This is a book for children written by Ron Sproston and illustrated by Mem Taberner. The fantasy animal story takes its theme from the true story of the saving of the fairy penguins on Middle Island, Warrnambool from the depredations of fox activity on the island. The presence of Maremma dogs residing on the island acting as deterrents to fox activity has been highly successful in preventing the killing of the penguins by foxes. The book has been published by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool and personnel from this organization oversee the Maremma program. Ron Sproston and Mem Taberner have both been involved with Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village for some years. This book is of interest as it has been produced locally and is based on the story of the Middle Island penguin protection program where Maremma dogs are used as deterrents to foxes. This is a soft cover book of 75 pages. The front cover is white with multi-coloured illustrations of animals and the back cover has white printed material superimposed on a green-coloured photograph of Middle Island. The book has several black and white sketches. middle island, maremma penguin protection program, ron sproston, mem taberner, children’s literature, warrnambool

Christ Church is the main Anglican Church in Warrnambool. The Anglican Church held services in Warrnambool from 1847 on and a Sunday School operated from that time. The building of Christ Church was commenced in the early 1850s with the tower and spire added in the 1880s. The program under study here was for the annual concert of the Anglican Sunday Schools in Warrnambool. The concert featured items from Christ Church Sunday School and two other local Sunday Schools from St. George’s, East Warrnambool (established 1906 and now closed) and St. Peter’s, South Warrnambool (established 1911 and closed in 1974). This item, though ragged, is of interest as an example of the type of entertainment featured at Sunday School concerts in Warrnambool during the 20th century. At that time Sunday Schools would have been important as the children of the adherents of most Protestant religions in the city would have attended a Sunday School which provided religious instruction and some social activities. The program contains the names of those participating in the concert and these are useful to researchers. This is a piece of paper folded in two to make four pages, three with typed material. The pages are now completely detached and are a little torn and crumpled. It is a program of a mid 20th century Warrnambool Christ Church Sunday School concert. It has probably been produced by church officials as it is not a professional printing job. Front page: ‘Christ Church Annual Sunday School Concert’christ church warrnambool, warrnambool anglican sunday schools, history of warrnambool

This album contains photographs of many local and beach scenes such as view over Warrnambool, Botanic Gardens, Hopkins River and Bridge, Warrnambool railway station, Proudfoots, Thunder Point, Christ Church and the War Memorial. There are a couple of photographs of groups of people picnicking on the main beach. The newspaper cutting showing firemen dousing the last of the flames of the fire has onlookers including four children in the foreground. The Ozone Coffee Palace was built in 1890-1891 and burnt down February23, 1929. It was one of the largest fires in Warrnambool It was designed by Mr J McLeod. It was grand in design and decoration. The term Coffee Palace was used to describe temperance hotels which were built during the 1880’s -1890’s. They typically were multi-purpose and had a large number of rooms for ballrooms and leisure activities. Coffee palaces were aimed at families in coastal areas and inner city locations. Examples of some are The Windsor Hotel Melbourne, Ozone, Queenscliff and Kilbreda Convent in Mentone. This album has social and historical significance as it shows a collection of local scenes which is a record of familiar scenes such as the gardens, Hopkins River and beach scenes. The groups of people are unknown but the images provide a snapshot of customs and costumes of the early 1920’s.Khaki coloured soft card tied with a dark green cord which has broken and has been replaced with yellow string. There is an embossing of a lion/dragon on front cover with ribbons. 20 pages with photographs glued to most. A cutting relating to the fire at the Ozone mansions is inside the front cover.warrnambool history, early warrnambool photographs, ozone coffee palace

This is a book of 828 pages with reprints of a religious magazine and several full page advertisements at the back. The pages contain stories, sketches, black and white and coloured illustrations, the latter on toned paper. The cover has a red based, mottled design on the front and the back and the leather covered spine has gold decoration and printing. The corners of the cover are reinforced with leather. The cover is scuffed. The pages are edged in a mottled pattern.fictionSunday readings including fiction and non fiction19th century sunday activities.

