Upon his retirement in 1993, this clock was presented by the grateful community at Kelaston, to honour the work done for vision impaired people in Ballarat and across Victoria by John Wicking. Made by resident Jack Jones, it had a lacewood base and Huon pine centre.1 x wooden clock with plaque attachedTo John O Wicking AM in grateful recognition of the outstanding care and time devoted to the Association for the Blind 1972-1993association for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat), john wicking, jack jones

In 1988, the Kelaston Community Day Centre won an award for providing accessible communication for deaf clients. These awards were developed to encourage and recognise programs that provided accessible communication for a wide variety of groups.1 digital image of blue and silver plaque1988 Access Communication Award Presented to the Kelaston Community Day Centre A project of Deafness Foundation (Victoria) Sponsored by the Quota Club of Moorabbinassociation for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat)

Articles in annual report include: a short history of the AFB, President's Report, report on Ballarat, Bendigo and Brighton Homes, financial information, the work of the Welfare Service division, opening of two flatlets for aged blind at Ballarat, resignation of Celeste Baird as choirmaster after 17 years and A Williams stepping into the role, need for a better clubhouse which has been little changed since it was built over 30 years ago, students from Ballarat Teachers college read to home residents, publication of 'Courage' magazine to keep everyone up to date on Association events, and a profile on Russian migrant Alex Momot and how the AFB assisted him settle into Australia.1 printed volume with black and white illustrationsassociation for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat), elanora home (brighton), mirridong home (bendigo), alex momot, rosalie tyers, e irvine, l adamson, mrs r clarke, matron e mcleod, a sharry, matron rosewall, mrs s mcenroe, celeste baird, e goulding, mrs a bulluss, mrs a n roach, mrs m macdowell, mrs t carson, mrs j stanley smith, pam barker, mrs l thomas, mrs a mansfield, mrs l rogerson, elsie henderson, mrs murphy, mrs w christian, h h mackenzie, sister b agar, annual reports

Annual report of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind outlined activities and events over the year, including continued support through donations despite abnormal conditions caused by the war, less attendances at Country Concert Party events however it remains in a sound financial position, a bequest of 200 pounds was received from Jean Bickford for the purpose of accommodating blinded soldiers at Brighton, the work of the Association has largely been limited in area however with the Secretary's visit to both Bendigo and Ballarat it is hoped that more is possible, a new trade of plaiting bark to make small floral baskets has been added, a near miss was incurred at the 'Re-union' at Woodburn after the hot afternoon helped generate a violent tornado which fortunately missed the Home but created havoc a few hundred metres away, and the loss of several members and supporters, including Mr Young who was killed in a tram accident and Mrs G W Paterson, who along with her husband W Paterson, an active supporter of the Home.1 volume of printed material with some illustrationsassociation for the advancement of the blind, annual reports

Female staff member smiles at an elderly female resident seated beside her, as they enjoy the sunny day. Believed to have been taken at Kelaston.1 colour photograph of two women sitting outside a buildingYellow post it note: F Caption Storyassociation for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat)

Mrs Peggy Bateson, a Mirridong resident, with her great granddaughter Tina Howe and great great granddaughter Stephanie.1 b/w photograph of two woman and a babyMrs Peggy Bateson, Mirridong Home, Bendigo, with great great granddaughter Stephanie and great granddaughter, Mrs Tina Howe. L122a/B13 2440-90% P.2association for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat), peggy bateson, tina howe, stephanie howe

Kelaston manager Don Dunstan smiles towards camera, as he walks behind three women along a corridor.1 x B/W photograph of man and three women Ballarat No.2association for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat), don dunstan

A woman dressed in a white dress and pinafore, starched collar and cuffs and headscarf with veil. A black cross armband is worn on her left arm. Image was on display at Kelaston. Unfortunately the subject is unknown.1 sepia toned photograph of an unknown nurseassociation for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat)

Two women approach to enter Mirridong, with assistance from four others. From the left, the first woman speaks as she places her hand around that of the second woman's grip on a wooden cane. The second woman wears dark glasses, and has both a female and male holding her right arm. The male in the middle also holds the hands of a fourth woman, who has her other hand held by a man holding an envelope and standing behind suitcases.1 B/W photograph of people entering KelastonCK72 1/3 size also head only women 1st and 3rd from leftassociation for the blind, kelaston home (ballarat)

