Many of these documents were part of the Gwen Goedecke Collection1970's - Bill Cormack election campaign flyer 1975|1980's - Gwen Goedecke 1987 preslection application|1980's - Braybrook Ticket candidates nomination|1980's - Town Clerk letter to councillors regarding their pertinent plan for the 1987 Council elections|1980's - David Berry election campaign flyer 1986|1980's - Town Clerk letter to councillors regarding local government election expenses|1980's - Minister for Local Governement media statement regarding local government election expenses|1980's - Geoffrey Roland Coxon how to vote flyer 1985|1980's - Joe G. Scalise and Trevor Hobbs Geoffrey Roland Coxon how to vote flyer 1985|1980's - Geffrey Coxon / Gerry O'Connor / Ian how to vote flyer 1982|1980's - Local Government and the 1987 Federal election flyer|1990's - Gwenyth Goedecke how to vote flyer 1990|1990's - Speroulla Christodoulou how to vote flyer 1997|1990's - List of current councillors 12th Sugust 1991|1990's - List of current councillors 10th August 1992|1990's - Harry Nicola how to vote flyer|1990's - John Hyett how to vote flyer|1990's - Patrick "Pat" Sheridan how to vote flyer|1990's - Paul Alexander how to vote flyer|1990's - Yadzia Kubasiewicz how to vote flyer|1990's - Frank Muscat how to vote flyer|1990's - Don Dunlop how to vote flyer|1990's - John Keith Boles how to vote flyer|1990's - Robert Ian Martin how to vote flyer|1990's - Kenneth Mooney election campaign flyer 1991|1990's - Sunshine City Council election information flyer|2000's - Andres Puig election campaign flyer|2000's - Candidates for Brimbank City Council 2000|2000's - Results of Brimbank Council Elections 2000|2000's - List of Brimbank Council meeting dates 2000 / 2001|No Date - Alfred Zahra how to vote flyer|No Date - John Southall how to vote flyer|No Date - Irene Shand how to vote flyer|No Date - Map of Ward Boundaries|2024 - Newspaper Article Star Weekly 19th November 2024 Page 3 - Green councillor joins Brimbank (Lucy Nguyen)city of sunshine, city of brimbank

Hardcover w/ Dust Jacketwalsh st library

This photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner was commissioned by artist William Strutt in 1857. In 1907 Strutt gave the photograph to Victoria's London agent, Mr. Lake, to be presented to the Victorian Parliamentary Library. In a letter to Mr. Lake now in the library's archives, Strutt describes how he had planned to make use of the photograph in his artistic practice, and when finished with it, had promised to give the photograph to the Victorian Parliamentary Librarian Charles Ridgway (c.1801-1865). "That time then has come, late it is true, but alas Mr. Ridgeway [sic] is dead, so is Fawkner, but the old patriot will ever live in this portrait".Framed ambrotype portrait photograph of John Pascoe Fawkner seated and wearing a smoking cap. Note from William Strutt adhered verso. The ambrotype is a positive photographic image on a glass plate mounted inside a glazed frame with a gold-coloured inner-frame/preserver (possibly celluloid) and black velvet-covered backing board. Handwritten black ink verso: "John Pasco [sic] Fawkner/ This admirable portrait/ of the Founder of Melbourne is now presented in/ fulfilment of my/ promise (made years/ ago to the late Mr/ Ridgeway) to present it/ to the Parliament House/ Library of Melbourne./ William Strutt./ Wedsmnt [?] Dec' 18.1007."strutt, william, 1825-1915, fawkner, john pascoe, 1792-1869, ridgway, charles c.1801-1865, victorian parliamentary library

John Bradley's compelling account of three decades living with the Yanyuwa people of the Gulf of Carpentaria and of how the elders revealed to him the ancient songlines of their Dreaming.maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographsyanyuwa, carpentaria

Discusses what does it feel like to be an Australian in 1959? A critique on our advanced national adolescence, limitations of our artist's creativity. We are not English or America - how do we compare? Australians want to be told they are better, the country anxious to hear well of itself. (This perhaps is related to item D015.)Typewritten, pencil edits, quarto, 4 pages, pages 6-9they're a weird mob, nino culotta, 1959 australia, cyril pearl, on the beach, so you want to be an australian, sidney nolan, john ely burchard, robin boyd, manuscript

