Extensions to the LDFHS Rooms

Please note that the LDFHS rooms will be closed from 2nd April 2013 while the building work is undertaken.

The extension to the Society's Resource Centre and disabled access ramp has been completed as far as the Council budget allowed and includes removal and replacement of the asbestos roof on the existing building. There is still work to be completed before the Resource Centre can re-open. This will include security and access lights outside, interior lights, power points, gyprock in the new section and in the old entry to provide a storage area, archivtraves around windows and doors and skirting boards. Painting is to be done and carpet laid in the new area (4 metres x 4 metres) This work will need to be completed before the library is re-opened and the Executive is currently working towards getting this work done as soon as possible.

We suggest that you contact the Society by email or phone Eleanor Martin on 0429 932 319 to check if the Society's library will be open for research. Some views of the progress:

16 April 2013	16 April 2013	1 May 2013

Yvonne Jenkins Memorial Award

Due to the closure of our resource centre for additions and renovations, the closing date for the above award is now Friday 31st May 2013. The title for the essay is "My Ancestor's Journey to Australia". It is open to all financial members except the judges. Details and an entry form were sent to all members with their membership mailout and are also in the latest journal.

Resource centre & meeting rooms

Our resource centre/library and meeting rooms are in the Ewen Smith Memorial Hall situated on the corner of Tank & Donald/Guy Sts in Lithgow NSW. 

Street view on Google maps:  http://g.co/maps/gwy8

Opening hours (see above for temporary closure)

Tuesday 6—9pm

Friday 10am—4pm

1st Saturday of the month (except on long weekends) 10am—4pm

Membership fees

Fees for the year 1 March 2013 to end of February 2014 are: $5 joining fee (a one-off fee to cover admin costs), $45 membership fee (includes 3 journals posted to member's address, free admission to LDFHS library during opening hours including assistance with research enquiries, 2 hours free research by LDFHS research officer for members who live outside Lithgow City Council area.)

Guidelines for use of our centre:

Security of Records at LDFH&S INC Resource Centre

It is a condition of entry that researchers are to use the lockers provided for the secure storage of personal articles, including handbags and other bags and larger folders.

The following items may be taken into the Resource Centre: 

• Lead pencils 

• Pad of paper, loose paper, A4 and other bound notebooks

• Spectacles and spectacle case

• Laptop computer without the bag. It must operate on battery power or on mains power in designated area due to OH&S requirements.

• Digital camera. Use is allowed subject to Copyright or Deed of Gift not being breached. 

Please note the following:

• Personal USB sticks / thumb drives or other portable drives are not to be used in LDFHS computers.

• Society CDs or DVDs can only be used in Society computers

• Digital scanning of records is not allowed

Phone number (during library hours)

+61 (02) 6353 1089

Postal Inquiries

Please send all postal inquiries to:

The Secretary

LDFHS Inc

PO Box 516

Lithgow 2790

(Please include a large SAE)

Research Inquiry

To download a research inquiry form click here.

Email: ldfhs@nospam.lisp.com.au

(remove ‘nospam’ to email us). Please also use this email address to contact the webmaster.

Graveside Flower Service

We provide a graveside flower service. Click here for further details.

Membership 

To download a membership form click here. 

Credit Card Authority

To download a credit card authority form click here

Lithgow, the Australia & NSW 2011 Tidy Towns Award winner

War Heroes Project

The LDFHS has a project underway to record the histories of men and women who enlisted and served in WWI initially and will eventually include those who served in WWII. For further information click here. 

The official launch of the War Hero Project was  very fittingly held on Remembrance Day at Club Lithgow and was an outstanding success with around 140 people attending. Federal Member for Calare Mr John Cobb spoke on the importance of remembering our diggers and congratulated the society for their iniatitive in taking on the project, before officially launching it. Lithgow Mayor Maree Statham also spoke on the importance of such a project and wished the society all the best for the publishing of the book in 2014. War Project Convenor Helen Taylor outlined the criteria for the project saying that a certain number of the records will be on permanent display on the library's shelves but the full content will be available on computer. Helen then announced the title of the book which will be launched on Remembrance Day 2014 to be "A Long March From Lithgow". 

A very large display of memorabilia including firearms, a trench telescope, kit bags, medals, photos, flags and much more kept guests entertained prior to the proceedings.

Joe Elkusch from Springwood RSL Sub Branch then spoke on the Japanese Sub Attack on Sydney Harbour and had the audience totally captivated. It was indeed a presentation not to be missed. This was then followed by a quite emotional DVD slide show covering the Boer War, WW1 & WW2 and featured many who were present along with their fathers, uncles and grandfathers. The slide show also featured music by country music singer Darren Coggan from his War Stories CD and complemented the slides beautifully. 

Everyone is reminded that if you have a war veteran, man or woman, who served their country either overseas or on the home front we would love to hear from you. The content for the book will be restricted to local areas and you can contact the society for more information concerning the areas to be included, at the Society's Library on the Cnr. Tank & Donald St. Lithgow Phone 02 63 531 089 on Tuesday Nights from 6.00pm - 9.00 pm or Friday's from 10.00am - 4.00pm and the 1st Saturday each month from 10.00am - 4.00pm. The cut-off date for receiving information for the book will be 30 June 2013.