Travelling entertainment has been one popular way that charities have been able to raise revenue over the past 170 years. The Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind toured regional Victoria regularly to help raise awareness, showcase their talents and fundraise to provide care and education for vision impaired men, women and children. Double sided printed ticket for a concert in the Bendigo Town Hall featuring blind artists and dancers from the Royal Institute of the Blind.Obverse; Under the Patronage of the Mayor and Mayoress (Cr, and Mrs J. A. Michelson) and / Councillors of the City of Bendigo / 30 Blind Artists !! / FIRST APPEARANCE IN BENDIGO of The Famous Orchestra and / Concert Party of Blind Artsits and Blind Children Dancers from the / ROYAL VISTORIAN INSTITUTE for the BLIND, / (ST KILDA ROAD MELBOURNE) / WILL GIVE THEIR / FIRST BENDIGO ENTERTAINMENT / IN THE BENDIGO TOWN HALL, / on TUESDAY, MARCH 22nd, 1927, at 8PM / His worship the Mayor will Preside / Tickets 2/- box plan at the Premier Piano Company from March 14th. / PROCEEDS IN AID OF INSTITUTE S.W Hedger, Superintendent and Secretarymayor and mayoress michelson, vision australia, city of bendigo town hall, city of greater bendigo community partnerships, city of greater bendigo events

"The Mechanics Institute movement flourished in Victoria from 1839 to 1950. It was based on the development of Mechanics’ Institutes in Scotland and England from the 1820s, which were intended to educate and enlighten the working classes. The term ‘mechanic’ in those days meant an artisan, craftsman or working man, especially those who had moved from rural areas to work in new city factories during the Industrial Revolution. The early Institutes were usually equipped with a reading room, a library and a lecture room. Although enjoying mixed success in Britain, they contributed to the development of public education and library services. The movement was adopted more enthusiastically in the colonies. It began slowly in Victoria but its expansion after the gold rushes population influx was rapid, especially in rural areas. Every suburb and town wanted to have a Mechanics’ Institute. During the 1850s approximately forty Institutes were established, with even greater growth in the period 1860 to 1900. By 1900 there were 400 Institutes in Victoria. The establishment of a Mechanics’ Institute was often a great achievement for a local community, requiring organising committees to raise substantial funds for a building site (where this had not been granted by the Government), and the building. Once built, the committee then had to purchase books, provide a caretaker or librarian, and finance the ongoing use of and improvements to the building. ‘The history of many Institutes is a story of tremendous community effort, and often, financial difficulties’. In addition to being monuments to local enterprise and community life, the Mechanics’ Institutes played a vital role as an intellectual forum, and in contributing to an informed and participatory democracy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. They provided journals and other reading matter on local, state, national and international issues, and hosted of lectures and held debates about wider issues such as Federation, colonial nationalism, defence, female suffrage, the price of land and labour. With the development of the school and technical education in the latter part of the nineteenth century, the need for community technical and adult education declined. As a result of the introduction of government library grants in 1867, many Mechanics’ Institutes incorporated a free library in their buildings to finance collection of their books. By 1884-85, there were 257 free libraries in Victoria. However, government support and library grants dropped off in the 1890s depression. Entertainment took on a greater role in the 1890s, with the introduction of moving pictures, billiards rooms, games rooms (chess), concerts and dances. The First World War had a devastating impact on many rural communities, and some Mechanics’ Institutes were no longer viable. On the other hand the early twentieth century was also a time of agricultural development, and many country towns were growing in this period. The 1930s depression further limited growth of many libraries and reduced grants substantially. In response many Mechanics’ Institutes were renamed, for example as memorial halls, in order to retain and attract more patrons (eg at nearby Sunbury). The diminishing role for Mechanics’ Institutes and the preference for larger and better appointed halls (with supper rooms, cloak rooms etc) resulted in demolition of some small Institutes. The advent of cars, radios, and television also provided other opportunities for recreation, learning and entertainment. The greater role of municipalities in providing library services also eroded the need for free libraries. While over 500 Mechanics’ Institutes or halls are extant, very few of these retain their original role as ‘diffusers of useful knowledge’. Most are still available for community purposes, as venues for meetings, socials, civic occasions etc, while others are employed as museums, shops and theatres. Most buildings are on Crown land, and managed by a delegated committee of management, who are responsible for raising revenue to maintain aging buildings. Many of those which were originally established on private land, such as Melton, have since reverted back to the Crown, and municipal Councils. The most common Mechanics Institute building form is the simple weatherboard gable building with iron roofs, notable for their ‘honest simplicity’ rather than as ‘monuments of the ancients’. At the other extreme there are some magnificent two storeyed brick and stucco structures with elaborate ornamentation (as was apparently envisaged by some in Melton in 1905-10)". The future of Melton Mechanic Institute Gazette articlelocal architecture

