An article from the Melbourne Legacy Bulletin of a Past Presidents' Day speech by Legatee Brian Armstrong, a long serving Legatee and past president (1937). It is poignant for it's insight into what he saw on the Western Front, in particular around Pozieres and the Windmill that had stood there and was destroyed in battle. He had recently visited France and recalled his personal feelings. “I have no doubt that each one of you had some special memory of war that is bound up with your membership of Legacy – some event, place or happening. This was one of mine – you will find the story in a book we all know ‘There goes a man’, a story of endurance, determination and incredible courage. The feeling came to me as I stood in that little enclosure that here began the long road that led to Legacy, for in the middle of that holocaust was the Victorian Brigade from which later came the first man of Legacy. I am certain that many splendid men, some of whom were my friends, whose last sight was that battered windmill, would, had the finger of fate but pointed another way, been original members of this Club. A question seemed to hang in the still air – not for me, for I was only a cypher, but for all of us for whom, in those or later years, the finger had pointed to ‘LIFE’ – what have you done to merit and repay your deliverance from this and similar ordeals." He was one of the founding group of Legatees, being enrolled in 1924, and served for 54 years. The Bulletin often published articles recounting the speech from the week before. John Henry Brian Armstrong was born 23 June 1894 and completed a law degree at Melbourne University. He served with the militia when at University and tried to enlist in December 1915. He was accepted into the Army Medical Corps in April 1916. He served in France and Belgium as a Lieutenant with 22 Infantry Battalion and was wounded near Dernacourt on 24th April 1918. He was wounded again and taken prisoner at Herleville, France on 18 August 1918 when leading a night patrol in an action in which the majority of the party were killed. For a number of years Brian was a Trustee of the Frances Ormond Estate, which was the genesis of The Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT). Along with Legatee Jim Gillespie (and Jim's grandfather) the trustees were identified with all the notable developments of RMIT. He remained a bachelor his whole life. He was one of the initial archivists of Melbourne Legacy. One of his speeches in 1961 gives an insight into why he became a Legatee. (see 02501)A record a speech that contained insight into the life of Legatee Brian Armstrong.Copy of 2 pages from the Legacy Bulletin on a speech by Legatee Brian Armstrong in 1961.Bulletin 28/02/1961. Pages 5 to 6.vale, past presidents, brian armstrong

An article from the Bulletin including the text an address by Legatee Kem Kemsley at a Legacy event on 27 September 1983. He discusses the beginnings of Legacy. He relates the approach made to Sir John Monash to be the first president. It was via Legatee Frank Meldrum who was playing tennis with Monash's son-in-law. It shows the nature of relations between high ranking ex servicemen. Monash suggested Colonel Harold Cohen. Initially Legacy was founded with 'one person from each profession or business who will represent that profession until such time as the Club has established itself on a wider basis.' For example there were 'two solicitors - Downing and Armstrong, Meldrum as dentist, George Worboys as plumber, Dr Gardener as the eye specialist, Doolan and Goodchild as Surveyors, Fred Wickham of the Premier's department who was regarded as very important, Baker from Myer's Emporium, Joynt from the printing world and Blackett the architect.' He also mentions a Police Strike and General Monash set up a special constabulary force. Cohen, Kemsley and many of the early legatees answered the call to help keep peace. By December 1923 there were 54 members of the new Legacy club. The name was under consideration as the Tasmanian club was called Remembrance Club. Pip Powell nominated the name of Legacy to be submitted for consideration, but it was Frank Selleck who moved the formal resolution. By the end of 1924 initial objectives were met. A picnic with widows and children was held at Heidelberg and then Beaumaris, (limited by the few legatees who had motorcars at the time). Following thoses successes Frank Doolan posed the question 'what does Legacy really mean?' and focus changed toward widows and children. Legatee Savige had a property at Balnarring and the first camps were started. For