This van was used in Western Australia by linesmen and for mail pickup between 1972 and 1991. When transferred to the collection, it was the very last surviving vehicle of its type owned by the company. Despite its age, the van is in excellent condition having been reconditioned in 1987.This Volkswagen Transporter, 2nd generation, is commonly known as a kombi van; named as such after the German word Kombinationskraftwagen, meaning multi-purpose vehicle. This van is believed to have been used by linesmen and for mail collection from 1972 to 1991 in Western Australia, before being donated to the, then, Telstra Collection. Conflicting accounts from John Moynihan, PMG Engineer and author, suggest the van was used by cable jointers from the 1960s. Owing to this unclear use, the van’s historical significance is low though provenance from the Postmaster General’s Department to Telecom, then Telstra, is established. In 1987, the vehicle was extensively reconditioned and some original parts were presumably replaced. It is not, however, in working order or in good condition; the body carries several areas of rust, rubber seals have suffered plasticiser migration, a mirror is missing and there are marks from use. The hand lettered “P.M.G.” inscription is indicative of a Postmaster General fleet vehicle, as is the red colour of the vehicle paint. Though it is in poor condition, the van’s aesthetic style is of some significance. The van is representative of the type of Volkswagen vehicle used by the Postmaster General’s Department and other private businesses and government branches of the era. The vehicle may, therefore, carry social significance for those that lived in this era, where their communication service provider travelled in a Volkswagen van. Indeed, Volkswagen vans were used into the Telecom era, as evidenced by an image (6681153) in the National Archives of Australia collection. While many of these vehicles may exist today, there are few to no examples which survive in museum collections. In 1966, the Post Office (Postmaster General’s Department) had the largest fleet in Australia, totalling nearly 11,000 vehicles (The Canberra Times, 29 September 1966, p. 34). Though in the late 1960s Volkswagen vehicles accounted for just over 500 of these vehicles, with the remainder represented by Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and others, the multi-purpose nature of the van is significant as a metaphor for the multi-directional services of the Postmaster General’s Department. Archival images show a variety of models and adaptations including roof racks, bull bar and door configurations. Its conflicted history of use may in fact attest to the vehicles variety of application in the duties of the Postmaster General‘s Department.Red Volkswagen Kombi van with stencilled gold lettering on doors. Scratches on bumpers indicate duck-egg blue undercoat. Single sliding door on left side of vehicle body with secondary opening at rear with horizontally divided doors. Mirror missing on right front. Western Australia registration sticker in front windscreen..1: "PMG" .2: "ROYAL" .3-.4 "PMG" .5-.6: "MAIL" .7,.8: "ER" .9: "C OF A / ZEH 622"transport, kombi van, linesman van, postal van, postmaster general’s department

From Ringwood Mail.

This stamp was part of a series of four stamps released by Royal Mail in 1999 under the subject 'The Patients' Tale'. From British Philatelic Bulletin, Volume 36 February 1999: "This 63P stamp (second step airmail letter rate) recalls techniques developed by British gynaecologist/obstetrician Patrick Steptoe (1913-88) and physiologist Robert Edwards. The popular term ‘test tube’ is inaccurate, the treatment - in vitro fertilization (ivf) involves combining egg and sperm in a glass dish with the resulting embryo being replaced in the womb. Initially developed to treat infertile women, it is now used to help men who produce few or defective sperm. It is estimated that about 7000 ivf babies have been born in Britain over the past five years." This object was retrieved from the mail room by and added to the collection in 1999 by College Archivist, Ros Winspear.A standard size white envelope with an 'AIR MAIL' sticker attached to from bottom proper RH corner, and a square grey, blue and black stamp in upper proper RH corner. The stamp is a Royal Mail Special issue stamp, beaing an image of a sculpture in a foetal position. Text on stamp reads, "63/ Millennium 1999/37/ Test tube baby/ A Gormley". The envelope is addressed to RACOG, and the sender of the envelope was 'FM McKellar/ 2 Norham End/ Norham Road/ Oxford OX205G/ United Kingdom.'in vitro fertilisation (ivf)

