“After the Fellowship’s headquarters in Sydney allowed chapters to hold informal meetings, our committee and members felt it was time our bi-monthly gatherings became more friendly and sociable,” President Pat Davis told News Of The Area.

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All official procedures and general business matters have been handed over to the committee alone.

“Our February meeting will be the first with the new social format.”

The meeting on Sunday 2 February starts at 10.30am with morning tea provided, followed by a guest speaker and question time.

“Then we will all sit down for a BYO lunch,” Mrs Davis said.

The inaugural guest speaker is Coffs Harbour historian Karen Filewood.

Karen’s research and talk is titled “Australia’s Early Hen Frigates”.

A Hen Frigate is sailors’ slang for ships that have women living onboard, usually the captain’s wife.

Karen’s research centres around early convict times of women working and travelling regularly on ships in Australian waters.

Karen is also a descendant of the First Fleet.

The meeting venue is Mylestom Hall, in Mylestom.

There will be no official general business as such, but the committee will be open to any suggestions on the day.

Enquiries to Robyn Condliffe on 0420 923 140.

By Andrea FERRARI