The Alexandra Fountain was designed by William Vahland and is constructed of Harcourt Granite.Charing Cross buildings illuminated during White Night Bendigo, and featuring the Alexandra Fountain.white night bendigo, charing cross, alexandra fountain, horse, william vahland

Charing Cross buildings illuminated during White Night Bendigo, and featuring the Alexandra Fountain.white night bendigo, charing cross, alexandra fountain, bendigo

A number of china roses affixed to graves at Bendigo Cemetery. bendigo cemetery, china roses

Robert O'Hara Burke and Thomas Pope Besnard were childhood friends. As sexton of the local Back Creek Cemetery Thomas Besnard organised a subscription to raise the money for a monument to Burke, Wills and Gray. A subscription of one shilling, no more and not less, was asked so all subscribers were equal. The Bendigo monument was designed by Adam Duncan and features a Corinthian column mounted on a foundation stone, topped with a Grecian urn draped with the Union Jack. The stone for the monument was quarried from New Chum Mine. The site in the Bendigo Cemetery was selected by Besnard so the monument was on a grass knoll well clear of any other graves. The design included landscaping with a path and garden beds that provided dignified access. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo has been entered on the Register of the National Estate as being important for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo. The foundation block was laid on 20 August 1862 by Chairman of the Bendigo Municipality, Charles Burrows – exactly two years after the Expedition left Melbourne. A half day holiday was declared by Bendigo Council, and a procession left the Bendigo Town Hall and marched to the cemetery where 8000 people were gathered and another 4000 lined the route. John King was unable to attend due to ill health. Chairman of the Municipality of Bendigo, Charles Burrows, gave a long address, and diaries of members of the expedition, the Sandhurst Almanac, the Bendigo Advertiser, the Bendigo Independent Evening News, photographs of the deceased, photographs of Public Buildings in Bendigo, a Sydney half sovereign and all the silver coins of the Realm were wrapped in a Union Jack and placed in a niche in the foundation stone. Fifteen months later a column was erected on the foundation stone after Besnard openly criticised the Memorial Committee for their lack of action. The Bendigo Advertiser was disappointed at the location of the monument preferring a more central location and in 1893 an attempt was made to move the monument to Rosalind Park. On 19 May 1893, Mr Minto, the City Surveyor of the Bendigo MunicIpality reported it would cost £25, and no other action occurred. In 1940 the land around the memorial was sold off as grave sites and the paths and garden beds disappeared with graves now surrounding the base of the monument. The Burke and Wills Monument in Bendigo Cemetery was entered on the Register of the National Estate for its association with historical events and developments associated with exploration in the early days of Colony of Victoria. Two conifers remain from the original group sent by Mueller of the Melbourne Botanical Gardens to develop the garden layout on the knoll. These two trees are listed as Significant Trees by City of Greater Bendigo.Burke and Wills Memorial at Bendigo Cemetery, 2018Erected by the people of Bendigo in honor of the Victorian Explorers, Burke, Wills, Gray and King who first crossed the continent of Australia. King alone surviving the privation and suffering under which his three brave ill-fated companions sank. A.D. 1862. Robert O'Hara Burke, leader of the Victorian Expedition, left Melbounre 24th August 1860. Reached Carpentaria 12th Feby 1861. Died on his return at Coopers Creek, 30th June 1861. Charles Gray, died also on his return at Polygorum Swamp. 17th April 1861. William John Wills, second in command, died also near Coopers Creek, 29th June 1861. bendigo cemetery, burke and wills, burke and wills memorial, william john wills, john o'hara burke, charles gray, polygonum swamp, coopers creek, victorian expedition, carpentaria, bendigo public cemetery, bendigo remembrance park, thomas pope besnard

Colour photograph of the Bendigo Cemetery.bendigo cemetery, graves

Colour photograph of the Helsham Gravestone in Bendigo Cemetery. It includes a memorial for Pte J. George Douglas Helsham who was killed at Gallipoli during World War One. In loving memory of my dear son Pte. J. George Douglas Helsham Late 7th Bn. A.I.F. Killed at Gallipoli between 25-4-'15 & 2-2-'15 aged 21 years. "Our ANZAC" Also his father John Phillip died 1sr May 1918 aged 52 years. Erected by E. Helsham. Also Emalie Helsham beloved wife & mother of the above Died 20th March 1936 aged 75 years. Resting beyond life's sunset. bendigo cemetery, graves, j. george douglas helsham, gallipoli, john phillip helsham, emalie helsham, anzac, world war one, dead man's penny

