From the Swainston Collection, a set of documents and medals from a National Serviceman. The Australian Defence Medal recognises Australian Defence Force personnel who have completed either an enlistment period or four years service after 3 September 1945.This is an example of the Australian Defence Medal for which all Vietnam veterans were eligible.Cupro-nickel Australian Defence Medal plus miniature of same, attached to red and white striped ribbons with black edges to represent the colours of the Flanders poppy, symbol of the Anzac spirit. Three red stripes signify Army, Air Force, Navy. Striped ribbon bar with pins forms part of set. Covering letter addressed to N E Swainston, dated '27 April 2011'. The information card about symbolism of medal and original hard black case complete the set. Front shows Commonwealth Coat of Arms surrounded by the words 'THE AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE MEDAL'. Reverse bears "FOR SERVICE' plus Crown of St Edward within a wattle wreath.'3801127 N E SWAINSTON' engraved around bottom edge of large medal.medal, defence medal, honours

Photo Photo Of Pat Green Maiden Name N/Kphoto, ran

A group of Legacy Widows playing cards at Legacy House. Names and date unknown. Legacy House hosted many activities for the widows to attend, card games were regular events.Legacy provided the opportunity for many gatherings of widows to enjoy social interaction and companionship.Colour photo of Legacy widows playing cards at Legacy House.Printed on back: 120 0122 N N N 22 (on Kodak Paper)widows, activities

This plaque recognises the Wycheproof servicemen from State School No1757 who served in the 1914-1919 War. The actual large Honour Roll hangs in the old historic Wycheproof State School building.This Honour Roll contributes to and is part of the nation's collection of War Records; it is unique,believed to be the only one of its kind.PHOTO of large Wycheproof School Honour Roll WW1, on wall at the former Wycheproof S.S. No.1757 building - now the Mount Wycheproof Museum. The plaque of solid wood has cylindrical wooden pillars each side of the 55 gold inscribed names - 12 FALLEN servicemen and marked with a +. Raised wooden carved grapes and leaves adorn the top edge. In the centre, on the scroll are dedication words in Honour of the Brave Men From Wycheproof State School. A small wooden cupboard is attached underneath for War Service Records. This photo is in a display Book registered number 02089 at the Court House. Anderson, E. , Anderson, N. , Boyce W. , Bruce R. , Brotherson, H. , + Brotherson, L. , Barker, D. , Beardon, G., Currie N. , Currie, G. , Cutts, R. , Cutts, A. , Chisholm, A. , Cooper, C. , Duckmanton, S. , Dooley, N. , Dooley, J. , Donnelly, T. , Gibb, J.R. +Gregson A. , Hurcules, W. , Hurcules, C. , Hurcules, N. , + Hayes, L. , Hayes, G. , +Hotham, J. , Hindson, E. , Heap, A. , Holloway, V. , Headley, J. , + Kearney, P. , Matheson, H., Matheson, J. , Miles, H. , McDonald, G., McDonald, W., +W., McElphinney, D. , McElphinney, D. , Pratt, A. , + Orrock, P. , + Orrock, A. , + Robinson, S. , Redgen, J. , + Ryan, J.F. , + Slocombe, R. , Stewart, C. , Stewart, R. , Stavely, W. ,+ Sayers, W. , Secombe, W. , Taylor, R. , Tucker, C. , Thomas, R. , Wilson, S. , Ward, P. + Supreme Sacrifice Anderson, E. , Anderson, N. , Boyce W. , Bruce R. , Brotherson, H. , + Brotherson, L. , Barker, D. , Beardon, G., Currie N. , Currie, G. , Cutts, R. , Cutts, A. , Chisholm, A. , Cooper, C. , Duckmanton, S. , Dooley, N. , Dooley, J. , Donnelly, T. , Gibb, J.R. +Gregson A. , Hurcules, W. , Hurcules, C. , Hurcules, N. , + Hayes, L. , Hayes, G. , +Hotham, J. , Hindson, E. , Heap, A. , Holloway, V. , Headley, J. , + Kearney, P. , Matheson, H., Matheson, J. , Miles, H. , McDonald, G., McDonald, W., +W., McElphinney, D. , McElphinney, D. , Pratt, A. , + Orrock, P. , + Orrock, A. , + Robinson, S. , Redgen, J. , + Ryan, J.F. , + Slocombe, R. , Stewart, C. , Stewart, R. , Stavely, W. ,+ Sayers, W. , Secombe, W. , Taylor, R. , Tucker, C. , Thomas, R. , Wilson, S. , Ward, P. + Supreme Sacrifice wycheproof - school, honour roll, world- war-one, wycheproof- servicemen

