Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Friday, April 22, 2005. Class of 1930: Back row: Keith Bravo, Alf Holland, Len Rayner,Les Bravo, Clarrie Bravo, Albert Wicker, Norm Crossley, Linsay Wicker, Tom Rivett, Ern Kennedy ang George Davies. Second row: Clare Twigg, Annie Kennedy, Joyce Stewart, Rene Cox, Jean Rayner, Allsa Gook, Dallas Gook, Berrie Needs,, Airlie Simpson and Nell Clark. Third row: Ollie Burrows, Ethel Wicker, Nell Kennedy, Wilma Stewart, Florence Clark, Bessie Holland, Catherine Bravo, Mary Wicker and Evelyn Rivett. Fourth row: Mavis Andersen, Isobel Metelmann, Marjorie Bravo, Edna Grimmett, Betty Durrand, Audrey Chamberlain, Jon Stewart, Betty Stewart, Maroli Twigg, Norma Martin and Lorna Kennedy. Front row: Kevin Holland, Len Holland, Charlie Bravo,Norman Michael, Ron Douglas, Charley Rayner, Tom Cox and Chris Metelmann. Bill Cox and Mavis Clark were absent.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

This photograph was taken of the debutantes and their partners presented at the annual debutante ball held at St Kilda Town Hall. This photograph is significant for its links to the Chinese Young League. The League was formally established on 4 October 1932 to to promote free social intercourse and goodwill among its members and their mutual improvement. Membership was open to all persons, with one or both parents or grandparents born in China. Wives of Chinese members were permitted as members with the same privileges. It was a significant social organisation for Chinese-Australians in Melbourne in the mid to late twentieth century.Black and white photograph (vintage) with cream frame under glass. Has a cream card mount which provides details of the ball and names the people in the photograph.Front of card title top centre: 'The Young Chinese League Annual Ball at St Kilda Town Hall, 1947'. Bottom centre: DEBUTANTES Back Row: Alex Chun Tie, Vernon Ah Mouy, Maurice Lee, Robert Kwong. Third Row: Harold Chin, Alan Lim Joon, Lennie Quon, Eric Moy, Edward Chin. Second Row: June Lee Gow, Evelyn Law, Annamae Young, Mrs L.M.Wang, June O'Hoy, Rose lee, Audrey Lau. Front Row: Jean Wing Dann, Marjorie Kwong, Connie Ham.'young chinese league, debutante balls, st kilda, melbourne

K2,3 and4 are of the Kiewa River and two of the bridges spanning the river along the valley. K3 and K4 would have been taken in the 1880's and show the type of trees and plant growth along the river prior to land clearing for farming. K5 is of the Running Creek Cricket Team and therefore there was sufficient population in the area to form and maintain a team as well as have other teams in the relatively near vicinity to provide competition. Note the horse drawn cart which provided transport. Date taken is unknown but possibly c 1910. The Mt. Buffalo Chalet was built in 1910 by the Victorian Government. It was Australia's first ski resort and has served generations of skiiers, hikers and families over the years. It was built for 3195 pounds and has had stories and wings added since and is the largest timber building in Australia. B4 is the earliest photo in this group as the garden is in early stages of development - the other photos show the growth of the shrubs and would be taken about c 1920. Note the cars and motor bikes. It closed in 2006. The other photos are of general interest only but interesting to see that there were donkey's grazing. There is no information as to their purpose on Mt. Buffalo. Four different Kiewa Valley families are represented in the photographs. Their descendants still live in the Valley and carry on the traditions of beef and dairy farming. Of particular interest is the photo of Miss Marjorie Clemence, the first School Teacher of Upper Gundowring School. Gundowring pastoral run was taken up in 1838 and occupied by framers in the 1860's. The area was known as Gundowring and Upper Gundowring. The Gundowring School was opened in 1871 and most likely the Upper Gundowring school would be built at the same time. It was School No. 2733 and situated in Boyd Road. It closed in 1953 when the Kiewa Consolidated School opened. The newspaper page describes the activities in which the local community of Kergunyah were in engaged in that period - Red Cross, Fire Brigade, cattle round up and some of the identities involved. The article photocopied from the Yackandandah times states that he (Norman Coad) "was sent to the Ovens District Hospital, Beechworth for treatment" which would mean that this was the closest hospital to the Kiewa Valley for emergencies in 1912.The Kiewa Valley photographs are of social significance showing two of the early bridges allowing the community easy access to both sides of the river and also the tree and plant growth before land clearing for farming. The photos of Mt. Buffalo Chalet have social, architectural and historical significance. the Chalet has been used by skiers, bush walkers and day trippers since its completion in 1910 and its closure in 2006. It is listed in the Victorian Heritage Register. The family photographs are of social and historical significance as they are of early farming families in the Kiewa Valley and also depict the dress, of both men and women) in the late 1880's. The write up in the Weekly Times has social significance as it depicts the social and farming activities and photos of the local residents from around that area. The article from the Yackandandah Times is of a personal nature with concern for the individual involved. Note: There is a photo of the gentleman mentioned in the article (Mr. Norman Coad) in the Families of the Kiewa Valley (F4) as above.30 black and white photographs - 5 of the Kiewa Valley, 8 of families of the Kiewa Vallley and 17 of Mt. Buffalo. Various sized photos. Page from the Weekly times and copied article from the Yackandandah Times on A4 sheet.(Note for easier identification they have been numbered and grouped - K1-5 (Kiewa Valley), F1-8 (Families) and B1-17 (Mt. Buffalo). K1: handwritten in ink, lower L hand corner "Bogong in the distance". K2: handwritten in ink lower L hand corner "Mongan's Bridge or Towonga". K3 handwritten in ink "Taken from Mongan Bridge looking up stream". K4 - no inscription. K5: handwritten in ink, back of photo "Running Creek Cricket Team". F1: handwritten in ink on back "Mrs. Heap" and lower down in pencil "1880's". F2 handwritten in pencil at top of back phot "Land at Tawonga TROVE The Y'dah Times 20/2/1913" and lower down in ink "Henry Ellis Larkin". F3: handwritten in ink bottom edge "Mrs Coad". Note that this photo is a postcard. F4: Written in ink lower edge "Norman Coad". Note this photo is also a postcard. F5: Lower left corner in Ink "Harry Larkin". F6: lower half back of photo, in ink "Bernie Maddison". F7: on back of photograph in ink "Miss Marjorie Clemence first School Teacher Upper Gundowring: and underneath, in pencil "C1880's". F8: Handwritten in ink on back of photo "Frank & Mrs. Keat & Lesley of Tawonga". Lower down in pencil "c1912-1914". B1: Back of photo in ink "The Chalet Mt. Buffalo". B2: no inscription. B3: "chalet at Bufflo" in ink lower left corner. B4: This is a post card. Written in ink is "Mt. Buffalo Chalet". B5 - B10 printed in ink, lower left corner "Buffalo". B11: no inscription. B12: "Mt. Buffalo" lower R corner. B13: "Buffalo?". B15: Printed in ink lower edge "Picnic at Buffalo". B16: "Donkeys on Mt. Buffalo" printed in ink lower edge. B17: handwritten in ink across back of photo "Donkeys & top of Mt. Buffalo with the Monileith in the distance". A4 sheet of paper describing an accident to Mr. Norman Coad. Under article is : Yackandandah Times (Vic: 1890 - 1931), Thursday 18 July 1912, page 3. A page torn from the Weekly Times, June 14, 1961 and entitled "Kergunyah has picturesque setting". kiewa valley, farming, families, kergunyah, gundowring upper, mt. buffalo chalet, briggs family, larki family, coad family, clemence family, laskowski collection