A photo of L/ Stan Savige with Miss Enez Domec-Carre and Mrs Gilles some of the senior girls. It was at an annual demonstration in the late 1940s or early 1950s as it was published in the newsletter with the news of Legatee Savige dying in 1954. The senior girls are all in their gymnastics outfits with Legacy logo. These were provided free of charge to Junior Legatees attending the weekly classes run by Legacy. Mrs Gillies was the first instructress of Girls' Classes. Throughout the year Melbourne Legacy provided classes for Junior Legatees such as dancing, gymnastics and Eurythmics. The Demonstration was an annual event to showcase their skills. Melbourne Legacy conducted Annual Demonstrations / Parades from 1928 through to the 1980's, usually held at Melbourne Town Hall or Olympic Pool Stadium. The beautiful costumes were made by members of the Junior Legacy Mothers' Club and the Melbourne Legacy Wives' Association. Miss Enez Domec-Carre was the supervisor of girls classes and instrumental in the Annual Demonstration for many years. She joined Melbourne Legacy in 1932 and became the chief instructor of girls' physical education until she retired aged 65 in 1970.A record of that Legatee Stan Savige attended Annual Demonstrations and that Legacy provided classes for junior legatees and the skills learned were displayed in the Annual Demonstration.Black and white photo of L/ Stan Savige, Enez, Mrs Gillies and junior legatees at an Annual Demonstration.annual demonstration, junior legatee, enez domec carre, gillies

A photo of senior girls in a scene from an annual demonstration. The girls were dressed as native American girls, some are in a kayak and others stand near totem poles. One of these two photos was used in the July 1954 newsletter to highlight the work of the girls classes. Throughout the year Melbourne Legacy provided classes for Junior Legatees such as dancing, gymnastics and Eurythmics. The Demonstration was an annual event to showcase their skills. Melbourne Legacy conducted Annual Demonstrations / Parades from 1928 through to the 1980's, usually held at Melbourne Town Hall or Olympic Pool Stadium. The beautiful costumes were made by members of the Junior Legacy Mothers' Club and the Melbourne Legacy Wives' Association. Miss Enez Domec-Carre was the supervisor of girls classes and instrumental in the Annual Demonstration for many years. She joined Melbourne Legacy in 1932 and became the chief instructor of girls' physical education until she retired aged 65 in 1970.A record of the set and costumes used at the Annual Demonstrations. Also that Legacy provided classes for junior legatees and the skills learned were displayed in the Annual Demonstration.Black and white photo of junior legatees in native American costume in a mock kayak on stage at an Annual Demonstration. There are two copies of different sizes.annual demonstration, junior legatee, costume, totem pole

A photo of senior girls in costumes from an annual demonstration with Miss Enez Domec Carre. Also a photo of them on stage during the performance. Throughout the year Melbourne Legacy provided classes for Junior Legatees such as dancing, gymnastics and Eurythmics. The Demonstration was an annual event to showcase their skills. Melbourne Legacy conducted Annual Demonstrations / Parades from 1928 through to 1979s, usually held at Melbourne Town Hall. The beautiful costumes were made by members of the Junior Legacy Mothers' Club and the Melbourne Legacy Wives' Association. Miss Enez Domec-Carre was the supervisor of girls classes and instrumental in the Annual Demonstration for many years. She joined Melbourne Legacy in 1932 and became the chief instructor of girls' physical education until she retired aged 65 in 1970.A record of the displays at the Annual Demonstrations. Also that Legacy provided classes for junior legatees and the skills learned were displayed in the Annual Demonstration.Black and white photo of junior legatee girls in costume back stage with Miss Carre at an Annual Demonstration and a photo of them on stage during the performance.annual demonstration, junior legatee, girls' classes, enez domec carre, costume

Scotsburn State School, No. 2176 celebrated its Jubilee on the weekend of Saturday to Monday, 19-21 April 1930. The program included an afternoon banquet and social, church services, a monster sports meeting and a dance. Small envelope printed with a black and white image, which enclosed a printed paper invitation and program for the Jubilee of Scotsburn State School. schools, education, reunions, scotsburn state school