On 17th May 1858 a State subsidised, combined Denominational School was opened by HT Stokes, with an attendance of about 30 children. This school was conducted in the wooden Melton Combined Protestant Church, situated on ‘a creek flat’ thought to be on the north side of Sherwin Street between Pyke and Byran Streets. It is likely that the Church had been established by 1855 and that the first minister was the Rev. Hampshire, who lived in Cambridge House on the Exford Estate. Ministers of the Protestant denominations were invited to hold services there. As there was only one resident Minister in the town (Presbyterian Mr J Lambie), laymen of the various denominations often spoke on Sundays. In 1863 this building was declared a Common School with the number 430. One of its first and most prominent headmasters was John Corr, who served from 1860 to 1864. Most of Mr Corr’s children also became teachers, including Joseph Corr, at the Rockbank school, and J Reford Corr and WS Corr, headmasters and teachers at numerous prestigious private secondary schools around Australia. John Corr purchased land alongside the school and elsewhere in and near Melton, became secretary and treasurer of the new Cemetery Trust, and by July 1861 was deputy registrar of births, deaths and marriages. He walked three miles every Sunday to teach at the Weslyan Sunday School he had established. Despite good reports from the Education Department Inspector, and burgeoning enrolments, the local school committee recommended the dismissal of, firstly, his wife (from the work mistress position), and then him from the headmaster position. Corr saw his dismissal as an attempt to redirect state aid for education from the Combined Protestant school to the support of the Free Presbyterian Minister Rev James Lambie (by one account the owner of the land on which the Common School was erected), whose son-in-law James Scott subsequently assumed responsibility for the school. Rev Lambie failed in his efforts to keep the existing school, which the Education Department Inspector and the majority of Melton citizens regarded as badly situated and badly built. Following a conditional promise of state aid, local contributors in 1868-69 raised ₤72.10.6 towards the cost of an iron-roofed bluestone rubble building 43 ft x 12 ft. This was erected on a new site of 1.5 acres (the present site). The State contributed ₤120 to the new school, which opened in 1870. A very early (c.1874) photograph of the school shows its headmaster and work mistress / assistant teacher (probably James Scott and his wife Jessie) and its (very young) scholars. Similar photos show pupils in front of the school in c.1903, and 1933. In 1877 a second bluestone room costing ₤297 was added and further land acquired from the Agricultural Society (who only needed it two days a year) to enlarge the schoolground to 3 acres. In the early 1880s an underground tank augmented the school water supply and in 1919 a five-roomed wooden residence was added. During this period the school correspondents often compained that the walls of the bluestone buildings were damp, affecting the plaster. In 1923 a brick room 26 ft 6 in by 24 ft with a fireplace and four rooms facing south, was added, and a corridor built to link the three buildings. This served adequately for the next 40 years. The school bell probably dates to 1883. The school also has a memorial gate (1951) to World War One ex-students, and an honour board to the 64 ex-students who served in the First World War. The school roll fell to 42 in the early post war-years, but was boosted by an influx of migrants, mainly from the UK, from the late 1960s. This presaged the boom in Melton’s development, and the corresponding growth of the school, with timber and temporary classrooms added to the previous masonry ones. An endowment pine plantation established in 1930 augmented the school’s fundraising activities when it was harvested in 1968. Part of the site was planted with eucalyptus trees in 1959. Famous ex-students of the early twentieth century included Hector Fraser (internationally successful shooter) and cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman. Pen, flag and flyer from the Melton State School Centenary celebrationseducation, local significant events