Norman Keith HOFMAIER (12.08.1951- ) Born Beulah, Wimmera, Victoria Norman Hofmaier was a scion of a well-known family, he completed his secondary education at Hopetoun High School and Ballarat College. Later he studied Visual Art at University of Ballarat, including painting, design and sculpture. Hofmaier’s childhood in Beulah was spent on the family property running beside the Yarriambiack Creek. Both he and his father had an intimate knowledge of the flora and fauna of the Mallee. The Wyperfeld National Park, home to the Big Desert, was a favourite place for Norman’s uncle who planted acres of native trees at the family property. Dr Di Bresciani explains: “The colours and vastness of the Mallee are represented in many works which reflect, variously, the relentless quiet and swirling energies found in the ‘dust storm might’ of the Mallee area. Most works may be described as abstract, lyrical abstract or abstract expressionist." From the 1970s until the 1990s he began an outpouring of work, using oil-based paints overlaid manually on large, specially-prepared boards using brushes, cloths, sponges, sprays or rollers. Petrol solvents were used to soften, blur and enhance shapes and edges. His work reflected his exploration of his inner state, sometimes flowing and placid, sometimes tempestuous. After a brief sojourn into city-life Norman returned to working in the country, until finally submitting to mental illness and permanent care in the mid 1990s. Norman Hofmaier's works are represented in major collections including that of the well- known artist Mitch Pearson ( an important influence and lifelong friend). The work 'Pastel of a Nude' was shown in a widely distributed magazine and two works owned by Mark Shannon were planned to be published as record covers in 1993. He won an award during the bicentennial recognising his skill as a Wimmera artist. From the 1970s until the 1990s he began an outpouring of work, using oil-based paints overlaid manually on large, specially-prepared boards using brushes, cloths, sponges, sprays or rollers. Petrol solvents were used to soften, blur and enhance shapes and edges. This work was purchased from the exhibition 'Norman Hofmaier: Mallee Mysteries' at the Lost Ones Gallery in Camp Street, Ballarat. The exhibition explored the legacy of Hofmaier’s work as well as raising money for the Ballarat Art Foundation. The Hofmaier family donated 16 works of the artist to be sold to raise funds for the foundation, to support emerging artists.Original painting in square format, featuring abstract swirls of blue, white, red, yellow and green.On back of work: 1. pools of diluted oil paint covering approximately 8 cm from each edge, 2. in right hand corner in permanent marker "N Hofmaier" 3. middle right hand side, torn exhibition label, with the words, "Belauh", "Local Art", "Prome", "Local Art", "$350", "Collect A", "oin" 4. Bottom right corner, two exhibition labels on card. Cards read: The flowing of movement before any known bodies are formed. Matter and gases bubble forming kaleidoscopic colours and shapes. Promethius 1 Oil based pigment with petrol on prepared board 1320 x 1210 mm On front of work, bottom right hand corner, in white lettering, N Hofmaier. Bottom right hand olive green frame damaged on front of work.painter, mallee, beluah, norman hofmaier, wimmera, abstract, alumni

Daphne WALLACE (1964- ) Gomaroi, Ullaroi, Wurralli, Muralli Country Wallace is a Gamilaroi/Ullaroi-Yuwaaliaay artist whose intensely coloured and textured abstract and pictorial paintings are interpretations of the Yuwaaliaay stories passed down to her by her grandmother. They are evocative of her spiritual and emotional attachment to her home in Lightening Ridge.Daphne WALLACE Gomaroi, Ullaroi, Wurraili, Muraili country Artist's statement: This painting tells of many different stories, most of them I knew growing up and some were told to me since working on the Bubbles of the Surface Project. ... Reading this landscape through Murri / Murdi eyes and our relation to country. In the top, Yurri Yurri women/people, Rainbow serpents the other side of Coocoran Lake, Bunyip waterhol near Angledool, Ants nest believed to be where Baiame laid his tow wives, where the ants ate off the slime and brought them back to life, mining fields around Lightning Ridge, Bush tucker such as bumbull, burrigan, nappan, greewee, snotty gubbuls. In the middle, Gurra the crocodile, Gurra the crocodile himself, when Baiame killed him to retrieve the two wives, a rainbow shone no him and his scales turned inot opals, left to the Narran Lake was where Baiame sat down and left his bottom imprinted in the rock. he got up and moved onto the blue mountains where his wives gave birth to the three sisters. At the botttom of the painting, Walgett council dug up two old Kings sitting up face to face with their legs crossed, with their Tin King plates around their necks; Their head bands of kangaroo teeth were still inbedded in their skulls. The water dog stories are at spots along river "don't go down thereon the bend (Namour Researve River) the water dog witll get you" Nan used to tell us. It is believed that the water dog makes whirlpools and will drown you. He makes a druming sound, which can be heard along the Namoir, Barwon, Darling, Gwydir, Mihi and the Narran River; and the Duck is part of the creation story, with the twin platypus. It tells how the water dog kidnapped her and kept her in a cave on the river bank, she escaped back to her people. They knew she was bingal therefore vanished her fro that region, she travelled to New England region giving birth to twin platypus.daphne wallace, aboriginal, gippsland campus, churchill, gomaroi, ullaroi, wurraili, muraili

