Adam Lindsay Gordon Annual Statue Gathering
2019-06-22 11:00 - 11:40 (Australia/Melbourne) | GORDON RESERVE SPRING STREET MELBOURNE, Opp. 99 Spring Street, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000, Australia
We meet at the Cafe Excello, 99 Spring Street Melbourne at 10:30am and cross
to the statue of Adam Lindsay Gordon at 11:00am for Speeces, Readings, Wattle Laying and the Blowing of Bubbles.
“Life is mostly froth and bubble”

Breakthrough!
2019-06-18 17:00 - 19:30 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
BREAKTHROUGH:
a sudden, dramatic, and important discovery or development.

Do you know that euphoric feeling of discovery while in the depths of research? Or that wonderful moment of making a connection that no one had seen before?In this event historians will share stories of major breakthroughs or lightbulb moments they have experienced during their work or research.
Our June lecture will follow a different format and is presented in partnership with the Professional Historians Australia (Vic & Tas) with Andrew Lemon (RHSV) and Alicia Cerreto (PHA) hosting the event.

Our speakers include:

Gwyn McClelland’s PhD explored the lives of Catholic survivors of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, through oral histories. During his research, as part of a Japan Studies Grant at the National Library of Australia, Gwyn made vital discoveries in older literature, that helped him bring together his research.
Rebecca Le Get has just completed her PhD on the environmental history of tuberculos sanatoria in Victoria, and will show us a snapshot of the inside working of Greenvale Sanatorium in the 1910s, and the archival research that made this possible.

Deb Lee-Talbot is a PhD candidate, exploring the archival materials of the London Missionary Society relating to Oceania. This archive, despite having two catalogues and two guides still offers up surprises.

Natasha Joyce is a PhD candidate examining the lives – and deaths – of Bendigo’s 19th century children of the goldrush. Last year she travelled to Edinburgh to examine an immigrant family’s collection of personal letters. Held at the National Library of Scotland, the original letters revealed details and allowed insight into triumphs and sorrows not obvious in digital copies.
Nikita Vanderbyl has just passed her PhD on Wurundjeri artist and diplomat William Barak. She explores how his paintings ended up in European museums and will speak about the key concept that defined her argument.

Sunday Talk with the La Trobe Society
2019-06-16 14:30 - 16:00 | Mueller Hall, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
WILLIAM HENRY FOSTER: HIS FAMILY AND LIFE IN VICTORIA FROM THE GOLDRUSH YEARS
Speaker: Tim Gatehouse, researcher into Victoria’s colonial era
William Henry Foster was 20 years old when he arrived in Melbourne in 1852 with a colourful past. He went on to become Commissioner of Crown Lands for the Goldfields 1854 and Chinese Protector 1855-1861 when he stood up for the rights of Chinese people in Ballarat, for example, requesting a Chinese wing to be built at the hospital. During this time he was Police Magistrate and Gold Warden for the Ballarat district, and Chairman of the Creswick Court. From 1862 he was Police Magistrate and Gold Warden at Omeo and then at Beechworth. He was a cousin of Charles Joseph La Trobe. Includes afternoon tea. All welcome. Bookings essential

Exhibition launch of Isaac Selby: Lecturer, Historian, Assassin!
2019-06-13 17:00 - 19:00 | RHSV, Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Emeritus Professor Richard Broome, President Royal Historical Society of Victoria, together with the RHSV Councillors
have much pleasure in inviting you to the launch of our exhibition,
ISAAC SELBY: LECTURER, HISTORIAN, ASSASSIN!
at 5pm, Thursday 13 June, 2019 at the Gallery Downstairs, Royal Historical Society of Victoria, 239 A’Beckett St, Melbourne.
The exhibition will be launched by
Emeritus Professor Geoffrey Blainey AC FASSA FAHA FAHS FRHSV
Curator: Alison Cameron

FAMILY HISTORY EXPO HAMILTON
2019-06-01 10:00 - 16:00 | Monivae College, 133 Ballarat Road, Hamilton, VIC, 3300, Australia
Speaker times & topics:
10:15am – 11:15am Col Hutchinson, “Researching a footballer in the family”
11:30am – 12:30pm Jason Reeve, “Using Ancestory.com for family history & an introduction to Ancestry DNA”
2:00pm – 3:00pm Rob Hamilton, “Genealogy & the Freemasons”.
There is coffee shop (students from Monivae) and BBQ run by the Hamilton Rotary Club.
If you are interested in exhibiting and require a table/s please contact Gina Annand at gina.annand5@gmail.com
https://www.vafho.com
Tickets are just $15 per person for full day.

