Bennie Simcox first came to the Monbulk area about 1860, following the first important gold discovery at the end of 1858. As the gold rush was short lived Simcox returned to Collingwood but later came back to Monbulk, built himself a hut to live in and become its first known permanent resident. The hut was burnt in the 1913 fires. Monbulk was thrown open to selection in 1894, and that's when the first farmers including Bennie Simcox went into Monbulk. It was a big, timbered country in those days. Once Ben had cleared some of his land he started to grow raspberries on it. He would be up before daylight ready to start picking. Ben also picked for a local family, the Camms to help make ends meet. When Ben Simcox was virtually at the retired stage, he wanted to develop his bit of the gully as a tourist attraction, As his nephew Fred Gay who owned the 10 acres below Ben wanted to farm, he was happy to swap his treed block with Ben. At a time when most settlers were clearing their properties, Ben Simcox, by contrast, cultivated the native plants and planted most of the large trees seen on the property today. And so Nathania Springs was developed as a tourist resort, and a mini-botanical garden. He diverted the natural water supply to form ornamental garden pools stocked with trout and tame native black fish. There were many visitors came to the Dandenongs, Some arriving in motor cars others in converted furniture vans lined with seats or charabancs with the long extended chassis and the open canvas roofs. Identities such as Billy Hughes, Madame Melba would often come to look through Nathania Springs. Bennie sold Nathania Springs to Councillor Ferdinand Thomas Le Juge, a boarding house proprietor and later the town baker in 1909 then in about 1921 Ben’s nephew Fred and his wife and family continued to open Nathania Springs to the public. It was not unusual in around 1924-25 for up to a thousand people a day to arrive at Nathania Springs to go through the gardens. At sixpence a time, that was a lot of money in those days. This photo is part of a collection of historic and social significance of the early settlement of Monbulk. Copies of photographs can be purchased from the Monbulk Historical Society.simcox, nathania springs, monbulk, 1860, berries

An early attempt to catalogue Legacy memorabilia which refers to 33 boxes of items split into subject matter such as 'History of Legacy', 'Finance Committee', 'Junior Legacy', 'Shrine', Group and Branch histories, and photograph albums. No indication of when it was compiled or by whom though it is presumed to be the Archive committee that was established by Frank Doolan who collected a lot of the items in the archive cabinets. Uses a rudimentary system of cataloguing e.g. 'H1. Inauguration of Remembrance Club. Box 1', where 'H' refers to History. 'S' refers to Shrine. Includes three loose typed and handwritten sheets listing films and tapes. A high number of History documents (H1 - H63) are filed in Box 25 - 01475 onwards. Believed to be from the archive project in the early 1970s by L/ Frank Doolan and L/ Brian Armstrong. This item appears to have catalogued at 00507 as well. TBC.A valuable snapshot of records held before the 1990s when a building refurbishment led to the destruction of a considerable amount of material.Invicta Series 80 Account Book, feint lined, 167 numbered pages. Cover red plastic, gold embossed. Handwritten black on white label bottom righthand side of front cover. Pages pale blue with blue lines. Entries in blue or black ink, pencil."Legacy Archives Index" on front cover and first page.history, frank doolan

Bifold land sale brochure glued to brown stationery folder with advertisement including map of original subdivision (circa 1958) and subsequent 1982 re-subdivision of Lot 7 Vista Avenue - LP41463 - Part of Crown Allotment 43, Parish of Ringwood, and 4-page brochure for sale of 4 luxury new homes built by Bovis Homes Aust. P/L as presented by Lyndsay Edmonds Homes. Subdivision includes Bedford Road, Homebush Court, Vista Avenue and Vista Court. Original protective covenant: "One dwelling house only on each of Lots 1-15 for a period of 15 years". Agent - Anderson & Hickling, 239 Collins Street, Melbourne. (Phone) Cent.25.

