• FLINDERS STREET STATION Jenny Davies, who spoke on "Flinders Street Station and Its People" at our November meeting, advises that at 12.00 noon on Saturday, 12 December 2009 there will be a book launching at the The Atrium, Federation Square Book Market. To mark the centenary of Flinders Street Station a special limited edition of her book, "Beyond the Façade" will be available and a 'slideshow' of pictures will be presented. Other activities to mark the centenary include an Exhibition in the Degraves Street Subway from 4 January 2010 to 23 January 2010 and an exhibition at the Royal Historical Society of Victoria from 3 May 2010 to 6 August 2010.

• VALE At the November 2009 meeting the President gave news of a number of illnesses and deaths amongst our members and their families. These included the deaths of Lillian Martin (PPPG Member No. 930) and the daughter of Anne Mavric (PPPG Member No. 1171). Also, our Examiner of Proofs, Mavis Gerdtz (PPPG Member No. 1134) has had to give up her PPPG positions for health reasons.

• 40TH ANNIVERSARY The May 2010 meeting will be our 40th Birthday celebration, so keep the day reserved. We hope to have an interesting fun day, more on this nearer the date. Do you have any early photos of PPPG activities, etc.? We have, and are updating the photo album for display on our birthday. If you have any photos please let Barbara Hawkins know.

• RECENT EVENTS National Family History Week was held from 1 August 2009 to 9 August 2009. Events included the annual Family History Feast at the State Library of Victoria. The PPPG held an advertising campaign at this time. On 30 August 2009 a number of events were held to mark Melbourne Day. On Sunday, 1 November 2009, the Annual Pioneers Service was held at St. James Old Cathedral, Melbourne.

• NEWSLETTER News items and articles should be sent to the Editor Barbara Hawkins, by e-mail. Ideas for articles include an account of some of your research work in progress or a visit to a place associated with your ancestors. Why not share some of your tips for filing, organizing, scrap booking and storing your archives? The editor's closing date for the next newsletter is 13 February 2010 (February-March 2010 Newsletter).

• PIONEER PROFILES Material for Pioneer Profiles Volume 6 is being sought by editor Maree Posthuma. Profiles should be kept to about two to two and a half A4 size pages as this makes it fair for everybody. Members are also welcome to submit photos with their profiles, but please only send a copy, no originals. Remember if the picture is of poor quality it won't get any better with printing. Contact the Editor, Maree Posthuma for further details. See our publications page for information about Volumes 1 to 5.

• DATING PHOTOGRAPHS BY COSTUME Mrs. Jacki Mitchell, of Cheltenham, Victoria has offered to freely provide members with the benefit of her extensive experience in estimating the date that early photographs were taken by observing the fashion of the subject's clothing. See your Newsletter for details or e-mail Jacki direct.

• FEBRUARY MEETING At our February 2009 meeting members had the opportunity to "show and tell" about various items of interest:
  

• ANNUAL PIONEERS SERVICE This is held yearly at St. James Old Cathedral in Melbourne to commemorate the laying of their foundation stone by His Honour Charles Joseph La Trobe in 1839. Refreshments are served in the adjoining Conference Centre after the 10.00am. service. On 2 November 2008 these were followed by a 30 minute presentation by the PPPG entitled "Glimpses of the Past" whereby members had the opportunity to give a short presentation about their ancestors, accompanied by projected images expertly prepared by Barbara Hawkins. There was also an information table and extensive displays.

• MELBOURNE DAY 2008 On 30 August 2008 the PPPG was represented by committee and other members at the Official Flag Raising Ceremony in Enterprize Park by the Yarra River. After an address by Melbourne Lord Mayor John So a message of greeting from the Mayor of Launceston was read by the Captain of the "Spirit of Tasmania." The raising of the flag was followed by a rifle volley and cannon fire by members of the Historical Re-enactment Society of Australia. The weather was fine and morning tea was served in the marquee afterwards.
  

• FAMILY HISTORY MEETINGS & DISPLAYS PPPG President Barbara Hawkins represented the Port Phillip Pioneers Group at the "AIGS Bendigo Family & Local History Fair" at the Kangaroo Flat Leisure Centre in March 2008 and the Brunswick Community History Group meeting in October 2008. She was also at the "Goulburn & Murray Association Family and Local History Expo" at Club Mulwala on 15 November 2008. Assistance in setting up and staffing displays at future events and talks is sought from members. If you would like to help please contact a member of the committee or e-mail Barbara Hawkins.

  Hut at Porcupine Township near Maldon, Victoria	PPPG Stand at the VAFHO Treasure Chest, 2006

• FEBRUARY MEETING At our February 2008 meeting there was a display of family history memoribilia by members:

• SUBSCRIPTION REMINDER Thank you to all members who have already renewed their subscriptions for 2009/2010. Past members can rejoin at any time upon payment of an annual subscription. For any enquiries please contact the Honorary Treasurer, Susan Grant on 9822 2658.

• MEMBER'S QUERIES If you can help with any of these queries please reply direct or e-mail Barbara Hawkins.

  LANCEY - Barbara Hawkins is looking for information on John Lancey ( of the Fawkner arrival ) and family. If anyone can help please contact Barbara direct.

  GALAGHER, MATHEWSON, ASH - Gloria Galagher writes: I have read "Pioneer Profiles" (volume 4) through and through many times and am just amazed at the lives of our Pioneers. The Robert Galagher and Isabella Mathewson article was of my husband's great-great-great-grandparents and is the reason I purchased it but I was blown away when I found two other articles on different members in my own family tree. One in particular I am interested in is the Ash family article by Cynthia Tate. If there is anyone out there who knows of Cynthia's planned book "The Ash's, Is Not Cricket" please contact Gloria Galagher.

