Back row: Elsie McMaster, Noel Erbs, Sandra Rickards, Jennifer Jones, President Foster & District Historical Society, Bill Ringin Front row: Julie Fenley, Centre for Gippsland Studies, John Murphy, Eulalie Brewster, Patrick Morgan.

HISTORIANS GATHER AT FOSTER MUSEUM

On Saturday 18 May over 50 representatives from historical societies across Gippsland met at the Foster Museum for the Annual General Meeting of the Gippsland Association of Affiliated Historical Societies (GAAHS). People travelled from Lakes, Maffra, Warragul, Inverloch and places in between to network and discuss issues relating to the history of our wider community. Issues such as oral histories, exhibitions, significance workshops, Mechanical Institutes were shared, and some concern was expressed about the future of the Centre for Gippsland Studies, currently located at the Gippsland campus of Monash University, which is soon to be merged with the University of Ballarat and other regional universities. The Centre was established in good faith by the people of Gippsland as a central repository for our history and hopes were expressed that the facilities of the Centre would be expanded and a permanent Director appointed.

The accompanying photograph shows the winners of the inaugural GAAHS Awards:

Gippsland Region History Awards:
– John Murphy of Leongatha for an outstanding contribution to recording and publishing the history of Gippsland.
– Patrick Morgan of Boolara for an outstanding contribution to recording and publishing the history of Gippsland.

Achievement Awards:
Bill Ringin for an outstanding personal contribution to the Moe & District Historical Society.
Elsie McMaster for an outstanding personal contribution to the Morwell & District Historical Society and Latrobe Combined History Group.
Eulalie Brewster for an outstanding personal contribution to the Leongatha & District Historical Society and the Inverloch Historical Society.
Noel Erbs for outstanding written contributions to the history of Trafalgar & neighbouring districts.