"The bonfire at Beckett Park was the culmination of the EMPIRE DAY/CELEBRATIONS in Surrey Hills in 1935 and 1936. In 1937 vandals lit the fire prematurely but residents hastily rebuilt it - about / 100 tons including old tyres. A volunteer fire-watcher had his caravan close by until lights-up time on Saturday night. / Courtesy Ian Barkla. / see 180 (handwritten on backing board)." / "BONFIRE BUILDING at BECKETT PARK/EMPIRE DAY CELEBRATIONS IN 1930s/ The celebrations were centred on the/ shopping centres in Surrey Hills and/Mont Albert to boost local business (and/ the spirits of residents) after the Depression./ - from a glass negative - Mr Ian Barkla."Image depicting the building of a large bonfire made primarily from rubber tyres, supported by a wooden frame c1937/8. There is a significant crowd of people watching the erection of the pyre from ground level. Several members of the crowd are seated or holding bicycles. There are multiple persons situated on the pyre or on a ladder propped up against the mound of tyres. The area containing the pyre has been fenced off with rope (?). A white coloured caravan in situated to the right (facing) of the bonfire in close proximity to a dark coloured car. Two stone towers and a park bench are also visible in the image.Black and white, W 25.3 cm x H 20.3 cm, landscapeparks and reserves, beckett park, balwyn, bicycles, crowds, empire day, depression 1929-1939, economic depression, frank leslie barkla, bonfires

This books showcases about fifty people who have survived for a minimum of thirty years in their business. Each has a photo attached. Of particular interest to Surrey Hills is the shop owner on pages 38 and 39, that of Henry Jamieson with the Knowles Radio shop in Union Road, Surrey Hills.This books showcases about fifty people who have survived for a minimum of thirty years in their business. Each has a photo attached. Of particular interest to Surrey Hills is the shop owner on pages 38 and 39, that of Henry Jamieson with the Knowles Radio shop in Union Road, Surrey Hills.retail trade - victoria, stores, environmental portraits, (mr) henry jamieson, knowles radio, (mr) adrian knowles, union road, surrey hills

Author: Alan Judge Holt amassed a significant collection of historical material related to the Surrey Hills area. Born in Moonee Ponds in 1912 to Edmund Holt and Ellen Ruby Sutton, he married Edna Jean Pallot in 1937. They lived at 62 Broughton Road, Surrey hills, had 3 sons and were strongly associated with the Surrey Hills Methodist Church. Alan was Secretary of the Victorian Lands Department and in his spare time recorded the occupancy of every property in Surrey Hills and Mont Albert at the beginning of each decade from 1890 to 1980. His collection of files and individual cards covers people, places, churches, clubs, businesses and other organisations in the area. Alan used this information to give talks and tours of the area and gifted his material to the local history collection through Jocelyn Hall.A spiral bound manuscript which includes a physical description of Wattle Park as well as covering aboriginal occupation, pastoral and timber cutting, the original purchasers and locations of neighbouring farms.back creek, wattle park, delany's paddock, cleary's paddock, blood's paddock, conran's paddock, udimore lodge, (mr) george thomas usher, (mr) orlando fenwick, phoenix grange, (mr) john filson, (mr) denis delany, (mr) john crimp, (mr) james atkinson, (mr) john lawler, (mr) henry de carle, (mr) walter craig, (mr) daniel dunn, (mr) frederick goyder, (mrs) eliza welch, metropolitan tramways, d h dureau, (mr) robert beckett, (mr) alexander gerald proudfoot, (mr) james conran, (mr) thomas blood, (mr) william smith, payne and glass