Colour photograph of a grave in the Bendigo Cemetery.Erected by David Brough in memory of his beloved wife Jean, who died Aug 10th 1889, aged 70 years Also their daughter Annie, the beloved wife of Joseph Walker, who died June 2nd 1873, aged 22 years.> "Thy will be done." Also David Brough died nov. 1st 1900, aged 79 years. At rest bendigo cemetery, david brough, jean brough walker, joseph walker, annie, gravestone

William Denovan was an important character in Bendigo's goldfield agitation.A number of photographs of the grave of William Denovan in the Bendigo Cemetery.Sacred to the memory of William Dixon Campbell Denovan who entered the new life on the 18th July 1906, aged 77 years. "And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and liste awhile" In remembrance of Margaret Dixon Denovan who departed this life 07 July 1896 aged 79 years Beloved by all who knew her. Erected by her sonwilliam denovan, bendigo cemetery, margaret denovan, red ribbon rebellion

Elwyn Kinnane (nee Hamilton) worked at the Lucas factory in the 1920s (as Elwyn Hamilton). She married David Kinnane, lived at Bungaree, Bacchus Marsh, Tempe (Mallee) and Bendigo before settling in Ballarat. She went back to Lucas's to work in the 1950s. Postcard size colour photograph of an elderly woman sitting on a couch.elwyn kinnane, elwyn hamilton, lucas factory, lucas girl

in 2009 Echuca Wharf Pottery was located at Murray Esplanade and Little Hopwood St, Echuca. Lindsay Chandler was a potter at Echuca Wharf Pottery from 1989-1994. Robert Henderson left Redbyrne to work at Echuca Wharf Pottery and then went not to work as a demonstration thrower at Bendigo Pottery.(https://www.flickr.com/groups/1281707@N21/discuss/72157629662786291/)Hand thrown lidded stonewarw canister with 'Gum Leaf' design by Echuca Wharf Pottery. landscape, ceramics, australian landscape pottery, echuca wharf pottery

David Syme (1827-1908) was a newspaper proprietor who was born on 2 October 1827 at North Berwick, Scotland. Early in 1851, he went via Cape Horn to California seeking gold. By mid-1852 he was in Melbourne, and in the next three years prospected with some success on Ballarat, Bendigo, Castlemaine and Beechworth diggings. In 1855 he lost a possible fortune at Egerton near Ballarat when a promising claim was jumped. Ebenezer Syme bought the insolvent Melbourne Age for £2000, and invited David Syme to take up a share. In September 1856 Syme put up some cash and his contracting business to obtain a half-share. He helped to manage the paper but returned to contracting late in 1857. When Ebenezer retired in 1859 Syme reluctantly returned to the business, and on Ebenezer's death next year he began his fifty-year career as publisher and editor of the Age. (C. E. Sayers, 'Syme, David (1827–1908)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/syme-david-4679/text7741, published first in hardcopy 1976, accessed online 25 August 2019._Reproducation of a image of David Syme.david syme, portrait, the age, journalist

A black and white image of a the Bendigo Post Office tower and statues in Pall Mall.bendigo, bendigo post office, pall mall

Born in Bendigo, Victoria, Amy Castles was an opera singer.Black and white image of Amy Castles.portrait, amy castles, opera

Fortuna is the goddess of fortune and the personification of luck. Fortuna Villa is a magnificent house built by George Lansell it was kept secure for many years while use by the Defence Department. tour this magnificent home.Fortuna in Bendigo.george lansell, bendigo, fortuna

Black and white image of George Lansell.george lansell, bendigo

Fortuna was built by George Lansell.Black and white image of George Lansell an interior room of George Lansell's Fortuna,george lansell, bendigo, fortuna

Black and white image of an interior room of George Lansell's Fortuna,george lansell, bendigo, fortuna

