This tea towel was manufactured in 1978 in Ireland and shipped to Australia. This was in a period when the C.W.A. was the major women's organisation which had the greatest influence amongst rural women (especially in isolated areas). This was a period when broad based communications were mainly by radio,women orientated magazines and the telephone. The relay of television to "remote" rural areas was not yet established. The CWA was therefore a very important organisation that catered exclusively to women's needs. The C.W.A. motto "Honour our God, Loyalty to the throne, Service to the country, Through country women, For country women, By country women." The atmosphere was one of "sisterhood" and covered nearly all the needs of rural based women. This one organisation incorporated knowledge and learning targeting women who physically may be isolated but not mentally. On the tea towel are portrayed all the activities that would be beneficial to rural women.This tea towel with its respective motifs is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it related especially to women who felt the limitations of social interactions within a rural area. This tea towel represents a era where communications was relatively based on radio, magazines, books and limited telephone access. Within these restrictive interactive communication levels, the isolation of a "back o' Bourke" location applied tremendous mental fatigue on women more than on men.This CWA Victoria Golden Jubilee (1928-1978) tea towel is made from Irish flax at the Blackstaff Flax Spinning and Weaving factory. It is therefore of high quality and very durable. The major colours projecting from a light blue background are red, yellow, green, orange and black. The motives portrayed the activities of the CWA in 1978. These activities are embroidery, crocheting, dress making, knitting, cooking, art, macrame, drama, music, patchwork, toy making and community relief, pennies for friendship, emergency relief and welfare, residential club flats, the thanks giving and Papua New Guinea.The main or central theme of this tea towel is presented in the central area within three rings. "1928" on the left and "1978" on the right. On the top part "GOLDEN JUBILEE" and at the bottom "COUNTRY WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION OF VICTORIA" There are various shapes representing the activities listed above.cwa promotional material, cwa golden jubilee, women only organisations, country women's association

The Children of Research State School in 1922 Photo and list of children provided by Ivy Reynolds to Ross McDonald. Ross has supplemented and filled in some blanks, from the children names in Andrew Lemons book 'Return to Research. A centenary of Research Primary School, 1989 ' page 103. Additional commentary provided by Ivy Reynolds in 2006. 1. Winnie La Frenz - a great friend of the Reynolds 2. Ruth Thompson - Wally Buttwell's niece 3. Bertha Wiltshire 4. Ivy Dickson (who grew up to be a good-looking woman) 5. May Norman - a cousin to the Reynolds through Ernest Reynolds 6. Elsie Shaw 7. Veenie Turner (Ivy was not 100% sure of her surname, but said she was not related to Hazel Turner) 8 Lil La Frenz (Lilian) - a bright spark and a lively tennis player 9 Lily Wilson (looks like a boy) - had red hair 10 Hazel Turner - a cousin of the Reynolds who lost her mother very early in life. Her father remarried and the family then became Roman Catholics, which in those days, caused them to become distant with the Anglican Reynolds family 11 Lila Dickson (Lyla) 12. Jack Wilson - a red-head like his sister 13. Len Blashick 14. Marjory Palmer 15 ? Burgoyne 16 Lance Doney and 17 Bill Doney. Cleaver boys who went to Ivanhoe Grammar. Both caught TB from their mother and died young. 17. Bill Doney - The Doneys were clever boys. They went to Ivanhoe Grammar after Research Primary and this educational advantage caused them to grow apart from the local boys. Both caught tuberculosis from their mother and didn't live long. Lance died first, but Bill survived long enough to join the Merchant Navy. He eventually entered the Mont Park Sanatorium where Ernest Reynolds used to visit him every Sunday. The Doney boys were keen on Margaret and Ivy Reynolds at one stage (probably before they became seriously ill) and Bill gave Ivy a macrame belt he'd made. 18 ? Burgoyne 19 ? Messen (Frank or Alex Masson) 20 Neville West 21 ? Shaw 22 ? Shaw 23 Neil Palmer 24 George Shaw or his brother Bertie 25 George Shaw or his brother Bertie 26 Eva Kilson 27 Lorna Turner 28 ? Henry Fox (or possibly Eric?) 29 Nancy Storey (adopted) 30 Mona Fox 31. Nell Storey (also adopted) She married Sam Howard and they had 2 daughters. One went to Queensland, the other lived locally and helped at the Research Anglican Church. 