~11th February 2004 ~  

MEETING DATES 2004

PROGRAM OF EVENTS FOR THE BATTLE OF VINEGAR HILL BICENTENARY

See the program at the end of this news sheet. For further information ring Patricia Parker 9319 1008 or email p_parker@bigpond.net.au or Prue Charlton 4560 4434 pcharlton@hawkesbury.nsw.gov.au

PENRITH CONFERENCE & MINI FAIR

"The Makings of a City : Foundations of Settlement" 3rd Annual history conference will take place Saturday 27th March 2004 at the Nepean Room, Penrith Civic Centre, 601 High Street 9am-5pm. Topics include Samuekl Marsden, the Great Western Highway, Growth of Castlereagh & the Nepean Times. Cost is $30 includes lunch m/a teas and conference pack. More details contact Alison Spencer on 02 4732 7687 alsions@penrithcity.nsw.gov.au In conjunction with the above, Nepean Family History Society will be holding a Mini Fair on Sunday 28th March 2004 at their premises on the Great Western Highway at Emu Plains. Will include displays, tours, speakers, stalls, food & drink. Further enquiries Sue Breeze Ph: 02 4735 1818 or email jmcleod@austarmetro.com.au

HILL END & TAMBAROORA GATHERING

The annual Hill End & Tambaroora Gathering will be held in the Sydney Botanical Garden on Saturday 6th March. Meet at the Rose Garden Pavilion, a large stone edifice, from around 12 noon onwards. It is best approached from the entrance in Macquarie St. For more information contact Lorraine email lorraine@compassnet.com.au

5th VICTORIAN FAMILY HISTORY STATE CONFERENCE

The topic of this conference is "Settlers in the sun" symbolizing the diversity of settlement in inland Australia. Conference will be held at St. Joseph's College, 12th Street, Mildura from the 16th to 18th April 2004. For more information Contact the 2004 Organising Committee, PO Box 3467, Mildura 3502 or phone Lyn Craig Ph (03) 5023-2313 (ah) or email SettlersintheSun@telstra.com

BYRNES & REFFIN FAMILY REUNION

A reunion is being held to celebrate 200 years since the arrival of convict Ann Reffin, who married David Burns/Byrnes (Friendship I) on Sunday 20 June 2004 at the Castlereagh Methodist Church Hall. Associated surnames are Byrnes, Jackson & Wilkinson. For further information contact: John Byrnes Ph: 02 99018789; Email byrnesj@minerals.nsw.gov.au or www.webspawner.com/users/thebyrnes/index.html

ENQUIRY - RIEDY or REIDY

Information required on Martin Foley RIEDY or REIDY married Johanna McCabe at St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney on 20 February 1854. Johanna arrived aboard the "Earl of Elgin" in 1853. Would like to know when Martin arrived and on what ship, please. Contact : Bill Reidy 31 Ellison Road SPRINGWOOD 2777 puddle@pnc.com.au

ENQUIRY - RICHARD TUCKWELL

Information required on Richard Tuckwell (NSW Corps) who had a grant of 100 acres at Mulgrave Place in 1793 by Major Francis Grose. There seems little documentation in early records i.e. newspapers & Land Titles (Old Records) although there is mention in 1806 of Tuckwell's Lagoon and it is obvious that Richard and his family had been settled in the area since that early 100 acre grant, he did go and purchase other land. I would like to know where this 100 acre grant at Mulgrave Place was & where was Tuckwell's Lagoon? Contact : Mrs Carol McCaul, 28 Myall Street AUBURN 2144 Cazzam@aol.com

SURFING THE INTERNET**. SITES FOR FAMILY HISTORIANS

Members with internet access should check out the following interesting sites. The Library has free access to the internet, contact 4560 4460 for bookings. Richmond also has access, for bookings phone 4578 2002.

Australian Medical Pioneers Index (AMPI) ~ http://www.medicalpioneers.com/

Convict History & Genealogy Links ~ (Convict information for NSW, TAS, WA, QLD & NI also various lists relating to ticket of leave, absconders etc) ~ http://www.hotkey.net.au/~jwilliams4/cons.htm

Scottish place names index ~ http://www.scotsorigins.com/PlaceNameSearch.aspx

Freemasons NSW & ACT (includes information about the Masonic Historical Society of NSW) ~ http://www.uglnsw.freemasonry.org.au/

~ Let us know of sites, that you have tried with (or without) success ~

NEW LOCAL STUDIES ITEMS AVAILABLE TO CONSULT

Dancing with strangers / CLENDINNEN
RL994.41 CLE

Dawn in the Valley : early history of the Hunter Valley settlement / WOOD
RL994.42 WOO

My ancestor was a coalminer (UK) / TONKS
RL929.341 TON

WANTED

History Detectives

Have you uncovered new & significant information on a puzzle from the past? Do you have a fascinating story which sheds light on an important historical event or character of interest to all? History Detectives is an ABC TV series premiering this year that will take an investigative approach to Australia's past up to the 1970s. We'll investigate stories ranging from family secrets to old crimes. If you have a story of interest, please write to us at:

ABC TV History
GPO Box 9994 Sydney 2001 or
historydetectives@your.abc.net.au or visit
http://www.abc.net.au/historydetectives/
T: (02) 8333 3338 (answering machine only)
No original documents or photographs please.

