This image is part of a larger collection of images from the Public Transport Corporation displaying train stations and streetscapes in what is now the City of Kingston.The Nepean Highway is a major highway running through the City of Kingston. This image is one of many that depicts its importance to the local community as it undergoes many changes over time.Black and white photograph depicting railway crossing at Nepean Highway Moorabbin. The level crossing gates are open and a man is walking through with his dog. To the right of the crossing is a billboard/hoarding promoting what appears to be a brand of radio/wireless.White round sticker with indecipherable black printed text which has been scribbled over with black pen. White round sticker with black printed text: 175 Handwritten in red ink: 50% Blue ink stamped on reverse: COPYRIGHT / Public Transport Corporation / For re-ordering photographs / Please quote negative No ADV 903 / Enquiries C/- PTC Photographic Unit / Telephone switchboard 619 111moorabbin, trains, railway crossing, level crossing, nepean highway

This image is part of a larger collection of images from the Public Transport Corporation displaying train stations and streetscapes in what is now the City of Kingston.The development of the railway was crucial to the ongoing development of the area. Community life sprung up around the railway line which is evident in the proximity of shopping and leisure.Black and white photograph of railway gates at Centre Road, Bentleigh.Black printed text on a small, round, white sticker on reverse: 227 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 50% Black typed text on a strip of white paper stuck on reverse: Gates Centre Road Bentleigh / mid 1960 / $50 reproduction fee applies Blue ink stamped on reverse: COPYRIGHT / Public Transport Corporation / For re-ordering photographs / Please quote negative No H 3407 / Enquiries C/- PTC Photographic Unit / Telephone switchboard 619 1111bentleigh, railway crossing, trains, suburbs, shopping strip

This image explores the relationship between the train lines and community development. Cheltenham's retail centre is connected to the train station.Black and white image of Charman Road, Cheltenham, depicting a car and truck travelling toward the level crossing near the train station. There is another car already waiting at the crossing gates. Cars are parked on either side of the road along a shopping strip.Black printed text on a white round sticker adhered to the reverse: 141 Handwritten in red ink on reverse: 50% Black typed text on a white strip of paper adhered to reverse: Charman Road, Cheltenham / circa late 1920's/early 1930's / $50 reproduction fee applies Blue ink stamped on reverse: COPYRIGHT / Public Transport Corporation / For re-ordering photographs / Please quote negative ADV 485 / Enquiries C/- PTC Photographic Unit / Telephone switchboard 619 1111cheltenham, trains, railway, railway crossing, shopping strip, cars