Poor video quality (noise and interference), incomplete and unedited raw footage. A video documenting the demolition of the Shire of Eltham offices at 895 Main Road Eltham under the direction of the Commissioners appointed for the new Shire of Nillumbik and some of the communities activities surrounding the event. The building was demolished exactly 25 years after the southern wing housing Engineering and Planning on the upper level and the Eltham Library on the ground level was opened in celebration of the Shire of Eltham's centenary. Video has lots of distortion and noise, and sections of clips dubbed over. Immediate initial footage of Jenni Mitchell talking about asbestos claims in the Shire Offices (Sigmund Jorgensen standing behind her) advising Council did a review of the building several years previously and had been cleared of health problems. Cuts to group of people standing outside front door of offices but possibly voice dub over not related ? Then the date 27 Jul 1996 on a scene flashes on screen immediately followed by an edited clip intro of title and credits with classical music track. It then opens with Jenni Mitchell driving to the Shire Offices on Saturday 27 July 1996 at 11.00am. Footage of Main Road past Pitt Street, Alistair Knox Park then entering Shire Office driveway which is fenced off and contractor signs hanging up. Scenes at rear of building showing some internal demolition has commenced. View of the Administration wing. More clips of road driving, Alistair Knox Park, Eltham Library and visitor car park for Shire Offices. Cuts to a group of people standing in access to visitor carpark with new Eltham Library in background, one being immediate former Shire of Eltham President, John Graves. Scenes of people looking through chain link fence and security guard checking front door. John Graves being filmed that someone informed him the Shire was offering the building to the Community Health Centre for $2.3 million and that if they had been offered a price of $1.1 for what it apparently was sold for they would have snapped it up. View of truck loaded with brick rubble literally struggling to ascend the hill of Library Place to exit into Main Road. Cuts to a scene looking at Eltham War memorial Hall through the Memorial Gate, then the Shillinglaw trees and large banner sign ‘Delta Demolitions’ hanging on office façade. Views of front door, old library and bluestone wall. Scene (31 Jul 1996) filmed at night of several white crosses with “RIP Community” and “RIP Democracy”. Scene (1 August 1996) again driving along Main Road towards the Shire Offices then scenes of the offices showing substantially more demolition to exterior, groups of people standing on footpath outside watching, Delta heavy demolition machines, woman holding sign “Democracy where have you gone …”, the odd person in full protection gear and breathing apparatus hand carrying materials out to place on rubbish pile in front of people standing on footpath watching (with no protection) and then stamping on it to break it creating dust, security person in hard hat (no other protection) wandering around, many groups standing around watching, news film crew, person standing on roadside edge holding signs facing traffic stating “Pirate Planning” and “ Grant us your ears” also sign on back of parked car “Elthams High Jacks”, another sign “Community Democracy”, views of crosses in Main Road median strip “RIP Community”, groups of people on footpaths and reporters conducting interviews, footage of unknown person standing with Jenni Mitchell and Sigmund Jorgensen advising people have the right to protest, Jenni Mitchell urging people to ask questions of local MP and Council and Sigmund Jorgensen referring to the three historic Shillinglaw trees with demolition machinery operating