Category: History and heritage

Anzac, Genealogy, History and heritage, Maryborough, Maryborough history, Queensland history, The Great War, Uncategorized, Vance8 Comments

John William Vance

Carol

This is a tribute to a young soldier in our family who died nearly 100 years ago during the freezing winter on the Western Front in December 1916. John William Vance is my daughter’s third cousin – first cousin of her grandfather Archibald Pitt Vance – and his Service No was 3962. He was the son of Joseph Edward and Mary Ada Vance (nee Fallon) and was working as a carpenter in Maryborough (Queensland) when he first enlisted on 24 August 1915. John stated that he was 18 years on his enlistment form, but his actual age was 17. It seems that he may have … Continue reading John William Vance

Anzac, Cammack, Genealogy, Hawkesbury, History and heritage, Horncastle, Horncastle Grammar School, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, RAAF, Royal Australian Air Force, Sherwood Foresters, Telecommunications, Telstra, The Great War, Uncategorized, Vance4 Comments

My Anzac Day Heroes

Carol

Our family was fortunate in that, of the family members who served in World Wars I and II and in Government or Defence Service, only one was killed in action. That one was my grandfather, Private Walter Cammack 203661 who was killed on 1 April 1918, aged 33, in France while serving with the Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment, 1st/5th Battalion. He is buried in the Aix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension, Pas de Calais, in France. As mentioned in an earlier blogpost, I was approached by the Horncastle (Lincolnshire) Civic Society two years ago to provide information and photographs about my grandfather (who came from Horncastle) … Continue reading My Anzac Day Heroes

Hawkesbury, historicwindsorguide, History and heritage, Tourism, UncategorizedLeave a comment

My submission against the NSW State Government merger proposal of Hawkesbury City Council and The Hills Shire Council (part)

Carol

 I have submitted my response to the merger proposal prepared by the NSW Government concerning the proposed merger of Hawkesbury City Council and part of The Hills Shire Council. My submission ended up being over 2,200 words but my covering letter … Continue reading My submission against the NSW State Government merger proposal of Hawkesbury City Council and The Hills Shire Council (part)

Anzac, Genealogy, History and heritage, The Great WarLeave a comment

‘With heaps and heaps of love and kisses’: the Boulton brothers’ war

Carol

‘With heaps and heaps of love and kisses’: the Boulton brothers’ war Brothers in Arms: The Great War Letters of Captain Nigel Boulton R.A.M.C. & Lieut Stephen Boulton, A.I.F. Compiled and edited by Louise Wilson 425pp, $39.95 Available from the author at http://www.louisewilson.com.au/ On reading the first of the Great War letters written by the Boulton brothers, Nigel and Stephen, it became obvious that this was going to be an emotional, poignant and at times, disturbing journey. The content of the letters will appeal strongly to anyone who has family who served during the Great War and in my own … Continue reading ‘With heaps and heaps of love and kisses’: the Boulton brothers’ war

historicwindsorguide, History and heritage, Tourism, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours and the NBN

Carol

A few days ago I was contacted by Solstice Media to see if I was willing to appear on a short video about the use of NBN by Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours. Well, the lovely Theresa and Stuart arrived and searched for a place with good lighting away from traffic noise, so we finally settled in our fernery. After filming, Stuart and Theresa accompanied me on a pre-arranged tour (with permission from the tour organisers) and we visited Ebenezer Church for their traditional, delicious Devonshire Tea. After enjoying their visit to Ebenezer, they were driven back to Windsor by Geoff … Continue reading Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours and the NBN

History and heritage, TourismLeave a comment

UWS EucFACE experiment site

Carol

Visitors on Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours trips through the Richmond Lowlands and around UWS Hawkesbury Campus often ask about the experiments being conducted at the UWS EucFACE experiment site (Free Air CO2 Experiment). The experiment site is designed to predict the effects of rapidly rising atmospheric carbon dioxide on Australia’s native forests. This experiment aims to predict decades in advance the effects of exposure to rising CO2 levels on native forests, animals, soils and grasses. Check out the website about EucFACE at http://www.uws.edu.au/hie/facilities/EucFACE. Continue reading UWS EucFACE experiment site

Art, Genealogy, historicwindsorguide, History and heritage, TourismLeave a comment

