History

The program provides grant funding of up to $15 000 for preservation projects, and preservation and collection management training through community based workshops.

The Max Kelly Medal was established by the History Council of NSW to encourage students and other beginning historians in the writing of Australian history from original material. Prize includes $500.

For details visit http://www.historycouncilnsw.org.au/prizes.html or call 02 9252 8715.

Entries close 15th December 2008.

Celebrate the heritage of Australia with lots of fun activities this summer school holidays.

Every day during the School Holidays:

~ Aboriginal Dot Painting (10.30am - 1.30pm)

~ Australiana Craft (10.30am - 1.30pm)

~ Face Painting (1pm – 4pm)~ Aboriginal Dance and Music Performance (2.00pm)

See the classic Australian 1946 film ‘Bush Christmas’ and shorts by starlight (weather permitting). Enjoy a BYO picnic or BBQ before the movies.

Adults $8, Children $4, Callicoma Hill Eco-cabin 529 Mt Royal Road Carrowbrook via Singleton. For details call Martin & Jan on 6571 1208 or visit www.calli.com.au

Article and photographs by Sally Patfield.

Over the past few years, there has been a notable cultural rebirth in Maitland. There is now a vast array of festivals, performances and many other arts-related events occurring throughout each year that attract not only the locals, but also a large quantity of tourists.

Steeped in history, there are architectural marvels everywhere you look in and around the Maitland Heritage Mall. The court house remains from the late 1800s, whilst the post office and town hall, all in High Street, are other notable buildings that have remained intact over the years.

A pictorial history of Newcastle from 1944-2008, as seen from the air! The aerial photographs provide an accurate historical record of development and land use in the Newcastle Local Government Area. The current digital aerial photographs are used to provide invaluable information on the built environment of Newcastle.

Writer and poet, Jonathan Drane, will speak about his book The Way of a Thousand Arrows: An Australian family's journey through the Camino de Santiago. This fascinating book provides a vivid and evocative memoir of an Australian family's journey through the Camino de Santiago, the ancient pilgrim trail which runs across the North of Spain from Pamplona to Santiago de Compostela.

Hazel Edwards is one of Australia's best known children's authors. During 2001 she spent time as the Australian Antarctic expedition writer on Casey Station, which inspired her picture book Antarctic Dad, and her adult work Antarctica's frozen chosen. Her stories contain illustrations and photographs and have been produced in Braille and Auslan (DVDs).

Venue: Local Studies Lounge, 2nd Floor, Cultural Centre, Laman st, Newcastle Time: 11am Cost: Free Bookings Phone: 49745300