January - March 2020 Meetings – 8pm, Fourth Monday of each month

Rye Primary School Library - Visitors welcome

In This Issue: • Society Reports and Happenings

• Interpretive Signs, (above and p3-4)

• Post WW1 - Diggers Return Home, 100 Years Ago

• Mention of RYE 110 Years Ago - re the Lady Nelson

• RYE - 75 Years Ago

• Rye Historical Society - Time Line (Part A): 2000 - 2010

• THE BACK PAGE - Meetings, Events, Notices & Contacts

Rye Historical Society

White Cl i f fs

INTERPRETIVE SIGNS (Continued on pages 3 and 4)

Napier Street at Clock Tower

LEFT: “Cliff House” was originally situated on the east corner. RIGHT: The “Pier Store” (for some years trading as “Stringers Store”) formerly stood on the west corner. Napier Street at RSL Carpark

LEFT: The then almost new Rye Bowls Club and the Mechanics’ Institute, pictured in about 1959. RIGHT: Typical summer season action as seen in the 1950s at the Rye Ice-Works, which was then situated on today’s RSL car park.

2 President’s Report

By the time you read this, the sun will have risen, and set, on New Year’s Day 2020, the year marking two decades since the Rye Historical Society was formed in May 2000.

So it is a good opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved in those 20 years, and look forward to the future.

As part of that, this issue contains Part A of a time-line summarising Rye Historical Society from 2000 to 2010, with Part B, in the next issue, to conclude that Society summary.

This time-line in two parts records the contribution of many dedicated individuals to the Society’s achievements to date, but it also offers newer members an objective benchmark to help guide the Society forward into the coming decade.

Our 20th Birthday Party will be a cocktail evening at Rye Hotel - see Back Page.

Looking further back in time to WW2 in early 1945, 75 years ago, the allies were making steady progress towards victory. Some Australian service personnel remained on active service with the RAF in the European theatre, but most were serving in the Pacific zone. The names Greece, Crete and Singapore weighed silently on those Australian families hoping for the safe return of a relative believed to be a POW. Nonetheless, the local news items for Rye - 75 Years Ago (p10) show that life on the home front, around Rye, went on pretty much as usual.

Ann and I were honoured to be able to join with other members to represent the Society at the Remembrance Day Commemoration ceremony and luncheon at Rye RSL on November 11th. That being the 100th Remembrance Day prompted inclusion of the thought provoking reminder of the post-WW1 period, see p7.

While on the topic of names, it is good to see mention of the inventive Captain Schanck (p9), presumably honoured with Cape Schanck. QUIZ: Do any readers know what is the present-day name of the Cliff Street, Rye, mentioned on p10 ?

The Interpretive Signs Project (Cover & p3,4) should enhance the experience around the town for both residents and visitors, plus yielding a PR spin-off for us.

An attempt is being made to document the chronology of the development “Estates” since ca. 1912 which progressively created the urban environment which is now Postcode 3941, centred on Rye. While the Society archive contains a number of original subdivision promotion plans as issued to buyers by Real Estate Agents (see example p5), the collection is far from complete. Some good news recently is that quite a few such plans are presently archived at Hastings.

On a more mundane matter, numbers and timings of street stalls are a trade-off between valuable PR exposure and a profit for the Society, as against the input required to stock and “man” each one. The decision to run only three street stalls during 2019, timed to be on Market Days but avoiding the colder months, seems to have paid off (see p4,6). The first two for 2020 are set for 7 March and 4 April.

Finally, it is satisfying to be able to note that our members do manage to socialise and have some fun to offset hard work, eg supper sessions after Guest Speakers, our Happy Hours at the Rye RSL and, most recently, our Christmas breakup.

Noel Erbs (President)

New Interpretive Signs 3

Our recent publication “Rye - A Book of Memories”, 2nd Edition, added a number

of new “old” photographs to the public consciousness, which prompted the idea

of creating and installing some illustrated interpretive signs around the town.

Such signs are nothing new, but in the past, expense tended to limit them to one-

off specials. Fortunately, costs have been coming down and a sub-committee

decided on an affordable number of such signs (11), agreed on the most suitable

image(s) for each of the sites, and drafted appropriate text to go under each one.

