Comments on: Revealed: Treasures from Hurstville by Emma Dortins

By: phanswblogeditor

phanswblogeditor — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 09:01:01 +0000

Does anyone follow the Linked-In discussions about history? One site is the History Enthusiasts’ site, which is currently talking about how to teach history. See http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Is-there-better-way-teach-158038.S.232395508?view=&srchtype=discussedNews&gid=158038&item=232395508&type=member&trk=eml-anet_dig-b_pd-ttl-cn&ut=2mmvFQjalVHBI1

By: Janette Pelosi

Janette Pelosi — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 10:20:56 +0000

I enjoyed the exhibition. I thought it had some unexpected items such as the Blue Bell Inn model by Daniel John Aldous of Penshurst which was made from the actual bricks of the original inn plus the roof made from a tile from the Commissariat Store. I liked the use of the ipad to give more information about some items. My favourite item was the raffle box from the Beverly Hills Bowling Club with the face on it. I also liked the George’s River Motor Ferry Company advertisement (c1900s) for the Parksvale Pleasure Grounds with a Dancing Pavillion and a Razzle Dazzle (1s return or 6d for children).

I’ve done a bit of research on the Bown family due to a link with the early fire brigades of the area (Charles Bown was on the Fire Brigades Board). I was pleased to see Archibald Bown (Aldmerman on Hurstville Council, 1911-1922) recognised in an illuminated address by the Hurstville & District United Friendly Societies Dispensary, Nov 1926. It is quite appropriate as their building is just across the road from the museum.

I also liked the medicines on display including castor oil, throat spray, Watkins petro-carbo salve, Tri Test Epsom salts pure, Beechams cough pills, smelling salts and Throaties. I think some of the nurses in the photo above the display may even have visited my grandmother who lived in Hurstville back then!

By: Ron Ringer

Ron Ringer — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 06:22:11 +0000

Interesting blog and a very worthwhile presentation. Thought bubble….. As a former teacher I would loved to have been able to host a sort of ‘history in a box’ presentation. By that I mean packing history oddities and gee-gaws into a large box + posters + maps + whatever and then open up to students on a particular topic.
The reason why I mention this is two-fold. There is a shortage of decent visiting ‘history’ presentations made to schools (probably little money in it). Also, in visiting museums and galleries I tend to find my eyes glazing over so that the experience becomes somewhat trance-like. What am I driving at? I think it’s about making history come alive, which is a perennial issue for museum curators. I don’t have a ready solution.