Greening Melbourne
2019-05-28 19:30 - 19:45 | North Melbourne Library, 66 Errol Street, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
Talk by Ian Shears – Greening Melbourne.
Melbourne’s historic urban forest includes approximately 20,000 trees in the private realm. These trees help keep our landscape resilient, our city liveable and sustainable and maintain Melbourne’s character and heritage.

A Life in the Law Tour - St Kilda Cemetery
2019-05-26 14:00 - 16:00 | St Kilda Cemetery, Dandenong Road & Hotham Street, St Kilda East, Vic, Australia
Sunday 26 May 2019 at 2.00pm
Come and join us on this walking tour through the cemetery and hear insightful tales of what it was like to work in the law in C19 Melbourne. Graves visited will include notable judges and barristers of the time and we will hear many amazing tales.
Cost $15, includes afternoon tea. BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL: Tel Liz 0422379053 or Sheila 9531 3648
Meet at main gates Dandenong Road

Friends of La Trobe’s Cottage annual lecture
2019-05-23 18:30 - 20:00 | Mueller Hall, Herbarium, Royal Botanic Gardens, Birdwood Avenue, Melbourne, 3004, Australia
LA TROBE’S GOLD AND SILVER TESTIMONIAL PIECES
Speaker: Susan Priestley, Fellow RHSV
La Trobe’s farewell tribute from the people of Victoria in 1853 included a superb gold cup made in Melbourne (whereabouts unknown since 1862) and a London-made spectacular silver and glass candelabrum centrepiece, now in the collection of the National Gallery of Victoria. Hear more about them and their place in history. Includes refreshments. All welcome.

Schools in Glen Eira
2019-05-22 19:30 - 21:30 | Join via Zoom
Glen Eira Historical Society – Speaker Series 2
A talk on the history of schools, students and teachers in Glen Eira by historian and author Dr Deborah Towns

Weston Bate Oration: Making History By Saving It
2019-05-21 17:00 - 19:30 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
The RHSV is delighted that Kristin Stegley OAM, Chairman of the National Trust of Australia (Victoria), has accepted our invitation to deliver the 2019 Weston Bate Oration.

Kristin will explore the nexus between history and heritage, especially the advocacy required to maintain and strengthen the vitality and integrity of both. Kristin, aware that the RHSV is interested in the National Trust’s view on the weaknesses and strengths of the heritage advocacy sector across the State, will take this opportunity to explore some of those views. How can we effect the best possible heritage outcomes through advocacy?

Kristin has extensive leadership experience in the Victorian cultural, philanthropic and local government sectors. An arts educator for over 20 years, Kristin has been a local government Councillor, Trustee of several philanthropic Foundations and a political activist.
She has volunteered with the National Trust for many years to promote the importance and value of heritage to our cultural well being.

This evening will start with the RHSV AGM & SGM at 5:00pm in the Officers Mess Upstairs – drinks will be served before and after the AGM. We will segue into The Weston Bate Oration at 6:15pm.

WORKSHOP: STORAGE OF ARCHIVES. Venue: Castlemaine
2019-05-17 13:00 - 16:00 | Castlemaine Historical Society, 7 Goldsmith Crescent, Castlemaine, VIC, 3450, Australia
This workshop has four sessions:

storage of paper based material [Alleyne Hockley, CHSI Archivist]
photographs – framed and unframed [CHSI member]
digital archival files [David Langdon, HVSG, President Richmond & Burnley HS]
storage facilities [Dr Ken Gifkins, CHSI Treasurer]

The program will focus on basic storage of archives and will provide cost effective and simple tips for the storage of paper based and digital archives. One session will look at practical ideas for purpose built archival buildings. Castlemaine Historical Society has a great deal of experience with building archival storage facilities. It has three purpose built archival storage rooms and has recently received a grant for a further building. Their treasurer will give helpful ideas on how to build archival facilities, how to apply for funding and negotiating a way through the red tape associated with building on a Heritage Registered site.
The workshop will be held in the Castlemaine Historical Society Local History Repository
and Research Rooms in the historic 1852 Former Court House.
Tea & coffee will be supplied and attendees are encouraged to BYO their lunch and to arrive early, from noon, for networking.