Rectangular plaque states, 'In memory of Capt. I. N. Macfarlan (1919-1995). Plaque features a raised border around the edge and two screw two screw holes at back. Text is cast into the plaque with a brown, mottled background surrounding. IN MEMORY OF/ CAPTAIN I. N. MACFARLAN/ (1919-1995)/ FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE/ PORT OF MELBOURNE (1950-1982)/ AND AS/ HARBOUR MASTER (1973-1982)/ Placed by the/Company of Master Mariners and/ The Port of Melbourne Authority. on verso: ROESZU72?/363485/25/7 (marker) PMA1531 (B72)

Document. Black hard cover book with loose leaf pages and bound with screw posts. Contains payments to various payees for the Central Deborah N L and the North Deborah N L.McColl, Rankin & Stanistreetorganization, business, north deborah gmc n l, mccoll, rankin & stanistreet, north deborah gmc n l, central deborah gmc n l:, gold mining, cash book

A Legatee Grat Grattan with the President of the Melbourne Legacy Widows Club, Mrs Irene Noll, on the occasion of his 100th birthday celebrations at Legacy House. This photo was used in a newspaper article in 'Vetaffairs' October 1994. The article says Oriel John Grattan was born in WA and enlisted in the First AIF in 1916. He served in France and Belgium before he was wounded near Menin Gate. As a Legatee he was widely respected, he was 'something of a father figure - many of the girls were given away at their weddings by this kindly Legatee'. It continues with an interesting piece on the acquisition of Legacy house. It says: 'Perhaps his most lasting monument is Melbourne Legacy House. Through his friendship with one of the principals of the firm, Brown and Dureau, Legacy was given a donation of 30,000 pounds in 1944. A condition of the donation was that Legacy had only eight days in which to buy a building. A building across the road from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology was bought for 18,000 pounds and the balance invested. The building was sold in the early '50s and the proceeds plus the invested money enabled Legacy to buy its headquarters, Dureau House, in Swanston Street in 1955." Vetaffairs is a newspaper for the veteran community published monthly. The entire 8 page issue is kept but only the Grattan article has been scanned here.A record of a Legatee Grattans' achievements, both in the army and in later life and the impact he had on Legacy.Colour photo x 3 of Legatee Grat Grattan for his 100th birthday and article from Vetaffairs.Printed on the back "128 0133 N N N 2 2" on Kodak paper. legatee, birthday, grat grattan, dureau house

Bag was owned by great grandmother x 2 of Judy Ford.HistoricalBlack silk evening bag with satin lining and thicker material lining on front side. Black ribbon strap. Embroidered with sprays of small white flowers made of material. Also bow of yellow ribbon. N/Aevening bag, judy ford, social life,

Items were crocheted about 1950 by Minnie Grachan of Back Beach, Ventnor for Mrs Dot Coutts nee Jones. She had 3 daughters so the items were never used.HistoricalCream coloured, finely crocheted layette set of bonnet, bib and booties with cream satin ribbon and pink flowersN/Alayette, crochet, baby clothes, clothing, grachen family, jones family