‘Self portrait at home’ This artwork was conceived after a series of paintings depicting the interior of my home in Ballarat. Those paintings began as glimpses around the house, mostly captured at night, of hallways, darkened corners, and ominous entrances into bedrooms. Later on I began to fill these spaces with a figure, that of my girlfriend (now wife), and conducted portraits of her placed amongst the shadows in a deliberate attempt to conjure up associations of Baroque painting as well as still images from horror films. I wanted to see what was sinister in this house, to imagine it, as well as observing it directly. ‘Self portrait at home’ is an attempt at summarising the combination of imagination and observation, of wandering through interior spaces as well as being absorbed in it: that what we see is then also taken into our consciousness, or in the case of this painting what we see is about to be swallowed. This concept of combining what is observed with what is imagined and using references to the physical body as a kind of mediator of this process is expressed in Kenneth Slessor’s poem ‘South Country’, a poem that partly inspired my approach to this painting. The following verses provide an example: And over the flat earth of empty farms The monstrous continent of air floats back Coloured with rotting sunlight and the black, Bruised flesh of thunderstorms: Air arched, enormous, pounding the bony ridge, Ditches and hutches, with a drench of light, So huge, from such infinities of height, You walk on the sky’s beach ‘Self portrait at home’ may not express itself as seriously as Slessor’s poem does but I hope it shows the impact as well as the texture and flavour that houses of the Ballarat landscape, and those of the imagination, can have. Duncan LannanDuncan LANNAN (1972- ) Duncan Lannan undertook a Diploma of Arts (Visual Arts) at RMIT between 1995 and 1996. A further two years study at the University of Ballarat (now Federation University Australia) saw Duncan Lannan awarded a Bachelor of Arts (Visual Arts) in 2000. He completed a Graduate Diploma of Education at the University of Melbourne in 2001. Duncan Lannan's exhibition 'Young, Dumb and Full of Ambition!' was held at the Art Gallery of Ballarat from 13 July to 11 September 2014.ContemporarySelf portrait of the artist with mouth open, and a house on the tongue. This piece was exhibited at the Art Gallery of Ballarat in 2007 in the "Eye to I" exhibition which was curated by former Federation University Art theory lecturer Geoff Wallis. The exhibition was a survey of self portraits by Australian contemporary artists. Gift of Geoff and Nola Wallis, 2017duncan lannan, painting, portrait, alumni, available

This statue of Mary was used throughout Ballarat from the 1950s to the 1980s for a focus at home rosaries in the homes of the faithful.statue, mary, rosary.