History of the Place "On 17th May 1858 a State subsidised, combined Denominational School was opened by HT Stokes, with an attendance of about 30 children. This school was conducted in the wooden Melton Combined Protestant Church, situated on ‘a creek flat’ thought to be on the north side of Sherwin Street between Pyke and Byran Streets. It is likely that the Church had been established by 1855 and that the first minister was the Rev. Hampshire, who lived in Cambridge House on the Exford Estate. Ministers of the Protestant denominations were invited to hold services there. As there was only one resident Minister in the town (Presbyterian Mr J Lambie), laymen of the various denominations often spoke on Sundays. In 1863 this building was declared a Common School with the number 430. One of its first and most prominent headmasters was John Corr, who served from 1860 to 1864. Most of Mr Corr’s children also became teachers, including Joseph Corr, at the Rockbank school, and J Reford Corr and WS Corr, headmasters and teachers at numerous prestigious private secondary schools around Australia. John Corr purchased land alongside the school and elsewhere in and near Melton, became secretary and treasurer of the new Cemetery Trust, and by July 1861 was deputy registrar of births, deaths and marriages. He walked three miles every Sunday to teach at the Weslyan Sunday School he had established. Despite good reports from the Education Department Inspector, and burgeoning enrolments, the local school committee recommended the dismissal of, firstly, his wife (from the work mistress position), and then him from the headmaster position. Corr saw his dismissal as an attempt to redirect state aid for education from the Combined Protestant school to the support of the Free Presbyterian Minister Rev James Lambie (by one account the owner of the land on which the Common School was erected), whose son-in-law James Scott subsequently assumed responsibility for the school. Rev Lambie failed in his efforts to keep the existing school, which the Education Department Inspector and the majority of Melton citizens regarded as badly situated and badly built. Following a conditional promise of state aid, local contributors in 1868-69 raised ₤72.10.6 towards the cost of an iron-roofed bluestone rubble building 43 ft x 12 ft. This was erected on a new site of 1.5 acres (the present site). The State contributed ₤120 to the new school, which opened in 1870. A very early (c.1874) photograph of the school shows its headmaster and work mistress / assistant teacher (probably James Scott and his wife Jessie) and its (very young) scholars. Similar photos show pupils in front of the school in c.1903, and 1933. In 1877 a second bluestone room costing ₤297 was added and further land acquired from the Agricultural Society (who only needed it two days a year) to enlarge the schoolground to 3 acres. In the early 1880s an underground tank augmented the school water supply and in 1919 a five-roomed wooden residence was added. During this period the school correspondents often compained that the walls of the bluestone buildings were damp, affecting the plaster. In 1923 a brick room 26 ft 6 in by 24 ft with a fireplace and four rooms facing south, was added, and a corridor built to link the three buildings. This served adequately for the next 40 years. The school bell probably dates to 1883. The school also has a memorial gate (1951) to World War One ex-students, and an honour board to the 64 ex-students who served in the First World War. The school roll fell to 42 in the early post war-years, but was boosted by an influx of migrants, mainly from the UK, from the late 1960s. This presaged the boom in Melton’s development, and the corresponding growth of the school, with timber and temporary classrooms added to the previous masonry ones. An endowment pine plantation established in 1930 augmented the school’s fundraising activities when it was harvested in 1968. Part of the site was planted with eucalyptus trees in 1959. Famous ex-students of the early twentieth century included Hector Fraser (internationally successful shooter) and cyclist Sir Hubert Opperman". Ticket for the Grand Centenary Ball at Melton State School 430education, local significant events

Button distributed to and worn by Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) members working as school nurses, and possibly distributed to members of the public. The ANF Victorian Branch bargains on behalf of nurses working in primary and secondary schools, particularly those employed by the Victorian Department of Education and Training, as well as those working in Catholic and independent schools. The Royal Australian Nursing Federation became the Australian Nursing Federation (ANF) in 1989, and then became the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation in 2013, suggesting this badge is from the 1990s or early 2000s.Circular red, black and white plastic badge. Silver metal, plastic-coated, with safety pin fastener adhered to back. Badge printed with 'Save Our School Nurse' and ANF [Australian Nursing Federation] logo. The first characters of 'Save Our School' are italicised to highlight the acronym 'SOS'.nursing, school nurses, school nursing, victorian school nurses, nurses, badges, buttons, pins, trade unions, professional associations, australian nursing federation, victoria

Post primary education in Wodonga began in 1923 when the existing primary school, which opened in 1857, became the Wodonga Central School. It extended students for a further 2 years of secondary schooling. In 1938 the school was declared a higher elementary school with 90 students in the secondary classesThese items represent a school which operated in Wodonga from 1923 until 1938. It was an important stage in the pathway to establishing secondary education in Wodonga.3 Badges made of enamelled metal. The larger one is oval shaped above a scroll bearing an inscription. It has 3 maroon reeds in the centre. The other 2 are in the form of a metal scroll with gold lettering.Around Oval badge: WODONGA CENTRAL SCHOOL On Scroll below oval; FOR HONOR Above Oval: CAPTAIN On smaller badges: GRADE CAPTAINwodonga schools, wodonga central school, education wodonga

Wodonga township’s first school was conducted in a small rented wooden cottage from September 1857. It was called the Belvoir National School. The building of a new schoolhouse, No. 378, began in October the same year near the corner of High and South Streets. In 1872 it changed to No. 37 Wodonga. The name was changed to Wodonga State School in 1875. This name remained until which remained until 1938 when it became a Higher Elementary School. In 1951 the Victorian Education Department purchased 12 acres of land in Ariel Street for the purpose of re-siting the State School. At this stage there were 600 pupils attending the school of which 170 were in the secondary section. Initially the Infant department moved into pre-fabricated classroom on the new site and by 1954 the whole primary school had been transferred.. The building was used became the temporary home of the Wodonga High School and later the Wodonga Technical School until they moved to new premisesA black and white image of school building mounted on card.At bottom of image: "WODONGA STATE SCHOOL 1920"wodonga state school, education wodonga