1 wooden boomerang shaped shield with engraved silver plates and bronze coloured man holding an image of a female lawn bowls player The central large silver plate is edged with wreaths and inscribed "Presented by E. & N. Maxwell 1976" and a long silver plate banner with "V.B.L.B.C. Most Improved Player" surrounded by multiple small silver shields with the names of individuals and the year that they won the award. A bronze coloured figure stands in front of the banner, holding a black, silver and green coloured picture of a female lawn bowls player taking a shot whilst two others look on. The smaller shields are engraved with the following: 76-77 Edna Wratten, 77-78 Michael McGuire, 78-79 Colin Johnson, 79-80 Mrs H. Conroy, 80-81 Mr L. Tester, 81-82 R. Teague, 82-83 H. Eustace, 83-84 Kate Smith, 84-85 George Hardham, 85-86 Laurie Hoskins, 86-87 Bill Martin, 87-88 Frank Bartoli, 88-89 Clarrie Greening, 89-90 Ron Jones, 90-91 Jean Moore, 1991-92 Marjorie Goodall. Digital Image of wooden trophySee descriptionroyal victorian institute for the blind, nameplates

It belonged to Beryl Mair of 20 Barton Street, Surrey Hills and was given to her by Mr W Sandoe on 12.11.1928. There are entries from family members and class mates from Mont Albert Central School (MACS). The first entry is written by her father, Dave Mair. Entries from: D Mair, Lance Young, Norma Dunn, I Goodes, Lorraine Potts, Mary Griffin, L E Jarman, J Stalker, Jean Fowler, Ailsa Hank (with an ink drawing of a cottage), May Leach, Merle Botten, Beryl Skinner, Enid Marro(w ?), Betty (S ?)oule, Fred A Teague, A Mock, Kath Paul, Melva Dare, Marjorie Smith, J Hargreave, Ethel Lillifant. Three entries are quotation only. One page lists teachers of Mont Albert Central School: E C Cairns, E E Holden, Alfred Harley, R Blackburne, R W Campbell, M (?) Sheahan, ------- (undecipherable), H McConville. Those dated are mostly from 1930.The Mair family were resident in Barton Street for several generations. Beryl's father Dave Mair was a keen sportsman and founder of the Kangaroo Social Club of cricketers. Beryl married Lance Young. This is part of a large collection relating to the Mair, Deakin and Young families.In Europe autograph books have a history that can be traced back to 15th century university students. In Australia autograph albums were particularly popular towards the end of the 19th century, although there are known examples as far back as the 1830s. The increase in popularity coincides with printing and book binding becoming more affordable. Autograph books came in many sizes but were typically small with blank pages, usually in pastel colours. The books were often exchanged so the gathering of autographs was a very social pastime. Pages were filled with not only names, signatures and personal details but also poems, limericks, drawings, personal messages, small pieces of verse, and other mementos, such as pressed flowers, locks of hair and even embroidery. Although they could be very personal, unlike a diary they were meant to be viewed as part of the exchange. Autograph books from the 1950s may have a different focus. Although it remained common to collect the autographs of friends it was also highly desirable to collect the signatures of the famous, especially rock and television stars. Autograph books are of social relevance because they reflect the sentiment of the era of creation; they can also be reflective of social change, major political events or new inventions.A small autograph book with a mottled brown cover and faded pastel pages with gold edging. The end pages are detailed in beige and pink. There are multiple entries, those dated are mostly from 1930. Front cover: "Autographs" in gold within a gold oval. Front inside page in black and red ink: "BERYL MAIR / 20 / BARTON / STREET , SURREY HILLS / from / MR W SANDOE / 12/11/28" Embossed in back cover, lower right: "MADE IN ENGLAND" beryl mair, autograph books, dave mair, barton street, ernest lance young, lance young, norma dunn, i goodes, lorraine potts, mary griffin, l e jarman, j stalker, jean fowler, ailsa hank, may leach, merle botten, beryl skinner, enid marro(w ?), betty (s ?)oule, fred a teague, a mock, kath paul, melva dare, marjorie smith, j hargreave, ethel lillifant, teachers, mont albert central school, e c cairns, e e holden, alfred harley, r blackburne, r w campbell, m (?) sheahan, h mcconville