Article on home designed by Alistair Knox for Lindsay Maurice Edward, teacher, at 151 Old Eltham Road, Lower Plenty. The home was originally featured in Home Beautiful magazine in 1953 and was revisited in the March 1969 issueMagazine, 92 pages , 28.5 cm Digital scan of magazine article saved as searchable PDF documentN/Aalistair knox, home beautiful magazine, lindsay edward, lower plenty, old eltham road, susan edward

Long bottle press with long handle Handle hard to useN/A

able to turn handle that rotates other handle seems to not workN/A

Square Shaped Bottle with a chip in its glassN/A

Villa Maria, later known as Villa Mar has a close association with the Catholic Church, with identifiable and notable Catholic attributes such as the inner courtyard and chapel on the villa. It also is symbolic of a rural retreat which the Beaconsfield area was once noted for.This house is a symbolic representation of the Federation Bungalow architectural style, with influences of catholic attributes.Colour rectangular photograph developed on matte photographic paper.N/Abeaconsfield, cardinia shire, villa maria, villa mar, architecture, catholic church

Villa Maria, later known as Villa Mar has a close association with the Catholic Church, with identifiable and notable Catholic attributes such as the inner courtyard and chapel on the villa. It also is symbolic of a rural retreat which the Beaconsfield area was once noted for.This house is a symbolic representation of the Federation Bungalow architectural style, with influences of catholic attributes.Colour rectangular photograph developed on matte photographic paper. N/Avilla maria, villa mar, architecture, catholic church, beaconsfield, cardinia shire

The first sculpture awarded the Shire of Eltham 'Art in Public Places' Award/Commission. The Judges were Inge King, Jenny Zimmer and Daryl Jackson. The work deals with the juxtaposition of suburban and rural surroundings. This scupture is a typical example of the artist's oevre of the period. This sculptre is site specific and refers to the nature of the environment. The colour - bushfire red / sienna - alludes to the history of fire in the urban/rural fringe and the title, as well as the sculpture's shapes, forms and material refer to the natural and local elements. Judges report noted: "The most vital and expressive work for the site...with a great sense of dynamic movement and vibrant colour. Its' abstract forms will enliven the surroundings and the urban and natural environment. This work is the most appropriate for the site and expressive of the dynamics of an evolving community in which artistic discourse and debate has always thrived." The work has acquired the status of a major landmark from the National Trust. The Breeze is an abstract work made out of welded steel and painted in enamel in bush fire red / sienna. It comprises a series of flat, cut-out shapes, interlocking at different angles, giving the impression of being hinged together rather than fixed. The work references nature and the built environment. Its geometric shapes suggest man-made structures within industry and suburban life, while rural areas can be identified by the organic flame-like shapes fanned by the wind. The circular cut-out in the eye mimics the sun, symbolising the intense heat of the Australian climate, while the colour red alludes to the history of bushfire within the urban and rural fringe. N/Apublic art, ginger, red, sienna, elements, steel, abstract, breeze, fire, sculpture

'Surveyor of Suburban Environs' was one of the acquisitions from the 1991 Eltham Art Awards (now known as the Nillumbik Prize - and formally the Nillumbik Art Awards). This was the first piece acquired from this award which was suitable for a public space. Nillumbik is referred to as the "Green Wedge" and the sculpture "Surveyor of Suburban Environs" suggests a watchful observer of the surrounding landscape. The sculpture's central motif represents an eye held up on a pedestal by a tail. Its form has been likened to the Eye of Horus, an ancient Egyptian symbol of protection, royal power and good health personified in the goddess Wadjet or 'green one'. This likeness would suggest that the observer or surveyor has a divine status and spiritual connection to its environment. Polished stainless steel sculpture comprising an eye reminiscent of ancient egyptian hieroglyphics, which is held up with a tappered and jaggered tail like pedestal. Concrete base. N/Apublic art, fries, spiritual, eye, stainless steel, goddess, surveyor, sculpture, environment

