NTSA Hahndorf/Committees

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NTSA Hahndorf Branch - Committee Members and Reports

 

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'''RETURN To:'''<<BR>>[[NtsaHahndorf|The NTSA-Branch Main Page]]
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'''ADDITIONAL INFORMATION'''<<BR>>
regarding the Hahndorf Branch of the NTSA is available from the following Sub-Pages
 * [[NtsaHahndorf/Background| Background to Establishment of Branch]]
 * [[NtsaHahndorf/Activities| Branch Activities]]
 * [[NtsaHahndorf/Personalities| Personalities]]
 * [[NtsaHahndorf/PioneerWomensTrail| Hahndorf Pioneer Womens' Trail]]
 * [[NtsaHahndorf/Endangered| Endangered Place]]
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Also, the [[http://www.sa.nationaltrust.org.au/| National Trust of South Australia]] Web-Site gives overall details of the Trust's activities within the State.

The Current Branch Committee & Contacts

The First Branch Committee (1976)

The first Hahndorf National Trust Branch Committee, elected on 23 June 1976 at the Hahndorf Academy, was largely responsible for the major thrust towards planning controls that currently govern the built environment. We recognised that buildings had more chance of escaping demolition if they were perceived as being commercially viable by the business community. Unfortunately, the national hobby of land speculation continued to erase the "lived culture" in Main Street as residents sold their old homes to tourist operators and moved elsewhere. Tourism became our expedient argument in favour of restoration of buildings as well as retention of the trees and gardens that framed them. Tourism, however, was at odds with the suburban developments in the back blocks. The few ancient gums still standing after more than a century of land clearance for agriculture were now threatened due to their habit of dropping limbs. It hadn't mattered much until the village became a suburb. And many of the new residents hated the congestion of Main Street on weekends.

The 1976 Foundation Members were: <<BR>>
Mr and Mrs John Storey, Mr Walter Wotzke, Ms Lyndell Davidge, Brian and Anni Fox, Mr Reg Butler, Mr and Mrs David Heysen, Mr and Mrs J.V. Nitschke, Mr and Mrs H.C. Tillyer, Mr and Mrs S. Pellenat, Mr and Mrs John Littler, Mr and Mrs M. Chipperfield, Mr Ralph Dettman, Mr and Mrs O. Butler, Mr G. Paech, Mrs A. Paech.

And the first Branch Committee consisted of: <<BR>>

Branch records reveal the political nature of its activities and its informal links with academic institutions.<<BR>>
In its first year the Branch undertook the following -

~-Anni Luur Fox (2004)-~

Minutes of Branch Meetings Held 2005/2006
Branch - Annual General Meeting

Draft of Minutes of Meeting Held Sunday 29 May 2005 at 20 Main Street, Hahndorf SA at 1.00 pm.

The day began at 8.30 am with the firing of the 19th Century bakeoven in the backyard of this site which consists of the oldest intact German pioneer farm complex (circa 1840) in Australia and a later construction adjacent to Main Street dating from 1854. The significance of the oven is that it is the lone survivor of a common method of feeding the family in this farming community established in 1839. Every family in Hahndorf had a similar structure in years gone by. Today, a number of tourists wandered up the drive to see what was happening and were escorted around the site which is still in the throes of conservation works and therefore not generally open to the public. The Courier reporter arrived at noon and took photographs of Rodney Allen at the bakeoven.

Jaan Fox and Rodney Allen conducted the firing and subsequent baking of bread rolls and fruit tarts (prepared by Lia Fox), two legs of lamb, potatoes, pumpkin and zucchinis (prepared by Annette Oien and Lyndell Davidge) accompanied by garlic and dill butter and salad (thrown together by Anni Luur Fox after preparing the open air kitchen for food production). A leisurely lunch took place with red and white wine under the trees in the old poultryrun lately cleared of junk closely examined for signs of historical significance. The AGM followed lunch at 2.30 pm.

PRESENT: Noel Hittman, Kylie Storey,Annette Oien, Margaret Finnis, Tony Finnis, Lyndell Davidge, Anni Luur Fox, Bryon Finch.

APOLOGIES: Carlsa Carter, Lynn and Algis Radzivicius, Josie Larkin, Rachael Elliot (director of Hahndorf Academy), Reg Butler, Eric Aliffe.

MINUTES: The minutes were tabled and read. Lyndell moved that they be accepted. Seconded by Tony. Carried.

BUSINESS ARISING

Nixon’s Mill - Lyndell reported that our application for funds to paint the structure had been added to the National Trust HQ application and was unsuccessful. We need to return to Mt. Barker Council for assistance.
Entrance to Hahndorf - Council has planted 54 trees to acknowledge the 54 founding families of Hahndorf. A plaque will be erected, according to the President of the Community Association.

