These medals are part of the Lawless Collection. The Lawless family lived in Orbost from 1907 - c 1920. John Francis Lawless had a saddlery shop. He died at an early age - 47 years - June 7 1912, leaving his wife, Elizabeth and seven children. The eldest son, Victor Rowland lawless volunteered for serv ice in WW1 but did not leave Australia because of illness. The second son, Edward Vincent Lawless (b 1895 d 1917) worked for McCoy & Co. in Orbost, coachbuilding, undertakers, general blacksmiths and farriers, prior to enlisting in WW!. He was trained as a signaller and was sent to France where he was killed in action on 9.10.1917. Elizabeth Lawless worked as a ladies' nurse (midwife) in Orbost prior to leaving the district in 1920. She lived to 6.6.1975 aged 104 years. The British War Medal was a medal given to people who had fought in the First World War. The Victory Medal (also called the Inter-Allied Victory Medal) is a First World War campaign medal of Britain and her then colonies and dominions which included Australia.These personal documents, photographs, medals and books give an insight into the human element of World War 1 ensuring that those who were part of the Orbost community and died while playing a vital role during this time are remembered.Two medals in recognition of service during WW1. 1846.3 is a silver medal a WW1 1914-18 British War Medal. Obverse: Bare head of King George V facing left; text around, 'GEORGIVS V BRITT: OMN: REX ET IND: IMP:'; the artist's initials 'B.M.' (Bertram MacKennal) are on the neck truncation. Reverse: Naked figure of St. George on horseback advancing right trampling a shield bearing an eagle design and a skull and crossbone. It has a blue/white/orange striped ribbon attached. 1846.4 is a gold coloured medal. The obverse in the medal shows the winged, full-length, full-front, figure of 'Victory' with her left arm extended and holding a palm branch in her right hand. The reverse has the words ‘THE GREAT / WAR FOR / CIVILISATION / 1914-1919' in four lines, all surrounded by a laurel wreath. It has a purple/blue/green/yellow and orange striped ribbon attached.medals ww1 lawless-family

These books are part of the Lawless Collection. The Lawless family lived in Orbost from 1907 - c 1920. John Francis Lawless had a saddlery shop. He died at an early age - 47 years - June 7 1912, leaving his wife, Elizabeth and seven children. The eldest son, Victor Rowland lawless volunteered for serv ice in WW1 but did not leave Australia because of illness. The second son, Edward Vincent Lawless (b 1895 d 1917) worked for McCoy & Co. in Orbost, coachbuilding, undertakers, general blacksmiths and farriers, prior to enlisting in WW!. He was trained as a signaller and was sent to France where he was killed in action on 9.10.1917. Elizabeth Lawless worked as a ladies' nurse (midwife) in Orbost prior to leaving the district in 1920. She lived to 6.6.1975 aged 104 years.These personal documents, photographs, medals and books give an insight into the human element of World War 1 ensuring that those who were part of the Orbost community and died while playing a vital role during this time are remembered.Three books used by Edward Vincent Lawless during his service in WW1. 1846.5 has a black cover and contains hand-written notes and diagrams in an exercise book. 1846.6 has a purple cover and contains hand-written notes on bombing. 1846.7 is a small book with a black cover and a ribbon for tying closed. It contains signalling notes1846.5 Edward Lawless 1846.6 E.V. Lawless 1846.7 Ted Lawless A Group Signalling 6th Battalion 22/6 Lark Hill School No 5 Camp No 5 Camp B Coylawless-family ww1 books signalling

Medal issued to celebrate the coronation of King George V and Queen Mary in 1911. George ascended the throne on his father?s death on 9 May 1910. During his reign, which spanned World War I, the royal house abandoned the title the house of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (or the house of Hanover or Brunswick) and became known as the house of Windsor. George died in 1936, and was succeeded briefly by Edward VIII. Different versions of this medal were produced for the states. In all, Stokes produced over 400,000 medals, with many issued to school children.A bronze commemorative badge for the coronation of King George V, Has loop at top. On front is coat of arms-"peace and prosperity" and back has profiles of King George V and Queen Mary.medallion badge george-v