The photograph was taken in the Board Room of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) 452 St. Kilda Road, Melbourne. It was taken after Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley received her Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing. The Australian College of Nursing describes the Fellowship as follows: "Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), is a prestigious member status awarded to nurses in recognition of significant professional achievement. Fellowship recognizes the experience and contribution of nurse leaders to ACN and the profession".The regalia worn by Sr. Rowley as a Fellow, is a black gown with the wide trim to the front edges of scarlet satin and the regalia hood of inner white and outer scarlet satin. Sr. Rowley is the Principal Nurse Educator at RDNS.Sister Rowley commenced at Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) in 1956 working as a District Nurse in a large district covering South Melbourne, Albert Park, Middle Park, and suburbs bordering from St. Kilda to Port Melbourne. In 1961 she was asked to be a Control Sister answering the telephones in Headquarters. She left MDNS for a short period, and after being asked to return was accepted, in August 1962 to take the MDNS 2nd Post Basic Course written by Miss Mary Evans; during this time Sr. Rowley wrote a paper on Liaison which led to continuity of care of patients between hospitals and RDNS. Following the course she commenced in Education and rewrote the Post Basic Course. In 1964 Sr. Rowley commenced, on a part time basis, working as a Liaison Officer at the Alfred Hospital. She attended the Teachers College, doing the 12 month course in 6 months, but this course did not have a health component, so she applied, and received, a Florence Nightingale Scholarship to the College of Nursing, gaining her Diploma of Nursing Education in 1968. Following this she became the, now named, Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Education Officer. In 1969 Sr. Rowley, with Miss Mary Evans, DON, attended the quadrennial Congress of the International Council of Nurses in Montreal, Canada and then Sr. Rowley visited USA looking at Public Health Nursing Education programs. As well as her RDNS work, Sr. Rowley became Nursing Consultant to the St. John's Ambulance Association in 1970, assisting in planning their Home Nursing Course book. In July 1971 Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley, was awarded Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN). The Australian College of Nursing describes the Fellowship as follows: "Fellowship of the Australian College of Nursing (ACN), is a prestigious member status awarded to nurses in recognition of significant professional achievement. Fellowship recognizes the experience and contribution of nurse leaders to ACN and the profession”. Sr. Rowley was then appointed as Principal Nurse Educator and wrote many of the programs for the Education department. Working as an Educator she travelled to regional hospitals, e.g. in Geelong and Ballarat to give lectures on District Nursing. When the Education Department relocated to 488 St. Kilda Road, she arranged the floor plan of the rooms. Sister Rowley retired from RDNS in 1988 having worked for 26 years in Education and a total of 32 years with the Melbourne, later named Royal, District Nursing Service. . Black and white photograph of a three quarter length view of Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Pat (Paddy) Rowley. Sister Rowley, who has her head turned slightly toward the left of the photograph, is wearing dark rimmed glasses and has short dark straight hair. Over her light coloured top, she is wearing a black long open gown with wide trim, and regalia hood of white inner and dark outer satin. Her hands are clasped to the front holding a rolled white certificate held closed with a ribbon and bow. In the background the left edge of a framed landscape painting is seen on the wall. Part of Photographer stamp. Quote No. KJ 57royal district nursing service, rdns, fellowship of the acn, melbourne district nursing service, sister pat (paddy) rowley

Letter was sent to Burnbank, former Ann Dowling (Miers) 1866 Crown Grant. In 1867 she married Henri Miers and their house was located on the site near the Myers Gully part of Ryans Creek. Built in 1867 and later named “Burnbank” by Martha Myers after the Street in Ballarat were she lived before arriving in Melton in 1907. “Burnbank” was vacated by Martha to her new house built on the family land in McKenzie Street. A demolition order imposed by the Housing Commission and it was pulled down by the family in 1969. It was the home of the family and stood for over 100 year.Letter from Edna Barrie and Bruce Myers, children of Martha Myerslocal identities

Temporary indoor home for the Stoddart Statues. "Fancy Seeing You Here", Courier, Monday 22nd July, 2002, front page & page 2.BBG statues valued and conserved against further vandalism after 120 years outdoors.Half page coloured photograph of Statues indoors in the Robert Clark Centre, BBG., with brief caption.Picture by Lachlan Bencejohn garner collection, garner, dr, statues, vandalism, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, courier

Donald Victor BLACK, gardener, served and died as a result of WW11 service, an oak tree in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens is dedicated to him, 19th March 1944. Donald V. Black was highly regarded as a gardener in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens before he saw action in the Middle East and New Guinea during World War 2. The dedication and plaque in his memory attests to one of the many sad stories of a young man lost to his family, the work he loved and his home city.All visibleAll visiblejohn garner collection, garner, dr, black, donald black, gardener, ww11, ballarat botanical gardens, ballarat, gardens, plaque, tom toop, donald victor, memorial oak tree, tablet dedication