This is a booklet produced in 1967 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the aeroplane flights of Basil Watson in 1917 (the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 Experimental Air Mail). In the 1967 Mount Gambier/Melbourne air mail flight re-enactment the aircraft was from Aviation Services (Hardingham) Limited, a Piper Cherokee, and on board was Douglas Watson, Basil Watson’s nephew. Basil Watson was a pioneer aviator who built his own plane which had a 50 H.P. Rotary Gnome engine. He flew the first aeroplane to Warrnambool in January 1917, bringing with him the first air mail to the town. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics over the Warrnambool Racecourse. He died two months later, crashing into the sea near Point Cook. This booklet is of great interest as it gives details of the life of Basil Watson, important in Warrnambool’s history as the first man to fly into the town in 1917 and the first person to bring air mail to Warrnambool, including a letter from the Lord Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. This is a booklet of 16 pages produced to commemorate the Mount Gambier to Melbourne 1917 Experimental Air Mail Flight. It has a grey cover with black printing and an image of an early model aeroplane on the front cover. The text includes illustrations, maps and black and white photographs. The first page has two signatures. The booklet has been stapled but the staples have been removed.‘Donated by Mrs Giles W’bool’ ‘J.C.Hardingham, Pilot’ ‘D.Watson’ basil watson, history of aviation in victoria, history of warrnambool

Copy of cuttings from The Mail1932- Ringwood Mothers Club giving the annual Ringwood State School childrens Xmas treat in the Town Hall, 12/12/1932. 1937- Politics at School. A mock election held at the Ringwood State School amongst the 6th Grade scholars on 25th October, 1937.

Newspaper cutting- Ringwood Mail.Article describing the event held at the School, list of Mothers Club members and other official attendees, and the proceedings that took place.

Bag canvas for mail grey colour with 15 eyelets around top & a lock. US Mail Domestic printed in faded blackflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The Hollywood film stars pasted on to one side of this paper are of no historical interest to our Society. The four paper items attached to the other side relate to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson. He flew the first aeroplane to come to Warrnambool in January 1917. Watson flew from Point Cook to Warrnambool in one hour 55 minutes, an Australian cross-country flying record at the time. He had built his own aeroplane which was 18 feet long with a wing span of 26 feet and it had a 7 cylinder 50 H.P. rotary Gnome engine. In Warrnambool he amazed the crowds with his dare-devil aerial acrobatics, looping the loop 14 times over the Warrnambool Racecourse. Watson also brought several letters with him, making him the bearer of the first aerial mail to Warrnambool. Sadly Basil Watson died when his plane crashed at Point Cook in March 1917, just two months after his record-breaking flight to Warrnambool. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection the small galvanized bucket seat which came from Watson’s plane and the original first air letter written by the Mayor of Melbourne to the Mayor of Warrnambool. These four items are of considerable historical interest as they are souvenirs issued at the time of Basil Watson’s aviation exploits in the early 1900s and Watson is of great importance in the aviation history of Warrnambool.This is a piece of paper (possibly from a scrapbook) with one torn edge. Pasted on to the paper on one side are newspaper photographs of early Hollywood female film stars. On the other side are four items relating to the pioneer aviator, Basil Watson – an airmail post card, a newspaper black and white photograph, a souvenir black and white photograph and a card with an illustration of an early aeroplane (pictured upside down). ‘The Aerial Postman Basil Watson’ ‘Official Souvenir Australian Aerial Mail’ basil watson, pioneer aviator, aviation in warrnambool’s history, history of warrnambool

Copy of cutting- The Mail, November,1930Ringwood State School. Article relating to School Athletics. Results of Ringwood School Championships.

Copy of cutting- The Mail, September, 1925Ringwood State School. Advertisement for Euchre Party and Dance, Ringwood Hall, Wednesday, 2nd September,1925. Proceeds in aid of Ringwood State School Bazaar.

