This skirt belonged to Olga Black, a long-time Brighton resident. The linen used for the skirt were woven by Olga's great-grandmother Efstathia in the late-nineteenth century with flax grown on the island of Ithaca. In the 1950s, Olga made the fabric into a skirt, embellishing it with hand embroidery. Olga Maria Black was born in Melbourne in 1930, the daughter of Ithacan migrants Constantine and Toula Mavrokefalos. Constantine first emigrated to Australia in 1902, returning to Greece circa 1912-13 to serve his home country in the Balkan Wars. Toula's family had left Ithaca for Romania when she was only six months old, but she happened to be visiting the island at the very time that Constantine arrived, fresh from the war. Within three weeks they were married, and when Constantine returned to Melbourne in 1914 his new bride came with him. Constantine had trained as an accountant, but his qualifications were not recognised in Australia. Changing his surname to the Anglicised "Black", he started off working in his older brother Dionysios's cafés before going into business on his own. In 1917 he opened the Paris Residential Café at 54-56 Swanston Street, which offered both dining and accommodation. The business saw some years of success, but did not survive the Great Depression. Constantine died in 1944. Olga's mother Toula learned to sew as a child, while growing up in the Romanian village of Brila. She developed her skills making lace and embroidering items for her trousseau. Some of the linen she embroidered had been woven from flax on Ithaca by her own grandmother, Efstathia. During the Depression, when money was scarce, Toula embroidered at home, doing work for a factory in Flinders Lane. Using a cotton reel, a threepence and a sixpence she created and embroidered designs on hundreds of blouses. Olga spent her preschool days sitting at the table where her mother worked. Toula would involve Olga by allowing her to help choose the colour combinations. Toula lived with Olga in Brighton until her death in 1976. Olga inherited her mother's sewing skills. She re-invented some of Toula’s trousseau nightdresses and skilfully altered other clothing, making dresses which she wore around Brighton for many years.Ankle-length full cream linen skirt with multi-coloured cross stitch embroidery featuring mountains, birds and trees. Fullness is pleated into wide waist band. Left side opening. The fabric widths have been whipped together by hand probably at the time the cloth was woven in the late-nineteenth century. The skirt is machine stitched.skirt, linen, hand woven, embroidery, ithaca, migration, greek diaspora, olga black

Jessie Isabel Henderson was President of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) form 1924 until 1947. She was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her welfare work. Jessie Isabel Henderson was a leader in all the welfare organizations in which she was involved, including the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) where she was elected as a Committee member in 1912. She was regarded as being "clear-sighted, level-headed, being able to see the right perspective when troubles arose" and having an exceptional memory. She was a representative on the newly formed Charities Board in 1923 and was elected President of the MDNS in 1924 and continued in this role until 1947. During this time she was involved with the formation of the Society's first Auxiliary; the founding, and later extensions, of the After-Care Home, the Society now being called 'Melbourne District Nursing Society and After-Care Home'. This involved many fund raising efforts for the purchase of property of the Nurses Home at No. 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood and the building of the After-Care Home at No. 45. During her time as President the After-Care opened an Ante-Natal Clinic and a Women's Welfare Clinic, as well as the Society creating a 'Committee of Almoners' who assisted discharged patients from the After-Care to receive assistance from other organizations if required. The name changed to 'Ward Visitors' when an 'Institute of Almoners' was formed with newly trained Almoners. During the depression 1929-1933 she led the Society in extending its Midwifery and District services, including supplying milk for expectant mothers. Through the depression her philanthropy extended to, with the help of another, in assisting young ladies out of work. She sought sewing machines and material from businesses and set up a factory where the ladies were employed producing salable products. In 1933 Mrs. Henderson suggested the name of the After-Care Home be changed to the 'After-Care Hospital'; she felt using the word 'hospital' would aid with receiving grants and money from the public through appeals - this came into effect in 1934. In 1936 Jessie Isabel Henderson was made Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E) for her welfare work. Mrs. Henderson was unable to carry out her Presidential duties in 1947 due to ill health, and she resigned in 1948. She died on the 11th of January 1951. The After-Care Hospital dedicated wards 4, 5 and 6 in the Jessie Henderson wing in her memory. She is listed on page 180 in ‘Women Shaping the Nation - Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Vol 1, 2001’ Centenary of Federation 1901 - 2001 Black and white photograph of the head and shoulder view of Mrs. G.G. (Jessie Isabel) Henderson who has her wavy dark hair drawn back and is wearing a short necklace and a longer single string of pearls, She is wearing a black frock which has a square neckline.mdns, after-care hospital, melbourne district nursing society, rdns, royal district nursing service, mrs g.g. (jessie isabel) henderson

