Surgical forceps have been used in various forms from ancient times and have evolved into a indispensable instrument for modern surgeries. Forceps are surgical instruments for the practice of medicine which are used for grasping, holding, and manipulating tissues and objects during surgical procedures. Ancient Origins Surgical instruments, including forceps, have been use since man first started working with tools. Ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, had physicians who used rudimentary forceps made of bronze or iron. The forceps of the ancient world were often simple in design, with two arms that could be squeezed together to grasp objects. They were primarily used for tasks like extracting foreign bodies or handling tissues. Middle Ages and Renaissance During the Middle Ages, medical knowledge and surgical techniques experienced a decline in Europe. While the Roman empire enjoyed remarkably advanced medical care and practices, its collapse left a vacuum that led to a loss of a centralized medical knowledge and a disruption of education and trade. At the same time, religious superstitions suppressed medical inquiry. With many of the medical texts of Hippocrates and Galen and others lost, the medical practice experienced a decline. However, surgical forceps continued to be used in various forms, albeit with limited advancements. With the Renaissance period came a revival in medical knowledge and innovation. Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon of the 16th century, is credited with introducing improvements to the forceps design, making them more versatile and effective. 18th and 19th Centuries Innovators The 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant period of advancement in surgical instruments, including forceps. The famous French Surgeon Jean-Louis Petit introduced forceps with curved tips, making them more suitable for specific procedures. John Hunter, a Scottish surgeon, designed forceps with fine tips, allowing for more delicate and precise manipulation during surgeries. Joseph Lister, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, emphasized the importance of cleanliness and sterile instruments during surgical procedures. This led to advancements in forceps sterilization techniques, which greatly improved patient outcomes. Modern Era The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the development of a wide variety of specialized forceps for different surgical procedures. Advances in metallurgy and manufacturing techniques allowed for more intricate and delicate designs. As surgery became more specialized, forceps were tailored to suit specific procedures, such as neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and gynecology. Contemporary Advances In recent decades, surgical technology evolves continuously. Many surgical procedures are now performed using minimally invasive techniques, which require specialized instruments. Modern surgical forceps are typically made of high-quality stainless steel, stainless steel alloy, or titanium. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, each suited to specific surgical tasks. Some forceps have serrated jaws for a better grip, while others have delicate tips for fine tissue manipulation. Modern Forceps The history of surgical forceps is a story of innovation, adaptation, and continuous refinement. From ancient origins to the modern era, these instruments have evolved alongside medical knowledge and surgical techniques, playing a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of surgery. https://www.wpiinc.com/blog/post/history-evolution-of-forceps These forceps were donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he would take time to further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . The organisation began in South Australia through the Presbyterian Church in that year, with its first station being in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill where he’d previously worked as Medical Assistant and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what was once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr L Middleton was House Surgeon to the Nhill Hospital 1926-1933, when he resigned. [Dr Tom Ryan’s practice had originally belonged to his older brother Dr Edward Ryan, who came to Nhill in 1885. Dr Edward saw patients at his rooms, firstly in Victoria Street and in 1886 in Nelson Street, until 1901. The Nelson Street practice also had a 2 bed ward, called Mira Private Hospital ). Dr Edward Ryan was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1884-1902 . He also had occasions where he successfully performed veterinary surgery for the local farmers too. Dr Tom Ryan then purchased the practice from his brother in 1901. Both Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan work as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He too was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. Dr Tom Ryan moved from Nhill in 1926. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, soon after its formation, a rare accolade for a doctor outside any of the major cities. He remained a bachelor and died suddenly on 7th Dec 1955, aged 91, at his home in Ararat. Scholarships and prizes are still awarded to medical students in the honour of Dr T.F. Ryan and his father, Dr Michael Ryan, and brother, John Patrick Ryan. ] When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery states “HOURS Daily, except Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons, 9-10am, 2-4pm, 7-8pm. Sundays by appointment”. This plate is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Tom Ryan had an extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926 and when Dr Angus took up practice in their old premises he obtained this collection, a large part of which is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. During his time in Nhill Dr Angus was involved in the merging of the Mira Hospital and Nhill Public Hospital into one public hospital and the property titles passed on to Nhill Hospital in 1939. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. ). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (The duties of a Port Medical Officer were outlined by the Colonial Secretary on 21st June, 1839 under the terms of the Quarantine Act. Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. Their interests included organisations such as Red Cross, Rostrum, Warrnambool and District Historical Society (founding members), Wine and Food Society, Steering Committee for Tertiary Education in Warrnambool, Local National Trust, Good Neighbour Council, Housing Commission Advisory Board, United Services Institute, Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Olympic Pool Committee, Food for Britain Organisation, Warrnambool Hospital, Anti-Cancer Council, Boys’ Club, Charitable Council, National Fitness Council and Air Raid Precautions Group. He was also a member of the Steam Preservation Society and derived much pleasure from a steam traction engine on his farm. He had an interest in people and the community He and his wife Gladys were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Retractor forceps, from the W.R. Angus Collection. Crocodile teeth ends and locking handles.Marked 'Stainless Steel' on both parts.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dr w r angus, dr ryan, surgical instrument, ent ear nose throat surgery, t.s.s. largs bay, warrnambool base hospital, nhill base hospital, mira hospital, flying doctor, medical treatment, forceps, surgery, medical history

