[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

Seven colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve

Installed 29-May-1956.Plaque, engraved, white infill, text: 'This tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.' +Additional Keywords: Bloomfield, J.S. MLAThis tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.'

Royal Sydney China. Made in Czechoslovakia. Beneath the bowl, in the centre, is a cup under a crown with the letters RKG.Brown/Orange bowl, irregular leaf shape and a B&W drawing of the Ringwood Town Hall in the centre. Town Hall, Ringwood, Victoria.

Installed 12-April-1987 on the poppett head near the Ringwood Lake. It was removed c.2005.Plaque 'City of Ringwood/ Poppett Head' embossed. +Additional Keywords: Rosewarne, Lillian, Cr'City of Ringwood/ Poppett Head/ This Poppett head is a replica of one which was used at/ the Ringwood Antimony Mine located at the present/ Civic Centre Site, Mines Road, Ringwood east./ The Poppett head was erected by the/ Ringwood City Council, in conjunction with the/ Ringwood Historical Research Group, and was/ commissioned by the Mayor of Ringwood/ Councillor Lillian Rosewarne, JP/ on 12th April 1987/

Reframed honour board of Ringwood Citizens Brass Band 1923 during the 1980s-90s.Ringwood Citizens Brass Band 1923 presentation honour board to the bandmaster, Mr H.Bradley +Additional Keywords: Officers and members of the Bandmaster, 1921-23.By the Officers and Members in appreciation of his esteemed services as Bandmaster, 1921 - 1923

Ceramic jug, cream body with black handle and spout, with picture of Ringwood Town Hall on side.Town Hall, Ringwood, Victoria; Royal Stone China, Made in Czechoslovakia, RKG, 110

City Council - Ringwood; City of Ringwood News

U3A Ringwood Recipe Book compiled for their 25th Anniversary in 2010

Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 41 pages

A detailed history of Australian Special Forces operations during World War Two by the commandos of the Allied Intelligence Bureau and the Independent Companies/Commando Squadrons and through to operations in Vietnam and later conflicts. Compiled by two of Australia’s most famous military historians for the 60th anniversary of Operation JAYWICK in 2003.

Catalogue card reads, 'Council ceremonies. Unveiling stone at Poppet Head, 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head 1987'.

Catalogue card reads, 'Council ceremonies unveiling stone at Poppet Head 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head 1987'.

Catalogue card reads, 'Council ceremonies. Unveiling stone at Poppet Head 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head 1987'.

Catalogue card reads, 'Council ceremonies. Unveiling stone at Poppet Head 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head 1987.'

Catalogue card reads, 'Council ceremonies. Unveiling stone at Poppet Head 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head 1987.'

Catalogue card reads, 'Council Ceremonies. Unveiling stone at Poppet Head 1985 and then opening of Poppet Head, 1987'.

The Mount Helen Union Building was renamed the Albert Coates Centre.Photograph of a polished silver plaque commemorating the opening of the Mt Helen Union Building Stage 1 Redevelopment by Olympian Peter Blackburn.Union Building Redevelopment - Stage 1 was opened by Mr Peter Blackman Olympian on 6th September, 2000 Professor David Caro, AO OBE Professor David James Chancellor Vice Chancellor University of Ballaratunion building, university of ballarat, david james, peter blackburn, david caro, plaque, mount helen campus, albert coates centre

Glass produced for graduates of the Nursing course at Ballarat College of Advanced Education, 1988Glass tumbler with gold etching around upper edge and gold emblem and writing on sideBallarat C.A.E. Diploma of Applied Science Nursing 1986-1988nursing, ballarat college of advanced education, glass, applied science

The print depicts the evolution from WW2 Commandos to present-day post-WW2 Commandos, to 2005. The print celebrates the formation of the post-WW2 Commandos and their 50th anniversary in 2005.Framed print, showing WW2 and post-WW2 Commandos and the original post-WW2 'Strike Swiftly' beret badge. Limited edition print 12/100.2 commando company- 1st commando regiment- golden jubilee- 50th anniversary- commemorative print- post-ww2 commandos

This was the "Order of service" for the inaugural unveiling of the WW2 Commando Cairn at Tidal River, Victoria. Lt General Sir Edmund Herring, Lt Governor of Victoria addressed the assembly, 2 Commando Company soldiers were the Guard of Honour, and the 4/19 PWLH Regt band played. This was the first official memorial to WW2 Commandos, located at Wilsons Promontory where the Commando units were first trained. A memorial ceremony is held in November each year since 1964. Honour rolls of WW2 and post-WW2 Commandos who died in battle or training were added in 2011.2 sheet quarto (four sides) white semi-glossy paper with black type and logo. Order of service.Niltidal river wilsons promontory commando memorial cairn ww2 honour rolls post-ww2 national

Ringwood State School No. 2997 was opened in December 1889 and closed 108 years later in 1997.Metal spoon with circular crest at topwith concentric circles of dark blue, light blue and red in centre with 2997 marked in it."All for one and one for all" motto

Unopened green bottle Brown Bros 1975 Shiraz depicting Bell Sioux helicopterBell Sioux 47G-2 The first army helicopter aviation 1975 Shiraz produced and bottled for the Australian Army Aviation Corps Brown Bros Milawacommemorative bottle, aviation

Unopened green bottle of 1985 Tauriga Port commemorating AATTVAATTV Perservere Australian Army Training Team Vietnam 1985 Tauriga Port Bonneyniew Winery Barmera SAcommemorative port, aattv

Unopened green bottle Port 161 Recce Sqn161 Recce Flt 1965 161 Recce Sqn 1986 21st anniversary Portcommemorative bottle, 161 reconnaissance squadron

Clear glass mug Melbourne reunion of Vietnam VeteransMelbourne Reunion of Vietnam Veterans 1988 Internatuional Veitnam Forcescommemorative glass, reunion, vietnam veterans

Clear glass mug - Melbourne Rreunion of Vietnam VeteransMelbourne Reunion of Vietnam Veterans 1988 International Vietnam Forcescommemorative glass, vietnam veterans