These old spools or bobbins were used in textile mills and on looms in factories. The wooden one is a piece of the Industrial Revolution. Two vintage or antique wooden and thick cardboard industrial large sewing spools. The wooden one is an example from the Industrial Revolution. It has a round wooden top and base, with metal bands around both ends. There are two holes in one end at the side of the bigger hole in the middle which the spool would be attached to a machine. It has thick twisted discoloured cream string like thread wound around it. The cardboard wide open ended spool is smaller with thick cream coloured silk thread wound onto it.They were probably used in mills or factories.cotton reels, thread holders, threads

This outfit was worn by Kate Dabb for her wedding to Alf Meyer on the 6th of June 1900 at the Maldon Wesleyan Church. Kate was the 3rd daughter of Samuel Dabb.This dress is in two parts, a bodice and a skirt. Made of cream satin, mostly machine sewn with some hand sewing. The bodice is finely worked with applique panels of scrolls, petals and leaves decorated with glass beads and sequins. The back panel and cuffs are trimmed with lace.wedding dress, samuel dabb, meyer, "dabb, catherine maud", "callow, phoebe"

Photo date stamp says 16th August 2012

A photo of two ladies sewing costumes for an Annual Demonstration, it featured in the July 1954 Newsletter. The caption states 'The sewing room is always a hive of activity. Here most of the costumes are made for the Annual Demonstrations. Mrs E Brown and Mrs M M Livingstone take a turn at the machines.' They are possibly mothers of the junior legatees, though sometimes the wives of legatees also helped. Costumes were extremely elaborate and were often reused in different years. The beautiful costumes were made by members of the Junior Legacy Mothers' Club and the Melbourne Legacy Wives' Association. Throughout the year Melbourne Legacy provided classes for Junior Legatees such as dancing, gymnastics and Eurythmics. The Demonstration was an annual event to showcase their skills. Melbourne Legacy conducted Annual Demonstrations / Parades from 1928 through to the 1980's, usually held at Melbourne Town Hall or Olympic Pool Stadium. A record of the ways costumes were prepared for junior legatees in the Annual Demonstration.Black and white photo of two ladies sewing costumes for an annual demonstration.annual demonstration, costumes, sewing, sewing machines

The fund was established to coordinate the activities of the state based patriotic funds, mainly run by women. Established in 1916 to 10 April 1920 for WW1 and then again for WW11 June 1940 and ceased 27th June 1946. Australian Comforts 'Fund Badge. 8 x Badges White cotton material with red machine cotton . At the top is Victorian Division, under that circled around a red star with A.C.F. in the middle is Australian comforts'' Fund. At the bottom is Golden Square. The badges have top and bottom rough edges to fold under for sewing on a garment or hat.. Box 625organization, government, state government, victorian division australian comforts' fund golden square. ww1 - ww11

Tapestry has been woven on a electrical driven machine.|Belonged to Mrs. A.E. Hepburn 1933 - 1988. Formerly of Mont Albert.Wall hanging tapestry in brown toning. Scene of an old room with three women sitting at a table sewing with a child standing near them. All women wearing fitted caps. Room heavily detailed - chairs, fireplace, dresser, windows, half open door, lectern, wardrobe, etc. One woman wearing glasses. 3/4 backed in heavy cotton with opening for wooden rod. Long fringing on one end. Wooden rod.handcrafts, tapestry