Capital history in the news
Family history
Every family has a story – write yours now! | The E.M. Fletcher Writing Award, run by the Heraldry & Genealogy Society of Canberra (HAGSOC), has opened. Entries for the best short story (1500-2000 words) on a family history or genealogy theme will be in contention to win a $1,000 prize. Closes on 15 July 2020.
Photographers capture snapshots of isolation |A few local photographers are documenting family life during the COVID-19 pandemic having been inspired by similar overseas projects. One photographer Tracy Hebden sees this as creating a snapshot of history and is planning to create a book or exhibition from the photos taken. Participants also see this as documenting an important moment in their family’s history.
New online collection
National library's fascinating collection of scrapbooks now available online | Eighteen scrapbooks showing Australian’s entertainment interests from the late 18th century to the late 20th century have been digitised by the National Library of Australia (NLA) and made available online. To access search PROMPT scrapbooks on the NLA’s catalogue here.
Future exhibitions
Cuddle n bubble sign saved for posterity | The owners of the Capital Executive Apartment Hotel have handed over the hotel’s Cuddle 'n' Bubble Package sign —a well-known Northbourne Avenue fixture — to the Canberra Museum and Gallery (CMAG). It will feature in CMAG’s Sign of the Times Exhibition planned for November 2020.
Art's on hold, but plenty to anticipate | Interview with the National Gallery of Australia’s (NGA) Director Nick Mitzevich about the gallery’s events and acquisitions over the next six to twelve months given the COVID-19 pandemic.
Surprising history
Case of the missing glass dance floor | Tim the Yowie Man writes about the small town of Collector surprisingly being home to one of the region’s largest nightclubs complete with large glass dance floor in the late 1960’s. This came about because alcohol laws at that time only allowed for Sunday drinking if you were a traveller, so Collector became a popular drinking destination.
Unearthing a female-bushranger | James McDonald writes about a recent chance discovery in a newspaper from 15 October 1827 has unearthed a rare female bushranger, a mysterious Mrs Winter who was an associate of Canberra’s first bushranger John Tennant.
Acknowledgement: Photo by Roman Kraft on Unsplash
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