The Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC) was a civil defence formed on 31st December 1941 as part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) support during World War II. The VAOC rapidly developed observation posts manned by men and women all over Australia, the main purpose being to identify and report any aircraft movement to an RAAF regional base. During the early days of 1942 the posts were manned 24 hours a day, gradually relaxing as the threat to Australia lessened. All members were continually trained in aircraft identification and provided an invaluable service to the RAAF. The VAOC was disbanded in April 1946. During its operation over 2,600 observations posts were maintained and approximately 25,000 personnel served. These certificates were presented to Mrs. H (Hazel) Penfold and Mr. A. R. (Alexander Rex) Penfold in recognition of 3 years of service during this period. Hazel was the daughter of Mark Ellwood and Rosina Mary Smale and the older sister of Grace, wife of John Hamilton-Smith. The family of Grace and John Hamilton-Smith have donated many items to the Wodonga & District Historical Society. This item commemorates one of the important roles played by civilians on a local, state and national level during WW2 and is attached to a local Wodonga family.2 coloured certificates on cream paper. The design includes 2 aircraft and a man and woman positioned between with the Union Jack and the Australian flag in the top section above the Royal Australian Air Force insignia and the words "For King and Country" Dark cream columns with a pale blue surround frame the details on the certificate. 3 one Years service stickers are attached at the bottom above the insignia of the Volunteer Air Observers Corps.For King and Empire Presented to Mrs H. Penfold by the ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE As a record and in appreciation of patriotic response to the call of country by serving in the VOLUNTEER AIR OBSERVERS CORPS This 20th day of September 1945 signed G. Jones Air Vice Marshall Chief of Air Staff signed ? Unit Commanding Officer volunteer air observers corps, vaoc, civilians in ww2, hamilton-smith collection

This pamphlet appears to be the wording for the initiation ceremony of a new member of the Sons of Temperance. The Sons of Temperance was founded in New York in 1842 and brought to New South Wales by the Baptist minister, Dr William Hobbs, a short time later. Division, or local branches, grew quickly so that in October 1864, a provisional Grand Division was formed with a commitment to spread the word on temperance throughout the country, and the advantages gained by joining a temperance benefit society. It was reported that by 1869, in New South Wales, there was a National Division, two Grand Divisions, and one hundred and seven Divisions, with a total membership of 5970. In 1868, members of the Church of Christ, Cheltenham, initiated a meeting to form a Division of the Sons of Temperance, which was subsequently called Star of Moorabbin Division, No 29. The meeting was held at the Cheltenham Temperance Hall on 30 September, with office bearers appointed and the larger membership acknowledged.Sitting in the back cover of the 1903 minute book of the Sons of Temperance, Star of Moorabbin Division, this pamphlet gives insight into the formal, ritualised manner of gatherings, particularly the initiation ceremony. The inclusion of 'Presiding Sister' in the script suggests this was created after 1918, when the movement officially accepted women into its ranks. However, it was placed within a minute that was discontinued in October 1917. Heavy card with black printed text, surrounded by border in a sort of chain link pattern.

The women in the photograph were members of the Sunbury Red Cross in 1915 and was taken during the years of World War 1 at 'Rupertswood Mansion' one of the Clarke family's homes. Over those four years the local people supported the war effort in many ways. School children knitted garments for the soldiers, Food parcels were sent away to the Front. Local events were held to raise money for the war effort. Many events supporting the war effort took place at Rupertswood and the Sunbury Red Cross frequently gathered at the mansion.On the Homefront members of the Sunbury community worked tirelessly to support the war effort and leading this movement was the local Red Cross.A non-digital sepia photograph with a narrow cream border of a group of well-dressed women posing for a photograph in front of a large mansion. A note on the back states that it is an original photograph which was taken in 1915. sunbury red cross, red cross, world war 1, rupertswood mansion, sir william clarke

In 1853, Bendigo Miners protested against the 30 shilling miners licence the had to pay the government. They wore red ribbons to show their protest and shopkeepers hung red ribbons outside their premises in support. Thousands of miners signed a petition to Governor LaTrobe to no avail. A protest gathering in Pall Mall marched to the Government camp on Camp Hill but this was a peaceful event again to no real avail.Typed notes on The Bendigo Petition and the Red Ribbon Movement. Amongst the petitioners were two women, Florence Foley and Sarah Williamson. Others include J H Abbott, Theodore Ballerstedt, Robert Benson, Captain Brown, W D C Denovan, William Froomes, Henry Holyoake, Doctor Jones, Frederick Ladbury and George Thomson. Also mentioned is how the petition was resolved. Further reading mentioned is: Frank Cusack's book 'A History of Bendigo entitled 'Red Ribbons in the Rain', and Geoff Hocking's book 'The Red Ribbon Rebellion - The Bendigo Petition, which contains names of those who signed the Petition. Written by the Bendigo Historical Society Inc.event, the bendigo petition and the red ribbon movement 1853, governor la trobe, florence foley, sarah williamson, j h abbott, theodore ballerstedt, robert benson, captain brown, w d c denovan, william froomes, henry holyoake, doctor jones, frederick ladbury, george thomson, george edward thomson, anti-license movement, sanders, william dixon campbell denovan, city of bendigo, back creek (bendigo) cemetery, white hills cemetery, joseph henry abbott, the diggers advocate, frank cusack, gold license fee, diggers' banner, william dexter, commissioner panton, commissioner wright, a history of bendigo, frank cusack, geoff hocking, the red ribbon rebellion - the bendigo petition, bendigo historical society inc

