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KIAMA FAMILY HISTORY CENTRE
25th Anniversary EXPO
The EXPO was
held on Saturday 12th April 2014 at the Pavilion, Bong Bong
Rd Kiama and was open from 9.30am to 4.00pm.
Unfortunately
the weather was very unkind with the rain blowing horizontal when the
exhibitors arrived to set up, and it continued to rain on and off during
the day.
Despite that
the organisers reported that 732 people visited during the day,
inspecting some 33 ‘trade’ tables and attending 4 talks and 2 ‘virtual’
walks with Ray Thornburn due to the weather.
The location
was excellent, with free WI fi provided.
The
Fellowship was allocated 2 tables at location No 12.
Throughout
the day Director John Boyd was assisted by Joan Phipps, Jeanette McBeath
, Warwick Grace and Pam Grace- all members of the South Coast Chapter.
We had a good
display with both the FFF & SCC Banners prominent. Also displayed was
the FFF Chart and images of the 11 ships in an A Frame, which proved
popular with attendees, as it was studied a length by many.
Also copies
of Dispatched Downunder, the FFF Chart and FFF Route Map were available
for sale.
We also
provided information on the two First Fleeters buried on the South
Coast:
FF John Gowan-
Marine, buried at Christ Church Kiama, which was next to the Expo
location
FF Jane Rose
(Jenny Jones)- came free, buried at Andrew Lysaght Park Wollongong.
The 80 free
copies of past ‘Founders’ proved a hit and was all gone by lunchtime.
We fielded
many questions on the First Fleet and its Convicts and Marines aided by
Mollie Gillen’s ‘The Founders of Australia’ and also Michael Flynn’s
‘The Second Fleet’. 10 FFF Membership applications were also handed out.
We also spoke
to a surprising number (around 8 to 10) lapsed FFF Members and
encouraged them to rejoin. Many cited a lack of a Chapter in their area
(ie the Sutherland Shire as one example) as a reason for not continuing
their membership.
One
interesting response to our table was from people passing and commenting
‘sorry I don’t have a First Fleeter”.
On the
downside, we only sold one copy of Dispatched Downunder, one of the FFF
Chart, and one FFF Route Map. Somewhat disappointing with total Sales of
$62.50.
All in all a
most satisfactory day in raising the profile of the Fellowship among
Family Historians.
A very
special thanks to the members of the South Coast Chapter (noted above)
who assisted on the day.
John Boyd
Membership
Officer
April 2014.
Ps: Copies of
Mollie and Michael’s books were For Sale at the Expo, for $195.00 and
$150.00 respectively.
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