Surgical forceps have been used in various forms from ancient times and have evolved into a indispensable instrument for modern surgeries. Forceps are surgical instruments for the practice of medicine which are used for grasping, holding, and manipulating tissues and objects during surgical procedures. Ancient Origins Surgical instruments, including forceps, have been use since man first started working with tools. Ancient civilizations, like Egypt, Greece, and Rome, had physicians who used rudimentary forceps made of bronze or iron. The forceps of the ancient world were often simple in design, with two arms that could be squeezed together to grasp objects. They were primarily used for tasks like extracting foreign bodies or handling tissues. Middle Ages and Renaissance During the Middle Ages, medical knowledge and surgical techniques experienced a decline in Europe. While the Roman empire enjoyed remarkably advanced medical care and practices, its collapse left a vacuum that led to a loss of a centralized medical knowledge and a disruption of education and trade. At the same time, religious superstitions suppressed medical inquiry. With many of the medical texts of Hippocrates and Galen and others lost, the medical practice experienced a decline. However, surgical forceps continued to be used in various forms, albeit with limited advancements. With the Renaissance period came a revival in medical knowledge and innovation. Ambroise Paré, a French surgeon of the 16th century, is credited with introducing improvements to the forceps design, making them more versatile and effective. 18th and 19th Centuries Innovators The 18th and 19th centuries marked a significant period of advancement in surgical instruments, including forceps. The famous French Surgeon Jean-Louis Petit introduced forceps with curved tips, making them more suitable for specific procedures. John Hunter, a Scottish surgeon, designed forceps with fine tips, allowing for more delicate and precise manipulation during surgeries. Joseph Lister, a pioneer of antiseptic surgery, emphasized the importance of cleanliness and sterile instruments during surgical procedures. This led to advancements in forceps sterilization techniques, which greatly improved patient outcomes. Modern Era The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the development of a wide variety of specialized forceps for different surgical procedures. Advances in metallurgy and manufacturing techniques allowed for more intricate and delicate designs. As surgery became more specialized, forceps were tailored to suit specific procedures, such as neurosurgery, ophthalmology, and gynecology. Contemporary Advances In recent decades, surgical technology evolves continuously. Many surgical procedures are now performed using minimally invasive techniques, which require specialized instruments. Modern surgical forceps are typically made of high-quality stainless steel, stainless steel alloy, or titanium. They come in various shapes, sizes, and designs, each suited to specific surgical tasks. Some forceps have serrated jaws for a better grip, while others have delicate tips for fine tissue manipulation. Modern Forceps The history of surgical forceps is a story of innovation, adaptation, and continuous refinement. From ancient origins to the modern era, these instruments have evolved alongside medical knowledge and surgical techniques, playing a crucial role in improving patient outcomes and advancing the field of surgery. https://www.wpiinc.com/blog/post/history-evolution-of-forceps These forceps were donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he would take time to further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . The organisation began in South Australia through the Presbyterian Church in that year, with its first station being in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill where he’d previously worked as Medical Assistant and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what was once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr L Middleton was House Surgeon to the Nhill Hospital 1926-1933, when he resigned. [Dr Tom Ryan’s practice had originally belonged to his older brother Dr Edward Ryan, who came to Nhill in 1885. Dr Edward saw patients at his rooms, firstly in Victoria Street and in 1886 in Nelson Street, until 1901. The Nelson Street practice also had a 2 bed ward, called Mira Private Hospital ). Dr Edward Ryan was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1884-1902 . He also had occasions where he successfully performed veterinary surgery for the local farmers too. Dr Tom Ryan then purchased the practice from his brother in 1901. Both Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan work as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He too was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. Dr Tom Ryan moved from Nhill in 1926. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, soon after its formation, a rare accolade for a doctor outside any of the major cities. He remained a bachelor and died suddenly on 7th Dec 1955, aged 91, at his home in Ararat. Scholarships and prizes are still awarded to medical students in the honour of Dr T.F. Ryan and his father, Dr Michael Ryan, and brother, John Patrick Ryan. ] When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery states “HOURS Daily, except Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons, 9-10am, 2-4pm, 7-8pm. Sundays by appointment”. This plate is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Tom Ryan had an extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926 and when Dr Angus took up practice in their old premises he obtained this collection, a large part of which is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. During his time in Nhill Dr Angus was involved in the merging of the Mira Hospital and Nhill Public Hospital into one public hospital and the property titles passed on to Nhill Hospital in 1939. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. ). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (The duties of a Port Medical Officer were outlined by the Colonial Secretary on 21st June, 1839 under the terms of the Quarantine Act. Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. Their interests included organisations such as Red Cross, Rostrum, Warrnambool and District Historical Society (founding members), Wine and Food Society, Steering Committee for Tertiary Education in Warrnambool, Local National Trust, Good Neighbour Council, Housing Commission Advisory Board, United Services Institute, Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Olympic Pool Committee, Food for Britain Organisation, Warrnambool Hospital, Anti-Cancer Council, Boys’ Club, Charitable Council, National Fitness Council and Air Raid Precautions Group. He was also a member of the Steam Preservation Society and derived much pleasure from a steam traction engine on his farm. He had an interest in people and the community He and his wife Gladys were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Retractor forceps, from the W.R. Angus Collection. Crocodile teeth ends and locking handles.Inscribed "SURGI _ _ _ _ " & '1'flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, dr w r angus, dr ryan, surgical instrument, ent ear nose throat surgery, t.s.s. largs bay, warrnambool base hospital, nhill base hospital, mira hospital, flying doctor, medical treatment, forceps, surgery, medical history

