Our origins
Sydney City Skywatchers was previously called the New South Wales Branch of the British Astronomical Association (BAA NSW). The first official meeting was held on 30 January 1895 at the Royal Geographical Society, located at Bridge Street Sydney. The aim of the group was to form an ‘association of all interested in astronomy for mutual help’ (http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article108068499). John Tebbutt F.R.A.S. was unanimously elected as the first president and George H. Knibbs and Robert T. A. Innes F.R.A.S. were elected Vice Presidents. The treasurer was T. W. Craven and secretary Walter F. Gale. On the council were Dr. Meggineon, Charles J. Merfield, H. Wright, F. D. Edmonds and R. D. Lewers. Sixty-one members, women and men, were nominated, and over the course of the next few meetings over forty people were accepted as members.
In the first few years, the popular astronomy group established observing groups and its activities were reported in the local newspapers. The Presidents included leading professional astronomers, for example, Charles Merfield and James Nangle, and amateur astronomers whose research contributed to global astronomy knowledge, for example, William John MacDonnell (pictured below with his new telescope), Walter Gale and our previous president, Monty Leventhal OAM. There were strong ties with Sydney Observatory with Government Astronomers, astronomers, technicians and astronomy guides occasionally serving as presidents. The first woman president was Elizabeth Budek in 2001.
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In 2004 the BAA NSW was renamed Sydney City Skywatchers to better reflect the city focus of its members, the group meetings and outreach activities. The society is affiliated with the Powerhouse Museum, Sydney Observatory and the British Astronomical Association.
Presidents of the BAA (NSW) & Sydney City Skywatchers
Presidents can serve a maximum of 2 years consecutively unless there are extra-ordinary circumstances.
John Tebbutt 1894-1896
George Handley Knibbs 1896-1898
Rev. Thomas Roseby 1898-1900
Walter Frederick Gale1900-1902
William John MacDonnell1902-1904
George Denton Hirst 1904-1906
Charles J. Merfield 1906-1907
Hugh Wright 1907-1909
James Nangle1909-1911
Rev. Thomas Roseby 1911-1914
Walter Frederick Gale 1914-1923
Rev. Edward F. Pigot 1923-1925
J. J. Richardson 1925-1927
Walter Frederick Gale 1927-1929
James Nangle 1929-1930
Walter Frederick Gale 1930-1932 & 1932-1933
Rev. William O'Leary 1933-1934 & 1934-1935
Walter Frederick Gale 1935-1936
Alan Patrick Mackerras 1936-1937
Walter Frederick Gale 1937-1938 & 1938-1939
Henry Herbert Baker 1939-1940
Harley Weston Wood 1940-1942
Walter Frederick Gale 1942-1943
Alan Patrick Mackerras 1943-1945
Horace Edgar Frank Pinnock 1945-1946
Alan Patrick Mackerras 1946-1947
William. H. Robertson 1947-1950
D. Coleman-Trainor 1950-1951
Alan Patrick Mackerras 1951-1954
Harley Weston Wood 1954-1956
Rev. Thomas Noel Burke-Gaffney 1956-1958
W. Kemp Robertson 1958-1960
F. J. Bannister 1960-1962
Alan Patrick Mackerras 1962-1964
William. Humphrey Robertson 1964-1966
Noel James Halsey Bissaker 1966-1968
W. Swanston 1968-1971
W. E. Moser 1971-1974
Ken Sims 1974-1976
R. Giller 1976-1978
T. L. Morgan 1978-1979
Frank N. Traynor 1979-1981
S. J. Elwin 1981-1982
Frank N. Traynor 1982-1984
J. Jackson 1984-1986
Colin Bembrick 1986-1988
Alan Yates 1988-1990
George Smith 1990-1994
Monty Leventhal 1995-1996
Ralph Buttigieg 1996-1998
Michael Chapman 1998-2000
Wayne Orchiston F.R.A.S. 2000-2001
Elizabeth Budek 2001-2003
Michael Chapman 2003-2016
Monty Leventhal OAM 2016-2019
Toner Stevenson 2019-2021
Ann Cairns 2021-2023
Andrew Wood, elected in 2023
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References:
Blog entry Dr Nick Lomb 2012, Sydney Observatory blog site, MAAS.
Orchiston, W.; Perdrix, J. (April 2002), "A history of the British Astronomical Association in Australia: the fate of the Branches", Journal of the British Astronomical Association, 112(2): 68–77, Bibcode:2002JBAA..112...68O
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Image: William John MacDonnell, President 1902-1904. A rare picture of William John MacDonnell sitting in front of his newly installed 4¾-inch (12.1-cm) lens telescope by Parkes of Birmingham on 15 December 1907. Picture courtesy MAAS.