REPORTS

Chairperson’s Report: Anni tabled her report in the form of a profile of the Branch since 1976 and a dot point overview of current contribution to the community. Attached was Lyndell’s report to HQ showing reasons why the Branch was a valuable resource for Hahndorf despite its small number of members.
There are five members doing volunteer work for the Hahndorf Academy which has a serious need for people with historical knowledge and a variety of skills required to run this community facility effectively ie Lyndell Davidge, Annette Oien, Margaret and Tony Finnis, and Bryon Finch. Anni and Reg provide some specialist information and Anni has written two articles on Hahndorf matters published in 2004 and 2005 in the Trust’s magazine “Heritage Living”. Kylie, Lyndell and Anni own historic sites and are caring for them. Noel Hittman is a mine of information about farming methods and historical matters related to his family and experiences. Tony Finnis is the computer expert and Website instigator.
Anni reported she has contributed almost 3500 hours to the South Verdun “expansion of a petrol station on the floodplain issue” and has been called as an expert witness in a case pending in the Environment, Resources and Development Court. She also spent 40 hours correcting information in the recent Mt Barker District Council Heritage Survey, using Title searches corroborated by Reg Butler who is in his twelfth year of solving historical riddles via research into Titles and shipping lists. She also answers calls from people requesting historical information and sends data via email or snail mail when required.
Anni apologised for the lack of Branch events due to time constraints and the lack of an organiser at this time. She thanked Branch members for soldiering on with their very valuable contributions to a site of national significance.
Treasurer’s Report: Annette tabled her report and spoke to it. Our cheque account balance is $3138.11. The Windmill account is $1,890.00. We have not sold many books or cards this year.
Margaret moved that these reports be accepted and posted with the minutes on the Branch Website. Seconded by Kylie. Carried.
Bryon moved that accounts be paid. Seconded by Margaret. Carried.
Annette moved that Rob Kilpatrick be approached again to audit our books. Seconded by Bryon. Carried.
Annette asked for figures of hours spent on National Trust business required by HQ.
Annette moved that the Branch donate $500 to the Hahndorf Academy for use in preparing the $13,500 display by Archetype for the Academy to present an overview of its history. Seconded by Kylie. Carried.

ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Chairperson: Anni Luur Fox. Moved Bryon Finch. Seconded Tony Finnis. Carried.
Hon. Secretary: Annette Oien. Moved Tony Finnis. Seconded Margaret Finnis. Carried.
Hon. Treasurer: Lyndell Davidge. Moved Kylie Storey. Seconded Bryon Finch. Carried.
Committee: Eric Aliffe, Kylie Storey, Bryon Finch, Tony Finnis, Margaret Finnis, Noel Hittman, Reg Butler.

CORRESPONDENCE

Lyndell tabled the correspondence regarding –
Patrons Government House reception on 27 September. Two delegates required.
Report from Our Patch.
Regeneration of Wicks Reserve.
HQ request for registration of Branch events to celebrate Trust’s 50th Anniversary.

BUSINESS

1. 50 Anniversary Events. We discussed the possibility of conducting a walk along the Pioneer Women’s Trail in October and need to find out the current status of the Trail marking by the Office for Sport, Recreation and Racing. Annette will be in England from 7 August for 3 months. At this point there were no volunteers for the Patrons reception at Government House.
2. South Verdun: Anni gave an overview of the continuing saga which has escalated with State government involvement seeking a quick-fix solution for longterm environmental problems caused by industrial development adjacent to the Onkaparinga River which provides a large percentage of Adelaide’s water supply. The case in the ERD Court has been deferred again to allow government to seek ways of filling the needs of 4 businesses which have chosen to set up in an area notorious for flooding. Residents who will bear the impact of the environmentally suspect proposals, have been excluded from meetings with Planning SA and 5 other government agencies. The great cranking machinery of government is poised to go through an expensive exercise of formulating proposals for formal public consultation in future, despite environmental evidence against their proposed measures being readily available. In this time of drought, water shortages and exhortations for WaterCare, the spectacle of the State bent on accommodating business applications that do not adhere to the principles of the Adelaide Hills Development Plan in terms of watershed protection, is extremely worrying as is wasting taxpayers money on public consultation regarding a serious pollution issue.
3. Branch Website: Tony reported that to date our domain registration has cost $60 and the Main posting $40, which he has paid. He said the site has two parts
(a) National Trust of SA, Hahndorf Branch, which is fairly complete but requiring photographs.
(b) a section based on Anni’s book “Hahndorf: A Journey through the village and its History” which is copyright. A computer crash resulted in the loss of 500 photographs. Although he would like to post more information he acknowledged that copyright is always a problem. Anni pointed out that lots of people conduct research and write their own versions of history in their own words, but that authors generally have a problem if great slabs of their hard work becomes available free of charge off the net when they are trying to cover publication costs via sale of books.
(c) Tony said that our registration, which is currently in his name, will be due again in six months and that he will contact the Treasurer. The main problem lies in hosting the website. When Hahndorf is connected to Broadband he will swap to this facility. He will have to change hosting from club-based to Broadband which will cost considerably more. We cannot use the club-based host for commercial purposes. We cannot do it on the cheap.
Lyndell moved that Tony investigate options and write a report for the Branch to consider. Seconded by Annette. Carried.
Tony expressed the desire to “grab the Hahndorf.org domain name” costing $68.00 for the Branch.
Lyndell moved that we do so and the Branch covers the cost. Seconded by Annette. Carried.
4. Publicity: Margaret suggested that we publicise our activities in the Traders and Community Association newsletters as well as schools and church communications.
Tony reported that Eric Aliffe would allow us use of the Institute for no cost.
5. Anni thanked everyone for their attendance and sterling efforts on heritage matters.

