The RDNS Sisters are both holding the 1st day Cover Envelope issued by the Australian Postal Department in 1985 to commemorate the founding of the Melbourne District Nursing Society on the 17th of February 1885. A stamp is in the right hand top corner of the envelope. The main body of the stamp is pale blue. On the top of the stamp, written in deeper blue/grey, are the words "Centenary of District Nursing Services 1985" Below this, and to the right, is a pale bone colour original sign on a metal fence which reads, in white capital letters, "Melbourne District Nursing Society" Standing on the left in the foreground is a MDNS Trained nurse (Nurse) in her long grey uniform frock with white collar, cuffs and belt. She is wearing a grey helmet style hat which has a white hat band with a red Maltese cross in the centre. Her black shoes can also be seen. She is holding a bicycle; only the front wheel and part of the frame and the handlebars, which have a brown nursing bag strapped to them, can be seen, The nursing bag and handlebars cover part of the MDNS sign. At the bottom of the stamp, on a strip of white background, are the words in capital letters "Australia 33c". Below the stamp is a rectangular1st mark. On the left half of the envelope are some sketches of several two storey buildings either side of a set of steps. Some adults and children are standing on the steps as well as in the foreground; some are sketched and others dressed in various coloured clothing. In the foreground right in front of steps, stands a lady with her hair drawn up and wearing along grey frock and white apron; partly seen against her right side is a small child dressed in brown. Sister Willie Fleming is the Supervisor of the RDNS Sunshine Centre and Sister Phillipa Kariko is Supervisor of Essendon Centre. They are wearing their RDNS uniforms of white short sleeve blouses under royal blue V neck tunic style frocks. The RDNS insignia is round and has royal blue writing on a white background. In Melbourne in 1885 it was recognized that skilled nursing was needed to care for the sick poor in their own homes. On the 17th of February a meeting was held with prominent Melbourne citizens, five gentlemen and fourteen ladies. ‘Dr. Caffyn and Rev. Charles Strong explained the objects and scope of District Nursing Societies that had been formed in towns in UK’. On that day the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) was founded, the first District Nursing Service in Australia. Subsequent meetings were held to form a Committee and to draw up a Code of Rules of the Society. It was decided only nurses who had attended a Nurses Training School at a Hospital and were fully qualified would be employed by the Society, and that the Nurses would keep a daily journal of their work. After interviewing several candidates, the first Nurse, Mrs. Ferguson, was employed with a salary of £100 per annum and commenced work on the 1st of May 1885. She was employed for three months initially, but this was soon extended, “on the understanding she will make arrangements to live in the more immediate vicinity of her district”. A Doctor was consulted before any person was seen. In rotation, a member of the Superintendence Sub-Committee supervised the Nurse’s visits and could assist to alleviate some of the poor social conditions they found. Though only Trained nurses were employed, the term ’Nurse’ was used in those days, not the term ‘Sister’ that is used these days. A second Trained nurse, Mrs. Joanna Cannon, was employed in late 1885, with a trial period of six months which was extended. The two Nurses worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses as necessary. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care and liaised with Doctors. They provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. They educated their patients, and their carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of hygiene, cleanliness, ventilation and good nutrition. They taught them, by verbal instruction and demonstration, how to make poultices, to make and apply bandages, apply medical appliances such as splints; and the Nurses supplied milk, beef tea and they cooked soup when needed. As the work increased a third Nurse was employed but this was arduous work, particularly in the heat of summer and many Nurses only remained with the Society for several months. A Midwifery Service commenced in August 1893 with Nurse Fowler the first trained Midwife. She had previously worked with the Society carrying out General nursing. The Society expanded its areas using public transport and with the Society purchasing bicycles in 1903, before procuring its first cars to cope with the influx of patients during the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1919, though these were sold in 1927 due to their poor condition..A Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 to take Sisters to patients, and some Sisters used their own cars; even a motorcycle was used by one Sister in 1933. All these forms of transport were intermingled and in the early 1950s, and now as Melbourne District Nursing Service, seven Ford Prefect cars were bought followed by twelve Ford Anglia vehicles in 1955. Having received Royal patronage; the now Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had its own fleet of Holden vehicles by the mid 1960s and the Motor Auxiliary ceased operating in 1971 as by then all staff employed were required to have a driving licence. Seat-belts had been introduced to Victoria in 1959 and District fitted them to their cars from 1962, even though they did not become compulsory until 1970. The Holden vehicles were replaced with grey Holden Torana vehicles. After several years the fleet was changed to white Toyota Corolla vehicles. The Melways Directory of maps was introduced in 1966, which was a boon to the Sisters, though it was a few years before it went beyond Seville, so a large paper map was used by the Sisters visiting patients in the areas passed Seville. By 2009 there were 598 cars in the fleet and the Sisters travelled 9 million 200,000 kilometres – this is equivalent to 12 trips to the moon and back. Over its years of expansion the RDNS Trained nurses (Sisters), continued to visit patients in their homes and gave best practice care in many fields of nursing, and to people of many cultures. Initial visits not only assessed the specific nursing situation but the situation as a whole. Their patients ranged in age from babes, children, adults to the elderly and referrals were taken from Hospitals, General Practitioners and allied Health facilities. Some of the care the Sisters provided is as follows: – Post-Natal care given to mother and babe, Wound Care following various types of surgery, accidents, burns, cancer, leg ulcers etc. Supervising and teaching Diabetic Care, including teaching and supervising people with Diabetes to administer their own Insulin, and administering Insulin to those unable to give their own injections. Administering other injections and setting up weekly medication boxes. The Sisters performed Catheterizations on adults suffering from conditions such as Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Guillan-Barre Syndrome, and when required at school on children for e.g. those with Spina Bifida. The Sisters visited those requiring Cystic Fibrosis support and care; those requiring Haemo-Oncology care, including visiting children at school; those requiring Home Enteral Feeding care, and those requiring IV therapy at home and home Dialysis. Palliative Care was given including pain relief with the use of syringe drivers, personal care as needed, and advice and support to both patient and family. The Sisters provided Stoma management to those needing Urostomy, Ileostomy and Colostomy care and those requiring Continence care. HIV/AIDS nursing care was provided; visits to Homeless Persons were made. Personal care was given to patients ranging in age and with varying mobility problems, such as Amputees, those with MS, MND, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, Poliomyelitis, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Acquired Brain Injury, to those following a Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), those with severe Arthritis and those with a form of Dementia. When necessary the elderly were assisted with personal care and advice given on safety factors with the use of hand rails, bath or shower seats, and hand showers. Rehabilitation with an aim towards independence remained at the forefront of the Sister’s minds and when possible using aids and instruction on safe techniques enabled the person to become fully independent. All care included giving advice and support to the patient and their Carers. The Sisters liaised with the persons Doctor, Hospital and allied Health personal when necessary. On the left of the black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Willie Fleming, who has curly blonde hair, and on the right, Sister Phillipa Kariko, who has short dark hair. They are standing outside Essendon RDNS Centre.. They are both wearing their RDNS summer uniform of dark V neck tunic style frocks, with emblazoned RDNS insignia on its upper left, over short sleeve white blouses, Each are holding an envelope with writing, sketched buildings and figures on the envelopes left side, and a stamp is on the upper right corner. Below the stamp is writing in a rectangle. Behind the Sisters is a brick wall with them hiding some of the white capital letters of the words 'District Nursing Service' and 'Essendon Centre'. Windows and part of the fascia of the building is seen behind this.Handwritten informationmelbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns centre, sister willie fleming, sister phillipa kariko, rdns 1st day cover centenary envelope