This music stand belonged to Eva Veronica Gaspar. Miss Gaspar (1913 -1978) was one of Warrnambool's most notable musicians and photographers. She gave free music lessons to Warrnambool and district children, organised choral festivals and ran a printing business. She was a life member of the Warrnambool Music Society and organized the Mozart Music Festival for many years. She was a Warrnambool Citizen of the Year 1956 and was awarded a British Empire Medal in 1972 for her services to music. She also conducted the Warrnambool Civic Orchestra, St. Joseph's church choir, junior choirs and recorder groups. In 1977 she held an exhibition at the Warrnambool Art Gallery of her photographs, drawings and monochromes. This music stand was used by Eva Gaspar mainly in Mozart Hall in Gilles Street. This stand is of interest as a memento of the work of Eva Gaspar an important musician in Warrnambool in the twentieth century.This is a wooden music stand with a circular base on four feet. The base has an outer ridge with a shallow indent and a domed top into which the pedestal is attached. The pedestal has decorative features . The ledge at the top is rectangular shaped with a projecting curved edge at the base. The top has a compartment for holding music and/or notes. The pedestal is attached to the top tray with a circular brace and metal screws. The whole item has been varnished but is stained and rubbed. Underneath the tray are stencilled letters in white paint.C. W. M.S.eva gaspar, music stand

This medal was produced in 1988 by the Australian Bicentennial Authority as a memento for distribution to all school students in Australia. It was one of many medals struck to commemorate 200 years of European settlement in Australia.This medal is of some interest as it is a memento of Australia’s Bicentennial celebrations and it is one that all school children in Warrnambool and district would have received at that time. This silver circular medal has five stars and a large group of men, women and children some of whom are holding hands and dancing on the reverse. On the obverse is a geometrical shaped logo and two sprays of leaves. The medal is encased in a three page green , gold, blue and red coloured card folder The inside area has the Australian flag and streamers. Medal: AUSTRALIA on reverse. AUSTRALIAN BICENTENARRY 1788-1988 On the back cover of the folder: A Coat of Arms and Governor General of Australia During 1988 we commemorate 200 years of Australia's history in the modern world and will be celebrating our Bicentenary in many different ways. But one thing that we should all be doing is thinking about what it is to be an Australian. We should be learning about our past, trying better to understand the present, and thinking of the part we can play in the Australia of the future. You are Australia's future . Keep this medallion as a reminder of this important year in our history. Signed Ninian Stephen bicentennary, schools

This item is a bronze German MotherCross. The MotherCross was given to German mothers of pure Aryan heritage before and during World War Two. Adolf Hitler wanted to encourage population growth and keep the German mother at home. Mothers were awarded these crosses according to the number of children they had – gold crosses for eight or more children, silver for six or seven children and bronze for four or five children. The crosses were presented to mothers on 4th August, the birthday of Hitler’s mother and also on Mother’s Day. They could only be worn on special occasions around the neck on a blue cord with two white stripes. This German MotherCross is a bronze one and has on one side ‘Der Deutschen Mutter’ and on the other side ‘16 Dezember 1938’ and Adolf Hitler’s signature. The date indicates when the award was first instituted. There were at least 8 million recipients of the medal.The recipient and donor of this medal are not known but it is a very interesting and unusual memento of World War Two.This is a metal medal in the shape of a cross with a bronze ridged background in the shape of a rectangle. The cross is enamelled in blue and white and has a round bronze disc in the centre and lettering with a blue swastika on a white background. There is lettering on the back of the cross. A metal catch is attached to the top of the cross and remnants of a blue and white cloth cord are looped over the catch. One small fragment of the cord is detached. The medal is in a box which is not the original container. ‘Der Deutschen Mutter’ ‘16 Dezember 1938’ plus Adolf Hitler’s signature world war two, german mothercross

This medal was awarded to children of Australia up to age of i4. The medal was designed by Charles Douglas Richardson, a sculptor. . One million, six hundred and seventy medals were produced and they were distributed in 1919 to mark the end of World War One. On the original medal the inscriptions included the words: "AUSTRALIA," "VICTORY", THE TRIUMPH OF LIBERTY AND JUSTICE " and " THE PEACE OF 1919"This medal is significant as a memento of the declaration of peace at the end of World War One. Circular white metal medallion .The obverse features a figure of peace with decorative surrounds and on the top two doves and text. The reverse has a crown with rising sun rays. Below is a laurel wreath, a sailor and a soldier and text. It has a small ring attached to the top,Obverse VICTORY, the rest is indecipherable on our item. Reverse AUSTRALIA, the rest is indecipherable on our item