Michael Pearce: spend the afternoon with an award winning set and costume designer
2019-05-11 15:00 - 16:00 | The Channel, Arts Centre Melbourne, St Kilda Road Terrace, Melbourne, VIC, 3006, Australia
Michael Pearce is a Melbourne based theatre set and costume designer, visual artist and occasional performer, designing for dance, drama and opera companies in Australia and New Zealand, Europe and Asia, including Australian Dance Theatre, Sydney Dance Company, the Netherlands Dance Theatre, Melbourne Theatre Company, Dance North, Hong Kong Arts Festival , Douglas Wright Co NZ and The New Zealand Ballet.
He has designed nine works for The Australian Ballet, winning three Green Room Awards for Best Dance design, and is a frequent collaborator with The Australian Ballet’s resident choreographer Stephen Baynes, including Constant Variants (part of AB’s VERVE program seen in Melbourne in 2018 and in Sydney April 2019). Another of their work Unspoken Dialogues is part of The Australian Ballet’s New York season this May 2019.
Michael exhibits his pastel works on paper in Australia and Asia and will be exhibiting at fortyfive downstairs gallery , 45 Flinders Lane Melbourne from April 30th to May 18th 2019 . The exhibition is called Unfolding , as the drawings introduce folding and embossing the paper, with this idea arising whilst making the design model for Constant Variants . A sense of movement has always been the linking element in both his dance design and art practice. Another strong influence in his work has been his many collaborations, exhibitions and residencies in Vietnam and Hong Kong with these being reflected in his three previous exhibitions at fortyfive downstairs
All are welcome. Entry is free, however bookings are required.

Exhibition in Castlemaine Town Hall
2019-05-04 10:00 - 2019-05-05 16:00 | Castlemaine Town Hall, Lyttleton St, Castlemaine, Victoria, 3450, Australia
The Castlemaine Pioneers and Old Residents Association Inc celebrated its 139th birthday this year. What an astonishing milestone. To mark the occasion the Association is mounting a major historical exhibition in Castlemaine Town Hall on 4th & 5th May 2019.
It will specifically cover the years of 1910 – 1925 with a focus on industry, commerce, churches, schools and society generally with some of its involvement in WWI and its aftermath. There will be veteran cars, motor bikes and push bikes and horse-drawn vehicles on display.
On the evening of Saturday 4th of May there will be music, readings and slides of the period accompanied by a light supper.
It will be a real snapshot of life in one of Victoria’s important shires and country towns.

Friends of St Kilda Cemetery - ANZAC Tour
2019-04-28 14:00 - 16:00 | St Kilda Cemetery, Dandenong Road & Hotham Street, St Kilda East, Vic, Australia
Come and join the Friends of St Kilda Cemetery on our annual tour for Anzac Day and hear about the lives of those who fought during WW1 and other campaigns. This is one of our most popular tours.
Cost $15 including afternoon tea; bookings: info@foskc.org; tel: 0422379053
We go all weather, rain, hail or shine, so please wear suitable clothing and bring an umbrella.
Meet at main gates cnr Dandenong Road and Hotham Street, St Kilda East.

Anzac Day Walk at the Brighton Cemetery
2019-04-14 14:00 - 16:00 | Brighton General Cemetery, North Road, Caulfield South, Victoria, 3162, Australia
Our Annual Anzac Walk relates to stories of a few of the many service persons interred at the Brighton General Cemetery. On this walk we get to know just a few of those lying within the walls at the Brighton Cemetery. Edward William Pinder was awarded the Distinguished Combat Medal for his bravery for taking a message to the Officer in Charge and returning with much needed reserves, Samuel Ettingove who wrote an impassioned letter and being granted naturalisation so that he could enlist as an Australian, Sir John Monash who became one of Australia’s most notable Military figures. These are just a few of those we will be paying homage to.
This walk begins near the office

