GENERAL MONTHLY MEETING JUNE LUNCHEON MEETING: Th u rsday 27 June 2013 at 12 noon VENUE: Exeter Village Hall, Exeter GUEST SPEAKER: Elizabeth Burness

Elizabeth brings us history with a difference - Flapper Fashion - taking us back to the 1920s and 30s and shows that women changed in that era, not only in appearance, but also in attitude.

JULY MEETING: Th u rsday 25 July 2013 at 2pm VENUE: Society Research Centre, Old Council Chambers Building, Bowral Road, Mittagong GUEST SPEAKER: Geoff Goodfellow AFTERNOON TEA: To be served following the speaker - Members

please bring a plate or a donation.

Founded 1960

B E R R IMA D IS T R IC T HIST ORICAL & FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY INC

PO Box 131 M ittagong NSW 2575 Telephone / Fax 0248 722 169 Website: w w w .berrimadistricthistoricalsociety.org.au

Email: bdhsarchiv es@gmail.com

ABN 29 362 616 937

NEWSLETTER No 451 June 2013

A RCHIVES: C nr Old H um e H ighw ay and Bow ral Road, MITTAGONG.

OPEN : M onday s , Tues day s 10am -4pm and Sat urday s 10am -1pm . C los ed Publ ic H ol iday s . L ibrary c o l lec t ion c ont a ins re f erenc e book s , journals and new s let ters o f o t her s oc ie ties.

M U S E U M : M arket Place, BERRIMA. Tel: 02 4877 1130 Email: berrimamuseum@bigpond.com OPEN: Saturdays, Sundays, NSW Public and School Holidays (except Good Friday, Christmas Day and Boxing Day) 10.00 am to 4.00 pm.

M EM BE R S H I P : A ny pers on w anting t o jo in t he Soc iet y m ay do s o at any s t age dur ing t he y ear by c om plet ing a f orm and pay ing the appropriate fee. Joining Fee $10.00 Single $20.00 Family $33.00.

A FFILIATIONS: R oy al A us t ra l ian H is t or ic a l Soc iet y , N SW A s sociation of F am i ly H is t ory Soc iet ies , M useums A us t ra l ia I nc & R egional C hapt er .

PA TRON: M ayor of Wingecarribee Shire: Councillor Juliet Arkwright President: M r Bruce M OORE 4872 3762 actmoore@bigpond.net.au Snr Vice President: M rs Linda EM ERY 4883 4271 lemery75@southernphone.com.au J nr Vice President: M rs Leonie KNAPMAN 4871 1804 H on Secretary: M r Philip M ORTON 4883 7862 flipmort@bigpond.com H on Treasurer: M rs Patricia DORIS 4872 3313 A rchivist: M rs Linda EM ERY 4883 4271 C urator Museum: M r Bob WILLIAMS 4889 4405 Edi tor M s Lav inia FORD 4869 4038 lav inias@dodo.com.au R esearch Officer M r M ax ROGERS 4861 3526 robert.rogers2@bigpond.com

Inside this month Diary Dates 2 Donald and George McBean 4 Early settler of Canyan Leigh 6 And more

Berrima District Historical & Family History Society Inc page 2 Newsletter No. 451 June 2013

Diary dates

JUNE 13 Management Committee Meeting 27 General Monthly Meeting

LUNCHEON 28 School holidays commence JULY 11 Management Committee Meeting 15 School holidays conclude 25 General Monthly Meeting AUGUST 8 Management Committee Meeting 22 General Monthly Meeting

Anzac Day The following email was received from member, Gloria Williams, in reference to the Anzac Day services in the Highlands.

Dear Editor, I refer to the item Society at Anzac Day Services on page 3 of the May 2013 newsletter.

I feel it should be noted that while attending the Dawn Service at Berrima, Museum Curator Bob Williams also laid a wreath on behalf of the Society.

Yours sincerely Gloria Williams

July Guest speaker Geoff Goodfellow

Topic: A little peek behind the Iron Curtain

In the past few years Geoff Goodfellow and his wife have travelled in former Soviet countries like Russia, the old East Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Albania, Poland and, in April 2013, Uzbekistan. That part of the world has changed a lot since the Wall came tumbling down in 1989 and Geoff will offer some insights, including some light hearted tales.

From the Presidents Desk

Bruce Moore

ALL ABOARD!

In early May, the Bowral/Moss Vale Sesquicentenary committee organized, through Trainworks, a steam fest at Moss Vale, one of many celebratory events planned during 2013. Two steam engines hauled passengers from Central station to Moss Vale and back, treating locals to a lunch-time ride from Moss Vale to Robertson and return.

