Mr Mark Dreyfus, Member for Isaacs, gave a speech in the House of Representatives on Thursday 16 February 2012, after attending the official opening ceremony on Sunday 12 February 2012. He spoke about the closing of St Leonard's Cornish Campus in 2011, the community determination and achievement in establishing a new school and of Richard B. Cornish and his vision for the future. He also thanked Mr Kerry Bolger, the principal elect and the four student leaders, Robbie Boag, Georgia Bell, Kathleen Kiddell and Eliza Wilton. Two page document with the Australian Coat of Arms at the top of page one and a graphic of Parliament House underneath. Page two contains a speech by Mr Mark Dreyfus, Member for Isaacs dated Thursday 16/02/2012.cornish_college_inaugural_year, education, school, mr kerry bolger, mr mark dreyfus, speech

The portrait was commissioned by St Leonard's College in 1989. Mr Cornish sat for the artist in his office dressed in his cap and gown. Initially the portrait was hung in the main school hall, before being moved to the Cornish Campus in the mid 1990's.Richard Burnet Cornish was principal of St Leonard's College from January 1971 to October 1989. He was a dreamer, a driver, a doer and a visionary leader who purchased the land for Cornish Campus in July 1981 and presided at the official opening in February 1987. Another of his achievements was the introduction of the International Baccalaureate for year 11 and 12 students in 1982.An oil painting of Richard Cornish in accademic gown in 1989, his last year as principal. Signed by the artist "Stanley Ballard '89"the_st_leonards_years, cornish, richard

Newspaper supplement titled Bendigo's Century Volume Five: 1940 - 1949. Each year has heading of Who's Who, Weather, Sport and Business. Front page is titled Bendigo's Century and has a photo of a group of soldiers in uniform and with rifles. They were district servicemen on leave in 1944. Each year has heading of Who's Who, Weather, Sport and Business. First years are 1940 - 1949 titled Bendigo as it was. It has two photos of women wading through the 1949 Pall Mall flood waters and one of Miners in the crib room of the Central Deborah Mine. They are Jackie Lewis, Bob Johnson, W Landy, Ryga Yates and Les Johnson. 1940 - Army moves in to racecourse, 1941 - Devastating fire at pottery, 1942 - Forces expand, 1943 - Nation's eyes on Bendigo, 1944 - News dawns of D-day landing, 1945 - City cheers the end of the war, 1946 - Celebrations begin in city, 1947 - Gallery gets top paintings, 1948 - Water plan looks good and 1949 - Flood takes a toll on city.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - bendigo's century - volume five: 1940 - 1949, bendigo advertiser, central deborah mine, jackie lewis, bob johnson, w landy, ryga yates, les johnson, central nell gwynne, department of defence, bendigo jockey club, 8th division, robert menzies, deborah mine, bendigo decentralisation vigilance committee, cr w h taylor, bendigo war funds organisation, the easter fair society, bendigo agricultural show committee, mr e g ham, mr j v fairbairn, cr a staples, the bendigo chamber of commerce, richard hartley smith abbott, captain harley abbott, bendigo art gallery, bill woodfull, bendigo high school, north deborah mine, boardwalk, toni riley pharmacy, windermere hotel, cr g a pethard, coliban system, north deborah mine, bendigo pottery, bendigo trades hall council, private lawrence burstall, major-general g j rankin mhr, andrew dunstan, ordnance factory, royal australian navy, hmas bendigo, sec offices, muioof, ymca, georger addlem, fred addlem, cr a j anderson, pauline buvhan thompson, leslie thompson, edward joseph leonski, bendigo football league, mr j dedman, william stephens, forest street methodist church, pte charles phillips, pte w e durward, pte t foley, william john stephens, central nell gwynne, air chief marshall sir arthur tedder, cr taylor, united nations, flying officer, r bruce tuff, flight lieutenant owens, royal air force, commonwealth war workers housing trust scheme, mr s mckinnon, bendigo decentralised vigilance committee, ravenswood estate, john lienhop mlc, margaret (peggy) brennan, strathfieldsaye shire council, school of mines, bendigo base hospital, william george ashman, ashman's tailors, bendigo jockey club, victorian football association, bendigo east swimming pool, deborah anticline, specimen hill methodist church, north deborah, adolf hitler, benito mussolini, australian 7th division, cr galvin, bendigo war funds organisation, hmas bendigo, lt-commander jackson, bendigo football league, central deborah mine, victoria day, cr truscott, bendigo gaol, lansellstowe, awas barracks, bendigo citizens committee, john cain snr, ordnance factory, bendigo agricultural society, the duke of gloucester, duchess of gloucester, bendigo tennis association, north deborah, gillies famous pies, aids & appliance shop, mrs georgina scott, dr j a neptune scott, alfred sisley, corot, daubigney, louis sonnenberg, gas employees' union, john lienhop, soldier settlement commission, burnewang estate, king george vi, princess elizabeth, lt philip mountbatten, mr e j w herbert, ansett airways, reg ansett, most rev, dr john mccarthy, dr bernard stewart, michael giudice, bendigo united breweries, bendigo lyric photo plays, bendigo sun newspaper, shamrock hotel, west bendigo progress association, alan mcdonald, south bendigo football club, albert collier, j t webbo, mervyn tresize, state rivers and water supply commission, eppalock reservoir, public works committee, bendigo rotary club, john edgar, bendigo base hospital, albert dunstan, benevolent home, magetti's wine hall, wallace reef wine hall, magetti family, albert magetti, lance galvin, bradford cotton spinnings (victoria) pty otd, arthur syer, stanley crossman, albert arthur dunstan, rev dr henry backhaus, city family hotel, lyric theatre, bank of australasia, city club hotelcolonial mutual building, r matchett & co, lansellstowe, leonard lansell, bendigo bas hospital, australian women's army service, mr hollway, kenworth (aust) ltd, foggitt jones's bacon factory, gordon sayers, sandhurst trustees, dr john drowley, alexander hislop, royal mint, north deborah mine, ironbark south mining company, central nell gwynne company, new chum syncline

