Photo of the falls in Sherbrooke Forest. Huge amount of large rocks in and around creek bed. Ferns grow up sides of banks. Low volume of water indicates dry season. At the top of the falls a man sits with another person who appears to be a woman. c.1920.

Photo shows a tree lying across a road, having fallen from a high bank on the right. Two men are standing on the tree and appear to be cutting it with axes. Three other men are watching. A child stands further down the road, partially obscured by the tree. This is near Hermons Corner on the (now) Belgrave-Gembrook Road, Menzies Creek. The land on either side of the road is part of the Breen farm and the two axemen are the Breen brothers.

Set of 11 Agfa Plastic mounted slides - from the Eldon Hogan collection - possibly on an ARE Bendigo tours - mid 1960's (black destination rolls) and late 1960's or early 1970's. Scanned on the Canon scanner at the depot 15/12/1971 at the time of the installation of the scanner. .1 - front of depot -26, 19, 24, 29 and 28 amongst those present. .2 - ditto .3 - 24 departing depot .4 - 26 at Eaglehawk .5 - No. 5 turning from Pall Mall into Mitchell St with town hall in background. .6 - No. 5 using crossover in Mitchell St - with Maples, CBA Bank, Astor, Homecrafts, Roger David shops or signs in the background. .7 - ditto .8 - bogie car at Charing Cross with the Fountain Plaza shopping centre in the background. .9 - Charing Cross, with the fountain in the foreground, The Beehive and three trams in the view. .10 - No. 24 outbound, Golden Square line crossing the bridge over the creek, adjacent to the discovery of Gold Monument. .11 - ditto. tramways, trams, bendigo, eaglehawk, depot, charing cross, golden square, tram 26, tram 19, tram 24, tram 29, tram 28, tram 26, tram 5

Jonathan Harris operated a winery on the banks of the Axe Creek, Axedale in the 1850s.Large metal gate hinge with hole at top and thread at the bottom. Two square metal pieces - one moveable. Part of the Harris Collection.agriculture, farm, gate hinge, harris collection

Contour map (copy) of the Government Camp Sandhurst, 1854. Map is mounted on coreflute and laminated. Written in bottom righthand corner 'Contour Plan of the Government Camp, Sandhurst. Dec 1854. Signed by Richard Larritt, Assistant Surveyor, 11th December 1854.' Shown on map: Pall Mall, Bendigo Creek, Commissioner's Gully, View Place (now View Street), Post Office, Bank of Victoria, District Surgeon, Sandhurst Fire Brigade, Police Hospital, Flagstaff, Gold Office, License Shed, Military Barracks, Stables, Commissioner's Buildings, Police Office. Old Cemetery, Garden. Reference on righthand side: 'Stone or brick buildings are tinted in crimson. Wooden buildings tinted in Indian Ink. Tents and other temporary structures tinted in Burnt Sienna.' Scale of Chains, on bottom of map. Sticker on bottom left hand corner and back of map ' Presented by Survey and Mapping, Victoria, 7th Octber, 1994'.map, bendigo, government camp, pall mall, bendigo creek, commissioner's gully, view place (now view street), post office, bank of victoria, district surgeon, sandhurst fire brigade, police hospital, flagstaff, gold office, license shed, military barracks, stables, commissioner's buildings, police office. old cemetery, garden. , survey and mapping victoria. sandhurst, bendigo.

John Batman's Treaty, signed on the banks of a creek (Merri Creek?) on 16 June 1835, was an agreement with eight Aboriginal leaders to transfer the land of Port Phillip area to Batman. Governor Bourke disallowed the Treaty the same year.australia, history, john batman

