

The Huguenots: the Almost Forgotten People'

The Huguenots arose in France in the 16th and17th centuries when Calvinist Protestants questioned

the authority of the Pope and the sacramental rituals of the Catholic Church. Although Huguenot

numbers never exceeded 10% of the French population, France was ruined by the 30 year war

(1562-94) between the two creeds.

The ascension to the French throne of Henry of Navarre, himself a Catholic who had converted

from Huguenot Calvinism, eased the religious and civic constraints on the Huguenots and slowed

their emigration from France. However, when Henry's grandson, Louis XIV, came to the throne in

1661, he was determined to make the Huguenot's life impossible unless they converted to

Catholicism. His brutal persecution led to a dramatic diaspora of some 200,000 Huguenots who

sought religious freedom in other Protestant countries, as indeed had the earlier waves of

Huguenot emigrants. Some fled to neighbouring countries with significant Protestant

communities, such as the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany, while others ventured farther

afield to America and South Africa. About 50,000 fled to England at this time, some of whom

settled at Spitalfields in East London, among whom were Robert's ancestors. While Spitalfields

became a centre for silk weaving, the Huguenots arrived in England with a remarkable range of

artisan skills: there were gold and silversmiths, sculptors, tapestry weavers, furniture makers, etc.

While there were at least four Huguenot descendents in the First Fleet, there was never any direct

migration of Huguenots to Australia. Subsequently, however, there has been significant migration

of Huguenot descendents; prominent Australians with Huguenot names include: La Trobe,

Piguenit, Cazneaux, Chauvel, Bonynge, Cazaly and Crommelin.

The Huguenot Society of Australia currently has 300 members. Robert's fascinating talk was

enjoyed by all present. ................... Don Napper

NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 3 of 4

June Outing - Visit to the Shore School - Thursday June 19th 2014

By special arrangement, we will be taken on a fully conducted tour (lasting about 2 hrs) of this

famous Anglican educational icon of the Lower North Shore. The tour will be personally conducted

by Mr Rick Clive, President of The Old Boys` Union and Ms Kate Riseley, Shore School Archivist .

This is a unique and rare opportunity to see the inner workings of the school and to hear about its

fascinating history past and present.

Established in 1889 by The Church of England, the school caters for approx 1600 day and boarding

boys to Year 12 . The school's first building was the magnificent Victorian mansion of the famed

gold prospector Bernhardt Holtermann; it now is a boarding house for the school.

In more recent times, the school purchased from the State Government the historic Graythwaite

mansion and its surrounding land to expand the school campus . The mansion was the former

home of Sir Thomas Dibbs, general manager of The Commercial Banking Company who in 1916

donated the building and land for the use of wounded soldiers. The school has recently completed

extensive building and restoration work associated with the purchase of Graythwaite.

To see photos of this wonderful restoration work use this link in your web browser-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zuG7OlWVPRg

GETTING THERE: The school is only a short walk up Blue St from North Sydney Station or Miller St

by bus.

MEET: Main school entrance in William Street opposite Blue St , North Sydney at 10.15 am for the

tour commencing at 10.30am.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: Contact Don Orr - phone 9955 2616

or email don3070@exemail.com.au

Please register on booking sheet at June meeting. Note: numbers are limited Free to members

Graythwaite C 1880 and 2014 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

July Outing - Parramatta Heritage Tour Thursday July 17th, 2014 We will be taken on a fully guided “Drive by

Heritage Tour” in a 14 seat mini bus of the

Female Factory, Female Orphan School

(pictured), Old Government House, Parramatta

Park and Elizabeth Farm with a special stop to

visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Cost includes

morning tea (cakes, cookies, dip and biscuits)

at historic Lake Parramatta and an “all you can

eat” buffet lunch at Rosehill Bowling Club.

NSHS Bulletin June 2014 page 4 of 4

Parramatta tour cont.

Meet: 8.45 am Number 5 Wharf Circular Quay to catch the 9.07 River cat Ferry to Parramatta

where we will be picked up at 10.30am by our mini bus to commence our tour.

Return: We will be driven to Parramatta Wharf to catch the 2.35pm return River cat ferry to

Circular Quay arriving 4.00 pm approx..

Cost: $33 per person (cost excludes $2.50 Seniors Travel ticket)

Note: Numbers must be limited to a maximum of 12, so members will have to book and pay early

to secure a place on this great tour.

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Looking Forward

Wednesday August 20th, Outing to Power House Discovery Centre, Castle Hill.

More details in the July Bulletin.

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May outing- Society members at Loreto Kirribilli.

Please note- we have a new email address

NorthShoreHS@Hotmail.com

NSHS Committee:

Geoff Huntington President 9450 1552

Don Napper Vice-President/Treasurer 9460 0634

Gaynor Austen Secretary 9929 6637

Elizabeth Fountain Minutes Secretary 9925 0523

Vilma Bowers Speaker Coordinator 9955 4339

Don Orr Outings Coordinator 9955 2616