A white booklet with red and black print titled 'Oklahoma!' and presented by the Bendigo Operatic Society at the Capital Theatre View Street for five nights commencing on the 15th October, 1965. The Producer is Mr. Cid Ellwood and the lead actors are: Patricia McCracken, Leonard Carr, Ferd Lorenz, Heather Lindhe, Joan Crane, Fred Trewarne, Brian Thomas, Emily Houston, Graham Filcock, Reg Boromeo, Peter Houston and Douglas Sayle. Also included within the booklet are two Bendigo 'Advertiser' articles. One article is titled 'Pert 'Oklahoma Is Not At All Amateurish.' 16/10/1965. The second article is titled 'Interest in 'Oklahoma' is Mounting.' 9/10/1965.performing arts, music, oklahoma, lydia chancellor collection, collection, stage show, drama, musical, theatre, bendigo, clubs and associations, entertainment, performing arts, programme, program, bendigo operatic society, music, actors, actresses, acting, person, societies

-10a Mingawalla House via Callawadda -10b Carrs Plains 1949, Hubert Wettenhall , Jack Cunningham, Peg Moodie, Charles Moodie , Bill Cunningham, Christine Moodie, John Cunningham, Arthur Cunningham, Richard Moodie, Warwick Moodie -10c Carrs Plains Feb 1938. Jack Cunningham, Mollie Wettenhall, Hubert Wettenhall, Pat Wettenhall, Herbert Wettenhall & (Mr Ray Holmes, Teacher at Dadswell’s School -10d Family Gathering at Carrs Plains about 1940. L-R Back. Patricia Campbell, John Campbell, Barbara Cunningham, Peg Wettenhall, Jack Cunningham, Hubert Wettenhall, Front, Dad (Herbert Wettenhall) with Bill Cunningham & Mother (Mary or Molly Wettenhall), -10e Family at the Bolangum Ranges Picnic 1920’s -10f Jack Cunningham in Voluntary Defense Corp St Leonards 1943 -10g Jack Cunningham in Voluntary Defense Corp St Leonards 1943 -10h Madge Anderson, Barbara Cunningham, Bill & John Cunningham at Stawell Station about 1944 -10i Barbara Cunningham in St Leonard’s property Garden. May 1937 -10j John Campbell Mingawalla via Marnoo c 1940 Bulldog Tractor Series of 1o smallish B/W Family PhotographsNames on Back