The meeting closed at 4.15 pm with afternoon tea with freshly baked quince and apple tarts.

~-Anni Luur Fox-~

Committee Meeting held 02.02.2006

Held at 35 English St, Hahndorf at 6pm(dinner meeting).

PRESENT: Lyndell Davidge, Anni Luur Fox, Bryon Finch, Reg Butler, Margaret and Tony Finnis.

APOLOGIES: Kylie Storey, Annette Oien (still overseas).

MINUTES: Lyndell read out the minutes of our Branch meeting held after our AGM on 29 May 2005. Margaret moved that they be accepted. Seconded by Bryon. Carried.

TREASUER’S REPORT
Annette Oien was still overseas

CORRESPONDENCE:

1 Feb 06: in response to Jan Kleinig’s phonecall.Email to Jan Kleinig, member of N.T Council re our committee meeting on 2 Feb to discuss Branch 30 anniversary- attached copy of my report to Branch of 10 Jan 06.

1 Feb: to Jan Kleinig with copy of Branch history prepared for Hahndorf’s 160 Anniversary.
26 Jan 06: from Annette Oien saying she would return from overseas on 19 Feb and looking forward to resuming her involvement with us.
24 Jan 06: A reminder to members of our meeting on 2 Feb.
24 Jan 06: to Mt Barker Council re community info database.
11 Jan 06: to Branch members suggesting 3 dates for a committee meeting and asking for addresses of members not on email.
Regional Rap.
12 Jan 06: from the Walking Federation of SA Inc, June Boscence, Admin. Officer with a report of its progress re marking the Trail since funds were transferred to them from Rec. and Sport after June 2005 to complete the job.
12 Jan. Email from Tony Finnis, 2 Feb OK for meeting.
5 Jan 06: from Mt Barker Council re community info database update.
2 Jan: email to the Editor, the Advertiser, replying to the question, “What SA item should be on the national heritage list?”
24 Nov 05: To Rachael Elliott thanking her for her sterling efforts as Director of the Academy and wishing her well in her new job managing the Aboriginal Collection at the SA Museum.
5 Dec 05: from Rachael Elliot re her new job.
5 Dec 05: to members, abandoning hope of having a meeting before Christmas, with attached report to NT Regional meeting attended by Anni and Bryon.
25 June 05: email from Tony Finnis re Wiki website up and running.
Correspondence tabled by Lyndell.
1. Regional Rap
2. 12 Jan 06: Walking Federation re Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail
3. New Fee Structure for National Trust.
Anni tabled the correspondence file for Onkaparinga River Floodplain Conservation.

BUSINESS ARISING

1. PIONEER WOMEN’S TRAIL. Lyndell reported that she had been in contact with June Boscence from the Walking Federation which is now in charge of marking the route as surveyed by Rod Worthington for the Office for Rec. and Sport. June sent us maps of the route which does deviate from the original to comply with Rec. and Sport policy. The Federation is working on the Crafers to Silvers Road section and are waiting for approval. The final section of the Bullock Track is still being assessed. They are doing the easiest section first.
Rec. and Sport accepted our suggestions for the improving the figure on the logo and the Walking Federation is now trying to design the brochure using text by Anni which they have sent to us for comment. Our committee did not like the cover design featuring a photograph of the Stirling rotunda which did not complement the design of the logo. It was agreed that a section of trail with eucalypts would be better, or the logo alone on the front cover. Anni and Lyndell agreed to check it.

2. SOUTH VERDUN: Anni tabled the copious correspondence regarding this continuing saga of lobbying against issues related to sewage, flooding and commercial development on the Onkaparinga floodplain at the entranceway to Hahndorf. The Petrol Station expansion is due to be heard by the Environment, Resources and Development Court in May 2006. Anni reported that she had been called as an expert witness and asked if any members had any objections to her involvement in this matter, gratis. All agreed with Tony who said that he had no objections as long as Anni kept the Branch informed of developments. Anni gave an overview of the case and expressed the hope that the Minister for Planning, the Hon Paul Holloway would see fit to buy back the property rather than risk a court case.