This item is part of a larger collection donated to the Kew Historical Society by Anna French. The collection includes personal items from the donor's family, as well as items given to the donor and her mother by a family friend, Lucy Merritt (Jean) Hornby. The item is from that part of the collection inherited or assembled by Jean Hornby. The collection is significant given Jean Hornby's mother's descent from Robert Hornby (1854-1935) and Eva Merritt (1865-1959); her mother the chid of a family who settled in Kew in the 1850s, thus providing a chain of provenance for items dating to the mid-nineteenth century, when her maternal forebears arrived in Melbourne. Other items represent Jean Hornby's contribution to her local and wider community.Sepia photograph, labelled 'BRYANTS CREEK' at lower left. The creek is bordered by a white post and rail fence on one bank. On the other side of the creek are two men. The creek is bordered with remnant vegetation [ie Eucalypts]. Coleraine, in Western Victoria, was initially settled by Europeans in the 1840s. The developing township was aligned with Bryant's Creek with a north-south orientation. Reverse - Inscribed in ink: "Taken by H Bower with Student camera" / Printed: "C.G. Greenham Photographer, Hawthorn / The Herodotus Studio"bryants creek -- coleraine (vic.)

Local SceneDeer Park looking North up the river - Kororoit Creek - AR0021

Local SceneHuntsman Chemical works, West Bank of the Kororoit Creek looking north - AR0019

Local SceneWest Bank of Kororoit Creek - AR0033

The men are sitting above the waterfall and the Jacksons Creek close to the site of the former mill which utilised the water from the river to power the mill machinery.A sepia photograph mounted on cardboard of three men sitting on a river bank above a waterfall with a pipeline in the background.jacksons creek, sunbury

The scene featured on the post card is a view of The Nook on the Jacksons Creek. For many years before the Aquatic Centre was build in the town, The Nook was the swimming place for local residents. The surrounding area had seats and change rooms. The Sunbury Swimming club was established at this site before the Aquatic Centre was built.A sepia photograph in post card format of river bend and small sandy beach on the bank.the nook, swimming

The Jacksons Creek and the Macedon Street stone arched bridge are the features in this postcard with a view of a vineyard on the LH river bank. The wine industry was one of the early industries caroused out in Sunbury by the early European settlers in the district.A sepia photograph in post card format of a waterway with overhanging trees and an arched bridge in the middl;e distance.JACKSONS CREEK, SUNBURYjacksons creek, macedon street bridge, vineyards.

The Mill Falls are downstream on the Jacksons Creek from the Macedon Street bridge in Sunbury.A sepia photograph in post card format of a river with a waterfall. A straggly tree is growing on the bank on the RHS of the photograph.MILL FALL/ SUNBURYjacksons creek, mill falls, sunbury

The former mill and weir shown in the photograph were sited on the banks of Jacksons Creek downstream from the town of Sunbury. John Eadie, a Scottish immigrant established the water-driven flour mill on the banks of the creek after he arrived in the colony in 1866. The mill continued operating until the outbreak of World War 1 when the metal wheel and iron roofing were taken and used for the war effort. The hill in the back ground with the trees and buildings was the site of the former Sunbury Asylum. Milling was one of Sunbury's early industries that were established in the district.A black and white photograph of a building and a lake in a valley. Buildings and trees are visible on a distant hillside.sunbury flour mill., milling

The waterfalls were on the Jacksons Creek downstream from Sunbury township and in the vicinity of a mill which was built on the river bank. The man standing on the riverbank on the RHS of the image is near the remains of Eadie's Mill which was one of the early structures erected in Sunbury.A sepia photograph mounted on a cream board of two waterfalls in a flooded river with bare hills on either side. A man is standing near some stone ruins on the RHS of the image.waterfalls, jacksons creek, mill falls

The waterfall is in Jacksons Creek downstream from the Sunbury township.A black and white photograph with a cream border of a waterfall in a river. A gnarled tree is growing on the bank and there is a hill in the middle distance.waterfalls, jacksons creek, sunbury