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006. The first site to be sold in Ballarat, where in 1853 Thomas Bath erected a timber building for use as a hotel. Parts of the present hotel date from 1862, when Walter Craig was owner. The hotel is associated with many historic figures, and no other hotel in Victoria has such an interesting succession of buildings and additions. The former Union Bank of Australia building was designed by Leonard Terry, the renowned bank architect, and was erected in 1863-4.lydiard street south, craig's royal hotel, union bank of australia, terry, leonard

An image from the Herbert Richmond collection, gifted in 1982 to the Ballarat Library. The collection contains approximately 200 photographs of Ballarat and district in the 1940s, 50s and 60s, as well as photo albums, glass negatives and other memorabilia. Herb Richmond was a keen photographer, a foundation member and a life member of the Ballarat Camera Club, and a photographer with the Ballarat Courier during the 1940s. The Ballarat Camera Club named an annual award after him. Mr Richmond died in 1981 aged 79. These four buildings, originally all banks, were designed by Leonard Terry, all erected early 1860s. These images were digitally re-photographed by members of the Ballarat Camera Club in September 2006.terry, leonard

The Kyeema airline crash took place on 25 October 1938 when the Australian National Airways Douglas DC-2 Kyeema, tail number VH-UYC, flying from Adelaide to Melbourne, commenced final approach to Essendon Airport through heavy fog and crashed into the western slopes of Mount Dandenong, killing all 18 on board instantly. There is strong evidence that the pilots were becoming unsure of their position. According to Macarthur Job's book, Disaster in the Dandenongs, the radio operator had requested the controller at Essendon give them a radio bearing. Essendon had acknowledged and told them to leave their transmitter on, but the signal stopped and no further contact was made. It is thought that this is the moment that Kyeema hit the mountain. There were 18 people on board the DC-2: 14 passengers, the captain, the first officer, an air hostess, and a cadet pilot who operated the radio during the flight. The victims were :— THE CREW. CAPTAIN A. C. D. WEBB, 32, pilot, married, of Essendon, Victoria. JUNIOR CAPTAIN ALAN J. STEEN, 25, pilot, married, of Essendon North, Victoria. ELVA JONES, 27, air hostess, single, of Toorak, Victoria. PHILIP D. PRING, about 20, cadet pilot attached to Australian National Airways' Aeronautics School, Sydney. PASSENGERS. CHARLES ALLAN SEYMOUR HAWKER, M.P., 44, single, of Adelaide. LEONARD SYDNEY ABRAHAMS, K.C., 51, married, barrister, of Sydney. SIDNEY HILL SMITH, 41, married, managing director of S. Smith and Son, of Yalumba, South Australia. ALFRED CECIL GAIN, 42, married, barrister, of Sydney. GORDON H. GODDARD, 30, single, accountant, of North Sydney. LANCELOT WILLIAM SHIRLEY, 27, single, solicitor, of Manly. JAMES IAN MASSIE, 25, single, solicitor, of Sydney. VAUGHAN PATE, 42, refrigeration cabinet manufacturer, married, of Unley, South Australia. THOMAS M. HARDY, 48, married, head of the firm of Thomas Hardy and Sons, vignerons, of Seacliff, South Australia. GEORGE WILLIAM LING, 72, of Kingswood, South Australia, former building inspector of the Municipal Tramways Trust, Adelaide. LOUIS HUGO GRAMP, 43, married, managing director of G. Gramp and Sons, Ltd., vignerons, Rowlands (sic) Flat, South Australia. Mrs. ELIZABETH MARY SCHRADER, 69, widow, of Adelaide. Mr. and Mrs. HANS L. GLOE, of Perth.Small section of the Kyeema DC-2 fuselage made up of 5 pieces of piece of twisted and torn aluminium riveted together. Marking can be seen in red but is indistinct. Aluminium has gold, silver and green colouring.kyeema, a webb, j steen, elva jones, philip pring, charles hawker, leonard abrahams, sidney hill smith, alfred gain, gordon goddard, lancelot shirley, james massie, vaughan pate, thomas hardy, george ling, hugo gramp, elizabeth schrader, mr hans gloe, mrs gloe

