In the early l 970's , when our population was increasing rapidly and resident ministers were needed at both Melton and Bacchus Marsh, and after discussion between both denominations over many months a decision was reached , that in both areas they would unite and be known as Methodist - Presbyterian joint parishes. In 1972 Ministers were appointed, and Melton's minister occupied one of the Bacchus Marsh Manses during the building of Melton's church residence in Y uille Street. Services were held at Scots Presbyterian Church Melton. Youth Club and church meetings were held in the Methodist Church at Brooklyn Road, Melton South. At a joint Parish Committee Meeting held in May 1975 at Melton South - a major item of business was finance, to meet the repayments on the recently built Church Manse and the minister's Stipend. The meeting closed without any solution to this problem being made. As the men restacked the chairs Maisie and I viewed the building with the possibility of opening an Opp Shop on the premises. We then made the suggestion to the other members and during the forthcoming weeks investigations concerning the feasibility of this idea were made, volunteers recruited and the shop opened in July 1975. The first contribution to the Church funds of $1,600 was made in 1976 and was followed by regular contributions to the church budget each year. In 1981 a 30'x 20' steel garage costing $2,000 was erected adjacent to the original Methodist Church to provide more space. Meanwhile an Opp Shop was opened in Melton Markets and operated from 1981 to 1985. Further accommodation was needed at Yuille Street and the Atco Hall was installed at the rear of the Bluestone Church (known as Melton Uniting Church - 1977). A large proportion of finance for this project was contributed by the Opp Shop $16,000. Simultaneously finance was being built up to provide further facilities at Brooklyn Rd, resulting in the commencement of a concrete block masonry and steel extension, with facilities & fittings, being commenced during 1986 & completed in 1989. The approximate total cost of this structure was $60,000. Over the 16 years, members and friends of our church have contributed many many hours to staff the shop and many other supportive works. As an acknowledgement of their efforts, our Minister prepared Certificates for Service and Dedication which were presented to 75 supporters at a special Church Service in June 1991. The assistance that has been given to the community of Melton & District has been extensive and much appreciated by many families. In addition many appeals for goods and clothing have been received and packages sent to many outside supportive agencies. Three volunteers having a tea break in the staffroom of the Op Shoplocal identities, churches

B & W gloss photograph of the toilet block and Sunday School of the Westmeadows Uniting Church Coghill Streetwestmeadows, uniting church, sunday school, toilet block

Yellow Uniting Church Adult Fellowship badge in the stylised shape of Australia with text and a red and white dove."UCAF"uniting church adult fellowship

Article on the formation of Watsonia Uniting Church, formerly Watsonia Methodist Church and Watsonia Macleod Uniting ChurchNewspaper clipping, text with illustrationwatsonia uniting church, uniting church in australia

Tynong North former Methodist Church, originally known as Christ Church, Berwick, has been an important community meeting place from c1870 and is significant to the Cardinia and Casey Shires as a major and early public building in both districts. The church may be the oldest (in part) public building in Cardinia Shire. This is a simple gabled church, clad with weatherboards and roofed with corrugated iron. It has a gabled porch with finial and distinctive arched openings (windows and doors) which may be indicative of its reputed early date (c1870), as linked with its classical styling. The windows have multi-paned glazing and the roof gable retains its finial. The concrete stumps and lack of mature planting around the church confirm that it has been moved to the site and restumped. Ref: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/30143/download-reportColour exterior view of the Tynong North Uniting Church, Clarke Rd. Tynong. The image shows a timber church with a porch.tynong north uniting church

Tynong North former Methodist Church, originally known as Christ Church, Berwick, has been an important community meeting place from c1870 and is significant to the Cardinia and Casey Shires as a major and early public building in both districts. The church may be the oldest (in part) public building in Cardinia Shire. This is a simple gabled church, clad with weatherboards and roofed with corrugated iron. It has a gabled porch with finial and distinctive arched openings (windows and doors) which may be indicative of its reputed early date (c1870), as linked with its classical styling. The windows have multi-paned glazing and the roof gable retains its finial. The concrete stumps and lack of mature planting around the church confirm that it has been moved to the site and restumped. Ref: https://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/30143/download-reportColour exterior view of the Tynong North Uniting Church, Clarke Rd. Tynong. The image shows a timber church with a porch.tynong north uniting church

