The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the fourth in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with blue ink illustrations and writing. It has a centrepiece-coloured emblem of King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about wool studies relating to the health and productivity of wool sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about: - Wool scouring - Shearing - Lamb marking - Breeding - Fellmongering - Comparison between wool and artificial fibres - Characteristics of good wool - Wool selling methods - Established studs in Victoria - Award rates (1937-38)Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “CORONATION / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE SUBJECT Wool / SCHOOL Gordon Front Cover. Illustration’s colour, printed. King George VI & Queen Elizabeth with flags of the Union Jack & Australia in background.gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

BHS CollectionThe Bendigo Advertiser Newspapers invoice to H.A. & S.R. Wilkinson dated 05/10/1954. The invoice has four entry ''sale account Kellett'' for a total of 8 pounds 2shillings 2 penny. A receipt n. 1346 dated 07/10/1954 is stapled to the invoice recording the cash payment. A 2 penny stamp duty is attached to the receipt. The receipt is in a manilla folder.organization, business, h.a. & s.r wilkinson real estate, yellow label 595.

Grave of John H. Withell (died 07/05/1930), Prudence A. Withell (died 24/06/1931)and John T.L. Withell (died 30/10/1929) in Plot#E9/E10 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph taken by Noel Withers 30/07/2009.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried there. John Henry Withell died 07/05/1930.Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.john withell, prudence withell, john t l withell, greensborough cemetery

Textiles, yellow cotton cushion cover. One side overlayed by tapestry weave fabric. Drawn thread work has created an all over 12 X 12 pattern of 3 cm squares. Each square has an embroidered wheel spoke pattern of yellow embroidery cotton. Machine made. Unfinished.textiles, domestic, cushion cover

These 12 photographs were most likely taken in the 1990s in Lithographic Squadron at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo. In photos .1P and .2P the Printing Technician is placing a map negative or positive on top of the printing plate in a vacuum frame before light exposure. Photos .3P to .9P and .12P feature the new Howson Algraphy Autoneg printing plate processor. It improved quality control and efficiency and allowed the conversion of printing plates for positive or negative use. Processed printing plates were checked as shown in photos .10P and .11P before their installation on the printing press.This is a set of 12 photographs of lithographic technicians operating a new printing plate processor at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo c1990s. Photos .1P to .11P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. Photo .12P is printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) to .2) - Photo, colour, c1990s, unidentified technician preparing printing plate in a vacuum frame. .3) to .7) - Photo, colour, c1990s, unidentified technicians operating new printing plate processor. .8) - Photo, colour, c1990s, L to R: CPL Mark Doherty, unidentified technician, LCPL John Bateman operating new printing plate processor. .9) - Photo, colour, c1990s, LCPL John Bateman operating new printing plate processor. .10) to .11) - Photo, colour, c1990s, LCPL John Bateman checking printing plate after processing. .12) - Photo, colour, c1990s, SSGT Russ Mollenhauer operating new printing plate processor. .1P to .12P – there is no annotations.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr, litho

Cutting from Whitehorse Post 3/12/1997, Page 10, announcing the official opening of 'Archie's Cafe' am adjunct to Eastside Plants in Canterbury road. The cafe had been named after local identity and original owner of the property, the late Archibald McArthur. The cafe was Forest Hill's first Post Office and store. Photographs. Cutting from Whitehorse Post 3/12/1997, Page 10, mcarthur, archibald, archies cafe, eastside plants, gourlay, robert, lalor, peter, forest hill

Yields information about the nature of tram services at the city terminus at Sturt and Lydiard St and the street scene at the time.Agfa colour slide, white cardboard mount, photo by Keith Caldwell on 12/3/1962 of: Tram 11 at the city terminus, Sturt and Lydiard St, with an inspector standing alongside the tram stop. The tram has the destination of Mt Pleasant, and The Age dash panel advertisement. In the background is the Town Hall with scaffolding around the central portion and the tower.In ink "Ballarat 12.3.62"tramways, trams, sturt st, lydiard st, inspectors, tram 11

Digital image of the Bendigo 26 in Pall Mall passing the Bendigo Fire Station and the Court House. The tram has the destination of Eaglehawk. Photo by John Ward 31-12-1971 Slide title "004742 311271 71103-G SEC Vic Bogie tram 26 View St near Rowan St Bendigo Vic"trams, tramways, bendigo, pall mall, tram 26

Newspaper article in Ballarat Courier on 12/10/1998 following the 1998 Annual General meeting of the Ballarat Tramway Museum. Written and photo by Marion Taffe. Has an interview with Stephen Butler and photo of Stephen on tram 40 with tram 18 at Gardens Loop alongside. Mentions museum accreditation. Gave a list of office bearers elected at the meeting.trams, tramways, btm, stephen butler, agm, museum accreditation

