Visit to Lake Macquarie Family History Group - World War One Frame Talk

On Saturday, 19 Apr 2014 a small group of us (Bill, Vera and myself - Michelle) went to visit the Lake Macquarie Family History Group at Marmong Point to speak about out World War One Frame Project. The meeting was held in a lovely community hall on the lake.

We received a warm welcome when we arrived and listened to some great stories being told by members, many of which focused on World War One.

I used a brief powerpoint to highlight points of the talk, including details on how we managed to identify one man from the frame so far, Pte Alfred PENN.

We received some great suggestions for further research and even got some tips in real time as members were able to access some electoral records relating to Mrs Evans.

I'd like to thank the Lake Macquarie Family History Group for the opportunity to speak to them about our project and for the warm welcome and great tips they provided.

Guest Speaker - Kel Grabham - The Mysterious Story of Ruth Emilie Kaye

At our most recent meeting we had guest speaker Kel Grabham from Newcastle Historical Society who told us of the mysterious story of Ruth Emilie Kaye, upon whose death in the 1940s, at 100 years of age, was found to be non-existent. We heard of her troubled childhood years and her later time in Australia as a nurse.

In addition to Kel, we had a number of visitors from Merewether Historical Society. It was great to have a large audience for Kel's very interesting talk.

For more information of Ruth Emilie Kaye, please check the following sites:

• The Dictionary of Sydney - Ruth Emilie Kaye
• Wikipedia - Constance Kent
• Australian Dictionary of Biography - Constance Kent
• Murderpedia - Constance Emily Kent

Upcoming Guest Speaker: Kel Grabham on Ruth Emilie Kaye

The next General meeting will be held at 7.30 pm on 18 November 2013 with guest speaker Kel Grabham from Newcastle Historical Society who will tell the mysterious story of Ruth Emilie Kaye, upon whose death in the 1940s, at 100 years of age, was found to be non-existent.

With Thanks to Guest Speaker Aubrey Brooks

At our 21 Oct 2013 meeting we were given a powerful and moving presentation by Aubrey Brooks on the history of BHP, the impact of the closure on the men and women who worked there, their communities and future plans to ensure that this iconic employer and industry is not forgotten.

Aubrey presented in concert with a DVD which showed included fascinating images from the earliest history of BHP and ended with the "tear down" on the buildings after the closure of the plant. Along the way many stories of the dangers of working in such a plant were touched on and many people in the audience remembered many of the events, often because of personal connections to there events. 

As Aubrey himself pointed out, he gives the presentation often all over Newcastle and it is very rare for people in the audience not to have some sort of connection to someone associated with the BHP.

We'd like to thank Aubrey for his fascinating talk and recommend his presentation and Muster Point tours to anyone interested in the history of the BHP and Newcastle (so often intertwined!).

Upcoming Guest Speaker: Aubrey Brooks - 21 Oct 2013

At our 21 Oct 2013 meeting we will have a guest speaker, Aubrey Brooks. Like his grandfather and father before him, Aubrey started his thirty-eight-year working life at BHP at the age of fifteen, and worked there until the last whistle blew thirteen years ago. Together the four Brooks men gave a total 125 years of service to BHP.

Aubrey is passionate about making the general public aware of the personal side of the men and women who gave service and created a unique bond of mateship which has continued, as evidenced by the many who attend the annual “Men and Women of Steel” reunions he organises.

At the time of writing, Aubrey has conducted more than thirty talks to countless members of visiting Service Clubs - Lions, Apex, Probus, Lodges, Rotary, sporting, historical, seniors groups, retirement villages and overseas visitors, who have soaked up some of the emotion of life at the steelworks.

He also conducts tours of the Muster Point. The one and a half hour tours are free; however, voluntary donations are welcome to aid the Memorial Project Fund. 

50 Years of NBN - The History and Closure of the BHP in Newcastle

The Muster Point is a 70 tonne steel sculpture with bronze cast figures, objects, and components from the Steelworks, the building is 8m x 12m x 8m,with associated pathways (railways sleepers and ballast), located near entrance to steelworks site, George St & Selwyn St off Industrial Drive, Mayfield. . (at McDonald's on Industrial Drive turn left going to Newcastle) Newcastle Industrial Heritage Association is pleased to offer personalized guided tours of the iconic sculpture "The Muster Point".

This house-size industrial artwork was constructed as a collaboration by famous Newcastle sculptor Julie Squires and steelworkers in 1999, to mark the closure of the steelworks. The whole structure, inside and out, has many stories to tell about the history of steelmaking in Newcastle.

• Aubrey speaking to Richard Fidler on the ABC's Conversations radio program.

If you know any small group that would like to soak up some of the emotion of life at the steelworks, contact Aubrey to make a booking. TOURS ARE FREE and Wheel Chair friendly, and take about

Email: obisan@bigpond.com or Mobile 0407452714.

A number of books and DVD's relating to the history of BHP will be available for purchase on the night.