Bendigo is a goldfields town in Central Victoria.Black and white image of the township of Bendigo.george lansell, bendigo, fortuna, townscape

Bendigo is a goldfields town in Central Victoria.Black and white image of the township of Bendigo.bendigo, bendigo town hall

Black and white image of George Lansell's 180 mine in Bendigo.george lansell, bendigo, 180 mine, mining

Les MacLEMAN Les MacLeman was Apprenticed to Michael Cardew and was trained to make beautiful pots. He survived the late 1980s recession by slip-decorating them with Australian themes for the sourvenir market. In 2001, MacLeman was working part-time at Bendigo Pottery. A bright landscape scene on a handcrafted ceramic plate.australian landscape pottery, les macleman, ceramics, landscape

This photograph was taken while Clare Gervasoni was teaching at Catholic College Bendigo.Photograph of Clare Gervasoni wearing a Perri Cutton dress. clare gervasoni

86 page A4 sized bound document - Proceedings of the Eleventh Conference of Australasian Tramway Museums, Whiteman Park, Perth W.A. 29 May to 4 June 1992. Has heavy card covers, wire bound with printed title details in blue on the front cover. Has ISSN number. Prepared by the Perth Electric Tramway Society. See item 1254 for photo of conference delegates. - notes should be on page 3. Arrived loose. See also the COTMA website for a full pdf copy of this document. Contents: Acknowledgements Participants Conference Programme keynote Address - Urban Transport: What does the past tell use about the future? Papers W class Status Report - L. Jean The place of Tram Museums in the International and Australian Tram Movement Our Cultural Heritage Management of Rolling Stock Driver Training at Bendigo Tramways "Trolley Wire" Collection Policies Occupational Health & Safety Relationships with Local Government Corrosion - Electrolysis Promotion Accreditation and Its effect on Tramway Museums in NSW Workshops COTMA - what is Needed? Membership for the Young Archives Conservation Management Review COTMA Electrical Operations Rules Visits and Tours Reports Museum Directory.Inside front cover has BTPS stamp and Mail received - 14/11/1994 and item no. "5154" in blue ink.trams, tramways, cotma, perth, proceedings, conferences

Photocopy of a eight page supplement to a 1997 (2nd half of year) issue of Light Railway & Modern Tramway Magazine giving a list of world tramways and urban transit systems. Includes Ballarat and Bendigo on front page as heritage tramways. Includes photographs, and some notes. Images added 3-12-2016trams, tramways, tramways, world list of trams, ltra, urban transit

Set of seven Rose Series Heritage postcards in a strip production featuring Bendigo Victoria. Each black and white postcard features an historic view of Bendigo from older Rose Series or Valentine's postcards and are perforated on the top and bottom so they can be separately used. On the rear of each card are areas for address, stamps, title, Rose logo and copyright note. Each card has been given a new Rose Series Number. On the top of the set of cards is a short history profile on the Rose Stereograph Co. 1. Photo of the Mall showing two ESCo trams, and the Alexandra Fountain with a third tram in the background c1908. Rose series Number 2764. Photo supplied by Rod Aikman - see image btm1662i1. 2. Photo of mining operations , c1900. Rose series Number 2765. Photo supplied by Rod Aikman 3. Image of Pall Mall, Law courts and Post office building. Rose series Number 2766. Photo supplied by Rod Aikman. Was Rose Series P3213. 4. Photo of Mitchell St. looking west from Pall Mall with fountain on right and two ESCo trams c1906.Rose series Number 2767. Photo supplied by Rod Aikman - see image btm1662i2. 5. Photo of Alexandra Fountain - was Valentine Series No. 1393 c1920's. - now Rose Series 2768. 6. Photo of Chinese Dragon "Loong", now Rose Series 2769 c1950 - was P2846. 7. Photo of Williamson Street Bendigo, showing Shamrock Hotel c1920- now Rose Series 2770 - was Valentine's M5710. trams, tramways, bendigo, pall mall, esco, mitchell st.