Discusses what is a neighbourhood and how is it "broken-down" for town-planning and building regulation purposes. Discusses types of dwellings, infrastructure, zone barriers, isolation of residential zones, services etc.Original manuscript of ideas for the chapter titled 'The Neighbourhood' (pp. 32-43) by Robin Boyd in the book "Living and Partly Living", by Ian McKay, Robin Boyd, Hugh Stretton and John Mant, published by Nelson, Sydney 1971.Typewritten (c copy), pencil edits, foolscap, 2 pagesneighbourhood, suburbia, neighbourhood, dwelling types, residential zones services, robin boyd, manuscript

McKay discusses in first two documents questions about what is a house and what do residents want from a city at large. In the last he discusses national housing policy and how it has evolved since 1944.Original manuscript of an ideas for other chapters (written by Ian McKay, Hugh Stretton and John Mant) in "Living and Partly Living", Nelson, Sydney 1971. In the book, Ian McKay authored "The House", Hugh Stretton authored "The City" and John Mant authored "National Housing Policy".Typewritten Typewritten (p’ copy) Typewritten (p’ copy), quarto, 1 page, 1 page, 3 pagesnational housing policy, commonwealth housing commission report 1944, commonwealth state housing agreement 1956, ian mckay, manuscript

B&w illustrations, b&w photographs, word listswiradjuri

A comprehensive account of John Batman's life. This is a broad social history of the life and contentions of the original Port Phillip settlement. It includes relations between the European colonists and the Aboriginal population. It shows how the initial Aboriginal policy lay the ground for the near genocide of Port Phillip's original inhabitants.maps, b&w illustrations, b&w photographsbunurong, boonwurrung, wathaurong, woiworung, woiwurrung, wurundjeri, wodewarrou, gerarlture, beingalite, you whamgete, you yangs, yarra river, kurung, john batman, port phillip bay, victorian history, victorian indigenous history, batman treaty

Softcover"October 27, 1986 - John, have a very special birthday, best love Suzy"music, opera, walsh st library

Hardcover w/ Dust JacketNewspaper clipping inserted at front: King E 1994, 'Battle of the baroque', The Age, Travel, Saturday 23 July, p. 6. Photocopied typed A4 insert at p. 637: Travel Book Newsletter, 1976, 'New books show how architecture reveals history', October. Contains review of this book.architectecture, society, walsh st library

110 page A4 sized bound document - "Proceedings of the Fourteenth Conference of the Council of Tramway Museums of Australasia in conjunction with the Annual Conference of the National Federation of Rail Societies Inc. 29 May to 4 June 1998." Has plastic cover, green inside cover with title and white back cover. Is wire bound. Front page has the title details. Edited by Douglas Johns. Front page gives title of conference logo and theme "Conference '98 The Way Ahead", details of the Conference Hosts, (Tramway Historical Society Inc.), venue, convenor and conference management. Page 3 has colour photograph of the delegates assembled in front of Kitson Steam No. 7 and double decker trailers Nos. 10 and 74 at Ferrymead. (14th Conference) Contents: 1. Papers Opening address by Clive Peter, Chief Executive of Christchurch Transport Ltd. Key Note address - Phil A'vard Recording and preserving today for tomorrow Steam Engine Driver's Report Adding value to your product Internet help for the voluntary society What to do until the Coroner comes Computer cataloguing your collection The role of the regulator in rail transport safety Victorian electric train preservation History is more than rolling stock - remember the infrastructure Heritage fundraising in the public sector The Christchurch Tramway - 3 1/2 years on Museum trams on commercial tramways Remember the Society in your will The future of Tramway topics How to increase revenue for your museum Transport deregulation - a personal view Acquiring tram parts from Calcutta Model tramway clinic. 2. Annual Reports 3. Trip Reports 4. programme, attendees, NRFS Reports. Photograph of participants added 22/3/2021. For a scan of the actual proceedings see the cotma.org.au/proceedings.Page 1 has BTM Received stamp, date (17 Oct. 2000) and item No. 9639.trams, tramways, cotma, christchurch, proceedings, conferences