When the Victorian Blind Cricket Association approached Mr Paterson for assistance in gaining access to a permanent cricket pitch upon which games could be played, it set in chain a series of events that remain in place today. Mr Paterson had been heavily involved in the formation of the Association for the Blind and saw this as a problem to be solved. Raising money through public donation and door knocking, Mr Paterson arranged the purchase of land on the banks of Gardiner's Creek, and adjacent to the tram and train lines. The land was raised, to avoid flooding, and a surface prepared. The sportsground was adjacent to the AAB, however due to the interest of Malvern Council in the land and knowing that the AAB at that time was in financial difficulties, a Trust was set up to handle the management with Mr Paterson, Mr Gould the Malvern Council Town Clerk and George Maxwell as trustees. A clubhouse was also needed to allow players to take shelter during matches and once again, Mr Paterson came to the rescue. Using their personal funds, Mr and Mrs Paterson loaned the Trust the monies required for the building. This plaque recognises the dedication and support that Mr Paterson gave to help establish the first blind cricket playing ground in Australia.Digital image of metal plaqueErected to the Memory of W.H. Paterson, M.B.E. Obit. Feb. 19 1957 By his personal efforts and sacrifice these playing fields were obtained and this clubhouse erected The first for blind cricket in Australia Erected by the Blind Cricketers of Victoria October 22nd 1957william paterson, victorian blind cricket association

Wallace's Hut is the oldest surviving cattlemen's hut on the High Plains, built in 1889 by the three Wallace brothers - Arthur, William and Stewart. Their father David bought land at Kergunyah as well as grazing land on the banks of the Kiewa River, North East Victoria. Once the boys were old enough, the family followed the local squatters’ custom of taking their cattle up to the mountains for the spring and summer to fatten the mob, at the same time resting their home pastures. They decided to build a hut where they could shelter from the extreme mountain weather. The timber was cut from the forest about four hundred metres east of the hut, and the hearth stone was dragged in from Pretty Valley. The chimney had a base of rubble and above this iron sheeting on a timber frame. The slab walls were lined with hessian and later with tar-paper, and inside there was a bush table, sleeping platform and a rustic fire-side settle. The hut nestled among snow gums sheltered by a rocky outcrop. The names of the Wallace brothers were burnt into the tie-beams of the roof and at the back of the mantelpiece. The Wallace family’s lease expired in the late 1930s and the hut was bought by the State Electricity Commission to house staff on the High Plains and it became the first home of Toni and Skippy St. Elmo. The SEC covered the old shingles with iron, and later on the walls and chimney as well, and they added a lean-to. Wallace’s Hut is now owned by the Crown and maintained by Parks Victoria. It is on the Historic Buildings Register and is classified by the National Trust.This image is significant because it depicts an important heritage-listed structure and refuge for cattlemen and other travellers in Victoria's High Country.A black and white photograph of a skier outside of Wallace's Hut. Several sets of skis and poles are standing around and other skiers are in the background.wallace's hut, toni and skippy st. elmo, high country huts

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. It was a 21km race with about 80 participants organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club of Mount Beauty. The course started and finished at Falls Creek Alpine Resort and took participants out into the Bogong High Plains. After running the event for 10 years, it was decided they should become part of the Worldloppet series of marathon ski races. Representatives from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and the Australian Ski Federation attended the Worldloppet Annual Meeting in Finland in June 1990 to put the case for the acceptance of an Australian event into the Worldloppet series. Before being admitted, they had to demonstrate that the Birkebeiner Club could run a world class event, so three months later in August 1990 a 42km event named the Australian International Ski Marathon was held at Falls Creek together with a 21km Birkebeiner race and a 7km event called the Birkebeiner Lite. The event was approved by delegates from USA, Norway and Austria, in 1991 Australia became the 12th member of Worldloppet, with the condition that there had to be a name change. After some late night discussion allegedly involving red wine from North East Victoria the main event became the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, with the minor events being the 21km Australian Birkebeiner, and 7km Joey Hoppet. In the winter of 1991, the first Kangaroo Hoppet was held. It was a great success and has been a regular fixture on the international ski calendar ever since. It features the main 42km event as well as a 21km event and a 7km event. The Hoppet brings the Australian snowfields to an international audience. Due to COVID-19 there was no normal Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek in 2020 as the resort was closed down. Instead, the virtual Kangaroo Hoppet- “I did it my way” was held. The event was staged for two weeks between the 10th and 23rd August. Participants chose a distance of 7km, 21km, or 42km and could choose any human powered activity. Activities included running, walking, cycling, swimming, roller skiing, inline skating, paddling, canoeing, mountain biking, exercise machines, unicycles and a tricycle. The event attracted 1901 participants from 37 nations. This poster is significant because it documents an event which brings international attention to Falls Creek and the surrounding region.A poster featuring images of a skier, cyclist and runner on a blue and white background. Logos of AGL, Falls Creek, Alpine Shire Council, Victorian State Government, the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club, Rojo Outerwear, Elude Outerwear and Community Bank Mount Beauty & District are across the bottom of the poster. A kangaroo sign with crossed red circle feature at the top left and bottom right corners.KANGAROO HOPPET 2020 Do it your way Centre text: THE COVID-19 VERSION of Australia's Premier Ski Race. We're offering a remote Hoppet event where you can ride, run, paddle, swim, walk, skate, rollerski and yes, even ski, the 2020 event wherever you are. AUGUST 10 - 23 7 KM 21 KM 42 KM HOPPET.COM.AUkangaroo hoppet, worldloppet events, falls creek, mt. beauty