Demonstrates the early publicity about the formation of the BTPS in Ballarat to retain Ballarat heritage and its publicity in a major national magazine.Centre page spread pages (unfortunately torn in two) from the January 1972 issue of Walkabout magazine, pages 54 and 55, titled "In Bendigo and Ballarat History is alive and well". Has details about the Ballarat and Bendigo and the proposals for a preservation group in Ballarat. Features five black and white photographs, two of Bendigo Birneys and three in Ballarat. Photocopy of centre pages added 17/9/2011 - btm3945ipreservation, btps, ballarat, bendigo, reopening, closure

3 Page Letter printed on A4 printer paper. Bearing the letterhead of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. Postal Address Secretary PO Box 922 Bendigo 3552 Telephone number (03) 5442 1153 email [email protected] Mark Maddock Case Officer Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat Government house Canberra ACT 2600 28th February 2011. Dear Mark, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak for Peter Ellis. We know Peter to be a worthy candidate for the award and I think that most people that know him would agree. I had been putting together a nomination for Peter that was suggested by a couple at our club meeting on a night when Peter was not present. Everyone felt that he should have recognition for all the work that he has done and it was unanimously voted on. I was given the job. As someone else has beaten me to it I now can speak for him on my own behalf and in my role as secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter Ellis is a very good friend of mine and I have known him since April 1975 when we met at a Saturday night dance. At that time there was a small group of us that went around the dances. We would go 100kms to find dances that were not on the average programme, dances such as The Lancers, Albert's, Waltz Cotillion and lots of Polkas. We bemoaned the fact that they appeared to be dying out in the Towns and Cities so we tried to get the Bendigo Old Time Dance Club of which we were members, to introduce these dances on to the programme, but they were not interested. After a lot of discussion Peter, Maurie Rayner, myself and several others decided to start our own dance club where we could do the dances that we liked, and to endeavour to keep them alive. We formed the Sandhurst Dance Club in June 1979 (renamed ten years later as the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc.) In 1981 Peter made two attempts to form a band for the club and in 1983 the 'Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band' was born, with Peter as the leader. Later Peter set up a junior section of the Emu Creek Band and some of these children grew up to become competent musicians and leaders of their own bands/Groups. Peter's friendship with the late Harry McQueen of Castlemaine led to and increased knowledge of the dances, calls for the sets and the various tunes used. Peter joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra in late 1979 and travelling around Victoria and interstate with them was of immense help in learning to MC dances, call sets acoustically and in collecting new 'old dances' and tunes. He met elderly MC's who gave him information on the way that they ran the dances in the old days. It was also an introduction to playing items at concerts and in reviving much of the old traditions of the bush. Demand for the tunes for dances led to Peter compiling a series of three books called 'Collectors Choice' which were published by the Victorian Folk Music Club in 1986, 1987 and 1988. 1988 was a very busy year for Peter and The Emu Creek Bush Band as they recorded two double music tapes for the club 'The Merry Country Dance' and 'The Waltz the Polka and all Kinds of Dancing' which were in much demand at the time. Also in 1988 he collaborated with the late Shirley Andrews and they co-authored the book 'Two Hundred Dancing Years and how to celebrate them with a Colonial Ball' for the Bicentennial of 1988. this publication, was instigated by the Government backed Bicentenary Committee, and distributed free to every municipality in Australia. In 1996 The Emu Creek Bush Band and Peter recorded and produced a single CD called a Friday night at 'The Spring Valley Hop'. In 1998 The Bush Dance & Music Club again happily agreed to financially back Peter to produce a series of CDs. The first thing he did was to revive and update the 1988 music tapes for CD. The first of the Qadrille Mania series of double CDs with companion call books was launched in 1999 then in 2000 and 2001. then the triple CD called The Waltz Polka & all kinds of Dances in 2002 followed by the Merry Country Dance CDs in 2005, 2006 and 2007. There were six double CDs and one triple CD produced which was a major undertaking that went on for eight years. The CDs have a great many tunes that Peter collected over the years mixed in with well known tunes and there are very few repeats. During this time we applied for a Grant from the Victorian Government to publish a book on the social History of country dances and dance instructions with Peter as the author. We were successful and published it in 2005. Our CDs and book have all been lodged with the National Library of Canberra as has all Peter's sheet music, boxes of it, as well as everything he has produced. At the 2005 Canberra National Folk Festival, at a meeting of collectors, it was stated that Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library. Peter compiled and produced his own project a triple CD called 'Take Me Back to Bendigo' in 2002. 2006 Peter and Emu Creek Bush Band produced another single CD 'Bush Concert Vol one Back to Goornong'. 2008 A pet project of Peter's was compiling and producing a double CD for the Wedderburn Old Timers it was of all the recorded material performed by them at concerts and taped by friends and fans. It was funded by Gavan Holt a son of the late Lindsay Holt an original 'Old Timer'. Recent publications are a book mainly music 'Music Makes Me Smile' a tribute to Con Klippel and the music of the Nariel Valley near Corryong Victoria. Peter Ellis & Harry Gardner 1998. The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dancing' a sheet music book for musicians supported by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. 