Our AGM on the 9th February 2010 was well attended and reports of the activities of the Society over the last 12 months were presented.   The President noted the retirement of our long serving secretary Benia Lange and thanked her for a job well done over many years.

Office Bearers for the coming 12 months are President - Victor Gillatt, Secretary - Judith Kershaw, Treasurer - Graham Kershaw, Curator - Lynda Tieman and Joy Frayne will lead our team of archivists.  

The Society's annual Pioneers Dinner is just around the corner - Saturday April 24th 2010.   The guest speaker this year is Elizabeth Dillon-Hensbey who will speak on William Rutledge and his contribution to Port Fairy and Victoria's early days.   Elizabeth is a descendant of "King Billy" so it should be an interesting evening.   The dinner will be at the golf club once again and more details will be included in the next newsletter.

It is with a great deal of sadness that the Society records the passing of our Archivist and past president Margaret Hiscox.   Margaret passed away on Christmas Eve after being ill for around 12 months.   Margaret made a wonderful contribution to the Society particularly in relation to the archives and she enjoyed the "detective work" of helping people with their family histories.   I'm sure you join with me in sending our sincerest condolonces to her family.

Our member Marten Syme has recently launched his book on James Atkinson.   Entitled The Belfast Fantasy   James Atkinson in the Antipodes. The book has some fabulous photographs of early Port Fairy and lots of information about our early buildings and Atkinson himself who I must admit was a bit of a mystery to me.     Only 500 have been printed and they are available for $40 plus postage from the History Centre.