It is believed that the photograph on the obverse side of the postcard was taken in 1918. Depicted are ten Australian male soldiers. Their names are transcribed in pencil on the reverse side of the postcard. Each soldier is dressed in a formal military uniform. It is believed that these soldiers were part of The Australian Imperial Force during World War I. This can be inferred by the chevron rank insignia visible on the uniforms of nine of ten men. The placement of this insignia on the sleeves of their right arms suggests that they were either Warrant Officers or Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO). Specifically, the number of chevron stripes - here, nine men have three - are believed to signify a Corporal rank. The men pictured on this postcard are also wearing 'Rising Sun' collar badges on their coats. Australia, unlike most other Commonwealth countries, did not adopt metal regimental badges during the First World War. All units were issued with the Australian Army General Service Badge, better known as the 'Rising Sun’ badge. This insignia is almost always identified with the Australian Imperial Force. Another characteristic of the Australian Imperial Force uniform are the rectangular colour patches worn by all men on this postcard. In March 1915, a new scheme of unit identification was devised to replace the wearing of unit titles. This consisted of cloth colour patches on the upper arms of a soldier’s tunic. The black and white nature of the record means that we cannot establish which battalion these soldiers were part of. However, one of the handwritten signatures on the reverse side of the postcard reads "W.A. Griggs". This was the signature of Sergeant William Archibald Griggs. Further research shows that Griggs was part of the 5th Australian Division Signals Company. Therefore, it is believed these soldiers were part of the ANZAC Signal Companies. The main role of the Signal Companies during World War I was the laying and maintenance of telephone cables and switchboards, used to connect various units in their area. Furthermore, the man standing in the back row, third from the left side, has an Overseas Service chevron patch on his coat. In January 1918, the Australian Imperial Force approved the wearing of the overseas service chevrons which had been adopted by the British Army. These were embroidered or woven inverted chevrons worn above the cuff on the right arm. Due to a shortage of supply, some men had chevrons privately made. For each year of war service, a blue chevron was awarded, and those men who had embarked in 1914 received a red chevron to indicate that year’s service; however, the black and white nature of the postcard makes it difficult to determine what colours are on this man's patch.The record is historically significant due to its connection to World War I. This conflict is integral to Australian culture as it was the single greatest loss of life and the greatest repatriation of casualties in the country's history. Australia’s involvement in the First World War began when the Australian government established the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in August 1914. Immediately, men were recruited to serve the British Empire in the Middle East and on the Western Front. The first significant Australian action of the war was the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force’s (ANMEF) landing on Rabaul on 11 September 1914. The ANMEF took possession of German New Guinea at Toma on 17 September 1914 and of the neighbouring islands of the Bismarck Archipelago in October 1914. On 25 April 1915, members of the AIF landed on Gallipoli in Turkey with troops from New Zealand, Britain, and France. This specific event holds very strong significance within Australian history. The record has strong research potential. This is due to the ongoing public and scholarly interest in war, history, and especially the ANZAC legend, which is commemorated annually on 25 April, known as ANZAC Day.Black and white rectangular postcard printed on paper.Obverse: Oh 'Serg!' / Reverse: CARTE POSTALE / 6537 / Correspondance / Adresse / w.a. Grigg / J. Fain / Ruckling / R.J Farrar / (?) / Clarke / L (?) / GFFisher / R. M. Forrest / With Compliments / Sgt's Mess / November 1918 /military album, army, aif, uniform, military, wwi, world war i, rising sun badge, william archibald griggs, anzac, signal companies, postcard, patches, chevron

This book includes "Guide to the Telephone Exchange". As the State Electricity Commission of Victoria had a telephone exchange on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme at Mt Beauty, this book is of interest. The first telephone exchange was established in the U.S.A. in 1877. In 1912 most civilised countries had one. Improvements continued as outlined in the book explaining how they work.The State Electricity Commission of Victoria constructed the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and communicated using a switchboard based in Mt Beauty. This book belonged Roy F. Leibig, the grandfather of a local electrician.Black hard cover book with gold embossing of title, author and emblem "The Specialists Series" on the front cover. 630 pages with some black and white diagramsInside: "W. Kerr Newmann / 89 Moreland Grove / Coburg" written in pencil "S. Dunkerton / 8 Horne St / E. Brunswick / Oct. 7th 1913" crossed out with pencil (over handwriting with pen) "R.F. Leibig / "Orama" / Stafford St / West Preston" written in inkinstructional book; technical; telephones; switchboards; telephone exchange; state electricity commission of victoria

In rural Australia phone calls were made through the switchboard usually situated at the local post office. This book lists the residents of Kergunyah and their phone numbers. If you want to talk to a neighbour for example, you ask for that person or give the operator their number. The switchboard operator 'puts the caller through'. However some people shared a number and were therefore on a party line eg. in this book 6 people share number 3. The operator would then ring the individual's code, like morse code, eg. 1 long 2 short. Also ref. KVHS 0897 Mt Beauty SwitchboardThis book is a list of residents living at Kergunyah who have a phone and lists their phone numbers. Kergunyah is in the Kiewa Valley. The book also notes some problems with the line eg. 'suspect sheath damage'. Stiff beige cardboard cover bound by black tape "Subscribers' M.D.F. / Record" printed on centre of cover. 7 pages but only written on pages 2 and 3 with residents' names and phone numbers in columns."Kergunyah" on front coverkergunyah, telephone, kiewa valley, switchboard

The switchboard was located in the office of the switchyard. This switchboard was used by the State Electricity Commission of Victoria on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme in Mt Beauty. Employees living in the towns and in the Kiewa Valley who had telephones were connected to the switchboard and were able to speak after dialling a number and then being connected by an operator working at the switchboard. This connection pre dated automatic connections. This switchboard was used by the S.E.C.V. for their employees on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and is an example of communications used in the 1940s and 1950s using telephones and operators prior to automatic 'stations'. To prevent operators from listening to conversations, a tone was introduced so that those on the phone became aware of someone listening in to their conversation.switchboard. mt beauty. state electricity commission of victoria. kiewa hydro electric scheme. telephones. communication.