The booklet is a catalogue of the books in the Warrnambool Presbyterian St. John's Sabbath School Library (Robert Carswell's Bequest) early in the 20th century. The books for boys and girls are listed separately and are mostly fiction, many with some religious content. St John's Presbyterian Church was opened in 1875. The building was destroyed by fire in 1920 and rebuilt in a similar style to the original one. Robert Carswell was a Warrnambool resident who died in 1900 at the age of 77 and it is presumed that the bequest from his will enabled the Sunday (Sabbath) School library to be established. The card is a membership certificate indicating that Elsie Alston was enrolled as a Sunday School member in Class 14 and thus entitled to borrow books from the library. No details have been found on Elsie Alston but there were several Alston families in Warrnambool at the time.These items are of some interest as church Sunday Schools in the past, particularly in the 19th century, were important as they were widely attended and provided a range of educational and recreational activities, often not otherwise available to the children at that time'.1 A booklet of ten pages with a blue cover with blue printing and a decorative border on the front. The pages contain printed material. The booklet was once stapled but the staples have been removed. .2 A white card with black printing and handwritten names.Elsie Alston Mr M. Ritchieelsie alston, robert carswell, st. john's sabbath school warrnambool, sunday schools in warrnambool

This album contains cigarette cards dating from the early 20th Century. The cards include Australian and English cricketers, Australian footballers, animals, racehorses, ships, Pacific Islanders, jockeys, actors and other famous people. The cards come from a variety of Australian and English cigarette companies. The album comes from the Edwards family who lived on the MORVEN property situated about 11 kilometres west of Branxholme in the Western District of Victoria. This property was sub divided in 1911 into 25 farms. There was once a Morven School and today there is a road of that name in the area.. This album is of considerable significance as it has historical value as an early collection of cigarette cards. Collecting of cigarette cards was a major social activity amongst young people, particularly in the first half of the 20th Century. It was a profitable advertising ploy for cigarette companies. Card and small object collecting by children today is still popular and used as an advertising mechanism. This album has a worn cover in faded green and fawn colours with a blue spine almost wholly detached. The back cover is stained. The cover has text. There are eighteen double sided pages with cut spaces for holding seven cigarette cards on each. Most of the pages contain black and white, sepia or coloured cigarette cards. There is an inscription on the first page.To Bennie from Auntie Lou. Xmas 1908cigarette cards, morven, edwards family morven, album

These three badges were issued as fund raisers on Children's Day in 1918,1919 and 1941. The Children's Flower day arose out of the League of Young Gardeners established in 1916 to assist the war effort by encouraging children to cultivate garden plots at home and at school. The Children's Flower Day included lectures and lessons at school related to garden cultivation. Flower shows of produce grown at home and at school and street stalls were run by children to raise funds for the war effort.These badges are of interest as examples of the activities of children in Victoria to assist the War effort in World Wars.1 Cream coloured circular metal and enamel badge featuring Union flag, a wreath of red flowers and leaves around the edge on two sides and text . A clip is on the reverse. 2 Cream coloured oval plastic coated card badge featuring blue flowers and wattle blossom and text. A slot at the top for a pin so it may be attached to clothing. 3 Cream coloured circular badge featuring a six pointed gold star, a coloured image of a house and garden and text. A clip is on the reverse1 EVD CHILDREN'S FLOWER DAY 1941 on face. A.W. PATRICK. N. FITZROY. V. on rim 2 CHILDREN'S FLOWER DAY 1918 3 CHILDREN'S FLOWER DAY 1919 PEACE YEAR and symbol of an flattened semi circle with incomplete rectangle interlaced. children, flowers, war effort, warrnambool

These books appear to have been published in successive years as the inscription on one is 1875 and the contents of another deals with the history of India in 1878. The owner of the volumes was William Cassady (1824-1885).In 1846 he settled near the Merri River in the district that is today the Cassady's Bridge area in Caramut Road, Warrnambool. The property was called "Boughton". He married Elizabeth Anderson in 1857 and they had eleven children surviving to adulthood.These volumes are of antiquarian interest as they are an attractive example of the type of books owned by early settlers in the Warrnambool district. The activities of the British in India would have been of interest to settlers in other parts of the British Empire at that time. The books are also of interest as they belonged to William Cassady, a prominent early settler in the west Warrnambool area.These are five volumes of hard cover books with green covers and elaborate scrolls and decorations on the front covers and spines. The title lettering on the front covers is in black and gold. Each volume has several pages of black and white illustrations (steel engravings)at the front of the books, all with protective tissue paper. Some of the tissue paper is torn or missing. There are several coloured maps. The pages are gilt- edged.The third volume has the top part of the spine and binding torn away. The inscription in Volume Four is written in black ink.William Cassady, Boughton 1875william and elizabeth cassady

