Calling all local historians to

prepare for the 2025 Lane Cove History prize

As of 2025, the Lane Cove History Prize will become biennial. We hope that all local historians thinking of preparing an entry will continue to do so. You now have until 2025 to undertake the necessary research on your chosen topic. We look forward to welcoming all entries next year.

THE 2023 LANE COVE HISTORY PRIZE

The 2023 Lane Cove History Prize was awarded on Tuesday 24th October, to Jane Van Balen. Jane’s Prize-winning essay was named, ‘A Gentle Artist: The Life of H. Leonard Greening (1904-1984)’. As the name suggests, the essay celebrates the life of Jane’s grandfather, known as Len Greening, who emigrated from England to Australia in 1924. Trained originally in England as a machinist, Len had also commenced his studies in art before he left England, and he continued his art studies at the East Sydney Technical College. He found work as a commercial artist with WD and HO Wills.

After their marriage in 1932, Len and his wife, Jessie, settled in Longueville in 1936, and Len became friendly with the painter George Lawrence (who he originally met singing with the Sydney Male Choir). George Lawrence was one of the notable Northwood Group. This group of painters, who, apart from Lawrence, included Lloyd Rees, Roland Wakelin and John Santry, went on painting excursions around the Harbour, and they became famous as a significant group of Sydney’s painters. Len Greening was friendly with them, and sometimes joined them on their excursions.

Len and Jessie had two daughters before the outbreak of the Second World War. Len served in the war, and the war years proved disruptive, affecting Jessie’s health. Sadly, she died in 1953. Len later remarried, this time to Helen Molesworth, a resident of Longueville. Len and Helen enjoyed a happy family life, and they moved to Hunters Hill, while retaining their connection with the Lane Cove/Longueville area.

Len’s career with WD and HO Wills had prospered over the years, and he became the Art Superintendent in the Advertising Department for Wills by his retirement. Painting remained an important activity throughout Len’s life, and in retirement he travelled extensively, producing many paintings. He exhibited quite widely in Sydney, holding exhibitions in Pymble, Hunters Hill and Ashfield, while he also exhibited in galleries in Adelaide and Christchurch, New Zealand. In all, Len Greening remains one of our significant, if lesser known, local painters. He died in 1984, a much-loved father and grandfather.