Did you know that this booklet listing many WW2 veterans from the Lake Mac area can be downloaded from the library website?
https://history-service.lakemac.com.au/Emu/Application/13528.pdf
Family History Stories and News from Lake Macquarie
Showing posts with label Lake Macquarie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lake Macquarie. Show all posts
Thursday, 23 April 2026
Thursday, 22 May 2025
Local Knowldege
Although we may know a lot about our own personal and family history perhaps we don't know much about the history of the Lake Macquarie area where we have made our home.
These three articles written in 1931 that relate the early history of Lake Mac are available to read on Trove .
HINT: Read February first
Saturday, 24 December 2022
Around the Lake on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve we reflect on times past. Several local events were reported in the news in days gone by. We found these on Trove.
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| 1908 'Hotel Tragedy.', The Gloucester Advocate (NSW : 1905 - 1954), 21 March, p. 11. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article156563479 |
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| 1919 'TORONTO.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 3 January, p. 5. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139649488 |
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| 1930 'Lake Yachts', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 29 December, p. 8. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164217040 |
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| 1933 'AT THE LAKE.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 27 December, p. 4. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136677506 |
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1936 'Accident Victim', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 6 January, p. 5. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166486890
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| 1939 'PERSONAL', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 14 December, p. 6. , viewed 23 Dec 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135454094 |
Friday, 15 April 2022
An Easter Hike around our Lake
Back in 1947 these five scouts from Speers Point walked right around out lake. That's over 170kum.
They were George Barnier, ' Bob Forster, John Wallace, Colin Adams and Dave Oughten.
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| 1947 'Scouts Walked Around Lake Macquarie', The Newcastle Sun (NSW : 1918 - 1954), 12 April, p. 3. , viewed 15 Apr 2022, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article157767088 |
Thursday, 23 December 2021
Santa at Lake Macquarie
The newspapers at Trove report on many of Santa's visits to the Lake. Following are a few of those articles.
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| 1922 'MORISSET.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 4 January, p. 3. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140989494 |
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| 1936 'BELMONT', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 23 December, p. 9. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134675893 |
At Swansea |
| 1949 '£105 Cheque For Swansea R.S.L.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 17 December, p. 6. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134167631 |
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| 1939 'TERALBA', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 22 December, p. 2. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135447823 |
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| 1951 'SANTA CLAUS', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 18 December, p. 5. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140340240 |
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| 1951 'In Brief . . .', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 27 November, p. 5. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140339961 |
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| 1953 ''Santa Claus' For Toronto', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 11 November, p. 9. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140296757 |
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| 1953 ''Santa Claus' For Toronto', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 11 November, p. 9. , viewed 22 Dec 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140296757 |
Sunday, 12 December 2021
The Lake
Since 2020 when he published his latest book, The Lake : exploring a splendid sheet of water, we have been looking forward to a visit from local Author, Scott Bevan. Unfortunately Covid forced us to reschedule a couple of times.
Scott's background in broadcasting was evident as he so eloquently engaged the audience while sharing some vignettes from his book during presentation yesterday. There was no need for visuals to accompany this talk as Scott so richly painted pictures with his well chosen words. We are so grateful to Scott and Jo, for visiting us and sharing their passion for the life and people of our lake.
Many local bookstores and newsagents have copies of this book for sale.
Scott and his wife Jo were finally able to visit us at our group's meeting yesterday. It was definitely worth the wait.
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| Scott Bevan addressing our group |
In the book Scott describes, in an easy to read conversational style, his circumnavigation by kayak around Lake Macquarie, a huge saltwater lake that is bigger than Sydney Harbour. At each location he visits Scott gives us a history of the area and its people and features of the natural and built environment. Into his narrative he weaves interviews with local characters and shares sad and silly stories.
Scott's background in broadcasting was evident as he so eloquently engaged the audience while sharing some vignettes from his book during presentation yesterday. There was no need for visuals to accompany this talk as Scott so richly painted pictures with his well chosen words. We are so grateful to Scott and Jo, for visiting us and sharing their passion for the life and people of our lake.