2007-8 not sure of year. Peter has been involved over the years in collecting music and dance by himself and also with Rob Willis and the late John Meredith for the National Library in Canberra. He is continually asked for information and to write articles for people and to verify points re dance and music. He corresponds with like minded people overseas and frequently goes off to Folk Festivals all over the country, usually running dance classes, musician's workshops or just playing for dances. He is an excellent musician and plays Piano, Button Accordion, Concertina, Mouth Organ, Tin Whistle, Ukulele, Spoons and the Bones. He is regarded as one of Australia's foremost collectors and presenters of Australian traditional dance tunes, dances and some musical instruments. Over the years I have heard him referred to as the Guru of folk dance and music. Peter lives and breathes for this passion of his and always has several irons in the fire. He is a life member of The Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. The Victorian Folk Music Club, and The Bendigo Field Naturalists Club. He was a recipient of the David Squance Award in 1994 presented by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. Over the last twelve months for the folk magazine 'Trad & Now' he has written articles on the old dances and music and this is an ongoing project. This has led to our clubs present project which is the filming of the dances to be shown on UTube as it is referred to in the magazine. This involves members in hours and hours of practising the dances then filming them, and all with Peter's expert teaching and watchful eye on everyone. The Bush Dance & Music Club are and always have been behind Peter wholeheartedly in everything that he does and we are extremely proud of what he has achieved. His drive and enthusiasm for the preservation of music and dance is catching. People like Peter are absolutely necessary in finding and preserving our Australian Heritage, without them it would be lost forever and Australia would be a great deal poorer for it. The Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. and I fully support this nomination for an award as he is truly deserving of it. Yours sincerely Mary E Smith. Secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter's Timeline. 1979 A Foundation Member of the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. 1979 Joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra. 1983 The Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band was formed. 1986 Collectors Choice. Volume one. 1987 Collectors Choice. Volume Two. 1988 Collectors Choice. Volume Three. 1988 Recorded Tapes - The Merry Country Dance & The Waltz Polka & all Kinds of Dances. 1988 A book with the late Shirley Andrews called Two Hundred years of Dancing. 1991 Across to Perth collecting for National Library with the Late John Meredith. 1996 Single CD A Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop. 1998 Music Makes Me Smile. A tribute to Con Klippel 7 music of the Nariel Valley. 1999 Double CD Quadrille Mania 1&2 2000 Double CD Quadrille Mania 3&4 2001 Double CD Quadrille Mania 5&6 2002 His own project triple CD Take Me Back To Bendigo. (Goldrush to Federation and Beyond). 2002 Triple CD The Waltz The Polka & All kinds of Dances. 2005 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 1 & 2. 2002 Book, The Merry Country Dance. 2006 Single CD with Emu Creek 'Bush Concert Vol 1 Back to Goornong' 2006 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 3&4 2007 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 5&6 2007-8-? A book of music, The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dances. 2008 Double CD The Wedderburn Old Timers in Concert.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Newspaper article from the Bendigo Advertiser stuck on A4 printer paper. Article is dated Friday, May 22, 2015. Article is accompanied by a picture of Peter Ellis and is captioned as such. Article is written by Jason Walls and is titled Loss for folk music history. Article reads: Celebrated Bendigo Music identity, historian and naturalist Peter Ellis OAM died suddenly this week after a brief illness. He was 69. Mr Ellis was highly regarded as a collector and preserver of traditional bush music, with his collection of dance related material the largest in the National Library Archives in Canberra. He was award an Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for services to the arts through the collection and preservation of Australian folk history and heritage. Mr Ellis was a founding member of the Emu Creek Bush Band and achieved two platinum and several gold records in his more than 30 years with the Wedderburn Old Timers Band. Fellow Emu Creek Bush Band member and close friend John Williams said Mr Ellis had made an invaluable contribution to the preservation of Australia's musical and dance heritage, travelling extensively across the country recording and notating folk music. 'In 500 year's time, as long as they can find the technology, people will be able to resurrect our bush dancing history,' he said. 'Probably his biggest legacy is the number of young people who have been made aware of bush music and are continuing to play it today and will play it in the future.' As a life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Mr Ellis was also involved in campaigns to establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks and the Saloman's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves, and lobbied for the inclusion of One Tree Hill in the Greater Bendigo National Park. A public funeral service will beheld at the Mulqueen Family Chapel on Bridge Street on Monday, May 25, at 11am, followed by a private cremation. An extensive obituary will be published in Saturday's Bendigo Advertiser.person, individual, peter ellis oam