Family tree of the Skals family of Greensborough, tracing their origins to Denmark. The handwritten note states that the family farm was on Flintoff Hill, north side of today's Civic Drive.1 page PaperPencil additionsflintoff hill, skals family

Letter to Channel 9 regarding origin of Greensborough street names, with particular reference to Grimshaw Street. Also noted was that the streets mentioned were named after founding members of the Greensborough Wesleyan Church in the mid 1800s.Black and white print, colour photograph, with photocopied extract from "Greensborough Uniting Church's first 150 years" grimshaw street, living faith church, grimshaw family

Padre Wong was the first Asian chaplain.In the 1960s due to containerisation, the Mission adapted to be able to better respond the need of the changing origins of the crews.Five columns article illustrated with two photographs of Reverend Wong with his family and the Reverend with asian sailors published on page 84 of the Australian Women's Weekly, 20 November 1963reverend stephen wong, john wong, timothy wong, hong kong, china, chinese, asian, margaret berkeley, 1963

Family history of Josiah Holloway, origins of street names in the subdivision of Eltham History of Eltham and origins of street names connected with pioneers of the area.Newsprint, gray scale. Photograph of Keylock's Bridge on Diamond Creek at ElthamDV Leader April27 2011, p23josiah holloway, jack shallard, susanna maria bible, bradbury, henry brougham, handfield, fay harcourt, violet bank, kangaroo ground, bells hillroad, shalbury avenue, beard street, brougham street, main road, eltham

Articles about the "Batman" apple tree in Greensborough, dating from 1910, 1924 and 1937.Articles from Trove, giving various accounts of the origins and age of the Batman apple tree.4 news clippings, sourced from Trovebatman apple tree, flintoff family, whatmough family, batey family

Information and photos of the extended Amiet family supplied by descendant David Amiet. Louis Amiet was Principal of Greensborough State School from 1895 to 1917. Includes a list of his other schools and the origin of Greensborough streets named after family members.This photograph and text was copied from a Facebook site. Members are people who lived in the Greensborough area and share their reminiscences of the area with others. The site is administered by a GHS member but is not officially affiliated with the Society. Any information is the opinion of the contributor. Article and photograph sourced from social media. 8 pages.amiet family, louis amiet, greensborough state school

