From Till collectionTHE TILL COLLECTION SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT|The significance of the Alwyn Till Collection is that Alwyn was born in Mitcham in 1921. He attended Mitcham Primary School and Box Hill Boys High School. He served his Community mainly through his activities within the Christ Church Anglican Church Mitcham. He joined the Royal Australian Airforce in World War II in September 1939. He trained as a Pilot in Australia and Canada, was posted to England and saw action in Europe. He was shot down over France and rescued by and then joined the French Resistance and while fighting with them was fatally shot. A Baron fighting with him wrote to his mother to inform her of his death.|Alwyn's parents were Evaleen Victoria Till (nee Maggs) and Sydney Norman Till who first lived in Creek Road Mitcham, before moving to 573 Whitehorse Road Mitcham. His father served in World War I where his eyesight was damaged and he was taught by the then Blind Institute in suitcase making of which we have two examples in this collection. He died in 1931. Alwyn took over responsibility for his mother and sister Alison. We can understand how devastated his mother and sister would have been at the news of Alwyn's feeling that he must serve his country in World War 11.|His letters home were so precious to them that they carefully kept all his correspondence, notices of death and condolences from friends. After Alison's death in 2007 her relation Joan Walker transcribed each of Alwyn's letters home into two bound volumes. The executors, Joan Walker and Anne Drew deposited the original letters with the Whitehorse Historical Society. Due to their significance as historical documents of one serviceman's complete correspondence with his family the Whitehorse Historical Society Committee after consultation with the donors deposited the original letters with the State Library of Victoria. The Whitehorse Historical Society retains the copies.|Alison and her mother kept many family memorabilia and personal items which make up this significant collection as they show how people lived, worked and served in the local community and municipality.|This collection represents the love and devotion of the women to their families during the course of two world wars. The father was disabled as a result of World War 1 and died an early death and a son who thereafter took on the responsibility as head of the family at an early age. This young handsome charismatic son served his community in peace time and gave his life in World War 11. This mother and sister were devoted to his memory.Gilt leaf shape brooch pearls and green stones along leaf.costume accessories, female

Gilt brooch in shape if basket with multi coloured stonescostume accessories, female

I have lived in Box Hill now City of Whitehorse since 1970 I have belonged to Box Hill Spinners and Weavers Inc. since 1990.During the 90s' Box Hill Spinners and Weavers participated in the Annual Sheep and Woolcraft Show, at that time held in the Melbourne Showground. As well as submitting individual entries we always entered the Group Competition, known as the '5 articles' the entry had to have 5 separate articles made by a group and displaying different woolcraft techniques . In 1997 our Box Hill entry focused on 'The Planets' featuring five capes. The red one representing Mars the red planet. It was woven. The dark cape represented Jupiter. It was also woven. the Neptune cape was felted in blue and greens. The Earth cape featured knitting and crochet. My contribution was the Venus cape featuring spinning from raw merino fleece and silk. Once completed this wool/silk yarn was fashioned using hairpin lace. I was adept at spinning by this time but knew nothing about the old technique of hairpin lace. Box Hill Spinners and Weavers won First Prize. Margaret Dimelow.Cream coloured cape spun from raw merino fleece and silk, technique is hairpin lacecostume, female

Purchased in Europe in the 1970sSleeveless light brown leather dress. there is a zip down the front and an attached belt which has metal studs and a gold coloured metal buckle in the frontcostume, female

Blousettes were popular for ladies wear under suits and cardigans in the 1930's and 1940's. Part of the Bette Jones collection.Fine voile and net blousette (blouse front and back); cream coloured. Ties at side- elastic at waist and back, satin ribbon at front and back. Front panel of three vertical panels of petit-point coloured flowers, centre panel flanked, each side, by four rows of cotton edging lace. Stand-up net collar of three rows of same edging lace. Back neck opening fastened with metal hooks and eyes.costume, female underwear

Part of Betty Jones collectionBlack chiffon scarf, square. White flower pattern embroidery in one cornercostume, female underwear

Part of Bette Jones collectionDeep beige linen apron with bib. Bib and skirt embroidered with flowers and leaves in pinks and greens. Apron edged and trimmed with cotton lace. No straps, so either designed to be pinned on or unfinished.costume, female working

Part of Bette Jones collectionPale blue leg garter embroidered with two rosettes.costume accessories, female