BICENTENARY OF THE BATTLE OF VINEGAR HILL

PROGRAMME - SUNDAY 29 FEB - SUNDAY 7 MAR 2004

SUNDAY 29 FEBRUARY 2004

• 10am Sign Unveiling Cnr George & Bridge Streets, Windsor. An interpretive sign installed on the site of the hanging of Phillip Cunningham will be unveiled by Mayor Rex Stubbs
• Entertainment in Windsor Mall/Thompson Square 11am-4pm
  Free entertainment on an Irish theme in the Windsor Mall Rotunda in assocation with Windsor Mall Craft Markets. Dublin Up appearing in Thompson Square (opposite Maquarie Arms Hotel at the other end of the mall) 1.30-4pm courtesy Macquarie Arms Hotel. Enquiries: Prue Charlton 4560 4434
• 3pm Friends of Vinegar Hill Commemoration Service at Vinegar Hill Memorial in Castlebrook Cemetery, Old Windsor Road, Rouse Hill
• Specially composed music performed by Voices of Vinegar Hill choir

MONDAY 1 MARCH TO THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2004

• Rehearsals for choir and music performances
• 1804 Exhibition at Blacktown Arts Centre opening 26th Feb at 6pm
• Exhibition from Ireland at Castle Hill Towers, Mon 29th February
• Concert at Merrylands Plaza 12 noon Wednesday 3rd March
• Living History camp at Rouse Hill Reg Park from Thurs 4th March
• Concert at Parramatta Plaza 12 noon Friday 5th March

THURSDAY 4 MARCH 2004

• 7pm Castle Hill Rebellion at Heritage Park Castle Hill - by invitation and ballot only. Baulkham Hills Council

FRIDAY 5 MARCH 2004

• Civic ceremony 3pm at the Memorial with the first tree planted in Liberty Grove by a special guest
• Dinner with guest speaker, Lynette Silver, author of The Battle of Vinegar Hill (Watermark Press 1983) at historic Tebbutt's Observatory, Windsor, a stone's throw from the site where one of the rebel leaders was hanged. 7-7.30 pm. $35 per head includes complimentary glass of wine. Lucky door prize. Bar service available. RSVP 23 February to Judy Newland 4572 3007.

SATURDAY 6 MARCH 2004

• The Ghosts of Green Hills Concert 3 pm - 7 pm
  Governor Phillip Park, Windsor, Saturday
  The centrepiece of this riverside event will be a specially written and composed performance piece, telling the story of the battle and the part played by Windsor in words and music. Narrated by John Dengate, this piece will use local singers/choirs as well as professional musicians under the artistic direction of Janet Swain www.songdynasty.com.au
  Local choirs involved are: The Song Company, Macquarie Towns Choral Society, Chorella Inc.,Windsor Public School, Richmond High School, St Paul's Grammar St South Windsor Public School.
  Support acts include Handpicked (5-piece band, winner, National Band Competition), Celtic Dreamtime (4-piece band) and the Sydney Irish Ceili Dancers. Food stalls, ample parking, a great family day. Note: this is a smoke-free, alcohol-free event. Contact: Prue Charlton 4560 4434
• Exhibition of colonial art 10am - 4 pm
  Roderick Storie Solicitors, Thompson Square
  Presented by Friends of the Hawkesbury Art Collection and Regional Art Gallery.
  Contact: Sheila Sharp 4572 3039

SUNDAY 7 MARCH 2004

• Special Vinegar Hill Commemorative Mass 9am
  St Matthews Catholic Church, Windsor - Contact: Father McNamara 4577 3073
• Inaugural BVH Bike ride Departing McQuade Park at 8 am
  Riding to Rouse Hill via Castlebrook Cemetery to view Vinegar Hill Memorial Contact Doug Bathersby 4577 3620
• 11 am Re-enactment of the rebellion at Rouse Hill Regional Park, with
  1804 arts and crafts demonstrations, children's games, food etc
  Living History camp open to the public
  Indigenous history, music & craft
• 12.30 pm Descendants and images are introduced
• 1.30 pm Concert with Celtic Dreamtime & others
  Specially composed music performed by Voices of Vinegar Hill choir

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Interactive CD by Friends of Vinegar Hill after the event
• ABC documentary
• Local events in Blacktown, Windsor, Holroyd, Parramatta & Baulkham Hills
• High School workshops in Australian history by local historians, early Feb
• Primary School workshops in Australian History, early February

For further information contact Patricia Parker 9319 1008 or email p_parker@bigpond.net.au or Prue Charlton 4560 4434