Society News - Third Quarter 2008

Forthcoming Meetings:

July 6: Ray Wallace – 'History of Bendigo Naturalists'
August 1: No speaker. Annual General Meeting
September 5: Robyn Ballinger: 'The Northern Plains'

Society Accommodation
As the Society is still facing the prospect of a limited time at the Bendigo gaol where it has its volunteer working space and collection storage, the Committee decided to make representations directly to the City of Greater Bendigo. A formal Submission was presented to the CEO Craig Niemann and, as a result, a cooperative Working Party has been established to find a solution to the long running problem of accommodation for the Society.

Conservation Study
The on-site work of the consultant has been completed and the Society is awaiting the detailed report. This will indicate to the Society what lies before it in properly conserving the important aspects of Bendigo's history that are embodied within the large collection.

Activity at the Governor's Residence, Bendigo Gaol
There is on-going cataloging work every week at the gaol and the use of the Mosaic software has been increased by the addition of multiple-licence capability. A large scanner has been added to assist with the cataloging of photographs. Thanks to Bendigo Senior Secondary College, the Society now has an internet connection and this should greatly assist our research work.

So that Society members who are not actively involved to date in the interesting work at the gaol can fully appreciate the involvement of those who are working there and can become familiar with the scope of the cataloging work, the October meeting of the Society will be held at the gaol. There will be no speaker – just an opportunity for those attending to gain a detailed understanding of what is now being achieved by our volunteers and members working at the gaol site.

Bendigo Bank's 150 years Celebration
The Society is assisting Bendigo Bank in celebrating 150 years since the Bendigo Building Society, forerunner of the Bendigo Bank, was instituted in 1858. A re-enactment of the Public Meeting that led to the formation of the building society will take place at the bank's celebration at the Bendigo Town Hall in early July. Members of the Society will be in period dress and perform in a short tableau in front of the banks' invited guests for this occasion.

Masonic Hall, opened 1874 The hall underwent alterations in 1890 to house the Masonic Theatre. Later service as the New Britannia picture theatre and home of the Bendigo Operatic Society. Recently re- furbished and, as the Capital Theatre, it is now the centrepiece of Bendigo’s Performing Arts Centre.