The equipment items in this photograph are loaned out to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patient's to use in their homes. They are returned to RDNS and sterilized, or cleaned with disinfectant, whichever is appropriate, once they are no longer required. The material items are given to patient's as required. Many of these items are made and donated by RDNS Auxiliary members. From its inception in 1885, the two Trained nurses (Nurses) of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses and clothes as necessary. The Society was at the forefront of health care and continued to liaise with Doctors as the Society expanded. The Nurses provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. They educated their patients, and their Carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; Over the years items were given and equipment was loaned and demonstrated to patients, and if appropriate, to their family members to enable them to care for their loved ones in their homes. The Trained nurses had the rehabilitation of their patients in the forefront of their minds to ensure they were able to live as independently as possible in their own homes. As the years passed the Trained nurses changed from being called 'Nurse' to 'Sister' and the Society changed its name. In the 1970s, now with Royal patronage, and known as Royal District Nursing Service ( RDNS), they contracted a Private and then employed, a Physiotherapist who taught RDNS Sisters the correct transferring techniques, including the use of a hoist when this became available. RDNS Sisters taught and used these techniques in patient’s homes to undertake safe transfer of the patient and to reduce physical strain on RDNS nursing staff and family members. Each RDNS Centre had a room or shed where equipment for loan was kept, and Headquarters also kept additional equipment which could be transported to Centres as required. This black and white photograph shows some of the equipment loaned, along with some to be given, to Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) patients as required. Rear L-R - a white long nightdress with dark embroidery and buttons on the front and embroidery on the edge of the short sleeves. Next are two wooden bath seats; a square metal commode with lid and with its round legs extended to form handles on the left and right sides. A folded dark and white striped crocheted rug hangs over one of the handles. In the centre L-R, is a metal bed cradle, a metal 4 prong walking stick, bed pans, male urinal, stack of nappies with a white child's knitted jumper hanging over them, and a doona. In the front, L-R is a grey blanket, dark coloured bed socks, a sheepskin with a white smocked baby dress sitting on it, and a white babies nightgown on a clear plastic covered white bundle. A black mat sits under these items and a cream brick wall is in the background. Barry Sutton LS 47royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns equipment, rdns auxiliaries