This bed jacket was crocheted for Carmela Materia (1931-2018) by her mother, Giuseppa Auditore, around the time they emigrated from Italy to Melbourne. Both women were longtime Brighton locals, residing in the area from the 1950s until their deaths. Carmela Auditore was the first woman from her home village of Scaletta, Italy to emigrate to Australia. Setting sail alone in 1950 at the age of 19, she joined her brother John and uncle Frank in McCallum St, Brighton. Frank had arrived some years earlier and had spent the duration of the First World War in an internment camp. John worked at the Brighton Case Company, a box manufacturer on Nepean Highway, and paid for her passage. Carmela found a job sewing children's clothing at Drummonds, a small factory in Church St. Working eight hours a day, five days per week, netted her a weekly wage of three pounds. To earn a little extra, she washed dishes at a St Kilda Road restaurant for ten shillings a shift. Her parents, Salvatore and Giuseppa Auditore, joined her in Brighton in 1952. They rented a house behind an antique shop in Bay Street. Salvatore had been a fisherman in Scaletta, but quickly adapted to the job he found helping around the Garage at Brighton Motors in Male Street. On 14 February 1953, Carmela married her sweetheart, Salvatore Materia, at St James Catholic Church in Gardenvale. Salvatore had been living with his aunt in Well Street and worked on the wharves. Both Carmela and Salvatore were hard workers. They owned a fruit shop in Church Street where Woolworths now stands, and years later Carmela recalled the familiar 6am tap on her window each morning when her husband returned from the market. On dark winter mornings, she felt as if her hands would freeze as she helped Salvatore unload cold cabbages and cauliflowers from his truck. They later owned a shop in Ludstone Street in Hampton. After Salvatore died suddenly at the age of 48, Carmela returned to sewing, working at the Willow Fashions knitting mill in Gardenvale. She later went into partnership with her sister and brother-in-law, this time in the delicatessen business. Her parents, Giuseppa and Salvatore, spent the rest of their days with Brighton. Carmela recalled her father cheerfully walking the streets, greeting people by name. He knew everybody. He loved being in Australia and enjoyed life to the last, insisting on having bread and wine on the table at every meal.Cream crocheted wool bed jacket. Loose around bust with wide sleeves and open sides. Fastens at collar with thin braided ties, and at waist with two pearlescent plastic buttons.bed jacket, migration, 1950s, carmela auditore, carmela materia, giuseppa auditore

This dress was worn in a pre-racing season fashion parade held in October 1974 by Pearl's Boutique, a well-known fashion boutique that operated in Brighton from 1965 until 2005. Paula Folks, the store's manager at the time, recalled that this parade had been loosely red, white and blue themed in honour of Princess Anne's wedding to Mark Phillips, which took place on 14 November of that year. The parade was likely held at Tudor Court in Caulfield, a popular reception venue. Pearl's Boutique was established by Elsebe Wilhelmine Wills and Pearl Murray in 1965. The two friends had grown up together in Horsham, and decided to go into business together after reading in Fashionweek that women in their thirties, forties, fifties and older had trouble finding young-looking styles. Setting out to fill this gap in the market, they established a store at 240 St Kilda Street, near the Brighton Yacht Club, with Elsebe handled the buying while Pearl fronted the shop. They moved to 40 Church Street, Brighton in 1967. Paula Folks joined the business as a manager in 1968, became a partner in 1971 and took over from the original owners in 1988. When she closed the boutique in 2005, she donated a number of garments to Brighton Historical Society. Reflecting fondly on her 38 years at Pearls, she told The Age, "I have enjoyed all my days here because people are special to me. I love fashion. It's been a pleasure to dress people, to make them look good and feel pleased with themselves."Full-length blue jersey evening dress with round neckline and long sleeves. Cuffs edged with blue-grey ostrich feathers. Zip at back.Label: "Van Roth / REGD". Labels on side of inner zip: "100% POLYESTER" / SIZE 14 / TO FIT / BUST 90cm / WAIST 70cm / HIP 95cm".pearl's boutique, pearl's of brighton, paula folks, van roth, melbourne designers, flinders lane, 1970s

This cape was worn in a pre-racing season fashion parade held in October 1974 by Pearl's Boutique, a well-known fashion boutique that operated in Brighton from 1965 until 2005. Paula Folks, the store's manager at the time, recalled that this parade had been loosely red, white and blue themed in honour of Princess Anne's wedding to Mark Phillips, which took place on 14 November of that year. The parade was likely held at Tudor Court in Caulfield, a popular reception venue. Pearl's Boutique was established by Elsebe Wilhelmine Wills and Pearl Murray in 1965. The two friends had grown up together in Horsham, and decided to go into business together after reading in Fashionweek that women in their thirties, forties, fifties and older had trouble finding young-looking styles. Setting out to fill this gap in the market, they established a store at 240 St Kilda Street, near the Brighton Yacht Club, with Elsebe handled the buying while Pearl fronted the shop. They moved to 40 Church Street, Brighton in 1967. Paula Folks joined the business as a manager in 1968, became a partner in 1971 and took over from the original owners in 1988. When she closed the boutique in 2005, she donated a number of garments to Brighton Historical Society. Reflecting fondly on her 38 years at Pearls, she told The Age, "I have enjoyed all my days here because people are special to me. I love fashion. It's been a pleasure to dress people, to make them look good and feel pleased with themselves."Full-length bright pink rayon jersey cape with pink ostrich feathers around the collar.pearl's boutique, pearl's of brighton, paula folks, 1970s

