What’s On

2023 Meetings
	Saturday 21 October 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Garry Darby - 125 years: A History of the St George Sailing Club. St George Sailing Club was founded in 1897 by a group of dedicated yachtsmen. The grand old club has occupied four different clubhouses including its outstanding new building opened in 2022. Dr. Garry Darby and Wayne Pascoe's new book celebrates the 125-year history of the St George Sailing Club and its role in the sporting and social fabric of the community. It tells of the boats, crews, skippers, and society along the shores of Botany Bay and Georges River. Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
	Saturday 18 November 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
Previous Meetings
	Saturday 16 September 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale A shark on display at an aquarium coughs up a human arm bearing a distinctive tattoo. The investigation uncovered insurance fraud, smuggling on Sydney Harbour and gang violence. What was the Cronulla connection? Why were Port Hacking and Gunnamatta Bay searched by the Navy and Air Force? Those who knew the truth kept their secrets to the grave. Guest Speaker: Phillip Roope, co-author of "The Shark Arm Case". Phillip is a former high school English and History teacher, and location manager on 45 feature films and TV series, ranging from Blue Murder for TV and Baz Lurmann's The Great Gatsby. Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
	Saturday 19 August 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Julie Evans - Extraordinary Places on Sydney Harbour. Owing to their natural beauty, heritage buildings and layered histories, the Harbour Trust's visitor destinations are a rich source of exploration and discovery. Sites include North Head Sanctuary in Manly, Sub Base Platypus in North Sydney, Headland Park in Mosman, Cockatoo Island on Sydney Harbour, Woolwich Dock and Parklands, and the home of Australia’s oldest lighthouse – Macquarie Lightstation in Vaucluse. Collectively, they represent an opportunity for visitors, including families, adventure-seekers and history buffs, to enjoy diverse experiences against the backdrop of Sydney Harbour. Learn about each destination and plan your next trip. Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
	Saturday 15 July 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Annual General Meeting We will present the Annual Report and Financial Statement, elect the Committee for 2023-24, and discuss our plans for the coming year. Members of the SGHS can nominate for a committee position for 2023-24. Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
	Saturday 17 June 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Hugh Tranter - Pioneering Flights over Botany Bay 1910 - 11. Hugh revisits the exciting stories of Percival and Herbert Woodward, and Joseph Joel Hammond, the ‘magnificent men in their flying machines'. He won an Encouragement Award in the 2022 Ron Rathbone Local History Competition. Entry is free although gold coin donations gratefully accepted. Refreshments (tea, coffee, snacks) provided. All welcome!
	Saturday 20 May 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Bill Phippen - Kathleen Muriel Butler, the "Godmother of Sydney Harbour Bridge". In 2019, a Sydney Metro Tunnel Boring Machine was named Kathleen, yet few people would know of Kathleen Muriel Butler, Confidential Secretary to John Bradfield during the building of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. In the 1920s, she played a vital role in the bridge construction both in Sydney and in London where she was sent to represent Bradfield and the NSW government in their dealings with Dorman Long and Co, the British contractors for the work. All welcome!
	Saturday 15 April 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Leonie Bell - Stannumville. Leonie won the 2022 Ron Rathbone Local History Competition, for her entry, "Stannumville: suburb in the sand". Stannumville was a tent town for families during World War I. It was in present-day Maroubra. Leonie examines the reasons why the government initiated the project, living conditions in the town, and the reasons for its demise. All welcome!
	Saturday 18 March 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Alan Russell - Eve St Wetlands. Alan will share his childhood memories of Arncliffe. He won an Encouragement Award in the 2022 Ron Rathbone Local History Competition for his entry, "Eve St Wetlands". All welcome!
	Saturday 18 February 2023 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Robin Walsh - Portrait of a Lady : Elizabeth Macquarie 1778 – 1835. Robin is a retired Research Librarian from Macquarie University Library, home of the Lachlan & Elizabeth Macquarie Archive. All welcome!
	Saturday 19 November 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Christmas Afternoon Tea All Welcome!
	Saturday 15 October 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Zofia Laba, The Craft of Faith: John Radecki, Stained Glass Artist. All welcome!
	Saturday 17 September 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Dr. Pam Como, author of “Laughter, Love and Loyalty”, a history of Singleton and the Hunter Valley. Pam will be telling us stories of the many floods that have engulfed its towns over the period 1855 - 1975. All welcome!
	Saturday 20 August 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Catriona Carver - The history of Gardiner Park, Banksia. Catriona is one of the “Friends of Gardiner Park”, a Banksia resident, and a member of our society. She has an interesting story about this local gem. All welcome! (photo courtesy of Robert Chick)
	Saturday 16 July 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Annual General Meeting The new SGHS Committee will be elected. There will be a proposed amendment to Section 9 of our Constitution to include the election of Society members to the Lydham Hall Management Committee.
	Saturday 18 June 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: John MacRitchie, Local Studies Librarian, Georges River Council - "Marking Our History", about the Georges River Council's Historical Markers Programme. This programme has been running for four years, based on suggestions received from the community.
	Saturday 14 May 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Pauline Curby - The Sutherland Shire Historical Museum.
	Saturday 19 March 2022 2pm in the 3rd floor meeting room at Rockdale Library, 444-446 Princes Highway, Rockdale Guest Speakers: Laurel and Rob Horton - Highlights of Rockdale's history, and the St. Peter's Church Museum's latest acquisition.
	Saturday 20 November 2021 2pm at Rockdale Senior Citizens Centre, 36 George St, Rockdale Resolutions passed: - “That the present Committee of the St. George Historical Society continue to carry out their duties as defined in the Society's Constitution until the Annual General Meeting in July 2022.” - St. George Historical Society logo update. Guest Speakers: Dan McAloon - The Man in White at Pemberton's Ramsgate Baths Tina Workman - Lydham Hall Draft Conservation Management Plan Raffle prizes awarded: First prize: Family Pass to the Australian National Maritime Museum Second prize: Box of chocolates
	Saturday 19 June 2021 2pm at Rockdale Senior Citizens Centre, 36 George St, Rockdale Guest Speakers: Tina Workman - What's Happening at Lydham Hall? Dr. Garry Darby - Kogarah Historical Society's Local History Prize
	Saturday 15 May 2021 2pm at Rockdale Senior Citizens Centre, 36 George St, Rockdale Guest Speaker: Dr. Greg Jackson, Archaeologist and volunteer with the Australian National Maritime Museum: North Head Quarantine Station From the early 19th century, arrivals to Australia who were suspected of having an infectious disease, were held in quarantine until it was considered safe to release them. What was it like to be in quarantine? Exploring the history and archaeology of Sydney’s North Head Quarantine Station will answer this question.
	Saturday 20 Feb 2021 2pm at Rockdale Senior Citizens Centre, 36 George St, Rockdale Minutes Guest Speaker: Kieren Hannon: The Cato Street Conspirators In 1820 these English radicals intended to kill the British Prime Minister and members of the cabinet to inspire an uprising. There was an informer in their midst and their plan was thwarted. The conspirators who were not executed for treason were banished to Australia. Kieren has studied the subject intensively and followed what happened to those who were exiled.