boys there was a Lacrosse team and football team. Also swimming classes and literary and debating classes, which were hoped to be interesting and develop their minds along the proper form of citizenship. Then classes for the widows and later the girls. The article was part of an album of past presidents from 1965 to 1989. The folder included biographical details and obituaries, eulogies and death notices of prominent Legatees. The items have been catalogued separately.A record of a speech made by Legatee Kem Kemsley a past president of Legacy about events in the early days of Legacy. The information was collected to record the lives of prominent legatees in a folder.Photocopy of 3 pages from Bulletin on an address by Legatee Kem Kemsley in 1983.Bulletin No. VAW 1209. 6.10.1983. Page No 8, 9 and 10.past presidents, speech, kem kemsley, history, police strike

An article from the Bulletin including the text an address by Legatee Kem Kemsley at a Legacy event on 4 October 1977. He discusses the beginnings of Legacy. He starts with Legatee Savige's tip to Hobart and Sir John Gellibrand's Remembrance Club. Then a meeting of the 24th Battalion at Phair's Hotel in 1923 and the men there agreeing to start a similar club, he mentions Sandy Lowe as a member at the meeting in 1977 that was at the initial meeting in 1923. He also mentions other at that initial meeting were Savige, Frank Selleck, Ted Pittard, Bob Irving, and 'Babe' Norman. He relates the approach made to Sir John Monash to be the first president. It was when Savige was in Frank Meldrum's dentist chair that the plan was hatched for Meldrum, (who was playing tennis with Monash's son-in-law, Gershon Bennett), to approach Monash to be president. It shows the nature of relations between high ranking ex servicemen. Instead Monash suggested Colonel Harold Cohen. Initially Legacy was founded with 'one person from each profession or business who will represent that profession until such time as the Club has established itself on a wider basis.' For example there were 'two solicitors - Downing and Armstrong, Meldrum as dentist, George Worboys as plumber, Dr Gardener as the eye specialist, Doolan and Goodchild as Surveyors, Fred Wickham of the Premier's department who was regarded as very important, Baker from Myer's Emporium, Joynt from the printing world and Blackett the architect.' He also mentions a Police Strike and General Monash set up a special constabulary force. Cohen, Kemsley and many of the early legatees answered the call to help keep peace. By December 1923 there were 54 members of the new Legacy club. The name was under consideration as the Tasmanian club was called Remembrance Club. Pip Powell nominated the name of Legacy to be submitted for consideration, but it was Frank Selleck who moved the formal resolution. The speech mentions that Sir Gellibrand was appointed Patron of Legacy and later Monash and Sir Harry Chauvel were chosen. Frank Doolan posed the question 'what does Legacy really mean?' and focus changed toward widows and children. Citing some slightly different dates to those in a later speech about the start of Legacy (at 02029) he says it was July 1926 that they met with widows and a couple of weeks later 142 boys were to attend Anzac House for a Literary and Debating class. Ballarat and Geelong had formed clubs by 1925 and Legatee Hilmer Smith was transferred with his work to Sydney and started a Legacy Club there in 1926. The first Conference was held in November 1926. The first Government House Christmas party for children was held in 1926, when the Governor General of Australia was still residing there. His final words were about his war experiences and relates a speech made by Legatee Brian Armstrong on 28th February 1961 (02502) that also spoke of the area around the Pozieres Windmill that was part of the battle of the Somme in July/August 1916, where so many of the early legatees fought.. The article was part of an album of past presidents from 1965 to 1989. The folder included biographical details and obituaries, eulogies and death notices of prominent Legatees. The items have been catalogued separately.A record of a speech made by Legatee Kem Kemsley a past president of Legacy about events in the early days of Legacy. The information was collected to record the lives of prominent legatees in a folder.Photocopy of 5 pages from Bulletin on an address by Legatee Kem Kemsley in 1977.Bulletin 4.10.77. Page No 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.past presidents, speech, foundation day, kem kemsley, sir john monash, pozieres, somme