But credit where credit is due; the completion of this project is largely attributable

to Treasurer Danny, who liaised with the sign maker, did all the drudge work re

site applications and approvals, and then oversaw each of the installations.

This illustrated article describes ten of these signs - four on the front cover, four

pictured below and, finally, two on the next page. So, to slightly mis-quote Molly

Meldrum, “Do yourself a favour and stroll around Rye to have a look at them”.

LEFT: The Whitecliffs Store was built onto the front of an existing house on the block in 1944. The two photos shown are undated, but are probably from the 1950s. RIGHT: This photo dates from the late 1960s. It shows the original St David’s Presbyterian Church, Lyons St, which was built in 1904, as seen only a year or two before being replaced by the present A-Frame building in 1969.

Corner of Lyons Street and Point Nepean Rd

LEFT: The Rye Post Office. The upper photo dates from the late 1920s; the lower one from the 1930s.

RIGHT: The Rye Post Office as seen in the 1950s.

4 RYE H S Happenings

STREET STALL, 9am - 12:30pm, Saturday 5th October.

Courtesy of our early birds, this stall was set up and trading shortly after 9am. Maybe the combination of a fine morning on the last weekend of the school holidays added to the fact that the AFL Grand Final had been decided the previous weekend, all led to the steady flow of foot traffic.

Particular thanks to those who supplied various baked goods, which helped boost the day’s result to a very worthwhile $488.

SAUSAGE SIZZLE at BUNNINGS, 8am-4pm, Saturday 26th October.

We had enjoyed a few fine, warm days during the week, but the weather turned sour during Friday. Apparently the wind gusts early on Saturday came perilously close to the threshold for Bunnings to order a cancellation, but our sizzle was all set up and trading on time. Pictured at right are John H and Bernie W checking on the four hard working chefs during a brief pause in demand at about 8:20am.

The final result was a valuable profit of $1665, which clearly justified the effort on the day and should ensure that we will put our name forward once more in 2020.

It is rumoured that psychologists offer this advice to those who cry when slicing onions: “Avoid forming emotional attachments to any of the onions beforehand”

Woolworths Car Park

LEFT: Rowley’s new butcher shop, Point Nepean Road, on the west corner of Hygeia Street, opened in 1947. This 1949 photo shows a typical summer season queue of keen customers.

RIGHT: This photo shows the view along Point Nepean Road, looking to the east, in about 1945.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

RYE H S Happenings 5

GENERAL MEETING, 8pm, 28th October: Guest speaker: Mr John Moody.

Our Treasurer, Danny, introduced John Moody, who he had known as “one of the big kids” at Primary School and later at Rye football club, as our Guest Speaker.

John clearly mastered his self imposed challenge - how to squeeze the amazing history of his family’s background, progress and achievements into 40 minutes!

His father, Edgar (Ted) Dunham Moody, had set the pace long ago, with a keen eye to recognise trends and opportunities in the developing Rye district and a brave heart to take on business challenges in new directions. As an example, to support his building business, he had sawmills at both Main Ridge and Jamieson.

Pictured at below right, standing beside Danny, John is shown holding a prized picture of the family run service station. And at below left, is the “Tyrone Estate” land sale promotion map of 1954. Access from Point Nepean Rd to the then new Dunham Street was via John Street. (NE)

IT DOES NOT COMPUTE Failure is no longer an option - it is bundled within your new software.

A sad fact of life is that Artificial Intelligence is no match for natural stupidity.

Why do we just press remote control buttons harder when the batteries go flat?

What do you call security guards at Samsung stores ? “Guardians of the Galaxy”.

6 RYE H S Happenings

Our informal Christmas Breakup was held at the Rye RSL, on the same floor area previously known as the “RSL Long Room” which we used for our 2016 Christmas function (but that area has now been totally transformed).

The initial meet and greet was at the east end, in the new Boat Room. As numbers (and the sound level) rose, some drifted into the adjoining Cabana Room, which is where all had settled into the booths for a meal by about 7:15.

Towards the end of main course, President Noel welcomed members, dealt with notices and acknowledgements, listed positives from the year and outlined plans for 2020 before wishing everyone well for Christmas and New Year. As a measure of the value of social events such as this, the enthusiastic chatting then resumed, with many still going strong after about 8:30pm.