in background, Jenni Mitchell and others installing more crosses in median strip; demolition machines operating inside and outside the building, more views of onlookers including Sigmund Jorgensen then Police approaching on footpath, workers and machinery continuing to operate, views of the old library being demolished, the former Community Services department, security personnel. Scene (2 August 1996) more heavy demolition machinery in operation smashing building up, people standing around southern wing watching, view overlooking Eltham Library of train pulling in to Eltham station. Scene (7 August 1996) more heavy demolition and people wandering around with only hard hat protection, no dust protection, comments from one operator dumping a bin of material stating “wait till there’s a Hungry Jack’s here, you’ll be laughing, fuel, videos, hamburgers. You’ll be up with the rest of the world soon, you’ll have electricity and everything here, ha ha ha ha”, more heavy machinery demolition and breaking up of materials, view of Hitachi train going by and Administration wing, view inside the front door opening of the staircase leading to upper level, person walking around operating heavy machinery with a hose spraying rubble (no protective gear other than hard hat interspersed with edit cuts of meeting of Commissioners and independent observers on panel as well as members of the community in public gallery. Nillumbik Shire CEO Barry Rochford addressing the meeting., Chief Commissioner Don Cordell directly addressing Jenni Mitchell with respect to permission to take photographs, Barry Rochford continues to address the question asked of Council about the valuation of the former Shire of Eltham Office building/site, public gallery calling out asking why was building demolished, what was the urgency. Scene (14 August 1996) views of southern wing, previous single demolition operator again mocking people filming, operators working in and around building, Shillinglaw trees and largely demolished front, heavy demolition equipment at work, piles of building rubble, hose spraying water over rubble, large trucks arriving for rubble removal and loading of truck. Scene (21 August) more of the same, building virtually down, Shillinglaw trees standing tall and alone, water spraying on rubble and wattle in bloom. Cuts to Council meeting with public onlookers. Barry Rochford walks out, Wayne Phillips addresses meeting explaining one or two people shouting, members of the community challenging Council (Commissioners) about why due process appear to have been subverted. Former Shire President Robert Marshall in public audience, cuts back to Shire office carpark entrance site and sign hung on fence in front of library “Think Again!” and people standing around observing awaiting a protest demonstration erecting a large sign on stilts stating “Shell No!”, people singing a revised version of God Save the Queen (God Save Us All), Sigmund Jorgensen in attendance, Jenni Mitchell, Sigmund Jorgenson and others address the protest crowd, followed by people mingling, music being played then people standing around the cleared site circumference all with arms linked (video very broken up with noise) then chants “Save the Gateway” and “No Shell for Eltham” and more music and singing “Put up a parking lot”. The crowd then proceeds to walk along the footpath of Main Road. Scene (15 Sep 1996) meeting at Montsalvat in Great Hall addressed by Sigmund Jorgensen discussing a recently published list of the Commissioner’s to senior Council Officers of banned Nillumbik people, others encouraging people to view proposed plans for the site and lodge objections. Specific issues regarding asbestos claims are also addressed. Harry Gilham addresses the meeting on the subject of the Eltham War Memorial and Memorial Gardens and how Council believe a roundabout in the vicinity is of greater importance. Views of various artworks on display (for auction) and music performance in the Barn Gallery. Meeting addressed by Sigmund Jorgensen discussing an appeal against Council granting a permit to Dallas Howgate to develop the site and that the Minister has called the matter in to be decided by the governing council. This is followed by an auction of paintings. 