On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019. On 3 March, the Reserve Bank of Australia became the first central bank to cut interest rates in response to the outbreak. Official interest rates were cut by 0.25% (25 base points) to a record low of 0.5%. On 12 March, the Federal Government announced a A$17.6 billion stimulus package, the first since the 2008 GFC. he package consists of multiple parts, a one-off A$750 payment to around 6.5 million welfare recipients as early as 31 March 2020, small business assistance with 700,000 grants up to $25,000 and a 50% wage subsidy for 120,000 apprenticies or trainees for up to 9 months, 1 billion to support economically impacted sectors, regions and communities, and $700 million to increase tax write off and $3.2 billion to support short-term small and medium-sized business investment. On 16 March, Premier Dan Andrews and Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos declared a state of emergency for Victoria for at least four weeks. On 19 March, the Reserve Bank again cut interest rates by a further 0.25% to 0.25%, the lowest in Australian history. On 22 March, the government announced a second stimulus package of A$66bn, increasing the amount of total financial package offered to A$89bn. This included several new measures like doubling income support for individuals on Jobseeker's allowance, granting A$100,000 to small and medium-sized businesses and A$715 million to Australian airports and airlines. It also allowed individuals affected by the outbreak to access up to A$10,000 of their superannuation during 2019–2020 and also being able to take an additional same amount for the next year. on the same day Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on 22 March that the state will bring the school holiday forwards to 24 March from 27 March. On 30 March, the Australian Federal Government announced a $130 billion "JobKeeper" wage subsidy program offering to pay employers up to $1500 a fortnight per full-time, part-time or casual employee that has worked for that business for over a year. For a business to be eligible, they must have lost 30% of turnover after 1 March of annual revenue up to and including $1 billion. For businesses with a revenue of over $1 billion, turnover must have decreased by 50%. Businesses are then required by law to pay the subsidy to their staff, in lieu of their usual wages. This response came after the enormous job losses seen just a week prior when an estimated 1 million Australians lost their jobs. This massive loss in jobs caused the myGov website to crash and lines out of Centrelink offices to run hundreds of metres long.The program was backdated to 1 March, to aim at reemploying the many people who had just lost their jobs in the weeks before. Businesses would receive the JobKeeper subsidy for six months. Victoria's "Second Wave" from Ballarat Courier, 05 August 2020 Wednesday, August 5: 725 cases, 15 deaths. A record figure reached yet again. Tuesday, August 4: 439 cases, 11 deaths. New fines introduced for COVID-infected people who aren't home. Monday, August 3: 429 cases, 13 deaths. Premier details mass industry shutdowns in Melbourne. Sunday, August 2: 671 cases, seven deaths as harsh new statewide lockdowns are announced Saturday, August 1: 397 new cases, three deaths Friday, July 31: 627 new cases, eight deaths. Premier says one in four Covid cases not home when checked. Thursday July 30: 723 cases, 13 deaths. Just when it was looking promising, alarming new record set. Wednesday July 29: 295 new cases, nine deaths as new cases drop below 300 for first time in nine days Tuesday July 28: 380 new cases, six deaths as aged care outbreaks continue to climb Monday July 27: 532 new cases as daily cases hits 500 for first time, six deaths Sunday July 26: 459 new cases as double-digit death toll is recorded for first time with 10 deaths Saturday July 25: 357 new cases, five new deaths Friday July 24: 300 cases, six deaths, ADF role expanded to help with contact tracing. Thursday July 23 - 403 cases, five deaths, worst day for fatalities in any state, masks now mandatory Wednesday July 22 - 484 cases, two deaths Tuesday July 21 - 374 cases, three deaths Monday July 20 - 275 cases, one death Sunday July 19 - 363 cases, three deaths, notice that masks will become mandatory in lockdown areas Saturday July 18 - 217 cases, three deaths, final Melbourne public housing tower released from hard lockdown Friday July 17 - 428 cases, three deaths Thursday July 16 - 317 cases, two deaths Wednesday July 15 - 238 cases, one death Tuesday July 14 - 270 cases, two deaths Monday July 13 - 177 cases Sunday July 12 - 273 cases, one death Saturday July 11 - 216 cases, one death Friday July 10 - 288 cases, a national daily record at the time Thursday July 9 - 165 cases, eight of nine Melbourne public housing towers released from hard lockdown Wednesday July 8 - 134 cases, new stage-three restrictions announced for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire Tuesday July 7 - 191 cases Monday July 6 - 127 cases, two deaths, NSW border closed Sunday July 5 - 74 cases Saturday July 4 - 108 cases, immediate hard lockdown of nine Melbourne public housing towers Friday July 3 - 66 cases Thursday July 2 - 77 cases Wednesday July 1 - 73 casesColour photographs of social distancing signs during the Covid-19 Pandemic, on Chemist Warehouse in Sebastopol. On 06 April 2020 a maximum of 75 people were allowed in the chemist at one time, and those with syptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) were asked to not enter without phone contact. Upon entering customers were directed to use hand sanitizer, and 1.5 metre markings were placed on the floor to enable legal social distancing.covid-19, corona virus, pandemic, chemist's warehouse, sebastopol, social distancing