Anni also spoke about the debacle over Grumpy’s licence to brew beer in Aldgate having been inadverdently tranferred to the Onkaparinga Riverbank when the business moved to this prominent site at South Verdun. It wants to expand its clientele to 75 but only has a 3000 litre septic tank and Council approval for 20 people. Tony said that technically they can put a big brewery on that site due to a clerical error. He made the comment that politically heads of government departments do not want to “stir the pot”. In his experience, self-regulation never works and that there is a lack of good inspectors. The Envirocycles which councils are insisting people install in the water catchment do not work.

3. COMMONWEALTH GAMES BATON RELAY: Anni and Reg had been asked to donate historic photographs to the Hahndorf Community Association which has been in charge of mounting the historical display in Alec Johnston Park since 2005. Since the request for assistance had come at the last minute, the best Anni could do was to give access to the panels she had produced for Reg’s “College in the Wattles” launch. Unable to commit at a such short notice to researching and producing the maps requested by HCA, Reg did allow reproduction of some of his photographs that had already been published. Ann Haines had asked if members would sit in the tent and answer questions on the day of the display. Margaret and Tony said they would informally wander around and talk about history as they knew it. Since Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 Feb. were working days other members indicated they could not take part until after hours.

4. BRANCH 30 ANNIVERSARY & 40 OF WALTER WOTZKE’S PURCHASE OF THE ACADEMY TO SAVE IT FROM DEMOLITION. Anni reported that Jan Kleinig, a member of National Trust Council had rung to say that after the success of the SA Trust’s 50th anniversary celebrations in 2005, Council had decided to set up a major events committee to continue the momentum. This year they want to honour branches founded in 1956, 1966 and 1976, including Hahndorf. Anni had sent her an overview of Branch activities since 1976 and had invited her to our committee meeting which happened to clash with a council meeting.

Lyndell informed us that the Academy is planning to honour Walter in 2007 for the 40th anniversary of the opening of the renovated building. It will be involved in the Hahndorf Town Band 80th birthday celebrations in May and that October will mark the 10th anniversary of the Heysen Prize. Three suggestions were made (a) Reg pointed out that having the Hahndorf Pioneer Women’s Trail finally marked officially would be wonderful since it would involve and give pleasure to many people for years to come. (b) Anni suggested that rather than doing a “blow by blow” expose of the Branch’s substantial, successful role in lobbying for conservation of Hahndorf, a community-minded project in our anniversary year might be to collaborate with the Academy Board to give new life to the museum display and assist with interpretation of its history. (c) Bryon suggested we install Reg with his computer for a day at the Academy to help people with family history research. After a good deal of discussion it was decided that suggestion (a) was most favoured.

Reg said that he could not comply with Bryon’s suggestion because he is already loaded with requests and cannot take any more time off from completing his database currently in its twelfth year of research. Lyndell said that the Academy museum was very popular and that a curator from England had remarked on the human quality of the display and the fact that so many other museum displays these days are so generic. Lyndell reported that a $10,000 grant had enabled the Strathalbyn National Trust to improve their display cases, labelling and floor displays at their museum. It was decided to “sleep on it” ie the final decision about what form our 30 anniversary would take and whether Walter’s extraordinary leap of faith in November 1966 warrants a mention at that time.

NEW BUSINESS

1. WIKI SITE: Tony explained it had come about when he and Margaret had come to live in Hahndorf and John Storey and Peter Hine had asked him to produce a website for the Traders and the Information Centre. He had then done a National Trust site using information from published books but there had been too much information that could be accessed without payment to the authors or booksellers who depended on income from sales. He had looked for another way to set up a website for the community. He explained that a conventional website is restricted to access by one person but Wiki is open to anyone from their own computer who wants to change anything. Access controllers can limit it to people with a password but if they do the wrong thing they can be banned.

Tony is currently the administrator of the website which includes the Information Centre, National Trust, Academy and Doll Extravaganza and plans to include the schools and churches. He and a group of younger people maintain it but would like our Branch to maintain its own section.He pointed out that there are many Wiki systems. Big companies use them. The City of London has one. Wiki is set up on a non-commercial basis and the community has free service. In six months Tony’s group will be looking for funding. Lyndell offered the use of data show equipment to which she has access, help Tony explain the system. Tony was heartily congratulated on his efforts. He said he felt very stongly about Hahndorf and was glad that there are very diverse groups all working positively towards the benefit of the town.

2. REG BUTLER’S DATABASE. Reg set up his laptop computer and demonstrated how his database worked. It was agreed that a good deal of painstaking work had gone into the database which amalgamates information from a number of sources and will, when completed, revolutionise family history research.

3. The meeting closed at 9.45pm.

Report To Hahndorf Branch, National Trust Of SA. - 3 September 2006

Anni Luur Fox,Chairperson.

