The Returned Soldiers and Sailors Mills was located near the Barwon river on Pakington Street, Geelong, where its building still stands. The mill was established in October 1922 with capital acquired from War Gratuity Bonds. The mill produced fine grade woollen products with its speciality being ‘Retsol’ travelling rugs. The mill first began to run into financial troubles with the ‘Credit Squeeze’ or the ‘Holt Jolt’ of the early 1960s. This saw import restrictions lifted which triggered the start of a minor recession and a rise in unemployment. Included in these troubles was the RS&S Mill which saw the number of employees gradually decrease and business declining with cheaper imports beginning to grab an expanding part of the market share. The mill was eventually purchased by Godfrey Hirst in 1973 who tried to continue operations without success and in June 1975 textile production at the site ceased. Outside of financial considerations contributing to the closure of Woollen Mills in this period was the declining need for heavier fabrics as in-home heating and insulation improved. This need had been replaced for a demand for ever softer, finer and lighter worsted fabrics for more casual clothing. Modern day textile production requires fewer steps in the processing of materials for this use. This meant large factory complexes such as early woollen mills like the RS&S mills were no longer required. Compared to modern textile production which can spin a fine yarn out of synthetic fibre or imported cotton easily, spinning fine yarn from medium quality wool at a textile factory was cumbersome and no longer financially viable to suit new consumer demands. This rug provides context to this statement. It was gifted to Shirley and Gordon Green as a wedding present in November 1963 by one of Gordon's colleagues in the wool industry. Living in areas such as Neutral Bay, the Hornsby area and later in life retiring to the Central Coast, the blanket was too heavy for use in these weather conditions and hence it stayed in its original box for nearly 60 years. Top and bottom of rug has frilled edges. Pattern is titled the 'Clan Cameron' and is repeated in a 7x7 grid. Front of rug has a red background with 4 vertical and horizontal lines. All is surrounded by a yellow boarder. Label is stitched into the bottom right corner. Reverse of rug also has a repeating 7x7 grid. Blue background with thick green horizontal stripe. Yellow and red boarder to the grid with 4 red vertical and horizontal lines making up the interior. Rug measure 1550 x 2040mm, approximately the same size as a queen size mattress.Wording, Bottom right corner. THE GEELONG R.S&S. WOOLEN MILLS/ PURE/ WOOL/ AUSTRALIA/ The John Monash Rug (cursive)/ The Clan Cameron (cursive)rs&s mills, textile manufacture, rug, clan cameron, sydney greasy wool exchange

A commemorative magazine published by R.S.S.I.L.A. for Anzac Day 1919. It contains black and white photos from World War 1. Was with other World War 1 memorabilia that has come from Private John Basil McLean, 2nd Reinforcements, 37th Battalion, A.I.F. J.B. McLean (Service No. 13824) was from near Maffra, Victoria and enlisted on 22 January 1916. He embarked on 16 December 1916 for Europe. His full war record is available from AWM. He spent time with the Australian Field Artillery (Pack Section). At the end of the war he worked for a year at the A.I.F. Headquarters in London before returning to Australia on the 'Ceramic', arriving Portsea in 1920.A record of a publication made to commemorate World War 1.A publication to commemorate ANZAC Day in 1919, a colour printed cover with a wrap around tissue protective cover.world war one, souvenir

Gilt bronze medallionIssued by Dept of Defence. returned from Active Service. Australian Military Forces. 211591

Part of a collection of POW items by VX 8007 A.J. Roddy, AMMO Coy, A.A.S.C., 6 Division. POW in Greece CampaignLow Grade paper with printed information, camp commanders signature. For use in in Italian Prisoner of War Camp No 106Campo P.G. No106. PM 3100. No 2696. Buono per L. Una. Il Comandante. Vale solo presso lo spaccio del campocamp, ww11, pow, italian, money

Murray Comrie Collection. The monument was created and erected by Mr. Barber of Dunolly in October 1919. It was unveiled by Brigadier General Brand C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. at 2:30pm on Saturday November 8th, 1919. The Welcome Home Committee, formed 2nd July 1917, was largely responsible for commissioning the monument. Foundation members were Mrs. B. Patterson, Mrs J. Bock and the Misses P. Lemin, Violet Radnell, D. Dyer and Doris and Phoebe Bock. The Committee arranged 'Welcome Home' functions for each local soldier returning home after service in the First World War. Tarnagulla had a very large number of enlistments for its population. Angus M. Comrie is standing to the right of the Memorial with his daughter Mavis Comrie, and Nell Alexander. Mavis Comrie presented a new Union Jack flag to the Tarnagulla School on 25th July 1919 to commemorate Peace. Peace Medals were also distributed to the school students.Monochrome photograph depicting the unveiling ceremony for the Soldiers' Memorial monument in Tarnagulla. A large crowd is looking on, some spilling off the curb and onto the street, whilst several officials stand on a temporary platform. The obelisk monument is left of centre in the image. tarnagulla, war, military, service, soldiers, veterans, ww1, first world war, commemoration, school, war memorial, monument, comrie, radnell, lemin, dyer, patterson, alexander, bock, brigadier general brand