This model of a mechanical ore roasting and chloridising furnace was invented and patented by Thomas Edwards of the Edwards Pyrites Smelting and Ore Reduction Company. This new type of furnace produced a high standard of sulphur free ore known as ‘sweet roasted’. Edwards used this model for demonstrations in the USA. Of note is the central large vertical cogwheel (externally driven) which drives small vertical cogwheels via angled cogging drives. These in turn drive a horizontal wheel. Each side of the vertical wheel is set on an opposite side to the horizontal wheel of its neighbours, resulting in opposite direction rotation of neighbouring horizontal wheels. Each horizontal wheel turns a rabble (set of vertical iron paddles) within the furnace. These rabbles, each turning in opposite direction to its neighbours, move the roasting ore in a zig-zag path through the furnace. The elongated furnace with its line of rabbles produced a much ‘sweeter’ roasted ore than could be obtained from a typical tank-shaped furnace. In 1924, when the model was donated to the Ballarat School of Mines, Ballarat’s Courier newspaper reported, ‘Apart from its historical and education value, the gift should serve to stimulate the inventive faculties of the students who have to win fame for the school and for themselves in the metallurgical world.’ The furnace model was donated to Ballarat School of Mines and used as an educational prop from 1924. The model relates to the mining industry which is a significant part of Ballarat's history and heritage. Ballarat School of Mines is the oldest Technical School in Australia and is celebrating 150 years in 2020.Metal model of Edwards' Ore Reduction Furnace. The model includes cogwheels, rabbles and other details. Scale is thought to be around 1:20M259ballarat school of mines, edwards, pyrites, ore reducation, edward retallack, mining, model

Colour photograph of Melbourne House, a former general store run by C. Blyth and Son. sebastopol, melbourne house, c. blyth and son, ballarat furniture company, architecture

Colour photograph of the War Memorial in Sebastopol. sebastopol, world war, flag, sebastopol war memorial

Two photographs relating to the Ballarat South Uniting Church. .1 The red brick church with information board .2) Information of the closure of the church due to the Covid19 pandemic shutdown due to only 2 peoplebeing able to congregate at one time. "Note: Worship services have been suspended for the time being. We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please get in tourch if your have any questions." "Follow is on Facebook (look for Ballarat South Uniting Curch" for live streamed events and liturgy-at-home resources, and check out website (Ballaratsouth.uniting church.org.au) for more info. If you need anythign (a phone call, some groceries etc) get in touch with our minister Carlynne on 0409 285 182, or [email protected] Be kind to yourseld and others, and stay in touch. God bless you."ballarat south uniting church, corona virus, covid19, pandemic, uniting church

Photographs relating to the red brick Ballarat South Uniting Church. "This stone from Sebastopol Church was laid by Rev. L.L. Lovell January 20th 1940"ballarat south uniting church, pandemic, uniting church, sebastopol

Three photographs of the Australian Flag flying at Sebastopol RSL.australian flag

The Sebastopol pub and bottle shop on the corner of Rubicon and Skipton Streets closed in 2015 and has been vacant since.Colour photograph of the Globe Hotel before it was demolished to make way for a Hungray Jacks store. globe hotel, sebastopol, sebastopol, hotels

The old Sebastopol Town Hall was erected in 1868 and opened on 19 March, 1869. The Town Hall was rebuilt in the 1950s and opened on 20 December 1960. Colour photograph of the Sebastopol Library.sebastopol, sebastopol library, sebastopol town hall

Three photographs of the Australian Flag flying at Sebastopol RSL.australian flag, sebastopol