“Fall-Line” was one of a series of magazines published by the Victorian Ski Association. It was produced from 1979 until 1985. It superseded their previous publication, “Ski” magazine and was followed by the “Australian Skiing” magazine. The Victorian Ski Association was formed in 1955.This magazine is significant because it documents developments in the ski industry in Australia.A magazine featuring a coloured image on the cover and containing articles and advertising related to developments in skiing in Australia. This issue included an update on improvements being made at Falls Creek. FALLS CREEK The chairlift access area near the medical centre, long famous as the Mudpie Parlour of Falls Creek, has been sealed and Falls Creek itself, the waters of which have filled many an unsuspecting gum- boot, has been bridged, also near the medical centre. A lock-up storage shed will be built along Bogong High Plains Road, just below the oversnow terminal, for the use and convenience of all village commercial operators and site holders. Direct access will be possible by snowmobile. Falls Creek rates have risen to $82.50 per bed (less 10% discount if paid on time). The rise is the first in two years, and is less than the corresponding rise in the C.P.I. over that period. The access trail from the water tanks at the base of the Home Trail to the nursery slope has been smoothed and widened to 12 metres, and a new six metre wide access trail has been cut from Falls Creek Road, just behind Diana lodge to the chairlift bottom station. The Village Bowl comfort station is being extended and renovated, and the finishing touches are being put on the comfort station in the upper car park. Construction of an akja station/toilet block in Sun Valley will commence in 1980. The Management Committee is investigating the purchase of a Mercedes 800 series snow-clearing machine to supplement the CRB equipment in use in village parking areas The village water supply has been re- designed to ensure adequate supply at all times.australian ski magazines, skiing australia, victorian ski association

Eight coloured photos of Stawell's Water system. a. Old Valve house Pomonal b. Old Valve house & inlet grating from tunnel cutting. c. Old Valve house & Main ground grill. d. Sludge trap. e. interior of water supply tunnel at Pomonal. f. Tunnel showing outlet litter trap with rake for cleaning trap. g. Tunnel entrance at Pomonal. h. Vandal shattered cncrete pipe with multiple wire reinforcing (old?) Eight colour photographs of buildings, tunnels and equipment in bush setting.grampians water supply

