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Geelong Naval and Maritime Museum
Teacup
The Orungal was originally built in Glasgow in 1923 for the Khedival Mail Steamship & Graving Dock Company of Egypt and named the S.S. Fezara. Due to the effects on steamship companies of the Great Depression including the steep costs of building new ships and increases in running costs and port charges, no new passenger ships had been ordered in Australia since before World War One. To meet demand for passenger berths, the Fezara (5826 tons) along with its sister ship the Famaka (5856 tons, renamed Ormiston), were chartered by the Australasian United Steam Navigation Company Ltd (A.U.S.N.Co.) in 1927. Both the A.U.S.N.Co and the Khedival Mail Steamship Co. were part of the P&O Group. The Orungal operated in this role as an interstate passenger and mail steamer between 1927 and 1940, being used mainly on the Melbourne to Queensland and Western Australian runs, with 240 single class berths. Following the outbreak of World War Two six of the nine large passenger liners servicing mainland Australian passenger and mail trades were requisitioned by the Government to ferry equipment, troops and supplies. Some of them were converted to armed merchant cruisers and used for patrol work and escort duties in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. The Orungal had originally been requisitioned by the government along with the Zealandia on 25 June 1940, to transport troops to Darwin, but was returned to commercial service because "of her unsuitability", perhaps too slow for the demands of the work. Despite being rejected for patrol and convoy duties the Orungal still had a vital role as one of only three passenger liners left to service the mainland Australian trade. Following its requisitioning by the Government shortly after war broke out, it had been fitted out with defensive armament. On its final voyage arriving at Port Phillip Heads from Sydney, Captain Gilling was attempting to enter the Heads ahead of a worsening south-westerly storm and, with a minefield known to have been laid in the area, had been warned by the Navy not to deviate from the swept channel. The captain and crew held fears that in the stormy seas a mine may have been carried away. In the worsening weather a blur of lights at Barwon Heads was mistaken for Port Lonsdale, and the Orungal steamed ashore onto Formby Reef, just east of the entrance of the Barwon River - instead of passing safely through the middle of the Rip. At the Marine Board Inquiry Capt. Gilling - who had been master of the Orungal since 1926 - stated that after becoming uneasy about his position and changing course to starboard one point: " At 10.21 pm I ordered the engine room to stand by and gave instructions for the patent log to be hauled in and for the sounding-gear to be got ready. Approximately two minutes later, in a flash of lightning, I saw land off the port beam. I immediately recognised it as Barwon Heads, and ordered the helm to be put hard to starboard, but the vessel struck before she had time to answer the helm" Barwon Heads and Ocean Grove residents were startled to hear the shrill blast of the ship's whistle, followed by the bright flares and explosions of signal rockets. The Queenscliff lifeboat crew, who had responded to the tragic collision between the Goorangai and another passenger liner the Duntroon in Port Phillip Bay less than 24 hours earlier, were later praised for their efforts in safely taking off all the passengers and crew. Most of the passengers were asleep at the time of the wreck, and were woken up by the commotion, the ship shaking "from stem to stern" and stewards ordering them to lifeboat stations in driving rain. It was a dramatic time with the ship siren wailing and distress rockets being fired. It was reported that "When it was found the ship was safe, the passengers all went to the music room. There they sang and danced for several hours. The ship's orchestra played merrily, and amateur performers among the passengers clowned, danced and sang to keep the laughter going. In the early hours of the morning passengers went to their cabins, most of them to sleep soundly while the keel grated on the rocks". At dawn the Queenscliff lifeboat arrived at the scene having been launched at 2.30am, and cautiously approached the ship which was being "battered by mountainous seas". By 5am oil from a burst oil line was helping to calm seas around the Orungal sufficiently enough for the lifeboat to approach, and all the passengers and crew were taken off in several trips by the lifeboat. A Court of Inquiry later found that the wreck was caused by an abnormal set of current to the north-west and cleared the officers and crew of neglect of duty. The sight of a huge liner almost on the beach saw an unprecedented amount of traffic as people drove an estimated 10,000 cars, using some 60,000 gallons of fuel in a time of strict petrol rationing, to see the spectacle. Salvage operations began in an attempt to refloat the