Five page History of the Firm of W. D. Mason Pty. Ltd. 1894 - 1998 & some personal Memoirs. History starts when Owen Walter Williams came from England to work in the glass industry. He came to Bendigo when he was given notice during the depression. Williams/Mason Family History is included and also the history of W. /d. Mason Pty. Ltd.business, auctioneers, j h curnow & son pty ltd, ian dyett collection - history of the firm of w. d. mason pty ltd 1894 - 1998, owen walter williams, ellen williams, john jughes, brooks robinson & co, henry brooks & co, shaw savill & albion company limited line, akawa (5026 tons), susan barbara lawson, walter williams, samuel thomas williams, owen mostyn williams, w daley, grandview estate, homebest, olwyn, philip harris & co limited, ann mckenzie, wavertree ellen williams, reed smart & tappin, bendigo cathedral - sacred heart, capt'n snooze, watkin williams, mr holmes, j r daley, coles supermarket, walter david mason, thompson & harvey, wavertree ellen mason, ivo james byron steel, albert g rowley, frank g o'brien, roy leonard mason, ellen mason senior - nee jamieson, alan mason, melva mason, thelma annie mason, g d garvin & g eathorne, thomas lancel hosking, alan walter mason, aif, docks operating company, ann (annie) williams, a j & a m & c x taylor

Bendigo Operatic Society Theatre Programme Booklet Production ''Show Boat'' Capital Theatre Bendigo Commencing November 11th, 1960, For Six Nights. Music & Lyrics Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II. Producer Mr Norman Lee. A Chappell & Co. Ltd Production. Cast: Peter Houston, Fred Trewarne, Valerie McCraken, Fred Lorenz, Gertrude Perry, Alfred Annison, Annette Wilson, Brian Brewer, Denis Cremin, Ruth Iredale, Vincent De Araugo, Gerald Hayward, Margaret Rule, Leonard Carr, George Steele, Patricia Lyon, James Allen, Victor White, Robert Nichols, Aileen Simmonds. Songs Include: 'Cotton Blossom, 'Ol' Man River,' 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man,' 'Dance Away the Night,' 'Till Good Luck Comes My Way,' and many others.Cambridge Press Bendigo.clubs and associations, theatre, bendigo operatic society

The photo is of a painting of the dam formed on land between Grovedale Road and James Street, Surrey Hills. It was painted in 1927 by Miss Muriel Pornitz, an art teacher, who lived in Grovedale Road. The land had been part of Mr James Maling Snr’s property and in the 1880s clay was removed to build houses, including his own located on the corner of Weybridge and James Streets. Maling grazed cattle on this area and used it as a dam. The land was subsequently made into parkland, the quarry / dam having been filled in after several drownings had occurred in the 1920s/1930s. See also SHP94, another copy of the same. Muriel Hedwig Lucy Pornitz lived at 22 Grovedale Road, Surrey Hills. She was born c1894 in Balwyn; died in Kew on 1 December 1982. She was the daughter of Konrad Pornitz (1864-1903) and his wife Charlotte Richardson Gooderidge (1863-1942), known as Tottie, who married in 1890. Konrad Pornitz is listed in the 1892 directory as living in Edgevale Road, Kew and the business Pornitz and Ross at 291 & 293 Little Collins Street, importers and commission merchants. The 1896 directory gives the Kew address as 176 Edgevale Road, Kew, however the business Pornitz and Ross was dissolved on 1st day of October 1892, by mutual agreement. Legal notice advised that: Mr Pornitz will hereafter carry on the business on his own behalf at the same address, under the style "Pornitz and Ross". Muriel is buried in Box Hill Cemetery (B-086-0042) along with Ulrich Horst Holm Pornitz known as Horst or Bon (d 1957) and Edith Olga Pornitz (d 1951), her brother and sister. A further sibling (Konrad b 1891) died in infancy. He is buried with his mother in Boroondara (Kew) Cemetery - C/E A 0366. Konrad died at his home 'Yarran' in Lane Cove Road, North Sydney on 31 October 1903; reported in the Sydney Morning Herald. Buried Gore Hill Cemetery, St Leonards, North Sydney. The headstone reveals he was born in Chemnitz, Saxony in 1863. Muriel was also known as Muriel Pornett. She studied at the South Australian School of Arts & Crafts in 1911 under James Ashton and Fred Britton, and at the Australian School of Etching in Sydney. She was also an illustrator and cartoonist. The photo, and the painting from which it is derived, documents the landscape prior to close settlement and is material to early building and farming in the Surrey Hills area.A black and white photograph of a painting of a landscape of parkland. Two trees are on top of a rise and are reflected at the bottom in water. The signature of the artist is in the bottom right corner: "AUST MP 192" (and the rest is cut off).(miss) muriel pornitz, grovedale road, james street, surrey hills, artists, parks and reserves, (mr) john butler maling, snr, quarry, dam, (miss) muriel hedwig lucy pornitz, box hill cemetery, muriel pornett

