Lynette Franklin's Life of Service Recognised

Nathalia’s Lyn Franklin received a Medal of the Order of Australia in the general division in the Australia Day 2024 Honours.

Lyn received the award for her research and work in local history and her volunteer work in the community.

Lyn is an avid researcher and has been the chief researcher for the Nathalia and District Historical Society for over 20 years and also the chief researcher for the Nathalia Genealogy Group for over 20 years. Through her research she has gone on to become the author of a number of local historical books.

Lyn’s community volunteer roles included Newsletter editor for Nathalia Probus Club for 20 years, Secretary for Barwo Homestead for 25 years, former member of the Committee of Management for Nathalia District Hospital for 10 years, Councillor, Nathalia Shire (now part of the Moira Shire) 1992-1994. Lyn was the only woman on the council and the second female councillor in Nathalia’s history.

 

Some of Lyn Franklin’s former Community work also includes being a  Lay Preacher with the Uniting Church of Australia, member of Numurkah Singers,  volunteer for Meals on Wheels, volunteer for Broken Creek Improvement Group, Landcare Victoria and member and researcher, Nathalia Cemetery Trust, 2016-2023.

 

From the Barwo Homestead Book

Lyn was nominated onto the Committee of Management at the first Annual General Meeting in 1991. She immediately took on the position of Secretary. There were some extremely turbulent times in this early period concerning the construction of the Hostel and the President, Jack Harding noted that Lyn's diligence and attention to detail was immediately noticeable.

In 1993, Lyn was at the Hostel every weekday for ten months, preparing reams of documentation required for the Commonwealth Government inspection. Lyn's typewriter ran hot documenting rules, regulations and red tape.

In 1996 Lyn's parents, George and Muriel Moate, joined the Barwo family and Lyn took a break from the secretary position and took on a portfolio as Finance Secretary. Lyn's knowledge of resident's fees, ingoings and refunds was invaluable and she continued in this role for eleven years.

At one time the Committee of Management felt that Lyn should be on the payroll of Barwo Homestead as she was working more and more, and all in a voluntary capacity, but of course Lyn refused the offer. So, the Committee then presented Lyn with a cheque for some thousands of dollars with their gratitude, but Lyn promptly donated the money back

 

The following year, the Committee surprised Lyn with the presentation of a chair, hand crafted and upholstered to match her furniture. She was obviously delighted with this gift.

Lyn has given so much to Barwo Homestead as a voluntary Secretary, Finance Secretary, Public Officer, Typist, Taxi, Helper, Messenger, Chemist Runner and Bedmaker.

Lyn Franklin was made a Life Member of the Committee of Management of Barwo Homestead just prior to her retirement from the Committee in 2008. Thank you Lyn for your dedicated service.

 

Books written by Lynette E Franklin

“So Moate It Be”….. History of the Moate family from 1450 having its roots in Yorkshire, England (1999)

Yalca “A Brief History of Wesleyan Methodist Church 1881-1901; Methodist Church 1901-1977; Uniting Church 1977-2012” (2012)

“An Aboriginal Genealogy – Bass Straitsmen and their Aboriginal Wives – The Briggs Family” (2014)

“McCoy’s Bridge Goulburn River Kotupna” 1876 onwards (2009)

“Nathalia Cemetery 1880-1915” (Manuscript Form) (2016) to be printed February 2024

Nathalia Cemetery Walk Series (2012-):

“Some Pioneers who made their Mark on the District of Nathalia”

“Grave Symbols and their Meanings”

“Notables and Links”

“Mishaps & Misdoings”

“The Five Squatting Runs in Old Nathalia Shire” (2019)

“Truth Telling – The Bangerangs 1838-1848 Invasion or Peaceful Settlement” (2020)

“Nathalia Township Street Names” (2022)