A circular sent to Victorian schools informing them about the annual "Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students", held in April each year. The ceremony provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain an appreciation of the Anzac spirit, the significance of the Shrine and the meaning of Anzac Day. The 6 pages outline the order of service of the ceremony, some background notes on the ANZAC Commemorations, a short history of the Shrine of Remembrance, a story of Legacy and a letter from the President of Melbourne Legacy. It mentions the ceremony is telecast on the ABC television channels. The programme is labeled a 'Circular to Victorian Colleges and Schools' so they were sent to school to publicise the events. There is a letter to the school Principal from the President of Legacy inviting the schools to attend or to listen to the telecast. Each ceremony was attended by the Governor of Victoria, in 1995 it was Sir Richard McGarvie.A record of a ceremony at the Shrine for school students.Printed brochure x 3 of the student Anzac ceremony with a photo of the Shrine and a rainbow, single page folded into 3. Years 1992, 1993, 1994.Circular to All Victorian Colleges and Schools. 64th Annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students.anzac commemoration for students, wreath laying ceremony

A circular sent to Victorian schools informing them of the annual "Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students", held each April. The ceremony provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain an appreciation of the Anzac spirit, the significance of the Shrine and the meaning of Anzac Day. The 4 pages outline the order of service of the ceremony, some background notes on the ANZAC Commemorations, and a letter from the Legacy President W. A. Braidie inviting the school to attend. There is a yellow reply form for the Principal to fill out, nominating the number of children who would be attending. They mention the ceremony is broadcast on the ABC radio stations. It mentions is it a 'Circular to Victorian Colleges and Schools' so they were sent to school to publicise the events. There is a letter to the school Principal in each programme from the President of Legacy inviting the schools to attend or to listen to the telecast.A record of a ceremony at the Shrine for school students.Printed brochure with black and white photo of the Shrine, single page folded in half and a single page yellow form.anzac commemoration for students, wreath laying ceremony

A circular sent to Victorian schools informing them of the 1995 annual "Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students", held on 5th April 1995. The ceremony provides a valuable opportunity for students to gain an appreciation of the Anzac spirit, the significance of the Shrine and the meaning of Anzac Day. The 6 pages outline the order of service of the ceremony, some background notes on the ANZAC Commemorations, a short history of the Shrine of Remembrance, a story of Legacy and a letter from the President of Melbourne Legacy. It mentions the ceremony is telecast on the ABC television channels. They mention is it a 'Circular to Victorian Colleges and Schools' so they were sent to school to publicise the events. There is a letter to the school Principal from the President of Legacy inviting the schools to attend or to listen to the telecast. Each ceremony was attended by the Governor of Victoria, in 1995 it was Sir Richard McGarvie. The photo was published in an issue of the Answer in May 1992 and the caption says, 'Junior Legatees Kathleen McGrath and Greg Sallee place a wreath at the eternal flame'.A record of a ceremony at the Shrine for school students in 1995.Printed brochure of the student Anzac ceremony with a photo of two junior Legatees at the Cenotaph, single page folded into 3. Circular to All Victorian Colleges and Schools. 64th Annual Anzac Commemoration Ceremony for Students.anzac commemoration for students, wreath laying ceremony

These two letters, one to President Owen from James G Gillespie with a donation of a copy of 'Legacy' by Claude Blatchford, and a yellow file copy of a reply letter from President Owen. Legatee Gillespie suggests document called 'Legacy' by Blatchford should be inscribed and handed to succeeding presidents. The reply agrees and that the Board had expressed their appreciation of the fine gesture. The notation H22 in red pen shows that it was part of the archive project that was trying to capture the history of Legacy. A record of correspondence in the 1950s about Legacy appreciating the work of Blatchford.White quarto letterhead of L/ Gillespie and a buff file copy of a reply from Legacy about Claude Blatchford's book.Handwritten H22 in red pen. 01494.2 handwritten in pencil 'File History of Legacy 1953' in top right corner. Initialed by President C Owen.history, blatchford

