Yass & District Historical Society Inc

14/05/2026

Thank you Adrian for taking the time to remember two members of our community and their tragic loss during WWII.
Our story by Judith Davidson can be found here on our page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/1FTZv1iF7F/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Lest We Forget

On this day, 14th May 1943 the Hospital ship CENTAUR was sunk by a Japanese submarine 50 miles North east of Brisbane with the loss of 268 lives.

2 Ambulance men - Paul Bracken and Kevin Williams based in Yass of the 2/12 Field Ambulance lost their lives in this tradegy.
Remarkably in 1956 they were remembered with a plaque in the new Ambulance Center. When it was decommissioned recently the plaque was moved to a grotto in front of the New Ambulance station, Never to be forgotten.

Further information on this story can be found at Yass Historical Website (www.yasshistory.org.au and search “centaur”.)
Also a recent book by Grantlee Kiera “Ellen Savage and the Heroes of AHS Centaur“ has recently been published.

13/05/2026

On this day, 13 May (1835), the 159 female prisoners, 55 children, and 27 crew of the Neva female prison ship, that sailed from Ireland for Australia, were reduced to 15 survivors when the ship sank in freezing waters off the northern end of King Island, Tasmania. One female prisoner, Ellen Galvin, claimed that on hitting the reef, the captain unlocked the prison doors and released all the women prisoners; but it was every person for themselves. Survivors took eight hours to drift ashore. There were a few hardened criminals on board, but most ladies were convicted for petty crimes like Jane McIlvenna, 33, who stole a hat, Mary Cassidy, 19, for theft of a handkerchief, Catherine Connor, 24, theft of a sheet, and Ellen Magennis, 23, who stole shoes. Sadly, they perished. Captain Peck sailed for England four months later. You can pay your respects at the Tasmanian Seafarers' Memorial at Triabunna or visit the graves and plaque on King Island. From our 'Grave Tales: Tasmania' book.

12/05/2026

Today we acknowledge International Nurses Day and recognise the enormous contribution nurses have made, and continue to make, to the health and wellbeing of our communities.

Held on 12 May each year, the day marks the birthday of Florence Nightingale in 1820. Known as “The Lady with the Lamp” for her nightly rounds caring for wounded soldiers in military hospitals during the Crimean War, she is widely regarded as the founder of modern nursing.

This wonderful photo from our collection shows the Yass Nursing Cadet Division of St Johns Ambulance, who were active during the Second World War.

Pictured are:

1. Shirley Tarrant
2. Mr Ross Ambulance Officer
3. Marg Wilson
4. Jocelyn Duddleston
5. Kathleen Lawrence
6. … Southwell (?)
7. Reba Duddleston
8. Pat Pateman
9. Mary Lewis
10. Fay Smith
11. Olive Clifton
12. Margaret Hall
13. Marie Wilson
14. Wilma Smith (?)
15. Betty Delaney
16. Superintendent of St Johns Ambulance from Sydney

If you can help identify No. 6 or confirm the name that has been suggested for No. 14, please let us know in the comments.

Image: Yass Nursing Cadet Division, Centennial Park, Sydney (YVHC)

11/05/2026

9.9K likes, 414 comments. "Timber Craft (1984) | Traditional Bush Timber Skills | Artisans of Australia"

11/05/2026

09/05/2026

The Yass Area Network of Landcare Groups (YAN) was formed in 1996 and is now celebrating 30 Years of Landcare in the Yass Valley. Learn more at: https://yan.org.au/yan-blog/268-yan-celebrating-30-years-of-landcare-in-the-yass-valley

YAN was established to address the need for an integrated approach to land management and natural resource issues across the Yass area. The Network originally incorporated 15 Landcare groups, including:

1) Binalong
2) Bookham / Burrinjuck
3) Bungendore
4) Collector
5) Geary’s Gap / Wamboin
6) Goodhope / Boambolo
7) Gundaroo
8) Hall
9) Jerrawa Creek
10) Manton
11) Murrumbateman
12) Narrangullen
13) Sutton
14) Taylor’s Creek
15) Yass Urban

Many of these groups have since wound up. Some, like Yass Urban and Bookham/Burrinjuck, have evolved into YAN’s current Bowning-Bookham Landcare Group , Friends of Yass Gorge and Yass Landcare groups. While others, like Bungendore, Geary’s Gap/Wamboin, Murrumbateman Landcare Group
and Sutton Landcare, are still active today.

At its inception, the estimated early YAN membership was around 450 landholders.
Between 1996-97, there were 69 new and continuing projects being undertaken across the Network. These projects drew on over $1.8 million in government funding and more than $2 million in community contributions - incredibly impressive!