Warrnambool has never done justice to the women who shared their menfolk the hardships of the pioneering days. Silent Lives fills a void in the history of Warrnambool and surrounding districts, during the early decades 1840s to 1910, providing a narrative about some of the people, in particular women, missing so far in our documented history. Elizabeth O'Callaghan has meticulously researched the period, drawing on early newspapers, diaries, letters, unpublished family histories, honour board listings as well as public documents such as hotel licensing and teacher records held in the Public Record Office of Victoria and State Library of Victoria. By their unremitting labours and self-sacrifice the pioneering women of Warrnambool and district helped to lay the foundations of our communities today.This publication is of significance as it documents the lives of 19th century women in Warrnambool and district between 1840 and 1910 covering Aboriginal women, schools and teachers, specialist teachers of art, writing and cookery, sporting activities, political and charitable activities, how the law treated women, medical treatment, and the everyday lives of women and their families. It contains images of art produced by some of these women.A4 size book with photograph of 7 women and 3 children in c1890sworking clothing and long white aprons, sitting and standing in front of a hedge with washing draped over the hedge. The two girls on the right are wearing wide-brimmed hats. The title is in white print on a band of dark blue across the middle. The bottom third features an early image of Warrnambool and the author's name in dark blue.Elizabeth O'Callaghan/November 2017warrnambool, history of warrnambool, 19th century women, women pioneers, silent lives, elizabeth o'callaghan, cover design james colquhoun

Childers Cove is situated about 15 ks east of Warrnambool in the area known as Mepunga. It is named after the shipwreck of 'The Children.The documents relate to the running of the Childer's Cove Progress Association. There are a number of social activities including gymkhanas, racing meetings, making of roads and improving with planting trees There are many names which are still familiar with the area nearly 100 years later, including Wallace, McDowall, Burleigh, Murnane, Bonnett, Abraham Laidlaw Keogh Holloway and Palmer. Some of the meetings were held at the Mepunga South School with others held at Eckers Hotel Warrnambool and some at the race course. Fundraising events were held also from athletic meetings and district school children's races. This collection of papers is representative of many small communities around Australia where people came together and worked to improve their community facilities. It therefore has strong social and historic significance.This is a collection of papers most of which relate to the Childer's Cove Progress Association. Included are: .1 Minute Book/ Exercise book Childer's Cove Progress Association.May 1928-1932 .2 Minute Book/ Exercise book Childer's Cove Progress Association. 1924-1926 .3 Letter from Warrnambool Football Club 1930. .4 Account Archibald MacFarlane & Co March 1929 .5 Western District Racing Association Oct 1929. .6 Federal Taxation Dep Re Entertainment Tax 11/02/1930 .7 Chief Secretary Office re Racing Permits March 1923. .8-.9 Warrnambool Standard Invoices Jan 1930's .10 Archibald MacFarlane & Co Jan 1930. .11 Chief Office for Stamp Duties 12/02/1928 .12 Flyer - Childer's Cove Progress Association April 17 1926. .13 Flyer- Monster Gymkhana 12/02/ 1927. .14 Handwritten Invoice Charles Palmer Nov 1929. .15 Cheque Book Childer's Cove Progress Association 1929-31. .16 Deposit Book Childer's Cove Progress Association 1932-1942 .17 Bundle of invoices. .1 C J Caddy & Sons.2 Western Ice & Ice Products .3 Department of Lands & Survey Aug 1923 .4 J S Tait re Licence April 1924 .5 Warrnambool Standard31/12/1923 .6 Warrnambool Standard 31/03/1924 .7 Devenish & Co August 1924 .8 Warrnambool Standard 31/06/1924 H J Paynter & Co 03/05/1924 .10 Chief Secretary's Office Melbourne 01/05/1924 with receipt. .11 Permit for a race meeting April 19 1924 .12 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Tax 06/09/1924.13 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Notice 27/08/01924 .14 Commonwealth of Australia Entertainment Tax notice 12/08/1924 .18 William Ardlie handwritten letter 28/03/1928 .19 Envelope Addressed to W R Abrahams .20 Final notice Handwritten Charles Palmer Jan 1930. .21 Balance Sheet Childer's Cove Racing Club 18/03/1929 .22 H J Paynter & Co Account and receipt 25/02/1930. .23 Raglan Parade Timber Yards Alex Donaldson Feb 1930. .24 The School Paper Feb 1964 No 741 childer's cove, mepunga, childer's cove progress association