STREET STALL, 9am - 12:30pm, Saturday 7th December.

Being held in the first week of summer, the fine weather we got on the day was not unexpected, although the cool wind justified wearing a coat early.

There was a reasonable flow of pedestrians, set against the main

road traffic noise plus the distant clanging noises being made by the workers busy assembling the Rye Carnival on the foreshore.

Thanks to members for the effort put in to set up and put away the stall as well as to those who stocked and “manned” it.

Apart from the always valuable publicity we got, the final result was a very handy profit of $328.

Above: Eileen, John and Margie pictured on the job at about 10:15am.

Post-WW1 - Diggers Come Home, 100 Years Ago 7

The Argus 4th September 1919

PEACE LOAN ADVERTISEMENT

As AIF casualties mounted during WW1,

seriously wounded and disabled service

personnel, once judged fit to travel, were

returned to Australia prior to discharge.

On the 11th November 1918, a sizeable

percentage of the 96,000 AIF soldiers then

in France, the 58,000 in England and the

17,000 serving in the Middle East were in

hospital or undergoing rehabilitation.

General Monash soon set up a priority

process to return men to South Africa,

Australia and New Zealand, but when this

advert appeared, 10 months later, chronic

shipping shortages had resulted in about

10,000 AIF men still being in England.

On 13th April 1920, the final AIF group

departed England aboard HMT Naldera .

Today, it is hard to grasp the difficulties

faced by many men returning from WW1.

The transition to a peacetime economy

meant fewer available jobs and men with

permanent disabilities had a tough time.

The writer has researched a number of

WW1 returned men but has found only two

granted what amounted to a TPI pension

(each being discharged on medical

grounds in 1916, after service at Gallipoli).

It appears that by 1917/18, funding for

new pensions was becoming scarce and

one of them later had his pension halved.

This 1919 PEACE LOAN followed a series

of Commonwealth War Loans established

to help fund the staggering monetary cost

of the war effort. It was promoted as an

honourable way to provide some of the

vital ongoing support needed by those

returned men disabled by shell-shock,

gassing, battlefield wounds or amputation.

A positive is that this PEACE LOAN was

oversubscribed and a ‘google’ search

found monuments & plaques across the

country commemorating that result. (NE)

8 110 Years Ago - RYE Got a Mention re Lady Nelson

Searching newspapers on “trove” specifically for any interesting reports about Rye 100 years ago (January to March 1910), has so far drawn a blank.

Fortunately, Rye got a passing mention 110 years ago in The Australasian, of 22nd January, 1910, which ran an illustrated article praising the presentation of a painting of the brigantine Lady Nelson to the Victorian Government.

That illustration of the Lady Nelson and its caption are reproduced below.

THE LADY NELSON.

PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE ORIGINAL PAINTING OF THE BRIG LADY NELSON, IN WHICH MURRAY

DISCOVERED PORT PHILLIP, IN 1802 ; THE PICTURE WAS PAINTED IN 1800 OFF GRAVESEND.

MR. T. A. COGHLAN, AGENT-GENERAL FOR NEW SOUTH WALES, HAS JUST PRESENTED IT TO THE

VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT, IN THE HOPE THAT IT WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE MELBOURNE MUSEUM.

Digitisation of the original newspaper yielded the relatively good image above, but some areas of text were so faded as to be completely blank.

Fortunately, a bit of detective work, based on what was readable, showed that this text had been composed by using sentences plucked from “Victoria and its Metropolis” Vol 2 (1888) and strung together verbatim as a precis (with no attribution).

Finding that connection allowed the gaps to be confidently filled in, thereby saving this article from the waste paper bin. The restored text is reproduced at the top of the next page.

The photo and caption opposite were set alongside the text below, in The Australasian 22nd Jan 1910.

THE LADY NELSON. In the early part of the year 1798, George Bass had roughly examined the eastern half

of the Victorian coast, in that intrepid voyage of his. The remaining part of the Victorian shores was plotted down in equally rude fashion

by Lieutenant James Grant, in the years 1800 and 1801 as the result of his cursory examination on board the Lady Nelson.

