Sunday, December 12, 2010

Around the grounds

Our front entrance has had a bit of a facelift. The “Maitland” Bell has
been erected, along with two of the “Maitland” portholes, on a strong
stand made by Clark Equipment at Hornsby. This stand enables the Bell
to be presented hanging, as a Bell should be - and it has a lovely sound
when struck.

The picket fence between the Cottage and Museum has been
removed and this gives a clearer view of the Cottage. When the
Heritage Architect inspected our complex recently this was one of his
recommendations.

The lattice work behind the bullock wagon has gone and this also gives
a clearer view of the Cottage and Museum. The unfinished bullock yoke
which belonged to Horace Frost was donated to BWHS by Geoff Potter
of Gosford City library and this has been erected behind the bullock
wagon, which also belonged to Horace Frost.

Grant Success

Since recently receiving a Grant from Gosford City Council for an
inspection by a Heritage Architect, we received a subsequent Grant for
the essential work to be carried out. This entailed treating the ‘spalling’
or rising damp on the front wall of the Cottage and this has now been
successfully completed. It also covered the installation of a drainage
trench across the front wall, tying in with the existing drains so that the
same problem would not occur again. This has also been carried out
successfully. A small Grant was also received for replacing cracked
window panes in the Cottage. So thanks to Gosford Council, including
their Heritage Committee, for these Grants and to BWHS member Ros Ellis for
requesting them.

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Dedication of the Lone Pine Memorial Garden at Allison Homestead, Wyong

Brian McCafferty’s report at the General Meeting:

On 12 October, Brian McCafferty and his wife
attended the dedication ceremony for the Lone Pine Tree in the grounds of
Allison Homestead.
Brian reported that it was rather moving and was well organised. About 120 to
150 were in attendance including the Mayor, Local Member of Parliament,
local business leaders, Wyong RSL Sub-Branch members, some school
principals and their respective school captains. A noted item was that an
identical ceremony was being held on the same day on the Beach at
Gallopoli. That ceremony was being conducted by the Wyong Parish Priest
with about 30 people from Wyong and surrounds who accompanied the
Parish Priest to Gallopoli.

Member, Ruth Logan also attended – her comments follow …

On 12 October I attended, on behalf of Brisbane Water Historical
Society, a Service of Dedication at the Lone Pine War Memorial Garden
at Alison Homestead, Wyong.
It was a very moving ceremony conducted by Mr. Phillip Moreley,
President of Wyong District Museum & Historical Society and attended
by the Mayor of Wyong, Mr. Doug Eaton, the State Member of Wyong,
Mr. David Harris and President of Wyong RSL Sub Branch, Mr. Lawrence
Shaw. Rev. Father Michael Kelly OAM, Blessed the Memorial Garden and led
the service.
On this day, Rev. Fr. Bill Stevens, Parish Priest of The Entrance, along with
over 30 people on pilgrimage, were at Gallipoli to place soil, rosemary, poppy,
and a small piece of pine from the garden in Wyong, at a suitable location.
He in turn will bring back a small memento from Gallipoli to be placed in the
Memorial Garden.
Several Pine Trees were originally grown from seeds taken from a Pine Tree
cone carried back by Sgt. Keith McDowell of the 24th Battalion at the end of
the 1914/1918 war and planted in Inverell, NSW in 1928.
From this source there were several Pines grown there and another in
Canberra. The Wyong Pine Tree is from this source.
At the conclusion of the Blessing of The Memorial Garden, the Last
Post was played by a member of the Brisbane Water Brass Band who
also played Revelle.
The gardens and grounds are a credit to the work of Roman Paul, who
designed the Memorial Garden, planted with poppies, rosemary and other
flowers.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Ongoing Projects (1)

The Cottage Fence
The committee has resolved to remove the decaying picket fence, between
the Cottage and museum. The yellow rose bush may be re-located to one
corner of the Bullock Wagon cover – so it can ramble freely along the lattice
or other structure.

Newspaper clippings
Member, Brian McCafferty is currently sorting and assembling the newspaper clippings that have been gathered over the years. The clippings date back to 1946. They are being placed on A4 sheets and assigned a category then a sub-heading. Nearly 100 sheets have been assembled so far. The project has a number of steps including scanning all the documents, treating the documents or laminating them to protect them from aging.
The sheets will be scanned and entered onto an archive database.

Bell and Portholes of the SS Maitland

Brian McCafferty initiated the idea of improving the presentation and
repositioning the Maitland display. The idea was approved and he undertook
to have a vertical stand made so the Bell can be presented hanging, as a bell
should. Brian prepared a design and engaged professional engineers
/fabricators to do the final design and the fabrication of a purpose built metal
stand. The terrific stand has been completed.
Our thanks go out to the management and team at Clark Equipment Pty. Ltd.
of Hornsby who graciously donated the material and the time required by the
skilled craftsmen to complete the work.

Our very old books
As you may know, we have a collection of very old, fascinating and possibly
rare books.
These precious old books are being catalogued and re-shelved.
Tyrell, one of our newer members, is helping Jay with this project.

Saturday, October 2, 2010

Henry Kendall Cottage on Facebook and Twitter

Please can you help spread the word about Henry Kendall Cottage and the work of the Brisbane Water Historical Society.
Become a fan of the cottage on Facebook
Follw us on Twitter

Guest Speakers

The Guest Speaker at the August General Meeting was Derelie Cherry from
the lovely Paradise Gardens, Kulnurra, who gave us an interesting talk about
the McLeay family and Elizabeth House at Potts Point, as well as how lovely
Paradise Gardens are now that spring is here. The Guest Speaker at the General Meeting on September 21st was Lindsay Allen from State Records, NSW. Many thanks for this informative talk.

October’s Guest Speaker will be John Haxton from the First Fleeters (19/10/2010 @ 1.00pm). And our Guest Speaker for November will be Robert Wilson, the lovely gentleman who has rejuvenated our 100 years old Estey Parlour Organ in the Museum and has also done some work on the Cabinet Organ in the Cottage. Robert has some
interesting facts to relate and stories to tell, and also will be playing our organ
so we’ll look forward to his presentation.

All members of the Brisbane Water Historical Society, and any potential members, are most welcome.

Adcock Scrapbook

We hold a very interesting scrapbook that was compiled by Garnet Adcock,
the second owner of Henry Kendall Cottage, and the founder of Jusfrute.
A descendant of Garnet Adcock, Arthur Adcock, visited our complex to do
some research in May this year and was ‘blown away’ by this scrapbook.
Because of its fragile state now, arrangements were made for us to copy it.
Jay Sider did the jpeg images on a CD, a copy for our library and also a copy
for Arthur. Thanks Jay for all your hard work in this.