Eldest daughter of Edna and Bon Barrie, born on 03 November 1943 in Melbourne, Victoria, Memoirs of Wendy Barrie, recalling the early formative years of life in Melton: In 1949 I started school at Melton State School no 430 and was driven the 2½ miles to there by my parents at first. Later we walked home in the afternoons or were picked up by car as we made our way home along the Western Highway. In 1956 I went to Bacchus Marsh High School. There were 4 students in grade 6 and 3 of us went to the High School. The students from Melton, Melton South and Toolern Vale State Schools went by bus to Bacchus Marsh High School as far a fifth form. My parents drove me to the pick up point and during the five years of travel to High School. The bus travelled via Toolern Vale and later went through Exford and through Parwan. On the return journey in the afternoon the bus went in the reverse direction. The bridge at Exford was an old narrow wooden one, and the students had to get off the bus and walk across, with the driver crossing in the empty bus for safety reasons. There was a travelling allowance paid to parents and it was estimated from the distance the crow flies, a straight line. We lived a Ferris Lane, just where the Harness Racing entrance is now situated about 2 ½ miles by road to school too close to qualify for the subsidy. While at State School Melton we would walk home in a group with the Nixon and Gillespie children, along the main road over the bridge near the Shire Offices and down a hill. I was being dinked on Joyce Gillespie’s bike while holding onto the seat, toppled off the bike striking my chin and teeth on the bitumen and cracking my jaw. I was about 9 years old and stayed a couple of days in the Quamby Hospital in Bacchus Marsh, it seemed like and eternity at the time and quite traumatic being separated from my family. I can remember contemplating how I could get out of the window and run away but realised it was too far to walk home. Often we would cut across the Common on our way home from school picking up stray golf balls and collecting them from the creek when it dried out. We were warned about not accepting lifts from strangers passing along the Melbourne/ Ballarat Road. The only danger we faced was being swooped by the magpies particularly on the open ground on the Common. We were also fairly cautious when the Gypsies camped on the Common in the area just about opposite the small reservoir. “Mum” grandma Myers loved to have us call in on our way home, and usually would cut a slice of Jongebloed’s bread and spread it with home made butter. Sometimes we waited there until we were collected by car, usually driven by our mother. Margaret Nixon and Joyce Gillespie were a few grades ahead of me and Barbara Nixon was born just two months earlier than me. Our mothers were great friends for over 6o years, born in the same month three years apart. They lived within a few days of the same age as each other at the time their deaths. Dad and George Nixon attended Melton school at the same time. Sarah nee Hornbuckle Nixon and my grandfather Frederick Myers Snr were at school together at the same in the 1880s. The Nixon family lived in Keilor Road just past the Toolern Creek near the turnoff. Tom and Ann Collins lived on the southern side of the Western highway and Keilor road intersection. Jim and Ruby Gillespie’s house was further long Keilor road on the right. They backed onto the Myers who lived on the north side of Western Highway east of Myers Gully (Ryans Creek). The Bridge over the Toolern Creek as very narrow and as truck traffic increased there were accidents. One truck took out the side railing and plunged upside down into the bank and into the shallow water. Another fatal accident happened between a car and a truck right in front of the Myers house. Grandfather Fred had been a bike rider all his life, as far as the Riverina in his younger years, wryly made the comment about the drivers the speeding along the Ballarat Road were setting out to kill themselves. The road was busy particularly after the Races at Ballarat when the crowds were hurrying home to Melbourne. Train travel had changed very little from the time my mothers generation to mine. The timetable meant the usual rush to Melton South by bike in her case and if she was running late the train pulled up on the crossing. I was driven to the Station from home past Keith and Mary Gillespie’s house near the Ferris Road rail crossing to Bridge road to Melton South for the 7.32 train. While attending Sunshine High School in 1961 I would meet up with three other students, two of whom I knew from Bacchus Marsh High School days. We usually got into the same compartment on the train, it was a typical country train with a corridor along the side and compartments with a door, roof racks and sometimes heated metal containers for the feet in the winter. Some of the trains came through from Horsham and Ballarat, and the Overland from Adelaide passed through in the evening, we could hear it in the distance from the Ferris Lane home. The carriages had 1st and economy class compartments showing photographs of county scenes and holiday destinations. The engine was the large A class diesel. They are still running to Bacchus Marsh 50 years later, due to the need for the greatly increased number of commuters travelling to work in the city. Sometimes the carriages were pull by a Steam engine, these were a problem in the summer time because the sparks caused fires along the train lines and then quickly spread into the dry grass, crops and stubble. The Motor Train left Spencer Street at 4.23 pm and was the best train for me to catch. Ferris Road was a designated stop and train pulled up on the road crossing. It had steps at the door and rungs to hold while alighting to the ground. The ballast along the tracks was rough and uneven and awkward to land on. The train was painted blue and yellow with the letters VR pained on the front. This saved may parents the afternoon trip to collect me from the Station. On the walk home on the gravel road I would pass Uncle Tom and Aunty May’s house before reaching home. Melva Gillespie was studying at Sunshine Technical School and we sometimes both got off the train at the same time. On other occasions the Motor Train was replaced with a diesel engine with carriages, it was also required to stop and the driver had to be notified in advance. This meant getting into the guards van a Rockbank. It was more difficult alighting from the carriage as the gap was greater and more precarious to swing out and land on the ground. A few times in my last year of study at Melbourne Teachers College in Grattan Street Carlton. I managed to catch the 2.30 pm train to Serviceton, it was express to Melton and was very quick trip. The last train, was the 5.25 pm diesel to Ballarat and I usually caught this train to Melton South Station. On one occasion after being held up on the tram in Bourke street I had to make a mad dash to the platform chasing the train as it was just moving off and yelling to the guard, fortunately I was noticed and the train ground to halt. I scrambled into the end door and took most of the journey home to recover. After the last year at High School I continued to travel on the train, 2 years to Prahran Technical School changing at North Melbourne. There were a lot school children travelling to private schools and some at the primary level and mainly from Bacchus Marsh. Rockbank children also travelled by train from the beginning of their high school years, quite a few went to Sunshine High School. During my third year of teacher training I travelled to Flinders Street to RMIT for ceramics classes and Grattan St Teachers College located in the grounds of Melbourne University. There were many teachers being trained at the Secondary Teachers College due to the baby bulge creating a great shortage of teachers. Sunshine High School was very well represented amongst the different courses in Primary, Secondary and Art and Crafts. I attended Melbourne University lectures, studying a Fine Art subject. Bernard Smith was the most notable of the lecturers. he replaced Professor Joseph Bourke who had taken leave for the years. In 1962 he published the art book “Australian Painting”. The secondary art and craft student teachers from the College were in the majority, taking this subject and were well regarded due to their practical art and craft methods and their teaching round experience. In December 1964 I graduated as a Trained Secondary Teacher – Art and Crafts. The graduating ceremony was held at Wilson Hall. I received my appointment to work at Maryborough High School. Uncle Max and Aunty Rosemary Myers arranged my accommodation. Uncle Max was a teacher at the Maryborough Technical School fat the time. The appointment was suddenly changed when just before the school year was about to start when I received notification that I was now required to move to Warracknabeal High School. I was subject to a bond for the three years of training and three years of teaching and was under an obligation to comply with the directive of the Education Department. My father stood as guarantor when I was accepted as student at the Melbourne Teachers’ College, thus enabling me to receive my teacher training, and a 5 pounds a week allowance for expenses. After teaching for two years at Warracknabeal High School I was fortunate enough the gain a transfer to Sunshine West High School, returning to live at home in Melton and travelling by car to work with a fellow colleague, Jock Smith who lived at Station road Melton. I completed bond obligation and resigned at the end of the year. The employment regulations at that time did not allow the option of leave of absence for, indefinite overseas travel. I returned to Australia in October 1969. Visiting Arthur Hart the Principal of Sunshine High School he arranged with the Education Department for my re-employment at Sunshine High School until the end of the year. In 1970 I was transferred, and returned to Sunshine West High School where I worked for the next three years. In January 1968 I sailed on the “Oriana” to South Hampton with two teaching friends from Warracknabeal High School on a travelling and working holiday. Doreen Kiely, a former Bacchus Marsh High student and fellow train traveller from Bacchus Marsh, was already working in London, had arranged our accommodation at the London Travellers Club Hotel, Braham Gardens, Earls Court SW5. We based our stay at this address in London and travelled around Scotland, Ireland and England. In the summer we took a four month trip around the Continent and the Mediterranean. I registered with The Royal Borough Of Kingston Upon Thames as a Supply teacher, and worked at Chessington School form autumn to spring the following year and living with Mrs Rose Gillies at Kinross Avenue, Worcester Park, Surrey. In the spring of 1969 visiting Norway, Sweden and Finland joining an organised camping group to the Artic Circle, entered Russia at Leningrad (St Petersburg) Moscow, Minsk, to Poland and Czechoslovakia. In August returning to Worcester Park for the flight to Montreal to stay with cousin Lynette and husband Jurgen. A side trip was taken to Toronto, Niagara Falls and New York. The flight home from Montreal to Melbourne took 52 hours. A ½ day break in Vancouver before boarding the Qantas boeing 707 via San Francisco, Honolulu, Fiji, Sydney to Melbourne. Around the world in 21 months. Photographs of Wendy local identities

