My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Born digitalalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

SHOW GIRL COMPETITION by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting.Digital file only - Newsclipping on loan for scanning by EDHSeltham lower park, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, show girl competition

The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club

The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, garnet burges, jack hodson, jock read

The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, russell yeoman, bruce ness

The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club

The 1981 Eltham Community Festival was held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society had participated in the parade and a display for the festival, winning prizes for the Society’s float in 1979, 1980 and again in 1981 with a prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. Peter Quirke provided the use of his truck as a float. Peter had formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and in 1981 opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with assistance from other members decorated the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club accompanied the Society on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of the Society’s 1981 parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge, which added to a highly successful day. Society member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read also won an award for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse were a feature of Eltham parades for many years and he also established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades. 35 mm colour positive transparency (1 of 5) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotseltham festival, parade, parade floats, pioneers of eltham, shire of eltham historical society, cecil street, victorian folk music club

Proposal for horse drawn vehicles at the 1980 parade and expression of thanks to the people who assisted in the 1979 float; Geoffrey Loftus Hills, Mark Gough. And ideas of drumming up greater members, possible partnerships with Nillumbik Historical SocietySingle page, typed on Ebeli and Associates letterhead1979, 1980, eltham festival, geoffrey loftus hills, joh ebeli, mark gough, nillumbik historical society, opal smith, peter bassett-smith, rie ebeli, victorian folk music club

Colour photographmain road, eltham festival, 1980, eltham, eltham parade, festivals, jock read, lofty (horse), parade, parade floats

This photograph shows a scene from the first time Allan Charles Quinn attended Carnival in Rio. Although having made several trips to South America previously, he had not experienced Carnival before. The photograph is also complemented by a letter written to his mother including a description of Carnival. This photograph was exhibited by the Mission to Seafarers as part of the exhibition "Letters from Abroad" in 2012.The Allan Charles Quinn collection forms a pictorial autobiography of life at sea for a young man in the period immediately following World War II. The collection also includes a series of letters between Allan and his mother, some explaining the photographs and some talking about other experiences or mundane situationsBlack and white photograph of Carnival float in Rio de Janeiro. There is a large crowd visible in the fore and back ground. On the float are two horses standing on their hindlegs with a woman appearing to ride one. There is also another women visible at the rear and a man standing at the back.Blue ink on reverse: CARNIVAL IN RIO/ 1-3-49allan-charles-quinn, south-america, rio, carnival, floats, crowd, horses, letters-from-abroad, brazil, rio de janeiro

[from contemporary reports:] 1981: 16-18 October. “Pioneers of Eltham” and horse drawn vehicle. This year's festival will be held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society has participated in the parade and also organised a display for the festival. We have won prizes for our parade entry for the last two years. The committee has given preliminary consideration to our participation and it has been agreed that we should again enter the procession. This matter will be discussed at the September meeting. / The Society's float in the festival parade again won a prize. This year we won the prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. As in previous years Peter Quirke has allowed us to use his truck as a float. Peter has formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and has recently opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with a little more assistance from other members than in previous years, again did an excellent job in decorating the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club again accompanied us on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of our parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge. They certainly added to a highly successful day. In the last issue of this Newsletter we mentioned the award won by the Society for its entry in the Eltham Community Festival Procession. We neglected to mention the award won by member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse have been a feature of Eltham parades for years and in particular have established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1981, victorian folk music club

[from contemporary reports:] 1981: 16-18 October. “Pioneers of Eltham” and horse drawn vehicle. This year's festival will be held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society has participated in the parade and also organised a display for the festival. We have won prizes for our parade entry for the last two years. The committee has given preliminary consideration to our participation and it has been agreed that we should again enter the procession. This matter will be discussed at the September meeting. / The Society's float in the festival parade again won a prize. This year we won the prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. As in previous years Peter Quirke has allowed us to use his truck as a float. Peter has formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and has recently opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with a little more assistance from other members than in previous years, again did an excellent job in decorating the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club again accompanied us on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of our parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge. They certainly added to a highly successful day. In the last issue of this Newsletter we mentioned the award won by the Society for its entry in the Eltham Community Festival Procession. We neglected to mention the award won by member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse have been a feature of Eltham parades for years and in particular have established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1981