If you were a member of one of our past groups or involved in any early projects over the late 1990s or early 2000s, please get in touch with us. As part of YAN’s 30 year milestone, we’re planning a series of stories highlighting the people, projects and moments that have shaped YAN and would love your help!

To share your early YAN Landcare Story contact Erin [email protected] or call 0473 407 079.

06/05/2026

☀️🍂 Looking for something different to do this weekend?

Join our Boozers & Baddies walking tour in Binalong on Sunday 10 May, as we celebrate the close of a fantastic Canberra and Region Heritage Festival for 2026.

An easy 2km walk through the village, sharing local history and stories of colourful characters from long ago. We’ll visit the 1883 Courthouse and finish with a sumptuous afternoon tea at Cafe on Queen Binalong 🍰☕️🍓

1pm Sunday, 10 May 2026

🎟️ Book: https://www.trybooking.com/1527163

Binalong Community Markets will be open from 10am too!

05/05/2026

📣 Is there a war memorial in your local area in need of repair or restoration?

Applications are now open for the NSW Government’s Community War Memorials Fund.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼 $𝟭𝟱,𝟬𝟬𝟬 are available for the conservation of local war memorials, including specialist heritage advice, physical work and works to war memorial precincts.

The Fund is open to local councils and community organisations, including memorial trusts, veteran groups and crown land managers.

⏰Applications close on 25 June 2026 at 11pm.

For further info and to apply, visit 👉 www.veterans.nsw.gov.au/cwmf

05/05/2026

✨ Recent Accessions ✨

Our collection continues to grow, with a generous new donation to the Coen Family Collection* from Meg Stewart, daughter of Yass-born artist Margaret Coen and poet and playwright Douglas Stewart.

Margaret’s grandfather, Michael Coen, arrived in Australia as an assisted immigrant from Tuam, Galway aboard the Hotspur in 1863. He married, established a store in Dubbo, and later moved to Yass in 1880, where the family successfully ran the Australian Stores until 1947, when it was sold to John Meagher & Co. Both the Coen and Meagher families were prominent within the Irish Catholic community, with the Meaghers establishing a well-known chain of stores across central west NSW.

The Coen family played an active role in community life supporting local causes, serving on Council, and raising a family respected across many fields. Despite their comfortable lifestyle, the Coen women were highly skilled makers, known for their knitting, lacemaking and embroidery. Many beautiful examples of their work are preserved in our collection.

Meg has now added to this legacy, donating several items including a hand-knitted cardigan made by her mother, a piece that is quite simply, a work of art.

The collection also includes several artworks by Margaret Coen, along with a bookplate designed for her by artist Norman Lindsay, with whom she shared a long and interesting relationship.

Margaret’s life is captured in Autobiography of My Mother, written by Meg Stewart. It is a delightful account of Margaret’s life from her Yass birth in 1909, her schooling at Kincoppal, Rose Bay and later in Sydney’s bohemian artistic circle.

Another publication by Meg, Margaret Coen: A Passion for Painting, is available in our bookshop - a beautifully produced hardcover edition ($50).

For those interested, you can also read an interview with Meg here:
https://www.neighbourhoodmedia.com.au/post/margaret-coen-watercolour-artist-who-captured-sydney

* The Coen Collection has been formally recognised as a Family Collection of historical significance.

Images:
1. Meg Stewart’s donated cardigan, knitted by Margaret Coen (YVHC)
2. Meg pictured wearing the cardigan, with her parents Margaret Coen and Douglas Stewart on their return to Sydney after a six-month trip to England in 1954 (image supplied by Meg Stewart).

01/05/2026

The inaugural Wee Jasper Heritage Fair made its debut last weekend and we were delighted to be there on Saturday sharing the work of the History Centre.

Our display was busy with visitors showing plenty of interest in the different aspects of local history we brought along. Stories connected to Banjo Paterson and his travels through the region in 1906, material on Burrinjuck comparing then and now, and details about the mysterious Swift disappearances certainly appealed to many.

We also featured a section on the nearby bush schools. Visitors were able to look up 'their ancestor's' school and learn how tough it was to provide teachers for these remote establishments.

It was a pleasure also to have author Jennifer Barton with us, chatting with visitors about her fabulous book ‘You Can’t Eat Scenery’, signing copies and sharing her research and photography.

A wonderful day and crowd, beautiful surroundings and a great opportunity to share what the Yass Valley History Centre has to offer.

A big thank you to the Wee Jasper Community, organisers, participants, and everyone who stopped by.