0.05 - Jenni Mitchel, Sigmund Jorgensen and Peter Doughtery in background. 0.18 - Jock Kyme in front of building – David Essex, Marg Johnson on his left-hand side. 5.34 - John Graves – ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President. 9.02 - Unknown person being interviewed. 9.30 - Jenni Mitchell, unknown person, Mark Burns, community activist. 10.04 - Sigmund Jorgenson, Jenni Mitchell. 12.04 - Police members 21.33 - Nillumbik Council offices 7 August 1996 Barry Rochford CEO, Vin Heffernan Commissioner, Don Cordell Chief Commissioner, Kevin Abbott Commissioner, unknown person. 28.00 - Barry Rochford CEO 28.05 - Kahn Frankie - in commissioner’s seat after commissioners and council staff have vacated the council chamber. 28.26 - Wayne Phillips, State Liberal member for Eltham, addressing community in response to questions. 28.36 - Mark Burns, community activist addressing gallery. 28.48 - Ken Hines, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President. 29.34 - Ken Hines, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President standing, Robert Marshall, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President seated in front. 29.41 - Karen Gerhards, community activist. 30.06 - Marg Johnson with loud hailer, next to Jock Kyme, community activist. 31.32 - Marg Johnson with possibly Frank Burgoyne?, Sigmund Jorgensen, Jock Kyme. 35.35 - Harry Gilham at meeting at Montsalvat on 15 September 1996. 35.43 - Sigmund Jorgenson at lectern. 36.42 - Marg Jennings. 37.47 - Mark McDonald, Jim Connor, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor in background. 36.28 - John Cohen, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President. 38.56 - Ken Hines, ex Shire of Eltham Councillor and President. 41.11 - Harry Gilham, president of the Eltham District Historical Society. 43.55 - Sigmund Jorgensen in Long Gallery at Montsalvat, at start of the art auction to raise funds for community action. 45.50 - Unknown person conducting art auction. VHS Video cassette (poor quality) Converted to MP4 file format 45:01, 535MBvideo recording, 895 main road, alistair knox park, artworks, auction, barn gallery, barry rochford, community health centre, dallas howgate, delta demolitions, demolition, don cordell, eltham, eltham library, eltham shire office, eltham war memorial, eltham war memorial gate, eltham war memorial hall, great hall, harry gilham, jenni mitchell, john graves, library place, main road, memorial gardens, mervyn hannan, montsalvat, pitt street, protest, robert marshall, roundabout, shell oil, shillinglaw trees, sigmund jorgensen, sign, wayne phillips

Item made by Percy Weymouth VX76127, enlisted 30.3.42 age 30/11- allotted toNo 2 Docks OP COY, emb 15.10.42 New Guinea, diesem Townsville 20.7.43, emb 12.11.43 Buna, Hops Debility 26.5.44 emb Aitape 20.6.45 for Brisbane. Disc 28.11.45 Pte in No 7 Docks OP COy.Ashtray, chrome plated, base air a 25 Pounder shell case with 3 cigarette pieces welded in, stem is a .50 Cal Round with a “Rising Sun” lapel badge wrapped around. On base, “25 PR II, CF, LOT 472 DB/C 1941 F^67memorabilia, trench art

