Various news articles pertaining to the January 1965 Victorian bushfires specifically with a focus on fires at Eltham North. Specific Eltham Shire districts mentioned include Eltham North and veteran Herald staff photographer Bert Rodda on page 1 • 3 Die as Bushfires Sweep the Hill: 10 homes burn at Nth. Eltham, p1 (Illust.) • 100 dogs die, p1 • Taken on the run, p1 (Illust.) • Fire runs wild at Eltham, p3 (Illust.) • 10-mile front out of control; Gippsland area ablaze, p3 • Trapped, but saved by wind, p3 tom fielding collection, victorian bushfires - 1965, victorian bushfires – 1965, eltham north, bert rodda, glen park road, short road, research (vic.), wattle glen, diamond creek, warrandyte, eltham, gippsland, mrs g. maher, bill dancy, eltham north store, bushfire damage - buildings

Reprinted history of Murrumbeena Baptist Church 1890 – 1990 compiled for the church’s centenary celebrations in 1990 by Ross Harrison Snow and Geoft Barthold. Each chapter details certain periods of church history and associated events Handwritten notes, including wording on foundation stone, by person unknown & undatedmurrumbeena, murrumbeena baptist church, pitt annie sophia, dandenong road., george samuel, baptist church, emily street, whitlam janet, box henry, snow ross harrison, gallop abel, pay henry mrs., rollings william, barthold geoff, thomas pay, pay e – miss godfrey, w- mrs, pitt st clair percival, godfrey william, pay t. a. h – mrs, blair mrs, white mrs, shearer mrs., box marie miss, box nellie miss, gallop prudence miss, gallop e. j. miss, rosstown wesleyan churches, murrumbeena baptist church, churches, gresswell f. l. mrs, neerim road, public halls, murrumbeena railway station, union chapel, kangaroo road, oakleigh, cole. j. h., turner mr., williamson r. rev, stewart allan., rosstown., architects, laver and flick messrs, mayhew george mr., chambers a. r. mr., godfrey brother, whitley w. t. rev., williamson rev., endersby elizabeth miss., meehani francis, french john, whyte mrs., thompson isabella mrs., burgess mary mrs., organ, tarry j. brother, mclean donald f. rev., wilkins george mr., sutherland mr., sydney street, nopkins ivor. rev, gallop mrs, pay brother, pitt brother, hopkins mrs, thompson ethel. miss, thompson mabel. miss, lavender mr. fred, whitlam george. master, varley frank mr, whitlam fred. mr, varley mrs, hale g. e. rev., whitlam crissie miss, curnick elizabeth miss, byrne mr, clemens f. rev., tennis club, tennis courts, cheffer mr., peace george mr., green mr., nash w. f rev., earl stanley j. rev, earl mrs., parker miss, adelaide street 12 manses, endersby david, harvey nellie. miss, fasham f. miss, mills mr., kelly mr., dyason mr, mckeon mr, lavender b. mr., chaffey alf, nelson norman, guthrie andrew, hopkins mrs., kindergarten, girl guides, loyal orange lodge, hall, fire, juniour christian endeavour league, intermediate christian, endeavour society, endersby mr, wilkins mr, wills mr, kelley mr, golden jubilee 22- 29 sept. 1940, knight e. o. rev, marriott e staunton m stone j., clay clark e. messrs, carter mr, carter mrs, deacenesses, helmore p. h. mrs, ryall c. m. mrs, carbis l. miss, wilson a. mrs, clark e. j. mrs, cornock m. miss, smith a. w. rev, mcdonald h. miss, stewart j. miss, edwards. w. messrs, crowe m. messrs, diggins l. messrs, wilson k. mr, ryall c. m. mr., wright a. mr., watkins mr., smith k. a. rev, scout groups, hobart street – 59 manses, helmer p. mr, filmer mr, carter mr., staunton martin mr., lewis donald rev 1951- 1956, perri john, collrus barry, ferguson mrs, white mrs, outhread noel mr., burleigh betty miss, orchestras, clark ted mr., daniels alan mr, staunton keith mr., staunton martin mr, steer doug mr, pascoe vack mr., ryall mert mr., clay ken mr., carter francis mr., chambers harry mr, hendry t. j. mr, andrews. e. f. rev, venning frank, provis keith, lee milton f. rev, kingdom max rev, kingdom fredq, allison c., eleiner e mrs, provis jan miss, chambers merle miss, collicot allison miss, cook john, cook family, horn neville rev, horn family, benneld family, bennett john., bennetts cliff, wiesmayrs’ family, allison barbara miss, jones ross, jones joy, fverst walter, doyle family, bertram estelle, bertram family, saletta margaret, saletta len, close kevin, close family, close anne, stewart des, stewart family, peel family, fisher family, leis family, arms harry, jones ross, jones family, jones joy, langdon family, bertram bill, staunton ian, staunton yvonne, staunton jean, staunton keith, staunton martin, clifferd. patricia, clifferd. charles, chambers awen, wall brian, wall bev, ryall geoff, ryall kay, ryall edna, davidson max, davidson mary, freeman john, hendry t s, provis keith, terrington michael, terrington doreen, carbis hazel miss, butterworth ern, clay ken, clay mrs., clay judith, clay noelle, muller ron, cook john, kingdom joy, kingdom graham, strong david, owens cliff, chambers harry, christy family, warr bill dr., morrison grace mrs., soderholm harvey, soderholm mrs, harris jeanette mrs, harris trevor rev., freeman pauline, freeman john., hendry t. j., steer doug, owens allison, owens graham, henderson ray, henderson chris, rathbone ian, rathbone pat, jenkins marion, girls’ club, wilson cliff dr., ladies evening group (legs), anderson family, l’ amont family, powell harold., harris luke, harris trevor, davies mrs, young george, anderson russell, wade joan, sauvarin lois, hill fred, wilson david., hansell fiona, hansell jane, brammer leanne, bertram ruth, langton john, crowe ken, dobney john, nobbs steve, jordan mr., steer david., steer doug, murrumbeena christian education centre (cec), suggare alwyn, gray s. mr., wilson clive rev., jephcott hume, jephcott heather, mccleary ross, mccleary glenn, claringbold mary, bennetts marcia., langton phil, worthy reg, thomson ave, mckerlie darrell rev., henderson ray, langenberg stewart van, crowe malcolm., sydney street, wall brian, zegelis imants, allison doug, owens rhonda, anderson peter, provis ken, vaitch fay, longenberg roger van, ife david, warren lena, churches bruce, churches mrs, bennetts john, mcdonald. k., cathie ian., cathie wendy, wright norman rev., alma street, mckerlie darrell rev., hampton keith rev., robinson john rev, jolly rod, crowe malcolm, lakey m, ferdinands ann, ferdinands ken, inders brett, inders jenny, cooke stephen, cooke deanne, langenberg jeremy van, binks paul, wall john, leslie geoff, leslie debbie, macleod nelson, macleod heather, dalton steven, pugh jeff, jones ross, ceulson joy, jackel lindsay, jackel sue, berry graham, wall brian, wheatland don, langton phil, stewart margaret, wheatland elise, wall bev., chambers gwen., foundation stone, morley john rev., sunday seekers, young marrieds, mothers’ group, choirs, walrond cw, turner mr, chisholm mr, mcdonald mr, church furniture, williams brother, sunday schools, victorian baptist preachers’ society, pitt mrs, thompson m miss., pitt w. miss, pay miss, thompson e. mrs., stained glass, christian endeavour society, young worshipper’ league, baptist women’s association, men’s society, murrembeena baptist football club, children’s church, youth council, junior christian endeavour, buds, baptist girls’ fellowship, boys club, baptist men’s society, youth fellowship life boys, boys brigade, alma street 17 chadstone manse, one way searchers’ group