The old Sebastopol Town Hall was erected in 1868 and opened on 19 March, 1869. The newer Town Hall was rebuilt in the 1950s and opened on 20 December 1960. The building was demolished except for the facade to build a new library in Sebastopol. The $2.8 million redeveloped Sebastopol Library Community Hub opend its doors to the community on Wednesday 2 January, 2019. This major redevelopment has transformed the City of Ballarat’s Library and Maternal and Child Health services into a vibrant modern community hub, Photographs of the facade of the former Sebastopol Town Hall, and the remains of the old Sebastopol Town Hall revealed during renovations in 2018.sebastopol, sebastopol town hall, sebastopol civic centre, sebastopol community centre, facadism

The old Sebastopol Town Hall was erected in 1868 and opened on 19 March, 1869. The newer Town Hall was rebuilt in the 1950s and opened on 20 December 1960. The building was demolished except for the facade to build a new library in Sebastopol. The $2.8 million redeveloped Sebastopol Library Community Hub opend its doors to the community on Wednesday 2 January, 2019. This major redevelopment has transformed the City of Ballarat’s Library and Maternal and Child Health services into a vibrant modern community hub, Photographs of the facade of the former Sebastopol Town Hall, and the remains fo the old Sebastopol Town Hall revealed during renovations in 2018. The two white poles, donated by former mayors are also depicted. The two white poles at the front of the biulding include a plaque "Presented by the mayor Cr F.W. Miller, 1934"sebastopol, sebastopol town hall, sebastopol civic centre, sebastopol community centre, f.w. miller

Cr Neville Donald OAM served on the Sebastopol Borough Council serving as Mayor ten times. Photographs of Sebastopols Neville F.D. Donald Park, which includes monuments to war service. neville donald, neville f.d. donald park, rsl, sebastopol war memorial, sebastopol

It is presumed that the licencee, J. Kenworthy and his family are standing out the front.victoria hotel, building, hotel, persons, commerical, sebastopol, albert street

Book with greenand white cover.non-fictionballarat, sebastopol hill, lydiard street, powder magazine, deep leads, james oddie, mortality, statistics, shares, stock market, alexander dewar, old gravel pits, koh-i-noor, cobb corner, wesleyan church, henry richards caselli, band of hope mine, sir william don, mine sites

The blacksmiths was located on the corner of Albert and Morgan Streets.camerons blacksmith shop, albert street, morgan street, sebastopol, building, commerical, person

This postcard shows Victoria Street. Pictured is L. (Bub) Jenkins author of 'The Golden Chain'. The two business in the photo are F. Allen Caterer and C.Clark National Hotel.victoria street, sebastopol, streetscape, buildings, commerical, l. (bub) jenkins, f. allen caterer, national hotel

The tabernacle was located on the west side of Albert Street between Vickers and Walker Streets. It was demolished in 1930.baptist tabernacle, church, building, albert street, sebastopol

Located on the north side of Victoria Street near Edward Street. Includes Post Office.l. luth & co, victoria street, sebastopol, building, commerical, shop

The shop was located on Albert Street. The Busch Bros. were painters, grainers and paperhangers and also were R.V. Williams boot makers.busch bros., albert street, sebastopol, building, shop, commerical

Sign-Writer, Decorator, Painter and Paperhanger. Plate 308? Chuck Photo Series.j. halliday, albert street, sebastopol, building, commerical

Coloured plan of the Ballarat and Sebastopol mines. Includes streets. Scale is 1:23,760robert allan, plans, cgt, ballarat, sebastopol, leviathan gold mining company, gold mines, gold companies, gold mining company

“This public art project honours the people and suburb of Sebastopol, as well as providing a strong visual identity for Albert Street. It will make the street a lot more attractive and welcoming. The project is the outcome of extensive consultation with groups and individuals in the Sebastopol community, who have made suggestions both as to the nature of the project but also the aspects of life in their community they wanted to represent through the artwork.”Crossing Rubicon by Ratartat is located in Albert Street, Sebastopol, Ballarat. A row of 16 lampposts in Sebastopol’s main street are topped with large enamelled steel sculptures of trees, representing different aspects of Sebastopol’s community life and history. Ratartat is an artistic collaboration of Ballarat-based artists Geoff Bonney and Pete Widmer. The name, Crossing Rubicon, refers to Rubicon Street, the boundary between Redan and Sebastopol. The street was named after the Rubicon River, an ancient boundary between Italy and Gaul. Julius Caesar’s decision to cross the river, thereby rebelling against the Roman Senate, gave rise to the expression “crossing the Rubicon”, meaning going past the point of no return.Sixteen powder-coated steel sculptures mounted on light polesrubicon, sebastopol, ratartat

Members of the Jenkins family in delivery vans outside their shop in Albert Street, Sebastopol.jenkins butchers, sebastopol, transportation, delivery van, albert street