The Historic Sense – Lady Casey

In the 1960s the Canberra Genealogy and Heraldry Group was closely affiliated with the Canberra & District Historical Society which had been founded in 1953. A feature of these early years were joint meetings attended by members of the two organisations.

One such event occurred on Tuesday 11 October 1966 when 105 people representing both groups met at the Playhouse which had opened the year before. The guest speaker for the evening was Lady (Maie) Casey, wife of Richard Casey, Baron Casey and 16^th Governor General of Australia from 1965 to 1969.

Lady Casey’s address titled The Historic Sense touched on the histories of both her family and that of her husband. She traced the work done by men like Sir Rex Nan Kivell to develop and make available to others a wonderful collection of historical works on what Lady Casey described as ‘Australiana’.* She stressed the need for all to develop the historic sense individually, in each community and state, and in the nation.

At the conclusion of her presentation Lady Casey was presented with two bouquets—one of Australian wildflowers and the other an ‘old world’ posy of English flowers grown in the garden at Blundell’s Farmhouse. Supper was served afterwards and members and guests had the pleasure of meeting and talking with Her Excellency.

*The Van Kivell Collection can be viewed at the National Library of Australia.