Correspondence over a four year period (probably an incomplete file) on the behalf of Henry Cairns of Moonee Ponds and property owner at Christmas Hills / Watsons Creek including copy of a survey of his land title in relation to complaint regarding the Shire of Eltham encroaching on his land to make a road and subsequent purchase of land. The road provided acccess to the property of Mr W. Clinton of Heidelberg and other properties at Christmas Hills. Note by H.G. indicates that the property discussed in file is Clintons Road (not stated in file), possibly named after 1938. In December 1937 Eltham Shire Council agreed to purchase a block of land at the intersection of the Christmas Hills -- Smiths Gully roads from Mr Cairns to provide an outlet for the road which ran through the Cairns property. In March 1928 Mr Clinton had previously offered to contribute a sum of money towards the cost of purchasing the Cairns block to permit the road to go into his property was intending to transfer the property to himself. A Councilor was reported as being astounded in The Advertiser, 11 March 1938, as the land was needed for a road. Cr Baird: "The road was only to help his sports" Mr W. E. Clinton (Bill) was one of the founders of the Rob Roy Hill climb which took place at his property at Christmas Hills. He owned a garage in Heidleberg (See: https://cv.vic.gov.au/stories/sporting-life/speed-style-spirit-the-rob-roy-hillclimb/the-rob-roy-hillclimb/)16 pieces of paperraynes dickson kiddle & briggs solicitors, henry cairns, shire of eltham, roadworks, christmas hills, watsons creek, w. e. clinton, clintons road, rob roy climb