The Origins of the Kastellorizian Costume
2019-04-14 13:30 - 16:30 | VIC
Presented by The Kastellorizian Association of Victorian and delivered by Geoffrey Conaghan.
Afternoon Tea: 1.30pm – 2.30pm
Presentation: 2.45pm – 4.30pm
Please bring a plate
Donation entry
Geoffrey Conaghan is a researcher and custodian of traditional Kastellorizan costumes. From the Askitis-Stavrianos family (Sydney), Geoffrey is the family wardrobe custodian of the largest single collection (over 80 items) of Kastellorizian clothes, an intact wardrobe of his maternal great-grandmother Amirisa Hatsiagapitou Askitis.
In past presentations and publications Geoffrey has enraptured audiences with his considerable knowledge and research into the origins of the textiles and fabrics, the evolution of the costume and influences on it by past empires. Still researching to this very day, Geoffrey is presently investigating the source of the French fabric found in Kastellorizian garments.

RSVP:
Florence Livery: 9348 0751 / 0423 007 339 / flivery@bigpond.com
Christine Mastores-Davidson: 0414 822 234 / christine.md@bigpond.com

Workshop: Publishing local history books for beginners
2019-04-05 13:30 - 16:30 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
This workshop will cover all the basics of how to publish local history successfully.
Some of the topics covered will include:

Short print run publishing/offset printing
Costs of book publishing
Thinking about a print run
How to price a book
Have faith in your product
Be prepared to get out & sell it
Invoicing for Trade Discounts

Planning your book:

Size, pages
Photos? colour?
Digital printing

Selling on line
Preparing for the printer
The workshop will be delivered by Lenore Frost who not only has local history publishing runs on the board but she also runs the History Victoria Bookshop at the RHSV and she has years of understanding of why books sell and don’t sell. Lenore also works on the Holsworth Heritage Grants for publishing local history.
Lenore will be joined by Kay Ball from Murchison & District Historical Society which puts us all to shame with their very active publishing program which includes children’s books, grant seeking, and the inevitable awards.
There will be lots of opportunities for addressing your particular issues or concerns.
Afternoon tea provided. Please note that this event is held in the Officers’ Mess Upstairs – there is no lift, all attendees will have to climb one flight of stairs so, unfortunately, it is not suitable for wheelchairs.

Law Week Walk - “GUILTY OR NOT” You be the Jury
2019-04-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Brighton General Cemetery, North Road, Caulfield South, Victoria, 3162, Australia
As the Jury you will hear the case of the death of two wives of a doctor, be asked who caused the death of the body found in a lane, whether a brothers dispute was responsible for a murder and while out shooting rabbits was a death an accident. In total six cases will be heard and as the Jury you will be asked to consider if they are Guilty or Not Guilty.
Bookings are essential – ring Lois on 9558 4248

Waltzing Matilda: Australia's Accidental Anthem. A forensic history.
2019-04-02 17:15 - 19:00 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
This song that started as an accidental collaboration in outback Queensland in 1895 caused the death of a seven-year relationship and went on to inspire a nation during World War II, following Banjo Paterson’s death in 1941.
Benjamin Lindner is a criminal barrister with a long-standing fascination with the life and times of Waltzing Matilda which has culminated in Waltzing Matilda – Australia’s Accidental Anthem (with a foreword by Geoffrey Blainey). There, he explores the how, why, when and where A.B. ‘Banjo’ Paterson collaborated with his fiancée’s friend, Christina Macpherson – having only met her a matter of days before they spawned the song.
Criminal barristers often declare that fact is more bizarre than fiction; the factual origins of Waltzing Matilda are no exception. In an effort to debunk ‘fake’ historical claims, Benjamin takes a forensic approach, laying bare the evidence, and along the way he discovers some new twists to a story dating back to 1895.
Benjamin Lindner appears regularly in criminal trials in the County and Supreme Courts, and also in the Court of Appeal. He appeared in the Supreme Court for one of 12 accused in Victoria’s first trial involving terrorism offences. He has appeared in numerous trials in matters involving narcotics, fraud, offences of violence (including murder, manslaughter), sexual offences and all indictable offences.