This dress belonged to Brighton local Paula Folks, who wore it to her niece's wedding at St John's, Toorak in 1970. It also bears a second connection to Brighton through the label, Elegance, a Flinders Lane fashion house co-owned by Rudy Brill and Brighton resident Robert Salter. Paula was a longtime manager and owner of Pearl's Boutique, a well-known local fashion boutique established by Elsebe Wilhelmine Wills and Pearl Murray in 1965. The two friends had grown up together in Horsham, and decided to go into business together after reading in Fashionweek that women in their thirties, forties, fifties and older had trouble finding young-looking styles. Setting out to fill this gap in the market, they established a store at 240 St Kilda Street, near the Brighton Yacht Club, with Elsebe handled the buying while Pearl fronted the shop. They moved to 40 Church Street, Brighton in 1967. Paula joined the business as a manager in 1968, became a partner in 1971 and took over from the original owners in 1988. When she closed the boutique in 2005, she donated a number of garments to Brighton Historical Society. Reflecting fondly on her 38 years at Pearls, she told The Age, "I have enjoyed all my days here because people are special to me. I love fashion. It's been a pleasure to dress people, to make them look good and feel pleased with themselves."Cream terylene chiffon dress with all-over daisy appliqués. High band collar with v-shaped scoop at back. Sheer long sleeves with gathered cuffs.Label: "miss Elegance / TERYLENE".pearl's boutique, pearl's of brighton, paula folks, 1970s, flinders lane, melbourne designers, robert salter, rudy brill, miss elegance, elegance

The knitting machine is a recently designed instrument, especially when it is compared with its ancient counterpart, the loom. It enables the creation of many metres of fabric very quickly. A knitting machine is composed of a series of needles which mimic the process of manual knitting. The mechanism engages numerous mechanical elements simultaneously and enables the creation of many metres of fabric very quickly. In addition, a knitting machine can be setup to produce unique bolts of fabric. The density of the fabric may be modified and a knitting machine can produce double-faced effects. A doubled-faced effect creates colour combinations through the introduction of an additional colour to the knitting pattern. This knitting machine is a Coppo brand. It contains over five hundred needles and was produced in the 1960s. It is a representation of the best available in the world at that time. Originating from Italy, it was designed for commercial use. Through both precision and capacity, Italian artisans were seen to be the best in the world of textiles and knitwear. Through emigration, globalisation and the regularly available quantities of wool, Australia came to compete on this stage. The owner of this particular machine migrated from Italy in 1959. When she did, she brought with her a Dubied knitting machine. She later replaced it with this Coppo. When in Australia the owner began work as a piece worker, knitting jumpers and worked for some of the iconic names in the Australian knitting trade including ES Poratt and Alpin Manufacturing. The owner’s role progressed from a piece worker to a wool garment designer and she won many Wool Industry Awards in the 1970s and 1980s. Her high quality of work using and her individual custom designs were spoken about by many of her customers and she had a very large private clientele. She designed and knitted fully fashioned tailored jumpers for people for around 30 years.Knitting table sits on a stand with wide metal legs. Legs contain lettering 'COPPO torino'. Legs are connected via three thin metal poles as well as a metal band and the bed of knitting table at top. The connecting metal band has the lettering 'SUPER - COPTAL' attached. The Knitting table itself contains two beds and a bench at the rear. Attached to the bench is a thin metal structure for the elevation of yarn. It has four crane esk structures above on this metal structure. The bench is covered in a pale grey laminate in the imitation of wood. Attached to the knitting bed is a sliding contraptions containing two handles at the front followed by a complex semi-circle sliding mechanism used to move the knitting mechanism front and back.Left Stand. Lettering: Coppo Torino Right Stand. Lettering: Coppo Torino Centre Stand. Lettering SUPER - COPTALcoppo, knitting machine, design, italy, wool, business, migrants

The building a Vision Resource Centre at Kooyong was made possible through donations made by a large number of people. To honour this commitment, a board was constructed listing those individuals and businesses who had contributed. During the various refurbishments of the Kooyong site, this board was taken down and is no longer retained.Large wooden board with vinyl lettering"The Vision Resource Centre was made possible by the vision and generous support of the Victorian community, including many individuals, Business leaders, Trusts, Blind members, volunteers and staff. The Association for the Blind gratefully acknowledges the financial support of all contributors, including the following major donors and supporters:" thereafter follows a listing of 93 namesassociation for the blind, fundraising

The Epson HX-20 (also known as the HC-20) is generally regarded as the first laptop computer, announced in November 1981, although first sold widely in 1983. Hailed by Business Week magazine as the fourth revolution in personal computing, it is generally considered both the first notebook and handheld computer. The typist could hear the message and check that it was correct. Used by visually impaired people who could not read Braille. Talking typewriter with brown keys in brown plastic case'Keynote" on left hand side.audio equipment, assistive devices

