General Meeting held at 16 Inwood Place Murdoch 9 June 2018
Points of Interest from the General Meeting:
Visitors : Welcome to visitors with links to the First Fleet
Library – this has expanded with the in excess of 70 books available including First Fleet data, Historical accounts, Genealogicla reference and fiction, and some rare Australian Historical Reference books, Judy Bercene again gave some more books including one given to her at First Fleet House on her recent Rope and Pulley discovery trip.
Website – Alex gave an update on usage of the website and visitor numbers
Outings – East Perth Cemeteries - Alex gave a brief report on the visit to the Cemeteries arranged by Lorraine Clarke and Cherie Strickland which was a great success
Calender – 2018 – This is on the website
Judy Bercene gave a presentation, with the help of resident Power Point guru Roger, on the trip she and her sister took to the recent Rope and Pulley Anniversar in Sydney.
NEXT MEETING - AGM August 4, 2018
Annual General Meeting held at 16 Inwood Place Murdoch 5th August 2017
Notes from the AGM:
1. Election of Officers:
President - Alex Aitken
Vice President - Bill Cutler
Secretary - Toni Mahony
Treasurer - Lynton Symington
Committee - Margaret Barlow, Marian Roeling, Judy Bercene, Lionel Lovell
1. Election of Officers:
President - Alex Aitken
Vice President - Bill Cutler
Secretary - Toni Mahony
Treasurer - Lynton Symington
Committee - Margaret Barlow, Marian Roeling, Judy Bercene, Lionel Lovell
Presidents Report Swan River Chapter FFF
Well what a year we have had ……. More regular meetings…. overseas trips…cold wet and windy bus trips and great meetings and the loss of our city meeting place.
I believe that the change to more frequent meetings has made the Chapter a more exciting group to be associated with and has proved successful with the attendance at meetings and on the organised outings.
The year of 2017 started with the usual bang on Australia Day and the occasion was a great family event with involvement of young and old on the day. Quiz master and site custodian Bill did a great job and certainly entertained us all with well-chosen questions, we love your work so much can you do it all again next January. I believe the event just gets better every year and is a challenge to all for next year. Many thanks to everyone for the input on the day. To John, master toaster, and Lynton, master of the eggs, same station next year!!!!
The committee planned a full year of outings and presentations that would keep us all on our toes and entertained. Add to this the fantastic presentations from our members and the year was destined to be a memorable one.
The addition of an overseas trip to the program was a great success with the Rottnest adventure reviving memories for some, of past times on the Island and for others opening up new horizons on the early history of our great state. The photo opportunities, Quokka animal studies were just amazing and at this point I would like to thank our Un-Official–Official Chapter Photographer, Roger, for a great job on every trip or function of the Chapter.
Roger not only takes the photos but also keeps an eye on the Website and provides all the photos for uploading to the site as well as keeping the library list up to date, whenever he is able to access the books.
Members’ presentations are the lifeblood of the group and the more we have, the better we get to know the families and the stories of the forebears from all angles. As was shown in the presentation by Julie, we can all find out a little more of our roots and when we share all our research we find new stories or facts of which we were never aware. The story of family trees is never ending as the more we learn the more we realise there is more to learn. The digitising of data from the past just keeps bringing new facts to our finger tips by way of “Dr Google”, Trove and the like.
We missed out on the Pinjarra outing but it will be rescheduled if there is still interest.
What can we say about the tour with Anthony Alborn!!!! Bus! What bus?… poor Ray and Toni, the new bus died in the driveway on the day and the weather was a shocker.
The look on Toni’s and Ray’s face as they crossed the carpark said it all, so it was into the coffee shop while another mode of transport was arranged. Hats off to all who stayed the distance as it was a day full of interesting sites and facts with Anthony’s commentary. I must say the wine tasting and chocolate factory were a great hit. So much history on our door step and I am sure we will do it again, preferably on a sunny day!!
There is much more on the horizon. I believe that the Chapter will gain strength and membership as we go forward. We will raise our profile with communication between ourselves and the big wide world by doing some shopping centre displays and becoming involved in Family History Week activities.
The participation in school-based events by the Chapter is one area we need to expand, develop the First Fleet Education Pack we have talked about so it can be sent to Heads of Curriculum in all schools. The pack can be a web-based one and does not need to be too large, just a brief outline of what is available from the Chapter and its members.