Eltham Council (now the Shire of Nillumbik) commissioned this work in 1989 to create an entrance / gateway to Edendale Community Farm. It was also aided by a grant from the Ministry of the Arts (now Arts Victoria). The former name of this work was "Gateway to Edendale Farm". Edendale Farm is a demonstration farm modelling sustainable environmental practices, providing support to the local residents of Nillumbik. Established in 1986, the land was purchased in 1970. It was previously an English gentleman's residence and was used for grazing. It consists of 5.6 hectares, with the Diamond Creek meandering through the property. The Victorian Fences Act 1968 governs liability of occupiers of adjoining lands to fence, and deals with disputes between neighbours regarding boundaries fences and costs. This work took into consideration ideas and suggestions from residents and committees, who required the use of recycled materials and that the work celebrate man's relationship with nature, animals and the earth, as well as relate to the fence-line on the far side of the carpark. Trembath also absorbed significant aspects of local history, making references to Eltham's agricultural past, the clearing of the land, the destruction of trees, the ruthless pruning of trees by suburban Councils and incorporated such Australian features as the post and rail fence. 'The Fences Act 1968' is significant for aesthetic, historic and social reasons at a regional level. It makes prominent the historical and social significance of Edendale and the rural aspects of Nillumbik. The use of existing tree stumps and salt pots in the work explores the iconography of the countryside such as the isolated farmhouse, pioneering farming practices, post and rail fencing and the regrowth of lopped trees. The title of the work, as well as the extensive community involvement in its creation, also makes reference to the Victorian Fences Act 1968, which makes neighbours jointly responsible for the cost of construction and maintenance of fences in the partitioning of land for settlement. 'The Fences Act 1968' has been classified as of regional significance by the National Trust of Australia. The work is an installation of wood and metal, approximately twenty five meters long. The design is very informal and rustic and runs the full width of the fence-line. It comprises groups of recycled tree trunks fitted with metal caps (chrome-nickel 'salt pots' that are shaped like tall bowler / top hats). Metal rods protrude from the trunks and some of these rods have metal birds. Two larger, sentinel-like stumps at the two outer ends have metal flame-like wings, which bend inward. To the left of the entrance, a simple architectural element indicates an isolated farmhouse. The rustic fence runs between the groups of tree trunks with native planting in clumps along it. The fence-line incorporates a functional engineered double gate and post and rail fencing. There may be many interpretations of the work and the intention is to stimulate interest and imagination rather than alienate. Interpretation is based on the personal experience that a visitor brings. The artist recommended that no explanation of the design logic be positioned with the work. N/Apublic art, sculpture, edendale, recycled, wood, metal, fences act 1968, gate, trembath, salt pot, tree stumps

The site specific sculpture is located at the entry to the office of Nillumbik Shire Council. It was commissioned in 1994 by the Shire of Diamond Valley for their 20 year celebration. Baines was chosen from a short list of three artists. He is an internationally renowned artist, particularly in the field of gold and silver smithing. 'Transaction' takes on the visual and aesthetic vocabulary of its surroundings. It is a statement of the geometry and idiosyncrasy of its immediate site. The series of arcs are reinterpreted into longitudinal curves in the sculpture. It is a transaction between the place and the anticipated entry to the building. The title also suggests the flow of civil and administrative procedures that take place daily within the Shire's offices. A large cascading form in stainless steel. Multiple rows of concave dishes set on long steel stems, which progressively increase in size as they rise in height. The work plays elaborately with perspective, and its repeated shapes are arranged in a orderly mathematical series. It faces a wheelchair ramp lined with polished steel rails, and is integrated with the architectural features of its forecourt setting, for which it was designed. The piece is sited in a small garden area and can be viewed from within the building's foyer. In bright sunlight, its dish-shapes cast elliptical shadows across walkways and lawns. N/Apublic art, transaction, ekphrasis2017, stainless steel, disks, poles, council

