December 2025

Contents

• From the President’s Desk - page 1Stuart Handley recognises Patricia Doris, Leonie Knapman and Bud Townsing, discusses community grants and introduces the feature on Sophie Corrie.
• Musings, interest groups and Bud Townsing - page 2Bruce Moore’s herb-themed wordplay appears alongside family history and DNA group notices, holiday opening information and remembrances of Bud Townsing.
• Australia Day, Patricia Doris and James Meehan - page 3An invitation to the Berrima parade is followed by thanks to Patricia Doris for her service and an introduction to Peter Bradley’s book about surveyor James Meehan.
• Vale Leonie Knapman - page 4A tribute follows Leonie’s move to Mittagong, tourism work, involvement in Joadja and her service as Society president.
• Leonie Knapman’s local history work - page 5The tribute continues with her exhibitions, newspaper contributions, artwork and talks on district history.
• A remarkable woman, Sophie Corrie - page 6Introduces the Bargo Brush, Little Forest and the northern villages, then follows the fruit-growing work of Sophie Corrie.
• Sophie Corrie and preserving fruit - page 7Continues her family story and describes her writing on fruit preservation and methods for home cooks.
• Society information and office bearers - page 8Contact, opening, membership and committee details as printed in December 2025; these are historical and may have changed.

Issue highlights

• An invitation to the 2026 Berrima Australia Day parade accompanies thanks to Patricia Doris and an introduction to a book on surveyor James Meehan (p.3).
• A tribute follows Leonie Knapman’s local history, tourism and Society work, including Back to Joadja weekends (pp.4-5).
• Sophie Corrie’s family and fruit-preserving work are set against the history of Little Forest and the northern villages (pp.6-7).

Original Society source