Sixteen page printed report titled "Progress Report on the Select Committee on Electricity Supply" and subtitled "The Provision of the State Electricity Commission Bill and the Purchase of the North Melbourne Electric Tramways and Lighting Company's works and undertakings" Published by the Order of the Legislative Assembly 21 November 1922." Folded and stapled along left hand edge. Sheets have rounded corners. Looks at the purchase of the NMETL and rural power. Has an Appendix titled "The Powers of the Commission and how they are being exercised" signed by John Monash and and other "The Problem of Retail Distribution of Electricity in Rural Districts".Stamp of ESCo in top right hand corner dated "28 Nov. 1922" and throughout the report, many pencil marks highlighting or underlining aspects.trams, tramways, sec, nmetl, power supply, councils

Yields information about the demolition or removal of the track along the Sturt St and how it was done.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, undated, assumed late Jan. 1972 based on Reg. Items 2214.2 and 2215 showing a photo of tram track demolition on the southern side of Sturt St around Doveton / Armstrong St. Has Myers and Town Hall in the background. Loose rail and sleepers in the picture. Courier photograph taken 25/1/1972. One of a large group of newspaper cuttings from John Bainbridge, 7/4/02. See Reg Item 3780 for a print of the Courier Photograph.track removal, tram track removal, crb, sturt st

Yields information about the relocation of the bogie trams from the old SEC depot to the new BTPS depot in the gardens and partly how it was done.Black and White copy photograph of a newspaper photograph taken by The Courier of the transferring bogie cars to the BTPS depot. No. 38 has been moved across the road, while No. 40 is behind John Withers Land rover. Photo taken 18/7/1972, published 19/7/1972. See Reg. Item 1792 for the photo used in the newspaper clipping. Collected by Alan Bradley from the Ballarat Courier early 1980's. See Excel file "Record of Ballarat Courier Photos BTM era" (Archive Documents) for source of details.tramways, trams, btps, moving trams, depot junction, tram 38, tram 40

Yields information about the appearance of one of Ballarat No. 40, a couple of years after its arrival in Ballarat and the south side of Sturt St, near Lydiard St.Black and white photograph of Ballarat No. 40 in Sturt St, west bound to the Gardens via Drummond north. Shows how the trolley ropes were stored at the drivers end, the appearance of the car in 1953 and the buildings in the background. Includes the Commonwealth Bank, C. Marks & Co and the Mechanics Institute. Three different sized copies held. Photo used in Destination Eaglehawk. Image rescanned from copy neg and updated 31/5/2020.Copy 1 - in pencil "Reduce to 5", #6121" Copy 2 - "W John Webster photo" Copy 3 - in ink "CR14 11-4-53" On Negative in ink "CR14"tramways, trams, sturt st, lydiard st, tram 40

Series of photos of Tram No. 32 at the Maryborough Historical and Wildlife Co-op park, after transport to the park post March 1973. Tram transported to Maryborough 3/73, see Reg Item 953. Slide 1 - after the building to cover the tram has been constructed, but not roofed. Slides 2 and 3 are prior to the shelter being built. .1 - at the park, with the frame of the building erected, has other buildings in the background. .2 - ditto, but before the frame erected. .3 - ditto, showing the short piece of track that the tram was placed on. .4 - Interior view .5 - ditto .6 - ditto .7 - ditto .8 - showing motor with a trolley pole based wedged inside. See also Reg item 6632 for another photograph of the series. Yields information about tram 32 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 8 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 35 x 23mm or 27mm square slidesVarious notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, disposal, maryborough, tram 32

Yields information about tram 39 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 8 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 27mm square slides of Tram No. 39 at the Lions Pa rk, Lismore c1973, after the roof has been built over it. See also Reg Item 6545 for photographs of the tram prior to the roof being built over it. .1 - 39 at the park with the shelter looking newly built. .2 - ditto with D3 671 in the background. .3 - end view of the tram, with the highway in the background. .4 - as for .2 .5 - interior view of one end with the controller and brake valves removed. .6 - interior view of the pink paintwork! .7 - ditto .8 - ditto Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, disposal, lismore, preserved trams, tram 39