Greetings to all. The following matters, some of them pressing, require our attention. I know you are all busy and involved in a thousand things but the Branch really could use some extra help right now. In the Branch’s 30th year, advocacy for conservation remains a time-consuming priority but raising public concsiousness regarding Hahndorf’s cultural importance is also a continuing priority because it can be so easily swamped. After a purge of history teachers in the early 1990’s, the importance of Australian history in our system of education has been highlighted in the popular press in the past months, at long last. The numbers of people from all over Australia seeking information about their ancestors is increasing in the painstaking search for identity.

1. VALE. Lyndell’s brother Ross Davidge died on Monday 21 August aged 48 years.

2. NATIONAL TRUST REGIONAL MEETING, Sunday 10 September at 2.00pm. It is our turn to be hosts. Before Lyndell left for the funeral she suggested we hold it at the Academy. If weather permits we could use the stable but I have booked the Hahndorf Institute if not. It would be lovely if you could come with a contribution for afternoon tea.
3. HAHNDORF BRANCH 30TH ANNIVERSARY EXHIBITION: PERAMANGK ROCK ART, 11 December 2006– 8 January 2007. Tony Finnis and I met with Trust CEO Alan Graham, Robin Coles and Melinda Rankine on 16th July to see the superb photographs and discuss funding. Robin assured us that we have the permission of Peramangk Elder Richard Hunter to display the work he and Robin have been doing for many years. A copy of Robin’s manuscript and a CD of the photographs were given to Alan for use in his quest for help from ETSA in funding the exhibition. Unfortunately, we have just been informed that this was unsuccessful and that we will have to find our own funds. This was not a surprise. Since we are committed to this exhibition, I will put up some money to ensure it goes ahead.
The Budget -
Materials :from Robin Coles, 26 March ’06 (the costs will have increased)
A4 gloss paper Kodak, 2 pkts 40 sheets $40.00
A3 “ “ “ 1 pkt 20 “ $40.00
Inkjet cartridges 4@$40 ea $160.00
Frame block mounts
A4 40 x $15 ea $600.00
A3 10 x $20 ea $200.00
Contingencies $200.00

Gallery Rental 4 weeks x $100 $400.00
Refreshments at opening $400.00

We had hoped to be able to pay for Elder Richard Hunter and his daughter Isoblel to local schools for sessions on Peramangk culture but this seems unlikely. Please let me know what you think of the budget. Robin needs to get on with the printing of the photographs as soon as possible.

Hahndorf Branch Committee Meeting (rough notes) held 6 May2006 at 5pm at 20 Main Street, Hahndorf.

Present: Annette Oien, Tony and Margaret Finnis, Bryon Finch, Anni Luur Fox.
Apologies: Lyndell Davidge, Reg Butler, Kylie Storey
Minutes: Annette took the minutes. Margaret moved that the minutes of 2 February 2006. Seconded by Bryon. Carried.

Business arising.

PIONEER WOMEN’S TRAIL. We discussed Ann Haines’ request re marking the avenue of trees planted by Mt Barker Council from Ambleside Road to River Road.

SOUTH VERDUN. We discussed progress of the proposed $1.5 million buyback by SA government of the Palma and Boral sites.

BRANCH 30 ANNIVERSARY PERAMAMGK EXHIBITION. Reg and Lyndell had both indicated they were in favour of the exhibiiton. Anni said we need about $2000 and that HQ agreed to try sourcing the funds. Bryon moved that we go ahead with the exhibition. Seconded by Tony. Carried. Bryon told us that any stonework at Mt Barker summit is not Peramangk. Bryon and Charlie Szabo built it. The SE Freeway was built over one of the Peramangk sites. A Mrs Post aged 92 had told him of seeing corrobores at Hahndorf when she was a little girl but he suspects it was her grandmother who told her of seeing them.

WIKI SITE. Tony quickly went through events saying that running costs were $1200 per annum and that he is using his own internet connection costing $89/month. He is looking for organisations wiling to put up $150/annum/organisation. If we continue with the Apana site it will be static because additions are cumbersome. Annette as past treasurer said that the Branch could manage $150/annum. The Windmill account has $2000. Margaret moved that we provide $150 per annum if Tony find other organisations to help fund the site. Seconded by Annette. Carried.

HAHNDORF MASTER PLAN. Anni gave a brief report on the plan and offered the latest update to anyone wanting to comment. Tony agreed to check it.

HAHNDORF HISTORY CENTRE. Anni spoke about increasing requests for information that are beyond the resources of the Branch.

Committee Meeting held Friday 10 November 2006 at 5.00pm at 20 Main Street, Hahndorf

PRESENT: Lyndell Davidge, Tony Finnis, Bryon Finch, Anni Luur Fox, Eric Aliffe (Hahndorf Community Asoc).

APOLOGIES: Annette Oien (overseas), Reg Butler.