Jackson Boilers Ltd., brass founders, electro platers and sheet metal works made this tube water boiler. It was a fitting in the vessel Reginald M, a small cargo ship built at Port Adelaide in 1922 and named after her builder and first owner, John Murch. The Reginald M was launched at Largs Bay, South Australia, in 1922 to carry cargo around South Australia that included guano, barley, wool, horses, cattle, timber, explosives, potatoes, shell grit, and gypsum. It passed through numerous owners over the years and primarily maintained its purpose as a cargo vessel. In 1975, the decommissioned Reginald M was purchased by Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum as an attraction. Although restoration efforts were undertaken and maintained for the craft above the water line, deterioration occurred below the surface and resulted in the ship being unsafe for visitors to board. It was broken up and removed from Flagstaff Hill in 2018, but items such as the historical boiler remain in Flagstaff Hill’s Collection. JACKSON BOILERS LTD.: - In 1911, Henry Jackson was the Managing Director at Jackson Boilers Ltd. He had gained around 30 years’ experience as a tin plate worker, plumber and gas fitter at Ilkey in 1881, then at Leeds by 1901. By 1921, he had changed employment from Jackson Boilers to Managing Director of Patent Water Boilers. During World War I, Jackson Boilers Ltd of Leeds performed war work like many other manufacturers at that time. The firm made cases for the explosive picric acid and electroplated fuse hole plugs. In 1918, the firm employed 15 males and 19 females. Jacksons Boilers became very successful throughout the first half of the twentieth century with showrooms and sales offices in Scotland, the Midlands and Southern England. It also had an office in Dublin, Ireland. In the post-war 1920s, the firm’s production included instantaneous water boilers and coffee machines for cafes, restaurants and canteens. Jackson Boilers also began to supply shipping lines with catering water boilers for their ships. The firm applied for a USA patent for the tube boiler in 1930, for the design which appears to have been invented in 1926. A 1971 advertisement adds the credentials, Members of the Catering Equipment Manufacturers’ Association. The tube water boiler was designed specifically for use in a ship's restaurant or dining area and patented by Jackson Boilers Ltd. of Leeds. The boiler is significant as a patented design, illustrating the evolution of maritime, commercial and domestic water boilers that have led to many innervations and improvements in today's boilers that are used in heating and in producing hot water for domestic and catering use. It is also significant as it is one of the earlier boilers the Jackson company made in the early 1920s before they applied for a US patent on their revised design in 1926.Water boiler, free standing Jackson's Tube boiler. A tall metal cylindrical stand with a metal sphere on top and several pipe fittings on the sides. A brass tap with a lever handle is connected to the front. A plaque with maker's details is attached under the tap. Details are also impressed into the cylinder above the tap.Jackson Boilers Leeds Ltd. "JACKSON'S PATENT" . Other details indecipherable. flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, leeds, jackson boilers ltd, jackson boilers, henry jackson, brass founders, electro platers, sheet metal works, patent water boilers, leeds manufacturer, tube water boiler, domestic boiler, tube domestic boiler, tube boiler, water heaters, water boilers, self-feeding water boilers, sheet metal work instantaneous water heaters, engineering, allied trades, metal workers, metal trade, food machinery, hospitality equipment, ship equipment, ship water boiler, ship heater, catering boilers, café boiler, restaurant boiler, canteen boiler, catering equipment manufacturers’ association, cema, kitchen equipment, kitchen appliance, war work, world war i, wwi, picric acid, picric acid cases, fuse hole plugs, electro plated fuse hole plugs, reginald m, cargo ship, port adelaide, 1922, john murch

Two copies of notes on Lansell's Bendigo Battery. Ref. Bendigo Advertiser February 26th 1894. One copy is incomplete. Notes on formal opening of the 105 head battery, water supply and the Christening of the 6 engines connected with the battery by one of Mr Lansell's children. Another extract is from the Bendigo Advertiser dated Tuesday December 5th 1893 Page 3. Included in the notes is the description of the battery, driving engines, ripple tables, Halley's shaking tables, blanket tables, engines, Tambour Major plant, Mr Lansell, boilers, dams, the stack and names of engines Christened by one of Mr Lansell's children. Detailed description of the engines, etc.mining, surface equipment, lansell's bendigo battery, lansell's bendigo battery, notes on lansell's bendigo battery, bendigo advertiser 26/2/1894 & 5/12/1893, mr geo lansell, sheepshead line, water supply, mrs bassford, mr james northcott, tambour major coy, halley's shaking tables, johnson's gold mines, new red white & blue consolidated, north red white & blue

Worn in a specially designed pouch, this WW1 water bottle with cork stopper held approximately one litre and had a felt cover for insulation. Fresh water was often scarce and it was rationed according to supply. Felt covered metal water bottle with attached cork stopper and canvas straps.water bottle, ww1

Back in the 1980s there was a house fire in Tawonga South. During the firefight water was sourced from a street hydrant via a standpipe, fog nozzles were utilised on all hoses, and subsequently water flow from all nozzles started to reduce to low volumes due to becoming blocked from gravel within the water main.. The whole water supply was turned off at the standpipe.This manifold was invented enabling only one delivery instead of all deliveries. SEC employees, living in Mt Beauty, designed and built the valve. It minimised the impact damage to water mains created by rapid shutoff of nozzles.Steel white water pipe with 8 outlets each with a red handle for turning water on or off and each with an outlet that can be screwed onto a pipe / hose. The base is white with the top narrow and the bottom wide. Embossed 125 / 200 ....,2 (symbol 'and a half')manifold, mt beauty fire brigade, firefighting equipment