Telephones were mounted on the wall and were operated by turning a small handle situated in the middle of the phone. This connected the speaker to the switch board where they were 'put through' to the other end (speaker).Wall phones were used by State Electricity Commission of Victoria workers and their families on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme. The SECV had a switchboard located at Mt Beauty. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023 and attached to KVHS 0050Black bakelite wall mounted telephone with handset connected by black spiral plastic cord. The round dial in the centre has a small handle with knob for turning. The base is silver steel with screws to attach it to the wall. The handset has a circular end with 4 small holes for the ear and the other end, the speaker end has 3 rings of small holes and a curved protective mouth piece to direct speech into the holes.On white circle in centre of dial: "To call turn handle and lift hand set. / When finished replace handset and turn handle" Handset embossed on inner side: 164 55wall mounted telephone; state electricity commission of victoria; kiewa hydro electric scheme; telecommunications; switchboard

The State Electricity Commission produced a Telephone directory for each of its construction sites during the construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme during the 1950s to early 1960s. The telephones were linked via the Switchboard. The booklet includes instructions for operating.The SECV constructed the KHES during the 1950s. It included construction sites on the Bogong High Plains and the townships of Bogong and Mt Beauty. It also connected the Scheme with the outside world and was operated through the switchboard which was located in Mt Beauty. This booklet also gives names of staff and some workmen - their occupation and their whereabouts of work at the time. Cardboard cover with pages inside bound by metal clasp. Pages divided with tabbed headings:- Bogong, Mt Beauty, West Kiewa, McKay Creek Howmans, Rocky Valley Langford's Gaptelephone directory kiewa hydro electric scheme, kiewa hydro electric scheme telephones

This phone was used at the Mt Beauty Primary School.Historical: The SEC used a switchboard to connect people in Mt Beauty and their workers stationed throughout the Kiewa Hydro Scheme. This phone enabled the Mt Beauty Primary School to ring parents etc. and for them to ring the school. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023 and attached to KVHS 0050Black bakelite telephone used to sit on a bench or table. Hand piece attached by a coiled wire coated with rubber. Front of telephone, in the centre, is a small handle that can be turned around in a clock wise direction - used to connect with the switchboard or, in some areas, used to connect with others by way of morse code eg. 1 big wind and 2 short winds.telephone. communications. mount beauty primary school.

This handset appeared via Australia Post Office and was to some degree manufactured in Britain just prior to 1939. During and after World War II these handsets were made in Australia. The handset belonged to the SEC Victoria and later the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme. As this unit has a winder arm (to notify the switchboard) it would have resided in a workshop/machine shop and not in an office. The durability of the bakelite covering gave good protection in any environment. In years later the bakelite came in colours. This type of handset being able to endure rough handling was ideal for the surroundings of the alpine terrain. It would have been at the various outside outposts or foreman posts as swift communications was essential and communications with all sectors of work in the Hydro Electricity Scheme was mandatory, not only for safety reasons but also for efficient operational day to day progress. Also refer to article in "This Week" Newsletter 30th June 2023. Article attached to paper copy.This Australian Post Office 184 black coloured bakelite wall mounted phone was initially developed by Ericsson Telephones Ltd Britain. It was used by the SEC Office based at Mount Beauty and therefore has a winder (for power and notification to the switchboard. The hand piece (large ear and voice receptors)is placed vertically above the dial up winder.On the winder plate in hand writing is" turn handle lift handset" and below the handle "when finished replace handset turn handle"sec communications, wall telephone, internal communications kiewa hydro electricity scheme

