This year two amateur historians were the joint winners in the Ron Rathbone Local History Competition announced at an awards ceremony in the Rockdale Library on Saturday 2 September.
The judges were impressed by the range of local history topics explored and the enthusiasm demonstrated by all entrants. However, Peter Hobbins and Ian Hoskins shared the first prize with two very different entries.
Peter Hobbins looked at the 1971 airliner collision at Mascot, while Ian Hoskins wrote about Daceyville and public housing.
The Ron Rathbone Local History Competition started in 2006 to honour the work of former councillor, mayor and local historian Ron Rathbone by encouraging the researching, writing and sharing of works of local history. It has resulted in many new and valuable works of local history being added to our collection.
The five judges who assessed all the submissions were:
- Dr Peter Orlovich, who has been a judge since 2006. His commitment to this competition has been unwavering over the years.
- Anne Slattery, former President, and lifetime member of the Botany Historical Trust.
- Dr Paula Hamilton
- Jenny MacRitchie
- Michelle Drummond, Network Librarian at Bayside Council.
First prize joint winners:
- Ian Hoskins for Looking Backward: Daceyville and a time of idealism in public housing.
- Peter Hobbins for Miracle at Mascot? Surviving Sydney’s 1971 airliner collision.
Other winners are:
- Recognition of Achievement Award: Garry Darby and Wayne Pascoe for their work: 125 Years: A History of the St George Sailing Club
- Encouragement Award in the High School Category: Margaret Oszywa, for her essay: Why is Bayside’s Local History Important
- Winners of the High School Category: Marcus Young, Russell Liauw, Taha Chalak and Marcus Camara, four students from Sydney Technical High School who submitted a joint entry: Bexley Commemorates their Vietnam Veterans
Entries can be viewed online: www.bayside.nsw.gov.au/ronrathbone
