The inaugural winners of the Kogarah Historical Society Local History Essay Awards were recently announced at the Kogarah School of Arts and the prizes presented by the Society’s patron, Kevin Greene the Mayor of Georges River Council.
The awards were established to encourage the research and recording of things that has occured in the district’s past. Three prizes each of $500 were offered for essays focusing on the history of Kogarah or the Georges River Area including environmental heritage, built heritage and events or personalities.
Beverley Earnshaw the President of the Kogarah Historical Society said the Society was delighted with the support it received for its first awards.
“The awards function was a great success and the Kogarah School of Arts building was full " Beverley said
Seventeen entries were judged covering a diversity of topics- local landmarks, church history, freemasonry, indigenous matters, biographies and even stories about a haunted house.
Winners were Rosie Gould for the building of St.Raphaels Church School South Hurstville; Sue Castrique for an entertaining and well documented account of the illegal bare knuckle fights that took place along the Georges River when Kogarah was an unsettled wilderness (c1840) ; and Monica O’Brien for a narrative of a local Kogarah citizen’s sporting and life achievements.
All entrants received a certificate of participation acknowledging their contribution to the history of Kogarah and the Georges River Area. Copies of the essays will be deposited in Kogarah’s Local Studies Library or may be viewed on the Society’s Website - www.kogarah.historicalsociety.com.au.