vessel, scheduled for the high tide on 15 December 1940. However, during these operations, at 2.30 am on 13 December 1940, a major fire broke out, believed to have been caused by spontaneous combustion in the boiler room. The ship was soon ablaze, with smoke pouring from its hatches and ventilators, and at mid-morning the magazine exploded fiercely. Of the 60 men working aboard the vessel two were severely burned and had to be taken to Geelong Hospital. The gathered spectators witnessed the eerie sight of the ship's hull glowing red when night fell. The well-known building demolition contractor Whelan the Wrecker bought the salvage rights, and methodically proceeded to dismantle the ship and its fittings. The drama was not yet over for the wreckers when - without warning - the burnt-out hulk was 'attacked' by RAAF for strafing practice. Salvage rights were transferred to another private owner in 1963. By 1945 the combined effects of the exposed location, fire and salvage had seen what was left of the wreck disappear beneath the waves. The site today is marked by two of the four Scotch type boilers sitting upright and exposed at low tide, just north-east of the small boats channel at the entrance to Barwon Heads. Large sections of steel hull plating and framing, and impressively large pieces of ships structure and machinery including masts, booms, deck winches, propeller shaft, flywheel, and a thrust block lie scattered about and make the site an interesting shallow dive. It is interesting to compare the site of the Orungal with the intact remains of similar large passenger ships scuttled in deep water in the Ships' Graveyard, such as the Milora and Malaita. The site is subject to waves and surge, and is best dived on flat calm days The teacup originated from the SS Orungal and was likely used heavily in the ship's life as a passenger, mail and cargo carrier around Australia. The teacup is significant for its connections to SS Orungal and of this ships connected story of being sunk in extraordinary circumstances in the local region. A.U.S.N. Co. Ltd. Teacup salvaged from SS Orungal ss orungal, fezara, world war two, barwon heads, ocean grove -
Lara RSL Sub Branch
Book, Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 - Volume IX - The Royal Australian Navy Author A.W. Jose, 1937 fifth edition
Historically depicts the operations of the Royal Australian Navy duty occasioning navy vessels in addition to the drudgery of patrol work and the search for enemy vessels. Working in isolation because of being a vessel that is under their own control.This volume of the War Histories is concerned with the doings of an infant navy.Official History of Australia in the War of 1914-18 - Volume IX - The Royal Australian Navy Maps and Illustrationsgerman colonies, samoa, nauru, western pacific, africa, dardenelles, north atlantic, european waters, raiders and minefields, ran brigade, hospital ships, transports and dockyards, radio-telegraphy, suvla bay, sinking of the cumberland, german cruiser squadron, cocos, sydney-emden action, north sea -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Minefields and Miniskirts, 1993
White soft cover. Front cover photo of two soldiers in uniform standing behind a women in uniform seated on machinery. Author - SIOBHAN McHUGH. 296 pages. Photo of author on the back cover.Sticker on first page "FRANCIS W. DEAN DEM "Coral" 20 Strickland Rd, Bendigo, 3550, Vic. Aust. Phone (03) 54434600books, military history -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Booklet, McLaren & Co Pty Ltd, Mines and Booby Traps. Military Training Pamphlet No 40 Part III (All Arms) - The Breaching of Minefields. 1943, June 1943
Soft covered booklet covering methods of dealing with mine belts or fields and how to handle individual mine and booby trap mechanisms.Warnings that booklet not be communicated to the public or the press and that it must not fall into enemy handsmines, booby traps, world war 2 -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Booklet (2 copies), B & M Ltd, Field Engineering & Mine Warfare Pam 5 Laying, Recording and Marking of Minefields. Part 1 - All Arms 1955, 1955
A soft covered booklet. With amdts 2,3,4,6,& 7WO Code 8813mine warfare -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book - Scrap Book, Ballarat School of Mines Scrap Book, 1965-1967, 1965-1967
