Open Day at Government House - 2nd June 2016

2 June - Open Day at Government House

The following is a message from the Governor, His Excellency General The Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret'd),
 
On Sunday, 12 June 2016, Government House will open its doors for self-guided tours and Guides will be on hand to answer questions about this 170 year old residence. We also invite you to bring a picnic rug, pack your favourite picnic fare, and enjoy the winter sun in the grounds of Government House. Entry will be by (optional) charitable donation.
 
The Society has been invited by its patron the Governor to have a table at the Government House Open Day, which will be held in honour of Queen Elizabeth's 90th birthday. We would like to thank the Governor for the opportunity to share information about RAHS activities with people who attend this event. RAHS Council and staff members will be there on the day looking after the RAHS table so please come over and say hello. 
Source: RAHS newsletter, May 2016

Ian Jack, Honorary Fellowship University of Sydney

Image:  Ian Jack

Honorary Fellowship University of Sydney
 
On Friday last, 13 May 2016, Professor Ian Jack was conferred Honorary Fellowship of the University of Sydney for outstanding service to the University.  Ian's association with the University began in 1961, when he arrived in Australia from Scotland.  Ian is currently Senior Fellow at St Andrew's College, University of Sydney.

The nomination was made by St Andrew’s College, University of Sydney and was accepted by the Senate of the University at their most recent meeting.  The conferral occurred as part of a graduation ceremony at The Great Hall and the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Professor Barbara Caine AM, made the presentation.

William GEORGE and Ann OWEN

Photo: Cathy Hill

WILLIAM AND ANN, The background story...

William GEORGE and Ann OWEN were born at a time of great social change in Britain. The Industrial revolution had created a new middle class. Many new offences were introduced by the authorities to protect the property of the newly rich, and the numbers of gaol inmates soared. The end of the American War of Independence meant that Britain no longer shipped convicts to that colony and the British gaol system was collapsing. In response, the new colony of New South Wales was established in 1788 as a penal colony and by 1820, Sydney was a city of 12,000 people. Among other developments, a thriving whaling industry had been established. 

WILLIAM GEORGE was born about Jan 1801 in Llangwm, Pembrokeshire, Wales. He died on 15 Oct 1869 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia. He married Ann Owen, daughter of Robert Owen and Mary Morris, on 11 Apr 1826 in Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia. She was born in Aug 1799 in Lydbury North, Shropshire, England. She died on 22 Jul 1874 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia.
 
William George and Ann Owen had the following children:
THOMAS GEORGE was born on 27 Feb 1827 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 15 Jul 1898 in Catherine Hill Bay, New South Wales, Australia. He married Isabella Hay on 07 Aug 1855.
 
WILLIAM HENRY GEORGE was born in 1828 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He died in 1829 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
 
GEORGE OWEN GEORGE was born on 08 Sep 1831 in Sydney NSW. He died in Jun 1906 in Parkes NSW.
 
CECILIA GEORGE was born on 30 Apr 1833 in Sydney NSW. She died in Mar 1913 in Canterbury NSW.
 
GEORGINA GEORGE was born on 24 Feb 1836 in Long Reef NSW. She died on 14 Nov 1900 in Marrickville, New South Wales, Australia. She married Benjamin Yabsley on 18 May 1864 in Concord NSW.
 
BENIT WILLIAM GEORGE was born on 05 Nov 1837 in Long Reef, New South Wales, Australia. He died on 01 Nov 1918 in Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia. He married (1) SARAH KIRKLAND on 16 Jan 1865 in Mudgee, New South Wales, Australia. She was born in 1841. She died in 1875 in Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia. He married (2) MATILDA HARVEY in 1876 in Running Stream, New South Wales, Australia. She was born on 05 Oct 1856 in Palmers Oaky, New South Wales, Australia. She died on 19 Jul 1940 in Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia.
 
ALFRED BEACHAM GEORGE was born on 09 Oct 1839 in Long Reef NSW. He died on 17 May 1902 in Rylstone, New South Wales, Australia. He married Fredericka Henrietta Maria Brewer in 1863 in Sydney NSW.
 
SELINA GEORGE was born in 1842 in Pittwater NSW. She died on 23 Jan 1911. She married George Mark Hayward in 1879.
Ref; William and Ann...a Lifetime Together-by Cathy Hill

Source: Wal Pilz

Benit William and Matilda GEORGE

Photo: Cathy Hill

Benit William and Matilda GEORGE have a fitting tribute to their lives on Georgedale.

Bernie George made the plinth which was unveiled on 30 April 2016 at Rylstone cemetery, on the previously unmarked graves of Benit Wm and Matilda

Source: Cathy Hill

ANZAC DAY 1915

ANZAC DAY 1915 - poem by Arthur Henry Adams

A recently discovered treasure from the John Oxley Library collection is a 348 page cutting book containing Australian World War I poetry, (OM 92-68). The poems, which cover the period 1914-1919, were published in The Bulletin magazine and the Sydney Mail newspaper, and provide a wonderful compilation of the works of various poets, many of them soldiers in the front lines.

The Bulletin magazine was first published in Sydney on the 31st January 1880 and was highly influential in Australian culture and politics until after World War I. Its main focus was politics and business, although it also had a strong literary character. The publication served as a platform for young and aspiring writers to showcase their short stories and poetry. Notable Australian writers who were associated with The Bulletin include Henry Lawson, Steele Rudd, Ethel Turner, Dorothy Mackellar, Harry (Breaker) Morant and Banjo Paterson.

The poets, writing about World War I, include Ethel Campbell (known as the Angel of Durban), John Sandes (who wrote under the name of Oriel), Henry Lawson, Mary Hannay Foott, Will Lawson, Major Oliver Hogue writing as “Trooper Bluegum”, and Arthur Henry Adams to name but a few. Themes of national pride, patriotism honour and gallantry are prominent and sustain the idea that Australia found her identity and became a nation during the bloodshed, tragedy, and sacrifices of the war. 

 

Ref: State Library of Qld

Edward King Cox (1829-1883)

Edward King Cox (1829-1883), grazier, was the eldest son of Edward Cox, M.L.C. of Fernhill, Mulgoa, and his wife Jane Maria, and grandson of William Cox.

Edward was born at Mulgoa on 28 June 1829, and until 1847 lived at Mulgoa and attended the parish school of Rev. Thomas Makinson and then went to The King’s School at Parramatta for about three years.

After leaving school Edward lived on his father’s sheep stations at Rawdon, Rylstone, in the Mudgee district, and his leases on the Namoi. In 1852 he accompanied his brother to Europe where he studied sheepbreeding and inspected the principal flocks in England and on the Continent. At Tralee, County Kerry, on 19 May 1855 he married Millicent Ann, daughter of Richard J. L. Standish. Soon afterwards he returned to take charge of his father’s stations.

Edward was an outstanding breeder of stud stock. He inherited his father’s merino stud at Rawdon, Rylstone, and by careful breeding won world renown as ‘the great improver of the Australian Merino’. He won awards in many countries for his wool, particularly the grand prize at the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1878. Edward brought together at Fernhill, Mulgoa, his stud Shorthorn cattle and thoroughbred horses in 1868. His chief sires, Yattendon and Darebin, both won the Sydney Cup; he also imported stud mares from England and bred the Melbourne Cup winners, Chester and Grand Flaneur. In 1873, with John Agar Scarr, Edward was joint editor of The Stud Book of New South Wales.
Ref: Australian Dictionary of Biography