Established at Victoria Barracks, in Melbourne, in June 1940, the 2/23rd Battalion was raised as part of the all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force and assigned to the 26th Brigade. Under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Bernard Evans, a small cadre of experienced personnel drawn from Victorian Militia units were concentrated at Victoria Barracks prior to the battalion headquarters being relocated to Albury, New South Wales, where a large number of volunteers were completing their recruit training at the 4th Recruit Training Battalion. Upon the conclusion of this course, the recruits were posted to the 2/23rd and the battalion – over 900 strong– moved to Bonegilla, Victoria, just across the border, where more complex collective training was completed prior to departure overseas. A large majority of the battalion's initial intake of volunteers came from the Albury–Wodonga region and as a result, the 2/23rd became known as "Albury's Own"This item is part of a collection of items owned by Arthur Lock, a member of the 2/23rd Battalion, an all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force which served as part of the garrison during the Siege of Tobruk, then at El Alamein, New Guinea and Borneo. It has particular local significance as the battalion was know as "Albury's Own" because a large majority of the battalion's initial intake of volunteers came from the Albury–Wodonga region. This 2/23rd Battalion Association transfer has been laminated and attached to a card. This logo became the colour patch for the unit after their service in Tobruk. Below colour patch "2/23rd BATTALION ASSOCIATION/ BOX 551D, G.P.O. MELBOURNE"world war 11, rats of tobruk, 2/23rd battalion

This cassette was taped by the Rats of Tobruk Association. ABC war correspondent Chester Wilmot (1911-1954) pioneered the use of recording equipment in the field. He spent several months in Tobruk in 1941. In October 1941 the ABC Field Unit recorded a concert put on by 400 Australian soldiers in an ammunition cave. Wilmot’s introduction sets the scene and items feature individual and chorus items and a saxophone and piano accordion performance.This item is part of a collection of items owned by Arthur Lock, a member of the 2/23rd Battalion, an all-volunteer Second Australian Imperial Force which served as part of the garrison during the Siege of Tobruk, then at El Alamein, New Guinea and Borneo. It has particular local significance as the battalion was know as "Albury's Own" because a large majority of the battalion's initial intake of volunteers came from the Albury–Wodonga region. A cassette of the Tobruk Concert held in 1941 in the caves behind the lines in an armament cave in Tobruk. "TOBRUK CONCERT 1941"world war 11, rats of tobruk, tobruk, chester wilmot, concert in tobruk

These items were regular elements of a Scout Master's equipment. The hat badge and the woggle were specifically part of the Leader's uniform and differed from similar uniform items of younger or more junior scouts. The first proposal to form a Scouts Corps in Wodonga was raised at a public meeting in Wodonga in November 1909. One of their earliest activities in January 1910 was a march from Wodonga to Bright and return with Scouts from Albury. This first Troop was probably called the 1st Belvoir Scouts. Several other attempts were made to form Scout Troops in Wodonga over the ensuing years. In 1929 the Boy Scout Movement was taken up seriously at Wodonga by approximately 40 boys, together with 30 Cubs (juniors). However this was short-lived. Over the following decade several Scout Troops were formed but lapsed and several Wodonga boys joined the Albury Scout Troop. In 1939 Mr Ray Foster, with eight members put the Scouts on a more enduring basis. Their meeting place was a room below the Water Tower. During the early 1940s the 1st Wodonga Scouts struggled for Leaders to run the activities because so many people were caught up in the Second World War (either overseas or domestically). Mr David Mann gathered together all the small scouting groups in the Wodonga area and turned them from disorganised and disconnected groups into one scouting unit. He led the Scouts in their formative years and went on to become the 1st Wodonga Scouts first King's Scout. He had a long association with the 1st Wodonga Scouts and all the district scouting troops over the following decades. David Mann was also instrumental in the late 1940s in working for a Scout Hall to be built in Reid Street, Wodonga to secure a permanent home. These items were donated by a former member of the 1st Wodonga Scout Group who shared positive memories of the leadership of David Mann and the lessons learned in the Scouting Movement.These items are significant because they are representative of an important local, national and international organisation.A set of Scout uniform equipment including a Scout Master's Hat Badge, a whistle and a knotted leather woggle.On badge" Scout Symbol above "BE PREPARED" Engraved on Whistle - Fleur de Lis symbolwodonga scouts, 1st wodonga scouts, scouting equipment, david mann