Historical Society of the Northern Territory

20/05/2026

Vale Wendy May James OAM 1935-2026

Wendy James was born Wendy May Secrett on 25 Sept 1935 in the small Western Australian town of Armadale before coming to the Northern Territory of Australia with her family in 1937. For most of her life she has lived in Darwin.

She has survived two major cyclones and has been evacuated from Darwin twice, once in 1941 just prior to the bombing of Darwin by the Japanese during the Second World War and then again in 1975 after the town was destroyed by Cyclone Tracy.

She became a dental nurse after leaving school and was the first to work with the Territory’s mobile dental units. She was living in Katherine when she met and married her husband Earl James who was a government surveyor stationed in the town.

Since returning to Darwin in 1963 she has been involved in a vast array of school, church, sporting and community organisations. Among other things she was:

• Vice President of YWCA (NT) from 1982/83.
• Board member of YY Enterprises 1981/86.
• Foundation member of Penguin Club of Aust (NT Division)
1963.
• Honorary Organiser of the Penguin Club (NT) 1979/1984
during which she established five new clubs in the Territory.
• Inaugural Convenor of the Northern Territory Women’s
Advisory Council (appointed by the Chief Minister) 1983/86.
• President of NT Cancer Council 1989/96.
• She was a Director of the Museums & Art Galleries Foundation
(NT) for eight years and was the President of that organisation
for a year.
• She was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1998
for services to the community through promotion of women’s
issues in the Northern Territory.
• She completed three years as the Chair of the NT Branch of
the Order of Australia Association.
• She was the Chair of the organising committee for the
National Conference of that association held in Darwin in
2012.
• And not forgetting that her and Earl are life members of the
Historical Society of the NT

Wendy passed away on 16 May. Her funeral service will be held at Christ Church Cathedral today at 2pm. A Wake will follow.

Wendy was 90 years of age and had been married for 70 years. She has 4 sons, 8 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

She is sorely missed by the Society's committee.
Condolences to Earl and family.

Information supplied by her son, Matt James

15/05/2026

Launch of "Bravery and Ambition" by the Hon Sally Thomas AC on International Nurses Day on 12 May. The book was written by Janie Mason and published by the Society.

10/05/2026

Film Showing– Twenty to the Mile at History House on 10 May 2026
In a remote corner of the Northern Territory, 150 years ago, two pieces of wire were bound together, and Australia was instantly connected to the world. In this documentary to mark the Overland Telegraph’s 150th anniversary, Derek Pugh retraces the line, unearthing stories of remarkable endurance, survival, massacre, and courage. The Film had previously been shown at the Deck Chair in 2024 to a packed out audience and yesterday's audience was keen to see it again.

07/05/2026

Plaque unveiling honouring Vaiben Louis Solomon (1853 –1908) on 6 May 2026 at Brown’s Mart

V L Solomon was the 21st Premier of South Australia and a member of the first Australian Commonwealth parliament. In 1873 he moved to the Territory and became editor of the Northern Territory Times as well as holding successful mining and mercantile holdings. He built "Solomon's Emporium" now Brown’s Mart. He became a prominent political figure in Territory and helped found Palmerston's (Darwin) first municipal council in 1874. He established a building company which was prosperous and his home on The Esplanade was considered the grandest in town. The Hundred of Solomon in South Australia and the electoral Division of Solomon in the Northern Territory are named after him.

A plaque recognizing his contribution to the Territory was unveiled by Luke Gosling, Federal Member for Solomon; Mark Dreyfus, MP for Isaacs & Simon Lipert (Solomon family)

25/04/2026

At Darwin's Anzac Day dawn service today, three Society members met up with each other. Bev Phelts was selling poppies for the RSL which raised money for Legacy. From left: Penny Baird, Bev Phelts & Allan Mitchell

13/04/2026

On Sunday 12 April, historian and author, Derek Pugh talked about his recent motorbike ride around India taking in sections of the Old Silk Road and heritage sites

30/03/2026

The Historical Society held its AGM on Sunday 29 March.
The Society’s new Committee Members are -

President: Derek Pugh; Vice President: Bev Phelts; Secretary: Libby Siebert; Treasurer: Clare Corfield. others - Brian Reid, Clayton Fredericksen, Vida Goodvach, Rosemary Cameron & Peter Siebert.

We thank outgoing Committee Members, Matt James and Jane Munday for their valuable contributions and wish them well following their interstate moves.

At the AGM, President Derek Pugh presented Jared Archibald his Federation of Australian Historical Societies Fellowship Award.
Fellowships are awarded in recognition of an outstanding and sustained contribution to the community history and heritage movement at the national level.

02/02/2026

The Society’s annual booksale was a great success with around 70-80 people attending. Book donations were from Clayton Fredericksen, Albert Foreman, Jan Richardson, Jim Leach, & Wendy Asche

27/01/2026

The Historical Society is holding a booksale this Sunday 1 February 2pm to 4pm - at 1/16 Charlton Court, Woolner
CASH ONLY

New books but old stock slashed to $5 each,
2nd hand books all $1 and DVD’s 50c.

We have a great range of books on Territory history, archeology, anthropology, general interest to suit everyone. We are taking CASH ONLY so raid your piggy banks. The Genealogical Society of the NT will also be selling their books at the sale.

05/12/2025

A short film on Jose Petrick's life can be watched on this link -

http://www.the100project.com www.facebook.com/the100project

The film clip was produced by TrickleUp Media

The 100 Project celebrates the lives and stories of 100-year-olds across Australia.