Yields information about tram 24 following its disposal and how it appeared c1973.Set of 2 Kodachrome white cardboard mount 27mm square slides of former SEC tram 24 at a farm property near Ballarat c1973. Location unknown Advised by Graham Jordan on 21/8/18 by email that the photo was his and that a copy slide was given to John Theodore. Record updated. Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, tram disposal, scrapped trams, accidents, tram 24

Yields information about tram 35 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 6 Kodachrome white cardboard mount 27mm square slides of former bogie tram 35 at the Ballarat College junior school, c1973. .1 - tram at the school. .2 - ditto .3 - interior .4 - interior .5 - interior 6 - interior See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, tram 35

Yields information about tram 18 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Agfa blue and white plastic mount - 27mm square slides of single truck tram 18 at Sebastopol in Victory Park, c1973 See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, sebastopol, victory park, tram 18

Yields information about tram 42 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.Set of 2 Agfa blue and white plastic mounts - 27mm square slides of single truck tram 42, at the Zion Congregational Church Kindergarten, c1973. Has "Zion Kindertram" in the destination box. See btm3929 for details of disposal.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, ballarat, closure, tramcars, disposal, zion congregational church, tram 42

Photo of Ballarat No. 16, SEC, in a garden setting - Allendale area, c1972/3. Tram body sold by the SEC in Jan. 1956. See also Reg Item 3535 and 9624 for other photographs. See btm3929 for details of disposal.Yields information about tram 16 following its disposal and how it appeared c1973.Set of 4 Agfa blue and white plastic mounts - 27mm square slides.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, tramcars, disposal, tramcar bodies, sale of trams, allendale, tram 16

Photographs of former Ballarat tram 30 the Ballarat Council Depot following recovery from Kaniva in July 1974. See item 3929 disposal list shows that it was to go to St Arnaud, but went to a property in Kaniva Lions Club - refer to Feb. 2015 Fares Please! See Reg Item 2177 for a cutting of the tram being loaded.Yields information about tram 30 following its disposal and how it was in the open paddock.Set of 3 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 35mm slides.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, closure, tramcars, disposal, tram 30, offsite store

Yields information about tram 11 following its disposal and how it was placed at the Daylesford Museum.Set of 1 Kodachrome cardboard slides and 5 AGFA blue and white plastic mount 27mm sq slides of former Ballarat tram 11 at the Daylesford Historical Society yard. .1 - view from the roadway .2 - late view with other farm machinery placed around it. .3 - interior view .4 - interior view .5 - view showing how the tram was placed. .6 - interior viewed.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, closure, tramcars, disposal, daylesford, tram 11

Photo of Tram No. 32 at the Maryborough Historical and Wildlife Co-op park, after transport to the park post March 1973. Tram transported to Maryborough 3/73, see Reg Item 953. Slide prior to the shelter being built. See also Reg item 6604 for other photographs of the series. Yields information about tram 32 following its disposal and how it was sheltered.AGFA blue and white plastic mount or 27mm square slide.Various notations by John as to the slide number and the trams in pencil and ink.tramways, trams, disposal, maryborough, tram 32

Yields information about the BTPS constructing No. 1 road and moving wheel sets around and how easy it was to derail them!Set of 3 digital images scanned from 35mm slides of depot activities during late 1973 or early 1974. .1 - moving one of the spare sets of wheels around, it has become derailed on 1 road. .2 - ditto - 26 and 27 on the depot fan - person in uniform?? .3 - 26 on the depot fan - note the gauge bar on the track. Could be photographed prior to power being connected.trams, tramways, btps, trackwork, depot, tramcars, tram 26, tram 27

Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red ribbed skirt with elastic waistband.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community

Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red wide ribbed pleated skirt with a plain yoke, navy blue band at bottom edge and elasticated waistband. A purple x is located inside to mark centre back of skirt.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community

Franco Liburti was wearing this coat when he farewelled his wife Assunta in Naples, Italy in 1957, the day she departed for Australia. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Men's coat featuring a charcoal herringbone weave, with three buttons down the front and on each sleeve cuff.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community, naples