Contents: Eltham War Memorial Trust, Official Opening - Baby Health Centre, 15th November, 1952; Timetable of proceedings Eltham Baby Health Centre; Official Opening - Baby Health Centre: Address by President, 15 November 1952 Program; Eltham War Memorial Trust: Opening of the Second Unit of the War memorial, The Pre-school Centre, on Saturday, December 1st, 1956 at 3 p.m. Eltham War Memorial: Address by Mrs Stanley Addison at the Annual Meeting of the Infant Welfare Centre, Thursday 21st October, 1965 Newspaper clipping: Infant Welfare Centre as War Memorial, 15 November 1952 Newspaper clipping: Eltham War Memorial Trust by Stanley Addison, 1953 Newspaper clipping: Eltham: Memorial Baby Health Centre Opening Newspaper clipping: Minister to open Eltham Pre-school Tomorrow Newspaper clipping: War Memorial Trust Who is this man? By Stanley Addison (M.B.E., B.A., B.Sc., J.P.) Stanley Simpson Addison biography (b. 14/10/1880 d. 1/1/1972) Eulogy: Stanley Simpson Addison (14 Oct 1880-1 Jan 1972) Photograph: Stanley S. Addison, B.Sc., The Australasian Intercollegian, April 1, 1916 Letter, Eltham High School Advisory Committee re pending retirement of Cr. Addison from the Eltham Shire Council, 8 June 1956 Behind and Before by Stanley S. Addison, The Way, September 1956, pp 6-7 Newspaper clipping: Eltham Shire's President is Cr. S. Addison, Heidelberg News, Friday September 12, 1952 Newspaper clipping: Mr S. Addison Honored, Heidelberg News, Friday September 21st, 1956, p13 Additional information about Stanley Simpson Addison from Bill Glasson, 15 March 2014 Additional information about Stanley Simpson Addison's Naval Service record and MBE (National Archives) Opening of Lower Plenty Memorial Chapel, 30 November 1952 Letter from Brigadier H.H. Hammer, HQ 2 Armed Brigade to Cr. S. Addison, President, Shire of Eltham giving thanks for Coronation Celebrations parade support, June 1953 Newspaper clipping: Eltham President's Advance Programme Newspaper clipping: Coronation Festivities; Eltham Shire President's Notes Newspaper clipping: Hurstbridge: Coronation Day Ceremony Draft of letter by Stanley S. Addison, President, Kangaroo Ground Advancement League regarding electricity connection for Kangaroo Ground - Panton Hill, 1954 Electricity connection, Kangaroo Ground - Panton Hill, 1954 Electricity connection, Kangaroo Ground - Panton Hill, 1955 Newspaper clipping: Light for Diamond Valley; Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill, Friday 20th May, 1955 Electricity connection, Kangaroo Ground - Panton Hill, 1955 Electricity connection, Kangaroo Ground - Panton Hill, 1956 Electricity connection, Panton Hill - Smitrhs Gully, 1958 100th Anniversary Services, Kangaroo Ground Presbyterian Church, 17 March 1957 Early History of Kangaroo Ground compiled by Neville Haughton in March, 1959 Newspaper clipping: Eltham Community Chest, Heidelberg News, 12 September 1958 Newspaper clipping: Proposed Eltham Community Chest by Stanley Addison, Heidelberg News, 29 January 1959 Newspaper clipping: Community Chest With Wider Objectives, Heidelberg News, 5 February 1959 Newspaper clipping: Community Chest for Eltham, 1959 Newspaper clipping: Council Protest on Community Chest, c.1959 Newspaper clipping: Community Chest Outlined at Small Meeting, c.1959 Newspaper clipping: Treasure in the Diamond Valley by Stanley Addison, Heidelberg News, 19 February 1959 Newspaper clipping: Diamond Valley Chamber of Commerce, c.1959 Approx. 89 pages of varying types; photocopies, newsclippings, hand written notes, invitations, lettersa.c. ring, a.s. davis, adult education, biography, brigadier h.h. hammer, centenary celebrations, coronation, d. dureau, d. scales, d.a. lyon, d.s. pepper, diamond creek, diamond valley chamber of commerce, diamond valley community hospital, electricity supply, eltham chamber of commerce, eltham community chest, eltham high school advisory committee, eltham high school, eltham infant welfare centre, eltham pre-school, eltham shire council, eltham war memorial trust, eulogy, f.f. durham, f.h. buckwell, f.v. squire, g.c. waring, g.w. smith, h. thompson, h.f. thorpe, j. north, j.l. ryan, j.r. stuber, j.w. burgoyne, j.w. middleton, k.w. smith, kangaroo ground advancement league, kangaroo ground presbyterian church, kangaroo ground, l.r. bassett, lower plenty memorial chapel, miss j. humphreys, montmorency girl guides, montmorency tennis club, montmorency, mrs. b. harrington, mrs. stanley addison, n.h. baxter, opening ceremony, panton hill, parade, r. t. harrap, r.s. leeson, s.a. hick, shire president, smiths gully, st faiths anglican church, stanley s addison collection, stanley simpson addison, stevenson family, vera addison (nee staley), vera addison, w. stephenson

Back Row (L-R): Mr Cross (teacher), Evelyn Smith, Ruby Lacey, Moya Sloan, Dorothy Walters, Margaret Bannerman, Helen Allan, Yvonne Campbell, - , Mary Moore Fourth Row (L-R): - , Bill Goodman, Robert Allan, Graeme Goldman, - , - , Bill Motschall, Charlie O’Day, Ray O’Day, Miss Edwards (teacher) Third Row (L-R): Milton Smith, Gloria Hemming, - , Pat O’Day, Patsy Mills, Pat Basefield, - , Leonie Morrisey, Vera Lacey, Carmel Bunney, - , Ailsa Smith Second Row (L-R): - , Bob Sinclair, Doug Howard, John Heathcote, Robert Kynoch, - , - , - , Roland Howard, Jim Howard Front Row (L-R): Lewis Howard, Ben Donaldson, Fred Motschall, Graeme Motschall, Wally McLaren, Robert McLaren, Neil Marshall, Ian Marshall, - ,Digital file only - scanned by EDHS from item on loanailsa smith, ben donaldson, bill goodman, bill motschall, bob sinclair, carmel bunney, charlie o’day, dorothy walters, doug howard, evelyn smith, fred motschall, gloria hemming, graeme goldman, graeme motschall, helen allan, ian marshall, jim howard, john heathcote, leonie morrisey, lew howard collection, lewis howard, margaret bannerman, mary moore, milton smith, miss edwards, moya sloan, mr cross, neil marshall, panton hill primary school, pat basefield, pat o’day, patsy mills, ray o’day, robert allan, robert kynoch, robert mclaren, roland howard, ruby lacey, vera lacey, wally mclaren, yvonne campbell