The school was opened in 1857 and was known as School No. 378, Belvoir. In 1862 the Board of Education took control and called it Belvoir School No. 37, later known as No. 37 Wodonga. In 1938 it was made a Higher Elementary School and in 1954 it reached the status of a High School. The school's motto was "Labora ut Servias", which translates as "Work to Serve”Wodonga High School has a long history dating back to 1857. It has had several changes of name and provided a variety of levels of education as Wodonga itself grew and community needs changed. It developed from a primary school to become a Higher Elementary School and then a High School. It has since evolved further to become Wodonga Senior Secondary College.A circular metal ashtray with indentations for 4 cigarettes. The ashtray bears the symbol representing the school motto for Wodonga High School Around the edge of the circular yellow, red and gold logo "WODONGA HIGH SCHOOL / LABORA UT SERVIAS"education, wodonga high school, school souvenirs

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. Participants gave a four minute prepared speech and a two minute impromptu response to a topic. In 1993 the topic was "Music - a distraction to study". President John Stevenson is shown on the far left of the photo with John Straney of the Norwich Group, congratulating the winner, Susie Dowling of Strathmore Secondary College and the runner up, Zayne D'Crus of Mazenod College. The guest speaker in 1993 was the Herald Sun Journalist Keith Dunstan. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the Stat, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that was run by Legacy from 1988 to the 1990s.Black and white photo x 4 of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1993 and white paper label and an article in the Answer.legacy promotion, speaking contest, answer, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. This State Final event was held on 17th October 1996, the National Final was on 11th November 1996. The event had co-operation from the Department of Education and the major sponsors were Melbourne Newsboys Club Foundation and Oxford University Press. The Victorian winner was Ross Ditcham, of Flinders Christian College, Hastings. Runner up was Luke Raffin from St Joseph's in Echuca. The following was taken this programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the Stat, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland." On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states.A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that was run by Legacy from 1988 to the 1990s.Programme of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1996legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

Two photos of the finals of the Junior Plain English Speaking contest and President George Woodward with the finalists. One photo shows the Bendigo preliminary round with the winner Kate, she is seen in the group of finalist photo with George Woodward. The date is assumed to be 1994 as that was the year George Woodward was president. From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of the Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Colour photo x 3 of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1994Yellow paper label on one photo says "Bendigo winner Kate - red headed". legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. These photos are from the final of the Junior Plain English Speaking contest in the 1991 when Jamie Friebe was the winner. It was held at the MMBW theatrette on 27 June 1991. Ron Barassi attended and is shown speaking in a different room, possibly over a lunch. The photo in the Answer shows President John Sullivan with the 1991 winner Jamie Friebe. From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Colour photo x 8 of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1991 and an article in the Answer.legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. The winner in 1991 was Jamie Friebe from Warrnambool Secondary College. The 1991 final was held at the MMBW Theatrette. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A programme of finalists and presenters from the Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Buff colour A4 card with blue printing as a programme of the speaking contest in 1991. legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. Participants gave a four minute prepared speech and a two minute impromptu response to a topic. The state winner in 1993 was Susie Dowling of Strathmore Secondary College. The 1993 final was held at the Melbourne Water Theatrette on 1 July. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A programme of finalists and presenters from the Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Light grey A4 card with blue printing as a programme of the speaking contest in 1993. legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. Participants gave a four minute prepared speech and a two minute impromptu response to a topic. This programme was from the finals of the Victorian competition in 1996 held in the Iwaki Auditorium at the ABC Southbank Centre, the winner would go on to compete in the National Final of the Award on 11 November. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states." In 2011 it was 416 students from 140 secondary schools and colleges in Victoria. It is estimated that approximately 1500 students around Australia participated.A programme of finalists and presenters from the speaking contest that has been run by Legacy from 1988 to 2021.White glossy A3 card with blue printing as a programme of the speaking contest in 1994. legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa

Clare GERVASONI (1962- ) Born Melbourne A trained secondary Art educator, Clare Gervasoni studied Ceramics at Melbourne College of Advanced Education, and taught for number of years before retrainign as a Museum Curator. Photograph of three ceramic blackware eggs of various sizesblackfire, blackware, ceramics, eggs, clare gervasoni