Gunning & District Historical Society

 WW1: Alchin Men  Who Had the Courage to Try By Garry Norman Smith A number of Alchin men have varying histories relating to World War One – The Great War. Among these Alchin men are those who presented themselves for enlistment but were rejected. There were those who returned from war damaged by their experiences. Still others were never really in the fight, spending much of their time overseas in hospitals.  The Australian War Memorial records that 416,809 Australians enlisted for service in the First World War, representing 38.7% of the total male population aged between 18 to 44 years. At almost 65%, the Australian casualty rate (proportionate to total embarkations) was the highest of the war. For those men who had the courage to try the motivation was newly born nationalism for Australia, some remnant loyalty to England, and the desire for adventure and to see something of the world. Clyde John Alchin (1892-1957) was initially described at his first attempt at enlist...

"A Touch of Old World Charm" by Rosemary Spiller Take a step back through time with a display of items from bygone days, that connects us to our history. From fashion, fripperies and fancies to paintings, portraits and photographs of who they were and how they lived. Come visit us at Pye Cottage Museum, where stories unfold and history comes alive. Pye Cottage Museum and the new exhibition The cottage was built close to the road from Gunning, just before Dalton village, by 1867, for the Savage family. Named for the family which donated it, the cottage was moved to 121 Yass Street Gunning, where it opened in September 1974 as Pye Cottage “Folk” Museum. Local people made donations of items to illustrate local personalities and features of agricultural life c 1860-1945. Some donations were made anonymously, sometimes under cover of darkness!  Much of the clothing in the exhibition , including the wedding dress, was donated by Nancy Foord, daughter of the featured wedding couple,...