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

DECEMBER 2022

HISTORY GROUP

December is here already, the year has flown by, as we struggle through the year
sometimes it feels like we are getting nowhere, so the end of the year is a good time to
reflect on what actually has been achieved. We are a small group of active members
and we all have homes and families and work commitments as well as being involved
with other groups. Personally I would like to thank all the members who contribute
to our group and to the many locals who support us.
Don’t forget the community carols on the 18th of December at the Community Centre, our mega
raffle will be drawn that night, tickets will be available up until the draw.
Our website is now live find us at https://wandongheathcotejunctionhistory.com.au we look forward
to your feedback on the site, we will continue to update and add more information, this has been a
steep learning curve for us but we are excited to finally have what we think is a great resource for the
community.
Finally, from the History Group I would like to wish everyone, a joyous Christmas and a fantastic
holiday season, looking forward to seeing many locals at our first event for 2023 which will be the
annual reunion followed by ANZAC Day in April.
If you would like to be part of this dedicated team looking after our history and heritage contact us
we love having new members and there is a job for everyone no matter what your skill level.
We are looking for suggestions as to how Wandong should celebrate the anniversary of the Hume and
Hovell expedition and we would like ideas to come from the community for this great event.
Stay safe everyone
Karen
wandonghistorygroup4@gmail.com
PH 0432120736