Around four months after becoming President of the Old Colonists' Association the Covid19 pandemic hit, and by March 2020 Ballarat was in lockdown. Association Council meetings continued online, residents of the retirement village were kept informed of safety requirements during the pandemic, and 3 additional units were built at the Charles Anderson Grove Retirement Village. A Conservation Management Plan was also commissioned for the Old Colonists' Hall.Colour photographs of Jo Barber President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc giving her inaugural speech As President. Andrew Robson (secretary) sits to her left and Steve Carter (Treasurer) sits to her right.The photograph was taken in the Old Colonists' Hall on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting.ballarat old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' hall, jo barber, president, covid19, pandemic, president's collar, andrew robson, steve carter

The homes were presented by the donors for the use of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat. The homes fulfil the original 1888 aim of 'aid and assist indigent or suffering old colonists' and 'to provide the shelter of a home for old and indigent pioneers of the gold fields, their widows, or anyone connected with the association'. From the minute books: "Mr and Mrs F.J. Williams, both natives of Ballarat, offered to build a cottage on the Association's ground at Perry Park [now Charles Anderson Grove] something after a style of the Hassell Homes. That offer was immediately followed by another from Mr S.W.J. Clark, a member of the Council. Both offers were promptly and gratefully accepted." The Old Colonists' Association Ballarat Inc. is a not for profit charitable organisation providing accommodation for elderly people. It manages over 40 Home retirement village at Charles Anderson Grove Ballarat. Accommodation is offered at significantly below market rates. It has been providing low cost accommodation to the elderly since the 1920s. The Association Council overseas the running of this facility on a voluntary basis. One of the first objectives of the Association was "to provide the shelter of a hose for those Pioneers of the Goldfields whom the reverses of fortune have deprived of the means of procuring the comforts of life in their declining years." The first home at Charles Anderson Grove was built in 1925. Before that time the Association provided relief for needy pioneers. relief included monthly monetary payments, loads of firewood, medical assistance and distribution of Christmas boxed of groceries to deserving pensioners, and in some cases payment of burial costs. == Purposes == ::a) The dominant purpose of the Association is to give public benevolent relief as a charity, but providing independent living accommodation in our Retirement Village for person in need who are over 65. ::b) To raise funds by membership subscription, commercial and residential rents, donations, gifts and voluntary work, for the purpose of providing direct relief of poverty, distress, misfortune or helplessness. ::c) To maintain the important heritage and ongoing viability of the Old Colonists' Association.

Sculptural portrait of John Murray, President of the Old Colonists' Association, Ballarat.john murray, johm paul murray, old colonists' association ballarat, old colonists' hall, entrance, sculpture

The Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat retirement village at Charles Anderson Grove. old colonists' association ballarat, charles anderson grove, retirement village

Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Retirement Home cottages at Charles Anderson Grove.charles anderson grove, old colonists' association, gillies street, cottages, retirement village

Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Retirement Home cottages at Charles Anderson Grove.charles anderson grove, old colonists' association, gillies street, cottages, retirement village

Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Retirement Home cottages at Charles Anderson Grove.charles anderson grove, old colonists' association, gillies street, cottages, retirement village

Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Retirement Home cottages at Charles Anderson Grove.charles anderson grove, old colonists' association, gillies street, cottages, retirement village

The Farrer Cottage was built in 1956.Colour photograph of the Farrier Cottage at the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat retirement village. charles anderson grove, ballarat, ballarat old colonists' club, farrer cottage, old colonists' association, ballarat

Photographs of the Marble Boards showing the Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Past Presidents Board ballarat old colonists' association, honour board, john william graham, john paul murray, william robertson, robert uriah nicholls, thomas tuke hollway, william henry stokeld, john ambrose blight, arthur hereward nevett, walter herbert tweedie, alfred ernest campbell kerr, sidney wallace john clark, john glasson, john kildahl richards, walter j. irwin, charles n. tulloch, charles h.g. anderson, edmond c. doepel, t.p.w. wilson, e.a.h. guymer, r.h. ramsay, h.b. irwin, david a.e. fawell, j.h.c. coventry, l.j. drury, m.j. charles, d.l. pratt, james s. sleep, andrew r. robson, margaret rich, m.j. blenkiron, steve j. carter

Permewen Cottage at the Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Retirement Village, Charles Anderson Grove.charles anderson grove, ballarat, ballarat old colonists' club, old colonists' association, ballarat, permewen cottage

Colour photograph of David Pratt (left) and Andrew Tweedie (President of the Old Colonists' Association, Ballarat )old colonists' association ballarat, ballarat old colonists' club, ballarat old colonists' hall, presidents' dinner, david pratt, andrew tweedie

Members of the Old Colonists' Association Council attend an online meeting during the Covid-19 pandemicold colonists' association council, covid 19, corona virus, pandemic, zoom meeting, andrew robson, gerald jenzen, travis hurst, vincent braybrook, gillian canavan, clare gervasoni, jo barber, travis hirst, geoff beechey, steve carter

Colour photographs of the Old Colonists' Association Collar, which is worn by the incoming Association President on the installation night. old colonists' association, president's collar, collar, costume, stitchery, embroidery, gold braid, ballarat old colonists' club, ceremonial collar