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. It was a 21km race with about 80 participants organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club of Mount Beauty. The course started and finished at Falls Creek Alpine Resort and took participants out into the Bogong High Plains. After running the event for 10 years, it was decided they should become part of the Worldloppet series of marathon ski races. Representatives from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and the Australian Ski Federation attended the Worldloppet Annual Meeting in Finland in June 1990 to put the case for the acceptance of an Australian event into the Worldloppet series. Before being admitted, they had to demonstrate that the Birkebeiner Club could run a world class event, so three months later in August 1990 a 42km event named the Australian International Ski Marathon was held at Falls Creek together with a 21km Birkebeiner race and a 7km event called the Birkebeiner Lite. The event was approved by delegates from USA, Norway and Austria, in 1991 Australia became the 12th member of Worldloppet, with the condition that there had to be a name change. After some late night discussion allegedly involving red wine from North East Victoria the main event became the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, with the minor events being the 21km Australian Birkebeiner, and 7km Joey Hoppet. In the winter of 1991, the first Kangaroo Hoppet was held. It was a great success and has been a regular fixture on the international ski calendar ever since. It features the main 42km event as well as a 21km event and a 7km event. The Hoppet brings the Australian snowfields to an international audience. In 2021 plans were in place for the 30th anniversary of the Hoppet when it was again stopped due to COVID-19. A virtual Hoppet was put in place. It ran between 1st and 29th August 2021 and was again successful, with almost 1200 entrants. 31 countries and all Australian states and mainland territories were represented. Participants came from Argentina, Austria, Canada, Czechia, Dubai, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the USA.This poster is significant because it documents an event which brings international attention to Falls Creek and the surrounding region.A poster featuring two skiers heading into the distance. One skier has a race bib with 30 1991 - 2021 visible on his back. At the top is a circular emblem featuring a kangaroo looking through the middle of the number 30. It is surrounded by the words "KANGAROO HOPPET ANNIVERSARY 1991 - 2021". Logos of Worldloppet, AGL, Falls Creek, Alpine Shire Council, Victorian State Government, the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club, FIS, Community Bank Mount Beauty & District and KANGAROO HOPPET are across the bottom of the poster. In middle of image: AUSTRALIA'S PREMIER X-COUNTRY SKI RACE Between image and logos: 18 AUGUST 2021 FALLS CREEK AUSTRALIA 7 KM 21 KM 42 KM HOPPET.COM.AUkangaroo hoppet, worldloppet events, falls creek, mt. beauty