Commissioned by Nillumbik Shire Council - 1997 The selection panel in the commissioning process to this 'extraordinary acquisition' was Rhonda Noble, Director of La Trobe University Museum of Art, Jeph Neale, Eltham Roundabout Advisory Group, Chris Marks, NSC Curator of Collections, Geoff Glynn, NSC Manager of Infrastructure Development.'Nest' highlights the indigenous flora and fauna of the Shire. The stiff, coarse grass used to create the nest is indigenous to the area and the eggs are like those of the spotted quail thrush, a ground-nesting bird of the Shire. The circular flow or placement of the eggs recalls the revolution of the seasons and nesting cycles. There is a tall light pole above the eggs, shining down at night. The effect is of a giant incubator. Enrichment and nurturing of the larger environment can be associated with this sculpture. This work resembles a large bird's nest, with three egg-like forms of fibreglass covered in a pebble render, set on sand. The nest is positioned within the paved boundary of the roundabout. The nest shape has been created out of stiff, coarse indigenous grass, periodically trimmed so the view is not obstructed. The eggs are a brown-speckled, creamy yellow colour. The three eggs are arranged in a ring, with the narrow end of each pointing to the large end of the next, in a circle that mimics the flow of traffic. N/Apublic art, nest, eggs, eltham, ekphrasis2017, mosaic, pebbles, roundabout, spotted quail thrush

Michael Wilson learnt the craft of Goldsmithing after seeing well known sculptor and silversmith Matcham Skipper working in his studio at Montsalvat in and around 1970. This work is a gift to the Eltham Community in recognition of his twenty five years of developing his goldsmith skills and operating his business within the Shire. Wilson officially opened his commercial premises in 1985. Michael Wilson is a local jewellery maker. His work is influenced directly by the environment in which he lives. This sculpture is representative of his distinctive style of work as a nationally and an internationally recognised Designer and Goldsmith. Made of steel and powdercoated in aluminium with a concrete base. Decorative elements such as the ring encasing the cicada and the cicada's wings are guilded with 24ct gold leaf. The steel rod is burgundy in colour with the cicada painted a dark olive green to represent the 'Green Grocer' variety common in Eltham. The colours used in this sculpture match the surrounding Elm and Ash trees in the landscape. N/Apublic art, cicada, wilson, gold, green grocer, jewellery

1996 Nillumbik Art in Public Places Award (installed late 1997). A biennial program that ceased in 2007. The program commissioned artists to make and install public art in various sites around the Shire. Award judges that year were Tony Trembath and artist Peter D. Cole. Susie Kumar has a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture degree from RMIT and Naomi Kumar has a Bachelor of Fine Art in photography degree from VCA. The Kumar sisters designed the sixty meter gently curving bench in response to the topography of the site, Conventry Oval. The sculpture is designed to describe the boundary between the formal oval and the natural creek bank and a considered relationship to the bike track and the river. It forms a link between the activities and aesthetics of its environment. The work is a comical interpretation of the utilitarian public bench. From a distance the bright red runners (the colour of the local football team's stripe) appear to float about the surrounding green. One end of the work is straight and finished. The other remains 'unfinished' hence allowing for the concept of unlimited extension. The 'legs' (steel hurdles) are arranged with a sense of movement and rhythm in sympathy with the activities happening around the work and with the stands of trees in he background. 'Benchmark' also serves as a functional purpose; providing a choice of places to sit to watch action on the oval. Stainless steel, timber (Victorian Ash) and red enamel paint. Sixty meter long red bench that gently curves in response to Conventry Oval. Bolted on top of evenly spaced stainless steel hurdles, four rows of timber runners are joined to provide unbroken continuous lengths. The bench stands on a framed bed of crushed rock (Lilydale topping).N/Abench, sport, wood, victorian ash, stainless steel, public art, ekphrasis2017

