May 2019 – Kangaroo Point and Districts History Group

Queensland’s first Elections in 1860

As the nation focuses on Federal elections today, 18 May 2019, let’s look at Queensland’s First Parliament in 1860 and the first Premier of Queensland, Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert.

Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert.
Born on 12 June 1831 in Brighton, England. He was called to the Bar of the Inner Temple on 30 April 1858. A year later he was commissioned colonial secretary to the newly appointed Governor of Queensland, Sir George Bowen, on the proviso that he was elected to the Legislative Assembly. He became the first premier of Queensland. (SLQ 68163).

Following the establishment of the colony of Queensland on 6 June 1859, Sir George Ferguson Bowen was appointed as the new colony’s first Governor on 10 December 1859.Governor Bowen selected Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert to serve as Colonial Secretary and lead an interim government until elections for the first parliament were held.

These elections occurred between 27 April 1860 and 11 May 1860 for positions in the Legislative Assembly (the lower house) of Queensland’s first parliament. At these first elections, a total of 26 positions were contested to represent 16 electorates. Of these 16 original electorates, seven were multi-member electorates with either two or three members simultaneously representing those districts, while the remaining nine electorates were single-member districts.

For the Legislative Council, Queensland’s upper house, a total of 11 members were initially appointed by Governor Bowen to serve in that house. A further four members were appointed soon after with each of these four appointees present at the parliament’s second day of sitting. For the first parliament, these original appointments were for a period of five-years. Appointments to the Legislative Council subsequent to the first parliament were life appointments.

Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert.
Top left: Rev. Bowyer Shaw; top right: Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert (Premier of Queensland); left: Rev. I Tomlinson; right: John Bramston, c. Miles/Cox.(SLQ 3131).

The inaugural meeting of Queensland’s first parliament occurred on 22 May 1860 with official sittings then commencing on 29 May 1860. The term of the first parliament lasted until 20 May 1863 with elections for the second parliament then occurring from 30 May to 27 June 1863. (source:https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/…/first-parliament).

Kindergartens in the early days

With the current national focus on childcare and kindergartens, let’s look at some of the earliest kindergartens in our areas.

The Creche and Kindergarten Association (C&K) is a well-known and highly regarded not for profit organisation which was set up in 1907. Mary Josephine Bedford, long-time partner of Dr Lilian Cooper of Kangaroo Point, was the driving force behind setting up the C&K. Association in 1907 and the Playground Association in Brisbane, with a special focus on providing supervised play for children in poorer areas.

You can read more about Mary J. Bedford at Mary Josephine Bedford

Small children seated at a table in the Woolloongabba Kindergarten centre. Two women are supervising the children. (SLQ 44263).

Children working outdoors at a bench in the grounds of the Fiveways Kindergarten on Ipswich Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane. The principal was Miss Lucy Morris. (SLQ 86203).

Mother’s Day- how did it begin?

How did it all begin?

In the early 1920s, Hallmark began creating and producing Mother’s Day cards. The greeting cards illustrated how mom’s roles changed through the years. Here, we take a look back at Mother’s Day cards from the 1920s through today.

1920s. What cards lacked in color, they made up for in formality. In the 1920s, color was hand-applied rather than printed.

This 1930s card highlights a mother in the kitchen, baking with her little one. Mother’s Day wishes came with a spot of hot tea and some pretty flowers

A pin cushion, a thimble and other familiar icons of the sewing basket conveyed best wishes for mom in this 1940s card.

Remember that prim and proper 1920s mom? She burst out of her shell in the 1960s, with this card telling mom to do something “adventurous, wicked and daring on Mother’s Day.”

Moms from any era can relate to this card acknowledging that household chores rarely take a day off — even on Mother’s Day.

Who taught you how to behave? “Nobody!” said the inside of this rebellious Mother’s Day card. “But I gotta give you credit, Mom.

You can see more at:

https://www.newsday.com/lifestyle/family/hallmark-mother-s-day-cards-through-the-years-1.11728733

170th reunion of descendants of migrants on Dr Lang’s ships

170th Reunion of the descendants of Dr Dunmore Lang’s ships the Fortitude, Chaseley and Lima.

It was a very enjoyable and memorable afternoon despite inclement weather. Some of the descendants lived up to their pioneering ancestry by coming out on a rainy, overcast day. Their ancestors would have endured much worse! Despite the threatening clouds, we managed to gather everyone around the memorial cairn in Captain Burke Park before the heavy rain started.

170th Reunion of descendant of the migrants who came out from England on the three ships chartered by Dr John Dunmore Lang.

Second left is 93-year-old Kevin Dickson, the oldest 4th generation descendant of James William Thompson who came on the second ship, the Chaseley, which arrived on 1 May 1849, 170 years ago!

In traditional dress and standing next to the banner is Renee Johnston who made the banner for the 150th year reunion in 1999 and updated it for this event twenty years later. Hopefully she’ll have to update it for many more future reunions.

Pioneers Picnic

The Pioneers Picnic, first held on the 1st of May 1899, was the jubilee of the landing of Doctor John Dunmore Lang’s pioneers in Brisbane. About 600 hundred pioneers arrived in Brisbane in 1849 on the ships ‘Fortitude’, ‘Chaseley’ and ‘Lima’. The picnic was attended by over three hundred, including immigrants and their descendants. This year is the 120th anniversary of the Pioneers Picnic.

Yesterday’s Pioneer Picnic, although on a much smaller scale, was no less significant.

Opening by Cr Jonathan Sri and Christa Gerard

Debra Dickson talking about past reunions

Ken Scells describing the creation of the memorial cairn

Des Johnston, his daughter Renee and Val Mullan.

Val Mullen, Kevin Dickson and Jennifer Clark sharing memories.

Nev Robinson pointing out his ancestors on the Fortitude

Afternoon tea at Medley Café in the historic Yungaba grounds on the river was a fitting location for some of the group to continue their reminiscences.

Baker wins Golden Casket in 1938

Some stories have a happy ending. Mr. J.A. Kirkwood was a hard-working foreman baker at Keating’s bakery in South Brisbane. He had been buying casket tickets for many years and finally struck it lucky when he won £6000 in the Golden Casket. His immediate reaction to news of his win was to treat all his friends to a celebratory drink or two, and then invest the rest of his winnings.

Labour Day- how did it begin?

Labour Day has been an official Queensland public holiday, celebrated on the first Monday in May, since 1912 and before that as Eight Hours Day since 1901. Before its official recognition as a public holiday, parades and celebrations had taken place in Queensland since the 1860s. The first celebration took place in Brisbane on 16 March 1861 and was essentially a celebration by a small number of skilled building workers who had recently achieved an eight-hour working day. The date of the event was chosen to coincide with the anniversary of the first workers achieving the eight hour day in Queensland.