Best interpretation of names: Back Row: Herbert Howard (President), Gordon Green (Secretary), Fred Edgely, Fred Smith, - , Reg Howard, Bill Murphy, R. Cracknell, Brennan, R.H. Fobister, George Smith, Jim Muir, Joe Wilke, Andy Duff Middle Row: A. Donaldson, Ken Goodrope, Wilke, Arthur Tanner, A Duff Second Row: No 4 Arthur Tanner Front Row: A Howard, Tootie Smith, R. Goodrope, Ron Milne, W. Goodrope, Bob Cracknell, Bill MurphyDigital file only - scanned by EDHS from item on loana duff, a howard, a. donaldson, albert howard, andy duff, arthur tanner, bill murphy, bob cracknell, brennan, fred edgely, fred smith, george smith, gordon green, herbert howard, jim muir, joe wilke, ken goodrope, lew howard collection, r. cracknell, r. goodrope, r.h. fobister, reg howard, reginald howard*, ron milne, tootie smith, w. goodrope, wilke

An early black and white photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria.An early black and white photograph of Steavenson Falls in Marysville in Victoria. The Steavenson Falls is named after the Victorian Assistant Commissioner of Roads and Bridges, John Steavenson who arrived in Victoria in the early 1860s.Post Card The Address to be written on this side. This space may be used for Correspondence/ within the Commonwealth at 1d rate./ Foreign, charged ordinary letter rate. May 1st./ Australia/ Many happy returns of the Day/ A.F. Mrs. H. Clutterbuck/ 15 Ealing Road/ South Ealing/ London Date Stamp MELBOURNE/ PM/ 2.15/ 4.4.06 Stamp/ BILL HOPKINS COLLECTION/ 21 KENSINGTON PARK ROAD W11/ NOTTING HILL GATE LONDONsteavenson falls, marysville, victoria, postcard, souvenir, john steavenson

These eight photographs were most likely taken in the 1970s in Lithographic Squadron at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. Photos .1P to .7P have the name of the technician written on the back. Photo .8P is not annotated. The equipment operated by the technicians is the KLIMCH Commodore camera. The main tasks undertaken by the technicians were most likely enlargements and reductions of map reproduction material. The KLIMSCH Commodore camera was introduced in 1953 and was the largest in the Southern Hemisphere. It was replaced with a new model of the same size in 1979. The new model with its computer-based interface provided productivity gains with improved speed and its consistent results led to less wastage in time and materials. Its variomat lens system provided improved retention of map feature linear weights during the camera reduction process. This is a set of photographs of technicians operating photographic reproduction equipment at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo c1970s. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Alan Virtue, Lithographic Squadron .2) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Alan Virtue, Lithographic Squadron .3) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Frank Lenane, Lithographic Squadron .4) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Frank Lenane, Lithographic Squadron .5) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, SGT Garren Hill, Lithographic Squadron .6) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Gavin Neilson, Lithographic Squadron .7) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, Bill Jones, Lithographic Squadron .8) - Photo, black & white, c1970s, unidentified personnel, Lithographic Squadron.1 and .2 – personnel names annotated on mounting card .3 to .7 – personnel names (less rank) annotated on back. .8 – no annotation royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, litho

Brown cardboard covered, spiral bound A4 size book.Collected summary papersballarat college of advanced education, summary papers, peter coman, ian moore, john burrell, norm barling, roger slee, helen hayes, ross whitefield, denise walsh, geoff mcrae, wendy crebbin, frank williams, iteraera abera, valo valo, rob baker, george baume, chris bigum, nerida blair, bob boyd, david symington, geoffrey burkhardt, majorie carss, dawn muir, jim christensen, margaret clyde, desmond connelly, jack darmody, barrie dickie, gwenda chapman, pat duffy, anne piggott, laurie andrew, john budby, stephen duggan, maryann ehle, alison elliott, terry evans, daryl nation, barry fields, sue gillard, max gillet, mon khamis, noel gough, richard gunstone, jeff northfield, maurice hale, brian hansford, bill harrison, janice wilson, win haseloff, trevor hutchins, brian jacka, james lukabyo, hugo mccann, r. kerrison, peter mcnally, ian macpherson, dianna mannigel, genne marks, margaret marks, alan peacock, susan moore, judy mousley, helen watson, john henry, robin mctaggart, charles myers, john nicholson, lynne noone, peter olsen, marion curry, david bull, geoff orr, phil meade, john pearson, ray preston, ross price, robert peake, les regan, ian robottom, richard tinning, g. di chiro, maurice robson, carol scott, bob semmens, tony simpson, janette stapleton-hill, arthur smith, peter smith, frank sofo, rosemary stack, david townsend, tony townsend, geoff treblico, ted wadsworth, kathleen warren, don williams, john williamson, john lake, joseph zajda

