H I S T O R Y

​What does history mean to you? Is it the years before we were born that you’re interested in or is it something that happened last weekend? Technically both are classified as history if we think about it as it happened in the past! So, here we go…

My Recent American History
I'm so excited to tell you about MY American history, it is short, and very recent. I only got home last week!
 
I went on a long flight from Melbourne to San Francisco, and drove a wicked BMW convertible to the Golden Gate Bridge. It was so much fun. I was also nervous because it was the first time on a big big plane. And I was nervous to be on the other side of the road!

We went on another flight to Phoenix and we visited my family. My sister and her husband, and their two children. I was so excited to see them, but it was night time and I was tired. 

We got to see a pre season NBA game, the baseball and the NFL. My sisters puppy slept in my bed, so comfy under my blankets. It was very strange to be living and be awake at the different time to everyone at home. 

We had huge crabs and massive burgers and chips. Their soft drinks are too big. 
Many cars in many colours were really fast and low to the ground. 
It was the most awesome almost 2 weeks, ever!! – TJ
 
Welcome to our blog today. I chat about the history of the AFL. For those who don't know AFL is Australian rules footy. It is a well known game. Loads of people love it; some don’t like sport in general, but others seem to enjoy it.
 
There are 18 teams in the AFL, including the Sydney Swans known as South Melbourne, Richmond Tigers, Melbourne Demons, Gold Coast Suns, North Melbourne, and Collingwood Football Club. They are all great teams I barrack for the Sydney Swans as my grandparents chose this team for me before I was born. 
 
Did you Know Thomas Wentworth Wills believed that a football club should be formed to keep his teammates fit I didn’t know this but now I do.
 
Before AFL our game was known as VFL Victorian Football League as teams were only Victorian. In 1982 VFL South Melbourne relocated to Sydney to become the Sydney Swans. In 1987, 14 teams were now playing and they included West Coast Eagles and Brisbane Bears (now called Lions).  In 1990 the VFL became the AFL and Adelaide Crows, Fremantle, and Port Adelaide joined. In 1996 the Brisbane Bears merged with Fitzroy to become the Brisbane Lions.
 
Currently, in the AFL, there are clubs in all different states around Australia. It's good how the game includes all states around the country so every club gets a chance to show the talent of emerging players. Players go through a draft and the clubs have picks to get the player of their choice and some of these players can come from the team's academy and the father’s sons.
 
Sometimes teams swap picks so teams can have players they would love. The players get ranked according to their talent from number 1 to like number 20 and picks are numbered so people know which clubs have which picks.
 
The AFL holds a grand final each year in September and each year the grand final parade is on. It gives the fans of the game a chance to see their favourite players before the grand final. Only the teams competing are at the parade as well as the rising star player and the Brownlow medallist.
 
At each game teams have merchandise stands were people buy their footy gear and player badges to wear. You can buy footy jumpers scarfs and many more other types. – Scarlett
 
 
Hello Friends, 
I'm just going to start off this blog with a quote: 
 
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” - George Santayana  
​
This quote fits in so very well with what I'm going to talk about today.  
At some point or another you would have learnt about some form of history in school, the history of events of the world, your country and your state. You might have taken it upon yourself to learn about some history on your own. Good on you if you have!  

There are some schools who allegedly can not teach about some historical events, books or people. This makes me sad because like the quote says if you don’t learn about history, it could be something that happens again. It would be like Groundhog Day, just being stuck in a loop of repeating history over and over again. 

Yes, history is a big topic to talk about, it's uncomfortable and dark. Remember though that this is the history that is ingrained in the land, it's a part of family trees, it has brought people together as well as violently torn people apart.  

Now to what I think about not teaching certain history in schools, I think it is for lack of a better word crap! I don’t care if you don’t believe it happened, it goes against your beliefs, or you don’t feel it's important. That’s a bit of a you problem. If the topics taught are taught in an age-appropriate way and it's factual I see no issue with it. It’s apart of the important part of education. Don’t get you knickers in a twist over it.  