This booklet contains a collection of stories, anecdotes and jokes told by soldiers returning to Australia from Belgium aboard the Troopship SS Port Napier.Small booklet with blue printing consisting of seven pages.On front cover: Coming Back, Incidents etc since leaving Belgium, Nos 19 & 25 Quotas 4th Aust. Division. April - May - June, 1919. A Souvenir. On back cover: Autographs, with lots of handwritten names in purple pencil.wwi, coming back - a souvenir, 4th australian division, 1919

Handwritten table listing main local pre-1950s subdivisions in the Ringwood area, with estate names, streets, number of allotments for sale, and where known, vendor agent, LP (Lodged Plan) title registration number, and auction/sale date, some with sale price.Pg1 RINGWOOD STATION ESTATE LP3070 (Year?) Station Street, William Street (now Kendall Street), Wantirna Road, Station Street Pg1 RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP ESTATE LP5577 (1913) Station Road (now Warrandyte Road), Pratt Street (part now Aird Street), Whitehorse Road Pg2 RINGWOOD ORCHARD ESTATE LP4315 (1914) Brysons Road, Hillcrest Road, Anzac Avenue, Sulva Road Pg3 RINGWOOD RAILWAY ESTATE LP7522 (1918) Whitehorse Road (now Mount Dandenong Road), Dublin Road, Freeman Street, Patterson Street, Bona Street Pg4 THE RINGWOOD ESTATE LP7578 (1919) Warrandyte Road, Hobart Street, Paxton Street, Arnold Street Pg5 GARDEN FARMS ESTATE (LP?) (1919) Canterbury Road, Armstrong Road, Bungalook Road, Orchard Road, Bayswater Road (now Mountain Highway) Pg6 THE RINGWOOD ESTATE (SECOND SUB-DIVISION) LP7604 (1919) Warrandyte Road, Tamar Street, Derwent Street, Mersey Street Pg7 RINGWOOD STATION ESTATE LP7703 (1919) Bedford Road, Williams Grove (now Lena Grove) Pg8 RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP ESTATE LP8198 (1919) Wantirna Road, Ellison Street, Haig Street, Greenwood Avenue Pg9 EASTFIELD ESTATE (LP?) (1920) Eastfield Road, Longview Road, Pleasant Rise, The Mount Pg10 ELECTRIC RAILWAY ESTATE RINGWOOD LP9473 (1922) Campbell Street, Myrtle Avenue, George Street (now Tudor Court), Henry Street (now Myrtle Avenue), Williams Grove (now Lena Grove) Pg11 RINGWOOD PARK ESTATE LP7884 (1922 - two stages) Wonga Road (now Loughnan Road), William Street, Andrew Street, Harrison Street Pg12 HEATHMONT STATION ESTATE LP11009 (Date? - after 1922) Lisgoold Street, Viviani Crescent, Balrour Avenue, Station Street (now part Heathmont Road and part Wainui Street) Pg13 RINGWOOD RAILWAY ESTATE LP10507 (1923) Whitehorse Road, Sherbrooke Avenue, Burwood Avenue, Bonview Avenue, Heatherbrae Avenue, Grant Crescent Pg14 GARDEN HOMES ESTATE (LP?) (1923) Mullum Road, The Centreway, Wattle Crescent (now Wattle Avenue) Reserve Crescent (now Reserve Road) Pg15 DUBLIN ROAD ESTATE LP11993 (1923) Alexandra Road, Vonadawn Avenue, Green Street, Wood Street, Howard Avenue, Bedford Road, Dublin Road Pg16 CARLINGA ESTATE RINGWOOD LP9620 (1923) Bourke Street, Bond Street, Ringwood Street Pg17 PRATT'S JUNCTION ESTATE (LP?) (1923) Junction Street, Georges Road, Oliver Street, Whitehorse Road Pg18 EAST RINGWOOD ESTATE LP10492 (1923) Bona Street, Patterson Street, Miller Grove, Fairview Avenue, Eastfield Road, Whitehorse Road (now Mount Dandenong Road) Pg19 COLEMAN'S HEATHMONT ESTATE LP9974 (1923) Canterbury Road, Bedford Road, Alvena Crescent, Coleman Street, Leonard Street (now Royal Avenue) Pg20 RINGWOOD HEIGHTS ESTATE LP10506 (1924) Whitehorse Road, Bonview Avenue, Grant Crescent, Hillcrest Avenue, Heatherbrae Avenue, Margaret Street, Mary Street Pg21 EAST RINGWOOD STATION ESTATE LP10551 (1924) Knaith Road, Wenwood Street, Lois Street, Victoria Street, Station Street (now Railway Avenue) Pg22 GRAND VIEW ESTATE LP11019 (1924) Whitehorse Road, Rupert Street, Herbert Street, Leonard Street Pg23 RINGWOOD RAILWAY ESTATE & RINGWOOD HEIGHTS ESTATE - FINAL SECTIONS LP10506 & LP10507 (1924) Whitehorse Road, Sherbrooke Avenue, Burwood Avenue, Bonview Avenue, Heatherbrae Avenue, Margaret Street, Mary Street, Grant Crescent Pg24 RINGWOOD EAST ELECTRIC STATION ESTATE (LP?) (1924) Railway