Mr Walter Sessford Cornhill was born in c1886 in Orsett, Essex; died 2 September 1940 and buried in Box Hill Cemetery (B-069-0028). He was a carpenter. He married Rhoda Fraser (1882-1947). A son John Edmund was a plumber. Daughter Lillian married Charles Frederick Barrow. Walter Cornhill moved from 3 Essex Road to 316 Canterbury Road some tome after 1937. The house passed to Charles Frederick Barrow and wife Lillian and subsequently to Leonard Clement Gangell and his wife Pamela Gangell, nee Barrow.A black and white photograph of an early modern style house built on a corner block. It is built of brick. The upper portion of the house is rendered with occasional brickwork patterning. A low brick fence borders both street frontages.canterbury road, essex road, 1940, early modern style, mr walter sessford cornhill, mrs rhoda cornhill, miss rhoda fraser, mr john edmund cornhill, miss lillian cornhill, mr charles frederick barrow, mrs lillian barrow

Murray Comrie Collection. Monochrome photograph depicting members of Tarnagulla Tennis Club posed as a group on the side of the Tarnagulla Tennis Club court, with the Club shelter behind. An accompanying note identifies some of the subjects: Boys at back: 1. ______ 2. _________ 3. Fred Radnell Back row: 1. __________ 2. Walker (chemist) 3. ________(F) 4. ________(F) 5. Mr. Harper 6. Alice Joyce 7. _______(F) 8. Mary Comrie 9. _________ (F) 10. Dan Duggan 11. _______(F) 12._______(F) 13._______(F) 14. Ruth Langan 15. Tom Page Seated/middle row: 1. Maud Renshaw 2. _______(F) 3. Emily Renshaw 4. Eliza Renshaw 5. Ruth Bool 6. Mrs Leonard (Emma Davies) with child Viva Hale in front 7. Jess Joyce. Seated on ground: 1. _______(M) 2. Emily Joyce 3. Annie Ison 4. Elsie Comrie 5. Florrie Bool 6. (M) possibly Dr. Donovan. This fair quality copy was made from an older original photograph, probably in the late 1960s. tarnagulla, tennis, sport, clubs, people, walker, radnell, harper, joyce, comrie, duggan, langan, renshaw, bool, leonard, davies, hale, ison, donovan

A digital image of this photograph was provided to LDHS by Leon Dark in 2019.Black and white photograph of the Esso "Servicenter" in Linton in the 1960s. Mr V L Dark, proprietor, is standing outside the building, near one of the petrol bowsers.w l & v m dark [garage proprietors], william leonard dark, verna marjorie dark, esso garage linton, linton garage

Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Capital Theatre, Bendigo. Tuesday 16th August, 8pm. The Australian Broadcasting Commission presents Sir Bernard Heinze. These concerts are arranged by the Australian Broadcasting Commission in conjunction with the Government of Victoria. Rogramme: Fifteen Cents. Articles with photos of on Sir Bernard Heinze and Wayne Rapier. Annotations. Geelong A.B.C. Subscribers' Committee Members 1966. President: Mr J A Brockman. Secretary: Mr J E McClellend. Committee: Miss A France, Miss E Sheridan, Mrs G Brook, Mrs W G L Cartwright, Mrs HC Fallaw, Mrs R H Hoe, Mrs H G Marfell, Mrs G Pennan, Mr & Mrs D O Davey, Mr C P S Billot, Mr Mervyn Callaghan, Mr E A Goding, Mr J L Grant, Mr R Heagney, Mr P H Larsen, Mr F Loxley, Mr N G Schultz, Mr J Phemister, Miss J Cullen. Australian Broadcasting Commission Constituted under the Broadcasting and Television Act, 1942-1965. Commissioners: J R Darling, E R Dawes, A G Lowndes, H B Halvorsen, J T Reid, Mrs. Dorothy Edwards, General Manager: T S Duckmanton. Manager for Victoria: E A Whiteley. Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (Season of 1966). Leader of Orchestra: Leonard Dommett. First Violins: Bertha Jorgenson, Paul McDermott, Leon La Gruta, Milton Holden, Brian Beatty, Ronald Layton, Rudolf Osadnik. Second Violins: William Glassford, Alex Burlakov, Chrles Reither, Ivan Pietruschka, Robert Pattison, Percy Pledger. Violas: Marston Bate, Henry Wenig,