My Story by Bruce Myers – June 2001 Arthur Bruce Myers was born on Wednesday morning on the 29/4/1925 at Kelvin Grove Hospital Bacchus Marsh. Background Information: Prepared by Niece Wendy Barrie. The early life of Bruce Myers “Burnbank” Ballarat Road Melton. The family home was built by his grandparents Ann nee Dowling and Henri Miers in 1867. His father Frederick was born in 1877 in Melton the youngest of four boys. Bruce the fourth son of Frederick and Martha, brother Frederick the eldest was followed by Marjorie and Edna. His brother Max was the youngest child. Father Frederick Myers attended Melton State School No 430 enrolling in 1881 and leaving in 1888 gaining his Merit Certificate No 116343. Bruce enrolled in July 1931 and completed and gaining his Merit Certificate in 1937. In 1938 he travelled to Melbourne Boys High School. Bruce was taught piano by his sister Marjorie, a respected Melton music teacher. He entered many Piano competitions and at the age of 10 winning the radio cup in the Junior Cavalcade at 3AW at Latrobe Street. At Melbourne Boys High School during his lunchtime was allowed to practice the piano in the basement for his recreation. He was pestered by another boy (name I have forgotten) a teacher intervened telling him to leave Myers alone. As a young child when listening to music he was able to on hearing it identify the key it was written in, due to his perfect pitch. I remember “Mum” Myers telling about the time they went to see Artur Rubeinstein at a concert, when Bruce was a small boy, it may have been on this occasion that he had noted the key of the piano composition. Bruce writes – In my early teens Max and I frequently accompanied the Williams boys, Wally and Jim on expeditions up the Toolern Creek near where the Gisborne exit now crosses it. The dogs would chase the rabbits into their burrows after placing nets over the burrows a ferret would be let in to burrow, much excitement would be involved in the rush to grab the rabbits as they bolted into the nets. In the same area I used too accompany Dad on an evening rabbit shoot (summer time). After the heat of the day the rabbits would emerge from their burrows at dusk. We would his behind the tree in silence, a mark contrast to the ferreting scene. Dad with the shotgun cocked would wait until 2 or 3 rabbits were close together then fire (Bang!). Hopefully killing two rabbits. They would have to be killed outright, otherwise they would run back into their burrows. Needless to say, one deafening shot ended the event, also it only cost one cartridge. Our only swimming pool was hole in the Toolern Creek at its junction with the blind creek at the eastern entrance to Melton. Dad swum there in the 1880’s teaching many of the youngsters to swim. Females never swum there to my knowledge. The dressing shed consisted of a 4 corrugated iron nailed to a wooden frame about 4 metres by 3 no floor or roof. We always walked the kilometre in our bathers anyway. The swimming hole once dried up leaving about 2 ft of mud. We Melton boys had so much fun fossicking around with our hands and feet and yanking out numerous eels, some very bid. I don’t know what happened to them all. No doubt Dad would have skun one or two for Mum to cook after cutting them up into short lengths. They used to jump around the pan when they were cooking. Dad accompanied by Max and I, frequently fished for eels in the Gillespie’s waterhole just below our place using a rod, line, sinker, hook baited with a worm, and a white floater so as to easily see when an eel was on the hook, so that it could quickly be pulled before it could anchor itself on and under water snag such as a tree root making it impossible to catch, or causing the line to be lost. At about the age of 8, I suddenly discovered amazingly easily means of movement. One day when I was riding the bike on rough bluestone road near the Presbyterian Church [Uniting Church] in Melton when the front fork broke and I landed on my right knee and right eye gashing both, the knee severely. I have carried the scars ever since. I started getting mobile by riding a scooter with good leg on the scooter and swinging the right leg, keeping is straight because bending it was too painful.Childhood photo of Brucelocal identities

