This traditional wagga blanket was made by Mrs Eileen Pattle between 1942 and 1950. The wagga was used as everyday bedding, as Eileen and her husband had very few possessions. They boarded with a man who they called “Old Harry” in Footscray. Old Harry had recently lost his wife and looked after the young couple well. They could stay with him and use his house as their own, and all that Old Harry asked for in return was for Eileen to cook him one good meal a day. The blanket was given to Mrs Beverley (Bev) Maguire, the daughter of Eileen, when she and her husband went camping one winter. Her husband was a “mad” fisherman and on one trip on which Bev joined him, her father offered the couple his old tent, that had a wall missing, and the wagga. The wagga was much appreciated as when the couple woke in the countryside, it was freezing, and they could see snow through the missing tent wall. From then on, the tent and the wagga were theirs. The wagga saw many more camping trips until the arrival of Bev’s “lovely new lightweight and down filled sleeping bag”. The wagga was made with a “make do, waste not, want not” attitude. The wagga started as an army issued blanket. The front layer has clothing and panels of mismatched material which has been added to over time. This includes an overcoat, two knitted garments, a panel from a skirt, and a panel from Old Harry’s Trousers. It also includes a man’s sleeveless knitted vest, and a knitted pram blanket. This is all stitched together with string, and the odd button. Bev said she would love to unpick the quilt to see what else is hiding inside but has resisted the urge to do so. All these layers have made the blanket incredibly warm, and heavy. The wagga has been within Bev’s family since creation and comes into the National Wool Museum Collection after serving the family well. It was used to keep everyone warm when not camping over many a winter’s night. Beverley is now getting on in years and donated the Wagga to the National Wool Museum in 2021. Her family referred to the wagga as a “collection of rags”, indicating to her that they did not wish to inherit the blanket. The wagga started as an army issue blanket. It has been made by stitching the khaki army blanket onto a hessian rear. The front layer has clothing and panels of mismatched material. This includes an overcoat, two knitted garments, a panel from a skirt, and a panel from Old Harry’s Trousers. It also includes a man’s sleeveless knitted vest, and a knitted pram blanket. This is all stitched together with string, and the odd button. It is thought that other materials are hiding within the layers of this wagga, however, uncovering these layers would involve unpicking the quilt. The wagga is 1360 x 1880mm, sized to suit a double bed. It is a heavy blanket, originating from all its panels of mismatched reused clothing. The wagga is well worn but has lasted almost 80 years. It has holes that have been lovingly re-stitched.wagga, quilt, upcycle

Black and white photographs (3)"Written under photograph" Image 1. L to R: Joyce Embling, Bern Papworth, Hilda Emmerson, Elizabeth Baker (Granddaughter of Bob and Hilda Emmerson), President Bess Bower, Doris Green, Hon. J W Manson MLA, Flo Craigie. 1971-72. Image 2. L to R: Gordon Chapman, Win Chapman, Ian Embling, Hon. J W Manson MLA, Hilda Emmerson, President Bob Emmerson, President Bess Bower, Doris Green, Flo Craigie. Image 3. 1972/73 Ian Embling, President Eileen Mason, Hilda Emmerson.

Donated by the Presentation Sisters of Mt Carmel Convent Rutherglen. Convent closed May 1990Sepia photograph of Linda, Eileen and Dora Drenen (unmounted)"With love from Linda, Eileen & Dora Drenen"drenen family, dora drenen, linda drenen, eileen drenen, mt carmel convent, mount carmel convent, presentation sisters

Photograph of 100th birthday celebrations for Eileen Tullo on 18 April 1993 at Colton Close. Legatees in attendance include Chas Munnerley, Committee Chairman, in the centre of the back row. Other legatees were Murray Fraser, Cliff Jesse, Jim Fyfe and their wives. A bouquet was presented on behalf of all at Legacy.A record of a widow reaching 100 years of age and being celebrated by Legacy.Black and white photo and proof sheet of the 100th birthday of Eileen Tulls and an article in the Answer.Stamped on back Copyright of Leader Newspaper Group in red ink. Hand written on the proof sheet is "Daughter Mrs Beth Groves / 100th birthday Eileen Tulls 18 April '93 at Colton(?) Close".widows, birthday