[from contemporary reports:] 1981: 16-18 October. “Pioneers of Eltham” and horse drawn vehicle. This year's festival will be held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society has participated in the parade and also organised a display for the festival. We have won prizes for our parade entry for the last two years. The committee has given preliminary consideration to our participation and it has been agreed that we should again enter the procession. This matter will be discussed at the September meeting. / The Society's float in the festival parade again won a prize. This year we won the prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. As in previous years Peter Quirke has allowed us to use his truck as a float. Peter has formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and has recently opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with a little more assistance from other members than in previous years, again did an excellent job in decorating the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club again accompanied us on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of our parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge. They certainly added to a highly successful day. In the last issue of this Newsletter we mentioned the award won by the Society for its entry in the Eltham Community Festival Procession. We neglected to mention the award won by member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse have been a feature of Eltham parades for years and in particular have established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1981

[from contemporary reports:] 1981: 16-18 October. “Pioneers of Eltham” and horse drawn vehicle. This year's festival will be held from 16th to 18th October, with the festival parade being held on Saturday 17th. In recent years the Society has participated in the parade and also organised a display for the festival. We have won prizes for our parade entry for the last two years. The committee has given preliminary consideration to our participation and it has been agreed that we should again enter the procession. This matter will be discussed at the September meeting. / The Society's float in the festival parade again won a prize. This year we won the prize for the best effort by a local group, donated by Bob Clarke's Menswear. As in previous years Peter Quirke has allowed us to use his truck as a float. Peter has formerly operated his fruiterer's business at Research and Diamond Creek and has recently opened a shop in the Eltham Village Arcade. Joh Ebeli, with a little more assistance from other members than in previous years, again did an excellent job in decorating the float. Members of the Victorian Folk Music Club again accompanied us on the float and their music helped create the appropriate mood. A new feature of our parade entry was the inclusion of horse drawn vehicles owned and driven by the Hennel family of Hurstbridge. They certainly added to a highly successful day. In the last issue of this Newsletter we mentioned the award won by the Society for its entry in the Eltham Community Festival Procession. We neglected to mention the award won by member and long-time Eltham resident, Jock Read for the “Best Eltham Theme.” Jock and his horse have been a feature of Eltham parades for years and in particular have established a local tradition in leading Anzac Day parades.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1981, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Featuring various community group floats and participation. Also Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Society member, Jock Read riding his horse, LoftyRoll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, jock read

Roll of negatives of the Eltham Festival Parade as it progresses along Main Road past the Catholic Church heading towards Bridge Street. Floats included the Tasmanian Wilderness Society with the Save the Franklin River campaign, and Diamond Valley Railway celebrating 21 years of passenger service as well as the Victorian Police Marching Band. A well known Eltham identity, Jock Read was asked to lead the Eltham Pony Club contingent that year and the roll includes several shots of Jock on his horse, Lofty who was approximately ten years of age, his colour was still classed as a steel grey at the time before he went "white" quite a few years later.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 24 shotsKodak Safety Film 5035eltham festival

Roll of negatives of the Eltham Festival Parade as it progresses along Main Road past the Catholic Church heading towards Bridge Street. Floats included the Tasmanian Wilderness Society with the Save the Franklin River campaign, and Diamond Valley Railway celebrating 21 years of passenger service as well as the Victorian Police Marching Band. A well known Eltham identity, Jock Read was asked to lead the Eltham Pony Club contingent that year and the roll includes several shots of Jock on his horse, Lofty who was approximately ten years of age, his colour was still classed as a steel grey at the time before he went "white" quite a few years later.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 24 shotsKodak Safety Film 5035eltham festival

Roll of negatives of the Eltham Festival Parade as it progresses along Main Road past the Catholic Church heading towards Bridge Street. Floats included the Tasmanian Wilderness Society with the Save the Franklin River campaign, and Diamond Valley Railway celebrating 21 years of passenger service as well as the Victorian Police Marching Band. A well known Eltham identity, Jock Read was asked to lead the Eltham Pony Club contingent that year and the roll includes several shots of Jock on his horse, Lofty who was approximately ten years of age, his colour was still classed as a steel grey at the time before he went "white" quite a few years later.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 24 shotsKodak Safety Film 5035eltham festival