History & heritage

Kendall Jennings. Koondrook Barham was graced with a visit by the paddlesteamer Emmylou on Tuesday afternoon, September 14. Built in Barham in the 1980s and named after American country singer Emmylou Harris, the vessel is a small motel catering for 16 passengers and a small crew of three or four. This was the first visit from PS Emmylou in 38 years and was shadowed by the Pride of the Murray on its Echuca return leg. The Pride of the Murray is returning from Swan Hill, where it was in the dry dock for maintenance.

Denmark's first Classic Boat Show will run alongside the Great Southern Classic Car Show with the boats on the Denmark River at Berridge Park on Sunday, September 26 from 10am-3pm. The classic boats on show will range from some built in the 1920s to retro boats built recently.

Nancy Schmidt, who was fondly known as Aunty Nancy because she was such a lovely mumma to everyone, leaves a legacy of kindness and compassion, and a trail of goodwill. Nancy’s story began in the Central Desert, west of Alice Springs where she lived with her Aboriginal family until she was taken away by authorities and sent to the Bungalow in Alice Springs. When the Government handed over care of all Aboriginal children to missionaries, Nancy was transferred to the Methodist Mission on Goulburn Island and then on to Croker Island along with other children who were members of what has become the Stolen Generation.

Mount Alexander Shire Council is amending its planning scheme to introduce updated guidelines for building or altering buildings in Maldon’s heritage areas and precincts.

Sawfish - one of the world's most endangered rays - have lost over half of their habitat worldwide and largely disappeared from the entire east coast of Australia. A collaborative study by the University of Southern Queensland and Sharks and Rays Australia will endeavour to fill in gaps in information about the ray’s ecology, biology and distribution.

This superbly researched book documents 146 years of European activity in the northern Snowy Mountains and is replete with excellent maps and very helpful photographs which place the discussion into context, enabling the reader to visualise the descriptions clearly.

Chris Murray. Mary Marlowe’s novel, Psalmist of the Dawn (published in 1934 but probably written in 1931) is set on Lord Howe and populated with real places, activities and people – that latter only slightly disguised behind pseudonyms ... Garfishing was an important part of the Islanders’ semi-subsistence lifestyle before World War II. Large quantities of gars were caught not only for local consumption but also for sale to passing vessels.

Sunshine Coast Council and Community museums have teamed up to offer a month of mystery madness.

Gabrielle Duykers. A Naracoorte family has been reunited with a 70-year-old WWII medal, after months of effort from RSL volunteers ... After extensive research across VIC and SA war registers, he discovered the medal was in fact a Returned from Active Service badge, originally issued in WWI and again in WWII ... Bill Leitch said receiving the badge was like having another “piece to the puzzle” of his ancestry.

Under the proposal, a portion of the site will be transferred to the Grafton Ngerrie LALC to support better outcomes for the Aboriginal community, and successfully resolve an Aboriginal land claim. Another parcel of land adjacent to Grafton Base Hospital will be transferred to NSW Health ... the SE portion, which comprises significant heritage items, will be set aside for future adaptive reuse with heritage protections in place ...