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Welcome to Newcastle Family History Society Podcasts.

Welcome to Newcastle Family History Society Podcasts.
The Newcastle Family History Society, located on Awabakal land in Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia, exists to provide support and encouragement for those interested in family history.
What's Coming Up in November
On the 1st of November, we present the second episode based on our publication, People of Newcastle and the Hunter Valley: Their Stories – Our Heritage. This episode tells the story of Frederick and Susan Walsh written and narrated by their great-granddaughter, Jane Ison. Jane takes us back to the family property in the Tickhole Valley in Cardiff, west of Newcastle. Once an orange orchard, the property later became a productive stone-fruit farm, and over time the centre of a large a close-knit extended family.
Then, on the 8th of November we travel to Lewinsbrook in the Hunter Valley. Carol Duncan, chats with researcher Sharyn Merkley and family historian Cathie Sherwood about a project commissioned by Grahame Chevalley of GWH Build and Glenroy Cattle Company. The project commemorates 200 years since the original land grant to Alexander Park.
And on the 15th of November, in our 100th podcast, we continue our Memories of Newcastle series with another story from Glimpses of a Newcastle Life, a collection of short stories written by Thelma Cochrane. In “My Father Worked at the BHP”, Julie Keating narrates her mother’s recollections of growing up in a family closely connected to Newcastle’s steel industry.
(AI generated voices, images, music & text editing used in some podcasts.)
Episodes

Oct 13, 2024
Oct 13, 2024
32 min
If you wander through the streets of Newcastle and indeed further afield to the suburbs and into the Hunter Valley, you will pass by historic and notable buildings – many are the work of Frederick Menkens. Society member Julie Keating takes us on a virtual journey and gives some insights into the man, his life and his creative prowess.

Oct 6, 2024
Oct 6, 2024
25 min
Jane Ison speaks about the letter book of Joseph Hines Clarke providing insights into the man, the Newcastle Industrial School and the town of Newcastle, NSW.

Sep 15, 2024
Sep 15, 2024
18 min
Women Rewarded
Mel Woodford describes the practice of financial reward for those female convicts assigned to families in the colony, highlighting four women who were commended for their service with households in the Hunter Valley.

Sep 8, 2024
Sep 8, 2024
16 min
In this episode of Notable Novocastrians, member Daryl Woods tells us of his family connection to Sir Frederick Gallegher Galleghan and recounts some aspects of a "Life of Service".

Sep 1, 2024
Sep 1, 2024
20 min
Jane Ison discusses the availability of government records for boys and girls sent to industrial schools and reformatories in NSW during the mid to late 1800s.

Aug 18, 2024
Aug 18, 2024
12 min
Mary Higgins
In the twenty-year period between 1804 and 1824, over 1500 female convicts were sent to Newcastle and the Hunter Valley. Mary Higgins was one of the first – Mel Woodford tells her story.

Aug 11, 2024
Aug 11, 2024
15 min
Ten Top Tips
The final episode in this series, Maree and Ken Shilling have shared ten valuable tips aimed at helping you overcome the frustrating obstacles that often hinder our research progress.

Aug 4, 2024
Aug 4, 2024
19 min
Continuing the series "What are you looking at?", Jane Ison looks at the letters and information about industrial school children in the Colonial Secretary Letters Received, 1826-1896.