Book with light blue cover. Title, author's and publisher's name on front cover in dark blue print. Title in dark blue print on spine. Information about other French's acting editions on back cover. non-fictionA play about the life of Florence Nightingale

The family members are identified as follows: Back row (L to R): Percy Leigh with Phyllis, Robert Beckett (junior), Herbert Ingamells, Annie Leigh with Marjorie, Harry Leigh, Clara Beckett, Arnold Bear (brother of Olly Beckett), William Beckett with Edna, Ben Gray. Middle row (L to R): Robert Gray, Ethel Beckett, Polly (sister-in-law of Harry Leigh), Nelly Ingamells, Eliza Beckett with Esther Leigh, Alice Beckett with Basil, Dorothy Beckett, Olly Beckett, Emma Gray with Norman. Front row (L to R): ??? (a Leigh brother), Kate Beckett, Mabel Beckett, Cyril Ingamells, Bert Gray, Elsie Leigh with Ethel Ingamells. Robert (John Robert) Gray, Ben Gray and Norman Gray were 3 of 6 children of John Gray and Emma Beckett who married at Guildford Villa in 1888. Norman was born in 1901 and looks to be c.3 years old in this photo; the youngest in the family was Evelyn (b 1906) so this would give an approximate date for the photo of 1904. The donor, Wendy McLellan is the daughter of Minnie Caroline Beckett (1907-1998) and Francis James Renkin who married on 13 March 1934. Peter Renkin (formerly of 59 Guildford Road, Surrey Hills, now Shoreham) is her brother. Exact date photo was taken was 17 September 1904.Black and white photo at Guildford Villa, 4 Essex Road, Surrey Hills, home of the Beckett family. The family is formally posed with croquet equipment on the lawn of the substantial Victorian-style home which has 3 chimneys and a veranda on 2 sides. victorian style, croquet, percy leigh, phyllis leigh, robert beckett (junior), herbert ingamells, annie leigh, marjorie leigh, harry leigh, clara beckett, arnold bear, william beckett, edna beckett, ben gray, robert gray, ethel beckett, nelly ingamells, eliza beckett, esther leigh, alice beckett, dorothy beckett, olly beckett, basil beckett, emma gray, norman gray, kate beckett, mabel beckett, cyril ingamells, bert gray, elsie leigh, ethel ingamells

Lynette Nee Butler Kutschewski 1942 –1987 As a young musician Lynette had beaten Roger Woodward in piano competitions, before deciding to specialise in singing she trained as an artist in Melbourne. Given the choice of distinction in three different careers Lynette chose the most difficult, that of a singer. The repertoire in which Lynette chose to specialise – the period of the Baroque and above all the works of Johann Sebastian Bach – demanded a high degree of technical virtuosity, fine musicianship and elegance of style, in all of which she excelled. Yet she equally at home in Grand Opera, Lieder, and Operetta and gave some of her most memorable performances in the most diverse aspects of the vocal repertoire. Her own special quality was one of inner radiance when she sang, which added to the beauty of her voice, made her performances especially moving, and which led to her being sought out as a performer of the great German works within Germany itself. It seems so fitting that Lynette’s last public performance should have been in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, with its magnificent “Ode to Joy”. This took place in Paris in the Salle Pleyel on October 25th 1985. In the series of Concerts that season, Lynette’s name stood beside those of Danial Barenboim and Jessie Norman, Rostropovich, Nicholas Harnoncourt and Zubin Mehta. At this last performance Lynette truly stood at the peak of her profession This was part of Lynette Nee Butler Kutschewski Eulogy by Mary Ryan 30 – 10 –1987 Family history of Lynette Nee Butler Kutschewski: Herbert Vivian Butler 1915 - 1999 Bert grew up living on the family farm at Rockbank. He walked three miles to school and was one of 12 students. He attended Essendon High School and after the culture shock of being a country bumpkin, he soon earned respect of his peers through his sporting ability and academic excellence. Bert became Head Prefect in his final year at Essendon High School. He became a Primary School teacher working in inner suburban schools while living in Hawthorn. During the war years he went to Melbourne University at night obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree. His main teaching methods were geology and geography. In 1939 Bert married Marjorie G Myers of ‘Burnbank Melton. Marjorie was already a talented pianist in her teenage years achieving her L.Mus.A. her fourth qualification by the age of 18 years. She attended the Conservatorium of Music Melbourne studying pianoforte and later with a singing scholarship and won numerous competitions from Ballarat to Bendigo She started her teaching career after leaving Melton State School. She taught many students throughout district including Edna Butler, the young sister of Bert. While living in Hawthorn their children Adrian and Lynette were born. Their son Max was born in Bacchus Marsh while Bert was teaching at the High School and in 1950 was appointed to Numurkah HS. In 1953 the family moved to Frankston HS. In 1958 he was appointed foundation Principal of Ashwood HS at the age of 43, the youngest to achieve this level of seniority. He was also Principal at Huntingdale, Mordialloc/Chelsea, and Mornington until his retirement in 1975. Football - Melton aged 17 - 3 seasons. Carlton signed in1935. Played forward pocket 2nd rover in1938. During the war years Carlton 2nd s Captain, played his last senior game in 1944. In 1944 he was Captain coach of Bacchus Marsh Team, a President and Life Member. Club Champion for three years for Numurkah. Marjorie Gretchen Myers Born at Melton on the 21st of February 1912 Attended Melton State School No 430 1917 and left school to become a music teacher. A pupil of Miss Ross the Music teacher at Melton she advanced rapidly and achieved her A.L.C.M. (Associate of the London College of Music) at the age of 12 years. At 14 years she gained her L.L.C.M. (Licentiate of the London College of Music). At the age of 16 she was awarded a part scholarship in 1928 to the to the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music studying pianoforte under Miss Elsie Fraser. She gained her A.Mus.A. at the age of 17 and her L. Mus. A. at the age of 18 years. In 1935 she won a full scholarship given by Madame Elsie Ashton for singing. The “Australian Musical New” Mr Thorald Waters the adjudicator found her outstanding qualities as a musician an added reason for singling out Miss Myers with her voice being the most promising of those heard. Cousins Wendy Barrie and Lynette Butler in the backyard of Butler's houselocal identities