In October 2000, Council invited three artists from the region (Deborah Halpern, Matcham Skipper, Tony Trembath) to submit designs for a sculpture / public art work for the Eltham Town Square. The commission was paid for by supermarket giant Safeway (Woolies) as part of its supermarket permit, which required them to contribute to beautification work in the Town Square.This is the first of three parts. The 'Spirit of Nillumbik' is a celebration of the artistic spirit of Eltham and surrounding communities. Each area is identified through the flora and fauna represented in the panels. The work honours the many creative artists and architects, past and present, who have built homes and shaped lives and livelihoods with their unique creative spirit. Halpern describes her work as a public expression of their individual and collective visions. Halpern acknowledges these contributions to our hand-made history and the influence they have on the character and identity of Eltham and Nillumbik. Five picture and six woven balustrades each made out of welded steel / organic wrought iron and coated with wax. Imagery (flora - plants, landscapes and fauna - animals, birds, reptiles, insects) are all based on the local environment. There is also a relevant aboriginal presence amongst each of the panels. Each panel represents the different areas that make up the Shire. 'Water' for Warrandyte, 'Kangaroos' for Christmas Hills, 'Cockatoos and 'Valley Creek Flats' for Hurstbridge, 'Wombats', 'Bluetongues' and 'Possums' for St. Andrews/Kinglake, 'Orchids' for Panton Hill, 'Cows' and 'Grapevines' for the Kangaroo Gound Hill landmark. N/Apublic art, nillumbik, fauna, flora, wrought iron, balustrade, halpern, laurence, kangaroo, eltham town square, spirit, warrandyte, christmas hills, kangaroo ground, hurstbridge, kinglake, panton hill, water, valley creek flats, cockatoos

In October 2000, Council invited three artists from the region (Deborah Halpern, Matcham Skipper, Tony Trembath) to submit designs for a sculpture / public art work for the Eltham Town Square. The commission was paid for by supermarket giant Safeway (Woolies) as part of its supermarket permit, which required them to contribute to beautification work in the Town Square.This is the third of three parts. The 'Spirit of Nillumbik' is a celebration of the artistic spirit of Eltham and surrounding communities. Each area is identified through the flora and fauna represented in the panels. The work honours the many creative artists and architects, past and present, who have built homes and shaped lives and livelihoods with their unique creative spirit. Halpern describes her work as a public expression of their individual and collective visions. Halpern acknowledges these contributions to our hand-made history and the influence they have on the character and identity of Eltham and Nillumbik.Realistic depiction of 'chocolate lilies' in wrought iron (three flowers in bloom, four large buds and six small buds). Chocolate lilies are indigenous to Nillumbik.N/A

Sanders was a well-known local potter who worked for a time with David Boyd at the Martin Boyd Pottery, before returning to Melbourne where he had some association with Arthur Boyd, at the pottery in Murrumbeena. Sanders set up a studio in Eltham in the early 1950s and made the first of a series of architectural ceramic murals with painter and print maker Lawrence Daws in 1956. After returning from his travels in Europe to Australia in 1964, he began to work solely on creating ceramic murals. Murals created during the second half of the 1960s and into the 70s can/could previously be found at Southland Shopping Centre in Cheltenham, Melbourne (1968) - now demolished, the National Mutual Centre, Melbourne (1964-5) - now demolished, Dee Why Library, Sydney (1966), Woden Valley High School, ACT (1967), Tullamarine Airport, Melbourne (1969, 1970), Perth Concert Hall (1971) and University of Melbourne (1975) (with John Olsen). Sanders has worked with many of Australia’s pre-eminent painters and ceramicists including Fred Williams and John Olsen. In 2015 Nillumbik Shire Council will be installing a mural by Sanders, donated by Tom and his family before Tom passed away in 2009, for the redevelopment of the Eltham Town Square. During the 1970s Sanders produced a number of tapestry designs. Highly respected artist and one time local resident Hilary Jackman worked with Sanders developing and adapting his tile designs to be translated into silk tapestries that were made in Japanese Mills of Kawashima Orimono in Kyoto. They were displayed in the big Hall in the NGV. Sanders gave these tiles to Jackman as payment for her work. The tapestries are based on abstract designs and have a cotton warp, and silk weft. The tiles are similar to Sanders’ other mural works such as Wall of the Moon (Homage to Miro) and the mural located in the Perth Concert Hall. It’s clear that Sanders was inspired by the Spanish surrealist artist Joan Miro from the 1930s in both philosophy and style. Miro’s work is quite playful, symbolic and imaginative. Miro’s preference for painting like this was “to express contempt for conventional painting methods, which he saw was a way of supporting a bourgeois society”. He "famously declared an "assassination of painting" in favor of upsetting the visual elements of established painting.” Three earthenware tiles, embossed with an abstract linear design. N/A