This cabinet would have been made in the early 20th century for as office or home office furniture. It's neat brass lock and key gives the contents some basic security but could be easily tampered with. At some stage there were two additional divisions in the top row of pigeon holes, which would make fifteen compartments of equal size available. A cabinet such as this could be used to classify or sort items, for example, mail for different people, or categories of business papers such as bills, orders, receipts, pay book, bank book and so on.This cabinet represents the type of furniture available for offices and businesses in the early 20th century. It shows the hardware in use and the design detail such as the raised edges around the top of the cabinet.Cabinet or cupboard, stained dark brown and lacquered. Secure office storage with a lock and a key. Hinged, lift-up front panel door folds back against the lid. The inside is divided into thirteen compartments or pigeon holes. Inscribed in black painted script writing underneath. Once the property of Mrs Cambell.Hand-painted on the base in black script writing "Mrs Cambell"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, cabinet, cupboard, shelves, pigeon holes, office cabinet, office furniture, mail sorting cabinet, mail sorting shelves, vintage office furniture, antique office furniture, office administration, mail sorting, small business furniture

Essays and Addresses on The Australian Commonwealth Bill by Henry Bournes Higgins, one of the Victorian Members of the Australiasian Federal Convention, 1897-1898 Publisher: The Atlas Press Date: 1900Label on spine cover with typed text R.A. 994.03 HIG Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, essays and addresses on the australian commonwealth bill, the australian commonwealth bill, henry bournes higgins, victorian members of the australiasian federal convention, australiasian federal convention,

This horse trough is the only survivor of the two troughs originally installed in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool, in 1932. It was later moved to the Pony Club at Albert Part, near the north corner of Coulstock and Craig Streets. Over the time there its purpose was changed from a horse watering trough to a colourful garden bed of agapanthus plants. By February 2013 the horse trough had been transferred to Flagstaff Hill for display in the Maritime Village’s grounds. This trough is one of hundreds provided by the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust since 1927 for the welfare of working horses and dogs. The original concrete cap over the small compartment is still retained. There are also markings on the right side of the trough where it probably had a birdbath, tap or a dish for the horseman’s dog, similar to other troughs donated elsewhere by the Trust. Less than half of the troughs produced for the Annis and George Bills Trust still survive. In 2017 Felicity Watson, National Trust Victoria’s advocacy manager, said that the troughs were treasures and becoming rare, with more than a dozen across Victoria now being heritage protected. ABOUT ANNIS AND GEORGE BILLS The 1927 Will of George Bills included setting up the Annis and George Bills Estate Trust, which provided for hundreds of horse troughs to be supplied and installed throughout Australia, Britain, USA and other parts of the world for the welfare of horses. Town and city councils could apply to the Trustees for a horse trough for their communities. George “Joe” Bills was born in Brighton, England, in 1859. The family migrated first to New Zealand then to Australia in 1873, settling in the Echuca-Moama district. George moved to Brisbane in 1882 where he met Annis Swann, formerly from Sheffield. Both were animal lovers. George and Annis married 1885 and moved to Sydney to join George’s brother Henry in his mattress wire weaving business, later known as the Bills Brothers. They patented their own machine in 1893 and the business became very profitable. George was able to donate to charities that supported his passion to improve animal welfare. He and Annis joined the Victorian Society for the Protection of Animals and in 1924 George received a Life Membership with the RSPCA. George retired in 1908. The couple moved to Hawthorn, Victoria, in 1910, where they donated troughs for the work horses of Melbourne. During a visit to England Annis passed away. In 1927 George moved from Hawthorn to Camberwell, where he passed away at the end of that year. George had requested in his Will that a trust fund be set up from his estate "…construct and erect and pay for horse troughs wherever they may be of the opinion that such horse troughs are desirable for the relief of horses and other dumb animals either in Australasia, in the British Islands or in any other part of the world subject to the consent of the proper authorities being obtained." The troughs were to bear a plaque inscribed “Donated by Annis and George Bills, Australia”. In 1927 the cost to make a trough was about £13 (which converts to about $1079 in 2020 ), plus transport and installation costs. Most of the troughs were installed between 1930 and 1939 in Victoria and New South Wales. It is estimated that over that time around 500-700 Bills Horse Troughs were installed in Australia and another 50 overseas. Most of the troughs made in Victoria had three moulded front panels like this trough, and no panels moulded on the rear, whereas troughs made in NSW had four panels on the front and five on the back. Victorian troughs were made by a Bills’ relative, J H Phillips. Later, other manufactures for the Trust’s troughs included Rocla Concrete Pipes Ltd, in Auburn Road, Hawthorn, Victoria, who produced to the same original design. No further troughs produced after the end of World War II. A memorial to Annis and George Bills was first erected in Hawthorn in 1929. It included a drinking fountain and a dog dish. Its current location is unknown. In 1964 the George Bills RSPCA Resource Centre opened in Burwood East. This Bills horse trough is nationally significant as one of the surviving examples of the standard Bills memorial horse troughs that still has its compartment cap and evidence of it once having had attached fittings, possibly for a birdbath or dog dish. This trough has State historical significance for being produced in the early 1930s by a business in Hawthorn, Victoria. This example of a Bills horse trough is significant for being in comparatively good condition. The trough is locally significant for being the sole survivor of the two Bills horse troughs installed in the City of Warrnambool in 1932, originally installed on Raglan Parade and continued to be used in the community at the Pony Club, then finally transferred to its current location at Flagstaff Hill by early 2013. It is culturally significant as it represents the community’s dependence on horses for travel and transportation previous to motorised vehicles. It is morally significant as a generous gift from a couple concerned with the welfare of animals.Horse trough; a long narrow rectangular container used for storing water. Trough is made from pre-cast concrete with one large open compartment and a small covered compartment. The base of the small compartment is raised slightly above the base of the trough and is covered by a removable concrete cap. The design of the front of the trough includes three panels moulded into it that align with the shape of the back pediment (panel). The pediment is shaped with side arcs that step up to a wide centre arc. A rectangular concrete plaque is cast into the centre of the pediment and is engraved with the names of the original donors, Annis and George Bills. The trough was made in Hawthorn, Victoria, by J H Phillips circa 1932. “DONATED BY / ANNIS & GEORGE BILLS / AUSTRALIA”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, annis and george bills, bills trust, j h phillips, rocla concrete pipes ltd, hawthorn, water trough, watering trough, horse trough, animal welfare, bills horse trough

