StoryScape #3

Rob Ferguson was the last occupant of Allwood House. Rob is the great grand nephew of Henry Facey Hurst and lived at Allwood House from the early 1950s to the early 1980s when his parents Sheila (Gray) and Gordon (Blue) Ferguson ran a small dairy farm on what remained of the original Allwood Run. The local council’s compulsory acquisition of the land and house at Allwood, brought to an end the family’s long history with the town named after his ancestor Henry Facey Hurst.

David Kerrigan believes that to belong to a place, you need to know the stories of where you live, work and play. As volunteer historian and archivist at Allwood Neighbourhood House, David collects local history and brings it to life. David wrote and directed a community play, drawing upon the stories of Hurstbridge, called The Bridge, in 2024, mentoring a huge cast and crew and engaging over 600 people in Nillumbik and surrounds. David has also been part of the National Trust of Victoria at Gulf Station (volunteer and guide), Yarra Plenty Heritage Group, Hurstbridge and Allwood House Historical Society, and Kangaroo Ground Andrew Ross Museum.

Ruth Summer-Rain is a mother of 3 and now grandmother to 5 boys and is happily retired to pursue many passions and interests.

After 20 years of living in NSW near Mudgee, following a self sufficiency lifestyle off the grid and home schooling for 11years, Ruth returned to Melbourne. She tutored in meditation, basketry, mindmapping, holding ceremonial space and was a celebrant for weddings and funerals. She also studied and practiced as a Death Doula.

Ruth spent 16 years at Allwood house as a Community worker and Networker.

Carolyn Lawson is a beloved Hurstbridge local and the daughter of Pam Lawson, who was the local historian at Allwood Neighbourhood House for 30 years, from 1990 to 2020.

Pam worked tirelessly to collect and archive local history records in the History Room at Allwood Neighbourhood House. In 2011 she published a book “Kooka on the Wattle”, a history of Hurstbridge which contains letters, records of conversations and stories that have not been published elsewhere.

Pam started the Hurstbridge and District Local History Group and served continuously on the Allwood Neighbourhood House Committee from 2001 to 2022 and was the President for 20 years. Pam was also an accomplished artist and taught art for many years at Allwood Neighbourhood House.

Pam was a generous and talented person who will be sadly missed by all who had pleasure of her wise council, wicked sense of humour and friendship.