A copy of both the ‘Dennys Lascelles Limited 1857-1957: Annual Wool Report & Centenary Review’ & ‘Staff Reunion Souvenir Programme, 1988’ was donated to the museum in 2021. These were duplicate items so only their story was retained in addition to the image of Rita located in Multimedia. “Enclose two items which may be of interest to add to your collection. They belonged to my mother, Rita Sedgwick (nee Glenn), who died earlier this year in April. She worked for Dennys Lascelles in two separate periods. First as a young girl, who had finished her schooling, at Morongo Presbyterian ladies College, having been sent as boarder there by her parents from their farm at Mathoura (just north of Echuca). This period was from 1942 — 1947. It was her second job out of school having worked first at the then Geelong Telephone Exchange. She would commute daily to work on a bicycle from where she was then living in Drumcondra. She had the front office role of receptionist and telephonist driving an old manual switchboard. The old front desk was her domain. She departed in 1947, shortly after she was married in late 1946. She spoke fondly of her times at the company as a young girl in her late teens and early twenties. Her second stint was much later, but again as the front-desk telephonist and receptionist commencing in 1972, ending 11 years later in 1983. This was a period when Sir Henry Bolte was on the Board, Don Urqhuart was MD, Ray Hobson was General Manger, Cliff Bone the company Secretary, Peter Keys the CFO and Jim Hay was also on the Executive team. While there were some 25 years between her periods of service, she welcomed the chance to re-join the company. Again, it was a time of hard work, and good friends. The busy times were the wool auctions, when the Firm would be visited by representatives of the big Japanese trading houses such as Mitsui, and Kanematsu. The Chief Auctioneer, Mr. Reeves (I can't recall his first name), would hold court at the now demolished Geelong Wool Exchange — I saw him in action once — what a sight. The huge show floors in the Denny's building would be full of open bales and samples for the buyers to inspect, and for mum days would start at 0800, and finish at 1800 or later. In quieter times over summer, it was reported that the empty show floor would provide an excellent arena for the more enthusiastic cricketers to get in a bit of practise with a tennis ball at lunch and after closing time! Dennys was a full-service firm for wool growers, with branches all over the Western Districts as far afield as Mt Gambier, but through Timboon, Warrnambool, and the like, as I am sure you are aware. She also saw the merger of Dennys and Strachan to create DSM, and later the amalgamation with AML&F to create Dennys AML (I think). She saw the change from the old manual switch board to the then latest of PABX technologies and was part of the team the relocated from the original offices to the new address on the south side of Brougham Street. Along with the shift from the large show floor-based sales of the past. She retired from fulltime work in mid-1983, again with fond memories and friendships that lasted a lifetime. I found these two items among her things recently, and felt that given her connection to the industry, and the place in which the Museum now resides you may like to add them to the collection. I hope you can find a home for them, and that they might add a little to the story that the wool museum now houses and curates.” Program 12pp: soft pale grey cover, contians brief history of the company , the buildings and at the last page is a list of acceptances for the reunion, 2nd October, 1988Judith Lagingdennys, lascelles limited

.1 - Book - 8 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Standards Association, "Electrical Voltages and electrical frequencies for new installations ", C1 (a&b) - 1926, December 1926. .2 - Book - 36 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Overhead Line wire material for telegraph and telephone purposes", C3-11-1925, November 1925. .3 - Book - 20 pages + brown covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Telephone cable, paper insulated lead covered", C12 - 1928, January 1928. .4 - Book - 24 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Marking for Switchboard bus-bars and connections" C13 - 1925, December 1925 - with a pasted green label noting that the "tentative standard is now endorsed as Australian Standard without amendment" - dated Oct. 1930. .5 - Book - 32 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard "Dimensions and Resistances of Bare Annealed Copper Wire for Electrical Machinery and Apparatus", C 18-1926, October 1926. .6 - Book - 12 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard "Slate Slabs for Electrical Purposes", C19 - 1926, July 1926. .7 - Book - 16 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Moulded Flat Top Insulation Bushes" C20-1926, October 1926. .8 - Book - 16 pages + brown covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Australian Standard "Insulation dimensions and resistance of enamelled plain copper wire for instruments and apparatus" C21-1928, January 1928. .9 Book - 20 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Watertight Glands for electric cables" C22-1926, September 1926. .10 - Book - 20 pages + grey covers, side stapled, issued by the Australian Commonwealth Engineering Standards Association, Tentative Australian Standard - "Air-break knife switches and laminated brush switches for voltages not exceeding 660Volts" - C23 - 1926, August 1926" On top right hand corner has the date stamp of the "The Electric Supply Co. of Victoria Ltd Ballarat" trams, tramways, power station, standards, materials, electrical systems

