Here is the latest collection of news from Australian genealogy, history and heritage groups. I have no doubt there is far more news around, but this is what has made it’s way to me to be added here. So if you are involved with any history or gnealogy group, society, archives, museum, or even just a special project and have news, events, in need of help or donations, or just have a request please advise, we’d love to hear and help out.

This covers news from any group, society, museum, archive office throughout Australia. Some of the following news articles have been submitted to us, while others have been found from websites, newspapers and other articles.

New South Wales
Ebenezer – Stubbs Family Reunion
All descendants of William Stubbs and Sarah Wingate are invites to attend the 32nd Stubbs Annual Reunion on Saturday, 30th October 2010, in the Ebenezer Church Grounds, Coromandel Road, Ebenezer, New South Wales. Descendants are invited to attend from 9.30am onwards. Please bring your own picnic lunch, chairs and rugs, as well as any family details, photos or items of interest. For further information please contact the Stubbs Family Reunion Association. Email: stubbs1802@gmail.com.

Matraville – Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park 2010 Open Day
The Cape Banks Family History Society will be helping out at the upcoming Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park 2010 Open Day (the old Botany Cemetery). They will be taking walks through the Pioneer Park and talking about the people mentioned on the headstones which were first moved from Devonshire Street where Central Railway now stands. This cemetery contains on First Fleeters headstone, together with quite a few convicts. The Open Day will be held on Saturday 30th October, 11.00am-2.00pm, at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, 12 Military Road, Matraville.

Orange – Orange Family History Group relaunch CD
The Orange Family History Group has just relaunched their Canobolas Gardens Crematorium Inscriptions CD. Containing the inscriptions on plaques in this cemetery, they have been divided into locations and identified as much as possible by plaque numbers.  You can buy this CD, and other publications direct from the Orange Family History Group.  And if you wish to keep up with the very latest news from the Orange Family History Group, you can follow their blog.

South Australia
Halbury – New book released
The small town of Halbury is a former railway town in South Australia, west of the Clare Valley, halfway between Balaklava and Auburn. Ivan Winter who was born and raised in Halbury, has written a novel (‘Those Were the Days: My Life in South Australia 1943-1970’), detailing his young life in the tiny town. You can read the full story in the ‘Plains Producer’ newspaper.

Kadina – Kernewek Lowender Art Prize Registrations Open
The Yorke Peninsula Country Times reports that registrations are now open for entry into the 2011 Kernewek Lowender Art Prize. With the first prize being $4000, the Art Prize usually draws entrants from all around the State. So get creative, and show your artistic side together for your love of Cornish history. You can find out more about this on the Kernewek Lowender site.

Paracombe – Paracombe Primary School Centenary
The Paracombe Primary School is celebrating 100 years and is seeking former staff and students to join in a celebration on December 8. To register your interest contact: Bill Lewis (08) 8380 5216, principal@paracombeps.sa.edu.au or Margaret Merritt (08) 8380 5392, mam2006@dbme.net.au.

Victoria
Melbourne – Royal Historical Society of Victoria, ‘Treasures’’Exhibition
The RHSV ‘Treasures from the RHSV Manuscript collection’ is where the prominent and the famous who are seen to “make history” are seated alongside their more obscure contemporaries, the silent history makers. Come and see this beautiful exhibition showing the variety of manuscripts in the collection. RHSV, 239 A’Beckett Street, Melbourne, Open Mon-Fri 10.00am-4.00pm, and is on show from 27 September to 17 December.

Moonee Ponds – Essendon Historical Society New Book Launch
The Essendon Historical Society announces the launch of ‘The Fine Homes of Essendon and Flemington [1846-1880]’. This glossy 96 page book traces the stories of 36 ‘mansion homes’ of the district and the families that occupied them .Lavishly illustrated with rare photographs that evoke the elegance of the era. Fully indexed, this book costs $25, with $4.00 postage. The launch is at 10am, Monday 25 October at The Old Courthouse 768 Mount Alexander Rd Moonee Ponds. Morning tea provided. RSVP by 20 Oct on (03) 9370 4607.

Western Australia
Bayswater – WAGS Wins “FFHS Best Website Award 2010”

The Federation of Family History Societies organises an annual award to the member society with the best web site, in recognition of the growing importance of this media, and the winning Society receives a £100 cheque. The Western Australian Genealogical Society is the winner for 2010 and recently made the following announcement on their website:

“… following on from our Highly Commended Award in 2009, WAGS website has won the Best Website Award for 2010 from the Federation of Family History Societies. The FFHS award gives recognition to Genealogy and Family History websites under a number of design criteria. This is a terrific result for WAGS in our second year of entry.”

They also report mention that the “WAGS website is still evolving, and you can expect to see further enhancements and changes into the future”.

The FFHS website outlines all of the recipients of the 2010 Website Awards.