Arriving at Moss Vale Station (maybe it was platform 9) we were taken back in time, greeted by some bold BDHS thespians who, dressed in period costume, reminded the bride and I of a bygone era. Reliving childhood memories, the Heritage Express, looking resplendent in her green & black livery, steamed into the Moss Vale platform.

As a youngster growing up in the railway town of Werris Creek, I spent hours collecting engine numbers and having my eyebrows singed from standing too close to those superheated engines. I watched these

Archives opening hours

Opening hours are as follows: Monday 10:00 am 4:00 pm Tuesday 10:00 am 4:00 pm Saturday 10:00 am 1:00 pm

great monsters spitting steam, literally with fire in their bellies and the brutes body was lined with passenger and compartment cars, affectionately known as dog boxes. During the war years, thousands of soldiers passed through Werris Creek, briefly stopping for a snack and a scalding hot cuppa presented in a tin mug at the Railway Refreshment Rooms. Soon afterwards someone blew a whistle and quickly those soldiers disappeared back inside the monsters body, doors banged shut, another whistle shrilled and the giant locomotive lurched forward, puffing and panting on its unhurried journey to Queensland.

Afterwards I noticed a man in a blue uniform collecting those tin mugs and pouring the unused contents back into a large urn.

It was exciting for me watching the restored 3642 (introduced in 1925) refill her water tank as is necessary, then gently hook up to her little sister as we chugged off to Robertson, past a battery of cameras and photographers scattered along the line.

Throwing open the window I tried to grab a camera shot of the engines rounding a bend but alas, a piece of coal about as big as a fist lodged in my eyeah, the romance of steam train travel!!

Newsletter

Newsletter Deadline is 25th of every month. It may be necessary to hold submissions after this date till the following month.

Berrima District Historical & Family History Society Inc page 3 Newsletter No. 451 June 2013

June Luncheon Guest Speaker

Elizabeth Burness

Elizabeth delighted us in 2009 with her wonderful presentation Theres history in the bottom drawers that showcased her vintage clothing collection. She returns to bring us more history with a difference.

Flapper Fashion takes us back to the 1920s and 30s and shows that women changed in that era, not only in appearance, but also in attitude. Seniors may remember snippets from that time, but for people of Elizabeths generation, born in the 1940s, it provokes enormous admiration for young people from that time.

Because she is delving into the past, Elizabeth calls her presentations historical but as a storyteller she tries to choose material which will bring back memories for those in our community who have enough years behind them to remember!

Elizabeth uses her collection to evoke emotions. She encourages her audience to appreciate her collection with their senses; to smell, to touch and to see. She values any 'use-wear' that is apparent on the clothing. The stains and the mends are used to imagine the life of the garment before it came into her hands.

Elizabeth studied history at Melbourne University, where she preferred subjects with colour rather than those emphasising dates, economics or politics. She was also studying art at this time, and after two years of teaching, became an Education Officer at the National Gallery of Victoria. Here her great interests in art, history (particularly Australian), fashion, lifestyle changes, interesting artists, all were catered for in the nine years she spent there.

June Luncheon: Thursday 27 June 2013, 12.00 for 12.30pm at Exeter Village Hall

A two-course lunch with juice, tea and coffee will be prepared by the Societys Master Chefs. BYO wine. Cost: $25 per head. Exeter Village Hall was built as the School of Arts in 1902. There is plenty of parking adjacent to the hall. Book early, as this will be a popular event and is sure to be not only informative, but great fun.

Kangaloon centenary celebrations

The Kangaloon community will this year celebrate the centenary of Kangaloon Hall in its present location. In the past 100 years the hall has been the focal point for many community events including weddings, parties, dances and concerts.

Kangaloon Red Cross Society outside the Hall in WWI

It was used for meetings of the Kangaloon Motor Transport Company, the Kangaloon Patriotic Society, the local branch of the Red Cross, and many other local organisations including sporting clubs and special interest groups. The Kangaloon Public school holds its annual Christmas concert in the hall as well as other school-related activities.

The Kangaloon Hall committee is planning a charity auction and dinner on 12 October, while a Back to Kangaloon Day will be held on 2 November to which all present and past residents are invited to attend.

Arch Simpsons bullock team hauls a load of grain at East

Kangaloon, c1890

A book containing much of the recorded history of East Kangaloon and Kangaloon will be launched at the hall during the celebrations. An historic exhibition of photos and memorabilia will also be on display.

Anyone who is willing to share their photos, memories or documents relating to Kangaloons history, or of their experiences of the hal