Letter sent to Legatee D.J. Simonson by Miss Enez Domec-Carre thanking Melbourne Legacy for allowing her to continue to conduct her private physical culture classes at Legacy House rent free and also for granting her $20 per week after her retirement until she became eligible for the Age Pension. She also expresses her loyalty to Legacy and offers assistance at any time. Enez was the supervisor of the girls classes held at Legacy House for many years. She organised many annual demonstrations and was held in high regard by Legacy. The library at Legacy House is named in her honour. See also a newspaper article at 00978 which outlines her achievements, a summary of her career at 00458 and 00129. She was a former Miss Victoria and was known for her physical education skills and for introducing grace and culture to Melbourne. In 1932 she joined Melbourne Legacy as assistant to Mrs Gilles (wife of a Legatee) later became the chief instructor of girls' physical education until she retired aged 65. In the post World War II baby boom the Legacy evening classes were attended by about 400 girls. She helped organise Legacy Widows and Legatee wives to sew the costumes for performances. Among her proudest moments was a display by 1000 Junior Legatees at the MCG during the 1954 visit of Queen Elizabeth II. As well her work for Legacy she ran physical education, ballroom dancing and debutante preparation classes.The letter illustrates Miss Carre's loyalty to Legacy and Legacy's appreciation of her service.Off-white quarto photocopy of letter x 2 pages, sent to Legatee D.J. Simonson by Miss Enez Domec-CarreStamped in purple "CONFIDENTIAL". "COPY TO .... FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and blue handwriting "Executive Officer"girls' classes, enez domec carre

Various letters written to Mrs P Amery of 11 Maury Road, Chelsea during her role as the Honorary Secretary for the Chelsea RVIB Auxiliary. Correspondence between Head Office and the Auxiliaries (who provided a lifeline of donations) was a crucial way to maintaining a good relationship, providing support and acknowledgement for the hard work undertaken by volunteers. A summary of these letters is listed below: 1939 - Appreciation for holding the role as Honorary Secretary. 1941 - Congratulations on appointment as secretary to the RVIB Chelsea Auxiliary. 1944 - Congratulations on re-election as Honorary Secretary 1952 - Acknowledgement of unselfish and valued service upon her retirement of the Secretary role. 1954 - Acknowledgement of service upon her retirement on behalf of the President and Committee members of the Chelsea auxiliary5 letters from the RVIB to Mrs P AmeryVarious illustrations based upon the letterhead used at the timeroyal victorian institute for the blind, p. amery, auxiliaries

WWI Historical significance.1# Letter of commendation for Pte Christopher Parkinson. 2# Photo of internment for C. Parkinson 2156, 2nd Battalion Trois Arlines Military Cemetary.1# Second Australian Pioneer Battalion. Battalion Headquarters, January 5th 1918. To Mrs E. Parkinson Pridfort St, Daylesford Vic. Letter reads The Commanding Officer has directed me to advise you that the name of 2156 Pte Parkinson C. has been published in the routine orders of this Battalion, for good work done by him previous to his death, and in forwarding this note to you wishes to express his appreciation of this man's services with this Battalion. Signed by Capt. & Adj. 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion. 2# Parkinson Christopher 2156. Private. 2nd Battalion, Trois Arlines Military Cemetry. A photo on the opposite side Of Pte Parkinson's grave.