Join Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours on special-interest tour of Hawkesbury

Carol

Keep the date free – Friday, 31 October 2014. Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours will be running a relaxed, full day coach tour through the most historic areas of the Hawkesbury in conjunction with Hawkesbury-based artist Greg Hansell’s annual studio exhibition. Accompanied by Greg on the tour, we will showcase selected locations depicted in Greg’s current portfolio. This is an opportunity not to be missed as we visit the UWS Riverfarm on the Richmond Lowlands which is not usually open to the public. The Riverfarm was first acquired by the old Hawkesbury Agricultural College in the early 1900s. You will also … Continue reading Join Hawkesbury Valley Heritage Tours on special-interest tour of Hawkesbury

Genealogy, History and heritage3 Comments

St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor, Bicentenary

Carol

In an earlier post I said that I will keep people informed about proposed plans for the celebration of the bicentenary of the Laying of the Foundation Stone by Governor Lachlan Macquarie at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor in 2017. St Matthew’s and its associated graveyard are historically significant to the state of NSW and to the Hawkesbury area. The church has been the centre of spiritual life in the district since it was consecrated by the Reverend Samuel Marsden in 1822, with many families marking marriages, baptisms and deaths over several generations. The cemetery at St Matthew’s has been in use since … Continue reading St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor, Bicentenary

Genealogy, History and heritage, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Back to those organists of St Matthew’s

Carol

Hard work polish and Aust Womens Weekly 1958 This is the basis of an article I wrote recently for the Hawkesbury Gazette. I am researching organists of St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor, New South Wales, and during my research I found some interesting family genealogical information. William Johnson of Johnson and Kinloch, who built the organ and installed it in 1840, came from a family of organists. What is doubly interesting to me is that as William Johnson and his brother were great-nephews of the Reverend Richard Johnson who arrived in the Colony with the First Fleet, they are … Continue reading Back to those organists of St Matthew’s

History and heritage2 Comments

Article about Lewis Stuart of Colo

Carol

My article in last Wednesday’s Hawkesbury Gazette was very popular with all Lew’s descendants in the Hawkesbury area and beyond. Such an interesting man. One of those stalwart Scots who came out to Australia in the late 1880s who worked hard and overcame tragic events in his life to achieve success as a family man, orchardist at Colo, partner in Hayes Bros Motor Garage at Windsor and local Councillor. Continue reading Article about Lewis Stuart of Colo

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Cemetery tours great success

Carol

St Matthew’s Anglican Church cemetery tour last Sunday, 18 May 2014, was a great success. Had some descendants of Henry and Susannah Kable on the tour, plus descendants of several other people buried in the cemetery. It never fails to surprise me just how many visitors have ancestors from the Hawkesbury area. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me that much because the Hawkesbury was the third area settled after Sydney, Parramatta/Rose Hill. Delightful Devonshire tea was served in the church hall after the tour. Continue reading Cemetery tours great success

History and heritage, UncategorizedLeave a comment

St Matthew’s Windsor Anglican Church cemetery tours

Carol

Doing cemetery tour at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor on Sunday, 18 May, as part of National Trust Heritage Festival. Come along and join us – 1.30pm and 3.00pm. $15.00 includes afternoon tea. Contact Helen on 02 4577 6677. Through this forum I plan to keep people informed about proposed plans for the bicentenary of St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor in 2017. The Repairs and Restoration Committee is at present looking at publishing a new edition of the St Matthew’s book for the 200th anniversary of Francis Greenway’s most famous landmark. While 2017 might seem a long way off, it’s … Continue reading St Matthew’s Windsor Anglican Church cemetery tours

History and heritage, UncategorizedLeave a comment

Organists of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor

Carol

I am researching organists who have played the organ at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor. Not a lot is known about organists through the 1850s, 1860s and early 1870s. I have managed to find many names through the late 1870s through to the 1940s with the help of the National Library’s Trove website and have written a short article for the local newspaper, the Hawkesbury Gazette. If anyone has information hidden away in their family history notes about someone who played the organ at St Matthew’s Anglican Church in Windsor I would be grateful for that info. St Matthew’s will be … Continue reading Organists of St Matthew’s Anglican Church, Windsor