On the cover this month
Tenterfield Shire Council Illuminated welcoming address to Sir Gerald Strickland, 1915 Manuscripts Collection MS 4502
This beautiful illuminated welcoming address was presented to Sir Gerald Strickland, the governor of New South Wales, from the citizens of Tenterfield when he visited the town in 1915. As a supporter of Australian federation, rather than unification, Strickland would have appreciated Tenterfield’s significance as the symbolic birthplace of the federation movement. The welcoming paragraphs are followed by these rousing words: … we rejoice that Your Excellency has been good enough to favour us with this opportune occasion for conveying to you the expression of our unanimous loyalty to our Most Gracious Sovereign whom you so happily represent and to offer to Your Excellency the profound assurance that this District, as with all others, is neglecting nothing at all possible which can help in assuring to Our Arms and our Nation a glorious and overwhelming Victory and a lasting Peace. Read story
October 2008 Volume XIX Number 1
His Excellency Sir Gerald Strickland Count della Catena KCMG, BA, LLB
Barry York delves into the life of controversial Maltese nobleman Sir Gerald Strickland, governor of three Australian states and Prime Minister of Malta
The Great White Fleet in Sydney: ‘What a Time We Are Having!’
Ian Warden tells the story of ‘the greatest spectacle yet witnessed in the history of Australia’, as the thrillingly anticipated Great White Fleet of 16 colossal American warships entered Sydney Heads 100 years ago
The Story Bridge: An Engineering Feat
Jennifer Moran describes the history of Brisbane’s Story Bridge and its design by distinguished engineer Dr John Bradfield
Mary Jean Officer: Life, Work and Ideology
Jenny Gall describes Mary Jean Officer’s respect for oral tradition and her skill in collecting songs and stories
Anthony Trolope’s Travels and Travails in 1871 Australia
Nigel Starck reveals the outrage at Anthony Trollope’s views of colonial Australians as ‘blowers’
Friends
A regular news page about the activities of the Friends of the National Library of Australia
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