That diminutive craft was under the direction of Captain Schanck, of the Admiralty, to test the value of an invention of his own, which he called a "sliding keel”. This consisted of three centre boards fitted into wells in the vessel, and capable of being dropped, so as to form a very deep keel, so long as the vessel was on the open sea.

Captain Schanck was friendly with Grant, and secured him command of his ship, when the Duke of York had it prepared for use in the exploration of Australian seas. The long rakish looking schooner hauled out into the Thames on 13th January 1800, with a crew of 15 men, provisioned for 9 months.

The instructions he held from the Duke of Portland were to examine the straits between Van Diemen's Land and New Holland, which had recently been discovered by Bass.

Under the command of Murray, (who had been a lieutenant on board H.M.S. Porpoise), on November 12, 1801, the little vessel left Sydney on her third voyage of discovery.

On December 6, the vessel cast anchor at the mouth of the streamlet known as Bass's River, Westernport. On Sunday, February 15, the Lady Nelson entered the heads, and at 3 o'clock in the afternoon was riding at anchor a quarter of a mile from the sandy shore between Rye and Sorrento, the pioneer of all those great fleets that now daily plough the waters of Port Phillip.

Murray named the hill to the north-east Arthur's Seat, as it somewhat resembled the outline of the Arthur's Seat seen from Edinburgh.

Then came a fight with the blacks, the encounter taking place on the beach a mile or two beyond Dromana lighthouse. On March 9 the ceremony of taking possession of the port in the name of His Majesty King George III was duly performed.

Six weeks after Murray left Port Phillip Heads, Flinders sailed through in the Investigator.

110 Years Ago - RYE Got a Mention re Lady Nelson 9

Coincidentally, one of the mounted bronze plaques in Rye (pictured at left) commemorated the visit of the replica Lady Nelson in February 2002.

In early 2002 the picture of the replica Lady Nelson, at right, featured on the front page of the Southern Peninsula Local.

From 15th - 21st February 2002, she was tied up at Rye pier and was available for a 90 minute sailing trip each day .

Lady Nelson then spent nearly a week offering similar sailing trips while based at Sorrento pier into early March 2002. (NE)

10 RYE - 75 YEARS AGO

Standard (Frankston) 22nd March 1945.

RYE RYE TOWN PLANNING AND

PROGRESS ASSOCIATION

At the Flinders Shire Council the Rye Town Planning and Progress Association advised that the committee had met in accordance with the Council’s requirements submitted in the letter of 9th ult.

The committee now desires the Council to prepare plans and specifications for the following works in Rye:

The Association is in accord with the suggestion that the improvement rate be used as interest to cover the proposed loan for the undermentioned works.

In order to obtain the most beneficial results for Rye this committee propose that £1200 be expended by the Council from general funds as follows:

Curb and form footpath, widen road from Dundas Street to Cliff Street [?], & from Ozone Street to Lyons Street (in Pt. Nepean Road.)

Name all streets and have signs affixed; provide electric light for all streets; Brimble Avenue [sic] to be cleared and formed from Weir Street to Government Road; form fire breaks from Minogue’s subdivision up to and including Government Road.

Improvement Rate - estimated maximum £60, being sufficient interest to borrow £2300. Council to acquire property known as Mrs Hill’s (opposite Rye Post Office), and facing Pt. Nepean Road and Lyons Street.

That plans and specifications be prepared for cleaning, grading, fencing and provision of water for the aforementioned property.

Fence area suitable for a sports ground. Provision for four tennis courts, surfaced

with liquid bitumen and fenced. Establishment of a bowling green. Balance of grounds to be grassed, planted

with trees and shrubs to give a park-like effect.

Planting trees in all streets, estimated at 1000 trees (flowering gums of various types).

Place 6 drinking fountains on Pt. Nepean Rd.

FOOTNOTE: RBA Inflation Tracker 1945 -> 2018 : £1200 = $86,500; £2300 = $165,750.

Since 75 years ago is “within living memory”, having a 75 Years Ago page in “White Cliffs” clearly has merit. However, it has not been done recently simply because of the scarcity of any newspaper mentions relevant to Rye and district.

Fortunately, the reports below have broken the drought, so are included here.