These medals were issued by the Victorian Government to commemorate the coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth of Britain in May 1937. The medallions were given to Victorian school children.These medallions have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes..1 A bronze-coloured medallion with etched letters and an image of the Coat of Arms of Victoria on one side and etched letters and an image of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth on the other side. The top has a welded ring to attach the medal to a chain or ribbon but the ring itself is missing ,2 as above except that the medallion is much more worn and has the attached metal ring on top. .1 and .2 King George VI and Queen Elizabeth To Commemorate Their Majesties’ Coronation May 12th 1937 Victoria commemorative medal, king george v1, coronation 1937

These medals were produced for Anzac Day 1918 by the Education Department of Victoria and made by the Melbourne firm, Stokes and Son. They were issued to Victorian school children and also sold to aid the war effort. These medals have no particular local provenance but are retained for display purposes..1 A silver-coloured metal medal with an image of an A.I F. soldier and printed words on the obverse side and a banner and decorative leaves and printed words on the reverse side. The medal has a metal circular piece at the top for attachment to a ribbon or cord. .2 as above except that the medal is bronze-coloured. EDV Gallipoli France Palestine Anzac Day 1918 Honor to the AIF S & S world war one, history of warrnambool, anzac day

These medals were given to school children in Victoria in 1954 as a memento of the visit to Australia of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first visit to Australia of a reigning British monarch. The tour took in 57 Australian towns and cities, including ten days in Victoria. These medals have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes..1 A circular bronze-coloured medal with the image of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and printing on one side and a crown and printing on the other side. A bar with a decorative scroll on the top portion with printing is attached to the medal by a metal ring. The bar has a metal pin at the back. .2 as above except that the medal is a little tarnished .3 as above except that the medal is tarnished and the bar is missing. Presented to the children by the Government of Victoria Queen Elizabeth 11 Duke of Edinburgh Stokes Melb. E11R Royal Visit 1954 Victoria royal visit 1954, history of warrnambool, queen elizabeth, duke of edinburgh