George Knapman was born c.1851 in Ashburton, Devon, England, the son of George Knapman and Elizabeth Grant nee Wyatt. George, his mother and three sisters arrived in the Port of Melbourne, 28 Jul 1857 aboard the ship, Mindoro from Plymouth, his father having preceded them some eighteen months earlier. George married Mary Jane Williams in 1877 and they settled in Eltham where they had five children; Percival George (1878), Florence Maud (1880), Laura Blanche (1882), Alfred Edgar (1886) and Gladys Victoria (1897). In 1879 George was elected a vestryman for St Margaret’s Church, a position he would be re-elected to for many years. Both he and Mary were active members of the church and social activities. In 1884 George was also engaged in collecting funds for the renovation of the St Helena church George was also a member of the Eltham Cricket Club. In May 1884 following completion of the cricket season, several players banded together to form a group holding fortnightly meetings for the purpose of giving readings, recitations, etc to relieve the dullness of the long winter evenings. Charles Wingrove was elected President, Rev. J.B. Gason Treasurer and George along with Messrs Evans, Bourke, D. McColl, C. Jarrold, George Hill and William Brown, members of the Committee. In 1885, George advertised two horses had strayed from his premises (reward £2) and in 1891 he had a cultivator for sale (price £7/10/-). In 1902 he was treasurer of the Eltham Rifle Club. His children attended Eltham Primary School. In 1904 he was a member of the school's Board of Advice and addressed children at an Arbor Day planting activity. In 1907 he was elected president of the Eltham Progressive League, calling for public toilets to be erected at a local picnic spot. George along with William John Taylor and Isaac Hill was also appointed a Trustee of the Eltham Rechabite Hall in Henry Street on behalf of the Hope of Eltham Tent No. 195 Victoria District Independent Order of Rechabites from December 1901 until its sale to the community in December 1921 for use as a public hall. George ‘Snowy’ Knapman was a blacksmith by trade. He owned and operated a shoeing forge and wheelwright workshop, known as Snowy Knapman’s Forge, in Main Road Eltham, next door to the Eltham Court House. The location was well chosen. Mail coaches from Melbourne passed through Eltham enroute to Christmas Hills and Yarra Glen, with another heading to Kingstown (now Panton Hill). It was common practice for horses to be changed at Eltham. Two photos taken June 4, 1907, captioned ‘Election Day Eltham’, show a large crowd of men assembled in Main Road outside Knapman's premises. They are waiting to vote at the Court House. There are no women in the crowd; they were not empowered to vote. George's brothers William and John were also blacksmiths at Heidelberg, continuing the business established by their father George, who had died in 1900. After William died in 1909, George moved to Heidelberg to take over from him. George died at his residence, ‘Devon’, Yarra Street, Heidelberg on March 16, 1923, and is buried in Eltham Cemetery with his wife Mary who died July 16, 1935, at Kew. Their former house at Eltham was located near where the WW1 Monument was erected in 1919, after they had moved to Heidelberg, at the corner of Bridge Street and Main Road and occupied by Mr. R. Trevena at the time of Mary’s death. Mary was sister to E.J. Williams, W. Williams and Mrs Fawkner, all residents of Eltham. In Loving Memory of George Knapman Died 15th March 1923 Also his wife Mary Jane Died 16th July 1935 Sadly Missed Born Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, george knapman, mary jane knapman (nee williams)