A family photograph of Chris Cullinan Snr., his wife Eileen, his sons Herbert and Chris. Jnr and daughter Rose at Bayview Farm, Diggers Rest.on back in ink: CULLINAN FAMILY c1913 / "Bayview"/111 Davis Road /Diggers Rest/ CHRIS. SNR. EILEEN. Herbert/Chris Jnr/Rosecullinan, uraina, eileen, chris, rose, bayview farm, diggers rest, farm, clothing and dress, george evans collection

St Johns on the Hill, a history of St Johns parish Heidelberg, 144 pages with black and white photographs, inscription inside front cover reads, with best wishes to June a kindred spirit from Eileen Vaughan.Eileen Vaughanchurch, st johns heidelberg, st johns heidelberg, catholic church, religion.

Kindly scanned from Ringwood Branch archival collection

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's entry in the 1986 Eltham Community Festival Parade included Ben Hall's Cobb & Co. coach along with several vintage motor vehicles and the Society's new Community Banner. Members dressed in in an appropriate costume to ride in one of the vehicles or walk along with them. The assembly point was in Cecil St. at 11.45 a.m. The Society's entry was awarded the major prize for the parade.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1986, main road, eileen gibbons

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's entry in the 1986 Eltham Community Festival Parade included Ben Hall's Cobb & Co. coach along with several vintage motor vehicles and the Society's new Community Banner. Members dressed in in an appropriate costume to ride in one of the vehicles or walk along with them. The assembly point was in Cecil St. at 11.45 a.m. The Society's entry was awarded the major prize for the parade.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1986, eileen gibbons, opal smith, panther place

[from a contemporary report:] Our float with its colonial washing day theme won the trophy for the best display. Bruce Ness arranged items from the Society's collection on his truck. Joh Ebeli and Russell Yeoman set up further items on the trailer loaned by Denis McKay. An important part of the event was the members who came along in their “old gear” to complete the picture. As usual musicians from the Victorian Folk Music Club helped us out with their lively music.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1987, main road, opal smith, eileen gibbons, flo spicer

[from a contemporary report:] In 1988 the assembly point for the Parade changed from previous years from Cecil Street to Youth Road behind the Eltham Station for the start of the parade at 12.00. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's float in the Eltham Community Festival Parade won the award for the best display for the second year running. We received a trophy donated by the Billabong Family Bistro, Lower Plenty. The theme of the float was the Eltham Bush Nursing Hospital. The float was prepared by Bruce Ness with some help from other members. A number of members contributed with costumes and other props. Hospital equipment was kindly loaned by the Judge Book Village and in what has become something of a tradition, members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society for the Parade. Their music was again a welcome addition to the float.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1988, central park, joh ebeli, eileen gibbons, opal smith, blanche shallard

[from a contemporary report:] In 1988 the assembly point for the Parade changed from previous years from Cecil Street to Youth Road behind the Eltham Station for the start of the parade at 12.00. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's float in the Eltham Community Festival Parade won the award for the best display for the second year running. We received a trophy donated by the Billabong Family Bistro, Lower Plenty. The theme of the float was the Eltham Bush Nursing Hospital. The float was prepared by Bruce Ness with some help from other members. A number of members contributed with costumes and other props. Hospital equipment was kindly loaned by the Judge Book Village and in what has become something of a tradition, members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society for the Parade. Their music was again a welcome addition to the float.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1988, central park, blanche shallard, opal smith, eileen gibbons

Shire of Eltham Historical Society 20th Anniversary dinner, St Margaret's Hall, 8 July 1987Colour photograph20th anniversary, shire of eltham historical society, st margaret's church hall, fred jones, eileen gibbons, dolly smith

Vaughan Cemetery in Central VictoriaHand forged iron fence around a grave in Vaughan Cemetery.vaughan, vaughan cemetery, forged ironwork, cemetery art