Thanks to all those who have participated in taking the message to schools this year.
To the committee and all office bearers, my thanks for your support during the year and to all members my thanks for your continued support of the Chapter and your enthusiastic participation in all the activities during the year.
We are in a sound position financially and can grow our numbers by starting a research project aimed at uncovering as many FF descendants in WA as possible. It is mooted that some Chapters are lobbying for a National Convention so this could be a starting point for more access to the records held at FF House and a more inclusive approach by head office.
In the footsteps of our forebears, but with a freedom they never knew, it is time to embark on the adventure of discovery in this Wide Brown Land.
Thank you all again for your support of the Chapter.
Alex Aitken - President
Well what a year we have had ……. More regular meetings…. overseas trips…cold wet and windy bus trips and great meetings and the loss of our city meeting place.
I believe that the change to more frequent meetings has made the Chapter a more exciting group to be associated with and has proved successful with the attendance at meetings and on the organised outings.
The year of 2017 started with the usual bang on Australia Day and the occasion was a great family event with involvement of young and old on the day. Quiz master and site custodian Bill did a great job and certainly entertained us all with well-chosen questions, we love your work so much can you do it all again next January. I believe the event just gets better every year and is a challenge to all for next year. Many thanks to everyone for the input on the day. To John, master toaster, and Lynton, master of the eggs, same station next year!!!!
The committee planned a full year of outings and presentations that would keep us all on our toes and entertained. Add to this the fantastic presentations from our members and the year was destined to be a memorable one.
The addition of an overseas trip to the program was a great success with the Rottnest adventure reviving memories for some, of past times on the Island and for others opening up new horizons on the early history of our great state. The photo opportunities, Quokka animal studies were just amazing and at this point I would like to thank our Un-Official–Official Chapter Photographer, Roger, for a great job on every trip or function of the Chapter.
Roger not only takes the photos but also keeps an eye on the Website and provides all the photos for uploading to the site as well as keeping the library list up to date, whenever he is able to access the books.
Members’ presentations are the lifeblood of the group and the more we have, the better we get to know the families and the stories of the forebears from all angles. As was shown in the presentation by Julie, we can all find out a little more of our roots and when we share all our research we find new stories or facts of which we were never aware. The story of family trees is never ending as the more we learn the more we realise there is more to learn. The digitising of data from the past just keeps bringing new facts to our finger tips by way of “Dr Google”, Trove and the like.
We missed out on the Pinjarra outing but it will be rescheduled if there is still interest.
What can we say about the tour with Anthony Alborn!!!! Bus! What bus?… poor Ray and Toni, the new bus died in the driveway on the day and the weather was a shocker.
The look on Toni’s and Ray’s face as they crossed the carpark said it all, so it was into the coffee shop while another mode of transport was arranged. Hats off to all who stayed the distance as it was a day full of interesting sites and facts with Anthony’s commentary. I must say the wine tasting and chocolate factory were a great hit. So much history on our door step and I am sure we will do it again, preferably on a sunny day!!
There is much more on the horizon. I believe that the Chapter will gain strength and membership as we go forward. We will raise our profile with communication between ourselves and the big wide world by doing some shopping centre displays and becoming involved in Family History Week activities.
The participation in school-based events by the Chapter is one area we need to expand, develop the First Fleet Education Pack we have talked about so it can be sent to Heads of Curriculum in all schools. The pack can be a web-based one and does not need to be too large, just a brief outline of what is available from the Chapter and its members.
Thanks to all those who have participated in taking the message to schools this year.
To the committee and all office bearers, my thanks for your support during the year and to all members my thanks for your continued support of the Chapter and your enthusiastic participation in all the activities during the year.
We are in a sound position financially and can grow our numbers by starting a research project aimed at uncovering as many FF descendants in WA as possible. It is mooted that some Chapters are lobbying for a National Convention so this could be a starting point for more access to the records held at FF House and a more inclusive approach by head office.
In the footsteps of our forebears, but with a freedom they never knew, it is time to embark on the adventure of discovery in this Wide Brown Land.
Thank you all again for your support of the Chapter.
Alex Aitken - President