The local government area of Kew was established in 1860. Through successive incarnations as a municipality, borough, town and city, its headquarters, at least until 1972, were located in a town hall in Walpole Street. In 1994, the city was amalgamated into a new City of Boroondara. This items served as telephone equipment - a switchboard - in the City's civic offices.Switchboard used in the City of Kew's Civic Offices in Walpole Street. The redundant equipment was donated to the Society in 1988.office equipment, city of kew, switchboards

Black bakelite telephone with handpiece attached by a chord. Front dial has a central handle that can be turned to contact central switchboard. No direct dial facility. Sits on rubber feet.On base marked in white "PMG / TE55 338HT / S1/60"communications, telephonic

"Dennys, Lascelles Limited 1857-1957 Annual Wool Report and Centenary Review". Apart from the annual report, this booklet also contains a brief history of Dennys, Lascelles Limited from its founding in 1857 up to 1957. A copy of both the ‘Dennys Lascelles Limited 1857-1957: Annual Wool Report & Centenary Review’ & ‘Staff Reunion Souvenir Programme, 1988’ was donated to the museum in 2021. These were duplicate items so only their story was retained in addition to the image of Rita located in Multimedia. “Enclose two items which may be of interest to add to your collection. They belonged to my mother, Rita Sedgwick (nee Glenn), who died earlier this year in April. She worked for Dennys Lascelles in two separate periods. First as a young girl, who had finished her schooling, at Morongo Presbyterian ladies College, having been sent as boarder there by her parents from their farm at Mathoura (just north of Echuca). This period was from 1942 — 1947. It was her second job out of school having worked first at the then Geelong Telephone Exchange. She would commute daily to work on a bicycle from where she was then living in Drumcondra. She had the front office role of receptionist and telephonist driving an old manual switchboard. The old front desk was her domain. She departed in 1947, shortly after she was married in late 1946. She spoke fondly of her times at the company as a young girl in her late teens and early twenties. Her second stint was much later, but again as the front-desk telephonist and receptionist commencing in 1972, ending 11 years later in 1983. This was a period when Sir Henry Bolte was on the Board, Don Urqhuart was MD, Ray Hobson was General Manger, Cliff Bone the company Secretary, Peter Keys the CFO and Jim Hay was also on the Executive team. While there were some 25 years between her periods of service, she welcomed the chance to re-join the company. Again, it was a time of hard work, and good friends. The busy times were the wool auctions, when the Firm would be visited by representatives of the big Japanese trading houses such as Mitsui, and Kanematsu. The Chief Auctioneer, Mr. Reeves (I can't recall his first name), would hold court at the now demolished Geelong Wool Exchange — I saw him in action once — what a sight. The huge show floors in the Denny's building would be full of open bales and samples for the buyers to inspect, and for mum days would start at 0800, and finish at 1800 or later. In quieter times over summer, it was reported that the empty show floor would provide an excellent arena for the more enthusiastic cricketers to get in a bit of practise with a tennis ball at lunch and after closing time! Dennys was a full-service firm for wool growers, with branches all over the Western Districts as far afield as Mt Gambier, but through Timboon, Warrnambool, and the like, as I am sure you are aware. She also saw the merger of Dennys and Strachan to create DSM, and later the amalgamation with AML&F to create Dennys AML (I think). She saw the change from the old manual switch board to the then latest of PABX technologies and was part of the team the relocated from the original offices to the new address on the south side of Brougham Street. Along with the shift from the large show floor-based sales of the past. She retired from fulltime work in mid-1983, again with fond memories and friendships that lasted a lifetime. I found these two items among her things recently, and felt that given her connection to the industry, and the place in which the Museum now resides you may like to add them to the collection. I hope you can find a home for them, and that they might add a little to the story that the wool museum now houses and curates.” "Dennys, Lascelles Limited Annual Wool Report and Centenary Review, August 1957". Apart from the annual report, this booklet also contains a brief history of Dennys, Lascelles Limited from its founding in 1857 up to 1957.Dennys, Lascelles Limited Annual Wool Report and Centenary Review, August 1957wool brokering, wool growing, dennys, lascelles limited