Charles Gordon Watts-Phillips was born in 1849 at Forest Hill, Surrey, England, the son of Dramatic Author, Watts Phillips, and Lily Mariner. He departed England for Australia around 1874. His sister Roland was a favourite Australian actress of the early 1900s. Gordon as he was known, whilst residing in Goolwa, South Australia and working as a clerk met and married a widow, Jane Luxon (nee Miller) on the 7th August, 1876 at the Wesleyan Church in Strathalbyn, South Australia. Jane, Gordon’s elder by some 11 years was born in Ireland in 1838, the daughter of Robert Joseph Miller, a carpenter and Jane Miller. She had previously married Captain William Luxon in 1861 at Encounter Bay, South Australia at age 22 and they had four children: William (1864), George Robert (1865), Miriam Louisa (1867) and Harriet Jane (1869), all born at Encounter Bay. Gordon and Jane had two further children together: Caroline Roland Watts-Phillips (1877 Islington S.A.) and Charles Gordon Watts-Phillips (1879 Yatala, S.A.). At some stage, Jane then deserted her husband. Gordon obtained a master's certificate and was a part owner of a small trader. He had also been captain of one of the passenger boats on the Darling River. He was reputedly a popular coastal skipper. By 1891 Gordon was the Captain of the S.S Omeo operating around Sale, Victoria. In August of that year some of the heaviest flooding of the Thomson River ever experienced in twenty years occurred over the 3rd and 4th of August. Gordon, and others, rescued the lives of many families over that period for which he was awarded a Bronze Medal by the Royal Humane Society. By 1892 the S.S. Omeo had passed to another Captain and Gordon subsequently retired from the sea and moved to Melbourne. Whilst residing in Coburg, Victoria, Gordon met Mary Hilda Harvey Huxley who was living in Brunswick. Mary was born in Horsham, the daughter of George Harry Huxley, a miner, and Emma Deane. Having not heard from Jane for some years and believing her dead, Gordon and Mary marry at Carlton on Christmas Eve, 1900. Interestingly, an announcement of the marriage was not placed in The Age newspaper until September 1903, nearly three years after the event by which time Gordon and Mary had a son, Victor Gordon Watts-Phillips, born 8 February 1903 in Carlton. Within months of the placement of this marriage announcement, his former wife, Jane, makes a reappearance but apparently does not interfere and Mary and Gordon continue to live together as husband and wife. Around the same time in late 1903, Gordon’s brother, Basil Watts Phillip wrote from London to the Victoria Police seeking assistance to locate his brother. He had last heard from him in a letter dated Cunninghame, Gippsland, 1891. He indicated that about 1893 Gordon and Jane and their two children were living at Beaconsfield Parade, Albert Park but the whereabouts of all was now unknown. He mentioned Gordon had also been awarded 21 guineas by Judge Boucaut on the 26th February 1884, also a silver medal, for arresting two ruffians who had brutally assaulted a jockey (in South Australia) and that he had been awarded the Royal Humane Society's medal, London, and in 1891, was presented with the Royal Humane Society's certificate of merit (Victoria). Basil also stated his brother had lost the sight of one eye through a stab he received in New York and had a scar on his temple, one on the wrist, two under the shoulder blade, and one on the thigh, and two bullet wounds in the leg. Basil’s quest was published in the Melbourne Herald and assistance was soon forthcoming to the Police. In June 1906 Gordon made his Will, leaving all his estate to his youngest son Victor. Mary was appointed Executrix and it was witnessed by Olive Huxley, married woman, and James Huxley, a pottery maker. James was subsequently killed in France in May 1918. Gordon and Mary have a second son, Basil Douglas born in Carlton in 1911 but he dies as toddler in 1913. At some point Gordon and Mary made their home at Eltham though official electoral roll records record them at Little Flinders Street Melbourne, employed as a caretaker and from 1906 in Brunswick as a decorator then painter. Eltham may have been a ‘holiday’ home but it seems Mary was actively engaged in the community as a newspaper report in the Advertiser in 1922 not long after Gordon’s death indicates Mary was one of the best known and best liked ladies of the Eltham district. She was actively engaged in all matters, tending towards the welfare of the district. At the time of Gordon’s death Mary was president of the Ladies' Public Hall Committee, responsible for the conduct of numerous, and successful entertainments. Gordon’s first and only legal wife, Jane Luxon Watts-Phillips nee Miller, died 6 November 1921 and was buried 8 November 1921 at Springvale Cemetery. Jane had lived 34 years in South Australia and 30 years in Victoria. With Jane now dead, Gordon was now officially a widower and just three weeks later, the retired master mariner of Eltham at age 55 remarried Mary, 42, of 174 Hickford Street, East Brunswick on the 29th November 1921 in the Parish of St Cuthbert, East Brunswick. Gordon died at their home, ‘The Rest’, at 174 Hickford Street, East Brunswick on February 9, 1922 and was buried at Eltham Cemetery on February 11. An interesting link is established with the heavy floods of August 1891 by the erection of a tombstone in the Eltham cemetery. The stone bears the inscription: - “In loving memory of (Captain) Gordon, dearly beloved husband of Mary Watts Phillips. Died 9th February 1922, aged 62 years." Beside the stone is a replica, carved in a marble scroll, of the Royal Humane Society of Australia's Certificate of merit. Part of the wording of this certificate is as follows:- “At a general court of directors holder at the offices of the society at Melbourne on the 6th day of September 1891, it was resolved that the courage and humanity displayed by Gordon Watts Phillips aged 30-years captain of S.S. Omeo, Sale, in rescuing many families from drowning during the heavy floods on Thomson River on 3rd and 4th of August 1891 call for the admiration of the court, and justly entitles him to the certificate of merit of this society, which is hereby awarded." Unbeknownst to Gordon, his second and subsequent legal marriage to Mary initiated a revocation of his Will of 1906, which had solely benefited his son Victor. Consequently, Mary had to apply for Letters of Administration and the only legal beneficiaries would be Mary and his two children by Jane. On June 18, 1940, at age 61, Mary married 70-year-old Arthur Ernest Fenn in Melbourne. Unfortunately for her, Arthur died a year later in July 1941 and was buried in the Cohuna Cemetery near Echuca. Mary lived a further 8 years, passing away suddenly July 4, 1948 in Carlton, and was buried July 7 with her beloved husband Gordon, at Eltham Cemetery. In Loving Memory of (Captain) Gordon Dearly beloved husbandof Mary Watts-Phillips Died 9th Feb. 1922, aged 62 years Also Mary Hilda Loved wife of above Died 4th July 1948 "At rest"Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, (captain) gordon watts-phillips, mary hilda harvey watts-phillips (nee huxley)