The Standard, Frankston, 28th March 1945, p6

FRANKSTON COURT Two soldiers were fined £1 each for

being drunk and disorderly, and also a similar amount for resisting arrest. Arising out of the same case, one civilian was fined £5 for obstructing police. The same charge preferred against another man earned him £3. Senior Constable Tye was grabbed by the collar of his tunic and almost choked by one of the offenders. Civilians came to the rescue.

A man who was charged with several counts of breaking, entering and stealing therein was committed for trial. Evidence revealed that the offender broke into houses at Rye, Mornington, Frankston, Dromana and Portsea, and stole various articles.

The Standard, Frankston, 1st March 1945, p2

SANITATION IN FORESHORE CAMPING AREA

Dr Merilees, chief health inspector, met representatives of the committees of Dromana, Rosebud, Tootgarook, Rye and Sorrento at the Flinders Shire office, Dromana, on February 21st. . . . . . .

He pointed out that while, on the whole, the camping season passed off better than the previous season, still a lot remained to be done in the way of satisfactory sanitation. Pointing out that as a rough estimate, some 10,000 persons camped between Dromana and Sorrento; only Rosebud and Sorrento had carried out strict limitation on numbers, with the result that some areas were forced to accommodate an overflow, and had not the facilities to cope with it.

The doctor stressed the absolute need to keep campers within a certain radius of the conveniences and not allow camping in areas not fitted with toilet blocks. . . . . . .

RYE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TIME LINE to 2010 11

With Rye Historical Society’s 20th birthday occurring in May 2020, it seemed wise

to list its achievements to date, ensuring mention of members at the forefront of

its activities over two decades. Details below come mainly from “White Cliffs” and

partly from archived minutes, with any omissions corrected by “pers comm”.

Given the limited space available in each issue of “White Cliffs”, it was decided to

run this summary in two parts. The eleven years 2000-2010 are listed in this

issue, to be followed by the nine years from 2011 to 2019 in the Apr-Jun issue.

YEAR 2000

Inaugural Office Bearers, June 2000: President: Pauline Powell, VP Danny

Jennings, Sec: Ern Jennings, Asst Sec: Linda Berndt, Treasurer: Judy Stokes.

Inaugural Committee: Jane Bainbridge, Lew Cornish, Prue Found, Bill Goodrem,

Gwen Hatton, Dorothy Houghton, Barry Irving, Alan Martin, Marie Williams.

Efforts to have the old Rye school building saved from demolition paid off. It is

now to be registered on the Mornington Peninsula Shire list of heritage places.

Celebration of 125 Years of Rye Primary School.

Rye Historical Society will be affiliated with Royal Historical Society Victoria.

Annual subs initially set at $11.00 single, $27.50 family.

The fourth Monday of the month identified as the future regular meeting night.

Bronze plaque on the Grace Sullivan building cleaned and re-attached.

YEAR 2001

Initial Society presence at Australia Day on the foreshore.

Training workshops held on Cataloguing and Referencing.

Our first filing cabinet donated; in the ante-room and already starting to fill.

The name “White Cliffs” for the Society newsletter was agreed and adopted.

A forward planning meeting was convened to identify all the tasks lying ahead.

Centenary of Federation luncheon enjoyed.

2001/02 AGM, at Rye Hotel: President: Pauline Powell, Vice President: Danny

Jennings, Secretary: Ern Jennings, Assistant Secretary/Editor: Linda Berndt,

Treasurer: Judy Stokes.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Jane Bainbridge, Phil Cain, Lew Cornish, Prue

Found, Arthur Hicowe, Dorothy Houghton, Julie Palmer, Marie Williams.

Functions and Activities held: Progressive Dinner, “Pub Poets” afternoon,

Cemetery Walk, Limeburners Ball.

Fundraisers: Raffle and Christmas Hamper.

VALE: Alan Martin

FOOTNOTES: 1. Mention of the passing of members and valued supporters has followed no

particular format. For consistency, each is noted here as a VALE. 2. Guest Speakers often

featured at general meetings, Feb-Nov, but insufficient space here to list them individually.

12 RYE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TIME LINE to 2010

YEAR 2002

Australia Day: Two bus loads taken around Rye on a narrated local history tour.