The Kangaroo Hoppet is Australia’s premier long distance cross country ski race, and a member of the Worldloppet series of international cross country ski events. The first race at Falls Creek was held in 1979 under the name of “Australian Birkebeiner”. It was a 21km race with about 80 participants organised by the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club of Mount Beauty. The course started and finished at Falls Creek Alpine Resort and took participants out into the Bogong High Plains. After running the event for 10 years, it was decided they should become part of the Worldloppet series of marathon ski races. Representatives from the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club and the Australian Ski Federation attended the Worldloppet Annual Meeting in Finland in June 1990 to put the case for the acceptance of an Australian event into the Worldloppet series. Before being admitted, they had to demonstrate that the Birkebeiner Club could run a world class event, so three months later in August 1990 a 42km event named the Australian International Ski Marathon was held at Falls Creek together with a 21km Birkebeiner race and a 7km event called the Birkebeiner Lite. The event was approved by delegates from USA, Norway and Austria, in 1991 Australia became the 12th member of Worldloppet, with the condition that there had to be a name change. After some late night discussion allegedly involving red wine from North East Victoria the main event became the 42km Kangaroo Hoppet, with the minor events being the 21km Australian Birkebeiner, and 7km Joey Hoppet. In the winter of 1991, the first Kangaroo Hoppet was held. It was a great success and has been a regular fixture on the international ski calendar ever since. It features the main 42km event as well as a 21km event and a 7km event. The Hoppet brings the Australian snowfields to an international audience. In 2022 the Men's Winner was Peter Wolter from USA in a time of 1:28:08.2. The winner of the Women's event was Jessie Diggins of USA in a time of 1:31:50.9This poster is significant because it documents an event which brings international attention to Falls Creek and the surrounding region.A poster featuring a cartoon image of hundreds of kangaroo skiers crossing through the blue finishing gate. The date 27 AUGUST 2022 is on a red sign above the gate. FALLS CREEK is also on the gate, as well as the names of some of the sponsors. Logos of AGL, the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club, Falls Creek, KANGAROO HOPPET/Worldloppet, FIS, Alpine Shire Council, and Community Bank Mount Beauty & District are across the bottom of the poster. , Below the image: 7, 21 & 42 Km Kangaroo Hoppetkangaroo hoppet, worldloppet events, falls creek, mt. beauty

George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigh Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek operated by Doerr Nominees Pty. Ltd. under the management of Vesna Sugden. George Shirling passed away in March 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This photo is significant because it captures an image of two pioneers of pioneers and active members of Falls Creek Village.A black and white image of George Shirling with two motorbikes on the bank of the West Kiewa River.george shirling, koki lodge