.1) These medallions were issued to School children in 1919. .2) After a call was made to have something to show you had volunteered for Active service but were rejected on medical grounds..1) Medallion, round with ring at top, etched raised figures front and back. .2) Medal, round, with etched raised Australian Coat of Arms on the front..1) On front, “”Victory, The triumph of Liberty and Justice, The Peace 1918” On reverse, “Peace 1919 Australia” .2) On the front, “Volunteered for Active Service - Medically unfit”, On reverse, “65066”the peace 1918, volunteered, medically unfit

Medals .3) to .6) belonged to David William Ralph Davies No V245464, enlisted on 19.12.41 age 19 years. At discharge from the Army on 5.12.46 he was a Pte in 57/60th Aust Infantry Battalion.1) Medal, circular, metal, issued to Commemorate Anzac Day 1918. Obverse has head of a soldier with Slouch Hat with wording "Honor to the AIF". Reverse has the words " Gallipoli, France, Palestine". .2) Medal, circular, metal, issued to School children to commemorate Victory and Peace in 1919. Obverse depicts a Women, reverse has figures of a Sailor and Soldier with the wording "Victory the Triumph of Liberty and Justice, the Peace of 1919". Medals, ribbons, single, (4) re D.W.R Davies. .3) Pacific Star. .4) 1939-45 Star. .5) War Medal 1939-45. .6) Australian Service Medal..3) .4) .5) .6) "V245464 D.W.R Davies"medals, memorabilia, military

Sgt Edmund Sidney Levy DCM, No 37178, Vietnam A Sqd 3 Cav Regt 29.4.67 to 23.4.68, A&B Sqd's 3 Cav Regt 3.9.70 to 2.9.71, Sgt Brian Francis Stewart No 36722, Vietnam A Sqd 3 Cav Regt 25.4.67 to 23.4.68, HQ 1 ATF 3.12.69 to 3.12.70. Kenneth Neil Turnham No 3790866, Vietnam A Sqd 3 Cav Regt 18.12.67 to 22.10.68. Photo is in the collection of Geoff Murray No 3411521, Vietnam A Sqd 3 Cav Regt 27.11.67 to 22.10.68, Survey Corp 15.10.69 to 15.10.70. Refer 638P.Colour photo with document on A4 sheet in brown stained, gold edged wooden frame. Photo shows Australian soldiers with Vietnamese children in a rubber plantation. The document is the citation for the Distinguished Conduct Medal for 37178 Sgt Edmund Sidney Levy on 31/12/70.vietnam, dcm, plantation, vietnamese

Photos from WWI belonged to Walter Henry SMITH Reg No 1572. Refer Reg Nos 102.4 Medals, 104 Certificate..1) Copy of sepia photo of Walter Henry SMITH seated, showing 3 WIA bars. .2) Copy of sepia photo depicting 2 soldiers, 1 standing, 1 seated, both wearing pith helmets. .3) Copy of sepia photo of 15 AIF soldiers & 2 children. .4) Copy of sepia photo depicting soldiers from C Company 25th Battalion eating in front of a tent. .5) Copy of sepia portrait of 5 AIF soldiers, 3 standing, 2 seated. .6) Copy of sepia portrait of 2 AIF soldiers. .7) Copy of elderly man wearing RSL badge - Walter H SMITH. Metallic brass covered frame..4) Bottom centre in white print: C. COMP. 25 BATTALION. 16.5.15 HAVING DINNER IN OUR NEW DINING ROOMmilitary history, photography, aif

This medal was presented to the children of Victorian Wing - Warrant Officer and Non Commissioned Officers Academy Soldier who have served on operational deployments. As these young children endured an operational deployment of a parent who spent many months away from home in a foreign country representing the Australian Army. Following operations include Bougainville, East Timor, Indian Ocean, Solomon Islands, Meddle East Area, Afghanistan and Sinai.Presented by the Government to children whose parents had served overseas Silver medal with pale green, yellow, orange and deeper green ribbon. It has a metal type container with a clear plastic front and also a black carry bag with Military Kid and print of medal on front. The design is based on the Australian Tri Service Logo. More detailed information can be found on Military Kids websiteOn reverse: "For perseverance on the home front during your parents deployment"; map of Australia (haut relief)military kid, military medal, kids medal

Framed A4 leaflet for Medals presented to the children of Victoria Wing - Warrant Officers and Non Commissioned Officers Academy soldiers who have served on operational deployments.