32 Victor Davey 33 Margaret Reynolds 34 Ethel Davey - cousin of the Reynolds through Ernest Reynolds 35 ? Randall (Freddie) 36 ? Randall (Kitty) -Their father was a builder who made toys for every child at the school one Christmas 37 Ronnie Turner 38 ? Ivy couldn't remember his name, but thought he lived at the Research Hotel 39 John Reynolds 40 Jim Davey 41 Unknown 42 Ivy Reynolds 43. Unknown - one of the unknown boys is Jimmy Storey 44. Unknown 45. Unknown 46. Dorothy La Frenz 47. Eric Fox 48. Unknown 49. Possibly Bert Shaw One of the boys in the photograph is Jimmy Storey The Reynolds family were early settlers in Research. The Reynolds/ Prior collection of photographs were taken by Tom Prior, the maternal uncle of Ivy Reynolds, around 1900 and the 60 photos in the album give a fine overview of many of the landmarks of Research and Eltham over 100 years ago. lvy lived in the family home for many years at 106 Thompson Cres Research. Ivy's father, Ernst Richard Reynolds and grandfather, Richard Reynolds, lived at the same address. Ivy's father Richard worked for Mr. Trail on his property in Research. Reynolds Road is named after the family. Mr Tom Prior (wife Eva) worked at the Melbourne zoo. He was very innovative and made his own camera, using the black cloth hood to exclude the light. The photographs are a reminder of the rural nature of Research and Eltham and its rich heritage. Black and white photograph mounted in an album, the Reynolds/Prior Photograph Collection, this being one of 53 reproduced black and white images of early Eltham.The Reynolds/Prior Photograph Collection, Presented to the Eltham District Historical Society, 14 June 2006 by Ross McDonald. A second copy was also presented to the Andrew Ross Museum, Kangaroo Groundreynolds prior collection, research (vic.), research school, schools, school children, state school no. 2959, winnie la frenz, ruth thompson, bertha wilshire, ivy dickson, may norman, elsie shaw, veenie, lil la frenz (lilian), lily wilson, hazel turner, lila dickson (lyla), jack wilson, len blashick, margery palmer, burgoyne, lance doney, bill doney, frank messen, alex masson, neville west, shaw, neil palmer, george shaw, bertie shaw, eva kilson, lorna turner, henry fox, eric fox, nancy storey, mona fox, nell storey, victor davey, margaret reynolds, ethel davey, freddie randall, kitty randall, ronnie turner, john reynolds, jim davey, ivy reynolds, dorothy la frenz, bert shaw, jimmy storey

Information from research by Mabel Rogers from the first meeting in August 1939 – 1969 Notable Events of the CWA The document contains information about meetings and events and numbers of members who attended. December 2013 – a selection of some of the items of interest have been extracted by Wendy Barrie NOTABLE EVENTS Page 1 1938 August 10th 1938 Minutes of inaugural meeting of Melton Branch Country Women’s Association. Cr Coburn introduced Mrs Toose, Ballarat G.P. [Group President] 42 ladies were present, including visitors from Bacchus Marsh and Smeaton Branches. September – Miss A Raleigh was elected Magazine Secretary October- 26 members present. Penny Collection for Million Members Fund November December – Mrs Swan gave demonstration of basketry, using stringy bark, Eucalyptus bark and reeds 1939 February 1939 – 18 members present. Branch total 50. Donation towards Pedal Transmitting Set. Inquiries made of Shire Council re permission to fence War Memorial March April – cost of fence material beyond Branch Funds May- 24 members present June, July, August – birthday celebrations. September 25 members present October – Meeting hled at Toolern Vale Bird Sanctuary 36 members present November – 1st Annual Meeting December – Owing to harvest operations, only 11 members present. 1940 February electric kettle and urn to be purchased for Mechanics Institute. Also to install a power point. [Electricity was connected to Melton in December 1939] April end of page 1 Page 2 May – Council Permission to be sought, to plant trees on oval below Shire Hall P.M.G. to be asked to supply a seat outside telephone booth for convenience of callers after P.O. was closed. June- Wives of A.I.F. soldiers be made honorary members. “1d per week drive” for gift for the Empire. July, September, October November – Group President stressed the importance of keeping Branches together during time of war. Collection of sheep skins to be made into vests for fighting forces worthy of consideration. Group President, Mrs Morgan-Paylor. December 1941 