This is our last Carillon Chimes for 2019 and also our 200th issue. To celebrate 200 issues, this one contains snippets from earlier issues and stories and memories from long term members. It is special to read how our group was formed, the stories that were relevant during those years and how our group has celebrated special events.
We are thankful to those early members who had the vision to start the group and continue to support other members to ensure that it continues. We must also thank our editor Barbara Knox, who creates each issue using her professional skills in publishing to produce a great magazine.
Along with the cemetery memorial wall our group has had a project to try and locate the historic female factory in Bathurst. Through grants and donations we were able to organise some ground penetrating radar on the suspected site. We all wait in anticipation for the results that should be to us before the end of the year.
The end of the year is always a busy time and our group is no exception. Some of the events coming up are:
16th November Leonie Blair (one of our members) has written a wonderful book on the Irish Famine orphans who came to the Bathurst Region. The book is being launched on 15th November and Leonie is giving a special talk to our group about her research the next day on the 16th November. All are welcome.
That same day we are unveiling our new memorial cemetery wall in the afternoon. We thank Leif Hummelshoj and Julian Philips for their skill and dedication to getting this wall built. Again all are welcome to join us at the cemetery.
On 23rd November we will be celebrating our 35th Birthday as well as having an official opening at our new Research and Training centre at the rear of the Seniors Centre, 176 Russell Street. We hope our members will come and enjoy a party with us on that day to celebrate our group.
We have organised a Christmas Party on 13th December, a Friday evening for a finger food buffet. Please see this issue for information or our website. Please pencil this date in your diary.
We hope members will continue visiting and using our new centre. All our research material is there. There are books, histories, reference material as well as laptops, access to online programs, free wifi and assistance. There is also a comfortable social room to have a cuppa and a chat or refresh yourself while researching. Having a centre has allowed us to open much more than just two hours at the library per week. While we are still at the Library on Tuesdays between 2pm and 4pm we are also at the centre for members who wish to use the resources during these times.
Opening hours are:
Mondays 10am to 1pm
Tuesdays 2pm to 4pm at the Centre and the Library
Tuesdays 7pm to 9pm
Thursdays 10am to 1 pm
Other times by arrangement.
On behalf of myself and the committee, we would like to wish our members and their families a safe, healthy and joyous Christmas. Our next issue will be in February. If you have an article or writings that you would like to submit please forward to us for consideration.
Kind regards
Dianne Barnes