The ANZAC Day medallion was issued for sale in 1916. The medallion was struck by the Education Department of Victoria for school children in 1916, to commemorate the first anniversary of the ANZAC Forces landing at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. An article in the ARGUS newspaper, written at the time, stated that the medallions were issued for sale for the price of sixpence. Although 175,000 medallions were made, this proved insufficient for demand. The medallion was sold to Victorian school children at commemorations of the landing of the of the Australian and New Zealand troops arriving on the Gallipoli Peninsular in 1915. The medallion was also distributed to the public on ANZAC Button Day for one shilling. Circular medal with an eyelet at the top for attaching loop holding ribbon (loop and ribbon missing). Obverse ... head of King George V facing left Reverse ... wreath surrounding inscription (see below) The edge of the medallion is plain. Obverse ... FOR KING AND COUNTRY 1916 Reverse ... ANZAC (surrounded by wreath) DEPT. OF EDUCATION VICTORIA LEST WE FORGET 25 APR 15 (around circumference)anzac day, commemoration, school children, ww2, 1916 anzac medallion

See link above. Widely distributed by sale to school children and general public in 1918.Circular medal with an eyelet (4 mm OD) to carry a loop for a ribbon (loop and ribbon not present). Obverse ... Bust of uniformed soldier (facing left) wearing slouch hat Reverse ... Scroll, on olive branch, with stamped inscription (see below) The reverse image of a bust of an Australian soldier was adapted from a drawing by H.Harvey, an assistant in the Victorian Education Department.Obverse ... around circumference: HONOR TO THE A.I.F. Reverse ... On scroll ... GALLIPOLI FRANCE PALESTINE At top ... EVD Around bottom circumference ... ANZAC DAY 1918

commemorative, medal, children, borough of koroit

Rosalie Triolo presented Our Schools and the War as Ringwood and District Historical Society guest speaker - June, 2022. Dr Rosalie Triolo is the History Method lecturer in the Faculty of Education at Monash University and is active as a writer and presenter in state and national History Education communities. She taught for 13 years in country and metropolitan Victorian government secondary schools, and has been involved for 30 years with the History Teachers’ Association of Victoria. She p[resents regularly to academic and general audiences on different aspects of the Great War and Australian education, and has led battlefield tours for History teachers as well as Australian History fellowships for student-teachers. The doctorate on which this book is based was awarded a Monash University Mollie Holman medal.Soft cover book detailing how The Great War profoundly touched the lives of Australian teachers, school children, and local communities.Handwritten inscription - For RDHS, Congratulations on all you are doing so well. Sincerely, Rosalie Triolo, June 2022.

This medal was awarded to the school children of Australia in 1951 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Federation of Australia. The design was chosen after a competition, with the valuable cash prize of two hundred guineas. It was won by John Wolfgang Elischer for his depiction of a man hand-sowing wheat. The wheat has grown to represent the seven States of Australia on the other side of the medal. Elischer was an Austrian sculptor and an Associate of the Royal Academy.Fifty Years of the Commonwealth of Australia 1901 - 1951.This medal was awarded to the school children of Australia in 1951 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the Federation of Australia. The design was chosen after a competition, with the valuable cash prize of two hundred guineas. It was won by John Wolfgang Elischer for his depiction of a man hand-sowing wheat. The wheat has grown to represent the seven States of Australia on the other side of the medal. Elischer was an Austrian sculptor and an Associate of the Royal Academy. This is a round medal and is bronze in colour. On the front is a man throwing seed on the ground with the dates, 1901-1951, and on the back the words, "FIFTY YEARS COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA". along with a carving of the sun and seven ears of wheat representing the States and Territory.1901, 1951, commonweath australia medal

