Y.E.A NEWSLETTER
Newsletter from Val Lhuede
September 2006
Dear Members and friends of Yerranderie,
Re: date of A.G.M.
The last newsletter gave the proposed date of the A.G.M. as Sunday the 8th October 2006. We were thinking that this was the long weekend-but now discover it is 1st October. We have decided to leave the 8th as the A.G.M. date but realise there may not be a quorum. If not, the A.G.M. will be postponed to later in the year.
NEWS: YERRANDERIE HISTORIC SITE?
There is much to tell you. At present through Mr. Bob Debus, Minister for the Environment, the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute has been in touch with Val Lhuedé regarding her donating Tonalli’s land to the D.E.C. (Department of Environment and Conservation). Then there would be the possibility of Yerranderie becoming the future Resource and Visitors Centre for the B.M.W.H.I. (Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute). It is proposed that Yerranderie, both Tonalli’s (Val’s) private land and the land owned by the National Parks/ Catchment Authority in Yerranderie be given the title of "Historic Site" (or similar "Heritage Area") and the whole added to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, presently adjoining it. If you have any ideas about such a proposal and an appropriate name - let me know.
Should the idea be implemented Val would be making a donation worth over one million dollars to the State government. In return the government through the B.M.W.H.I. would agree to look after the Historic Site and Conservation Area in perpetuity. While negotiations are going on such other institutions as the Australian Catholic University and Newington College have expressed interest.
If the B.M.W.H.I. takes on the administration these and other educational and conservation bodies could also be involved and use the site for their own purposes.
The B.M.W.H.I. is still young and is run by Dr. John Merson. He has ideas which are in line with Val’s own for Yerranderie’s future, so she is hopeful the proposal will proceed.
THE BOOK "YERRANDERIE IS MY DREAMING"
Val has been writing a book "Yerranderie is my Dreaming" for many years. It does seem to be getting closer to finality!
It is the story of Ensign Francis Luis Barrallier and his French friends from the Baudin/Peron expedition of 1802. it is profusely illustrated in colour with maps and the pictures of the day, notably those of William Bradley and Nicolas-Martin Petit.
It imagines the first contact the Burragorang aborigines had with white people – from their own point of view.
It will be 344 pages long but as it is not printed yet the price is not known.
It will be a limited edition of 1000 copies.
If you are interested in obtaining a copy please let Val know 02 99298350 or Box 420 P.O. MILSON’S POINT 1565
Cheers,
Val