Sanders was a well-known local potter who worked for a time with David Boyd at the Martin Boyd Pottery, before returning to Melbourne where he had some association with Arthur Boyd, at the pottery in Murrumbeena. Sanders set up a studio in Eltham in the early 1950s and made the first of a series of architectural ceramic murals with painter and print maker Lawrence Daws in 1956. In 1957 he left for Europe and while there was inspired by the Spanish artist Joan Miro’s unconventional painting style and large scale murals, in particular Wall of the Moon (1957). After returning from his travels in Europe to Australia in 1964, he began to work solely on creating ceramic murals, some of which were commissioned for Southland Shopping Centre in Cheltenham, Melbourne, 1968 (now demolished), the National Mutual Centre, Melbourne,1964-5 (now demolished), Dee Why Library, Sydney 1966, Woden Valley High School, ACT, 1967, Tullamarine Airport Melbourne, 1969-70 (now demolished), Perth Concert Hall, 1971 and The University of Melbourne,1975 (with John Olsen). This mural is one of only three remaining in the public realm by Tom Sanders (the others are at the Perth Concert Hall (1971) and at the University of Melbourne (1975). Ceramic mural (earthenware tiles) consisting of a playful/organic abstract design similar in style to the Spanish artist Joan Miro. Shades of blue, yellow and black glazes are layered onto matte black and shiny bronze tiles. N/Amural, public art, earthernware, pottery, ceramics, glaze, eltham, ekphrasis2017, eltham town square, joan miro

Sue Ford (1943-2009) was an important practitioner in the wave of 1970's Australian feminist photographers. Ford regularly took intimate and candid pictures of artist friends, such as 'Neil Douglas Research 1964', documenting a time in Eltham when Montsalvat and Dunmoochin played an important part in the early attraction of artists to the Nillumbik area. Artist, conservationist and activist Neil Douglas (1911-2003) is best known for his garden at the Bend of Islands, Kangaroo Ground where he formed a co-operative for like-minded people who wished to live in harmony with the bush and wildlife. His love of nature and the beauty and fragility of the bush are constant themes that often run parallel in his ceramic works and paintings.Sue Ford and Neil Douglas were artists of national significance who both lived in the local Nillumbik area in the mid to late twentieth century. They were part of a community of artists integral in forging a dynamic artistic spirit, heavily inspired by the region's landscape and its people. Black and white silver gelatin photographic print of Neil Douglas plein-air painting in his rose garden at Research. Ed.1/3N/Aford, douglas, silver gelatin photograph, bend of isles, research, kangaroo ground, garden, environment

This artwork was a finalist in the 1987 Shire of Eltham Art Awards. The materials Cowcher has chosen constitute different transformations of earth - stone, sand (fired into glass), bamboo and dried grass. The work is a sign of the artist's passion in working with these materials and 'packaging' them into an aesthetic composition that connect and dance with one another.Three purple glass objects in the form of pine cones, held together by raffia, resting on a large slab of white stone. N/A