Wandong History Group

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

Registered Office: Affleck Street, Wandong, 3758

Telephone: 57871 314

Inaugural office bearers 2012/2013:

President - Karen Christensen

Vice President - David Moran

Secretary - Diana Vidal

Treasurer - Sandra Moran

The Wandong History Group was formed to collate, catalogue and preserve the past history of Wandong and Heathcote Junction for the benefit of future generations.

HISTORY

The Wandong History Group (WHG) evolved when a group of local residents recognised that before it was too late, there was the urgent need to collate, catalogue and preserve the past history of Wandong and Heathcote Junction for the benefit of future generations. Wandong - Heathcote Junction has a unique and interesting settlement and social history that included one of Victoria's largest timber and seasoning operations. Wandong was a hive of activity during the mid-1880s with tramways, a seasoning works, joinery and terra cotta lumber plant, as well as a coffee palace and boarding house, all built around a privately created subdivision owned by Robert Affleck Robertson. The Mt. Disappointment area was also home to prisoners of war who worked in forest camps during World War II. Wandong also laid claim to initiating the first Country Music Festival during the 1970s. Wandong and Heathcote Junction have many unexplored stories yet to be told

The WHG held its first formal meeting on 26 September 2012 when office bearers were elected and at a subsequent meeting it was unanimously decided to apply to be an Incorporated Group. The WHG is a not for profit group and any membership fees, donations, fund raising money will be put toward the collation, cataloguing and preserving our history.

The Wandong History Group has elected to adopt the Model Rules for an Incorporated Association [Associations Incorporation Act 1981]

MEMBERSHIP

Membership fees will be set at Annual General Meetings. Financial members are encouraged to participate in Group activities and in discussion at monthly meetings.

OPERATION

The Wandong History Group initially aims to collate, record and store information on the history of Wandong - Heathcote Junction. It is intended to meet monthly and all residents interested in the great history of our towns would be most welcome to participate.

The Group will meet regularly and consensus decision making will be adopted. Regular history presentations will be conducted for the benefit of residents and visitors.

Committee members for 2014- 2015 are:

President: Karen Christensen

Vice President: David Moran

Secretary: Di Vidal

Treasurer: Sandra Moran

Membership fees were set at $10 single and family $15

HISTORY BULLETINS - follow the links

MARCH 2020

HISTORY GROUP

Not long now to the History Groups “Annual Back to Wandong luncheon at the Australiana Restaurant on March 22nd. The luncheon welcomes anybody with an interest in our local history.

This year Sharon McCarthy is our guest speaker. Our display will feature photos of School Days at Wandong. If you have something to share please bring it along. The girls at the Australiana put on a delicious smorgasbord, for $34 a head. If you want to attend let me know ASAP for booking purposes.

The History Group is holding our first Open Day at the Church on Thursday March 26th 10am-2pm. Everybody is welcome to visit and view some of our displays.

In our first What’s Old issue for 2020, the poem I featured called “The Jumblies” was one of my favourites at school. I can recall our grade reciting it at one of the end of year school Christmas concerts and Karen has written a history on the Forest Camps at Mt Disappointment. If anybody has something of interest to share for our newsletter, please forward to us, our email contact is below.

I hear Maurie Scanlon is now home from hospital. We hope your improving each day Maurie and on the road to recovery.

Until Next Month

Di Vidal

Secretary

Phone: 0357 871314

Mobile: 0438 811318

wandonghistorygroup4@gmail.com

Attention, Businesses and Local groups

The Wandong History Group is putting together a pack of local information to help both new and old residents learn a little about our history and what services, businesses and groups operate in the area. If your business or group would like to be involved with this please contact the Wandong History Group via email wandonghistorygroup4@gmail.com or phone 57871314