BUSINESS

  1. PERAMANGK ROCK ART PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION. Anni reported on progress. She had been in contact with Robin Coles who had informed her of the death of Richard Hunter on 7 October and that his daughter Isobel is taking over his role as custodian of Peramangk culture. She has been collecting the awards that have resulted from his handiwork over many years. She is also training her sister to conduct tours if Isobel is unable to do them. Robin has been printing his photographs and will deliver them for mounting next week. Anni had sent Isobel a sympathy card from the Branch.

  2. CD of Peramangk Tour Brochure. Permission to post on our Website. Anni reported that Robin had earlier today delivered the Peramangk tour brochure CD and printout for us to use on the HahnWiki website. He said he had the necessary permission to do that from Richard and Isobel who has taken over his role. His book is not yet ready for sale. The publisher asked him to expand the text which covers Known History, Culture and the Art of the Mount Lofty Ranges, to include Myths and Legends, and the use of Fungi and Indigenous Plants for Food and Medicine. There will be over 160 colour plates in the book currently in the process of editing.

  3. Approvals. Lyndell told us that Robin had upset people at the SA Museum and that we should add a disclaimer on anything we produce ie “All care has been taken to ensure that permission has been granted to exhibit these images.” We discussed approvals at length. Anni said she had requested that Robin obtain the required approvals many months ago and he had agreed and said that Richard Hunter is acknowledged by the Aboriginal Heritage Unit.Tony pointed out that Robin had the approvals at our meeting with National Trust CEO Alan Graham and Melinda Rankin at the Academy on Sunday 16 July when he showed us his photographs. Anni said her notes of the meeting show that Alan had questioned Robin about approvals and that they were in order. Robin had told us that the SA Museum requires Richard’s permission to exhibit Peramangk artefacts. Only nine people can claim to be direct descendents which include Richard and his family and cousins. Robin had handed Alan the CD of the powerpoint presentation for use in obtaining a grant to mount the exhibition.

  4. Hahndorf Community Hall Committee had donated $400 towards cost of hiring the Academy for the Peramangk exhibition. Anni agreed to send out thanks to Colin Dickson, President of the Hall Committee.

  5. Estimated costs. Anni said that printing and mounting costs were estimated at $1200 and that she is prepared to personally cover that cost at this point to ensure that the exhibition does not become bogged down in money issues at this late stage. Since she still has a major exhibition to complete curating by 14 December involving funds from three government departments she is very happy to just “pay and display” to get the Peramangk show on the road. She made the point that theoretically she should have been trying to rally the Branch to fundraise when Alan Graham’s attempt to extract grant funds from ETSA failed, but her own work pressures in running workshops and setting up performances and exhibitions for Country Arts SA and the Festival of Quiet Voices were too great at that time to allow such deflection of attention.

  6. INVITATIONS. Lyndell said that the Academy’s invitations cost about $286 for 500. Anni moved that the Branch cover this cost and the cost of refreshments at the opening. Seconded by Lyndell. Carried. Anni agreed to do the wording and formatting of the invitations which would be emailed to the Academy, Robin and members for checking. Tony was given Robin’s CD for posting on our website and agreed to return it on Sunday for Anni to use for invitations and publicity.

  7. REFRESHMENTS. Lyndell agreed to be in charge of organising this aspect but would prefer to serve soft drinks and tea and coffee rather than wine. She would like to cook fish in bark and have bush foods which her son Peter could source. Anni said that there are records of Aboriginal people sweetening water with Banksia cones and Yacca flowers which are currently to be seen in our district.

  8. WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH ROBIN COLES RE EXHIBITION OF HIS PHOTOGRAPHS. This was discussed. If the Branch puts up money to print and mount the exhibition who owns these products? Anni said that her notes from the meeting of 16 July quote Robin as saying he will not benefit financially from exhibiting the photographs.

(Anni’s personal view which was not discussed on Friday, is that the images belong to the Peramangk and our Branch is helping to publicise the existence of this group of Aboriginal people and their culture by helping to fund setting up this exhibition, as an altruistic gesture. The benefit to the Branch is that, once again, we have done something exraordinary, a world first this time, to celebrate our 30th anniversary AND publish some images on the net. The use of these images for production of cards etc to cover costs is something she does not feel comfortable about suggesting to Robin and Isobel at this point. Robin has said we could have the brochure available at the exhibition.)

  1. HAHNDORF COMMUNITY ASSOC. Eric brought up the $1900 in the association’s bank still earmarked for the Pioneer Women’s Trail. Lyndell explained that our Branch had made a successful grant application in the name of this association so that a wider cross section of the community would be represented. It is earmarked for artworks along the Trail, perhaps as a marker for the starting point at the Academy, when we can get a footbridge over the Onkaparinga River.

  2. Bryon Finch suggested asking Robin to run a tour of Rock Art sites to raise funds to cover costs of mounting the exhibition.