Shire of Eltham Archives: Series 69, Item 5 Video opens with panning view of completed kinder from Frank Street followed by images of the centre under construction then opening day speeches. Introduction and welcome by Mandy Press (Executive Officer, Shire of Eltham) with speeches by the Hon. Pauline Toner, Member for Eltham and Shire president, Cr. Alan Baker. The Hon. Pauline Toner acknowledged Shire President Alan Baker and her parliamentary colleagues Vin Heffernan, Neil Brown and Bob Halderson and Councillors; three levels of Government which led to the achievement of the kinder, and gave special thanks to the Council and parents for the forward planning to accommodate children from babyhood to school with childcare, kinder and baby health facilities all combined in one facility in the middle of parkland in a residential area. Shire President Cr Alan Baker then followed to formally open the centre. The site had been identified in early 1985 at that stage only as a pre-school but with an opportunity to develop, the additional services were driven by Cr Baker. Though a very long name, its simple message is "Care for Kids." Designed by architect Neil Biggins of Clark, Hopkins and Clark. Cr Baker stated that the theme of "people living in the environment" was very much encapsulated by the facility. Cr Baker informed that the construction of the facility had led to some concerns with a reduction in open space and potential traffic generated to the facility and those users of the facility were asked to ensure their use is sensitive to the local residents. Cr Baker talked about the financial costs and how the Federal grant funding was no longer as plentiful as previous and that the Victorian Government had come to the assistance thanks to Pauline Toner covering some other costs as well as the ongoing running costs of around $40,000. The Federal Government contributed $233,000 out of a childcare component rather than preschool. Cr Baker thanked Mandy Press again as well as Shire Engineer, John Stanton. Cr Baker also acknowledged Ed Latanzio who was in charge of the project, along with his colleague Alan Lansdowne; Gary Bartlett and his team for the exterior surroundings to the facility. He mentioned that Neil Biggins the architect had said not many Shire Councils show the same commitment to the exterior surroundings as the interior which was a credit to the Council and Gary Bartlett. He also thanked Bev Vern, Council's preschool advisor who assisted in developing the programs; Grant Roberts from Federal Office of Childcare for assisting the Cooperative in setting up the funding program; the builders George Takola and George Apted; Michelle Matello who undertook the needs analysis that identified another preschool was required; Cathy King who assisted in the development of the childcare program; Pat Grundy and Susan Forbes, Council officers who assisted with the development of the services and the members of the preschool committee. In addition, local residents and in particular Helen, Peter and Chris who advised Council of their concerns and worked with Council to overcome these issues; members of the Interim Steering Committee and the Directors of the Childcare Co-op. Cr Baker stated that the Co-op nature of the facility and the location of the three services under one roof was unique and the task of the programs was to be led by Annie, Dianne and Lynn Afternoon tea and activities followed the unveiling of the plaque. The video shows some of the children's entertainment and their engagement as well as interior and exterior views.VHS Video cassette Converted to MP4 file format 00:26:02; 302MBshire of eltham, video recording, shire of eltham archives, eltham shire council, alan lansdowne, bev vern, bob halderson, cathy king, clark hopkins and clark, councillors, cr. alan baker, ed latanzio, eltham, eltham woods childcare co-operative, federal government, federal office of childcare, frank street, gary bartlett, george apted, george takola, grant roberts, john stanton, mandy press, michelle matello, neil biggins, neil brown, pat grundy, pauline toner, people living in the environment, susan forbes, victorian government, vin heffernan

Part of a collection donated by Miss Edith Elms via Chrisy Northcote. Children's identity unknown.Three young children standing on grass with two tricycles holding two white dogs. Trees in background at middle sited on right.Boys tricycles and petslocal history, photography, photographs, family history, social activities, sepia photograph, family groups, san remo

The LHLG newsletter of 1918 features this image and notes that they accompanied their shipmaster father Captain Aviss, of the Barque Inverneill who with his wife Catherine Florence Aviss, travelling through dangerous European waters, brought the family of three children to visit Melbourne. The two children featured are Margaret and Ronald, born at sea in 1915. Their young sister, Ruth Neil, was also born at sea on the 27 August 1918. The family re-united with a first meeting for the children and grandparents, Captain and Mrs Frampton, who "had lost two ships to enemy submarines and were now on their third". The family participated in "a happy Communion service in our chapel , in which the parents and grandparents joined this formed the keystone of their visit to Melbourne". Unfortunately the young Mrs Aviss contracted the Spanish influenza on their arrival in St John, New Brunswick, Canada, she succumbed in November 1918 after spending a week in the Parks Hospital. Herbert Aviss was left with 2 toddlers and a 3 month old baby. He went back to England with his children in March 1919 on passenger ship, accompanied by a nurse. Martin Frampton and his wife were in New York at the time, but they probably learnt about Catherine's death in the local newspaper. A memorial plaque in her name unveiled in the chapel at the Mission in April 1919. The parents and grandparents left their names and signatures in the visitor book (0149) on the 28 April 1918.One of the rare stories of seafarer visits illustrated with a photograph of the children of a family accustomed to life aboard ship. The impact of influenza also affected this family and others are recorded amongst the supporters of the Mission and reflects the widespread impact that the epidemic of the post WW1 period had on people, Mission activities and restrictions affecting public events. Both Framptons and Aviss are noted in the annals of the Cape Horne society.Small monochrome photograph of two small children, a girl and a boy posed in front of the ship's wheel of a sailing vesselshipboard life, seafarer families, martin frampton, elizabeth frampton, herbert aviss, children, catherine florence aviss nee frampton, wwi, world war one, great war, first world war, german, submarine, u boat, torpedo, spanish influenza, flu, pandemic, st john, new brunswick, sea mites, wheel, boy, girl, margaret aviss, ronald aviss, ruth aviss, ruth neill aviss, ruth neill paterson nee aviss (1918-2017), ronald aviss (1915-1996)