A black and white photograph of Bendigo Teachers' College staff in 1971. Three staff members are at the circulation desk in the college library. Miss J.C. Burnett is in the foreground on the right hand side. Mr. Jeff Layner and Mr. Colin Barnes are to the right in the background. The staff are in front of the Leonard French mural a feature of the library. See 3320.100bendigo, education, bendigo teachers' college staff, latrobe university bendigo collection, collection, education, bendigo, library, libraries, teacher training, tertiary education, miss j.c. burnett, mr. geoff pryor, mr. jeff layner, mr. colin barnes, photo, photos, photograph, photographs, history, art, mural, murals, leonard french mural

Bendigo Operatic Society ''The Countess Maritza'' for Five Nights Commencing Friday 25th November 1966 at the Capital Theatre, View Street. Producer: Mr. Cid Ellwood - Musical Director: Max O'Loghlen - Assistant Producer, Ballet Mistress and Wardrobe Mistress: Miss Madge Welch - Society Pianist and Chorus Mistress: Mrs. Gwen Grose. Cast in Order of Appearance: Bert Donovanas Cheko (Butler to Countess Maritza) - Brian Axford as Berko (Peasant in Love with Manya) - Terry Carr as Josef (Peasant at Maritza's Estate) - Nigel Wright as Akos (Peasant at Maritza's Estate) - Ruth Iredale as Manya (Gypsy Fortuneteller) - Leonard Carr as Belo Torok (Alias Count Tassilo) - Reginald Boromeo as Captain Karl Stephen (Tassilo's Friend) - Ferd Lorenz as Prince Koloman Zoupan - Valerie McCracken as Countess Maritza - Rhonda Osborne as Ilka Grasuvenko (Friend of Maritza) - Patricia McCracken as Countess Lisa Erody (Sister of Count Tassilo) - Fred Trewarne as Baron Moritz Dragomir Populescu (Mayor of Verasdin) - Joan Crane as Baroness Bozena Populescu (Aunt of Tassilo) - Nigel Wright as Penizek (Her Secretary) - Brian Axford as Raimund - Joan Mellis as Sari - Yvonne Hopkins as Mitzi.program, theatre, bendigo operatic society

Bendigo Operatic Society ''Brigadoon'' At the Capital Theatre View Street Bendigo Commencing on November 6th, 1964, For a Five Night Season. Producer: Cid Ellwood - Assistant Producer and Ballet Mistress: Miss Madge Welch - Society Pianist: Mrs. Gwen Grose - Musical Director Max O'Loghlen. Cast in Order of Appearance: Leonard Carr as Tommy Albright - Ferd Lorenz as Jeff Douglas - Victor White as Angus McMonies - Jack Werry as Donald Ritchie - Douglas Sayle as Sandy - Bronwyn Cornwall as Maggie Abernethy - Reginald Boromeo as MacGregor - Ian Beckwith as Stuart Cameron - Graham Filcock as Harry Ritchie - Joan Crane as Meg Brockie - James Watson as Andrew MacKeith - Heather Lindhe as Fiona - Mary Speedy as Jean - Peter Ivarsen as Charlie Cameron - George Steele as Mr. Murdoch - Fred Trewarne as A Sword Dancer - Reg Boromeo as A Sword Dancer - Colin Cairns as Piper - Bert Donovan as Frank - Annette Beckwith as Jane Ashton.program, theatre, bendigo operatic society

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village