February 30 members present March – Eight members attend Ballarat Group Conference. Approach Council re fencing and preparation of land for tree plantation May – Mrs Swan demonstrated making of slippers from pieces of sheepskin June – Empire Gift Scheme of 1d per week to be continued for another year or duration of the war. July – Demonstration on making camouflage nets August, September Group Conference at Smeaton, October, November meetings held 1942 February- Enquiries to be made as how to help with A.R.P. work March, April, May, June,- Headquarters busy on war work. July end of page 2 Page 3 August, September. October – 15 Camouflage Nets forwarded to Headquarters November- Mrs Glasson Group President presided at Annual Meeting. Meetings to be held at 3 monthly intervals. Overseas link, enquiries be made of Melton Mowbray had a C.W.A. Branch 1943 February- Overseas link to be Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales May- 7 Camouflage Nets to Headquarters. American overseas link Nov 5th Annual Meeting, letters received from Wales and America 1944 May – Approach to be made to Council re formation of Baby Health Centre July – Ball held for Baby Health Centre effort. Admission 3/- 1945 February- Mrs Lemke present at meeting May August- Miss Strahan of Womens Hospital gave a talk on “Work of Almoner Departments in Public Hospitals” November Annual meeting. eight food parcels sent to Britain, 2 to Lampeter 1946 meetings held every two months May- Congratulations to Mrs Swan, Group President Elect June – 20 members present. August- 8th Birthday celebrated with a Social Evening Music was supplied by Mrs E.W. Barrie September - Scone competition 1. Mrs Beaty, 2. Miss Robinson 3. Mrs Exell November- Eggs sent to Somers House 1947 February – Demonstration of Glove-making March – revert to monthly meetings April - decided to have an auto tray made for the Branch May – Branch decided to plant a tree for Princess Elizabeth’s 21st Birthday.. Council to be asked if agreeable to continue arrangements in 1940, to fence C.W.A. Plantation end of page 3 Page 4 June - Food parcels sent to Overseas Link July – Invitations to birthday celebrations sent to Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Sunbury, Mt Egerton August September - Collection of silver coin taken a donation from Branch towards wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth … forwarded to H.Q. November – C.W.A. together with Red Cross and Bacchus Marsh C.W.A. to provide afternoon tea and luncheon at Eynesbury sale. 1948 February – Food parcels sent to ex-Prisoner-of-war. Publicity agent appointed April – Decided to apply for trees to be planted in area already chosen a beauty spot May – Additional listeners to Broadcast Session were appointed June July – Gift of books received from Overseas Link. I was decided to stat a Library . Miss Raleigh to at a Librarian. August – 5 pound donation from Branch funds to “Save the Children” Appeal. September, October, November 1949 January – At Group Conference, delegates to vote in favour of resolution that State School children be allowed to sit for exams in own school March – Decided to contact Council for permission to fence off Water Reserve April, May – Another parcel to be sent to Ret. British P.O.W. Association June July – Fancy Dress Children’s Ball to be held for Annual Effort August – 11th Birthday September – Bank Balance November – 11th annual Meeting. Members agree to supply small gifts to Ballarat Mental Hospital 1950 February – Five books were received from Lampeter March – Branch to support idea of holding a Music Drama Festival in Group April – Miss Smith elected Group President May – C.W.A. Science Van visited Melton June – Demonstration of Macrame work - July August – 12th Birthday Celebration end page 4 Page 5 September, October November 12th Annual Meeting, Miss Smith Group President. Melton's Country Women's Association Choirlocal special interest groups, local identities

1978, advanced morris folk dancing, another way, astrology, basic car mechanics, basic carpentry, basketry, carpentry, contract bridge. macrame, copper work, cottage crafts, craftwork, crochet, dressmaking, dyeing co-op, eltham living and learning centre, fitness, folk dancing, french cookery, gardening, haircutting, homemade christmas gifts, homestead cookery, international cookery, lead light, life drawing, organic vegetable gardening, patchwork, pottery, pottery wheelwork, primitive weaving, program, reflexology, rug weaving, shire of eltham, spinning, tapestry weaving, two and four shaft weaving, typing, vegetarian cookery, wine making and tasting, woodwork, yoga