Captain Charles Ferguson was born in Scotland in 1813. He was the Master of the "Rajah" from 1838 to 1850 on voyages from England to Australia and vice versa. He became the First Chief Harbour Master for the port of Melbourne in 1852 after being the first Harbour Master and Water Police Officer in Geelong for 12 months. On the 5th of April 1841, the Rajah sailed with James Donovan M.D. as Surgeon Superintendent, and the Rajah sailed from Woolwich with 180 female convicts. The Rajah arrived on the 19th of July in Hobart, with 179 females (one died during the voyage) and 10 children. Miss Kezia Elizabeth Hayter was the matron on board. On page 28 of the "Sailing directions for Port Phillip, in the colony of Victoria including the ports of Melbourne and Geelong", a mention is made of the Mariner's Hospital and Floating Church soon to be established. There were discussions to built the hospital in Williamstown but instead the Government decided to build it in Melbourne. The Harbour Master and a commiittee decided to use the water police hulk, Emily, left unsold in 1856, to create a floating church: the Bethel was open in July 1857 with Reverend Kerr Johnston as Chaplain. Latrobe wrote a letter to Captain Cole in 1869, a few months after learning his death : "To Captain George Ward Cole † [from a draft in another’s hand] Clapham House, Lewes, Sussex, January 28th, 1869. My dear Captain Cole, Last mail will have taken out the sad intelligence of the death of our excellent old friend, Captain Ferguson. This will have been a terrible blow to his children and to his friends in the colony, who may have held reason to expect his early return to his home, with a not unreasonable prospect of ultimate restoration to health and activity. In the course of last October I went up to town with one of my children, mainly with the purpose of finding my way to Pinner, where he and Mrs. Ferguson were staying with an intimate friend. I found him in excellent health and spirits, and enjoying the prospect of a speeding resumption of the service to which he had devoted his best days, and upon the furtherance of which his entire energy was still directed. A week or two later Captain and Mrs. Ferguson went to Dover for change of air, and being still under the impression received from the advisers by whom they had been guided during their residence at a hydropathic establishment at Matlock, felt encouraged to plan almost immediate return to the colony by the Jerusalem early in December. However, certain misgivings in the mind of a medical gentleman, then in England, under whose care Captain Ferguson had at one time placed himself in Williamtown, led them to consider it judicious before departure to take the advice of some surgeon of eminence in London. Accordingly they came up to town at the close of November. The first London practitioners they consulted shook their heads, and advised consultation with Sir Wm. Ferguson. The result was that amputation, without loss of time, was pronounced necessary. The rest is soon told. He received the painful intelligence with calmness and full resignation to God's will, and underwent the operation at King's College Hospital with exemplary firmness and Courage on the 28th of November. Perfect success seemingly attended it, and there seemed, humanly speaking, to be every prospect of a prompt cure and early convalescence; everything seemed in his favour. A few days later, however, all was clouded by symptoms of hospital fever (pyoe æm ia). This resisted all control, and finally carried him off on the 27th of December, just one month after the operation. He had lived a Christian life, and his death was the peaceful and resigned death of a Christian. It was a melancholy satisfaction to me to be able to join a few friends in following his remains to their resting place in one of the outlying London cemeteries on the last day of the year. You know Mrs Ferguson well, and will be prepared to hear me say that her whole conduct and demeanour throughout this period of suspense and bitter trial has been worthy of her high character and steadfast principle. Come what will, and happen what may, I have the fullest conviction that neither the widow nor the children will be forsaken, however doubtful and clouded the future may appear, in consequence of the irreparable loss which, they have sustained. And now, dear Captain Cole, it is possible that you may already have heard all this from other sources, but I have dictated it to you under strong impulse, for I feel assured that there is no member of the community in which you live who will more sincerely deplore the loss of Captain Ferguson on private grounds; at the same time that there is no one who, from long acquaintance with his official character and services, will be in a better position to estimate their real value or the loss which the colony has sustained. The circumstances in which Captain Ferguson's family are left not only demands the utmost display of sympathy and interest on the part of friends, but may call for decided and prompt action; therefore I cannot rest satisfied without discharging what I consider my duty, and seeking to strengthen your hands as far as I may in bringing the character of his long services before the existing colonial authorities. Of his private career previous to his entering the service of the Colonial Government in 1851 nothing need be said. Captain Ferguson was appointed as the Harbour Master at Geelong in April, 1851 – a few months before the separation of the colony from New South Wales. He there did excellent service in a variety of ways calculated to advance the interests of the port, and to introduce www.latrobesociety.org.au 27 order, where, from circumstances, but little order had hitherto prevailed. His was the first appointment of this class in that locality. The separation of the colony from New South Wales took place in the month of July following. Shortly after, the late Captain Bunbury resigned the Harbour Mastership of Port Phillip. Captain Ferguson was at once (February, 1852) appointed to succeed him, and from that time performed all duties of Chief Harbour Master of the colony. The previous year (May 1851) the first gold discoveries in New South Wales had taken place, and in the month of August those of our colony followed. At the time of Captain Ferguson’s taking charge of the Port of Melbourne their influence had begun to be fully felt, and in no department more seriously than in that of the Harbour Master. This is no place for statistical details, but they must bear me out in reminding you of a few facts connected with our late friend’s career. At the time of separation that department comprised only 30 individuals of all ranks, and when he took charge