Colin Thomas

The President reports a successful 2026 financial year ahead of the AGM in Sydney on 19 September. He outlines the Society's IT programme: a Wild Apricot membership portal allowing members to manage their own details, a dedicated ITHelp address, and a second phase enabling searches across nearly 50 years of the journal. He also previews the 2027 national tour of Brisbane and Queensland (19-24 May), the Victorian branch's Western Districts tour and the Tasmanian East Coast tour, and notes positive feedback on the new method of journal distribution.

Board Director, Professor David Johnstone recommended to the Board that the Society consider establishing an annual scholarship grant for research into a specific topic of Australiana... The Board agreed to pursue potential partners and provide a maximum grant of $10,000 per annum to one or more recipients, with agreed outcomes which benefit the Society. The first scholarship grant will be awarded during the 2027 financial year following an extensive selection process.

With 2026 upon us, we are only two years from our 50th Anniversary. As members should be aware, the Board committed to producing a major publication to celebrate this milestone...

Thank you to members who provided feedback on the proposed changes toour national tour registration procedures, detailed in May Australiana. Many members advised that they understood the constraints of having limited places on these much sought-after tours, mostly of private houses. The board agreed to adopt all the proposed measures for future national tours: interstate members will take priority, with host-state members able to attend the opening event, the Kevin Fahy Lecture and the closing event, at a minimum. If demand does not exceed supply, host state members will be accepted for the full tour. A ballot will be conducted if required.

What an outstanding success the 2024 national tour of Victoria was! Victorian branch chair Robert Stevens and his team did an absolutely fantastic job in every regard. From venue selection, menu selection, to negotiating the best possible deal with all providers, nothing more could possibly have been wished for. On behalf of the board and those who had the great privilege to attend the first ever Australiana Society national tour of Victoria, a huge thank you to Robert and all involved does not seem enough. Tour and Victorian branch member Graham Stanley provides an insight into the tour later in this magazine. Thank you for this Graham. The Society’s Evolution The Victorian tour demonstrated the wisdom of the former Sydney committee in creating state branches, initially in Tasmania followed by Queensland, Victoria, South Australia and NSW. This decision has enabled the Society to grow, following amendments to the constitution. Immediate past president Dr Jim Bertouch in particular must take credit for his leadership in this regard....

I trust all members had a most enjoyable festive season with family and friends. 2025 is well and truly upon us with significant events planned for the calendar year.It was most pleasing to finish 2024 with 556 members. This is a record for the society and demonstrates the value which members perceive they are receiving. Our challenge is to ensure membership is not only retained but increased. A reminder to members who have not renewed for the 2025 calendar year that renewal is now overdue. While you have received this issue in good faith, please renew soon.

The 2024 Financial Year has again proven to be a great year of activities and development for the Society! My highlight was the March tour of Adelaide and its environs. I would remind members this was the first occasion the Society had conducted a tour to South Australia in our 46-year history. The event was appreciated by our South Australian members with many attending their first ever national event at the Kevin Fahy Lecture delivered by passionate South Australian member and collector Justin Gare during dinner at historic Ayers House...

Vale, Mr Terence Lane OAMIt would be remiss of me not to commence this update without recognising the loss of esteemed member Terence Lane. Most would be aware of Terry’s contribution to the arts, primarily through his involvement as senior curator of decorative arts at the National Gallery of Victoria. Terry was a most valued member of the Society and a significant contributor to the Victorian branch.

The 2024 National tour to Adelaide and its environs proved, from all reports, to be another outstanding success. It is difficult to believe that this was the first tour to Adelaide in the Society’s 46-year history. It was fantastic to provide the opportunity for South Australian members to attend a national tour in their own state and to attend the Annual Kevin Fahy Lecture at historic Ayers House.

I trust all members had an enjoyable festive season with family and friends, and took the opportunity to relax. During this period of relaxation, you may well have spent some time reading Australiana and the book so generously donated regarding John Mitchell Cantle, Australia’s first native-born ornithological artist. Cantle was clearly a very talented individual who has been magnificently documented in Dr Cabouret’s exhaustive, groundbreaking research, which since publication has achieved worldwide acclaim. Thank you again to all involved in this most wonderful publication.