Manufactured in the 1960s, this mobile emergency telephone exchange was fitted into a caravan. Part of the Shepparton Division State Disaster Plan, the caravan could be towed to areas affected by disasters to enable communications to recommence. The caravan remained in service until approximately 1974.Mobile infrastructure plays an important role in Australian communications, owing to the often remote and hostile environments in which Australians live and work. Exchanges such as this facilitated phone calls in the aftermath of an emergency, particularly for hospitals, police and other emergency services. Today, Mobile Exchange on Wheels (MEOWs), Cell on Wheels (CoW) and Satellite Cell on Wheels (SatCOW) - which provide temporary landline and broadband services, mobile phone coverage and service in areas without communications infrastructure respectively - are a critical part of emergency response procedures for natural disasters such as fire and flood. Though technology has progressed, the need for rapid service in remote areas remains a present concern of the communications service providers in Australia. This mobile service infrastructure is historically significant as an early example of a service which has evolved over decades, yet is still needed today. The exchange, as a representative example of a vehicle which would provide early-response in a disaster, is socially significant as a facilitator of critical communications needs in devastated communities: access to emergency services and contact with family and friends. The exchange itself, intact from its period of use, provides an insight into technology of the 1970s.Mobile emergency exchange housed in a caravan trailer on 2 wheel base, duralin body, steel tow bar, Caravan divided into 3 sections; the exchange room; the relay room and the main frame room. The exchange room contains 3 switchboards, a folding table, cupboards, benches and switch rack (.1). table (.2), steel bar for attaching the table (.3), back boards of switchboards (.4-.6), switches (.7-.16), box of switches (.17). There is a wall phone magneto, 300 type handset on wall and 2 skylights with wire screens. .11? hat pegs and shelf; there are 2 fluorescent tubes for lighting, all in exchange section. The floor is covered with 2 tone grey tiles and there are wire mesh on outside of windows and a geometric curtain inside behind switch rack. There is a flywire screen door as well as exterior door. The relay room has a sectioned door so half can open at a time. Room contains a cupboard with folding bench top beneath a curtained window. The opposite wall has a bank of batteries and transmission condensers; there is a shelf above window, one fluorescent tube and fuse boxes. Tiles on floor also. The main frame room contains many metres of coiled black covered cable, a black covered magneto wall telephone with 300 type handset; grey plastic jumper cords, a rack of termination points and wire with wasp nests attached. There is a small iron step under door, a fluorescent tube on wall and 3 hat hooks. Roll of Paper Handtowels (.18), cord and handle (.19), red exchange cords and plugs (.20-.22), plastic aluminium runners (.23,.24), headset (.25,.26), logbook (.27), battery readings (.28), box containing papers circuit drawings etc (.29-.93), paper lists off wall (.94,.95). Books, record books etc (.96-.103). Manila folder (.104) containing circuit drawings (105-.124). Wooden drawer (.125), metal drawer containing subscribers master cards, record of faults cards, particular switchboards connected, Junction line cards (.126). Box of valves (.127), box of clamps (.128). Box of 2000 type rack fuses, red 1 1/2 AMPS, black 3 AMP, blue 1/2 AMP (.129). Box of sleeves for covering wire joints (.130), plastic beakers (.131,.132), soap (.133), box of white plastic squares (.134), time switch "Venner BF/43 time switch" Made in England (.135), box of bolts, knobs etc (.136), box of switchboard number indicators (.137), fuse (.138), fuse wire (.139), football card (.140). Box of cartridge fuse 6 AMP (.141). Envelope of drawing pins, rubber bands (.142), black plastic, paper tape centres (.143-.152), metal plug (.153), 2 signs "Beware of vehicles" (.154-.155). Paper listing Naringal East automatic conversion (.156). Green Commonwealth of Australia note pad (.157). Wiring plug for tail lights (.158). Black fuse plugs (.159,.160). Box of bolts (.161). 2 sections of blue plastic coated wires (.162,.163). Gloves used for working on batteries (.164-.167). Wasp nests (.168,.169). White fuse (.170). Photographs of van in use (.171,.172)..1 on front: "ANOTHER / MOBILETRAIL / PRODUCT" "MAX SPEED / 25MPH" "TRAILER BRAKES / --- / " On sides: "EMERGENCY TELEPHONE EXCHANGE" "NO 1" "PMG" "TCQ / GROSS 250 / TARE 182 / LOAD 162" "6" "COUNTRY BRANCH / NORTH REGION / [SHEPPARTON DIVISION]" "LAW'S SIGNS" "Telecom Australia" On back: "DANGER / LONG LOAD" "MQA 3787" .133: "FIR OIL" "AUSTRALIA"mobile telephone exchanges, mobile telecommunications trailers, trailers, transport, natural disaster, black saturday, bushfires, floods, emergency communications