Parade (now Patterrson Street), Federal Road, Howship Avenue (part now French Street), Dublin Road, Rosedale Crescent Pg25 BEDFORD PARK (now Ringwood Secondary College) (LP?) (1924) Bedford Road, Adams Street, Anderson Street, Joyce Street, Graham Road Pg26 CROWN JEWEL ESTATE LP11645 (Private sales after 1924) Mount Dandenong Road, Mirabel Avenue, Valda Avenue, Evon Avenue, Velma Grove Pg27 GRAND CENTRAL ESTATE LP10917 (1925) Heathmont Road, Great Ryrie Street, Douglas Street, Garden Street, Bellevue Avenue Pg28 RINGWOOD (unnamed estate - 1926) Nelson Street, Seymour Street, Whitehorse Road Pg29 EAST RINGWOOD RAILWAY STATION ESTATE (YEAR? - 25 shops 60 villas) Railway Avenue, Dublin Road, Lawrence Grove, Stanley Avenue, Knaith Road Pg30 CHARM VIEW ESTATE (LP?) (year? - after 1926) Canterbury Road, Heathmont Road, Dickasons Road, Bennjett Avenue, Orchid Street Pg31 SUNBEAM ESTATE LP12150 (Circa 1925) Govt Road (now Old Lilydale Road), Sunbeam Avenue, Holland Road, Everard Street (now Everard Road) Pg32 FAIRVIEW ESTATE EAST RINGWOOD LP10853 (Circa 1924) Eastfield Road, Patterson Street, Margaret Street (now Short Street) Pg33 EAST RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP ESTATE LP3025 (Circa 1924 - 35 allotments) Mount Dandenong Road, Grey Street, Eastfield Road Pg34 EAST RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP ESTATE LP3025 (Circa 1924 - 49 allotments) and STATE SCHOOL ESTATE (26 allotments) and EAST RINGWOOD STATION ESTATE (14 shop sites) Mount Dandenong Road, Grety Street, Dunn Street, Eastfield Road, King Street, Holland Road, Dublin Road, Patterson Street, Bona Street Pg35 EAST RINGWOOD CENTRAL ESTATE LP17004 (1948) Knaith Road, Shasta Avenue, Talofa Avenue, Russet Road, Dublin Road Pg36 WARE ESTATE LP43360 (1958) Ware Crescent, Davey Drive, Grey Road (now Grey Street), Mount Dandenong Road Pg37 Lot 57 Kendall Street LP3070 (1939) £75.0.0 Pg37 Lot 14 LP7346 (year?) £225 Pg37 Lot 8 WHITE HORSE ESTATE LP14010 (year?) Maroondah Hwy, Seymour Street £98.9.0 Pg37 Lots 4-14 incl. LP10902 (year?) £300 Pg37 Lots 69&70 LP2216 (1939) Bedford Road, Pitt Street £500 Pg37 Lots 60&70 LP2216 (year?) £460 Pg37 MOUNTAIN VIEW ESTATE LP10902 (1936) Lots 1&2, 19-22 Wantirna Road, Daisy Street £50 Pg38 RAILWAY STATION ESTATE RINGWOOD EAST LP7522 (1925) Lots 16 to 19 £250 Pg38 RINGWOOD PARK ESTATE (LP?) (1924) Lot 112 Munro Street £230 Pg38 RINGWOOD TOWNSHIP ESTATE (LP?) (1925) Lot 57 Wantirna Road £850 Pg38 ELECTRIC RAILWAY ESTATE LP9473 (1925) Lot 98 & 99 £180 (30/- foot) Pg38 ELECTRIC RAILWAY ESTATE LP9473 (year?) Lot 100 £233.12.6 incl improvements (£2.12.6 foot) Pg38 Lot 22&23 Bedford Road Heathmont (LP & year?) £675 incl improvements Pg39 Lot 9 Mullum Mullum Road LP8221 (1923) £150 Pg39 Lot 27 Haig Street LP8198 (1925) £825 Pg39 Lot 56 Haig Street cnr Wantirna Road LP8198 (1923) £171 Pg39 Lots 3 & 4 Loughnan Road LP9626 (192?) £147 Pg39 Lots 98 & 99 Myrtle Avenue LP9473 (1925) £180 Pg39 Lots 80 & 81 Myrtle Avenue LP9473 (1929) £150 Pg39 Lot 30 Sherbrooke Avenue LP10507 (1926) £700 incl improvements Pg40 Lot 10 (year?) LP7703 £750 Pg40 Lot 36 (year?) LP7522 £25 Pg40 Lot 38 Pitt Street LP2216 (year?) £350 Pg40 Lot 7 Dublin Road cnr Green Street LP11993 (year?) £300

“The Squadron’s Most Prestigious Trophy” THE CACTUS STORY Years ago a story was told of a Donkey which lived in the desert. The standard of living was poor, and the main course on the menu when things were tough was cactus. The Donkey accepted the good with the bad, and in bad seasons it was always cactus. One day during his wanderings he came to a high fence. On the other side of the fence was lush grass and all sorts of vegetation and animals in prime condition. The Donkey said to a horse, “things look good in there, how does one get in”. The horse said “go down to the end of this fence, and you will come to a gate, there will be someone at the get, ask to get in”. The Donkey went to the end of the fence, found the gate and asked to get in. The horse at the gate said, “what do you want to come in for, all of us are geldings?”