Drinks: 5:15pm
Lecture: 6pm

Friends of St Kilda Cemetery - Mayors of St Kilda Tour
2019-03-31 14:00 - 16:00 | St Kilda Cemetery, Dandenong Road & Hotham Street, St Kilda East, Vic, Australia
Come and join Friends of St Kilda Cemetery on this great historical tour of the graves of the early mayors of St Kilda. From the first mayor to Albert Jacka, all are buried in St Kilda Cemetery. Hear fascinating tales to be told about their extraordinary lives.
Cost $15 including afternoon tea: Bookings: email info@foskc.org or telephone 0422379053
We go all weather, rain, hail or shine, so please wear suitable clothing and bring an umbrella.
Meet at main entrance to cemetery Dandenong Road.

Workshop: Keeping a digital collection for beginners
2019-03-29 13:30 - 16:30 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
In the second workshop on the 29 March, we discuss what should happen to a file after it has been digitised. We will cover:

file formats
image resolution
best practice file and folder naming
metadata
software
security and access

The workshop will be delivered by Sophie Shilling. Sophie is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and RMIT, and currently works in Information Services at Museums Victoria and the RHSV as well as being the Outreach Officer for the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. She specialises in digital preservation, presenting workshops for the Australian Society of Archivists. Sophie authored the FAHS publication, Collecting & Preserving Digital Materials.
The workshop is limited to 20 attendees and you are more than welcome to bring your own laptop. We will be sending, in good time, attendees some reading that should be done before the workshop.
The two workshops presented in the morning and the afternoon of Friday 29th March do not cover the same ground and are complimentary. You can register for either workshop or both together.
Tea and coffee will be provided and, for those attending both workshops, you are welcome to bring your own lunch or visit one of the many cafes surrounding the RHSV.
Please note that these workshops are held in the Officers’ Mess Upstairs which is NOT accessible by wheelchairs – there is one flight of stairs to the venue.
The cost for each individual workshop is $30 for members and $45 for non-members. And, if you want to register for both workshops the cost is $50 for members and $70 for non-members. Members in this case covers both RHSV members and members of our affiliated societies. If you are attending both workshops please just register once either on this page or the Scanning Workshop page.

Workshop: Scanning for beginners
2019-03-29 09:30 - 12:30 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
This workshop suits those who can use a computer and can navigate the internet but would like to learn how to use scanners. It is a hands-on workshop in which you will have the opportunity to use a scanner. We will also cover:

choosing a scanner that’s right for you
setting up a scanner
choosing what to scan in-house and when to call on the professionals
scanning workflows and processes
preparing documents for scanning
computer and scanners settings for the best images

The workshop will be delivered by Sophie Shilling. Sophie is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and RMIT, and currently works in Information Services at Museums Victoria and the RHSV as well as being the Outreach Officer for the Federation of Australian Historical Societies. She specialises in digital preservation, presenting workshops for the Australian Society of Archivists. Sophie authored the FAHS publication, Collecting & Preserving Digital Materials.
The workshop is limited to 20 attendees and you are more than welcome to bring your own laptop. We will be sending, in good time, attendees some reading that should be done before the workshop. And, if you are bringing your own laptop we will send you the links to download the free software needed to connect to our scanners.
The two workshops presented in the morning and the afternoon of Friday 29th March do not cover the same ground and are complimentary. You can register for either workshop or both together.
Tea and coffee will be provided and, for those attending both workshops, you are welcome to bring your own lunch or visit one of the many cafes surrounding the RHSV.
Please note that these workshops are held in the Officers’ Mess Upstairs which is NOT accessible by wheelchairs – there is one flight of stairs to the venue.
The cost for each individual workshop is $30 for members and $45 for non-members. And, if you want to register for both workshops the cost is $50 for members and $70 for non-members. Members in this case covers both RHSV members and members of our affiliated societies.

