Contents: Formation of Eltham Public Hall Ladies Committee to assist general committee to raise funds for the hall, 21 September 1937 Minutes of Eltham Public Hall Ladies Committee, 21 September 1937 and 14 October 1937 Minutes Eltham Public Hall Combined Meeting, General and Ladies Committee, 6 April 1938 Annual Report, Eltham Public Hall Ladies Committee, 16 March 1939 Letter of thanks from Eltham War Service Committee to Eltham Public Hall Social Committee for donation of £16, 20 October 1939 Annual Report, Eltham Public Hall Ladies Committee, 14 March 1940 In September 1937, a group of ladies met to form a Ladies’ Committee to assist the General Committee in raising funds for a Public Hall. Those present were Mrs Allen, Mrs Bowman, Mrs Hickey, Mrs Rains, Mrs Boake and Mrs Lyon. As there were only six present, they elected to remain in the interim as a Social Committee to arrange catering, etc., for the two dances that had been arranged for September 29th and October 30th of that year. Both those dances proved a great success. Mrs McAdie joined the committee in October. The Ladies’ Committee was officially formed at a combined meeting of the General and Ladies’ committees held on April 6th, 1938. Mrs Boake agreed to be President, Mrs Lyon as Secretary and Mrs Rains as Assistant Secretary. Other members included Mrs Browne, Mrs Forde, Mrs Jarrold, Mrs Bradbury and Mrs Taylor. By 1941 their numbers had grown to include Matron Wilson, and Mesdames Andrew, Brinkkotter, Cloney, Walker, Parsons, Crick, Ballenger, Travena, Hurst, Shields and Le Brocq . A number of these ladies eventually became part of the Women’s Auxiliary of the Eltham War Memorial Trust. Councillor A. Brinkkotter, secretary of the Hall Committee, noted that Eltham had succeeded, after many long years of fighting, in erecting a new hall and civic centre which had been badly needed. “It took a long time to convince the Council of the necessity for a new hall and civic centre in Eltham.” “The councillors, in looking after the interests of all sections of the rate payers, could not see that such a move was necessary. But finally the Hall Committee proved that such a move was not only advisable, but would prove a financial asset to the Shire.” “This committee had to put down £1,500 in cash before the work on the hall began, and to enable the committee to do this, residents loaned them money free of interest for 12 months. In addition the committee has guaranteed to pay the Council £100 a year for the next ten years.” “The borrowed money has to be repaid to the lenders, and I hope that the public will realise this and support the functions which have been and will be arranged by the Hall Committee to enable them to return the money as soon, as possible.” At the opening gala for the Public Hall, Mr. G. L. Chandler, M.L.C. said “It speaks volumes for those people who have worked for many years for the hall. I know of no other place where the residents have handed over £1,500 for the erection of a hall and guaranteed the balance of the cost. You will always find the few who say ‘Time is not opportune.’ In these days you have to make your opportunities.” “Before any town can advance, a civic spirit must exist in the residents, and I hope the people will support the Hall Committee which has the interests of this district at heart.”Background workings for the funding of a Public Hall at Eltham. The funding was provided by public subscription and the money loaned to Council to build the hall. The hall was part of the new Eltham Shire offices located at the corner of Main Road and Arthur Street. A similar funding approach was used a few years later to provide for the Eltham War Memorial located on the opposite side of Main Road.7 pages (5 leafs) from exercise book, faint ruled both sides, hand written in ink approx 23 x 18 cmannual report, arthur street, e.m. dagnall, eltham public hall, eltham public hall general committee, eltham public hall ladies committee, eltham public hall social committee, eltham war service committee, main road, minutes, mrs ada lyon

This envelope and its unknown contents were sent in 1937 to Fred Miller of Boughton Farm at Cassady's Bridge. west of Warrnambool. The envelope advertises an Annual Gala Week in Warrnambool from December 26th 1937 to January 2nd 1938. This was an event organized by the Warrnambool Progress Association as a tourist promotion exercise. The Secretary of the Association at the time was Martin Carter, a well-known Warrnambool saddler and local band conductor. The envelope also advertised the forthcoming Warrnambool Centenary Celebrations in 1939-1940 but these were not held because of the outbreak of World War Two. The Centenary celebrations were eventually held in 1947, a more appropriate year as Warrnambool was founded in 1847. This envelope is of interest as a memento of the 1930s in WarrnamboolThis is a bone-coloured envelope with images on the front of three people on the left and in the centre, red printing, black typing and postal franking. The back has a postal stamp.Mr. F. Miller Cassidy's (sic) Warrnambool P.O. Warrnambool Centenary Celebrations 1939-40 For Your Next Holiday Warrnambool the Garden City by the Sea Annual Gala Week --Dec.26,1937 to Jan.2 Under auspices of Warrnambool Progress Association Particulars from M.L.Carter, Sec.gala week warrnambool 1937, m.l.carter warrnambool, warrnambool progress association, warrnambool centenary celebrations, fred miller boughton cassady's bridge

School exercise book used c. 1931 by girl guide leader (possibly Gwen Petterson) to record names of guides, ideas for activities, 'health rules' for guides, and badges attained by individual guides. Also includes Annual Report dated 27/10/31, signed "Gwen A. Petterson, Acting Captain".girl guides, gwen a. petterson [acting captain linton girl guides]

Narre Warren North had a population of 200 in 1933. Just a month after World War 2 began in September 1939, a meeting was held in the Narre Warren Scout Hall to discuss the formation of a branch of the Red Cross Society. Mrs Harry Randle was elected president, Mrs Montague, vice president; Mrs Brundrett, secretary and Mrs Ewart, treasurer. All financial members were deemed to constitute the committee. By 1953, just 14 years after their formation they had raised over two thousand pounds, of which one thousand, eight hundred and eighty-two pounds had been sent to headquarters.The minutes bring together the ladies of all walks of life in a small rural community. The early minutes reflect the difficulties of the war years when many of the women may have had husbands, sons and daughters in the services. Despite rationing and shortages of materials these ladies always seemed to have most of what they needed to make goods to sell at stalls, provide suppers at concerts and social afternoons and hold an annual fair. In their spare time they knitted socks and helmets and sewed pyjamas that were sent to those serving overseas. The minutes highlight the work of our local women and give us an insight into the often unrecorded contributions women made within their communities in a time when local histories were dominated by male achievements.Six exercise books bound with hard cover binding. Navy blue debossed cover.narre warren north (vic.), narre warren north (vic.) -- red cross, red cross society