Without being taught history w e will have a whole generation of people who won't know about history, without that knowledge and understanding we will have people who, as the quote says, be doomed to repeat history.

Don’t you think that puts them at a disadvantage because I do, how are they supposed to grow as people if they don’t have the opportunity to learn from the past.  
Some want to forget the past when it should be remembered, it's our warning sign for the future.  

So go out and learn something about history or teach someone else about history.  – Shan
 
 
Today’s topic is history and as of last week we got a new Premier Jacinta Allen. I would like to talk about some interesting facts of  Melbourne’s Premiers 
 
Melbourne was founded in 1835 and our 1st Premier was William Haines on the 30 November 1855.
 
Did you know one of our longest serving Premiers was Sir Henry Bolte for 17 consecutive years and our shortest was Frank Forde in 1945 for only 7 days
 
Jacinta Allen is our 49th Premier, she replaces Dan Andrews our longest serving Premier from 2014 to the 27th September 2023. She is our 2nd female premier, the first was Joan Kirner who served. She was our 42nd Premier from 1990 - 1992. A fun fact is she was called the” polka dot Premier”
 
Another of our Premiers was Jeff Kennett who was our 43rd Premier serving between 1992 and 1999. Apart from his love of Hawthorn he is the founder of Beyond Blue a amazing organisation.
 
Another fun  fact is Premiers can run as many times as their party votes them in.
 
The year I was born John Cain Jnr was our 41st Premier. Jacinta Allen will be the 8th premier I have seen.

How many Premiers has there been in your life time?
 
Happy reading love Jess.  
 

My family has deep history set in the early Australia’s war.

Firstly, my Great Grandfather has a memorial plaque in Chelsea VIC at the Courthouse Museum. He was one of three policeman who firstly served in WWI, and later rescued over 100 people in a devastating flood, in 1934 in Chelsea.  I am very proud of this family history, as it proves to show how much care the family brings to helping others. It’s in our blood.

 My surname Gilding has rich Global history, originating in England and migrating to the United States and Australia.  Gilding is a derivative of the term Gold, and was often given to those who either worked with Gold in an artistic manner, or who had gold blonde hair.  The earliest mention of the surname Gilding comes from The Great Survey of 1086 in England, much like the modern day Census.

 I feel proud to be a Gilding, and would like to keep that surname forever as it holds a special place in meaning to me. It is a rare surname as you don’t see it often, as there is limited information on its history. – Holly
 
My family history is really, very important and interesting to me.
 
If you need to know more about your family history there is an app called Ancestry. I love this app as it has taught me so much. It is one of the best sources to find out more on family history.

When you look back though and beyond my Australian family history I have English, Northwestern European and Scottish. This makes me feel proud to have such a mix in my heritage.
 
Researching into my ancestry has shown I might be related to someone that is infamous. King James the VI and I of Scotland and England. He was around in Shakespeare days writing Macbeth and during the witch trials.
 
Another way you can trace your family history, is through World War records. I have found family history through past occupations and personality traits. I found out that most strange job is being a “Gentlemen” I found this out on my dads side.  Can I just say that I am a gentleman, so it is no surprise to you and me, as it must be in my blood and brain! – Phillip
 
 
I have chosen the topic of the history of the Eiffel Tower because I love the history of it.

Here are some things that I found interesting

Here are some interesting  facts Eiffel Tower:
 
Did you know it took 2 years, 2 months and 5 days to finish building the Eiffel Tower the people  who started building the tower in late January 1887 until  March 31st  1889 and took lots  of technology and architectural materials such as iron and steel .
 
The tower was built by Gustave Eiffel and the Eiffel tower is located in Paris, France. The Eiffel Tower is a dream destination of mine because I've never been and I’d love to go and see it light up at night as well as it being a romantic destination .
 
What is an interesting part of history, do you know? – Charlotte