MUD AND BLOOD: a WWI play about Pompey Elliott in St Kilda
2019-03-29 - 2019-04-06 | Memo Music Hall, 88 Acland St, St Kilda, VIC, 3182, Australia
We invite you to Mud and Blood, a compelling 80-minute WWI play at St Kilda RSL 28 March to 6 April, 2019. It is about the sacrifices of men and women a century ago at war and at home. Written by Meg McNena and directed powerfully by Alice Bishop, Gallipoli and The Somme are re-lived, letters of love span the sea, women’s hands and voices are busy and music intones the era. Set 1914-1921 in battle and at home, Pompey Elliott, inspires as husband, father, general, Anzac veteran, leader. He and a soldier’s mother deal with his vow to look after his boys in war as if they were his own. Potent themes of family, duty, loyalty, trauma, betrayal, legacy and grief vividly unfold for the newly declared nation of Australia.
Below are links to audience vox pop at the Charlton and Moonee Ponds performances in 2018.
https://vimeo.com/281345708
https://vimeo.com/322129786

Performances:
29 Mar 10am Memo Music Hall (both venues are at 88 Acland St)
30 Mar 7pm St Kilda RSL
5 Apr 12 noon St Kilda RSL
6 Apr 7pm St Kilda RSL

Governor Hotham’s Memorial.
2019-03-26 19:30 - 20:15 | North Melbourne Library, 66 Errol Street, North Melbourne, VIC, 3051, Australia
Talk by Dr Celistina Sagazio – Governor Hotham’s Memorial.
Dr Celestina Sagazio is historian and manager of Cultural Heritage of the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust. She previously worked as an historian for the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) for twenty-six years. She is the author and editor of a number of publications, including Cemeteries: Our Heritage, Conserving Our Cemeteries, The National Trust Research Manual and Women’s Melbourne.
Governor Sir Charles Hotham helped spark the historically significant Eureka Stockade Rebellion in Ballarat in 1854.
He died in 1855 and a very unique monument, designed and built in England by George Gilbert Scott and John Birney Phillip, was placed on his grave.
In the mid-1990s the column began leaning precariously and for public safety reasons it was dismantled and currently stored in Springvale Botanical Cemetery, awaiting the time when we could restore it.

Heritage Days 22 + 23 Mar: Shepparton & District
2019-03-23, 2019-03-22 | Shepparton, Shepparton, Victoria, 3630, Australia
Greater Shepparton City Council, in association with its Heritage Advisory Committee, is hosting its second grand ‘open heritage’ event on Friday 22 March and Saturday 23 March 2019. The two Heritage Open Days are free.
Over 50 heritage places in Greater Shepparton will be open, including homesteads, museums, churches (including one now a private dwelling), mosques, halls, historic irrigation infrastructure sites, cemeteries, old hotels, etc. Bus and walking tours will be available, along with independent visiting.
Many of these buildings and sites are normally inaccessible to the public.
Bus tours include the rarely seen Gowangardie Homestead, squatter-built in the 1860s, Fairley Downs, a commodious homestead with a small private cemetery, and Dhurringile mansion, now part of a prison. There will also be a tour of Shepparton’s four mosques and Sikh temple, another of early irrigation infrastructure, and a tour covering the region’s early 20th century architecture. And more.
Walking tours will be conducted in Shepparton, Mooroopna and Tatura, and many, many further places across the municipality will be open for independent visiting.

Vida Goldstein and Maud Wood Park
2019-03-19 17:15 - 19:00 | RHSV ZOOM by Invitation, Australia
The RHSV is delighted that distinguished historian, Professor Marilyn Lake AO, will deliver the RHSV’s inaugural Women’s History Lecture, Vida Goldstein and Maud Wood Park: the political significance of Australian-American women’s friendships.

Marilyn Lake, D.Litt, FAHA, FASSA, AO
Former President of the Australian Historical Association
Professorial Fellow, University of Melbourne.

Author, most recently, of Progressive New World: How Settler Colonialism and TransPacific Exchange Shaped American Reform, Harvard University Press, 2019.
Vida Goldstein first met American suffragist Maud Wood Park in Boston, when on a lecturing tour following her attendance at the first International Woman Suffrage Conference, in Washington DC, in early 1902. Seven years later, Park travelled to Melbourne, where Goldstein, president of the Women’s Political Association and editor of the Woman Voter, introduced her to local women activists and future Prime Minister Andrew Fisher. Park came to Australia to investigate Australian women’s use of the vote post-suffrage. ‘The question is often asked,’ she wrote, “After woman suffrage what?” Sometimes the asker means what methods of organization will women employ; sometimes, what ends will they seek; sometimes, what results will they obtain’. After meeting party and non-party woman leaders, in Melbourne and Sydney, Park decided she had gained a ‘pretty definite idea of what women’s Causes”’ were. Convinced that an independent non-party stance was the best way forward for women in politics, Park returned to the United States, where, following ten more years of relentless lobbying, passage of the 19th Amendment was finally secured.
In 1920 Park became inaugural President of the non-party National League of Women Voters.