This photograph of the Army Survey Regiment’s Warrant Officers and Sergeants was taken on the parade ground at Fortuna Villa, Bendigo in c1973. WO1 John Hogan served as RSM of the Regiment from 1968 to 1976.This is a photograph of Warrant Officers and Sergeants posted to the Army Survey Regiment Fortuna Villa, Bendigo Victoria, c1973. The photograph was printed on photographic paper and is part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photograph was scanned at 600 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white c1973. Back Row L to R: Irene Saunders, Bob Hayden, Lloyd Patterson, Chris Sharp, Sgts Mess Spvr, Lloyd Harvey, John Waight, Ivor Hastings, Ace Evans, Andy Covington, Gordon Haswell, Jim Jefferies, Mick Dempster, Bill Forrest, Max Neil, Ted Burgess, Chris Kelly, Graeme Beasley, Peter Mansell, Dave Miles, unidentified, Geoff Wasser, Errol Fletcher, Doug Malligan, Len Thirlwell, Michael Wagland, Ian Bootland, Peter Dew, Jeff Lynch, John Rankine, George Austen, Jim Mitchell, Ken Slater, Alan Carew, Chris Wardley, Jim Mulqueen, Evan Giri. Front Row L to R: Marjorie Knight, Tom Pattison, Don Taylor, Bob McKenna, Bob Coultard, Stan Vote, Brian Rogers, Aub Harvey, RSM John Hogan, Neil Rankin, Clive Andrews, Tony Ellis, Alex Munro, Roger Rix, Joe Farrington, Tibby Szentirmay BEM, Fred Panknin, Ken Rich, Jack Williams, Ian Batt UK Exchange.There are no personnel annotated. ‘7744’ annotated on top left corner of photo.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr

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

Alice Sedgman (nee Percy) – 1873-1945 Alice was born in Maldon in 1873, one of 9 children of William Henry Percy and his wife Unice King. Alice married Francis Sedgman, occupation painter, in 1896 and they went on to have 8 children, all born in Kew or Hawthorn before the family came to Surrey Hills. The electoral roll for 1903 shows the family living in Liddiard Street in Hawthorn and Alice’s occupation is given as home duties. It is the same in 1909 when they are living at 65 Croydon Road, Surrey Hills and continues to be thus listed in all electoral rolls until the 1943 edition, just before her death. However Mrs Sedgman was also an active nurse and midwife who often worked with Dr James Blakie, who had arrived in Surrey Hills in 1905, initially practicing from 171 Union Road and then in 1913 moving across the road to the purpose-built home and practice at 174 Union Road, now Surrey Hills Medical Centre. At this period most babies were born at home. Sometime after 1931 Alice and Francis Sedgman moved from 65 Croydon Road into 10 Grovedale Road and lived with their son Francis William Sedgman and his family for the remainder of their lives. The photo shows Mrs Alice Sedgman in early 1930s with grand-daughter Joy in the garden of her son. Behind her can be seen the fenced 'quarry' which is now parkland. Alice died in 1945 and Francis in 1951. They are buried in Boroondara Cemetery along with an infant son Clarence and daughter Marjorie. Alice Sedgman was one of the area's early midwives when women for the main part delivered their children at home.A black and white photograph of a lady sitting in a cane chair holding a young girl on her knee.mr francis william sedgman, mr francis sedgman, mrs alice sedgman, miss alice percy, miss joy sedgman, mrs joy scanlon, grovedale road park, grovedale road quarry, croydon road, grovedale road, midwife, nurse

Alice Sedgman (nee Percy) – 1873-1945 Alice was born in Maldon in 1873, one of 9 children of William Henry Percy and his wife Unice King. Alice married Francis Sedgman, occupation painter, in 1896 and they went on to have 8 children, all born in Kew or Hawthorn before the family came to Surrey Hills. The electoral roll for 1903 shows the family living in Liddiard Street in Hawthorn and Alice’s occupation is given as home duties. It is the same in 1909 when they are living at 65 Croydon Road, Surrey Hills and continues to be thus listed in all electoral rolls until the 1943 edition, just before her death. However Mrs Sedgman was also an active nurse and midwife who often worked with Dr James Blakie, who had arrived in Surrey Hills in 1905, initially practicing from 171 Union Road and then in 1913 moving across the road to the purpose-built home and practice at 174 Union Road, now Surrey Hills Medical Centre. At this period most babies were born at home. Sometime after 1931 Alice and Francis Sedgman moved from 65 Croydon Road into 10 Grovedale Road and lived with their son Francis William Sedgman and his family for the remainder of their lives. Alice died in 1945 and Francis in 1951. They are buried in Boroondara Cemetery along with an infant son Clarence and daughter Marjorie. The donor is her granddaughter, daughter of son William Francis Sedgman. A black and white photograph of a lady sitting in a cane chair holding a baby on her knee.mr francis william sedgman, mr francis sedgman, mrs alice sedgman, miss alice percy, croydon road, midwife, nurse