The Mahogany Ship is today regarded as a legend and refers to an ancient wreck that is purported to lie beneath the sand beside Armstrong Bay, several kilometres west of Warrnambool, Its location is currently unknown. For well over a century the mystery of this ship has fascinated Australians because the existence of such a vessel could throw a different light on the earliest phases of exploration of eastern Australia by Europeans. The story is that in January 1836 a party of whalers from Port Fairy travelled to the mouth of the Hopkins River in search of seals. Their boat overturned and one man was drowned. The three survivors were walking the 30 kilometres back to Port Fairy along the coast when, about halfway along, they discovered the wrecked ship in the dunes. It is said that Captain John Mills, who was in charge of the whaling station at Port Fairy promptly visited the wreck with several of his men, including Hugh Donnelly. Donnelly who was the originator of that version of events is now regarded as unreliable. Local history researcher Joan Fawcett believes Donnelly could not have visited the wreck in 1836 because he did not arrive in Victoria until 1841. The "mahogany" description can be traced to a letter from Port Fairy builder, architect and surveyor John Mason and published in the Melbourne Argus in 1876. He said he had seen the hull in 1846 and it "had the appearance of either cedar or mahogany." In 1884 Argus journalist `The Vagabond' wrote that the hull was built of "Spanish mahogany" and six years later Mason wrote another letter saying it might not have been mahogany but red gum or ironbark from New South Wales. He was too late with this new description as the wrecks mahogany tag was here to stay all through the hull was not visible as it had disappeared beneath the shifting sands by 1880. A more reliable account was later presented by the former editor of the Warrnambool Examiner, historian Richard Osburne, who wrote about the wreck in his book History of Warrnambool (published 1887). In it the author remembers to have noticed a wreck in the hummocks between Belfast and Warrnambool, in 1847 or 1848; he stated it was much nearer Warrnambool than Belfast, now known as Port Fairy, going on to state “in fact, it was only two or three miles from the former place, to the west of the big hummock which was supposed to fill Warrnambool Bay with drift sand washed by the Merri River before the cutting was made.” Osburne followed up with a letter to the Port Fairy Gazette on June 25, 1876, during a period of heightened interest in the wreck, although he was unsure of the provenance of the ship he went on to state in his letter. “The old wreck was, in fact, miles away from the Port Fairy beach, and only about four miles from Warrnambool. In the years 1847 and 1848. I have often seen the wreck and I regret to say I do not believe she was a foreign ship at all.”The ship model is significant for its association with the Warrnambool story of what is now referred to as the Mahogany Ship, an ancient shipwreck. The model is significant as it is an interpretation of a Portuguese caravel and possibly associated with the early history and exploration of Southern Australia. The model is a fine example of a hand crafted ship made from plans, not from a kit. Some of the materials used for the model are significant to the Gembrook community in that the timber used is a portion from a 30-meter pine tree that fell onto and destroyed the 120-year-old Gembrook church building. The model is also a dedication to Edward Kermond, who grew up in Warrnambool and claimed to have seen the shipwreck in the dunes when he was a lad in the late 19th century. (See note section of this document for further information on the creator and donation of the subject item).Ship model, an interpretation of a mahogany Portuguese carvel vessel in a glass display case with wood frame and a description plaque. Model is made from dark stained wood. The three masted vessel is fully rigged, with a Portuguese-like flag on mast. Plaque is rectangular, free standing on a pedestal. The model was handmade by Joe Hilder (Senior) in 1999 from flooring obtained from the Gembrook Uniting Church in Victoria. Inscriptions, hand written, under base of case and on plaque.Under base, black felt tip pen “Ship & Case made From / Flooring from Gembrook uniting Church, Flattened in 1999 / By Large Pine Tree.” On plaque, white paint "This interpretation of the Fabled Mahogany Ship was made by Joe Hilder, Gembrook Vic. is displayed in the memory of the late Edward Kermond (Ted) 1887-1973, a Warrnambool son who claimed to have seen the original ship as a child." flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, ship model, mahogany ship, mahogany ship story, portuguese caravel, joe hilder, edward kermond, ted kermond, gembrook uniting church, gembrook storm 1999, port fairy whalers, belfast whalers

Black and white photograph of The Avenue Neighbourhood House established in the former Manse of the Avenue Uniting Church on the corner of Blackburn Road and the Avenue. 1980s Blackburnthe avenue neighbourhood house, the avenue uniting church, blackburn, community houses, blackburn road, neighbourhood houses

This is a sheet of Rays Vic Tonga writing paper.Single sheet of white writing paper with dark blue ink heading and the badges of the Methodist Girls' Comradeship Rays' section and the Uniting Church of Australia badges.methodist girls' comradeship rays' section, uniting church of australia

B/W photograph, Streetscape, looking west down Scott St. from Inglis Street corner, Uniting Church partially visible on right, Presbytery on left.buninyong, scott st., inglis st., uniting church, presbytery

Two photographs relating to the Ballarat South Uniting Church. .1 The red brick church with information board .2) Information of the closure of the church due to the Covid19 pandemic shutdown due to only 2 peoplebeing able to congregate at one time. "Note: Worship services have been suspended for the time being. We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please get in tourch if your have any questions." "Follow is on Facebook (look for Ballarat South Uniting Curch" for live streamed events and liturgy-at-home resources, and check out website (Ballaratsouth.uniting church.org.au) for more info. If you need anythign (a phone call, some groceries etc) get in touch with our minister Carlynne on 0409 285 182, or [email protected] Be kind to yourseld and others, and stay in touch. God bless you."ballarat south uniting church, corona virus, covid19, pandemic, uniting church

Green covered 12 page newsletter giving details of classes, community living centre courses and activities.

Green covered 12 page newsletter giving details of classes, community living centre courses and activities.

Pink covered12 page newsletter giving details of classes, community living centre courses and activities.