The Ballarat School of Mines was established in 1870.Grey hard covered scrapboks with clippings relating to the Ballarat School of Mines, including: 24-5-1965 - Mildura Students at School of Mines 16-9-1965 - Ballarat Junior Technical School Mothers' Club Clock 23-11-1965 - Plan for Mall in Lydiard Street 29-03-1966 - Punch card equipment for School of Mines 10-05-1966 - Apprentice Craftsmen Certificates 25-7-1966 - Ian Barker 01-08-1966 - Woman Diplomate - Jennifer Drummond and Sue Milbourne 05 August 1967 - New Woolclassing and Motor Mechanics Building on the corner of Albert Street and Grant Street 09-09-1966 - New School site 23-09-1966 - Inspection of gaol site 22-09-1966 - Murray Gillin 19-10-1966 - Michael Young 26-01-1967 - A new site for SMB (Mt Helen Campus) 06-05-1967 - Geology Gift to SMB (William Baragwanath)ballarat school of mines, murray gillin, gerald jenzen, ludovio hart, photography, mount helen campus, ron quick, lydiard street closure, ballarat junior technical school student accomodation, r.r. watson, phillip law, martin report, punch card equipment, ken ogden, ian barker, jennifer drummond, sue milbourne, women and physics, greg mcrae, jan butterworth, former ballarat gaol, peter donaldson, michae young, mount clear site, j.r. pound, eric sharman, chris sanos, john gorton, zaiga baltrocis, motor mechanics & woolclassing building, women, women diplomates, jennifer drummong, technical education growrh, e.j. barker, mothers club, w. johnson, pottery, ceramics, ian billington, matriculation, victoria institute of colleges, punch cards, computer, craftsman certificates, new campus site, architecture, michael young, sebastopol technical school, ballarat school of mines master plan, fourth university, 4th university, r. giles, william baragwanath geology collection, phil day, john phillips, greg strang, plumbing, centenary, langi logan minefield, a.l. mckenzie, peter bennett, r.w. richards medal, woolclassing, motor mechanics, new building, albert street, grant street, pound -
City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Functional object - Gold Mining, prospector's "rocker", c1870
Gold was discovered in Victoria c1850 and people came from all over the world to seek their fortune at Ballarat and Bendigo and surrounding gold fields. This large wooden rocking- box or cradle was used by gold prospectors. A handle on the rocker is pushed back and forth, as the miner put gravel into the top part and finer and heavier particles dropped through a screen, helped along by buckets of water. The bottom part of the device had slats, that caught the heavier metals. After many shovel loads of gravel were pushed through the rocker, the miner would then use his gold pan to sort out the heavy minerals to find gold. Most of the pioneer settlers in Moorabbin Shire left the area to try their luck at gold mining and there was a desperate shortage of workers to maintain the market gardens and supply food to the ever increasing population of Melbourne.This gold prospector's 'cradle' is hand made and typical of those used by many hopeful Moorabbin Shire pioneers as they abandoned their market gardens to try their luck at finding gold in the Ballarat and Bendigo minefields c1850This gold miner's rocker is very old, and very well-used. It is a large wooden rocking- box or cradle used by gold prospectors. A handle on the rocker is pushed back and forth, as gravel is put in the top part of the box so that finer and heavier particles drop through a screen.. The bottom part of the device had slats, that caught the heavier metals. i.e gold particles. The water passed through the shute at the base back into the creek or river.moorabbin, brighton, market gardens, pioneers, early settlers, fruit, vegetable, ballarat, bendigo, gold mining, gold prospedtors, gold rush, were j. b., irish immigrants, chinese immigrants, gold panning, gold digger -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Document, Minefields and Miniskirts play at the NVVM (3 copies); 2 advertising flyers; 3 photocopies of articles in newspapers, 2015
Booklet containing biographical information about the cast and crew.national vietnam veterans museum, stage play -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Booklet, Field engineering and mine warfare: pamphlet no. 5:, laying, recording and marking of minefields, Part 1: all arms, 1955
british armed forces - service manuals -
Monbulk RSL Sub Branch
Book, Random House, Write home for me : a red cross women in Vietnam, 2006
Working as a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser in 1966, Jean Debelle yearned to be involved in the biggest story of the decade - the Vietnam War. But only male journalists in Australia were being sent to cover the escalating conflict. Instead, she volunteered to work in Vietnam for the Red Cross to tend to the non-medical welfare of the sick and wounded ANZAC forces. Jean had planned to report on the war in spare moments - but there were none. For one year she lived in the spotlight: a young Australian woman among 5,000 men. This intimate personal account is told from the rare and compassionate perspective of a young woman living close to the battlefront. Jean tells of the resilience of the soldiers in the face of daily atrocities and of the international medical personnel fighting to save lives and to rebuild shattered bodies and minds. It is also the story of the Vietnamese, struggling to maintain not just their traditions but their very lives in the face of brutal hardship. With infectious humour, Jean tells of striving to be like a sister to the men when sex was in the very air they breathed. But she experienced stark terror when she faced a crazed gunman, had a close call in a