Replica “Lady Nelson” vessel moored at Rye Pier for a week in February.

Dedication of bronze plaque at historic “Tyrone” home, Rye, Sat Apr 6th.

Ern Jennings voted Rye Citizen of the Year,.

2002/03 AGM, at Rye Hotel: President: Pauline Powell, VP: Danny Jennings,

Secretary: Ern Jennings, Asst. Sec: Linda Berndt, Treasurer: Val Peppler.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Phil Cain, Lew Cornish, Prue Found, John

Hazledine, Arthur Hicowe, Dorothy Houghton, Julie Palmer, Judy Stokes.

Nostalgic Fashion Parade.

Two Cemetery Walks conducted.

Tour of Quarantine Station.

Society now meeting in the newly completed school administration block.

The Society acquired its first computer (an ex-Shire hand-me-down)

Refurbishment of the Old Schoolhouse started; exterior painting completed.

Christmas function kindly hosted by Danny and Wendy Jennings.

VALE: James (Jim) Powell

YEAR 2003

Australia Day was a busy time for the Society, including two bus tours.

Society’s part occupancy (50%) of The Old Schoolhouse formally approved.

Furniture going in, formal opening by Martin Dixon MLA, on 21st March.

Society obtained a photocopier.

Future “White Cliffs” to be A5 booklet format (pages as reqd, up to max 16).

New boulder installed at pier for old “Pier” plaque plus “Lady Nelson” plaque.

Society commenced a tradition of laying a wreath on ANZAC Day.

Jennings family reunion in April.

2003/04 AGM, held at Primary School: President: Pauline Powell, VP: Danny

Jennings, Secretary: Ern Jennings, Assistant Secretary: Linda Berndt,

Treasurer: Val Peppler.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Phil Cain, Lew Cornish, John Hazledine, Arthur

Hicowe, Dorothy Houghton, Julie Palmer, Judy Stokes.

Transcribing Council Rate Books at Hastings before transfer to PROV archive.

“Christmas in July” at ‘The Biz’ Bistro, Rye.

Old Schoolhouse fireplace and surround restored, first displays being set up.

Sunday afternoon museum opening (1pm-3pm) initiated, but ceased during

winter. Formal roster then drawn up and opening had resumed by October.

Grace Sullivan building on foreshore repainted.

Fund Raisers: Open gardens; sales of jams and chutneys.

YEAR 2004

Australia Day was again a busy time for the Society, including two bus tours.

Forward planning commenced for: Afternoon Tea at “The Brae”; a “Twilight

Cemetery Tour”; an Open Garden in October; another Quarantine Station

Tour, plus the Rye Presbyterian Church Centenary in November.

A colour TV set + video player donated for “Old Schoolhouse”.

Lions Club donation gratefully received, and a slide projector was purchased.

2004/05 AGM (August): President: Pauline Powell, Secretary: Ern Jennings,

Treasurer: Lew Cornish, Editor: Linda Berndt.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Phil Cain, Prue Found, John Hazledine, Arthur

Hicowe, Dorothy Houghton, Julie Palmer.

“Christmas in July” at ‘The Biz’ Bistro, Rye.

Costs reviewed = Membership dues adjusted to $15 ($25 for 2+ at address).

Society now has its own PO Box.

Book launch for Phil Cain’s book “The Cain Story” in October.

Centenary of the Rye Presbyterian Church, Lyons St.

Christmas function kindly hosted by Danny and Wendy Jennings.

VALE: Michael Ritchie

YEAR 2005

Australia Day luncheon, Rye Hotel; Phil Cain narrated one bus tour group.

Society tour trip on Port Phillip, aboard “Polperro”, in February.

Phil Cain ran an Easter Sunday “Twilight Cemetery Tour”.

Outing to Cape Schanck lighthouse saw 15 members enjoy a guided tour.

Linda Berndt relinquished being newsletter editor. Noel Tyzack, Neil Tyler and

Bernie Woiwod to take over editing the A5 booklet format newsletter.

Fund Raising: Jane Bainbridge & Judy Stokes organised a Tupperware party;

the Lions Club made another generous donation; a “Christmas in July”

function at ‘The Biz’ Bistro, Rye; and a Street Stall in October.