After his presentation Scott chatted with members willingly and signed copies of his books that were purchased including a copy of The Lake for our LMFHG library.
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| Scott signing books |
This event provided a splendid finale to a year of learning at Lake Macquaarie Family History Group.
The Lake is recommended not only for those with a local interest but for those who would like to take a vicarious visit to our beautiful lake.
Many local bookstores and newsagents have copies of this book for sale.
Friday, 12 November 2021
The Shark Picnic
We are delighted that our member Anne Gleeson has joined as a co-editor and author of this blog. Anne, who has lived in the local region for many years, will be researching and sharing stories of local people and places here on our blog.
In this, her first post on our blog, Anne recalls a family outing.
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The Shark Picnic
We picnicked or went for Sunday drives or visited family or friends just about each Sunday when I was a child. As an adult I have come to realise this was most likely because there was never much money to spare in the family and with five kids it was probably easier to take us out than to amuse us at home.We often took my grandfather with us on these adventures. Mum and Dad and the five of us kids and Grandpop would load into Dad’s green Austin A40. This was of course in the days before rules about seat belts and passenger loading in a car.
On this particular Sunday we went to Pelican foreshore for the picnic. We swam and paddled about in the water before lunch and developed a healthy appetite ready for the picnic lunch which was generally sandwiches and homemade cake followed by a drink of juice or “make-up” cordial. Dad and Pop probably shared a beer and mum would have had a cup of tea from the thermos.
As we waited the obligatory hour before we were allowed to go back in the water after lunch (in case we got cramps and drowned) Pop called our attention to something floating along in the water. It was a very large shark swimming back and forth not far from where we had been swimming earlier in the day. Mum decided that even though the shark swam off there would be no more swimming for us that day. She did not get too much of an argument from me. The shark had come in pretty close to shore and Pop had picked up some pebbles and thrown them at the shark. He said he was trying to scare it away so we could go back in the water.
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| Image by alondav from Pixabay |
Fast forward about 40 years and we are now living close to shore of Lake Macquarie. My eldest granddaughter used to ask me with the regularity of a four year old. “Grandmother, do you think there are any sharks in that water? My Mum says there probably isn’t” I would ask her “do you think there are sharks in there?” and she would say “tell me the story about when you were little and you saw a shark?” And I would tell her the story about my Pop and what became known as the Shark Picnic. I told her that story probably about thirty times.
As the health of Lake Macquarie improves and shark sightings become more commonplace in the lake it is a positive thing that the sharks and dolphins have made their way back into this amazing natural wonder.
As the health of Lake Macquarie improves and shark sightings become more commonplace in the lake it is a positive thing that the sharks and dolphins have made their way back into this amazing natural wonder.
Tuesday, 3 August 2021
Trove Tuesday - New Collection on Trove
Our favourite free online newspaper archive Trove recently announced that a collection of Jewish newspapers from Australia had gone online in its collection. A major benefit of this collection is that it covers the years from 1971-2020, a longer period than many other publications available on Trove.
In today's post we will highlight some of the posts from that collection that mention Lake Macquarie locations and people.
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| 1976 'Family Notices', The Australian Jewish Times (Sydney, NSW : 1953 - 1990), 25 November, p. 23. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article263295266 |
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| 1990 'Old country homestead', The Australian Jewish News (Sydney, NSW : 1990 - 2008), 19 October, p. 7. (Business & Property), viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article261597260 |
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| 2007 'After seven years... a bar mitzvah in Newcastle', The Australian Jewish News (Sydney, NSW : 1990 - 2008), 31 August, p. 10. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article262905456 |
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| 1925 'Sydney Notes', The Australian Jewish Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1920 - 1933), 26 March, p. 13. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article261020956 |
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| 2001 'AROUND THE SHULES First naming ceremony in 27 years', The Australian Jewish News (Sydney, NSW : 1990 - 2008), 13 July, p. 29. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article262909991 |
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| 1975 'Family Notices', The Australian Jewish Times (Sydney, NSW : 1953 - 1990), 30 January, p. 21. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article26322707 |
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| 1922 'ESTHER KAHN AND PUPILS.', The Australian Jewish Chronicle (Sydney, NSW : 1922 - 1931), 30 November, p. 9. , viewed 03 Aug 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article260891192 |
Tuesday, 13 July 2021
Trove Tuesday - Lake Macquarie
Traipsing through Trove last night I came across this poem, published in 1948, written by 11 year-old Janice Hughes of Speers Point.