2 A4 sheets. Handwritten pencil note at top of first page reads: Eulogy published in Trad & Now Magazine. Vale Peter Ellis OAM. By John Williams. The folk community lost a giant on May 18th when Peter Ellis passed away after a short illness. Peter had been a collector, author and musician for nearly forty years and his work has been prodigious to say the least. Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library and had travelled Australia on his collection trips. He produced twenty CDs of dance music and historical music with his Bendigo based band the Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band which he founded and led for thirty four years. His final project was the double CD 'Cooee, Songs of the ANZACS' which he organised in conjunction with the Bendigo Historical Society. It was launched on 24th April and was Peter's last performance. Peter has also been a member of the Wedderburn Old Timers for over thirty years and has assisted with many of their recordings including their latest Bush Concert CD which Peter Organised. Peter has contributed to many other CDs over the years and has been thanked on many a CD cover by many folk artists. Peter has also written several books, the three volume 'Collectors' Choice,' 'Two Hundred Dancing Years' co-written with Shirley Andrews OAM, and 'Music Makes Me Smile' the history of the Nariel Valley musicians co-written with Harry Gardner. Peter's recent major work The Merry Country Dance will become the bible for people wishing to learn about our bush music heritage with its matching six CD collection. Peter has also contributed to 'Verandah Music' edited by Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Folklore' edited by Graham Seal and is a regular contributor to Trad & Now. He completed his last Trad & Now article the week before he died. Peter was also a life member of the Field Naturalists and was extremely active in campaigns to preserve Lake Pedder, the Whipstick Forest and Kamarooka Forest (now part of Bendigo National Park and preserved forever) One Tree Hill, Jackass Flat Flora Reserve and Saloman's Gully bushlands. Peter has discovered and named plants in the whipstick and enjoyed propagating native plants. He loved his amazing bush block in suburban Bendigo. Peter was also a keen photographer and had photos published in the book 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. Peter taught dancing and music classes with Continuing Education for many years and encouraged many young musicians over the years. Peter was an accomplished ballroom dancer and had achieved gold medal status in that field. He was one of Australia's finest exponents of the button accordion, concertina, harmonica and tin whistle. Peter also played piano, organ and ukulele as well as the Swanee whistle and bones. Peter was the founder of the Annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk as a tribute to the old MC's. Peter was happy playing for fund-raisers for any organisation who asked and also enjoyed plying the big gigs such as for the opening of the Melbourne Museum or for State Parliament. He played in the National Folk Festivals in four states and was a regular at the National in Canberra where he gave regular classes, performed with his bands and was a stalwart of the Aussie section of the session bar. He performed at nearly every Maldon Folk Festival and was MC at Nariel Folk Festival dances for many years. Peter was very proud of his OAM and wore the little medal at all of his performances. That honour was rightly given to one who did so much to preserve Australia's dance history. Peter lived a full life and was a friend to hundreds of people. He was taken far too young and in typical fashion was planning new projects right till the end. His passing is a huge loss for us all but one thing is certain. He will never be forgotten.person, individual, peter ellis oam