Black and white print of a donated negative. Print made 8/1998. Photo of SEC Scrubber car, end view looking south, at the depot in "0" road, with Tennis Court in background. At end of track. Photo taken 31-12-1958. Image i1 high res scan of the negatives added 18/1/2019.tramways, trams, depot, scrubber tram, ballarat, tennis court, tram scrubber

Yields information the first tram to be driven from the BTPS depot building under power.Colour photograph of the inauguration of No. 27 to be moved under power on 12 Oct. 1974 - Vice President Bill Jessup drove the tram - see Page 2 of the 1974/75 Annual report and page 23 of December 1974 Trolley Wire for a similar photo by Bob Prentice. Richard Gilbert on the "podium", prior to the launch. Printed on Kodak paper.On Rear in red ink machine printed "Nov 74.M"trams, tramways, depot construction, btps, operations, tram 27

Has a strong association with a long term volunteer for the BTPS and the BTM and her work for the museum.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, 12/1/1976, titled "Women trammies back in Ballarat", about Carolyn Dean working for the BTPS as a volunteer and training to become a driver. Has a photo of Carolyn leaving out of tram window. Notes her (then) husband Geoffrey as another volunteer. Notes the former employment of women by the SEC as Conductresses.btps, conductresses, women drivers, training

Newspaper clipping - from The Age, 17/12/1999 with an article on tramway workers and video documentary - Tram People (1999 Norris Media Productions), a 160 minute by Paul Norris. Includes quotes from Graham Jones, Norm Cross, Mario Sirianni. Includes a photo of the front of W7 1008 along with other tramway images.trams, tramways, trams, melbourne, preston workshops, employees, mmtb, tram 1008

Set of two 35mm Kodak white cardboard colour slide by Keith Kings of 24/12/1967 - .1 - St Kilda Junction, looking north along St Kilda Road, showing the nature of the diversion from the junction for Wellington St. .2 - Dandenong Road, showing the track diversion work for Dandenong Road/Queensway, Windsor.Keith Kings stamp and number "15-1" and "15-5"", with details of exposure. .1 - SW6 car on temporary track at St Kilda Junction looking north from turnout during freeway work .2 - Dandenong Road west from Hornsby St with section of straight track ready to replace curves onto new b.v.w. track to Chapel St - 907 coming off soon to be abandoned street track.trams, tramways, st kilda junction, trackwork, road works, dandenong road, queensway, tram 907

Illustrated book with dark blue cover. Publisher's initials imprinted on front cover. Abbreviated title, one authors surname, one small five-pointed star and abbreviated publisher's name embossed in gold on spine. Alfred Hospital Melbourne".non-fictionThis volume covers the history of nursing from the earliest times to [ca.1840].nursing-history, nurses

126 p. black and white illustrationsnon-fictionjanefield training centre, kingsbury training centre, intellectually disabled, janefield, mont park

Yields information about the closure of the system and how the various small tasks, eg removal of tram stop signs were undertaken. The newspaper item details the name of the people.Newspaper clipping from The Courier, 7/9/1971 titled ""No longer needed" with a photo of two SEC workmen removing tram stop signs and painting poles on the Mt Pleasant route in Barkly St. Photo taken the previous day, following the closure of the route on Sunday. Has a photo of Mr. Ralph Bell and Mr George Wright. At corner with Cobden St. Has a Milk Bar in the background, advertising Streets Ice creek, Coca Cola, Briquettes and Vincent's Cold and Flu tablets. See Reg Item 3771 for a copy of the original photograph and a larger view of the scene. Second copy added 27/10/05. trams, tramways, mt pleasant, closure, tram stops, barkly st.

Newspaper clipping from The Courier, Ballarat, 14/9/1971 titled "Last tram to 'star' in film about Ballarat" of the making of a film by the Commonwealth Film unit on tourist attractions in Ballarat. The first section of the film was to feature the last run of the trams in Ballarat the following Sunday. Has a photo of a meeting of members of the film unit, the City Council, and the Ballarat Regional Tourist Promotion Association the previous day. The clipping gives the names of people in the meeting. Second copy of the text only added 25/10/05 - photo not attached. Image of the whole cutting added 28/3/2011 - see i1. trams, tramways, ballarat promotion, commonwealth film unit, closure, films

Grave of Alice Glew (died 12/07/1933) and William Glew (died 20/04/1935) in Plot# A11 Greensborough Cemetery. Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many early settlers in the district. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.alice glew, greensborough cemetery

Grave of Alice Glew (died 12/07/1933) and William Glew (died 20/04/1935) in Plot# A11 Greensborough Cemetery.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried there. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.alice glew, william glew, greensborough cemetery

The grave of Anthony Harper Beale (died 12/02/1951), son of Anthony and Ida Ellen Beale. St Helena Cemetery, Greensborough.St Helena Cemetery was originally the burial place of the Beale family and friends. The first burials took place in the 1850s. There are now over 200 burials.Digital copy of colour photographst helena cemetery, anthony harper beale