  3. HAHNWIKI. Anni agreed to supply Tony with some of her historic photographs to post on our website to provide an alternative view of Hahndorf. Tony said that Mt Barker Council had covered the cost of a new computer for the server which will take him three weeks to organise after which he would like to set up photographic galleries of small images that are .5 of a postcard in size. They would be pixilated if blown up. He was keen to provide as much information as possible about Hahndorf history for free access but understood copyright issues.

  4. HISTORY/INTERPRETIVE CENTRE. This issue was discussed at length and the question of what will happen to artefacts and data belonging to Reg Butler and Anni in the future. A number of instances of relatives burning documents during “clean-ups” of deceased estates were aired. Tony expressed alarm about Reg assuming his USB is enough to store his data. He suggested that Reg bring him his USB once a month to burn a CD of the data for backup, but even CD’s have a relatively short life of 15 years. Lyndell said that Reg is planning to publish CD’s of his research as soon as he is ready. He has a publisher.

  5. HAHNDORF BRANCH FUTURE. Anni asked the question, “What can the Branch offer people who might want to join?” Eric suggested that regular monthly meetings at the Institute with a guest speaker might prove popular. Anni said that our Branch members spend many hours per week working in voluntary capacities at the Academy, setting up and maintaining the website, plus painstaking research a la Reg Butler but needs a person to organise meetings and social events like John and Kath Storey and Clare Ferguson used to do. Anni’s own role has always been to deal with the academic work, advocacy, documentation, answering questions from people looking for their ancestors as well as our court issues, leaving little time to devote to social needs of the Branch. We have always shared tasks but have a huge lack in the social department. Perhaps we should amalgamate with Mt Barker Branch and others in the region just as the Riverland Branches have done? Lyndell said that our small numbers are currently tolerated by Head Office.

  6. ST MICHAEL’S PROPOSED NEW HALL TO SEAT 500 PEOPLE was discussed at length. The congregation has approval in principle to go ahead with the plan to sell church assets to fund a huge facility which would cover much of the carpark and require removal of the remnant cemetery and its historic trees. This would leave the congregation with no real estate to provide income from rental. It was agreed that from an heritage point of view the removal of the remnant cemetery would be a retrograde step by the congregation, the oldest in Australia, which appears to have little sense of its long history on this site which could be termed a sacred site for Lutherans in Australia. Anni agreed to contact Douglas Alexander, the new Heritage Adviser.

  7. HAHNDORF ACADEMY GERMAN WAGGON. Lyndell told us she had been going through the Academy records to find out what had happened to this waggon. It did not appear in the records of the auction of Academy artefacts held during Ray Rothe’s time as President of the Hahndorf Academy Foundation Inc. When questioned by Lyndell, Ray had no recollection of what had happened to the waggon. Lyndell told us that she had discovered it was at Beerenberg, purchased before the auction by Grant Paech.

  8. BRANCH AGM. It was decided to hold the AGM in early February to allow us time to organise a speaker. Lyndell agreed to find a speaker and to place the necessary newspaper advertisements.

  9. WINDMILL FUND. Since there had been no activity in our windmill fund for six years, it was decided to transfer fund to our operating account. Moved by Lyndell, Seconded by Anni. Carried.

  10. The meeting finished at 8.30pm

REPORT to Annual General Meeting held on Friday 17 August 2007

at Hahndorf Institute at 7.30 pm.

Anni Luur Fox, Chairperson.

MISSION: Conservation of Hahndorf.
This mission statement has not changed since the Branch was established in 1976 to conduct research, to raise public consciousness regarding Hahndorf’s unique place in Australian history and to lobby government for planning controls favouring conservation. Thirty-one years later, despite the town’s listing by the National Estate(1983) and declaration as a State Heritage Area (1988) we find ourselves still on this treadmill but with better resources due to continuing research by Reg Butler in particular. The sterling work of current and past members of the Branch is gratefully acknowledged.

Although we have always been a small group, the passion and calibre of members has allowed us to ensure that Hahndorf’s status as Australia’s oldest permanent Germanic settlement and first non-British migrant town has been acknowledged by government. Fortunately, we live in a democracy which allows us a voice in matters of conservation which has been our most time-consuming task since the last AGM on 29 May 2005. The reason for the lack of an AGM in 2006 was bereavement in the families of two office bearers of the Branch and illness requiring lengthy recuperation periods for two others.