The postcard shows a photograph of William Ferrier, the 25-year-old Warrnambool fisherman from South Warrnambool whose rescue of two sailors from the wrecked La Bella made him an overnight National hero, quoted as “one of the most heroic rescues in Victoria’s shipwreck history”. The La Bella was wrecked on 10th November 1905 and the photograph was taken on the next day. In the photograph, William Ferrier is seated in the centre, with four of the five survivors beside him: (from left to right) Leonard Robertson, R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. The photograph was taken by Foyle Photography Studio in Warrnambool, originally owned by James Charles Foyle. He previously had a photographic studio in Melbourne 1882 1887, then opened “Foyle’s Photo Card Studios” in Liebig St, Warrnambool. James Foyle died on 13th July 1905 and his son and daughter, Charles and Lilian Foyle continued on with the business until 1945. This photograph was most likely taken by either Charles or Lilian Foyle. The story of William Ferrier’s brave act follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, the company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a northwesterly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person had washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this postcard, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and the letter from the Prime Minister and other Members of Parliament that was sent to William Ferrier to commend him for his bravery. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This postcard is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The photograph of William Ferrier and four of the five survivors demonstrates the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The postcard is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it portrays William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The postcard connects to the congratulatory letter which was sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia and demonstrates the importance they attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The postcard is also an example of the photography of Foyle Photographers who were in the town of Warrnambool from the late 1800’s. Charles and Lillian Foyle took over the business when their father James died in 1905. Lillian Foyle is significant as the first woman photographer in Warrnambool. It is not known whether Charles of Lillian took this photograph. This postcard is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Sepia photograph of William (Bill) Ferrier (seated in the middle), heroic rescuer of two crew members of the La Bella, wrecked at Warrnambool. The photograph is a postcard and shows five men dressed formally in suits and hats. Printed below the photograph are the name and place of the photographer, a royal crest and the details of two patrons of the photographer. Also below the photograph are some handwritten words in black pen. On the back of the postcard is a handwritten message in the same writing as the front.Printed on the front of the card is “Foyle, WARRNAMBOOL” “PATRONS: / HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CORNWALL & YORK. / HIS EXCELLENCY LORD BRAS_ EY, R.O.B.” Handwritten on the front of the card is “Bill Ferrier / rescuer / Oh my hero _ _ _ “ Handwritten on the back of the card is a message. “La Bella” Wrecked off W.Bool Breakwater Nov. 1906 (_ _ _ _ show night) Payne Noake Rosenholme Robertson and Capt Mylius (saved) (moonlight bright) Watson (_ _ _ _ boy) Richwoud [possibly Richmond] drowned” and signed “Desdewoua [possibly Desdemona] Slogos”la bella, foyle, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, royal humane society medal, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village

One of a collection of 6 postcards donated by T. H. Hill Black & White postcard of The Continental Private Hotel, Cowes, Phillip Island"The Continental" Cowes, Phillip Island. On Back: A letter from Dorrie to Mavis wishing her well and telling of her and Bill's time in Cowes.guesthouses cowes phillip island, continental private hotel cowes, t h hill

Information and photos about the Greensborough Hill Climb included a copy of the 1945 aerial survey showing the track.This photograph and text was copied from a Facebook site. Members are people who lived in the Greensborough area and share their reminiscences of the area with others. The site is administered by a GHS member but is not officially affiliated with the Society. Any information is the opinion of the contributor. Article and photograph sourced from social media.greensborough hill climb 1945, bill halliburton

Compiled and published by the Greensborough Historical Society, this book contains 26 stories of and by people who lived in the Greensborough area including Watsonia, Briar Hill and Montmorency. The book was initially funded by a grant from Banyule City Council.The first book published by Greensborough Historical Society, this volume includes oral and written histories of many local families. Copies available from the Society.90 pages, black and white illustrations. Cover has a green background with a collage of photographs.greensborough historical society, as i recall, bill cecil, bonnie dickson, val wilson, collins, thatcher, diamond valley community hospital, hutchinson, eric barclay, norm hyde, ida brown, faye fort, sculli, hazel amos, tom vickers, willimott, june hall, evans, spear family, trinnie di giacomo, elaine drakeford, ian foard, jack waites, vera lay, partington

Subdivision plan of Greensborough including Briar Hill and Greenhills. Supplied by Bill Cecil whose parents owned the Greensborough Post Office and it is assumed that these maps were used by Bill (who delivered the post on horseback) to keep up to date with the growing number of new streets and housing in Greensborough.Copies of subdivision plan for Greensboroughgreensborough, briar hill, greenhills

Source: Mrs. A.E. Motschall, Panton HillThis photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, panton hill, mrs. f. clark, mrs. f. motschall, mrs. jim shanhun, mrs. pat plunkett, leon petit, bill joyce, sammy cracknell, tom mclaughlin