Brick cottage known as the Mitchell Cottage at the Old Colonists' Association Retirement Village at Charles Anderson Grove. mitchell cottage, charles anderson grove, old colonists' association ballarat

Brick cottage known as the Mitchell Cottage at the Old Colonists' Association Retirement Village at Charles Anderson Grove. mitchell cottage, charles anderson grove, old colonists' association ballarat

Colour photographs of the opening of the new 15 units at the Old Colonists' Association Charles Anderson Grove Retirement Village.old colonists' association ballarat, retirement village, charles anderson grove, community centre, opening

Colour photographs 15 new units under construction at the Old Colonists' Association Charles Anderson Grove Retirement Village.charles anderson grove, old colonists' association ballarat, community centre, retirement village, opening

The marbles in the foyer of the Old Colonists' Hall feature many names associated with the membes of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat.Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Marble Benefactors Board. DONATIONS J.P. Murray James Bishop John Shaw David Ham Thomas Bath T.T, Hollway Richard Mitchell S.W.J. Clark Dr J.K. Richards H.C. Handford T.H. Shattock Dr W.A. Spring Donald McKay J.T. Smith BEQUESTS J.G. Taylor Thomas Blackett Philp Windmiller Joseph Roff Peter Hume James Francis Hannah Rennard Sarah Smythe David McNaight W.P. Martin Jane Wilson Edwin Brewer W.E. Ballhausen John Church J.P. Murray Charles Tinworth Henry Josephs M.A. Winsby Chris Heinz Andrew Munro John Wright Thomas Paterson J.H. Ward George Crombie Mary A. Nicol R.D. McINtosh Richard Mitchell J.S. Miller S.W.J. Clark Endowment W.J. Irwin Francis L. Jones A. Farrer Louisa Strange J. Permewan Feederick Reid Joe White Bequest L.J. Wilson Perpetual Trust G. Sutherland Hilton White Bequest I.E. Reid Ian Rollo Currie Foundation I. Dodds Lancelot W. Wilson Trust old colonists association, benefactors, honour board, j.p. murray, james bishop, john shaw, david ham, thomas bath, t.t, hollway, richard mitchell, s.w.j. clark, dr j.k. richards, h.c. handford, t.h. shattock, dr w.a. spring, donald mckay, j.t. smith, j.g. taylor, thomas blackett, philp windmiller, joseph roff, peter hume, james francis, hannah rennard, sarah smythe, david mcnaight, w.p. martin, jane wilson, edwin brewer, w.e. ballhausen, john church, j.p. murray, charles tinworth, henry josephs, m.a. winsby, chris heinz, andrew munro, john wright, thomas paterson, j.h. ward, george crombie, mary a. nicol, r.d. mcintosh, richard mitchell, j.s. miller, s.w.j. clark endowment, w.j. irwin, francis l. jones, a. farrer, louisa strange, j. permewan, feederick reid, joe white bequest, l.j. wilson perpetual trust, g. sutherland, hilton white bequest, i.e. reid, ian rollo currie foundation, i. dodds, lancelot w. wilson trust, ian g. bishop

This photograph was taken on the occasion of choosing a builder for the new units at Charles Anderson Grove, BallaratColour photographs of Council Members of the Old Colonists' Association Inc., after agreeing on the builder for the new Charles Anderson Grove Units. charles anderson grove, contract, ballarat old colonists' association

Ledger with a leather spine and a red letter name plaque with gold lettering "Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Life Governor's Register"old colonists' association ballarat, life governors

A miners' right issued to John Wiight in Trust for the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat. The land under Miners' Right was in Humffray Street South.miners' right, ballarat old colonists' association, john wright, humffray street south

The Foundation Stone was laid in 1887.Colour photograph of a bluestone foundation stone with gold writing. It is the foundation Stone of the Old Colonists' Association Ballarat building in Lydiard Street North, Ballarat.This stone was laid on Jubilee Day A.D. 21st June, 1887, by J.P. Murray esq J.P. President of the Old Colonsts Association. Ballaratold colonists' association ballarat, ballarat old colonists; club, j.p. murray, architecture, foundation stone

Colour photograph of President Travis Hurst, President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc.The photograph was taken in the Old Colonists' Hall on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting and installation of President.ballarat old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' hall, president, president's collar, travis hurst, andrew robson, steve carter

Photograph of Jo Barber wearling the presidents collar on the night she was elected President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat proposing a toast to John Lewis, newly elected President of the Old Colonists' Club.jo barber, old colonists' association of ballarat, president, john lewis

Ian Bishop of President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat in its centenary year. Negatives of a number of photographs showing Ian G. Bishop wearing the President's collar of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat.old colonists' associaiton of ballarat, ian bishop, ian g. bishop, collar, centenary

Colour photographs of President Travis Hurst receivingthe President's Collar from Jo Barber, Past President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc.The photograph was taken in the Old Colonists' Hall on the occasion of the Annual General Meeting.ballarat old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' hall, jo barber, president, president's collar, travis hurst

Colour photographs of Jamie Sleep as President of the Old Colonists' Association of Ballarat Inc conducting his final meeting as President.. To his left is Andrew Robson (Secretary) and the the right is Steve Carter (Treasurer). The photograph was taken in the Old Colonists' Hall.ballarat old colonists' association, jamie sleep, andrew robson, steve carter, ballarat old colonists' hall