The following points provide an overview of Branch activities –
1.HAHNDORF BRANCH 30 ANNIVERSARY: To mark this milestone we set out to raise public consciousness about the Peramangk Aboriginal people of the Adelaide Hills region. Robin Coles very kindly allowed us to mount an exhibition of his photographs of rock art sites at the Hahndorf Academy from 11 December 2006– 8 January 2007. Robin and Peramangk Elder Richard Hunter had been discovering and documenting these sites since the 1980’s and thus adding to previous knowledge of the culture of these indigenous people. After Richard’s death in October 2006, his daughter Isabelle became custodian and agreed to open our exhibition. Robin was kind enough to donate the mounted photographs to the Branch. We have been asked to exhibit them at the Macclesfield Primary School 150 Anniversary celebrations in November.
2.WALTER WOTZKE/ HAHNDORF ACADEMY ANNIVERSARY: 27 June 2006 marked the 40th anniversary of Walter’s decision to purchase the derelict Academy to prevent its demolition to make way for a petrol station. I wrote a summary of events for Artist’s Voice Inc which set up an exhibition to celebrate this milestone for SALA Week. We honoured Walter with a small exhibit of press cuttings, his paintings and a bust of his head by Lothar Brasse.
3.AVENUE OF TREES: We collaborated with Hahndorf Community Association on the marking of this avenue planted from Ambleside Road to River Road by Mt. Barker District Council to commemorate Hahndorf’s Pioneer Women who walked barefoot to Adelaide from 1839 to sell their farm produce.
4.HAHNDORF MASTER PLAN: The Branch was represented on this working group for three years and provided historical data to Mt. Barker Council’s contracted planners.
5.SOUTH VERDUN: The Branch was heavily involved for 3 years in assisting a group of local residents prevent expansion of a petrol station on the banks of the Onkaparinga River which flows into Mt. Bold Resevoir supplying 60% of Adelaide’s water supply. This involved making several representations to Adelaide Hills Council and the SA Planning Commission plus several preliminary hearings at the Environment Court. Called as an expert witness, I prepared a twenty page statement and had access to statements by other experts called by Crown Law and the developers. I also took part in a deputation to the Minister for Planning, the Hon. Paul Holloway MLC, who absolved us of having to appear before the full Bench over a five day hearing in May 2006. He announced a $1.5 million buy-back of the petrol station and Boral site in February 2006. Recently he appointed me as a community representative to the South Verdun Gateway Working Group.
6.HAHNWIKI WEBSITE: Tony Finnis was the mastermind for this project which he continues to maintain.
7.COMMONWEALTH GAMES BATON RELAY: Our involvement was minimal due to 13,14 February being week days when some of us are at work, but Reg Butler allowed some of his photographs to be reproduced and exhibited.
8.DEMOLITIONS: Residents of Woodside asked for our help in preventing demolition of a substantial bluestone house next to a State Heritage church of 1865 in an area zoned ‘Woodside Historic Core’. Faehrmann’s House built in 1884-85 was demolished by St Paul’s Lutheran Homes in 2007. At the request of Hahndorf’s Heritage adviser, in 2005 I had prepared a summary of the history of the site and its significance in consultation with Reg Butler.
9.TOURS: We have conducted tours for a number of groups including members of the Canberra Diplomatic Core (1 May) who were amused when handed a Pioneer Women’s Trail brochure and advised to use it to walk back to Adelaide if they missed the bus at 2.15 pm. We have a booking for September by the Pioneers Association which has offered offered a donation of $50.00.
10.PIONEER WOMENS TRAIL: It took 27 years to achieve the official marking of this Trail originally discovered by the Branch in 1979 using a survey map of 1841 which the Army plotted onto a modern map at our chairman John Storey’s request! Our first public walk had taken place in 1980 to celebrate the Trust’s 25th Anniversary. The emphasis of the current Trail, officially launched on 15 April 2007, has moved away from Hahndorf due to the lack of a footbridge over the Onkaparinga River and the requirements of the SA Office for Recreation and Sport and Walking SA. But we are glad it has official recognition at last and will try to improve matters.
11.DISSEMINATION OF HISTORICAL INFORMATION: This is a service the Branch provides when requested. We have corrected data held by Heritage SA and have assisted the Art Gallery of SA regarding a photograph by Diederich.
12.ST MICHAEL’S LUTHERAN CHURCH REDEVELOPMENT: We have objected to the scale of this proposed development to seat 493 patrons and provide ancilliary offices on this site of national historical significance. The development will obscure much of the church of 1858-59, remove two significant 19th Century cypress trees and compact the remnant cemetery where Hahndorf’s pioneers lie buried.
13.THE HAHNDORF ACADEMY: Members continue to support this important place by volunteering time and services. Lyndell Davidge has been chairperson for three years. Annette Oien, Bryon Finch and Margaret Finis have been regular volunteers.

HAHNDORF BRANCH, NATIONAL TRUST OF SA
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Friday, 17 August 2007
At 7.30pm
At Hahndorf Institute.

AGENDA

1.Welcome and apologies

2.Minutes of last Annual General Meeting.

3.Chairperson’s Report

4.Financial Report

5.Election of Officers

6.General Business

7.Brief history of the new officially marked Pioneer Women’s Trail and the reasons why it is important to retain the Hahndorf connection.

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