This photograph and a matching earlier photograph are the images of a painting of the British steamship SS Warrnambool at Dover Strait in the English Channel. The photographs were donated by the painting’s owner, who acquired the 30” x 56” (76 x 142.5 cm) oil on canvas painting in 1998. Both photographs were accompanied by a letter, one written in 2001, and the other in 2003. The letters confirm that the artist of the painting was Charles Keith Miller, signed with the initials “CKM” and dated “1893”. The painting shown in the photographs was a gift to the Town Council of Warrnambool, presented to Warrnambool folks in Melbourne on December 1, 1892, by the Captain of William Lund’s ship SS Warrnambool. The painting was given by Lund in appreciation of the Ladies of Warrnambool who had presented the ship with a ‘house’ flag bearing the Blue Anchor Line’s symbol of a diagonal blue anchor on a white background; the ladies had made the decision to present the flag only a month earlier. A few days later, December 6th, the SS Warrnambool was on its homeward journey to Britain, sailing via Adelaide. It anchored for a short time off the Port of Warrnambool. A boat was launched from Lady Bay to take a group of friends to the ship with a delivery of gifts. After cheers were roused for both the ship and the Captain, the ship continued on its way. The photograph shows the gifted white flag with a diagonal blue anchor flying from the masthead. The same symbol is painted on the ship’s black funnel. The signal flags on the foremast display ‘M’ ‘R’ ‘V’ ‘B’. These letters are most likely the ship’s call number ‘MRVB’. Although the painting was given as a gift in December 1892, it is post-dated “1893”. Perhaps the painting was given earlier than anticipated; or the date added later, but whatever the reason, the provenance of the painting was confirmed at auctions of this painting and other works by the same artist. CHARLES KEITH MILLER 1836-1907:- Captain Charles Miller left his home in Scotland at the age of 15 years for a life at sea. He earned his Master’s Certificate ten years later. After being the captain of sailing ships he moved over to the steamships because they were faster. In 1866 he married and settled in Glasgow. Over the following eleven years he and his wife had five children, then sadly his wife passed away. Captain Miller returned to the sea for a while but in 1888 he gave up his sea life to spend his time as a marine artist. His understanding of seafaring life and vessels, combined with his artistic skills, gave him the ability to produce fine art and several galleries and museums have collections of his sought-after works. S.S. WARRNAMBOOL 1892-1925:- The steamship SS Warrnambool was built in 1892 by the Sunderland Ship Building Company for the Lund Line of London, founded by William Lund in 1869. It efficiently carried both passengers and cargo across the world to Australia, under the command of her master Captain Joshua Edward Iibery, who had many years of experience with the Blue Anchor Line. The company, referred to as the Blue Anchor Line or BAL, owned a fleet of both sail and steamships. The funnels of all of the steamships were painted black, with a white band around the top bearing a diagonal blue anchor and chain. The company’s house flag was also white with a diagonal blue anchor. The SS Warrnambool carried passengers and cargo in a ‘no frills’ service to and from Europe around the Cape of Good Hope, stopping at some ports in between. The ship was involved in bringing home returned solders in 1895. At one time it carried a doctor from Victoria, Australia, to assist at the war front in South Africa. The ship had a very good reputation for its cargo arriving ‘almost always in excellent condition.’ Exported goods from Australia included iron safes, flour, wool, apples, frozen rabbits, butter, cheese, pork, cattle, poultry and sheep. One remarkable delivery contained Ostriches for Queen Victoria and they survived the journey well. The SS Warrnambool was sold in 1900 to the British and South American Steam Navigation Co. Ltd of Liverpool and was renamed ‘Harmodius’. The company was managed by R.P. Houston & Company of London and its Houston Line funnels were red with a black top. The Harmodius was sold in 1919 to K.S.S. Co. Ltd, managed by Kaye Son & Co. Ltd. of Liverpool, and was renamed ‘Kut’. The line had black funnels with a white ‘K’ in a diamond or between white stripes. In 1926 it was purchased by T.W. Ward Ltd. and broken up. NOTE- other vessels named “Warrnambool” Two other vessels carried the name “Warrnambool” (1)- HMAS Warrnambool J202 (1941-1947), a Bathurst Class corvette vessel owned by the Royal Australian Navy, destroyed by a mine. The photograph is significant for its association with the painting "SS Warrnambool" by well-known early 20th century marine artist Charles Keith Miller, whose paintings are well valued. The painting and the photograph of it are namesakes of Warrnambool and are connected through the gifts exchanged between the ship company owner, the City of Warrnambool and the Ladies of Warrnambool; the House Flag and the painting by C K Miller. The image is a good likeness to original photographs of the late-19th to early-20th century steam and sale vessel. Coloured photograph of a painting, the steamship S.S. Warrnambool. The three-masted ship has lowered sails. It is in calm water, land on one side, and other vessels in the water. The ship has four raised signal flags, a house flag and a blue ensign. The funnel also bears the house flags symbol. Smoke emits from the funnel. Figures are visible onboard. There is a signature and a title on the lower edge of the photograph. (Artist of the painting in the photograph was Charles Keith Miller)House flag symbol, [diagonal blue anchor on white background] Text "CKM" and "1893" Text "S. S. WARRNAMBOOL."flagstaff hill, warrnambool, photograph, steam ship warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, ss warrnambool, captain, charles keith miller, ckm, 1893, william lund, warrnambool town council, blue anchor line, lund line, ladies of warrnambool, house flag, diagonal blue anchor, captain miller, sunderland ship building company, migrant ship, 1892 ship, home flag, bal, australian export, s.s.warrnambool, dover strait, english chanel, port of warrnambool, lady bay, mrvb, captain charles miller, captain joshua edward iibery, ostriches, queen victoria, british and south american steam navigation co., harmodius, r.p. houston & company, houston line, k.s.s. co. ltd, kaye son & co. ltd, kut, t.w. ward ltd