Frederick and Martha were married on the 30th April 1908. Martha (Mattie) Mary (Watson) MYERS, b. 11 Oct 1888, d. 23 Mar 1976 and Frederick Thomas MYERS, b. 20 Jan 1877, d. 30 Apr 1963. Frederick was the son of Henri MIERS and Ann DOWLING. Frederick worked as a labourer, road builder and sheep shearer all his life. He often worked away and travelled long distances by bike with his swag. He travelled into the Riverina shearing at many of the well known sheep stations. In 1907 he met Martha Mary Watson. She came to the Golden Fleece Hotel to work for the Shebler family. Mr Shebler was getting older and support was needed in the running of the hotel. Mattie was born in 1888 in Ballarat. She had a firm dislike for alcohol. She had experienced the ill effects of the excesses of alcohol with her Grandmother Watson. They lived at 1 Burnbank Street Ballarat and drink was close by and easily obtained. While serving drinks at the Golden Fleece she got to know Fred, in time as the friendship developed she began to water down his drinks while serving full strength to his mates. Fred and Martha were married in 1908 and she moved into the Myers family home. Martha had a life long aversion to the excessive use of alcohol forbidding it in the household. Martha lived in the family home naming it Burnbank after the street in Ballarat where she spent her childhood where she lived with her grandmother Robina Watson, her mother was Robina (Ruby Watson). They lived a No 1 Burnbank Street Ballarat. Her grandfather was John Smith Watson. His early address was Macarthur Street just opposite the Burnbank street house. John was a member of the Ballarat City Fire Brigade. John died at the Macarthur Street home in 1895. The death certificate gives the ages of the children as Robina 26, Adam Arthur 22 and Alex 18 years.Wedding was in Fitzroy, Victorialocal identities, pioneer families