A short history of the church and estate surrounding St Katherine's Church St Helena, tracing its origins to Major Anthony Beale and his family. The chapel was named after his wife Katherine Rose.This church is significant due to its age and connection to Major Beale and the early settlement at Greensborough.I printed page with line drawing.st katherines church st helena, anthony beale, rose chapel

One of a series of articles by Helen Gillman on the recollections of Alan Partington. This one mentions the origins of the Ruston and Medhurst families and their connection to the Partington family. It also mentions achievements and anecdotes relating to these families.The Partington, Ruston and Medhurst familes were early pioneers of Greensborough. A photocopy of a newspaper article. 2 copies.partington, david medhurst, greensborough, charity jane pink, george westcott, peter ruston

The origins of the Iredale family are traced from Huddersfield in Yorkshire to the arrival of James Iredale in Greensborough (circa 1858). An outline of the life and origins of a pioneer Greensborough family.4 typed pages.iredale family, george arthur iredale, emma gilding, james iredale, margaret sunderland

A short history of Edward Bernard Green, after whom Greensborough was named. Describes his various business activities including his purchase of property on the Plenty River and his contract for the carriage of mail overland between Melbourne and Sydney. Author unknown.Background on the origins of "Greensborough".2 typed pages.greensborough, edward bernard green, green family

Passenger indexes; maps; mortgage document 1873 Grimshaw and Britnell; history of Aaron and Joshua Grimshaw; Greensborough murder: transcript of the trial of Josiah Grimshaw for the murder of John Mitchell.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Grimshaw family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.grimshaw family

Contents: Mayger family trees; entries from Digger database; copies of emails relating to family; copies of photographs; references to George Mayger in Melbourne directories 1874-1908; unassisted passenger list, G.Mayger; The Mayger family in Australia, compiled by Colin McKenzie.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Mayger/Maygar family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012mayger family, maygar family, greensborough

Contents: assisted British immigrants file; newspaper cutting 1940History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, green cover. Contains documents relating to the Butterworth familyCollected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.butterworth family

Contents: Partington Family history: from Lancashire to the unknown; family tree [with corrections]; copies of photographs; obituary of Trevor Partington 2002.History of the origins of this Greensborough pioneer family. (2 files)20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Partington familyCollected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.partington family, alan partington, noel withers

Contents: My story of the Iredales and old Greensborough by George Iredale; Family tree of George Iredale and Sarah Hurst; James Iredale and descendants; 1878 news article 'Shooting case at Greensborough'; funeral notice for James Iredale 1885; advertisement for staff Iredale & Co, Para Road Greensborough.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Iredale family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.iredale family, george arthur iredale, sarah hurst, james iredale, george gilding

Contents: Ely family tree Frederick Ely was born in Cowlinge Suffolk, in 1838. (His parents were George Ely b1793 and Sarah Poulter b1792, both born in Cowlinge. Frederick came to Australia on the ship 'Ocean Monarch' in 1856 with (most likely) his brother George, aged 34, his wife Elizabeth Piper, aged 22, and daughters Elizabeth, aged 2, and Harriet, aged 1. George and his family settled in the Harcourt area of Victoria, as did his brothers William and Henry. In 1857, Henry, his wife Mary Anne (Parker) and a daughter came to Australia, and settled in Greensborough for a short time, then moved to Harcourt, taking a large amount of apple tree cuttings and plants from Greensborough, where he, brother William, William Eagle, a childhood friend from Cowlinge, and a Nathan Vick, planted and stated apple orchids.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Ely family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.ely family, splatt family

Contents: Land sale for Greensborough (The Argus 1853); Article: Greensborough history; Article: The Greens of Barham Station NSW; letter to Shire council from descendant of E B Green. History of the origins of Edward Bernard Green after whom Greensborough was named.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to Edward B. Green and family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.greensborough, edward bernard green

Contents: Handwritten list of burials of McLaughlin and Black families at St Katherine's St Helena; handwritten family tree by Shirley Fraser; letter re McLaughlins Lane; un-named family photos; television fan memorabilia from 1950s.History of the origins of this Greensborough family. Includes McLaughlin, Fraser, Black.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, purple cover. Contains documents relating to the Black and Fraser family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.black family, shirley fraser, mclaughlin family, watsonia

Contents: Britnell family tree by Diana Stevens; Digger entries for Britnell.History of the origins of this Greensborough family20-page plastic binder, black cover. Contains documents relating to the Britnell family.Collected by Greensborough Historical Society. Folder commenced 2012.britnell family