A braille letter, with print above lettering, sent to Auxiliaries in December 1935. It reads: To the President, Executive and Members of the Murtoa RVIB Auxiliary Dear Friends, We, the blind children of the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, once again enjoy the great pleasure of thanking you for all you have done for us and the little babies during the past year. Without your help it would be impossible for the Institute to carry on its wonderful work of brightening our lives. We send you and your dear ones our heartiest greetings and sincerest wishes for a Very Happy Christmas and a Bright & Prosperous New Year. With our fondest love and grateful appreciation, We remain, Yours sincerely, The Blind Children Dec. 19351 Braille page with black handwritingroyal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries, braille

SHIRE OF TALBOT & CLUNES CEASED TO EXIST 19TH JANUARY 1995. NAMES OF COUNCIL MEMBERS LISTED AT LAST MEETING..1 COLOURED PHOTOGRAPH OF LAST ELECTED COUNCIL OF SHIRE OF TALBOT & CLUNES FRAMED UNDER GLASS WITH A TYPEWRITTEN LIST OF NAMES OF THE COUNCILLORS .2 SHIRE OF TALBOT & CLUNES CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION TO WILLIAM BARKELL ARTS & HISTORIC CENTRE .3 Letter - Supplementary File PRINTED ON PAPER INSERT: LAST ELECTED COUNCIL OF THE SHIRE OF TALBOT AND CLUNES WHICH CEASED TO EXIST 19TH JANUARY - 1995 STANDING: W B COOK, W FULHAM, R J PRYOR (CEO), R A JOHNSON, D C BEVERN, D E JONES, L J MASON (ENGINEER), K J WEATHERSON SEATED: S ROBINSON, F C SEERS, R S GORDON (PRESIDENT), L J NEW MAN, M J WAGSTAFF. (ABSENT) J ZIADAlocal history, photography, photographs, councillors & officers

The letter is to William John Turner in appreciation of him conducting the Ritual (ODE) on numerous occasions. Turner is a Life Member of the Bendigo Sub Branch. Refer Cat No's 8029 & 8030 for details of his volunteer/committee work, Life Membership and his WW1 service records.Letter off white colour, letter head of the "Returned Services League of Australia" - Bendigo Sub Branch, all type in black, signed in blue pen. The letter is to "Mr W. Turner" of 121 Barnard St Bendigo."Bendigo 18th June 1969" "President C.J. Plant" "Secretary J.K. Barnes" "Mr W. Turner"brsl, smirsl, letter

The letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth recognised the significance of William’s brave and courageous lifesaving act to the people of Australia; “They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The story of that brave rescue follows on below … The ship from which the sailors were rescued was the three-masted, iron and steel barquentine the La Bella, built in Norway in 1893. She was one of two iron and steel ships by Johan Smith, The company was one of the leading shipping families in Tvedestrand, Norway. She was significant to Norwegian shipping, being one of only 27 iron and steel ships ever built in Norway. She was registered in New Zealand and engaged from 1902 in inter-colonial trading of timber in the Pacific, between New Zealand and Australia and was often in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria. On 5th October 1905, the twelve-year-old La Bella left Lyttleton, New Zealand carrying a cargo of timber bound for Warrnambool, Australia. She was manned by a crew of twelve: the Master, (Captain Mylius, previously 1st Mate of La Bella, appointed Captain to La Bella on 6th February 1903) 2 Mates, Cook, six able seamen, one ordinary seaman and a boy. Bad weather en route caused her to shelter at Burnie on Tasmania's North West coast. On November 10th, the 37th day of her journey, La Bella approached Warrnambool. Captain Mylius steered her towards Lady Bay Channel in heavy south-west seas and evening mist. He ordered the helmsman to steer for the light. As the ship came round, a tremendous sea struck her on the port quarter, causing her to breach broadside in a north-westerly direction into breakers. The helm was brought round twice more, but each time heavy seas broke over her, the third time throwing the La Bella on to a submerged reef in Lady Bay now known as La Bella Reef (about 100 yards from the Warrnambool breakwater). The sea was so rough that it even wrenched a one-and-a-half ton anchor from its fastenings and into the sea. As Captain Mylius headed to the steel wheelhouse, intending to send up a rocket flare, a huge sea slammed the steel door into him (resulting in massive bruising front and back) Despite his injuries he still managed to set off a blue light, which he held up in his hands. La Bella’s lifeboats were filled with seawater and broke up on their chocks. The blue light was the first indication to people on the shore that there was a ship in distress. The Harbour Master, Captain Roe (who lived in the Harbour Master’s House opposite Flagstaff Hill), organised a group of volunteers to crew the lifeboat because the trained crew was unavailable; the crewmen were working on a steamer in Port Fairy at the time. He then poured oil onto the water to try and smooth the sea. At around 11 pm three of the crew took shelter in the steel forecastle but the sea crashed into it and broke it up. While the rest of the crew and onlookers watched helplessly in the moonlight the bodies were washed away into the sea, never to be seen again. Some of the crew lashed themselves to the weather rail to keep from being washed away. Watson, the ordinary seaman, became tangled in the rigging lines and was too weak to move, so the 2nd Mate, Robertson, put a line onto him so that he wouldn’t wash off. Around 11 pm three of the crew were unconscious from exhaustion. The situation on La Bella was becoming dangerous. The 2nd Mate moved to the ‘house’ and soon afterwards the ship slipped in the heavy sea. The lashings of the 1st Mate and the ‘boy’ Denham had kept them safe until about 2 am when they were washed overboard; no one was able to help. One by one, the exhausted crew were being washed overboard, too weak to hold on any longer. During the night the La Bella had broken into two and the deckhouse ran out towards the sea. Two more men drowned when trying to reach the lifeboat. By sunrise, the only survivors of the twelve were the Master, 2nd Mate and three seamen. Early in the morning, Captain Roe used the rocket apparatus on shore to try and shoot a line to the ship for a safer rescue but each attempt fell short of the target. Several attempts were made by the lifeboat to rescue the stricken sailors, but the rough conditions made this difficult for the boat to get close enough to the ship and the lifeboat had to return to shore. During a final attempt to reach the ship Captain Mylius ordered his men to jump into the sea. Leonard Robertson, 2nd mate, jumped and swam towards the lifeboat, taking hold of the boat hook offered to him. Oscar Rosenholme managed to reach the boat floating on a piece of timber from the ship’s load and a third survivor, Noake, also made the boat. Along with the lifeboat rescue crew, 25-year-old William Ferrier rowed his small dingy through the heavy seas and managed to rescue the Captain, whom he landed on the breakwater. Ferrier then returned to the ship to attempt a final rescue, losing his oars and rowlocks into the high sea. Using just a spare paddle he skulled towards the La Bella, reaching her stern in time to cut loose the lone surviving sailor, Payne, from the lashing that held him to the ship; the terrified sailor dropped from the ship and into the dingy. Shortly after the last man was rescued, the La Bella was lifted by a huge wave and crashed back down on the reef; she broke up and sank. The ordeal had lasted ten hours. The survivors were taken to the nearby Bay View Hotel and gratefully received warm food and clothing, medical attention and a place to sleep. In the following days, an unidentified body of a young person has washed ashore; it was either Watson or Denham. The body was buried in the Warrnambool cemetery with an appropriate gravestone and inscription. William Ferrier became a national hero as news of the daring rescue spread. In recognition of his bravery in the two daring rescues, he was awarded the Silver Medal for Bravery by the Royal Humane Society and was honoured in the letter from the Prime Minister and the Parliament of the Commonwealth, telegrams and a cheque for £20 from the Governor-General, over £150 subscribed by the public, including Warrnambool and district and readers of The Argus, and a gold medal from the Glenelg Dinghy Club of South Australia. Ferrier’s rescue efforts are one of the most heroic in Victoria’s shipwreck history. (William Ferrier’s son, Frank, received a similar award almost