February 2025 ADHS Annual General Meeting, Guest Speaker Brian Scales and launch of Summer Hill Village: Ashfield History No.25
The AGM
Alex gave an acknowledgement of country and the historical custodians of the country on which we met and paid his respects to Aboriginal people past, present and continuing. Alex Lofts welcomed members and guests and provided an overview of the Society’s achievements over the past few months..
Alex identified that the Society was in a financially sound position and that the membership was stable, exclaiming that we are now into our 52nd year of operation, an astounding situation when history and heritage seems to be in decline, “…with a focus on the moment…”. However, he said that we will need to seek opportunities for renewal in all that we do and to attract new members. Alex called for a fight for history and heritage.
In thanking the Committee for their teamwork and the prolific output that covered a number of well attended functions throughout the year, he did, sadly, identify and thank profusely, three Committee members who would not be seeking office in the current year – Bernadette Williamson, Ronda Gaffey and Mark Sabolch. Alex outlined that all of these people had provided significant support to the Society over a long period of time and said that they will remain in contact with us in years to come.
The AGM was held in the Summer Hill Community Centre in Smith Street Summer Hill. This has been a great venue for the Society and on this occasion, it just accommodated the 70 members and guests who attended.
David Rollinson moved a vote of thanks to 3 Bridges, the operator of the SHCC on behalf of IWC that allows ADHS to meet at the Summer Hill Community Centre. David asked that a letter of thanks be forwarded to the CEO of 3 Bridges, specifically mentioning Genevieve Norman, thanking them for the use of the premises and the good working relationship that we have with them.
Our Treasurer, Carolyn Carter, reported that the Society had some significant expenses in 2023 due to the publication of three journals and our 50th Anniversary Celebrations but in 2024 the Society produced just one regular journal. As a result, the Society is in a very good financial position.
The New Committee for 2025
| Position | Nomintion |
| President | Alex Lofts |
| Vice President | Lois Gray |
| Treasurer | Carolyn Carte |
| Membership Secretary | Carolyn Carte |
| Public Officer | David Rollinson |
| Heritage Officer | David Rollinson |
| Activities Coordinator/s | Jan and Paul Williams |
| Rooms & Collection Officer | Clare Herscovitch |
| Minutes Secretary | Murray Cleaver |
| Newsletter Editor | Heather Warton |
| Research Officer | Ann O’Connell |
| Web Manager | Colin Webb |
| IT Coordinator | Phil Burne |
| General Committee Members | Linda De Rosa Joy McIntyre Peter Schulz Kerry Barlow |
| Honorary Architectural Historian | Bob Irving |
Alex introduced our guest speaker for the afternoon, Brian Scales, formerly an employee of the National Archives of Australia and now a Community History Officer with Inner West Council.
Brian’s talk was entitled: Local History in the Inner West Council Collections (with a few detours). Brian started his talk by thanking the ADHS for the quality of their journals, some of which he uses as reference material in his employ with IWC. Brian discussed the IWC Community History team, with access via the IWC internet web address. Brian suggested a few YouTube presentations that may be of assistance in searching Community History. He also gave us a walk-through presentation on searching for a number of items in the IWC area, which is the general area of coverage of our ADHS.
Brian Scales then launched the ADHS Journal Summer Hill Village. Brian commended the quality of the publication as well as the extent of the sources of reference used in its production. He praised how up to date the material was and said that there was material in the Journal that had been supplied by the IWC Community History team.
Ann thanked all of those who had a part in producing the Journal, including two people who were in the meeting on the day: Maree Atkins and her daughter Lynette. Maree wrote about her late husband’s (Tony) grandfather, Joseph Court, who ran a venetian blind business in Hardie Avenue, Summer Hill.
Ann acknowledged Brian Scales and Amie Zar (IWC Library – Local History Co-ordinator), both in the meeting room. She spoke about Brian, and how knowledgeable, enthusiastic and generous he is in his role at IWC and the affinity she felt in that he has a great interest in local history. Ann also spoke about the value of the IWC archives and that a large amount of material in the ADHS Journal came from IWC archives resources.
Ann also acknowledged and thanked a contributor to the journal, Mary Hord from Penguin, Tasmania, who could not attend the launch. Mary’s sister, Clare Smith, and her niece, Danielle, attended the meeting. Mary’s brother Michael Hord and his partner Wendy also attended.
Ann O’Connell (centre) with Maree Atkins who wrote the article on Court’s Blind Works in Hardie Avenue Summer Hill. Her husband, Tony Atkins, was the grandson of Joseph Court the owner of the business. On the right is Lynette (Maree and Tony’s daughter) who is the great granddaughter of Joseph Court.
As usual… a great afternoon tea with much to talk about.