Journal #58 – June 2018
The Diary of Thomas Trotter
Thomas Trotter (1794-1878) kept a diary in which he recorded his day to day events giving us great insights into the lives of these early settlers during the 1860’s. The family farming centred around orange growing on their Glenthorne property, on the south bank of the Manning River opposite Taree. Of course, They were highly dependant on shipping to get their produce to the Sydney Markets.
By Maurie Garland
John Oxley’s Journey Through the Manning Valley 1818
2018 marks the 200th anniversary of John Oxley’s explorative journey along the coast through the Manning Valley. While Oxley’s accomplishments were much admired, they were also marked the beginning of a European invasion which was about to completely dispossess Aborigines of lands they had occupied for thousands of years.
Katherine M Bell
In the Museum
In the mid-March the Society hosted members of Quota International Taree at the launch of a new exhibit featuring a limited edition of the book ‘Joan Sutherland – Designs for a Diva’
By Terry Tournoff
The Wingham Municipal Council’s Housing Scheme
Local councils have not traditionally played a part in helping Australian Families achieve the goal of home ownership. However, the year 1954 saw the arrival of Wingham Municipal Council’s new Town Clerk and heralded the start of the Council’s housing finance scheme, without a doubt Council’s most remembered, and certainly most innovative achievement in its 91- year history.
By Bill Beach
The Mystery of the First Taree Methodist Church
In 1892, Taree resident, Thomas Dugale wrote a history of the Methodist Church in the Manning Valley. Despite his arrival in 1858, he seemed quite unaware of Taree’s first Methodist Church. Even at Glenthorne, there is a marker of its Methodist Church (now demolished) with the wrong date of that church’s opening.
By Maurie Garland
Dangerous Waters – A Manning Shipping Disaster
In the 19th century, shipping was the lifeblood of the Manning Valley. The sea journey from the Manning to Sydney or return, could be quite costly commercially if the ship floundered or sank. In some cases there was a tragic loss of live. The voyage was quite costly materially for the family of Rev John Pemell in 1860. And the Sinking of the Bonnie Dundee in 1879, with its consequent loss of life was quite tragic for the family of Thomas Dugdale.
By Maurie Garland
The Manning River Steam Navigation Company
Since the 1850’s there had been calls for the establishment of Steam Ship company that would service the Manning exclusively and consequently provide regular – and reasonably priced – shipping of the Manning Valley’s produce to Sydney markets. It was not until 1874 that such a company was formed.
By Maurie Garland
When the Piano was the Centre of Home Entertainment
From the 19th Century and throughout the first half of the 20th Century, the piano was the centre of home entertainment, as well as concerts and dancers in local halls. Many children took piano lessons (some under duress) but when it came to a celebration or just a relaxing evening, singing around the piano was very popular. And you especially needed a piano tuner so the evening did not go flat.
By Kaye Wallice
Cost: $10.00 36 pages A4: 21cm x 29cm