Contents: Poulter family tree; Digger records for Poulter family; Death Certificate Violet Poulter (nee Staines); family tree of Samuel Poulter and Dianna Johnston; Obituary William Poulter; Family group record William Poulter and Mary Frost; Death Certificate George Henry Staines Poulter 1949; Death certificate Elizabeth Poulter (nee Bathgate) 1989; Australian Army record of George Henry Staines Poulter; Newspaper article "True bloods of our shire"1992.History of the origins of this Greensborough family.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the Poulter family.poulter family, violet poulter, george henry staines poulter, samuel poulter, william poulter

Contents: Documents, Newspaper articles and correspondence relating to name change of McLaughlins/McLaughlans Lane Plenty; McLaughlin family history.History of the origins of this Watsonia and Greensborough family. Documents the problems associated with a misspelt name.20-page plastic binder, spiral bound, clear cover. Contains documents relating to the McLaughlin family.mclaughlins lane, plenty, mclaughlans lane plenty, mclaughlin family

Contents: Whatmough family in 1881 British census; The arrival and settlement of my family in Australia by Alan Partington [Whatmough and Partington families]; Robert James Whatmough from nominal roll WW1; Article: "Wooden crosses mark pioneer graves"History of the origins of this Greensborough family20-page plastic binder, spiral bound,black cover. Contains documents relating to the Whatmough family.whatmough family, alan partington, robert james whatmough, greensborough

Details the life and family history of John James Jeffery, his English roots and his time in Greensborough as a poultry farmer. Prepared by his son John Jefferey in 2008.Gives the origin of Jeffery Court, (off Nepean St).2 x A4 pages.Family history of John James Jeffery, john james jeffrey, poultry farm, nepean street, greensborough, arthur street greensborough.

Details the history of Gulf Station Yarra Glen and the Bell family from their time of arrival in Victoria in 1839.Origins of a pioneering family with some links to Greensborough.Newspaper article on the Gulf Station Yarra Glen and the Bell family. Includes text and photograph of Ruth Crofts.gulf station, charles la trobe, william bell, ruth crofts, bell family, happy hollow

This bell was used by the public to ring encouragement to participants competing in the Kangaroo Hoppet. The Kangaroo Hoppet has its origins in the Birkebeiner Nordic Ski Club's 21 km Australian Birkebeiner, first held in 1979 at Falls Creek. In 1991 the first Kangaroo Hoppet of 42 km was conducted and became part of the Worldloppet being the first and, at the time, the only one in the southern hemisphere. It continues (2024) to be held on the fourth Saturday in August. It also includes the Australian Birkebeiner 21 km and the Joey Hoppet 7 km.Used by local family to cheer on relatives competing in the 1995 Kangaroo Hoppet at Falls Creek.Metal cylinder fastened with 3 metal rivets with metal ring handle on metal top. Attached is a metal ringer and a white ribbon with blue writing and boomerang and skis logo. Handmade.Ribbon: "AASF Falls Creek 1995"kangaroo hoppet; ski race; cross country skiing; bogong high plains, snow sports, metal bell

Personal fan of Asian origin used by early immigrant family living in Kiewa Valley and indicative of the mixed heritages within the Valley. Personal Fan of vintage circa 1920s suggests middle to upper socio-economic levelHistorically this item places certain ethnic group in the Kiewa Valley circa 1920's - 1950's. This personal fan indicates that it may have belonged to a middle class person with greater leisure time than that of a working class. The multicultural fabric of the region is also highlighted.Personal hand fan (slide out sideways open). Cardboard screen on wooden spine frame. Main side bright coloured green trees on golden red and royal blue background. Wispy silver lined clouds, black branches and brown earth with moss. Flip side gold speckled on white background Bamboo like sliversfan, personal fan, cooling, oriental, hand fan

Vincent and Vi Burston owned the Culla Hill property through the 1940s and 1960s. Vi Burston was active in the Shillinglaw Cottage movement. Barrett Burston Malting operates today with "its origins in the various families of Burston, Hood, Smith and Barrett, pioneers who established the malting industry in Australia in the 1860's". https://bbmalt.com.au/ Colour photograph of barn wall at Sweeneys showing plaque with the words: "Sam Burston and Co. proprietary limited pneumatic maltsters".sweeneys, sweeneys lane, eltham, burston, maltsters, plaque, barn, brickwork, stonework