What’s happening with the CAHS

Most of our members will be aware that the founder and president of CAHS, Henry Chan, passed away unexpectedly earlier in the year. Henry’s contribution to the CAHS and the the field of Chinese Australian and New Zealand history was great. He was a powerhouse of energy and enthusiasm for Chinese Australian history and was the driver behind not only our society, but a number of other significant projects. His loss to the field is being keenly felt.

The CAHS management committee met in late June to discuss the coming months for the society and to contemplate its future without Henry at the helm. We are arranging a family history day in September to coincide with NSW History Week 2008. We are also working to reschedule the Chinese community archiving workshop that was to have been held in May.

The management committee also decided to defer sending out membership renewals at this point in the year. This means that 2007-08 memberships will be extended until the end of 2008.

Family history day – 13 September 2008
The family history day will be held on Saturday, 13 September at History House in Macquarie Street, Sydney and run from about 11am to 4pm. We are still working on details of the program, but topics of discussion will include — how to make use of your family archive (letters, photos, marriage certificates etc) and how to look after them; doing oral history interviews; how to find clues that might lead you back to the Chinese ancestral village; online maps and resources.

Would you like to be involved?

Would you like to be a part in these coming events? Do you have ideas for what other events you would like to see the CAHS organise? Would you have time to contribute to making the CAHS even better in the future?

There are a number of vacancies on the CAHS management committee, including that of president, and we would like to hear from any members (or even not-yet members) that are interested in being involved on the committee or in helping out at events.

Typically, it involves attending a committee meeting every couple of months and in organising get-togethers such as workshops and talks. We’d be particularly interested to hear from anyone with book-keeping experience who would be interested in the position of treasurer.

If you are interested in helping us take the CAHS into the future, please email me at contact.cahs@gmail.com.

Dr Kate Bagnall
CAHS committee member