the number was much reduced. There were at that time, according to the returns, no fewer than 54 vessels, registering 26,785 tons, in Hobson’s Bay alone. The crews on arrival numbered 1,235 men. Of this number only 463 remained on board, 500 having deserted, and the rest having been discharged by arrangement or pure necessity. For the first six months after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office as Harbour Master the duties of Police Magistrate and Chief of the Water Police were superadded, and how much labour they involved may be surmised from the fact that from 1st of April to the 31st July, 1852, four months only, no less than 236 marine cases were brought before the bench at Williamstown - sometimes as many as 30 in a day. A year later (March 1853) the returns show that the number of vessels in the harbour in Hobson’s Bay alone were 91, tonnage 43,754; and passing on to the still later returns of May, 1853, two years after Captain Ferguson’s assumption of office, we find from the records that the number of ships in port had increased to 129; tonnage, 63,292; crew on board on arrival, 2872, and at the date of report, 1628; the amount of desertions at that time having, however, proportionally diminished, in consequence of the abatement of the gold fever, caused by the non-success attendant upon the labours of thousands at the goldfields. The above numbers take no account of the large number of vessels and amount of tonnage lying at the wharves at Melbourne or elsewhere. From these figures alone it may be judged what must have been a struggle in which the Chief Harbour Master was engaged from the very outset to secure order, and answer the innumerable calls on every branch of his department, at the same time that there was for many months an almost complete impossibility of securing subordinate agency, such as boatmen, pilots, and police, at any price. But I may bear witness to the untiring diligence, energy, and self-devotion with which Captain Ferguson grappled with the difficulties of his position, and the seemingly insurmountable obstacles which stood in his way. Ashore and afloat he was always ready, showing the same directness of purpose, intelligence, and forgetfulness of self. He shunned no responsibility, and turned his hand from no work, whether within or beyond the ordinary scope of his duty, which the hard necessity of the times forced the Government to bring under his notice. Already in 1852, when the overflowing of our gaol and stockade rendered the adoption of other methods of restraint absolutely necessary, and addition to the existing buildings could not be thought of, it was Captain Ferguson who first suggested the employment of hulks; and it was with his personal assistance and supervision, and under his unflagging energy, that the three first of these – the Success, the President, and the Sacramento – were purchased, fitted up, and made available for the purpose in view, and the rules and regulations for the employment and safety of the men afloat and ashore prescribed and carried out. He carried the same energy into every branch of his department, and his influence was soon apparent. His subordinates of every class became actuated by his spirit. As time moved on, the range of his duties, both ordinary and extraordinary, increased. In the formation of the quarantine station at the heads, in the management if not the erection of lighthouses, sailing directions, port and wharf regulations, buoys, signal stations, www.latrobesociety.org.au 28 steam dredging &c., he was the main and most active agent. The whole pilot establishment and regulations, men, and vessels, were under his charge; and when I left the colony in May, 1854, the entire range of ports outside Port Phillip Heads from Point Lonsdale to Portland, as well as that of Geelong had felt the influence of his intelligent supervision and care. The entire department of Chief Harbour Master, which I have numbered at the period of separation about thirty individuals, then numbered 230. The character of Captain Ferguson’s unbroken service during the fourteen years which have elapsed since I left the colony must be well known to the Government and the people he has served so long and so faithfully. I confine myself to recalling to mind those earlier, and what must have been the hardest and most difficult, period – none can know how difficult but those who were in that fierce struggle for the maintenance of order under so many disadvantages; and on this subject I have spoken advisedly and with reason, for I may truly say he worked under my own eye. I had sincere regard for the man, and just pride in the qualities of his heart, head, and hand. Whatever mistakes may have been made by the Government of the colony in those hard and difficult times (and I am quite ready to admit that there were many, especially if the past is to be judged by the light of the present), I never have hesitated in believing that, in appointing Captain Ferguson to the office he has so long filled, it was the right man in the right place. I shall be heartily rejoiced to find that the Government and inhabitants of the colony admit that this has been the case, and to learn that they have not forgotten the strong claims of one who has served them so long and so faithfully, and who, removed by God’s providence, so to say, in the maturity of his powers, has left a widow and young family behind him. I have done, I leave you to make use of this communication, or any portion of it, which you may think judicious and called for. There may be among Ferguson’s friends those who may not be sorry to be reminded of facts. By-the-bye, I may mention as a proof how completely Captain Ferguson’s mind was engrossed by devotion to his public duty, that while in Dover, only ten days before the operation, he took an opportunity to drag himself up into the lantern of the S. Foreland Lighthouse, and made a most careful scrutiny of the whole apparatus and arrangement, with a view of the adoption of any hint for the perfection of those under his charge in the colony. And now, goodbye. I trust this will find you in good health, and in comparative vigour. Believe me ever, dear Captain Cole, Yours very truly, C. J. La Trobe"The attempt for a floating church was made as early as 1853 following similar examples in London like the Seamen's Hospital. Captain Ferguson was instrumental in the foundation of the Bethel Church.Digital copies of the 37 pages ; 22 cm.1854, hobsons bay, geelong, melbourne, williamstown, sandridge, mariner's hospital, floating church, seamen's hospital, captain charles ferguson (1813-1868), kezia elizabeth hayter (1818-1885), rajah quilt, prison hulks, water police, harbour master, harbor master, gaols

