Note by T.H. Kneen 4 December 1991, J.M. Ward became the first Superintendent of Horticulture in the Victorian Department of Agriculture in the early 1920's. 2 copies black and white photograph. Group fo men wearing suits, some holding hats, seated and standing . Probably in the Burnley Gardens.On reverse," Top Row: W.J. Allen Fruit Expert N.S.W., G. Quinn " " SA, J.M. Ward " " Tas, E.E. Pescott Principal School of Horticulture Burnley Vic, Bottom Row: Dr. Benjafield Tas, L.M. Shoobridge Esq Tas, Jas Lang " Vic, H. Weeks " S.A., C.C. Tucker "w.j. allen, g. quinn, j.m. ward, e.e. pescott, principal, school of horticulture, burnley, dr. benjafield, l.m. shoobridge esq, jas lang, c.c. tucker, superintendent of horticulture, fruit expert, h. wicks, pomological society

This medal from the estate of W.C. Busse is believed to have been awarded to a recipient at the Rutherglen Agricultural Show in 1885. Due to degradation of the embossed markings, it is uncertain what the medal was awarded for or whom it was awarded to. It may have been awarded to a member of the Busse family prior to W.C. Busse's birth. Rutherglen is located approximately 18 kilometres from Chiltern. European agriculture and horticulture in the area was well established prior to the discovery of gold in the region in the 1860s. It held its first yearly Agricultural Show in 1880; in the present day it has a sister event focusing on showcasing the region's wines. Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern in 1898. He went to school at Wesley College in Melbourne, studied law at the University of Melbourne and became a barrister. Additionally, after spending time on a Victorian station in his early twenties, he wrote two historical novels about bush life. His first novel was 'The Blue Beyond: a Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia', written in 1928 and published in 1930. Busse's second novel was titled 'The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties'. The judges of the Henry Lawson Society's T.E. Rofe competition to advance Australian literature unanimously awarded it the Gold Medal in 1931 for the best historical novel of 1930. Newspaper articles about the award mention the writer's meticulous documentary and oral history research regarding life on the Gold Fields in the 1850s. It became a best-seller. Busse also wrote a series of articles about local history for "The Federal Standard" newspaper in Chiltern. He was a member of the Chiltern Athenaeum. He died in 1960. This item is significant for the information it provides about the development of industry and local culture in Victoria in the 1880s. Bronze coloured medal attached to single large-format chain link; embossed medal markings are indistinct but appear to show Coat of Arms on reverse side. Inscription on obverse: Illegible Indistinct inscription on reverse may read: Rutherglen Agricultural Society medal, rutherglen agricultural show, chiltern, north-east victoria, gold fields, gold mining, gold rush, 1885, heirloom, farming, horticulture, rutherglen historical society, indigo shire, wilfred clarence busse, golden plague, authors, writers, victorian writers, victorian literature, historical fiction, blue beyond, wesley college, federal standard

history, experimental gardens, school of horticulture, early women, agriculture, commonwealth reconstruction training scheme, dept of agriculture, royal horticultural society of victoria, victorian college of agriculture and horticulture, the university of melbourne, burnley gardens

Copy of article in "The Victorian Farmers Journal and Gardeners Chronicle" 21 June, 1862 p 13. Advises lithograph of the new gardens is included. They had hoped to open the gardens on 1st january, 1862 but had insufficient funds to complete the work. Description of grounds.Copy of lithograph see B92.632.the victorian farmers journal and gardeners chronicle, lithograph, gardens, experimental gardens plan, financial difficulties, opening of gardens