19th century Irish linen Christening gown and matching petticoat donated by Ruth Starkey. The Christening gown and petticoat have been in the family for around 170 years, passed to generations. They were sewn by Eliza Lynon in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. The following history has been provided by Ruth Starkey: • Town of origin is Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, sewn by Eliza Lynon. • The gown came to Australia with Eliza Lynon on the Red Jacket in 1855. • Eliza married Joseph Dobbyn (who was a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regiment) at Christ Church Geelong. • They built a home at 150 McKillop St, Geelong. Melrose was the name of the home. • Family name Dobbyn - Joseph Wilson Dobbyn b. 07/04/1844 - d 12/10/1892 and Elizabeth (Eliza b 12/03/1847 d 26/08/1934) and passed to Eliza Jane, Jessie Victoria Mary and Lucy Ellen Dobbyn (sisters). • Lucy Ellen nee Dobbyn, married Herbert Blunt, Boatbuilder Geelong at Christ Church Geelong • All lived at 150 McKillop St Geelong over the years • Passed to Marjorie May Fearn born nee Blunt who was baptized at Christ Church Geelong 29/5/1915 • Passed to Ann Rosemary Starkey nee Fearn • Passed to Ruth Norelle Starkey (me) I was baptized at Christ Church Geelong. • I am the great- great granddaughter of Joseph and Eliza and the great granddaughter of Herbert and Lucy.Irish linen Christening gown with cutwork anglais. Cutwork along hem is scalloped with a central motif going down the centre front of the body. Bodice is embroidered in a v shape at the front and has cutwork embroidered sleeves. Skirt is attached to the bodice with cartridge pleats.irish linen, christening, religion, children's clothing, ceremonial, church, geelong, red jacket ship, enniskillen, christ church geelong, northern ireland

19th century Irish linen Christening gown and matching petticoat donated by Ruth Starkey. The Christening gown and petticoat have been in the family for around 170 years, passed to generations. They were sewn by Eliza Lynon in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland. The following history has been provided by Ruth Starkey: • Town of origin is Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, sewn by Eliza Lynon. • The gown came to Australia with Eliza Lynon on the Red Jacket in 1855. • Eliza married Joseph Dobbyn (who was a member of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers Regiment) at Christ Church Geelong. • They built a home at 150 McKillop St, Geelong. Melrose was the name of the home. • Family name Dobbyn - Joseph Wilson Dobbyn b. 07/04/1844 - d 12/10/1892 and Elizabeth (Eliza b 12/03/1847 d 26/08/1934) and passed to Eliza Jane, Jessie Victoria Mary and Lucy Ellen Dobbyn (sisters). • Lucy Ellen nee Dobbyn, married Herbert Blunt, Boatbuilder Geelong at Christ Church Geelong • All lived at 150 McKillop St Geelong over the years • Passed to Marjorie May Fearn born nee Blunt who was baptized at Christ Church Geelong 29/5/1915 • Passed to Ann Rosemary Starkey nee Fearn • Passed to Ruth Norelle Starkey (me) I was baptized at Christ Church Geelong. • I am the great- great granddaughter of Joseph and Eliza and the great granddaughter of Herbert and Lucy.White Irish linen bodiced petticoat with three sets of three pin tucks at hem. Skirt is attached with cartridge pleating and constructed with French seams. The bodice ties at the back with drawstrings at the neck and waist.irish linen, christening, religion, children's clothing, ceremonial, church, geelong, red jacket ship, enniskillen, christ church geelong, northern ireland

The wedding gown was worn by Lucy Kneeshaw Prout for her marriage to John Sommers on 29th November, 1871 at Trinity Church of England and Ireland, Williamstown, Victoria. Lucy was born in Woolwich, Kent, England in August 1850 and immigrated to Australia with her family in 1852 on the 'SS Coromandel'. She was the youngest of five children. Their parents were Edward and Elizabeth Prout (nee Hall). Lucy died in 1940 - 90 years of age. John E. Sommers was born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1846 and emigrated to Australia with his family in June 1853 on the 'Tongataboo'. His marriage certificate shows that he was an engineer. He studied at the National Gallery's School of Design under both Clark and Campbell from 1872 to 1879. He drew a compressed charcoal and pencil portrait of Fred McCubbin in 1876. The portrait was displayed in the Golden Summers exhibition at the National Gallery of Victoria in 1985 and is shown on page 40 of the Golden Summers catalogue. Their grand-daughter, Mrs Marjorie Gibson (born 1910) said he was associated with the Heidelberg School and the Box Hill Artists Camp. He is also noted in the 'Book of Australian Artists'. He exhibited prolifically with the Victorian Artists Society until his resignation in 1898. In 1881 John Sommers took employment with the Education Department at Castlemaine (Ref. Golden Summer catalogue - pages 26 and 40). John died in 1930 aged 84 years. John and Lucy Sommers children John and Dora both studied at the National Gallery of Victoria, so senior was added to John E. Sommers Senior's works. There is a short biography on page 26 of Golden Summers. Researched by Valda and Ted Arrowsmith May 2006.One piece old gold Paper Taffeta wedding gown, stand up collar, piped in green taffeta. Forty covered buttons from neck to hemline. Shaped sleeve with 15cm cuff and three buttons. Two rows of seven cm appliqued green and gold shaped fans along hemline. Two rows of green and gold piping and 8cm deep gold fringe. Back of dress has central panel of pleats and six covered buttons and a square cut hem line for the train at back. Dress bodice is lined and has two 7cm bones in side seam.costume, female ceremonial

Black and white photograph"Attached to photograph" Back Row-L to R: Graham Lunn, Max Wardle, Neville Lee-Archer, David Burden, Kelvin Nairn, Philip Dursten, Robin Close, Donald Stephens, Graham World, Stuart Butler. 2nd Row- L to R: Wendy Marshall, Marilyn (?), Cheryl Collings, Glenda Pottenger, Denise Hawkins, Gail Russell, Christina Curtis, Denise Wigley, Sylvia Sefers, Pam Butler. 3rd Row- L to R: Graham Steel, Elizabeth Pumpa, Elaine Salvador, Patricia Browning, Margaret Saines, Marjorie Knight, Wilhelmina Persons, Kathleen McHarry, Heather Wind, Barbara Horn, Neva Lee, Pamela Anderson, Jill Bryant, Robert Baylis. Front Row- L to R: Vincent Crupi, Roderick Alan, Peter Huxley, Rodney Costello, Ian Perkins, Clifford Tann, Ian Roberts, Graham Marsh, Larry Thompson. Teacher: Mrs Steer