The donor of the item believes that the demijohn belonged to her grandmother Jean Goldie. The Goldie family owned and operated a grocery business in Port Fairy, Victoria.An interesting item that gives insight into the type of multi use ceramic container that would have been refilled by the grocers when people were purchasing liquids, e.g. vinegar.Ceramic demijohn with cork stopper.POWELL, ORR & GOLDIE PPY. LD. PORT FAIRY- 1stoneware, demijohn, bottle, goldie, orr, storage

8vo; pp. x, 285; frontispiece, numerous b/w illustrations, plans and maps two of which are folding, index, appendices including "List of Purchasers at original land sale", "First Election List", "Subscription lists for both First Church of England and First Presbyterian Church", original blue cloth, title in gilt on spinenon-fictionAboriginal resistance to settlement, Native Police Force, G.A. Robinsons proposal to re-settle Flinders Island people and extracts fom his 1841 expedition report. Contents I. The early navigators and explorers II. Sealers and whalers and tales of the sea III. The Hentys and Victoria's first permanent settlement IV. Early incidents and personalities V. Under government control Vi. Social life and activities VII. The story of the press VIII. Business, professions and industry IX. Hotels and roads X. Sport XI. Environs of Portland XII. Miscellaneous historical items.robinson, george augustus, 1791-1866., government policy - initial period and protectionism - 1788-1850., government policy - state and territory - victoria., law enforcement - police - native police., race relations - violent - massacres, murders, poisonings etc. - to 1900., sport., pioneers -- victoria -- portland., portland (w vic sj54-11), portland (vic.) -- history., book

Borough Councillors J. Baulch, S. Watson, F. Hughes & J. Reardon on Jack McLaren’s TruckBlack & white photograph of Borough Councillors standing on the tray of Mr mcLaren’s truckpeople, councillors, local business, f.hughes, j.reardon, j.baulch, borough council, truck

In 1858 Hugh Wallace , undertaker and cabinet maker, moved from the Assembly Rooms at the corner of Gipps street, and opened his new Bank Hotel in Sackville street, next door to the grand Bank of Australasia. The hotel seems to have been the favourite meeting place for many of the sporting organisations of the time , including the Football, Rowing, Athletic and Gymnastics clubs . The second licensee was Thomas Pearson, who came to Belfast in 1855, working first for the Harbour master Capt. John Mills , then as the first Assistant Lighthouse keeper when it was built in 1859 . He was promoted to Lighthouse keeper 2 years later. The hotel continued in business with a further 8 licensees until it closed in 1918. Since which it has housed a diverse number of businesses, collecting a veranda along the way. It is still in use in Sackville street today. Quite a few of the Licensees of Belfast seem to have also had an interest in the Funeral business. Possibly, it was a good commercial undertaking, the same people providing them with a living selling spirituous liquor, and when they died of the effects , paid again for their burial. Image of a hotel that no longer exists in this formBlack and white photograph of Two story hotel with multi panel window two men and a boy posing on footpathhotel, building, hugh wallace, bank of australasia, thomas pearson, sackville street

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including the closure of the Industrial Depot due to its inability to break even, loans were made for blind people to learn a calling, employ an instructor and help a young man start a business as a hawker, free postage was granted for Braille and Moon articles through an Act of Parliament, and blind voters being able to vote in Federal elections.1 volume of printed material with some illustrationsassociation for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

Theodolites are a highly accurate instrument that measures angles between designated visible points in the horizontal and vertical planes. The theodolite has a long history, with the term first found in 1571 in a surveying textbook 'A geometric practice named Pantometria' by Leonard Digges. (source https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodolite). Cooke Troughton & Simms began when John Troughton starting selling products in Fleet Street, London in 1782. He went into partnership with his brother Edward in 1807 who expanded the business considerably. William Simms, a former apprentice with the company was taken as a partner and then manager after Edward died in 1835 and the company became Troughton & Simms. By 1887 the company was able to produce all the parts necessary for their instruments and the company employed nearly 200 people and was one of the most well respected firms of instrument makers of the 1800's. James Simms, son of William who had inherited the company died in 1915 and the company was turned into a limited liability company by his two sons William and James. Things however were not so easy for the two sons and in 1922 the business was brought out by their rival T. Cooke & Sons becoming Cooke, Troughton & Simms. Theodolites are used by surveyors as part of their everyday work and although there is no specific information regarding the provenance of this particular one it is assumed it was used locally by the City of Bendigo and / or the Lands Department.A grey theodolite no 39161 made by Cooke, Thoughton & Simms. Various moving parts showing signs of extensive use particularly on the uprights on the main body and around knobs and dials where the paint is worn back to brass.Cooke, Thoughton & Simms Ltd / York. England / No 39161. Sticker; DPS - Asset No / (barcode) / 0010173city of greater bendigo administration item, lands and survey department bendigo