1. Male sits at a desk with a Wang computer terminal in front of him and Optacon device to his left. The Optacon was a device that allowed printed material to be turned into Braille through the use of a small camera connected to a vibrating array that produced the Braille. To his right is a cassette recorder, another computer and recorder, whilst a long cane rests against a wall. The man is possibly wearing a sonic guide and listening to the cassette whilst he types on to the screen. 2. Male sits in an office with an Opticon to his left, which he is using, and a manual typewriter in front of him. The typewriter has the camera of the Opticon clamped into position over the typewriter. Behind the man is a reception desk, with a bell and small switchboard visible on upper counter of the desk, and a coffee mug, portable cassette recorder, telephone books and piles of paper stacked neatly under the upper counter.Digital image taken from pictures on chipboard15 - Group with 13, 14 please - no caption available 12 - Group with 13, Optacon captionemployment, royal blind society of new south wales

Employment is a key area that blind or vision impaired people are under-represented. These photographs were taken to demonstrate and provide examples of how blind and visually impaired workers can undertake skilled positions as switchboard operators. In the first image, a man wearing a headset sits behind a small switchboard and on the desk is a sign that reads "Please buzz for attention. Our receptionist/telephonist is blind". In a second image, two people sit at a desk. The woman uses a device to locate a key on the switchboard whilst wearing a headset. Beside her a man points to the key and holds a telephone receiver to his ear. In the third image, a seated man reaches forward to find a socket in the switchboard, with an audio jack attached to his finger. Beside the switchboard a man stands and holds his wrist, possibly guiding him.employment, royal victorian institute for the blind

The Postmaster-General's Department (PMG) was a department of the Australian federal government, established at Federation in 1901, whose responsibilities included the provision of postal and telegraphic services throughout Australia. It was abolished in December 1975 and replaced by the Postal and Telecommunications Department. Telephone calls were transferred through exchanges by manual operators who staffed switchboards throughout the country. The clock was used to time calls in order to levy appropriate charge for telephone usage.The use of manual telephone exchanges played an important role in Australian telecommunications history, not just for day -to-day business and commercial use, but for social connections and communication during emergency. This timer has local significance as it was used at the Wodonga Telephone Exchange.A small clock used by switchboard operators to time calls at the Wodonga Telephone Exchange. Lever on the side operates timier.In centre of clock 'C. of A./P.M.G -50" Insignia of the Junghans Clock Manufacturers At the bottom edge of the time "Made in Germany",telecommunication, wodonga telephone exchange, p.m.g., timer, wodonga