History & heritage

Kaniva's Wiregrass project received a generous boost, with John Carter, a long-time supporter of Percy Leason, donating $2,000 towards its development. John Carter, whose family’s farm was located near the Leason property, is one of several narrators for the Wiregrass Heritage Trail film clips. He has chosen to share a brief history of Lillimur...

During the week beginning 9th September, there were celebrations on the Island to mark the completion of the Lord Howe Island airstrip in September, 1974. Around 50 members of the Australian army and navy, with family members, who were part of the project, visited to mark the anniversary.

Dr Gary Bacon AM. Rare it is to have a definitive historical date and place for the discovery of a natural renewable resource that is the foundation of an industry which prospers to the present day. Tuesday 21 September 1824 is that note-worthy date and we have a precise record of that discovery on the banks of the Brisbane River.

Glyn Rees. As many will be aware on Tuesday last week, so very sadly the Wattles fraternity, senior and junior, lost one of their great stalwarts in Mr Jack Duggan. It will certainly be an adjustment for all who frequent Platz Oval at game time, senior and junior, to now see a vacant chair near the gateway aside the announcing box, a chair that in recent years has seen Jack, beside wife Shelley, as near permanent viewers of the achievements of all those on field in green and gold.

Buloke Collectable Vehicle Club annual Show 'n' Shine event brought together car enthusiasts from all over the region this past weekend, transforming the George Cartwright oval in Birchip into a dazzling display of automotive craftsmanship. With almost 150 vehicles on display, the event celebrated everything from classic cars to modern muscle, trucks and motorbikes, and it drew a diverse crowd of spectators and participants alike.

There was a time when Maldon was at the forefront of heritage planning in Australia. But has the town lost its way, in terms of conserving its built and natural landscapes? Many believe that the short answer is: yes.

Maureen Donnellon. Zone meetings of Historical Societies are always important gatherings held twice a year to hear from the 20 groups who comprise the Midland Zone ... Much research is done for sporting reunions as well as family research and Elaine has given countless hours of her time as a volunteer, a very worthy recipient of her award.

Surfing became the obsession of a legion of bored and restless teenagers in 1960s Australia, kids looking for adventure and freedom from the stultifying norms and expectations of their straight 1950s upbringing ... The arrival of the exciting new phenomenon and its far-reaching impact are recorded in a thrilling documentary film showing at the Byron Bay Film Festival in October.

Maldon Museum and Historic Archives is hosting a Victorian Goldfields World Heritage bid (VGWHB) information display as part of the World Heritage Bid Roadshow ... You may be aware of the bid for the Victorian Goldfields to become World Heritage listed.

On Wednesday 11 September former and current staff, students and community members celebrated 50 years of Early Childhood Education at Allora P-10 State School. In 1974, long serving teacher-in-charge, Mrs Joyce Gibson oversaw the establishment of the Preschool centre, one of the first to open in Queensland.

The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) (Queensland Section) is this month celebrating 60-years of service from its Mount Isa base. Established in 1964, the Mount Isa Base covers a waiting room of more than 800,000 square kilometres, connecting the residents of this significant north-west Queensland region to leading, and often lifesaving, health services ... ARR.News found out more from RFDS Mount Isa Base Support Manager, Ducky Jeacocke.

Ivanhoe is forming a car club, the Ivanhoe Historic Car Club. Founding members of the club are wanting to put the call out, for people to dust off their old vintage beauties sitting in their sheds, and join up.

It’s Doug Partington’s pride and joy but he’s willing to share. The Allora Sports Museum offered Doug the opportunity to display his Wikner Ford Special, the oldest Australian racing car, at the Museum.

Contents of a deceased estate at Watchem are to be auctioned in an online auction over two consecutive Sundays, September 29 and October 6. The intriguing story behind the items to go under the hammer is that they belonged to the late owner who had a reputation he could repair and fix almost anything, and never ever threw anything away as he might need the part one day.

Recently an episode of Radio National’s ‘The History Listen’ discussed the kangaroo dogs that were first bred about 1800 in Sydney by crossing Scottish deerhounds with greyhounds. Their ability to hunt and kill kangaroos provided early colonists with a plentiful supply of fresh meat.

It seemed natural that café owner Katrine Elliott would reflect and become nostalgic when speaking about the closure of the business that she has steered through more than 17 years. The iconic Berryman’s Café and Tearooms will cease operations on Sunday 29 September and hold a clearing sale in the following week.

They are the dresses of yesteryear, the gowns that a girl could dress in and feel like a princess – and they’re on display at the Cohuna Art Gallery for all to see. As part of the ‘Days of Glamour’ exhibition, you can view these beautiful dresses owned and once worn … in the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s ... Joy’s dress was bought with money from her father when she was 16, in 1963.

The outstanding success of the 2024 Man From Snowy Bush Festival has been a testament to the dedication of board members and volunteers over a challenging period, chairman Cameron Jackson highlighted at the recent annual general meeting. "The past two years once again were not without their challenges and of course change can often be the hardest thing to manage," he said.

The delightfully named inspector was responsible for keeping Nhill clean, which was a thankless and almost impossible task over four decades from the town’s establishment in 1880 ... It was not a job for the faint hearted so the obvious choice for the first Inspector of Nuisances in Nhill was the local policeman and for him it was handy pocket money as a part time job.

A mayoral chain worn by the late OJ Smith has been returned to Hay. “It needed to come back home,” former Hay resident Noelene Martin said ... Noelene and her husband, Rod brought the chain to Hay over the weekend after having it framed, and presented it to Council on Monday morning.

Joanna Tucker. After years of hard work, the Moonta Mines Cornish mining sites have been added to Australia’s UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List, along with mine sites at Burra. This listing was announced on September 6 and is a significant step towards achieving World Heritage protection for the two historic areas.

Many of Australia’s oldest, running cars and motorbikes will visit South Australia in September, when the town of Naracoorte plays host to the sixth, annual Pre-1905 Pioneer’s Run ... "From Friday 13th to Sunday 15th September, 30 cars and motorcycles from all over Australia, the oldest an 1899 Peugeot, will be defying the years and visiting the Naracoorte Caves, Penola and Frances," says Rally Organiser, Julian McNeil from the Veteran Car Club of SA.