2005/06 AGM: President: Pauline Powell, VP: Danny Jennings, Secretary: Ern

Jennings, Assistant Secretary: Linda Berndt, Treasurer: Lew Cornish.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Rex Breen, Phil Cain, John Hazledine, Arthur

Hicowe, Judy Stokes, Noel Tyzack, Bernie Woiwod.

Pauline Powell was awarded OAM.

Dorothy Houghton retired from the committee - warmly praised and thanked

for her reliable keen eye for regularly identifying and inviting guest speakers.

Society outing to “Beleura”, at Mornington, in December.

Phil Cain presented an impressive lectern, which he had made, to the Society.

Christmas function held at Rye Yacht Club in early December.

VALE: Margaret Major

RYE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TIME LINE to 2010 13

14 RYE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TIME LINE to 2010

YEAR 2006

Approval granted to hold monthly General Meetings in the School Library.

Society now sharing museum building 50:50 with Reading Recovery Centre.

Members repaired two pioneer graves prior to attaching plaques.

Fundraising: Street Stall, Dinner at Rye Provincial Tavern, Poetry afternoon.

Queens Baton Relay - Ern Jennings carried the baton through Rye.

Norma Cornish honoured in Morn Pen Shire newly instituted “Hall of Fame”.

Society organised a tour to SAGE’s Cottage, 85 Sages Road, Baxter.

Detailed planning meetings held to map out process whereby the Society

would fundraise to provide the school with a new literacy classroom in

exchange for finally being given 100% occupancy of “The Old Schoolhouse”.

2006/07 AGM: President: Pauline Powell, Secretary: Ern Jennings, Assistant

Secretary: Linda Berndt, Treasurer: Lew Cornish.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Rex Breen, Phil Cain, John Hazledine, Arthur

Hicowe, Danny Jennings, Judy Stokes, Noel Tyzack, Bernie Woiwod.

Formal launch of “The Old Schoolhouse” building project.

Museum open during Primary School “Twilight Fair”, 11th November.

Christmas function held at Rye Yacht Club; incl Christmas Hamper raffle.

YEAR 2007

Literacy Classroom project for Rye Primary School formally initiated.

Tuesday morning cataloguing group benefitted from tutorial by Sally Robins.

Projects Committee formed to manage fund raising, including: Garden Party,

Stall at Rotary Market, Sausage Sizzle, Twilight Jazz picnic.

2007/08 AGM: President: Pauline Powell, Vice President: Ern Jennings,

Secretary/Treasurer: Danny Jennings.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Linda Berndt, Rex Breen, Phil Cain, Norma Cornish,

Prue Found, John Hazledine, Judy Stokes, Bernie Woiwod.

Book Launch for Phil Cain’s “Amongst the Old Folks” at Rye Cemetery a great

success, featuring a horse drawn hearse and participants in period costume.

Christmas function held at Rye Yacht Club.

VALE: Lew Cornish VALE: Nick Appleford

VALE: Alby Matthews

YEAR 2008

Joint Nepean-Rye Australia Day Luncheon. Guest Speaker: Dr John Hirst.

Valuable fund raising reported: Garden Party; foreshore Market Stall, Wine

Night; Australian Country Dinner, and Sausage Sizzle.

2008/09 AGM: President: Ern Jennings, Vice President: Prue Found,

Secretary/Treasurer: Danny Jennings.

RYE HISTORICAL SOCIETY - TIME LINE to 2010 15

Committee: Pat Appleford, Linda Berndt, Phil Cain, Norma Cornish, John Hazledine, Shirley Howard, Tony Howard, Pauline Powell, Judy Stokes, Sherry Tyzack, Bernie Woiwod, Lynne Woollard.

Importance of starting to plan for Rye’s sesquicentenary in 2011 was flagged. Pauline Powell’s commitment to the Society honoured with Life Membership. Terms of the occupancy agreement for Old Schoolhouse almost finalised.

Christmas Break-up held at Provincial Restaurant, Rye.