Skirt may have been worn as tennis skirt circa 1910-1920c 1910 White linen skirt, 3/4 length with placket fastening with 7 hooks and eyes. Wide hem and fold above hem. Laundered 2011costume, female

Worn by Cecilia Foley , Blackburn, VictoriaLadies dress, black and white zig-zag print. Three buttons to waist; belted, eight panelled skirt. Circa 1960'sElcee. By Leon Cutler, New York, Sydneycostume, female

Worn by the donor's motherMachine knitted, brown and cream short sleeved dress and waist length, long sleeved jacket. Dress brown with cream pattern; polo necked, A line with inverted pleat at front of skirt, zip down back. Jacket Chanel style: brown with cream trim at neckline and along facingJoan Knitscostume, female

Worn by an aunt of donor, Lorraine FarnsworthCream silk cap; cream lace insert, edging trimmed with orange flowercostume, female nightwear

Worn by the donor for a Special Occasion in 1966Black nylon, satin look gloves. Beaded on back and along wrist. Size 6.5Gloria 100% Nylon|Made in Hong Kongcostume accessories, female

Metal clasp for belt; silver coloured with gold coloured blue bird decoration. Attached to cardboard display packaging(On display cardboard) The 'Duchess' ladies belt clasp|The best clasp made. No prongs or hooks requiredcostume accessories, female

Purse belonged to Myrtle Grant, grandmother of the donorSmall silver metal purse with silver chain handle. Body of purse mesh with six metal beads at base. Chain handle attached to ring with which to hang onto belt or sash. - Marked as 'Silver Ch 2875 X46'L.W. Xmas 1914costume accessories, female

Handbag owned and used by Myrtle Grant, grandmother of donorSmall handbag with tooled coloured front: red, tan on dark brown background.costume accessories, female

Handbag belonged to Myrtle Grant, grandmother of donorBrown leather clutch handbag. Imitation skin design across frontcostume accessories, female

From a collection donated by Mary McGowan. Brought to Australia by Mary Russell in 1934, a relative of donorWide fan with Spanish scene painted on gold paper backgroundA la Feria de Sevilla de Vigo Recuerdocostume accessories, female

Worn by mother or grandmother of Christine Pitt, donorRectangular scarf with navy blue background and printed lace design in two blues and white.costume accessories, female

Donated by Christine Pitt, Whitehorse Historical Society member. Umbrella is from the 1920's, belonged to her mother, Fay Pitt of Box Hill, and her grandmother, Myrtle Grant of Richmond and Brighton.Red cotton umbrella with plastic handle and paint in a marble pattern. Ten black metal spokes are tipped with red, clear plastic. Wooden shaft. Material fastened with red elastic and metal button and eye clasp. Red material covers the join of spokes to shaft. Brown cotton cord fastened around shaft for hand-hold. From the 1920's'British Make' on one spoke.costume accessories, female

Purchased by member of Whitehorse Historical Society to add to the collection of Costume AccessoriesBlack, high-heeled shoes. Platform soles; two strap sandal-type, with ankle strap and silver buckle fastening. Synthetic material, covering of silver glitter.Pierre Fontaine (6)costume, female footwear

Brown fabric gloves; three rows of stitching on cuffcostume accessories, female

Given to donor by friend in SwitzerlandSmall evening bag made of silver and gold sequins, white seed beads attached to gilt mount and chain handle. Mount has clasp with two blue beads.costume accessories, female

See attachedA Victorian Battenberg Lace collar in two tones of ecru. It is mounted on to pink polished cotton with paper backing. Tape is machine made with infilling by handcostume, female, handcrafts, lacemaking

Ladies beige wrist length gloves with floral embroidery at wrist.costume accessories, female

Hat worn by donor, Barbara Gardiner during the 1960'sBrimless, pleated, close fitting hat. Crown uncovered with a large bow at the back. Fabric patterned in lime green, deep blue and black on an orange background.costume, female headwear

Donated by wearer; worn to churchWhite, chenille, off the face, 1960s bonnet shaped hat; small gilt brooch pinned on front.costume, female headwear

Pink hat of stiffened net, rouched all over; little sprays of apple blossom nestling in the netJulianne, Melbourne MF 8770costume, female headwear

Worn by donor for churchPink straw hat with deep, off the face, brim. Pink ribbon band around crownWeltra Hats, Paris, London, New Yorkcostume, female headwear

Worn by donor for churchFur over 2 wire head bands, trimmed with two brown satin bowscostume, female headwear