Thank you to members who attended the 2023 AGM in person and via Zoom. From my perspective it was great to catch up with members and present the 45th AGM of our wonderful Society. A copy of my President’s Report is included in this magazine as is the Financial Report.

As announced in the May issue, the 2024 National Tour will be held in and around Adelaide, South Australia. The organising committee has already secured visits to several private collections belonging to South Australian members and these will be combined with enhanced viewing of some significant institutional collections, some not well known.

The year is off to a great start. The National Tour conducted in the ACT was fully subscribed with the maximum 40 members and state events have already been held in Tasmania and Victoria. Part of the Victorian event was a curator-led presentation by Emma Busowsky prior to viewing the Bendigo Art Gallery’s exhibition, Australiana: Designing a Nation.

Scrimshaw, the ancient art of the mariner is a most important part of our heritage which is very collectable. At times, scrimshaw achieves very high prices at auction in Australia and internationally. This article relates solely to Australian scrimshaw which is different in many ways to American or in some instances British scrimshaw.

Your Board trusts that you have enjoyed exploring our new website, taken the opportunity to review it in detail and researched past articles. Members’ feedback has been most encouraging! As with any change, there is always the odd issue; we are doing our best to fix them and will further enhance the site based on your feedback. It is a living document.

Thank you to the members who attended the 2022 Annual General Meeting in person or via zoom. Thank you also for the show of support to me as President and to the other Directors who were elected. I particularly thank Peter Crawshaw for his nomination and subsequent election to the Secretary’s position. Lynda Summers had previously filled this role, as well as that of Treasurer, which was a totally unrealistic expectation of her. Lynda, as she always does, just got on with the job. Thank you, Lynda, for your contribution to the Society during the transition from the former Committee to the new national Board in both the Secretary’s and the Treasurer’s role which you retain. Your level of commitment to the Society and support to me as President has been absolutely outstanding! Thanks also to Robert Hannan and Peter Crawshaw for making the wonderful Rothwell Lodge available for the meeting.

What an outstanding event the Sydney Basin Tour proved to be! While I have detailed this verbally and via personal email, it would be completely remiss of me not to publicly thank Robert Hannan, Peter Crawshaw, Andy Simpson and Tim Cha for their outstanding efforts in planning and delivering a wonderful event. I make this comment from the joint positions of Society President and an attendee. Well done! A report on the tour is provided in this issue of Australiana.

Following our calling for expressions of interest and personal approaches, the Board recently endorsed Robert Hannan, Peter Crawshaw, Gail Darby and Phillip Black as the NSW Branch Committee. At the Committee’s first meeting Robert Hannan was elected Chair and Peter Crawshaw Secretary. These individuals possess the requisite skills, experience and enthusiasm to provide what our NSW members expect in terms of events, activities and services. It is pleasing that Phillip Black volunteered, as his corporate knowledge of the Society and many years’ experience as a member of the former committee will prove beneficial. Thank you Robert, Peter, Gail and Phillip for your commitment to the Society and our members.

I trust all members enjoyed a wonderful festive season and new year with family and friends. Who would have thought at this time last year that 2020 would present us with the challenges that it did? Hopefully 2021 will prove to be more the ‘norm’. As I write this, regional COVID outbreaks appear to have been contained, and travel between states is less restricted than before. This is all relevant because as a national organisation, your Board is attempting to provide events of national significance which we all will have the opportunity to attend.

It was an absolute privilege at the recent Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be elected President of the Society. I am very humbled by the fact that the outgoing President Dr Jim Bertouch and Vice President Tim Cha nominated me for the role with the unanimous support of the outgoing Committee and State Chairs.

Firstly thank you to Jim and the Society Committee for demonstrating the faith you have in me to deliver what I regard as this most important lecture. We all owe the late Kevin Fahy a significant debt for the time that he took researching, collecting and preserving Australia’s heritage, particularly in the books and or articles he wrote either independently or in conjunction with other recognised experts.