The 'Melbourne District Nursing Society After Care Home' was built by MDNS in 1926 and the name changed from 'Care' to 'Hospital' in 1934. It was located at 45 Victoria Parade, Collingwood. This photograph is taken three years after Miss Dorothy Tupper was appointed Matron of the District Nursing Division of the Society in 1941. The Sisters in this Division worked in the community giving nursing care to people in their own homes.From its foundation in 1885 the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS, were instrumental in giving care to their patients, and to assist them if they had financial problems or resided in poor living conditions. Miss Dorothy Tupper, who as a Trained nurse, had undertaken a course in hospital housekeeping at London Prince of Wales Hospital, was contacted by MDNS in 1939 and, possessing both business and humanitarian qualities, was asked to organize their newly established Social Service Department. As the MDNS Social Service Sister, she assessed the living conditions in patient's homes. She continued in this role until being appointed Matron of the Society's District Nursing division in 1941. Matron Dorothy Tupper announced her retirement in December 1962. As Matron for 22 years she played a major role in the employment and management of an ever increasing nursing workforce as well as help oversee the expansion of the service. Matron Tupper was known for her keen sense of duty, her high professional standards and never-failing concern for patients. The photograph was taken by Sun Newspaper photographer and appeared in an article about the MDNS in September 1944Black and white photograph showing Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Matron, Dorothy Tupper, standing side on, and to the left, of three District Trained nurses (Sisters) who are seated in the grounds of the After-Care Hospital. Matron Tupper is wearing a light coloured uniform which has a belt and a centre box pleat on the lower part of the skirt; a grey brimmed hat with a darker grey hat band sits over her short dark hair. She is looking down at the first Sister on the seat who is looking up at her. The Sisters at either end of the seat are wearing dark grey double breasted coats with lapels; the collars of their light colour uniforms can be seen. Both are wearing grey brimmed hats over their short dark hair. The Sister at the far end is wearing glasses and the Sister near Matron Tupper is holding a book. The centre Sister has shoulder length dark hair and is wearing a light coloured long sleeve uniform. She is also holding a book. Both these Sisters are looking toward Matron Tupper. The seat is made of wood and is against the concrete veranda of the building behind. Scrolled metal lace work is directly behind them with a round thin concrete post to the left of Matron Tupper and the other end of the lace work is fixed to the concrete square corner columns. One turns to the right and the concrete wall of the veranda attached can be seen running in front of part of the brick wall of the building.after- care hospital, melbourne district nursing society, mdns, nurses, matron, mdns social service department, rdns, royal district nursing service, matron dorothy tupper

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

An article by Legatee Syd Birrell about comradeship. The Legacy newsletter in the 1940s was aimed at the young junior legatees. It encouraged citizenship and values of Legacy. This article compared comradeship to dogs and cats. Cats being poor comrades and dogs being very unselfish. 'Legacy was founded on comradeship . . . In return for any help which may come your way through Legacy, it expects you to help yourself and your families. You must work hard at school or at your jobs. You must be cheerful and helpful in the home; courteous and comradely to your friends and business associates; regardful of the rights and comfort of other people at all times.'A humorous article written by a long serving legatee.Print out x 1 page of an article in the Legacy Newsletter in June 1949.comradeship, junior legatees, syd birrell

Cecil Dobson began work as a carpenter/ labourer in Mount Beauty in 1947 and then as a chainman and truck driver on the High Plains. He started a small shop on the mountain to which supplies had to be dragged on a sledge. In 1952 he entered into a business partnership with Orest “Ory” Freauf, running the general store “Whitehaven” and Post Office at Falls Creek. They acquired a crawler tractor which they called “Leaping Lina” to make transport easier. He also built lodges for other people, including the Dawn Ski Club Lodge. To make more money and get away from the grocery store, Cec and Ory extended their business by adding accommodation turning Whitehaven into one of the best commercial lodges at Falls Creek. Ory and Cecil dissolved their business partnership in 1963. Cec retired in 1984 and moved to Tawonga South, Victoria. This item is significant because it pictures a pioneer of Falls Creek, Victoria.A black and white portrait of Cecil Dobson and a second photo of Cecil driving a crawler tractor.falls creek ski lodges, cecil dobson