Three copies of Bendigo Sub-branch R.S.S.A.I.L.A. Annual Victory Ball held at the Town Hall, Bendigo on August 17th, 1948. Guests of Honour were Lt.-Gen. S. G. Savige, C.B., C.B.E., D.S.O., M.C., E.D. AND Mrs Savige. Card is cream with gold print on the front and a blue RLS badge. Other printing is brown. The inside of the tri-fold has a Dance Program of 28 dances and a space for Autographs. The other side has the Debutantes: Clarice Johnston, Beth Brown, Hazel Somerville, Pat Fairless, Dorothy Wilson, Enid Sutherland, Enid Hilson, Pat Johnson, June Richards, Pat Griffiths, Ann Mangan, Valerie Hunt, Pat Burton, Nancy Osgood, Emily Johnson, Janette Sutherland, Edith Johnson, Elaine Stemmer, Shirley Hinton, Marjorie Peterson, Elva Munro, Helen Balsillie, Nan Fairless and Shirley March. Chaperone:Mrs L J Warner. Flower Girls: Margaret Thomas and Beverley Heeps. Partners: Jack Wright, Douglas Dickinson, Graeme Hoy, Dave Beattie, Jim McNamara, Arthur Sutherland, Ken Burgess, Norm Fath, Robert Jackson, Alec Pianto, Kenneth Maes, Neil Holden, Brian Ackland, John Clarke, Les Johnstone, Ken Johnson, Frank Holden, Keith Rollinson, Dave McDougall, Don Peterson, Les Morey, George Hunt, Geoff Meggs and Ray Fitzgerald. President Bendigo Branch R.S.L. Col G V Lansell. Chairman Ball Committee: Mr F E Jackson. Hon. Secretary Ball Committee: Mr J W Swatton. Printed by James, Print, Eaglehawk.James, Print Eaglehawkevent, social, victory ball, r.s.l. bendigo collection - annual victory ball 1948, lt-gen s g savige, mrs savige, clarice johnston, beth brown, hazel somerville, pat fairless, dorothy wilson, enid sutherland, enid hilson, pat johnson, june richards, pat griffiths, ann mangan, valerie hunt, pat burton, nancy osgood, emily johnson, janette sutherland, edith johnson, elaine stemmer, shirley hinton, marjorie peterson, elva munro, helen balsillie, nan fairless, shirley march, mrs l j warner, margaret thomas, beverley heeps, james, jack wright, douglas dickinson, graeme hoy, dave beattie, jim mcnamara, arthur sutherland, ken burgess, norm fath, robert jackson, alec pianto, kenneth maes, neil holden, brian ackland, john clarke, les johnstone, ken johnson, frank holden, keith rollinson, dave mcdougall, don peterson, les morey, george hunt, geoff meggs, ray fitzgerald, col g v lansell, mr f e jackson, mr j w swatton

David Aloysius Patrick McKenzie-McHarg, L.I.B, O.B.E was born on 20th June 1918 in Albury, NSW to Hugh Patrick McKenzie-McHarg and Laura May (Dunne) McKenzie-McHarg. McKenzie-McHarg served on the Council of the United Shire of Beechworth for more than a decade during the 1960s-70s, including seven years as president. He was renowned as a public speaker and played a significant role in the community. In recognition for his outstanding achievements and services rendered to the Beechworth community he was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1976. David McKenzie-McHarg died on 6th June 1992 and is buried in Beechworth Cemetery. David McKenzie-McHarg’s wife, Marjorie Jean McKenzie McHarg, was well known to the Beechworth community as a brilliant pianist and played at all the balls and house parties. Apparently, she could play without sheet-music and would only have to hear a tune once to play it to near perfection. Together, they were a formidable asset to the Beechworth community over many years The British honours system has various orders, usually relating to the monarchy, military and colonial officials. An OBE (or order of the British Empire) is given for an outstanding achievement or service to the community. This will have had a long-term, significant impact and stand out as an example to others. This Order was established by George V in 1917 in response to recognising the thousands of men and women who served in a variety of non-combatant roles during the First world war who didn’t otherwise receive any formal recognition but were certainly worthy of acknowledgement. Recommendations for appointments to this Order were originally made on the nomination of the United Kingdom, however this soon became available to Commonwealth countries as well. However, Australia officially ceased to recommend the Order of the British Empire in 1989 with the establishment of the Order of Australia. Silver badge suspended from red ribbon with pearl-grey edges. The badge is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the same field as the star pictures George V and Queen Mary. The reverse bears George V's Royal and Imperial Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order: FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE. The presentation case in which the medal is housed is of a black outer boarder edge leatherette finishing, block letters in gold OBE. The inside has a cream velvet base with a silk padded liner to the roof with the full set of Royal Mint Crest Mark. Obverse: FOR GOD AND THE EMPIRE / burke museum, obe, obe medal, beechworth, david mckenzie-mcharg, british honours system, george v, beechworth community, order of australia., order of the british empire, marjorie jean mckenzie mcharg

John Kendrick Blogg was born in Canada and migrated to Victoria in 1877. In 1884 he established a successful industrial chemistry business, which included extracting perfume from Australian native trees and plants.liquid ammonia for refrigeration, acetic acid, perfumes, shoe polish, baking powder and non-alcoholic drinks. Other products were He lived at 'Balmoral' in Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills; his woodwork was produced here. Family oral history has that he took up woodcarving after his 1st wife, Annie, died in 1893. His earliest known piece is a music cabinet of 1901; the latest is a panel of 1932 when Blogg was 81 years of age. He was a member of the Victorian Artists Society and exhibited there between 1920 and 1924. Much of his work incorporates motifs of Australian flora, particularly gum leaves. John and his family were members of St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hills. The present church building was dedicated in December 1910 and J K Blogg's contribution to the new building was the Hogg Memorial pulpit which is comprised of 13 panels. Blogg carved more than 300 pieces for churches, schools, royalty, family and friends. Many of J K Blogg's pieces remain with family members, but he is represented in municipal (City of Whitehorse), state and national collections. In addition to work in the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church within the Surrey Hills area his work was produced for Surrey Hills Primary School, Surrey Hills Bowling Club and Surrey Hills Methodist Church, however perhaps his most famous local work is the honour board at the Shrine in the Surrey Gardens. Blogg was also a poet. Ref: Legacy in Sculptured Wood - An appreciation of the work of John Kendrick Blogg, 1851-1936 by Marjorie Morgan, 1993.Colour photo of the central panel of the pulpit at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills. It depicts the burning bush.hogg memorial pulpit, st stephens presbyterian church, churches, woodcarving, church furniture, john kendrick blogg, john blogg