fifty years later when he helped rescue four members of the crew on the yacht Merlan after it ran on to a reef near the Point Lonsdale Lighthouse. ) The wreck of La Bella now lies on her port side in 13 metres of sheltered water inside the reef she struck. The bow section is relatively intact and part of the stern has drifted north-easterly towards the mouth of the Hopkins River. The reef the La Bella struck now bears its name. Those five rescued from the La Bella were Captain George Mylius, Leonard Robertson (2nd Mate, 21 years old), R. Payne, Oscar Rosenholme and Jack Noake. Those seven who lost their lives were Mr Coulson (1st mate), Charles Jackman (cook) Gustave Johnson, Pierre Johann and Robert Gent (all able seamen), Harry Watson (ordinary seaman) and Jack Denham (ship’s boy), Captain Mylius was found guilty of careless navigation; he had sailed into the bay without the services of a pilot. His Master Certificate was suspended for twelve months. Later he was also charged with the manslaughter of one of the crew who had died when the La Bella was wrecked but found not guilty. The event’s adverse publicity and damage to his career took a toll on his health and he died of a heart attack six months after the wreck; he was only thirty-seven. His body was buried in the Melbourne General Cemetery. The La Bella was “the best documented of all sailing ships owned in New Zealand”. Her record books, ship logs, correspondence and supporting papers are still available. At the time of the tragedy, she was owned by Messers David C.Turnbull and Co. of Timaru, New Zealand timber merchants and shipping agents, who had purchased her on 13th December 1901. A detailed account of the last journey of La Bella can be read in “Leonard Robertson, the Whangaroa & La Bella” written by Jack Churchouse, published in 1982 by Millwood Press Ltd, Wellington, NZ. As well as this letter, Flagstaff Hill’s La Bella Collection includes a photograph of the wrecked La Bella, a brass rail holder and a postcard of William Ferrier with four of the survivors. Some 15 – 17 ships are believed to have sunk in Lady Bay, but only two have been discovered on the seafloor; the “La Bella” and the “Edinburgh Castle”. Both wrecks are popular diving sites and are preserved as significant historical marine and marine archaeological sites. This original congratulatory letter sent to William Ferrier by the Prime Minister and Government of Australia demonstrates the importance attached to his efforts for Victoria and to Australia. The letter is part of the La Bella Collection and is significant at both a local and state level. Its connection to the La Bella shipwreck and the rescue of five survivors highlights the dangers of Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast. The letter to William Ferrier from the Australian Government acknowledges the bravery of ordinary Australians who risked their lives to save victims of shipwrecks along the coast. The letter is significant to the history of Warrnambool as it honours William Ferrier, a local fisherman whose descendants continue to live in the area. It highlights the way of life of people who lived in coastal towns in 19th century Victoria and the effects of shipwrecks upon them. The letter connects to the postcard of William Ferrier with four of the five rescued crew, the photograph of the wreck of the La Bella and the artefact from the wreck, the rail holder. This letter is significant because of its association with the sailing ship “La Bella”. The “La Bella” is of local and state and national significance. It is one of the only two shipwrecks discovered in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, out of the 15-17 shipwrecks in the bay. Letter to William Ferrier of South Warrnambool from the Prime Minister and Members of Parliament commending him on his bravery. The printed letterhead includes a coat of arms in the top centre and the official address. The letter is very neatly hand written in black pen and includes 4 signatures of Members of Parliament. The rectangular paper is cream coloured with some yellow/brown discolouring. It has the letterhead on the right hand side of it and the written letter begins below the letterhead. The paper has been folded so that the right side becomes the cover page of the letter. The writing is continued onto the inside right hand page of the folded paper and the writing ends here. There is more recent writing on the bottom right hand corner of the back page. The paper has been officially folded in half a total 3 times and there is heavy discolouration on the sections that form the front and back of the folded letter. There is a 4th fold line that is less pronounced that the other folds and would make the paper the size to fit into a pocket. At several fold creases the paper has worn through. The edges of the paper have minor tears. The printed coat of arms is that of the House of Representatives. Underneath is printed “The Parliament of the Commonwealth, / Parliament House / Melbourne”. The hand written, letter is dated “14th November, 1905” and addressed to “Mr. William Ferrier / South Warrnambool” The letter begins “The Speaker, the Prime Minister and Members of the Ministry and its supporters, the Leader and Members of the Opposition, the Leader and Members of the Labour Party, being all the Members of the House of Representatives of the Federal Parliament of Australia” … It continues “desire to express to you their appreciation of your bravery in skulling out to the wreck of the “La Bella” at Warrnambool on Saturday, 11th November, 1905, and recovering therefrom two of the crew who were in imminent danger of their lives. They all feel that your conduct was worthy of the best deeds done by British sailors in the past and they are proud to know that Australia can produce such as you.” The letter is “Signed on behalf of the Members – Speaker (Frederick Holder ), Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Joseph Cook ), Prime Minister (Alfred Deakin), Leader of the Labour Party ( J.C. Watson)” On the back of the letter is blue ink handwriting “OWNER / G. FERRIER / TO. BE. PHOTOGRAPHED / 27-4-76”la bella, william ferrier, bill ferrier, lady bay, 1905, 10th november 1905, 11th november 1905, parliament of the commonwealth, prime minister, australian government, new zealand, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village