Photo - Bertha Leviny (seated centre) with five of her daughters L-R: Gertrude, Hilda, Mary (standing), Dorothy and Kate. Her grandson James Leviny is at Bertha's knee. The pet dog is an Australian terrier. Bertha was the wife of noted colonial silversmith and jeweller, Ernest Leviny. Together, they raised a family of ten children in their home Buda, Castlemaine. The five unmarried daughters pursued their interests in various creative pastimes linked with the Arts and Crafts Movement of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.One of the few photographs of Bertha Leviny and her daughters taken together after the death of Bertha's husband, Ernest, a prominent Australian silversmith. The Leviny daughters were artistic in their own right, following the principles of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Three of the daughters entered works in the 1907 Exhibition of Women's Work held at the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne.Silver gelatin, toned print. Black and white photograph of a group of six women, a child and a dog. The women are seated on and around a garden bench with the tennis pavilion in the background. All are smiling at the dog which is standing on its back legs in the foreground. The little boy's face is blurred from movement during the exposure.Handwritten in ink (verso): "At Buda 1906"bertha leviny, mary leviny, gertrude leviny, hilda leviny, dorothy leviny, kate leviny, james leviny, australian terrier dog, kodak box brownie camera, edwardian costume, buda, 1906, photograph, portrait, leviny women, castlemaine

This original poster design was produced as entry in the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work 1907 in Melbourne. Dorothy Leviny was studying art and design at the Bendigo School of Mines at this time, under the tutelage of Arthur T. Woodward, who was recognised as one of Australia's foremost proponents of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Reference: Castlemaine Art Gallery and Historical Society (2007): Catalogue. Portrait of an Exhibition. Centenary celebration of the first Australian exhibition of women's work 1907, p. 44.One of the few original poster design entries known to remain in existence from the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work, Melbourne 1907.Original poster design by (Bertha) Dorothy Leviny for the 'Australian Exhibition of Womans' Work', Melbourne 1907. Watercolour design showing Exhibition Buildings (Carlton) and five women in medieval costume blowing their trumpets with trees in background. Text top: 'Australian Exhibition', bottom 'of Womans' (sic) Work' and lower left corner 'Melbourne/1907/Oct, 23rd to Nov. 30.Lower right-hand of design - Dorothy Leviny's insignia: A 'B' inside a 'D' with and 'L'(bertha) dorothy leviny, first australian women's exhibition, 1907, exhibition building, carlton, australian women's work, watercolour design, poster, arts and crafts movement

This screen with embroidered and appliqued panels was entered in the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work 1907, at the Royal Exhibition Building in Melbourne. This landmark exhibition gave women artists and craft workers an opportunity to display their works to a broad audience and gain recognition for the variety and high standard of the works in both traditional and non-traditional fields for women. The embroidery and applique design is based on an original design for a similar object made by British Arts and Crafts Architect and Designer, M.H. Baillie-Scott, which was published in The Studio magazine in the early 1900s,This three-panel draught screen was made by Hilda Leviny in the Arts and Crafts style and entered into the First Exhibition of Women's Work, at the Exhibition Buildings, Melbourne in 1907.Arts and Crafts style three-panel draught screen made from timber(American Oak), linen panels, silk embroidery threads, beaten copper decoration and varnish. The embroidered panels, made by Hilda Leviny, are mounted within the timer framework, depicting a design of birds and trees in the Arts and Crafts style. Pattern Reg. No. 3227.2 and 2503. With copper decoration.hilda leviny, buda, castlemaine, domestic furniture, handcrafts, needlework, art nouveau, 1907, exhibition of women's work, royal exhibition building, woodwork, draught sceen, arts and crafts movement, embroidery and applique

Original design by Dorothy Leviny, aged 25, while she was a student at the Bendigo School Of Mines under the tutelage of Arthur T. Woodward. Woodward, who had come to Australia from Britain, was a renowned proponent of the Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Dorothy Leviny, along with two of her sisters, entered a number of items in the First Australian Exhibition of Women's Work, Melbourne, 1907, and was awarded second prize for one of her wallpaper designs. Dorothy Leviny was the ninth child born to noted colonial silversmith and jeweller, Ernest Leviny, and his wife, Bertha (nee Hudson).This original wallpaper design by Dorothy Leviny is one of few that remain in existence from the early twentieth century showing the influence of the British Arts and Crafts Movement in Australia.Original wallpaper design made by (Bertha) Dorothy Leviny painted in watercolour. The repetitive floral design consists of pale pink bell-shaped flowers with green stems and leaves. Paper, card, watercolour paint.'D. Leviny /06'.dorothy leviny, watercolour painting, arts and crafts movement, 1906, buda, castlemaine, arthur t woodward, bendigo school of mines, exhibition of womens work 1907, wallpaper design, illustration