Words from our Past

Article by Max Farley reprinted from the Society Newsletter, June 2008
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Australia’s beginnings spawned words which had particular
meanings. Knowing them is essential to an understanding of
our past. The following related to the convict era. Some were:

Assigned servants. Convicts assigned by the government
to work for nominated employers such as military men, free
settlers and, at times, emancipists.

Certificate of Freedom. Issued from 1810 to convicts who
had completed their sentences. They were allowed to leave
the colony.

Currency lads/lasses. Australian-born children.

Emancipists. Ex convicts who had completed their
sentences and were thus “free by servitude”.

Assisted Exiles. As transportation became unpopular in
Australia the English conceived the notion of “assisted
exiles”. These were convicted persons who had served part
of their sentences in England and then given conditional
pardons and sent to Australia for the balance of their time.
Many went to Melbourne.

Exclusives. Otherwise known as “pure merinos”. Those
of non-convict origin who saw themselves superior to the
convicts and emancipists.

Free settlers. Persons who came to Australia of their own
choice.

Government Servants. Convicts.

Pardons: -(Absolute) Allowed to convicts who had
completed their years of sentence. They could return to
England.
 -(Conditional) Could be awarded to convicts
who had been sentenced to Life and given on the condition
they did not return to England. .

Tickets of Leave. “TOLs” were given to trustworthy
convicts allowing them to work indepenndently within
designated geographic areas.

Cemetery Tour

We have been notified that The Friends of Gore Hill Cemetery are again organising the popular Spring Tour of the heritage-listed Gore Hill Memorial Cemetery at St Leonards.

DATE:   Sunday November 2^nd  2014  

TIME:   10.30 am – duration 2 hours

BOOKINGS:   Contact John May: 02 9906 5106  

KHS at the Fair

The 2014 annual conference of the NSW & ACT Association of Family History Societies opened in Wollongong today with a family history fair open to the public.

A group of our members have travelled down to the 'gong for the Conference and to work on our stall promoting Kuring-gai Historical Society and our publications.

These photos were taken this morning before the Fair opened to the public. Thank you to our volunteers for getting our stall set up so early.

Full details of the program and speakers can be found on the Conference website: http://www.conference2014.org.au

RAHS Annual State History Conference 2014

The Society has received a reminder of the RAHS Annual State History Conference 2014

The 2014 Conference will be held at Mittagong RSL, 25 – 26 October 2014. The theme is Moving History and delegates will have the opportunity to discover how history is about change over time and is always moving as we respond to new information and ask questions about the past.

Bookings are now open for the RAHS 2014 Annual State History Conference in Mittagong, NSW, in October. Click here for the 2014 Booking form.

Click the following link here to explore the conference website.

Curious about Evernote?

Have you heard people talking about Evernote? Would you like to know what it is? Would you like to know how it can help you with your research?

If you answer YES to any of these questions then come along to our Technology SIG meeting in the Society rooms on Thursday 11 September at 1:30pm and all will be revealed.

Evernote

In addition to discussing Evernote we will make time to share technology news and try to answer any tech questions that you may have.

Should you have any questions you would like addressed please contact Jill Ball jillballau@gmail.com

Roseville Boys' College

An article by Max Farley. Reprinted form the Society Newsletter, June 2008.

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Roseville College, a girls’ school, recently published a history
to mark its 100 years. It was in 1908 that Miss Isobel Davies
took over Hinemoa School in Victoria Street, Roseville and
renamed it Roseville College.

This Centenary publication, Memories and Dreams – Roseville
College 1908-2008, was written by Denise Thomas, an
educator and historian, and includes much of interest not just to
those closely associated with Roseville College but also to
Roseville residents. On the lighter side is the revelation that in
its early days the College enrolled boys up to eight years of
age. It continued to do so until as late as 1979.

These boys included Robert and John Fowler who lived in
the nearby Firs cottage in Roseville Park, as well as Colin
Begg and Paul Toose, who became judges, and Chester
Porter QC. John Fowler, who attended from 1920, is
reported by Denise Thomas as recalling “that life was
sometimes difficult for boys attending Roseville, because
they were mocked by boys from other schools. Fortunately,
he said, the girls of Roseville College were happy to have
them”.

Though this history does not dwell on the topic, the earlier
Hinemoa School had been conducted for several years by
Mrs Maria Tingcombe who lived in Hinemoa cottage with
her husband George, daughter Dorothy, and Ellen Tingcombe,
a spinster cousin. Maria had operated the school for several
years. The name, Hinemoa, was that of a legendary Maori
maiden of noble birth and the heroine of a romantic love affair.

Spring Flowers at Lindfield

A report found on Trove from September 1926:

1926 'SPRING FLOWERS.', The Sydney Morning Herald(NSW : 1842 - 1954), 6 September, p. 5, viewed 1 September, 2014, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article16323473

Hazel Perdriau (1913-2014)

Society members were saddened to hear this week news of the passing of Life Member, Hazel Perdriau.

As a tribute to Hazel  we reprint this biography from our 2008 newsletter. The Society's Committee and members extend condolences to the Perdriau family.

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Hazel Perdriau remembers Armistice Day and joining in celebratory bell ringing. She also remembers Sir Ross and Keith Smith’s plane flying overhead at the end of their epic flight from England, and that the 1919 flu epidemic nearly made her and her young brother orphans.

In 1920 her parents moved to a house in Roseville where she attended the Roseville Infants School and continued there when it became a full primary school and she later attended PLC Pymble. She left school in 1928 because of her mother’s illness and the transfer of the family to a new house in Nelson Street, Gordon. She then enrolled at the East Sydney Technical College to study commercial art, however after three years she abandoned art on being invited by a friend at Sydney University to join the University Choir. 

Realizing that she had a good singing voice, she commenced the study of voice and piano at the State Conservatorium of Music. Following the outbreak of WW2 Hazel assisted her mother who was president of the Gordon Red Cross and then joined the Red Cross herself to serve in military hospitals, visiting the sick and teaching crafts. She worked as an Occupational Therapist and was sent to the 113 AGH at Concord West. After about a year of part time work, she was posted full time to 104 AGH Bathurst and then to114 AGH at Kenmore with a staff of local volunteers, which enabled her to expand her activities with music therapy and pottery.

Remaining with the Red Cross after the war, Hazel gained experience with treadle looms and weaving and was sent back to113 AGH in charge of the weaving room and later the handcraft centre. When the 113 AGH was turned over to the Repatriation Department, Hazel transferred to the Occupational Therapy Department, taking charge of the pottery and art room. She also took part, with the Hurlstone Choral Society, in performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. In addition she attended night classes at the East Sydney Technical College to further her skills in clay modeling and pottery.

On her retirement in 1976, Hazel joined the Turramurra Garden Club and the Ku-ring-gai Historical Society, serving as secretary and president at various times in both organizations. She has been a Life Member of the Society for a number of years. She also found time to photograph every house in Nelson St, Gordon and donated to the Society a copy of the 1788-1820 Pioneer Association Register and a paper knife reputed to be made of wood from HMS Sirius. In addition she is an active member of the St. Ives Music Study Group. A very busy lady!

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