The fire screen was part of the original furnishings of the Lighthouse Keeper's Quarters in Merri Street, Warrnambool. It was made by Lighthouse Keeper, Thomas Hope. Thomas served two terms as an assistant lighthouse keeper in Warrnambool. His first term was from 1905 to 1907. He later returned from 1910 to 1913, when he was appointed as Keeper five months after the untimely death of his predecessor Peter Quinn. Woodworking was one of Thomas Hope’s hobbies, and the three-panel fire screen he made as a lighthouse keeper is now in the Flagstaff collection and is displayed in the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage. Thomas Hope 1857 - 1928 Thomas James Hope was born in Camden, Surrey, England in 1857. His father, also called Thomas, was reputed to be a member of the Royal Family, and Thomas Hope Junior his illegitimate son. Thomas was subsequently brought up on the estate of the Earl of Hopetoun in Somerset and it was thought that Thomas was the Earl’s grandson. Against the wishes of those in charge of Thomas, he joined the navy at an early age, seeing much of the world until he settled in New Zealand at the age of twenty-four. After some years in New Zealand, he came to Australia to live. One of the jobs Thomas Hope had prior to becoming an assistant lighthouse keeper in 1896 was as a cook in the Lunatic Asylum at Sunbury, Victoria. He served as an assistant keeper at Shortlands Bluff, Gabo Island, Split Point and Warrnambool, retiring in 1918. He bought a house in Nicholson St, Warrnambool and died in March 1928. He is buried in the Warrnambool cemetery. Thomas Hope is recorded in family history as being of short stature and, not surprisingly given his alleged aristocratic connections, possessed a beautiful speaking voice. He and his wife Elizabeth nee Waters, whom he married in New Zealand, had six children (Thomas, killed in World War One), Ellen (Nell), Nora (who was married at the Warrnambool lighthouse keepers cottage), William (who died in Warrnambool), Marion and Alan. Joseph Hoover (Dec 29, 1830, to Aug 7, 1913) Joseph Hoover, the printer of the pictures on the screen, was born in Baltimore, of Swiss-German heritage. He was trained as an architectural woodturner. In 1856 Hoover moved to Philadelphia and began producing elaborate wooden frames in his wood-turning and framing business. By 1865 Hoover had started to produce popular prints for publishers and artists, which included noted Philadelphia artist James F. Queen. In the 1880s Hoover set up a complete plant specialising in chromatography, the process of producing colour prints from lithographic plates. The coloured prints he produced were affordable to business and private customers. In 1893 his son Henry L., a trained lithographer, joined the company as overseer and it was called J. Hoover & Son. It became one of the largest in America by the turn of the century. Hoover won a medal for Excellence for his Chromolithographs of James Queen’s works. In 1904 Joseph’s other son, Joseph W, joined the business as a partner and the company was called Jos. Hoover & Sons. Hoover died of a heart attack in 1913. He was survived by his wife and six children: two sons who were also his business partners, and four daughters. The firm continued in production until around 1985. Hoover’s prints included scenes, still life and landscapes of America and other locations. They were sold in America and overseas to countries including Canada, Germany, Mexico and England. The three-panelled screen in the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage was made by the Assistant Lighthouse Keeper, Thomas Hope during one of his two terms at the Lighthouse Keepers' Quarters. It is the only object in the collection known to be connected to Hope. The Lighthouse Keeper's Cottage is part of the Lady Bay Lighthouse Complex, which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register for being of historical, scientific (technological) and architectural significance to the State of Victoria.Fire screen comprising three black wood framed panels hinged together. Each panel contains a glass-encased print depicting a rural landscape. Ornate stencil cut wood edging and quilt-inspired parquetry sits above each panel. The central panel is taller than those either side. Screen is lined in black-painted cardboard.Printed at the base of each of the three prints “COPYRIGHT 1896 BY J. HOOVER & SON, PHILAD’’A.”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, firescreen, thomas hope junior, ellen (nell) hope, nora hope, william hope, marion hope, alan hope, jos. hoover & sons of philadelphia, lighthouse keeper, assistant lighthouse keeper, carved screen, merri street, lighthouse keeper's cottage, lighthouse residence, lighthouse, wood carving, lighthouse complex, lady bay lighthouse, fire screen