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| 1948 'Lake Macquarie', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 29 June, p. 4. , viewed 12 Jul 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134316232 |
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| Gulls noon-day dinner in Carey Bay - April 2020 |
Tuesday, 15 June 2021
Trove Tuesday - Sergeant (Sgt) Thomas Frederick (Tommy) Pickering
Found via Trove on the Australian Memorial website was this image of
Sergeant (Sgt) Thomas Frederick (Tommy) Pickering, 9 Squadron, RAAF, of Coogee, NSW. Sgt Pickering was killed in a training accident at Lake Macquarie NSW on 5 March 1942.Further digging on Trove found no reports of the incident other than a death notice.
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| 1942 'Family Notices', The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW : 1842 - 1954), 10 March, p. 10. , viewed 15 Jun 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17791720 |
Tommy is remembered on this website, https://aviationmuseumwa.org.au/afcraaf-roll/pickering-thomas-frederick-411376/.
Tuesday, 26 January 2021
Trove Tuesday - Australia Day
As Australia Day falls on a Tuesday this year we will share a few posts that report on local celebrations.
Australia Day hasn't always been celebrated in January. The first Australia Day was celebrated in 1915 on July 30. The following article describes the activities planned for Boolaroo.
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| 1915 'BOOLAROO.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 28 July, p. 6. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137206939 |
A comprehensive report of the 1915 activities at Toronto can be accessed from this link http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137205886.
By 1935 January 26th was recognised as Australia Day in all States.
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| 1940 'PREPARING FOR THE HOLIDAY', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 26 January, p. 12. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140528766 |
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| Continue reading this very long article that mentions many local people from the following link to the article on Trove 1932 'WALLSEND', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 8 February, p. 6. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article136865877 |
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| 1950 'Australia Day Fete At Warner's Bay', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 27 January, p. 5. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140640523 |
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| 1940 'SWANSEA TO HELP AUSTRALIA DAY APPEAL', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 4 October, p. 11. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132809302 |
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| 1947 'Toronto Bowling Club', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 31 January, p. 12. , viewed 26 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132854223 |
Monday, 4 January 2021
A Shark Attack
141 years after this attack we remember 13 year old Theresa Bond. This event near Dora Creek was widely covered in newspapers of the time.
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| 1880 'Extraordinary Escape from a Shark.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 5 January, p. 2. , viewed 01 Dec 2020, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133860346 |
Colin said "It was actually Theresa Bonnell in this attack, and a letter written by Bonnell family members in the early 1940s about them doing a tour of their old homestead identifies the spot as what we now call Bonnells Bay."
Colin kindly added a link to the post from 1880 that correctly names the victim. You can read it here: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108734225.
The lesson here is - You can't believe everything you read. We should check multiple sources!
Friday, 1 January 2021
New Year in Lake Macquarie
In years gone by a variety of activities have taken place on New Year's Day. Read about several of them in the articles below.
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| 1875 'LAKE MACQUARIE', The Singleton Argus and Upper Hunter General Advocate (NSW : 1874 - 1880), 6 January, p. 3. , viewed 01 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article77249080 |
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| 1885 'BELMONT.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 9 January, p. 3. , viewed 01 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139067346 |
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| 1920 'TERALBA.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 6 January, p. 4. , viewed 01 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139432653 |
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1920 'NEW YEAR'S DAY REGATTA.', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 8 December, p. 8. , viewed 01 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140087135
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| 1946 'Lake Parties to See in New Year', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 31 December, p. 5. , viewed 01 Jan 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133160122 |
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