John Kendrick Blogg was born in Canada and migrated to Victoria in 1877. In 1884 he established a successful industrial chemistry business, which included extracting perfume from Australian native trees and plants.liquid ammonia for refrigeration, acetic acid, perfumes, shoe polish, baking powder and non-alcoholic drinks. Other products were He lived at 'Balmoral' in Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills; his woodwork was produced here. Family oral history has that he took up woodcarving after his 1st wife, Annie, died in 1893. His earliest known piece is a music cabinet of 1901; the latest is a panel of 1932 when Blogg was 81 years of age. He was a member of the Victorian Artists Society and exhibited there between 1920 and 1924. Much of his work incorporates motifs of Australian flora, particularly gum leaves. John and his family were members of St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hills. The present church building was dedicated in December 1910 and J K Blogg's contribution to the new building was the Hogg Memorial pulpit which is comprised of 13 panels. Blogg carved more than 300 pieces for churches, schools, royalty, family and friends. Many of J K Blogg's pieces remain with family members, but he is represented in municipal (City of Whitehorse), state and national collections. In addition to work in the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church within the Surrey Hills area his work was produced for Surrey Hills Primary School, Surrey Hills Bowling Club and Surrey Hills Methodist Church, however perhaps his most famous local work is the honour board at the Shrine in the Surrey Gardens. Blogg was also a poet. Ref: Legacy in Sculptured Wood - An appreciation of the work of John Kendrick Blogg, 1851-1936 by Marjorie Morgan, 1993.Colour photo of the some of the 13 panels forming the pulpit at St Stephen's Presbyterian Church in Canterbury Road, Surrey Hills.st stephens presbyterian church, churches, hogg memorial pulpit, woodcarving, church furniture, john kendrick blogg, john blogg

John Kendrick Blogg was born in Canada and migrated to Victoria in 1877. In 1884 he established a successful industrial chemistry business, which included extracting perfume from Australian native trees and plants.liquid ammonia for refrigeration, acetic acid, perfumes, shoe polish, baking powder and non-alcoholic drinks. Other products were He lived at 'Balmoral' in Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills; his woodwork was produced here. Family oral history has that he took up woodcarving after his 1st wife, Annie, died in 1893. His earliest known piece is a music cabinet of 1901; the latest is a panel of 1932 when Blogg was 81 years of age. He was a member of the Victorian Artists Society and exhibited there between 1920 and 1924. Much of his work incorporates motifs of Australian flora, particularly gum leaves. John and his family were members of St Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Surrey Hills. The present church building was dedicated in December 1910 and J K Blogg's contribution to the new building was the Hogg Memorial pulpit which is comprised of 13 panels. Blogg carved more than 300 pieces for churches, schools, royalty, family and friends. Many of J K Blogg's pieces remain with family members, but he is represented in municipal (City of Whitehorse), state and national collections. In addition to work in the St Stephen's Presbyterian Church within the Surrey Hills area his work was produced for Surrey Hills Primary School, Surrey Hills Bowling Club and Surrey Hills Methodist Church, however perhaps his most famous local work is the honour board at the Shrine in the Surrey Gardens. Blogg was also a poet. Ref: Legacy in Sculptured Wood - An appreciation of the work of John Kendrick Blogg, 1851-1936 by Marjorie Morgan, 1993.Black and white photo of an urn on a pedestal contianing stems of wattle with leaves and blooms.woodcarving, surrey hills shrine, monuments and memorials, john blogg, john kendrick blogg, r falconer

Mabel nee Abraham Rogers produced, wrote and acted for the “ Melton Amateurs” theatrical group established in 1950. The group performed Revues, Pantomimes, one and three act plays, Musical Comedy and Melodramas. In 1960 it lapsed for a time and from 1967 onwards more shows were successfully produced by Mabel. A creative producer and writer, audiences at the Melton Mechanics Institute enjoyed the performances of Gilbert and Sullivan and excerpts from the many Musicals of the era. She skillfully wrote scripts interweaving with songs and topical local dialogue successfully drawing out the talents of all the cast members. About “Melton Amateurs” and forerunners….. Melton people have always been Active in giving and enjoying Concerts and Amateur Theatricals presented by local talent. Wile is it not possible to mention everybody; names like George Gardiner, Stan Hardy, Jim Murchison, Rita Summers, Annie Riddell, Ethel MacPherson, Harold Bainbridge, Jack Mcguire, Greta Jongebloed, Mary Coburn, Elsie McCorkell, Linda Cameron, Marjorie Myers, Aggie Ross, Bob Butler, bring happy memories to older residents. Over the years, the names change, but the talent is always there, and freely used to give pleasure to others. the Caledonian Society was active about 1925. The Melton Competitions, 1937-37 were very successful and attracted much local and outside talent. The Melton Social and Dramatic Club was operative during the same years, and gave several shows. The first “Melton Amateurs” production was a Revue, in 1950. This was followed by other Reviews, Pantomimes, One-act and Three-act plays, and Musical Comedy. Do you remember Bessie, bob and Barrie Bardsley, and Shirley and Marie Jongebloed, Shirley Wallace, Bill Abraham, Joan Jenkins, Peg Arandt, Winifred Fraser and many other? "Comedy Tonight" prrogramme by the Melton Amateurslocal identities

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] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