Memories of Train Travel compiled by Wendy Barrie 4/09/2013 Train travel had changed very little from the time my mothers generation to mine. The timetable meant the usual rush to Melton South by bike in her case and if she was running late the train pulled up on the crossing. I was driven to the Station from home past Keith and Mary Gillespie’s house near the Ferris Road rail crossing to Bridge road to Melton South for the 7.32 train. While attending Sunshine High School in 1961 I would meet up with three other students, two of whom I knew from Bacchus Marsh High School days. We usually got into the same compartment on the train, it was a typical country train with a corridor along the side and compartments with a door, roof racks and sometimes heated metal containers for the feet in the winter. Some of the trains came through from Horsham and Ballarat, and the Overland from Adelaide passed through in the evening, we could hear it in the distance from the Ferris Lane home. The carriages had 1st and economy class compartments showing photographs of county scenes and holiday destinations. The engine was the large A class diesel. They are still running to Bacchus Marsh 50 years later, due to the need for the greatly increased number of commuters travelling to work in the city. Sometimes the carriages were pull by a Steam engine, these were a problem in the summer time because the sparks caused fires along the train lines and then quickly spread into the dry grass, crops and stubble. The Motor Train left Spencer Street at 4.23 pm and was the best train for me to catch. Ferris Road was a designated stop and train pulled up on the road crossing. It had steps at the door and rungs to hold while alighting to the ground. The ballast along the tracks was rough and uneven and awkward to land on. The train was painted blue and yellow with the letters VR pained on the front. This saved may parents the afternoon trip to collect me from the Station. On the walk home on the gravel road I would pass Uncle Tom and Aunty May’s house before reaching home. Melva Gillespie was studying at Sunshine Technical School and we sometimes both got off the train at the same time. On other occasions the Motor Train was replaced with a diesel engine with carriages, it was also required to stop and the driver had to be notified in advance. This meant getting into the guards van a Rockbank. It was more difficult alighting from the carriage as the gap was greater and more precarious to swing out and land on the ground. A few times in my last year of study at Melbourne Teachers College in Grattan Street Carlton. I managed to catch the 2.30 pm train to Serviceton, it was express to Melton and was very quick trip. The last train, was the 5.25 pm diesel to Ballarat and I usually caught this train to Melton South Station. On one occasion after being held up on the tram in Bourke street I had to make a mad dash to the platform chasing the train as it was just moving off and yelling to the guard, fortunately I was noticed and the train ground to halt. I scrambled into the end door and took most of the journey home to recover. After the last year at High School I continued to travel on the train, 2 years to Prahran Technical School changing at North Melbourne. There were a lot school children travelling to private schools and some at the primary level and mainly from Bacchus Marsh. Rockbank children also travelled by train from the beginning of their high school years, quite a few went to Sunshine High School. Book provided a timetable and information about the stations the train travels to from Melbourne to Adelaide. transport

Construction of service road in front of the former Ann Dowling (Miers) 1866 Crown Grant, Title dated October 1870. She married Henri Miers in 1867.Their house was located on the site near the Myers Gully part of Ryans Creek. Built in 1867 and later named “Burnbank” by Martha Myers after the Street in Ballarat were she lived before arriving in Melton in 1907. She married Frederick Myers in 1908. He died in 1963, and Martha moved to a new home at 5 McKenzie Street Melton in 1968. Attempts made by the family to retain the historic cottage were unsuccessful. A demolition order imposed by the Housing Commission and it was pulled down by the family. It was the home of the family and stood for over 100 years.East of Reserve Road towards Ferris Roadlandscapes of significance, misc.