A former Whittlesea Historical Society (WHS) president and dedicated historian sadly passed away earlier this month.
After a busy weekend at the Whittlesea Show, Lindsay Mann passed away quietly with his wife Margaret and their sons by his side on November 3.
A life member of the WHS, Mr Mann grew up in Yan Yean on the property She Oak and was a descendant of the pioneer Mann family of Carseburn in Strathewen.
Mr Mann served an 18-year term as president of the WHS from February 1991 to 2008, taking over from Rob Wuchatsch.
During his leadership, he organised activities that fostered lasting friendships among members, including Ross Mugavin, who remembered Mr Mann as an invaluable source of knowledge and support, especially during his time as a Park Ranger at Plenty Gorge Park.
WHS President Barbara Miller said his knowledge and passion for history were widely respected.
“He continued to serve the WHS and attend meetings and activities. He was at the AGM a week before and was with us at the Whittlesea Show on Saturday with Margaret,” she said.
“Visitors to the WHS display at the show were pleased to find time to chat with Lindsay, and one lucky visitor had their purchase of the Bushrangers book personally signed.”
One project of significance to Mr Mann was his effort to gain recognition for Robert Garrick Wilson—a Whittlesea resident who made significant contributions during World War I.
Mr Mann and his wife worked tirelessly on the cause, even travelling to Canberra to advocate for the recognition of Mr Wilson’s generosity. Their efforts culminated in the installation of a memorial, in collaboration with the Whittlesea RSL, at the soldier statue memorial at the southern end of Church Street, Whittlesea.
He was also a driving force behind the 1994 installation of a plaque at the Hazelglen cemetery, which became the Arthur’s Creek cemetery, to commemorate 150 years of continuous occupation by the Reid family.
As with many who dedicated themselves to volunteer work, Mr Mann was supported every step of the way by his wife. Later, Ms Mann took on the role of WHS treasurer.
Mr Mann’s knowledge of the City of Whittlesea was vast, and he had a wealth of stories about local people and places.
The WHS 2025 calendar features an image on the front cover that includes Lindsay’s mother and grandmother—a gesture that deeply pleased him, as it acknowledged his family’s connection to the community.
Ms Barbara offered condolences on behalf of all members of the WHS to all the Mann family.
“Lindsay had a long-time interest in the history of the Yan Yean cemetery and was working on a book on this topic at the time of his death,” she said.
“We considered him our WHS ‘patriarch’ and will miss him dearly and remember him fondly.”