The 2018 Christmas celebration in Were Street Montmorency included this activity bus (Gym Bus) for children to play in.Digital copy of colour photograph.were street montmorency, were street montmorency christmas 2018

Portraits of Tom Vickers, wife Beryl and photographs of Rotary activities. Tom Vickers was the Greensborough pharmacist and a well known identity in the area. One photograph depicts Tom Vickers and Graeme Trotter with the commemorative plaque at the pioneer children's cemetery near the Plenty River Greensborough. Te plaque was donated by Greensborough Rotary.Local identity and Rotary activities.4 photographs in orange folder.Captions on back of each photograph.greensborough rotary, tom vickers, beryl vickers, graeme trotter.

Photographs of local children participating in a Star Wars activity in Grimshaw Street Greensborough circa 1980s.Digital copy of 2 colour photographs.main street greensborough

Photograph of Plaque located in Greensborough's Poulter Avenue Reserve. The inscription reads: "This plaque commemorating the beautification of the Poulter Avenue Reserve by scout groups, Greensborough Youth Activity Centre & local school children in Australia's Bicentennial year 1988 was unveiled by Cr. Margaret Devlin chairperson of the Diamond Valley Community Bicentenary Committee on 18 April 1988. This plaque was donated by the Greensborough Lions Club" Digital copy of colour photograph.poulter avenue reserve greensborough

Newspaper reports of social activities at Greensborough State School in 1947, including the children's break-up party.Photocopy of newspaper reports Handwritten title on page and note.greensborough state school, greensborough primary school