Drinks 5:15pm
Lecture 6pm
Books will be available for sale and signing.

Presentation and Exhibition Viewing: Carlo Catani: Visitonary, Creator, Genius
2019-03-14 10:00 - 12:00 | Museo Italiano, 199 Faraday Street, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, Australia
FREE – RSVP ESSENTIAL by clicking on the Event website link below
An event not to be missed! Join presenter and Exhibition co-curator Daniela Riachi for an informative and entertaining illustrated talk, on the life and work of Carlo Catani Victoria’s foremost Italian-born civil engineer, and key figure in the development of the State of Victoria from 1876–1918.
Following the presentation attendees will have the opportunity to view the enlightening bi-lingual exhibition Carlo Catani: Visionary, creator, genius, before it closes on 23 March 2019. The talk and exhibition explore Catani’s wide-ranging accomplishments and enduring legacy to the State of Victoria. Catani’s many notable projects include majestic Alexandra Avenue and Gardens in the heart of the city, development of the European style St Kilda foreshore and creation of scenic mountain roads which enabled the establishment of popular Victorian alpine resorts such as that at Mount Buffalo.
“Here is a most unique personality whom the State will remember,
because each year as it passes will help to perfect his artistic work”.
(Ovens and Murray Advertiser, 7th April 1915)
Image: Alexandra Drive and River Yarra, Melbourne, c1908.
Courtesy of the State Library of Victoria.

Theatre Heritage Australia Inc. 10th Annual General Meeting
2019-03-09 14:30 - 16:00 | Prahran Mechanics Institute, 39 St Edmonds Road, Prahran, VIC, 3181, Australia
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKER – PHIL A’VARD
Actor, director, producer and long-time manager of the Alexander Theatre at Monash University
This is a free event – all THA members and their guests, and new members are welcome
Agenda: 2.30 pm – AGM
2.50 pm – Guest speaker Phil A’Vard
3.30 pm – Refreshments
Click on Event Website to submit your RSVP by 4 March 2019

Exhibition launch: Cold War Games
2019-03-07 17:00 - 19:00 | RHSV, Gallery Downstairs, 239 A'Beckett Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
Exhibition Launch
5pm, Thursday 7 March 2019
Gallery Downstairs, RHSV.
Free event.
Research: Harry Blutstein
In 1956, an Olympic year, the world was beset with Cold War anxieties. Tensions between East and West had been heightened less than a month before the Games when the USSR invaded Hungary to crush an uprising. Then Israeli, French and British armies invaded and occupied Egypt’s Sinai and Suez Canal Zone. Would the Melbourne Olympic Games be remembered as the “friendly” Games, a sea of tranquillity in a stormy world, or would they become a victim of the Cold War? Would our moment in the sun be blown away by revolutions and wars raging over 15,000 kilometres away?
Reporting on the Olympic Games for The New Yorker Magazine, sports writer John Lardner suggested that Melbourne had found the antidote for the tensions that plagued the rest of the world. “Australia is enjoying almost a world monopoly on peace, harmony, civility, understanding, and other such symptoms of civilization and good breeding, while Europe is behaving like someone you would think twice about introducing to your sister.”
Keeping Australia safe from the frigid winds of the Cold War was ASIO. However it had never faced a challenge like the one posed by the Olympic Games. Its forte was hunting down “reds under the beds”: local comrades in the universities, unions and the media who might be run as agents of influence by Soviet spies. In 1954, Australians discovered just how real the threat was when Vladimir Petrov defected, as did his wife. He was Third Secretary at the Soviet Embassy in Canberra, as well as being a lieutenant colonel in the KGB.
These factors lead to the Melbourne Olympics becoming the first Cold War Games.
