PIONEERS AND SETTLERS BOUND FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIAGEOFFREY MANNING |
 Return Home |
|
GEOFFREY MANNING was born in Waikerie in 1926 and lived at Peterborough, Mitcham, Parkside and Norwood before moving to Mount Gambier in 1936 where he completed his education. In 1942 he commenced work with the Savings Bank of South Australia, enlisted in the Royal Australian Navy in January 1944 and, until the cessation of hostilities, served in the corvette HMAS PIRIE as a Visual Signalman. His interest in South Australian history dates from 1978 when he researched and published a family history - "Hope Farm - Cradle of the McLaren Vale Wine Industry" - and since retiring in 1982 has had a further eleven books published. He is, perhaps, best known for his research into the nomencalture of South Australia and the publication Manning's Place Names of South Australia, which received the prestigious Vermeil Award at the Cardinal Spellman Philatelic Museum's 16th Annual Philatelic Literature Fair in Massachusetts, USA, in 1992. In more recent years it is understood to be the most sought after reference book in the State's Public Library. This data base, compiled over the period 1990 - 2000, contains approximately 90 megabytes of information gleaned from Adelaide newspapers for the period 1837-1937 and includes information from the following:
In 2002, Mr Manning wrote: This work is a conglomerate of toponymical and historical research and as to the former aspect I am again indebted to my friend Mr George Daws who, through sheer dogged persistence, coupled with innate skills and a love of our history, applied himself assiduously to endless months of tedious research. The results of his labours are self-evident in the published findings of such place names as Balgowan, Bligh, Cobham, Hatherleigh, Mount Fitton, Rendelsham and others. I place on record my sincere thanks to Mrs Julie Evans and Mr Dean Kelly whom I had the pleasure of meeting within in the confines of the Mortlock Library in the course of our various historical pursuits; their contributions to various facets of our history enhance this book. The late Mr Reg Sprigg, formerly of Arkaroola also added in many ways by generously offering information in respect of his forbears, viz, the pastoralists of his paternal ancestry and the sea-faring Germein family. Unlike Nellie Melba, with her interminable "last appearances", this is my final epistle on nomenclature and I would, indeed, be remiss if I did not again express my appreciation of the encouragement and financial considerations accorded me by Gillingham Printers of Adelaide over many years. I can record no greater appreciation to that Company other than to repeat those monumental words of Henry Lawson when, in introducing C.J. Dennis's "The Sentimental Bloke" to the world in October 1915, he said with due deference - "I dips me lid - and stand aside". Geoffrey H. Manning, July 2002 Some of his noted works include: Manning's Place Names of South Australia, Data Base of South Australian History, A Colonial Experience, Hope Farm Chronicle. My special thanks to Geoffrey H Manning for making his excellent Data Base of South Australian History available online for all researchers. |