"Staying at Dinsdales up the hill, Windy" Building of Pensioners Cottages at St Andrews; for those burnt out in the 1962 bushfires. A voluntary scheme of Mavis Gill through the Kangaroo Ground Relief CommitteeBlack and white photo mounted on cardMessage from resident Wild Dog Creek Road Photo Geo. W. Bell, Jan. 1962victorian bushfires - 1962, bushfires, dick (windy) gale, fire damage - buildings, george w bell, houses, st andrews, wild dog creek road, mavis gill, pensioners cottages, bill dinsdale

The Everard Memorial was officially dedicated on 22 April 2004 by Betty Lynch OAM, daughter of William Everard and sister of Blanche Shallard. Newsletter No. 156 May 2004 THE MT. EVERARD CONNECTION Mt Everard in the Kinglake National Park commemorates William Hugh Everard, State Member for Evelyn and father of our member Blanche Shallard who died some eighteen months ago. Doug and Gwen Orford represented the Society at the unveiling of an interpretive sign at Mt Everard. Doug has written this account of the event on 22nd April. We all travelled to Kinglake and met near the Fire Station where we were picked up by two buses provided by Parks Victoria to take us to the top of Mt Everard. There we enjoyed morning tea (needed to as we from·the first bus had to walk the last hill when the bus broke down) while we waited for the official party to arrive. While waiting we had a look at the open four sided interpretive feature donated by Mrs Betty Lynch OAM (sister of Blanche) in memory of their father Bill Everard who was the State Member for the area for many years and in recognition of Kinglake National Park's 75th birthday. The information display describes the Blue Ant Butterfly, the Coconut Ant and the Swamp Pea, all of which are indigenous to the area. The Chief Executive of Parks Victoria welcomed everyone on this warm windy day after which Betty explained how the blue ant butterfly cohabited with the ants and survived. The swamp pea is described as a rare indigenous plant to the area. She also spoke of her father's interest in the area. The Governor, John Landy, then spoke before he and Betty moved up to the display board and cut the red ribbon from around it.10 colour photographsbetty lynch, everard memorial, mt everard, kinglake national park, dedication, blanche shallard

ELTHAM HERITAGE TOUR The Society excursion on 24th May 1992 was arranged by David Bick, leader of the team carrying out the Shire's heritage study. David selected a number of sites or buildings identified in the study, some of them lesser known components of the Shire's heritage. The tour commenced at the Eltham Shire Office at 10.00 am. Travel was by private car and mini-bus with stops at about twelve locations for commentary by David.It included a short walk in Hurstbridge and lunch at Kinglake. Highlights of the tour included: - 10 am Leave from Shire Offices - 3 Important Trees - A Physical Link to Eltham's First Settlers - Toorak Mansion Gates - A Surviving Farm House - An Intact Circa 1900 Main Street - First Settlers - Gold Miners, and Timber-getters - An Early Hotel - A Pioneering Homestead - Changing Eltham Shire - 20th Century - 4 pm Afternoon Tea and Finish Tour Extract from ELTHAM CULTURAL HERITAGE TOUR (Newsletter No. 85, July 1992, by Bettina Woodburn) "In some respects Eltham is a 'back-water' and it has its own distinctive flavour. On the outskirts the homes date from the 1960's, 70's and 80s with a sprinkling of 'earth homes', mud-brick or pise, rammed dirt. Crossing Main Road into Beddoe Street and Thompson Crescent a very pleasant drive past pines and old fence lines, front lawns unfenced, the occasional ·old farm building, we eventually looked down on a huge circular roof of a 1992 adobe home. Other distinctive places included the Pauline Toner Butterfly Reserve, Gordon Ford's splendid garden at Fulling in Pitt Street, cypress hedges and old houses in Bridge Street and in every direction Eltham's special feature - a totally treed horizon. We were now in the part of the Shire closest to Melbourne - Montmorency - not on the way to anywhere, with no through road going across it, developed in the 1950's and 1960's with conventional gardens, now converted to native plants. The rail looped between Greensborough and Eltham and a shopping street (Were Street) served the area, growing up the hill from the station. It was a typical outer Melbourne suburb with lawns and roses with patches of originality. The shopping precinct still has 1950 characteristics - walls which sloped back, projecting roofs, the original shop fronts are nearly all tiled below the old windows. There's an air of past times about the School, the Dairy, the Butcher's (now a milk bar) and the Castlemaine stone face of the Commonwealth Bank. The final stop for the tour was at the mud-brick Woodburn residence, adobe of 1949 with additions. After War Service, Bill Woodburn had commenced an Architecture course at Melbourne University and after second year in the Christmas vacation, with his wife, Betti, built the two bedroom house - with amazing saving of costs. In the three and a half months they made over 3000 bricks (external walls 18" x 12" x 4", internal walls 12" x 9" x 4"), sifted top soil for mortar and laid them, on concrete foundations and slab floor, made all the structural window frames, door frames and roof members to carry 'super six' asbestos sheets, laboured for the electrician and plumber, did all the glazing and, still without electricity, moved in in March 1949. Rooms have been added, at first with glass walls, later using concrete blocks, to accommodate three daughters and a son. The house not only grew from the earth, but also with the family."Record of the Society's history and activities and highlighting various aspects of the Heritage Study undertaken by David Bick used to create the future heritage overlay for the Shire of Eltham and later Nillumbik Shire.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 4 stripsKodak Gold 100 5095shire of eltham historical society, activities, heritage tour, woodburn house

