Going over our Society minutes for the last forty years I note that our membership of about 45 is not really that bad. In 1975 there were 25 members, and many complaints from within the Society at the huge workload this placed of the active members amongst them.  In 1982 there were again only 30 members, and in 1992 again just 28 members. The exceptions have been rare; in 2000 there were 60 members and in 2006 nearly 120 members. The numbers are really of little importance – it really is quality, not quantity, and a similar trend is shared by all of our community organisations not just in Braidwood but throughout the country. There were outstanding achievements every year, not the least in simply keeping the doors open, the building in good order and the collection safe. Very notable achievements have been the result of strong committees with passionate efforts – the remarkable work done by Netta and Nevin Ellis, Peter McAdam, Olive & Dick Royds, Christine Wright and Pip Creasy come to mind. And of course there have always been lots of hardworking people less visible to the general community – the treasurers, secretaries, administration staff and conservation specialists without whom the Society could not function.

So regardless of the challenges, 2013/14 has been highly successful for the Braidwood & District Historical Society. This year saw the committee working perhaps harder than ever to help move the Society into the future – with a new focus on technology, better associations with tourism groups outside of our District, further development of our strong links with the National Museum of Australia and the Powerhouse Museum, and with the students and staff of the Museum Studies Department of the ANU.

Judi Robinson has done a sterling job of managing our accounts, whilst helping arrange tour visits with Tony Shepherd with excellent results. The Museum has made a profit this year, impressive given our small volunteer staff and minimal funding.

Eve Gardner has again pressed forward with conservation matters and book sales, Peter Wilson has been busy writing up grant applications for which he is often successful. Olive Royds, has assisted with acquisition of clothing dummies and opening the doors. Gary Watkins-Sully has helped link tourism events with the museum, and has several times assisted with interesting print jobs for the museum.

Bronwyn Richards has spent a considerable time with Eve and Judi rearranging our computers and organising ways of making our documentary and photographic history available to a wider audience, and also facilitating information and training sessions with our new members.

Ros Maddrell, our vice President, as always has been indefatigable in her family history research, fund raising, volunteers and tour organisation. Ros retired in August on the occasion of her 86th birthday, and I know everyone will agree that to be that active and involved at that age is something we all aspire to. Thanks to all of you for the hard work and patience you have given so freely throughout the year.

This year we have again improved our displays – a highly popular exhibition of Braidwood Films was arranged upstairs by Paris Sylvester, the Chinese displays have made further progress with the erection of a huge Chinese ceremonial archway from the National Museum, and the new panels and family history room will shortly be complete. We have received important donations including that of the Maddrell family horse drawn Landau that was a well-known sight around Braidwood in the first years of the 20th century. The carriage has been donated under the Cultural Gifts program by Jonathon and Antonia Throsby, and is now in our store waiting for display work to be completed for it by the Braidwood Men’s Shed.

Our entry in the Braidwood Heritage Parade of a 1914 Republic lorry very similar to that used by Garnet Maddrell around the Great War was highly successful, and after proceeding up the main street carrying the Braidwood Cantors and the Jembaicumbene Brass Band we won the shared best community float award. Bronwyn Richards has been working hard all year negotiating ways of opening access to Dr Wilson’s gravesite, and whilst this is ongoing and quite complicated, Bronwyn did arrange access for the Heritage Celebrations and many townspeople were able to visit the site on a delightful guided walk.

This has been my 12th year of the committee, and my 6th year in the role of President, and I have been very pleased to be involved with all the members and volunteers over that time. In that time, there have been no other members willing to take on the role, and for that matter no secretary or public officer either – I have covered those roles for several years now too. There is no minimum or maximum period one can hold these roles in our Society but I do feel it is time for fresh blood, so I urge those among you who might like to take on these challenging but rewarding positions to stand up and be counted!

Jill McLeod acted as Returning Officer at which all the positions were declared vacant. Seven nominations were received for the committee roles and all were elected unanimously. The new committee for 2014/2015 therefore is Antony Davies as president, Judi Robinson as treasurer, Bronwyn Richards as secretary with committee members Tony Shepherd, Eve Gardner, Laurie Riley and Janene Collins. Thank you to all of our departing committee and to our new committee members and particularly to our two new Society members Laurie and Janene who also volunteered right away for committee roles. We have recently had a number of enthusiastic new members and we look forward to working with all of you during the next year. We hope the Braidwood and district community will come in soon to see the new works in progress and to meet our members and perhaps join up - membership is still only $10 each.

Antony Davies

President, Braidwood & District Historical Society