Eldest daughter of Edna and Bon Barrie, born on 03 November 1943 in Melbourne, Victoria, Memoirs of Wendy Barrie, recalling the early formative years of life in Melton: In 1949 I started school at Melton State School no 430 and was driven the 2½ miles to there by my parents at first. Later we walked home in the afternoons or were picked up by car as we made our way home along the Western Highway. In 1956 I went to Bacchus Marsh High School. There were 4 students in grade 6 and 3 of us went to the High School. The students from Melton, Melton South and Toolern Vale State Schools went by bus to Bacchus Marsh High School as far a fifth form. My parents drove me to the pick up point and during the five years of travel to High School. The bus travelled via Toolern Vale and later went through Exford and through Parwan. On the return journey in the afternoon the bus went in the reverse direction. The bridge at Exford was an old narrow wooden one, and the students had to get off the bus and walk across, with the driver crossing in the empty bus for safety reasons. There was a travelling allowance paid to parents and it was estimated from the distance the crow flies, a straight line. We lived a Ferris Lane, just where the Harness Racing entrance is now situated about 2 ½ miles by road to school too close to qualify for the subsidy. While at State School Melton we would walk home in a group with the Nixon and Gillespie children, along the main road over the bridge near the Shire Offices and down a hill. I was being dinked on Joyce Gillespie’s bike while holding onto the seat, toppled off the bike striking my chin and teeth on the bitumen and cracking my jaw. I was about 9 years old and stayed a couple of days in the Quamby Hospital in Bacchus Marsh, it seemed like and eternity at the time and quite traumatic being separated from my family. I can remember contemplating how I could get out of the window and run away but realised it was too far to walk home. Often we would cut across the Common on our way home from school picking up stray golf balls and collecting them from the creek when it dried out. We were warned about not accepting lifts from strangers passing along the Melbourne/ Ballarat Road. The only danger we faced was being swooped by the magpies particularly on the open ground on the Common. We were also fairly cautious when the Gypsies camped on the Common in the area just about opposite the small reservoir. “Mum” grandma Myers loved to have us call in on our way home, and usually would cut a slice of Jongebloed’s bread and spread it with home made butter. Sometimes we waited there until we were collected by car, usually driven by our mother. Margaret Nixon and Joyce Gillespie were a few grades ahead of me and Barbara Nixon was born just two months earlier than me. Our mothers were great friends for over 6o years, born in the same month three years apart. They lived within a few days of the same age as each other at the time their deaths. Dad and George Nixon attended Melton school at the same time. Sarah nee Hornbuckle Nixon and my grandfather Frederick Myers Snr were at school together at the same in the 1880s. The Nixon family lived in Keilor Road just past the Toolern Creek near the turnoff. Tom and Ann Collins lived on the southern side of the Western highway and Keilor road intersection. Jim and Ruby Gillespie’s house was further long Keilor road on the right. They backed onto the Myers who lived on the north side of Western Highway east of Myers Gully (Ryans Creek). The Bridge over the Toolern Creek as very narrow and as truck traffic increased there were accidents. One truck took out the side railing and plunged upside down into the bank and into the shallow water. Another fatal accident happened between a car and a truck right in front of the Myers house. Grandfather Fred had been a bike rider all his life, as far as the Riverina in his younger years, wryly made the comment about the drivers the speeding along the Ballarat Road were setting out to kill themselves. The road was busy particularly after the Races at Ballarat when the crowds were hurrying home to Melbourne. Train travel had changed very little from the time my mothers generation to mine. The timetable meant the usual rush to Melton South by bike in her case and if she was running late the train pulled up on the crossing. I was driven to the Station from home past Keith and Mary Gillespie’s house near the Ferris Road rail crossing to Bridge road to Melton South for the 7.32 train. While attending Sunshine High School in 1961 I would meet up with three other students, two of whom I knew from Bacchus Marsh High School days. We usually got into the same compartment on the train, it was a typical country train with a corridor along the side and compartments with a door, roof racks and sometimes heated metal containers for the feet in the winter. Some of the trains came through from Horsham and Ballarat, and the Overland from Adelaide passed through in the evening, we could hear it in the distance from the Ferris Lane home. The carriages had 1st and economy class compartments showing photographs of county scenes and holiday destinations. The engine was the large A class diesel. They are still running to Bacchus Marsh 50 years later, due to the need for the greatly increased number of commuters travelling to work in the city. Sometimes the carriages were pull by a Steam engine, these were a problem in the summer time because the sparks caused fires along the train lines and then quickly spread into the dry grass, crops and stubble. The Motor Train left Spencer Street at 4.23 pm and was the best train for me to catch. Ferris Road was a designated stop and train pulled up on the road crossing. It had steps at the door and rungs to hold while alighting to the ground. The ballast along the tracks was rough and uneven and awkward to land on. The train was painted