L to R: Jim Connor, Councillor, Shire of Eltham; Bill Forward, MLC; Mandy Press, Manager Community Services, Shire of Eltham; Lorna Smith, Manager, Living and Learning Centres, Eltham and Panton HillColour photographeltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, bill forward, community services, community centre, legislative assembly, lorna smith, mandy press, panton hill, pavilion, jim connor

L to R: Leslie Shuttleworth, Coordinator of Eltham Centre; Bill Forward, MLC; Lorna Smith, Manager, Living and Learning Centres Eltham and Panton HillColour photographeltham, eltham living and learning centre, living and learning centre, pavilion, shire of eltham, bill forward, leslie shuttleworth, lorna smith

This ceramic mug is titled "Bill Bogong's Mug" in honour of one of Australia's Scouting (Rovers) notable office holders, Mr.W.F."Bill" Waters. He was born on 22nd August 1897 in Taralgon, Victoria, Australia and died 8th October 1968 in Fitzroy, Victoria. He was instrumental in the Rovers building two chalets in the Victorian Alps. The Victorian Award of the National Rover Service Award(1980) has been named after Bill Waters. Bill Waters was also the leader of the first team that climbed Mount Bogong in winter in 1929. Also was part of rescue team of what is now know as the Cleve Cole tragedy on Mt Bogong in the mid 1930's. There is also a water fall named after him Waters Falls on the Bogong High Plains. W.F."Bill" Waters aka "Bill Bogong" (Bogong mountain, were his ashes were scattered), was not only a prominent bush walker (Melbourne Walking Club) of the high country (Victorian Alps) but was instrumental in establishing two Chalets. One of these Chalets was the first one to be built on the Bogong High Plains. This item, "Bill Bogong's Mug" is what the Flinders Petrie(famous English Egyptologist/Archaelogist) Rover Crew(formed in 1940) presented newly invested members of the exclusive(200 membership) Alpine Rover Crew. The Melbourne Walking Club has a long history with the Victorian High Plains area, of which the Kiewa Valley is an integral part of the Victorian Alpine Region. Due to the connections Bill Waters has with the Bogong High Plains and Mt Bogong this cup has a lot of significance to the social history of the area.. Round glazed stoneware mug, white in colour, with a heritage green coloured band covering the top rim and handle. Written inscription on the front "Bill Bogong's Mug" in large print and beneath it, in smaller print, "with compliments from Flinders Petrie Rover Crew" The other side of the mug is a free hand landscaped drawing of green bush and blue hills with a tree supporting a tent and a camp fire (with smoke rising from it).To the left of the inscription is the Scout (Rover) emblem coloured black with an unraveled and unwritten signage scroll fowler ceramics, local alpine history, alpine rovers, scouts, mugs, mt bogong, bogong high plains

Guests at the West Riding Hall, Henry Petrie Community Centre, Montmorency on the occasion of a buffet dinner as part of the Shire of Eltham centenary celebrations. Left: Mr Higgins, Methodist Minister, Eltham and Mrs Higgins and Brian & Irene Robertson, both Captains in the Salvation Army. Reverend William ‘Bill’ Leslie Higgins (b. 15/1/1925, Renmark, Victoria, d. 18/10/1998) and Mrs Ella May Higgins (née Leersen b. 3/11/1921, Avoca, Victoria, d. 24/5/2003). William was ordained to the Methodist Church of Australia on September 1, 1959. Bill and Ella were involved with many communities throughout Bill’s full-time service until 1989. These parishes included Underbool, Wycheproof, Drysdale, Wonthaggi, South Yarra, Eltham, Nathalia, Murchison and Seymour. Bill and Ella touched many thousands lives during their ministry. Bill passed away in 1998 while assisting with a Sunday evening service near Drysdale, and Ella continued to dedicate her time to others until her death in 2003. Information received via Brian and Irene Robertson's son, Mark (15 Dec 2023), noted that in 1969 they lived in Prahran and by 1971 they would have been appointed to Briar Hill (now Greensborough). Brian Robertson's parents and at least one set of his grandparents were also Salvation Army officers (primarily from Victoria), whilst Irene was originally from Perth and she had 2 other sisters that became Salvation Army Officers as well. Irene also had 3rd sister and younger brother who were linked to the Salvos (as was Brian’s brother). After several years in church work, Brian and Irene transferred over to the Social Services branch of the Salvos and worked with homeless men, broken families, drug & alcohol dependent clients (similar to what Brendan Nottle does in Burke St), family stores and eventually seniors (nursing homes). Brian, known as Robbie passed away in 2013, and Irene is currently living in a retirement unit. [Dedc 2023]This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book, "Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, shire of eltham, shire of eltham centenary, henry petrie community centre, centenary celebrations, buffet dinner, higgins, rev. william (bill) higgins, ella may higgins (nee leersen), salvation army, brian robertson, irene robertson

Bill Oakley was an engineer at the Shire of Eltham. Viewed from west looking east. Road had more zigs and zags in those days on the west side. Russell Yeoman's FC Holden visible at bottom of hill. Digital file only; created from original colour positive slide transparencyresearch (vic.), russell yeoman collection, gumtree road, army reserve engineers, captain bill oakley, fc holden sedan, fire access, streets