UPDATE: All members who have registered for an invitation to the Government House event should now have received their entree cards by mail. If you have not yet received your card, please call Nicole Pincham on 02 9262 7300. The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts is hosting a morning tea reception at Government House on Tuesday 24 September, from 10.00am to 12.00pm to celebrate our 180th anniversary: 1833-2013.We are pleased to announce that our commemorative book, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts: A History will be launched at the event. We are also delighted that our patron, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales will be attending as Guest of Honour. Invitations to attend the Government House reception are available to eligible members of the SMSA. Registrations for invitations will open on Monday 19 August at 10:30am. Please see below for: How to register for an invitation. More information on our commemorative book I look forward to celebrating this significant occasion with you. Paul Reid, President

HOW TO REGISTER FOR AN INVITATION

Registration for invitations to the Government House reception will open on Monday 19th August at 10:30am. No registrations will be taken before this time.

Members may register for an invitation with the Library by phone 02 9262 7300 or by email library@smsa.org.au.

Entrée cards and further instructions will be forwarded to the successful members before the event.

Please note:

• Due to Government House limitations on the number of attendees, the invitation is extended to members only – spouses and partners may attend only if they are members in their own right and they must register separately.
• To be eligible for an invitation, members must have joined the SMSA on or before Tuesday 13 August 2013
• Invitations will be allocated to eligible members in order of registration. In the event that the number of interested members exceeds the number of available invitations, a waiting list will be created and those members will be given first priority if further spaces become available.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In order to commemorate the SMSA’s 180th anniversary, the Board has commissioned historian Garry Wotherspoon to research and write the first detailed history of the School. The end result is a beautifully illustrated book, The Sydney Mechanics’ School of Arts: A History, that will ensure our legacy is available for future generations.

In addition to documenting our significant role in the development of Sydney and adult education in Australia from the colonial era through to the present day, Garry has uncovered some little known but fascinating stories about the colourful people and events in our past.