blue and yellow with the letters VR pained on the front. This saved may parents the afternoon trip to collect me from the Station. On the walk home on the gravel road I would pass Uncle Tom and Aunty May’s house before reaching home. Melva Gillespie was studying at Sunshine Technical School and we sometimes both got off the train at the same time. On other occasions the Motor Train was replaced with a diesel engine with carriages, it was also required to stop and the driver had to be notified in advance. This meant getting into the guards van a Rockbank. It was more difficult alighting from the carriage as the gap was greater and more precarious to swing out and land on the ground. A few times in my last year of study at Melbourne Teachers College in Grattan Street Carlton. I managed to catch the 2.30 pm train to Serviceton, it was express to Melton and was very quick trip. The last train, was the 5.25 pm diesel to Ballarat and I usually caught this train to Melton South Station. On one occasion after being held up on the tram in Bourke street I had to make a mad dash to the platform chasing the train as it was just moving off and yelling to the guard, fortunately I was noticed and the train ground to halt. I scrambled into the end door and took most of the journey home to recover. After the last year at High School I continued to travel on the train, 2 years to Prahran Technical School changing at North Melbourne. There were a lot school children travelling to private schools and some at the primary level and mainly from Bacchus Marsh. Rockbank children also travelled by train from the beginning of their high school years, quite a few went to Sunshine High School. During my third year of teacher training I travelled to Flinders Street to RMIT for ceramics classes and Grattan St Teachers College located in the grounds of Melbourne University. There were many teachers being trained at the Secondary Teachers College due to the baby bulge creating a great shortage of teachers. Sunshine High School was very well represented amongst the different courses in Primary, Secondary and Art and Crafts. I attended Melbourne University lectures, studying a Fine Art subject. Bernard Smith was the most notable of the lecturers. he replaced Professor Joseph Bourke who had taken leave for the years. In 1962 he published the art book “Australian Painting”. The secondary art and craft student teachers from the College were in the majority, taking this subject and were well regarded due to their practical art and craft methods and their teaching round experience. In December 1964 I graduated as a Trained Secondary Teacher – Art and Crafts. The graduating ceremony was held at Wilson Hall. I received my appointment to work at Maryborough High School. Uncle Max and Aunty Rosemary Myers arranged my accommodation. Uncle Max was a teacher at the Maryborough Technical School fat the time. The appointment was suddenly changed when just before the school year was about to start when I received notification that I was now required to move to Warracknabeal High School. I was subject to a bond for the three years of training and three years of teaching and was under an obligation to comply with the directive of the Education Department. My father stood as guarantor when I was accepted as student at the Melbourne Teachers’ College, thus enabling me to receive my teacher training, and a 5 pounds a week allowance for expenses. After teaching for two years at Warracknabeal High School I was fortunate enough the gain a transfer to Sunshine West High School, returning to live at home in Melton and travelling by car to work with a fellow colleague, Jock Smith who lived at Station road Melton. I completed bond obligation and resigned at the end of the year. The employment regulations at that time did not allow the option of leave of absence for, indefinite overseas travel. I returned to Australia in October 1969. Visiting Arthur Hart the Principal of Sunshine High School he arranged with the Education Department for my re-employment at Sunshine High School until the end of the year. In 1970 I was transferred, and returned to Sunshine West High School where I worked for the next three years. In January 1968 I sailed on the “Oriana” to South Hampton with two teaching friends from Warracknabeal High School on a travelling and working holiday. Doreen Kiely, a former Bacchus Marsh High student and fellow train traveller from Bacchus Marsh, was already working in London, had arranged our accommodation at the London Travellers Club Hotel, Braham Gardens, Earls Court SW5. We based our stay at this address in London and travelled around Scotland, Ireland and England. In the summer we took a four month trip around the Continent and the Mediterranean. I registered with The Royal Borough Of Kingston Upon Thames as a Supply teacher, and worked at Chessington School form autumn to spring the following year and living with Mrs Rose Gillies at Kinross Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey. In the spring of 1969 visiting Norway, Sweden and Finland joining an organised camping group to the Artic Circle, entered Russia at Leningrad (St Petersburg) Moscow, Minsk, to Poland and Czechoslovakia. In August returning to Worcester Park for the flight to Montreal to stay with cousin Lynette and husband Jurgen. A side trip was taken to Toronto, Niagara Falls and New York. The flight home from Montreal to Melbourne took 52 hours. A ½ day break in Vancouver before boarding the Qantas boeing 707 via San Francisco, Honolulu, Fiji, Sydney to Melbourne. Around the world in 21 months. Photographs of Wendy local identities

William M Pyke was born in 1815, Wiltshire England and died in 1850, 35 year old.William M Pyke headstone, located on the banks of Toolern Creekpioneer families, local identities

The graves are buried on the banks of Toolern Creeklocal identities, pioneer families