  BOWMAN, HUTCHINSON - SUTTON GRANGE RUN - Debbie Hamilton has been given the task of finding descendants of William Bowman, who with his father-in-law William Hutchinson, purchased land at Sutton Grange in the Port Phillip District in 1838. She has other details and wishes to find this family as the Sutton Grange Run celebrates the 170th anniversary of settlement next year. She would be delighted to contact anyone who has contact or knows where some family members are.

  MILLAR/MILLER, WHITE, McCLUSKEY, WAREHAM, FORBES - Lynn Haines of Nagambie, Victoria is seeking information on Thomas Millar/Miller married Euphemia White. Owned property at Saltwater River (Maribyrnong) circa 1839. William McCluskey born Antrim, Ireland. Married Elizabeth Millar, daughter of above, March 1843 in Melbourne. William Wareham born Hampshire, England, circa 1805. Transported to Van Diemen's Land in 1831. Married Esther Forbes, September 1844 in Melbourne.

  ROBERTS, PEDRANA, CARR - John Lewis Roberts of Coleraine, Vic. states that in 1841 T. A. Roberts opened the Union Hotel in Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. He also shows up in the census for the same year as Robert Arthur Roberts, Innkeeper, Union Hotel. The building was erected of brick and stone, and housed a family of 8 persons (6 female, 2 male) ranging in ages from 1 year to 45 years. John's great-great-grandfather was also in Melbourne at this time. He was in his mid-twenties and came from Lambeth, London (his birth and arrival dates are not known). He associated with Lewis Pedrana, a sometime Overseer of Roads at Melbourne who later operated the Dundee Arms Hotel. This is thought to have been a renamed Governor Bourke Hotel, which was owned by Michael Carr and his wife Kitty and located in or near Flinders Lane. John's great-great-grandfather married Mary Pedrana in May 1841 at St. James Church of England, Melbourne. She was Lewis Pedrana's only daughter and they had many children. John would like to find out more about the history of the Union Hotel and the family that operated it, including any family Christian names, and their descendants.

  BRYANS, BUDDEN, CORBETT, BAILLEIU/BAILLIEU, JACKSON, SHATNELL/SHACKELL, BLACK, NETTLEFOLD, HALLENSTEIN - Margaret Findlay of Davidson, N.S.W. is seeking information on William Bryans (Draper, of Collins Street, Melbourne) who first wife was named Anne who died in 1848. He married secondly in 1851 to Fanny Budden and had a son named William. William Bryans (snr.) went to Ireland to claim Magheramore Estate (there is a Rosborough connection which features in family names). His brother was Hugh Bryans who arrived in Melbourne in 1849 to join William in his Collins Street business. Hugh married firstly in 1855 to Jessie Corbett (d.1868) and had a daughter named Margaret (b.1858). Hugh married secondly in 1868 to Margaret Bailleiu (Baillieu?) and had a son named William (b.1873). They moved to Queenscliff in the 1860's and had a business in Hesse Street. Family names include Jackson, Shatnell/Shackell, Black, Nettlefold and Hallenstein.

  BROOKS/BROOKES, PATTERSON, THOMPSON, BAKER, DAVIS - Leanne McCann ( nee Brooks ) of Sydney, N.S.W. is the great-great-granddaughter of John Brooks ( or Brookes ) who was born at Stringybark, Port Phillip District in 1841, the son of Thomas and Sarah Brooks. A death certificate for Sarah Brooks ( wife of Thomas ) lists her as dying in 1845 at the River Plenty aged 27 years. No other information can be found about Thomas and Sarah Brooks. Leanne is the daughter of Norman Brooks ( & Ruvai Patterson ), son of George Henry Brooks ( & Frances Ruby Thompson ), son of Hugh Brooks ( & Naomi Jane Baker ), son of John Brooks ( & Mary Frances Davis ), son of Thomas and Sarah Brooks.

• HELP SOUGHT Isobel Fox of Cambridge, England writes that she is researching her ancestors, the Hutcheson family of Runnymede. This family features in the book "Cherry Stones" by our late member Helen Hudson. Isobel is concerned that Helen's research material may have been lost when she died and is trying to locate other family members that may have inherited them. If you can help please contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252.

• MICROFICHE READER The PPPG has a microfiche reader and large collection microfiche available for short term loan (approximately two weeks at a time) to enable members to continue their personal research in the comfort of their own homes. A deposit of $20.00 is required, $10.00 of which is requested as a donation with the remaining $10.00 being refunded on return of microfiche and reader. Donations will be used to purchase further microfiche as they become available. If possible, it is requested that the microfiche and reader be collected from and delivered back to the Secretary. Contact Barbara Hawkins on 9763 8252 for further details.

• QUEENSLAND MEETINGS John and Elaine Bampton are willing to hold meetings at their Gold Coast home for local Port Phillip Pioneers Group members. Future meetings may include discussions about member's ancestors and the districts they came from or possibly audio tapes of speakers at our Melbourne meetings. Contact John and Elaine on (07) 5578 8382 if you would like to attend one of their get-togethers.

• ROYAL HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA. The Port Phillip Pioneers Group is a "Society member" of the Royal Historical Society of Victoria. Our members are therefore entitled to visit the Society and consult their extensive records. When visiting you will be asked for proof that you are a PPPG member. If you are planning to visit please contact Susan Grant and she will post you a membership card which you can use as proof of your membership. Please note that we will not be issuing membership cards to all PPPG members.

• PIONEERS ASSOCIATION OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA INC. We have ties with this organization whose membership is open to persons who are directly descended from one of the Pioneering Families who arrived in South Australia between 1836 and 1845. They are located at Stafford House, 23-25 Leigh Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000. Telephone: (08) 82315055 or e-mail..

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