Murray Comrie Collection.Monochrome photograph of a group of children assembled in rows for a school photograph. Accompanied by a typed caption with children's names. Also associated with handwritten notes (catalogued separately as a Research Note) with children's names. There are only a few differences between the two sets of names. Typed note adhered to reverse states '23rd June 1922'. Names of children combined from both set of notes are believed to be: Back row: Eileen Whimpey, Dorothy McKenzie, Adele Smith, Molly McNamee, Mary (or Marjorie) McKenzie, Jean Fotheringham, May Lamprell, Iris Heraud, Melva Fotheringham, Elsie Heraud, Ethel Heraud, Jessie Calder. 3rd row: May Gedling (or Elsie Gedling), Clarice Greenwood (or May Gedling), Ethel Gedling, Ivy Goltz, Pearl Lamprell, Florence Hutchins, Syd Goltz, Geo Riordan, _____Calder, Andy Heraud, Cecil Williams, Doug Calder, Albert McKenzie. 2nd row: Ron Heraud, Murray Comrie, Bruce Calder, Les Williams, Angus Comrie, Ross Heraud (or Fred Bool), Vern Whimpey, Bill Riordan, Frank McNamee, Jack McNamee. Front row: Keith Comrie, Tom Comrie, Len Smith, Theo Riordan, Stewart Calder, Bill Gedling, Alf Gedling, Stan McNamee, Les Hutchins.tarnagulla, school, education, children, calder, comrie, fotheringham, gedling, goltz, greenwood, heraud, hutchins, lamprell, mckenzie, mcnamee, riordan, smith, whimpey, williams

Taken from outside the family home on the southest corner of the intersection of Nyora Road and Pitt Street with Eucalyptus Road. Frank Stokes first traveled to the district by train in 1944 to find land with the intention to establish an orchard. By chance he met Arthur Bird of Bird Orchard (bounded by Pitt Street, Eucalyptus Road and Wattle Grove) and they got talking over their common interest. Arthur put Frank up for the night and pointed out the land, part of Crown Allotment 15, Section 5, Parish of Nillumbik (CA15) somewhat diagonally opposite Bird Orchard. Frank bought the land and for the next two years would travel by train from Melbourne to Eltham every weekend establishing Stokes Orchard and building a home for his family, which they eventually moved into in 1946. Marjorie North remembered well the winter of 1951, when she took children, including son John together with the Shallard and Squire children “in the Austin A40 up the Main Rd., Eltham to farmer Bell’s property alongside the Eltham College. They were able to make a snow man and throw snowballs. (Diamond Valley News, August 5, 1986.p.42) In the mid 1970s the Shire of Eltham divided the orchard up into numerous rate-able parcel lots, which became affordable for Frank. As a consequence Stokes Orchard was turned into a housing development by Macquarie Builders and marketed as the Stokes Orchard Estate in two stages; Stage 1 encompassing Scarlet Ash Court, Ironbark Close and Peppermint Grove bounded by Nyora and Eucalyptus roads c.1976 and Stage 2 encompassing Stokes Place, Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout bound by Nyora and Diosma roads c.1979. The development of Orchard Way, The Crest and The Lookout did not proceed as planned due to the lack of the sewer along Diosma Road and so many of the proposed lots were incorporated into five-acre parcels instead.Representative of the orchard growing areas of Eltham. One of the rare times it has snowed in Eltham.Digital file only - Digitised by EDHS from a scrapbook (containing commercially printed photos of digital scans) on loan from Beryl Bradbury (nee Stokes), daughter of Frank Stokes.1951, beryl bradbury (nee stokes) collection, eltham, nyora road, eucalyptus road, snow, stokes family home

Contents: List of illustrations, From the Shire President, Historical background, current perspective and catalogue of art collection. This includes over 100 items. Book produced to accompany exhibition held at the Eltham Community and Reception Centre, Main Road Eltham June 26 - July 4 1993. "This exhibition celebrates two aspects of the art collection of the Shire of Eltham. There is the work which shows the love of Eltham and the environment, and work which deals with much broader concerns" Artists include: Helen Aitken-Kuhnen, David Armfield, Brian Armstrong, Alan Baker, Yvonne Ball, Piers Bateman, Julie Begg, Judith Ben-Meir, Yvonne Birch, The Bodford Collection, Janet Boddy, Deidre Boeyen, Ian Bow, David Benchley, Don Brown, Gilbert Buchanan, Paul Cavell, Patty Chandler, Rosalie Cogan, Scott Joseph Cowcher, Augustine Dall'Ava, Greg Daly, Simon Dattner, Peter Day, Domenico de Clario, Robert Delves, Joh Ebeli, Mark Edgoose, Graham Fransella, Ernest Fries, Edward Ginger, Peter Glass, Drew Gregory, Alison Hann, Tony Harkin, Wendy Henderson, Stephen Hughes, Lindsay Imbandarinja, John Irving, Hilary Jackman, Jill Kahans, William Kelly, Margot Knox, Margot Kroyer-Pederson, Anne Kueffer, Bruno Leti, Kevin Lincoln, Paul Margocsy, Alan Martin, Barry Mills, Simon Barley, Jenni Mitchell, David Moore, Barbara Munro, Ewald Namatjira, Norma Neil, Mark Page, Herman Pekel, Shane Pickett, Anthony Pryor, Clifton Pugh, Lynn Quintal, Giuseppe Raneri, Ken Robb, John Serle, Marjorie Shattock, Leslie Sinclair, Matcham Skipper, Myra Skipper, Sonia Skipper, Harris Smith, Eric Stephenson, Adriane Strampp, Marian Sussex, Tony Trembath, George Turcu, John Wakefield, Peter Wallace, Ray Walsh, Michael Wilson, Walter Withers, Vic Wood, Doug Wright, Romana Favier Zorzut, Renier Zusters.Softcover . Includes separate sheet of paper printed on both sides: "catalogue supplement" and "errata"shire of eltham art collection