. The Donkey said “if that is the case, it is back to the cactus for me”. It was during the early stages of the great depression of 1929-1932, that this story was simulated to the conditions at the then Royal St. Kilda Yacht Club, when during the yachting season there were very few trophies due to the lack of money. A lot of members were out of work, and each Monday many would front up for the jobs that were offering or those who missed out went back to the dole or as many put it “Back to the Cactus”. The “Cactus Cup” race, to be free of entrance fees, was an idea conceived by H.A. (Toby) Armstrong, soon to be backed by Bert Bryant, Ivor Bowles and Jim Thorpe. It was First sailed March 25, 1922, when 9 yachts on sealed handicaps, raced over a 5 mile rectangular course for a small Trophy donated by Jim E. Thorpe and the winning crew of the yacht Helen, skippered by D.Dowse, entertained at a café after the race by the instigators of the race. The next contest was April 12, 1930, for another small trophy also donated by Jim Thorpe, and the crew of the winning yacht Petrel, skippered by Stan Gamble, later on having to arrange for a mussel supper to the extent of Trophy money at an informal musical evening held in the spar room. From then on races for the Cactus Cup became an annual event. In time the format was changed to result in the crew of the first winning yacht having to collect mussels from the pier on the first Saturday of July, cook and prepare them for a no charge informal supper and entertainment evening held in the spar room, towards which the Club provided a keg of Beer. Member Bob Ellis had a special song for the occasion, “Up at Tumba Bloody Rumba shooting Kanga Bloody Roos”. Jim Thorpe then agreed to purchase a Perpetual Cup to be named the Cactus Cup. As guest of honor at the Cactus Supper Evening, May 1940, a dinner suit function in the Spar room, he presented the Cup along with Replica to Barney Snider who won with Eun-Na-Mara. Soon entries became few, for reason nobody wanted to win because of the penalty of having to collect, cook and prepare the mussels. In the interest of the contest and its revival, it was decided that the crew of the last yacht to finish had to collect, cook and prepare the mussels. On the death of Jim E Thorpe in 1944, the trophy, along with its annual replicas, were then provided for by Ivor Bowles until his death in 1970. In time for reason of pollution, the collecting of mussels from the pier was discontinued, so Otto Meik the new provider decided that the format be changed and be replaced by a supper on the day of the race, consisting of bottle mussels, beer and frankfurts. Following the death of Otto Meik in 1979, with no provider for the trophy of replicas, the Squadron in the early 80’s broke tradition by introducing race entry fees. In 2006 the Cactus Cup Tradition was reinstituted by a donation from J.H. (Bert) Ferris – RMYS historian. The Cactus Cup is now free to enter once again for all. The race is run early and a late afternoon feast of mussels and frankfurts is eaten afterwards.Deep sectioned Silver Cup, 300mm high to lip, tapering to thick plain stem flaring out to stepped footing, has two shaped handles. Silver Lid with Donkey positioned on shaped dome. Overall height 110mm. Cup stands on 145mm high round black base with stepped footing, surrounded with Silver winner inscription band.ROYAL ST. KILDA YACHT CLUB PERPETUAL CACTUS CUP INAUGURATED 1922 INSTIGATED BY H.A. ARMSTRONG ESQ. ORIGINAL CUP PRESENTED BY J.E. THORPE ESQ.cactus cup, trophy