Copy of cuttings from The Mail, 1922.Ringwood State School - Annual Concert held in the Ringwood Mechanics. 1922. - Tenders invited for erection of Pavilion at New State School. 1922. - Tenders invited for the Purchase and Removal of two Wooden Shelter Sheds on old School Grounds. 1922.

Copy of article from The Mail, 1929Article covers the Delightful State School Entertainment given by the pupils on behalf of the Shrine of Remembrance Fund.

Copy of articles from The Mail, 1934.Ringwood Mother's Club- Details of Meetings in 1934.

``Newspaper clipping from "The Mail", P8 Ringwood North Primary School has had a big win at the Manningham Eistedfodd recently The 40 strong choir, under the guidance of teacher Pam Peake, and accompanist Marg Baker, won from six schools in the event, held at Bulleen Baptist Chuirch.`

Document detailing the Victorian mail network.organisation, government, australia post

Dodge Passenger Mail Motor RM74Victorian Railway 1936 livery of Black and Chrome Yellow stripesvictorian railways, dodge, mail motor

Pg. 33 Crawford and Connelly's mail coaches station to change horses and provide 'free bag' mail service x3 weekly to Kiewa, Tangambalanga, Bungoona (Huon). All photos are published in the Kiewa Valley Book "A History of the Kiewa Valley' by Esther Temple and David LloydHistorical photos of the Kiewa ValleyBlack and white photos, varying sizes, published in KVHS history book. In order of appearance: 1. Generic photo of 'Aboriginal Man' Page 9 2. Crawford and Connelly, Royal Mail Coach. pg. 29 3. Early postcard of Kiewa - trees, road, homes pg 76 4. George Le Fevre and School Bus pg 77 5. Kergunyah Creamery pg 80 6. Gundowring Homestead: Built by Charles Barber, pgs 82,83 7. Bogong Hotel 1925 pg 103,104 8. The Junction September 1940 pg 119 9. Mt Beauty pg 119royal mail coach, kiewa, school bus, kergunyah creamery, gundowring homestead, charles barber, bogong hotel 1925, junction camp bogong, mt beauty 1950

14.5cm X 9.2cm Postcard of Retriever dog holding paper with 9 fold-out Bendigo Views. Printed 1984 City Hall, Civic Buildings, Central Deborah Mine, Alexandra Fountain, Look-out Tower, Conservatory Gardens, Soldiers Memorial Hall, Post-Office. Pall Mall, The Lake Upper Reserve.Valentine's Mail Postcard.bendigo, buildings, heritage buildings

Original Cat No: 238Front Page Coloured like a picture frame. Newspaper Supplement 40 PagesThe Wimmera Mail Times

Air Mail Letter Card Cream Paper 14cm x 9cm.Opens up to 20cm square for letter writing, as used in the 1940s BY AIR MAILdocuments, envelopes

Newspaper clipping from The Mail, 8th DecemberTitle - Christmas Cheer". Features Jenny Oxley. Photo by Chris Rostron

Copy of newspaper cutting, The Mail, November 1942.Ringwood State School- Comments on state of Library 18 months after establishment. Icludes comments by District Inspector in his report to the Education Department.

Copy of newspaper cuttings, The Mail, 1932 and 1938.Ringwood State School. 1932- Prize Essays 1938 Christmas Carnival Essays.

Newspaper clipping The Mail, March 29, 1994SOUTHWOOD Primary School student, Kiron Barnded

Newspaper clipping The Mail December 8, 1992SOUTHWOOD Primary School student Jenny Oxley

Newspaper clipping The Mail February 6, 1996SOUTHWOOD Primary School students

Obituary - Ringwood Mail 29/9/1938The late John Wilson was one of the few remaining old pioneers of Ringwood ... passed away at his residence, "The Mines", Ringwood East (Wilson Street) at the age of 80 years. He was, in the early years, associated with the antimony mine ... highly respected and esteemed throughout the district.