Leonhard Adam was a Dunera internee in Camp 2 Tatura.RomanticismWatercolour painting of barracks and perimeter fencing in Tatura Internment Camp 2. The evening sky is blue with a full moon. Lights are on in the barracks.Leonhard Adam. Camp 2 Victoria, Australien, 18.iii.42tatura, dunera, internee camps, illustrations, watecolour

Set of three tickets, two of which are referred to in item 4261. .1 - Authority card or form detailing the dates for which tickets can be purchased, conditions of travel. Has space for a number. Has been stamped "15 Feb. 1918", pencil mark No. 39938 and then another hand stamp under that cannot be read. Possibly a printer's proof. Issued by the Tramway Board .2 - Ticket - printed in red ink on a cardboard card with a red cloth backing, by the MMTB, for "A blind man" to travel during 1920, form number 992, stamped No. 5. .3 - as above for "A blind soldier", printed in blue ink on a blue cloth card.trams, tramways, tickets, world war 1, hospital, blind person, soldiers

History, description and maps of the Soldiers Memorial Avenue Hobart. Includes map, with location of memorial trees.Single sheet printed in colour both sideswar memorials, hobart

Part of a collection of POW items by VX8007 A.J. Roddy, Ammo Coy, A.A.S.C. 6 Division, POW in Greece CampaignLow Grade paper with printed information, for use in Italian POW Camp. Has N6544 on it. Prigionieri Di Guerra/ Buono fiduciano da L.5/ Valevole soltanto Nell' interno del cmpo di concentramento/ N. 6544 / Lire Cinqueww11, pow, italian, camp money, 5 lira, a j roddy

Copy of a cheque celebrating the final repayment by R. S. & S. Woollen and Worsted Co-operative of a Commonwealth Government loan.Copy of a cheque mounted on cardboard with white and black printed text.GEELONG R. S. & S. / Woollen & Worsted Co-operative Manufacturing Co. Ltd. / £50,000 / Commonwealth Government Loan. / Repayable in 10 Years / Granted by Special Act of Parliament 20th Dec. 1922. / Rt. Hon. W. M. Hughes, Prime Minister -- Hon. Arthur Rogers Minister for Repatriation / Final Repayment by above Cheque -- 20th Dec. 1932.

Ticket issued by the Tramway Board for the use by soldiers in uniforms with colours for one journey on a cable tram. Could not be used for a transfer or part payment of a higher fare.Demonstrates a free travel tickets for returned soldiers in uniform - c1919 - possibly for use to or from an event.Set of two Ticket from a strip of tickets - perforated card printed in red ink on pink coloured card.tramways, trams, soldiers, tramway board, cable trams, tickets

WW1 soldiers in Camp in Australia. Sergeant James Sumner 1914-18 in front with no hat KIA.stawell ww1

One of two sets of stereographs donated by the O'Beirne family along with a stereoscope for viewing (Stereoscope is Registration no. 2014-51).Groups of soldiers breaking camp at Broadmeadows."12,910 THE AUSTRALIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE, BROADMEADOWS. Breaking Camp / Prior to their Departure for the Front."stereographs, australian expeditionary force

Photograph mounted on cardboard of group of soldiers in uniform, seated in rows. Members of front row are holding rifles. Two officers in centre of front row. Soldier seated on ground at front holds up sign in front of group. Words on sign are partially obscured by discoloration of photo, also bottom line of sign has been cut through when photo was mounted. Sign appears to read "Ballarat 18th Infantry Bde / A. Coy. 71st Infantry / Winners Championship / Camp Broadmeadows. / April 1917".world war 1914-1918, soldiers, 71st infantry, 18th infantry brigade

Queenstown (St Andrews) looking towards Panton Hill . A picnic is taking place. Streetscape with dirt road, buildings, Model T Fords and people. Police station far left, the gaol was behind (not visible). On the right is a boarding house according to Mr. Ninks, next to right the Mechanics Institute or library according to Miss Muller. On far right, Coach House (stables not shown) - end of coach run from Heidelberg. This is possibly a picnic for returned servicemen from Gallipoli. The house on the right still existed c.1970 and was alongside Hotel on Kinglake side. Reproduced page 35 Pioneers & Painters also on the back cover and on page 59 of "St Andrews: a village built on gold". Described in chapter headed "The Police Paddocks". This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Prints 20 x 25 and 9 x 12.5 cm sepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, cars, police station, st andrews, model t ford, pioneers and painters, boarding house, gallipoli, picnic, police paddocks, retuned soldiers

