FHACT October Monthly Meeting

FHACT October Monthly Meeting: Tuesday 6 October at 7pm. (In person at the FHACT Education Room, Cook Community Hub, Templeton Street, Cook, or online via Zoom]. All welcome. 

BOOK HERE

Topic:  Recording Canberra’s History

Special Guest Speakers:

John Paul Maloney, Managing Editor, The Canberra Times

Allan Mawer, Vice President of the Canberra and District Historical Society.

Family History ACT invites members and guests to a special joint meeting with the Canberra and District Historical Society, bringing together two different glimpses into the people, stories and events that have shaped Canberra and the surrounding district.

From a newspaper that has recorded the life of the national capital for a century to a remarkable eyewitness account of a Sunday dinner at Ginninderra in 1848, the evening will explore how the written record can capture not only events, but the personalities, conversations and everyday life of their time.

Ink and identity: 100 years of The Canberra Times

John Paul Maloney: Managing Editor, The Canberra Times

For one hundred years, The Canberra Times has been the heartbeat of the national capital. It hasn't just reported the news; it has chronicled our lives. Managing editor John-Paul Moloney has spent more than a quarter of a century in the newsroom, living through and helping guide the responses to the changes brought on by the digital era. From the early days of a burgeoning bush capital to the vibrant city of today, it has been the recorder of stories about our city's triumphs, challenges, and evolving identity and a champion for its citizens.  Despite the passage of time and changes in technology, the fundamental role of The Canberra Times remains unchanged. 

William Bunn's record of the Palmers, the Campbells and the Murrays in conversation over Sunday dinner at Ginninderra on 23 January 1848

Allan Mawer: Vice President of the Canberra and District Historical Society.

William is not quite 18. This dinner is his social debut. He resolves to record the exchanges around the table in as much detail as he can recall. Around the table are members of the Palmer, Campbell and Murray families — names closely associated with the early history of the district. Allan Mawer will take us back to that Sunday dinner and explore what William reveals about the people around the table, their relationships, their conversation and the world they inhabited.

Join us for what promises to be a fascinating evening of Canberra history, storytelling and discovery.

Attendees joining in person are warmly invited to stay after the meeting for supper and a chat—an opportunity to connect with fellow members and visitors and continue the conversation.

Images used in this article were created with the assistance of ChatGPT.