The Society thanks all who contributed to a most enjoyable series of community meetings last year; the guest speakers created much discussion over afternoon tea and all further understood what it is that makes a community special when it learns about its own and its place, in history.
This year the Society will again call upon selected members and residents to speak on local topics; an influential Australian and a man who could have changed history. Here is the list for the year, it could change because of unforeseen circumstances:
- February – Don Napper – Nikola Tesla.
- March – Judy Horton – John Peter Russell – The Forgotten Impressionist.
- April – Vern Potter – The Fagans and Fagan Park.
- May – Carolyn Broadhead – Carolyn’s French Connection.
- June – Rod Best – The Best Family.
- July – Michael Bell – Galston Gorge Archaeology.
- August – The June Roughley Memorial Lecture, Ian Hemphill – My Life In Spices.
- September – Bob Ifield – The Ifield Family.
- November – Ron McIntosh – The Lost Boys (on local cenotaphs).
With generous access given to the Society by the Galston Uniting Church in School Road, our meetings have been held there with obvious success. However the home of the Society is “History Cottage” beside the Galston Cenotaph, where all research material is housed and available.
Over recent months Society members, under the guidance of member, Toni Phillips, have carried extensive rearrangement and recording of what is stored. Justly proud of what has been achieved the Society will hold an open afternoon between 12.00 and 5.00 on Sunday 16th March. It invites all to come and see the maps, documents, family history, the library, photographs, micro film and more, that is there to share. A diary reminder is strongly recommended.
It was with sadness that members heard of the death of long time member, Mrs Margaret McKinley on the 30th December. She was an avid historian, who held a strong belief in the value of family and local history to help people understand their sense of belonging in a community and society.
The first meeting for 2025 will be on Saturday 8th February in the Galston Uniting Church, School Road, Galston, starting at 2.00pm. The guest speaker will be Don Napper. He will tell the story of Nikola Tesla, inventor, visionary, forgotten man but the one Elon musk chose to use as the name of his car for very good reasons. Professor Napper has spoken to the Society on several occasions; his knowledge and presentation always guarantee a special afternoon.
He was educated at Sydney and Cambridge Universities. He retired from Sydney university in 2003 as the Pro-Vice Chancellor where he is now Professor Emeritus.