A photo of a large group of teenage boys and men from Big Camp, January 1970. Big camp was for older junior Legatees. One of the men appears to be Sir Rohan Delacombe, the Governor of Victoria and patron of Legacy (fourth from the left centre road). Melbourne Legacy provided camps for junior legatees - the children of deceased servicemen. It started with outings to the property of Legacy founder, Legatee Stan Savige, who had a place in Balnarring. Permanent camp buildings were built and with an association with Lord Somers (Governor of Victoria) it was called Somers Camp. The camps gave the children an opportunity of a summer beach holiday with other Legacy children. It came from an envelope with other Big camp photos. The Legacy envelope was marked "P5 Power House" in red pen, and Box 15 in blue pen. The contents will be items 00427 to 00430.A record of Junior Legatee camps.Black and white photo of Legatees and senior boys at Big Camp 1970.Front of photo has text over the photo: "Big Camp Jan___ 1970". On reverse "P5 Legacy / 1970 Big Camp" written in blue pen.somers camp, junior legatee outing, big camp

Wooden Plaque N Z Returned Services Association N Z Returned Services Association

Leslie William Cole was born on 31 January 1920 in Albury, the first child of William James Cole and Gwendoline Fair. Les spent most of his childhood living with his grandparents in Bethanga, Victoria. In 1934 when he finished school, Les moved into Wodonga. His first job was at Mates Timber Yard. He later worked for Mylons of Wodonga driving taxis and buses. In 1939 after completing militia training, Les applied to enlist with the RAAF and eventually trained as an Aircraft Mechanic. He was posted to the 6th Squadron, serving in Port Moresby, Milne Bay and Goodenough Island before returning to the RAAF base in Sale, Victoria. On discharge. Les returned to Wodonga and resumed working with Mylons. After a range of jobs, Les and his wife Lorna operated a shop in Ariel Street, Wodonga. In the community, Les was a founding member of Wodonga Lions Club. He also joined the Civil Defence which was a predecessor off the SES. He became the Communications Officer and trained other members. Les became the first Controller of the Wodonga Branch of the State Emergency Service, a position he held for 17 years. The new SES headquarters was named in his honour. In retirement he also worked as a Volunteer Community Driver. Les was also named Wodonga Citizen of the Year in 1984. Les continued living in Wodonga until the age of 103 in 2023, when he moved to Melbourne to be closer to his children. He passed away on 12 December 2023. This torch was part of a collection of items donated to Wodonga Historical Society by Les Cole. The RSL emblem on this item was first introduced in 1990.A small tin containing an aluminium torch and 2 batteries in foam packing. The emblem of the Australian Returned Services League is etched on the lid. On side of torch: RETURNED & SERVICES LEAGUE AUSTRALIArsl australia, memorabilia

Brass Returned from Active service badgeFront Returned from active service Back A0077

These badges were produced about 1918 or 1919 to gain finds to assist Australian soldiers discharged from the armed forces after serving in World War One. One source suggests that the badges were sold only in South Australia and raised £500,000 but, as these badges are part of the collection of the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in Victoria it is likely that they were sold throughout Australia. The sale of badges such as these was a common way of raising funds for charitable causes, especially during World War One and also during the first half of the 20th century. These badges are retained as examples of the type of badges sold during World War One. They will be useful for display purposes. .1 A circular-shaped metal badge with a gold outer edging and a brown background with a laurel wreath, a star and brown printing within a cream-coloured heart. The badge has a clip at the back. .2 as above Discharged Soldiers’ Fund For Our Returned Soldiers Copyright world war one, warrnambool, history of warrnambool, australian soldiers, south australia

Photograph of a building at Somers Camp. Melbourne Legacy provided camps for junior legatees - the children of deceased servicemen. It started in the early years of Legacy with outings to the property of Legacy founder, Legatee Stan Savige, who had a place in Balnarring. Permanent camp buildings were built in the 1930s and with an association with Lord Somers (Governor of Victoria) it was called Somers Camp. The camps gave the children an opportunity of a summer beach holiday with other Legacy children.An original building at Somers Camp.Black and white photo of buildings at Somers Camp."Norman Smith ILC" in blue pen and "Legacy Somers Camp (original Camp at Somers)" in pencil on reverse.somers camp, camp

A photo of a large group of teenage boys and men from Big Camp, 11-18 January 1969, at Lord Somers Camps. Big camp was for older Junior Legatees. This photo shows 27 people who took part. Melbourne Legacy provides camps for junior legatees. The camps gave the children an opportunity of a summer beach holiday with other Legacy children. It started with outings to the property of Legacy founder, Legatee Stan Savige, who had a place in Balnarring near the beach. Permanent camp buildings were built in 1930. In 1930 Lord Somers (Governor of Victoria) also started a camp at a nearby property and the area was renamed Somers. Legacy Somers Camps continued intermittently at Stan's property until it was decided in 1951 to make other arrangements for holidays. Including using Lord Somers Camp in Somers for the camps.Melbourne Legacy provided the Somers Camp experience for different age groups.Black and white photo of Legatees and senior boys at Big Camp in 1969. Front: Big Camp Jan 11-18 1969 in black type. Back: LEGACYbig camp, somers camp, junior legatee outing, lord somers camp

This stool was made by a POW in camp 13 and was gifted to Mr Ron Baker, who delivered milk to the camp. Wooden stool made from local timber. The top surface of the stool is made with inlaid wooden pieces to form a decorative pattern. camp woodwork, internee woodwork, wooden stool, ron baker, pow woodwork