SEPTEMBER 2023

Saturday 9th September at 2:00pm

THE BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY | HOME ON THE HILL

Speaker - Dick Whitaker

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Picture: Fairfax Files

We are all familiar with “Weather Man” Dick Whitaker talking about storms in Sydney. In September he will tell about some of the storms inside the “BOM” as part of its fascinating history, starting with its performance by the Government Astronomer at the Observatory to its departure from “The Hill” to its modern home today.

In 1908, the Bureau was made a formal part of the Australian Public Service located at the Observatory but with the relationship with the astronomers and the weathermen becoming increasingly testy. In 1922 it was relocated to a purpose built structure near the Observatory where it stayed until 1963. That time involve intense conflict between the Bureau Head and the Government Astronomer while navigating two World Wars, all interspersed with several memorable weather events. The latest development in its history is the restoration of its dilapidated home on the Hill to become the library for nearby Fort Street Public School, a wonderful outcome that will preserve part of the history of this important national service.

__________________________________________________________________________

OCTOBER 2023

Saturday 14th October

COSHA MEMBERS AGM at 1:30pm

THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND at 2:00pm

Speaker - Adam Courtenay

Best selling author of The Ship That Never Was

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Picture: Harper Collins

When, in 1796, Calcutta-based Scottish merchants Campbell & Clark dispatched an Indian ship hurriedly renamed the ‘Sydney Cove’ to the colony of New South Wales, they were hoping to make their fortune. The ship's speculative cargo was comprised of all kinds of goods to entice the new colony's inhabitants, including 7000 gallons of rum. The merchants were planning to sell the liquor to the Rum Corp, which ruled the colony with an iron grip.

But when the Sydney Cove went down north of Van Diemen's Land, cargo master William Clark and sixteen other crew members were compelled to walk 600 miles to Sydney Town to get help to save the rest of the crew and the precious goods. Assisted by at least six Indigenous clans on his journey,

Clark saw far more of the country than Joseph Banks ever did, and his eventual report to Governor Hunter led to far-reaching consequences for the fledgling colony.

__________________________________________________________________________

NOVEMBER 2023

Saturday 11th November at 2:00pm

JOSEPH BANKS - A SHORT HISTORY

Speaker - Ian Burnett

Venue: Henry Carmichael Theatre, Sydney Mechanics of Arts, 280 Pitt Street
Admission: Members $5 Visitors $10
No bookings required

Picture: Sir Joseph Banks by Benjamin West, 1773

Joseph Banks individually financed his part of the Endeavour voyage which consisted of a scientific group of 12. Together with Daniel Solander they became the first trained naturalists to describe the unique flora and fauna of Continent Australia that had evolved during its 30 million years of isolation.

As President of the Royal Society and the ‘Minister for New South Wales’ he had a distinguished career and long connection to Australia, but there is more about him that is not in the history books. Historian Ian Burnet tells us the story.