minefield and was caught in the midst of a Vietnamese skirmish. Jean also offers an unvarnished look at the Australians' worst battle in Vietnam, Long Tan, and their worst landmine disaster. With unblinking candour, she writes of the harsh realisation that after nine months in Vietnam she had grown cold to the unrelenting horror of war. From diaries, letters and Red Cross reports, Jean Debelle Lamensdorf has researched and written a story not only of tragedy but also of hope and humour. It is a compelling adventure story - and one of love.Index, bibliography, ill, maps, p.302.non-fictionWorking as a journalist at the Adelaide Advertiser in 1966, Jean Debelle yearned to be involved in the biggest story of the decade - the Vietnam War. But only male journalists in Australia were being sent to cover the escalating conflict. Instead, she volunteered to work in Vietnam for the Red Cross to tend to the non-medical welfare of the sick and wounded ANZAC forces. Jean had planned to report on the war in spare moments - but there were none. For one year she lived in the spotlight: a young Australian woman among 5,000 men. This intimate personal account is told from the rare and compassionate perspective of a young woman living close to the battlefront. Jean tells of the resilience of the soldiers in the face of daily atrocities and of the international medical personnel fighting to save lives and to rebuild shattered bodies and minds. It is also the story of the Vietnamese, struggling to maintain not just their traditions but their very lives in the face of brutal hardship. With infectious humour, Jean tells of striving to be like a sister to the men when sex was in the very air they breathed. But she experienced stark terror when she faced a crazed gunman, had a close call in a minefield and was caught in the midst of a Vietnamese skirmish. Jean also offers an unvarnished look at the Australians' worst battle in Vietnam, Long Tan, and their worst landmine disaster. With unblinking candour, she writes of the harsh realisation that after nine months in Vietnam she had grown cold to the unrelenting horror of war. From diaries, letters and Red Cross reports, Jean Debelle Lamensdorf has researched and written a story not only of tragedy but also of hope and humour. It is a compelling adventure story - and one of love. vietnam war 1961-1975 – australian involvement, vietnam war 1961-1975 - red cross - women -
Lilydale RSL Sub Branch
Book - Book/Paperback, Siobhan McHugh, MINEFIELDS AND MINISKIRTS, 1993
Australian Women and the Vietnam WarBooknon-fictionAustralian Women and the Vietnam War -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, McHugh, Siobhan, Minefields And Miniskirts: Australian Women And The Vietnam War (Copy 2), 1993
Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted.Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted. 1961-1975 - women - australia, vietnam war, 1961-1975- women - interviews, entertainers, nurses, secretaries, consular staff -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, McHugh, Siobhan, Minefields And Miniskirts: Australian Women And The Vietnam War (Copy 1), 1993
Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted.Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted. 1961-1975 - women - australia, vietnam war, 1961-1975- women - interviews, entertainers, nurses, secretaries, consular staff -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, McHugh, Siobhan, Minefields And Miniskirts: Australian Women And The Vietnam War (Copy 3), 1993
Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted.Up to a thousand Australian women were in wartime Vietnam during the sixties and early seventies - as entertainers, army and civilian nurses, secretaries, consular staff and more. They were feted and pampered, patronised and harrassed, and a few were assaulted. 1961-1975 - women - australia, vietnam war, nurses, entertainers, journalists, consular staff, volunteer workers -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Book, McHugh, Siobhan, Minefields And Miniskirts: Australian Women And The Vietnam War, 2005
Moving, enlightening and sometimes shocking, Minefields and Miniskirts broke new ground when first published in 1993. It tells the gripping and extraordinary real-life stories of thirty-five women who went to Vietnam as nurses, journalists, entertainers, volunteers and consular staff, along with those of women who waited at home for their shatters husbands, fathers, brothers and sons to return.Moving, enlightening and sometimes shocking, Minefields and Miniskirts broke new ground when first published in 1993. It tells the gripping and extraordinary real-life stories of thirty-five women who went to Vietnam as nurses, journalists, entertainers, volunteers and consular staff, along with those of women who waited at home for their shatters husbands, fathers, brothers and sons to return. 1961-1975 - women - australia, vietnam war, 1961-1975- women - interviews, nurses, journalists, entertainers, volunteer workers, consular staff