VALE: Sandy Christie

YEAR 2009

Joint Nepean-Rye Australia Day Luncheon. Guest Speaker: Dr Robert Barnes. Working Bee to clear schoolground site for new classroom. Primary School Building Fund reached ca. $100k (donations, fundraising, etc). Pre-fab Literacy Classroom arrived at Lyons St frontage site in March. Society had assumed 100% occupancy of “The Old Schoolhouse” by May. “Heronswood” picnic day out; also Society excursion to French Island. Bernie & Loris Woiwod visited fire ravaged Marysville town and Hist. Soc. Public meeting called to initiate planning for Rye’s 150th in 2011. Official opening of the new Literacy Classroom conducted on 14th August.

2009/10 AGM: President: Prue Found, Vice President: Ern Jennings, Secretary/Treasurer: Danny Jennings.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Linda Berndt, Phil Cain, Norma Cornish, John Hazledine, Shirley Howard, Tony Howard, Pauline Powell [now a Life Member], Judy Stokes, Bernie Woiwod, Lynne Woollard.

History Week: Cemetery Walk, Picnic at the Lime Kiln. Sausage Sizzle, “RED” Dinner at GPO Restaurant, Rosebud. Christmas break up held in St Andrew’s Church Hall.

YEAR 2010

Joint Australia Day Luncheon. Guest Speaker: Professor Graeme Davison. Also foreshore stall & Bus Tours narrated by Phil Cain.

Society visit to McCrae Homestead and Burrell-Twycross gallery in February. Restoration work carried out on three historic graves in Rye Cemetery. Public meetings held to identify and plan events for Rye’s 150th in 2011.

2010/11 AGM: President: Prue Found, Vice President: Ern Jennings, Secretary/Treasurer: Danny Jennings.

Committee: Pat Appleford, Jill Bastow, Wayne Bastow, Linda Berndt, Phil Cain, Norma Cornish, John Hazledine, Shirley Howard, Tony Howard, Pauline Powell, Judy Stokes, Bernie Woiwod, Lynne Woollard.

Society visit to Cranbourne Botanical Gardens. Bunnings Sausage sizzle fundraiser. History Week: Open Day arranged at “Bimblehurst” historic home, Rye. Christmas Break-up held at Rye Hotel. To be concluded in next issue.

THE BACK PAGE, for January - March 2020

Coming Meetings, Guest Speakers and Events

26th January: AUSTRALIA DAY

28th January: Committee only @ 7:00pm. (Note TUESDAY, not Monday)

24th February: Committee @ 6:30; General Meeting @ 8pm.

Guest Speaker: TBA

28th February: Rye RSL Happy Hour, 5 - 6pm. Meal afterwards, optional.

7th March: Street stall.

23rd March: Committee @ 6:30; General Meeting @ 8pm. Guest speaker: TBA

27th March: Rye RSL Happy Hour, 5 - 6pm. Meal afterwards, optional.

ADVANCE NOTICE: Our 20 th Birthday Party is set for Friday 29 th May at 5pm. By invitation. Format: Cocktail Party held in Blue Water Room, Rye Hotel.

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HOME PAGE: http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com/index.html

Probably easiest to simply Google ‘Rye Historical Society Victoria’.

Several years of recent issues of our “White Cliffs” newsletter can be accessed on the Society’s website. Members may like to read past editions in colour or send our newsletter *.pdf on to friends.

Once on our website, simply click on NEWSLETTERS in the menu list then scroll down and click on the chosen icon. Other options include: 2016 HERITAGE AWARD; STREET NAMES POSTCODE 3941; PUBLICATIONS.

FACEBOOK: Rye Historical Society Mornington Peninsula

Our Facebook page continues to provide a valuable point of entry for supporters to offer recollections and photos to add to the local historical record as well as providing a path to publicise our Society.

The Rye Historical Society Inc., PO Box 65, Rye 3941

http://ryehistoricalsociety.weebly.com index.html

Museum: “The Old Schoolhouse”, Collingwood St, Rye

President: Noel Erbs Vice-President: Lynne Woollard

Secretary: John Bertacco Hon. Treasurer: Danny Jennings

Editorial Committee: Bernie Woiwod, John Bertacco, Noel Erbs

Reports on RHS activities (w/photos if possible) and contributed articles for the next issue of “White Cliffs always welcome. Copy deadline 27th March.