Oral history interview and partial transcript of Harry Finlayson, who became head teacher in 1928-1938, then returned as headmaster in 1952 until 1954, before moving to Essendon and finally Echuca. He discusses the changes brought by Mr Hedger, the establishment of the Scout troop, the first long play records from America and England, as well as the educational challenges.1 audio recording of recollections from former RVIB teacherroyal victorian institute for the blind, oral history, harry finlayson

Boys scramble over a 1920's style car, in the front gardens of RVIB St Kilda Road. One sits on the roof and another on the bonnet, both reaching to feel the windscreen wipers. Three boys are at the front, touching the engine, whilst two more touch the front of the tyre and another boy touches the rear of the tyre. The final three boys sit on the running board with various components in their hands.royal victorian institute for the blind, education, children

A young person navigates their way down a staircase inside the RVIB building at St Kilda Road. Ahead of them, a male staff member stands, verbally guiding them in using their cane to find the next steps.royal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

A young woman navigates her way along the driveway outside RVIB, keeping clear of the hedged garden border to her left.royal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

Carols by Candlelight required the assistance of the general public around Melbourne to sell programs and other items, assist ticket sales and other activities. Various avenues were used to call for this assistance, including the circulation of Help Wanted signs at newsagent kiosks at metropolitan railway stations. In this image, a woman buys something from a newsagent kiosk, whilst another person waits behind her. The newsagent smiles from behind his stack of papers, beside a Life Savers rack and in front of cigarette towers behind him. Above him is an advertisement for Goldstream tobacco. The sign attached slightly over the tobacco advertisement reads: Help Required for Carols by Candlelight commencing 27th Nov. 5 1/4 hours daily. 6 day week inc. Saturday. For 4 weeks. 80 cents per hour. If interested phone Mr Burke 511381.carols by candlelight, royal victorian institute for the blind

Two people, dressed in a top, jeans and boots, hold hands above their heads and step to the side. These people are unnamed, but possibly demonstrating boot scooting at a camp. In the background, an onlooker sits in a chair, whilst another woman sits in a wheelchair. A small kitchenette is off to the side and the image was taken at night.recreation, royal victorian institute for the blind

O&M advisor Malcolm Simpson works with an elderly female, as she uses her white cane along a residential street.Coloured photograph of bearded man walking beside an elderly female as she uses a white caneroyal victorian institute for the blind, orientation and mobility

Employment is a key area that blind or vision impaired people are under-represented. These photographs were taken to demonstrate and provide examples of how blind and visually impaired workers can undertake skilled positions. A woman works at a switchboard, using an assistive device, whilst another woman sits beside her. A young man dressed in a blue coverall and goggles, uses a bandsaw to cut through an object, whilst another uses a circular saw to cut wood. A man in a workshop, with a large toolset on the wall, operates a machine.employment, royal victorian institute for the blind

In a room panelled with white boards on a grey wall, two man stand in front of a raised television screen. Both wear name badges, which are unreadable, and are dressed in suits and ties. The man wearing a heavy silver chain around his wrist and glasses presents two white boxes, marked Voice Tapes on the side, to the other man. It is unknown what occasion this was taken upon.royal victorian institute for the blind, audio equipment

Although basketry and weaving work was discontinued at RVIB, workers were employed to undertake a new range of activities. Once of these involved assembling goods and re-packaging them. Showbags, cutlery for airlines and other items were handled by the workshop teams at RVIB, who could put together different components to make a shelf ready product. In this example, workers are using plastic to create an unknown item, which could then be shipped out to the warehouse.royal victorian institute for the blind, employment

Weaving is a craft activity that has been a part of many day centres. In this image, a blind woman sit in front of a loom, holding the threads, her lips slightly pursed, as if in conversation. Another woman stands beside her and looks down at the work, her hand holding the weaving slightly forward as she looks at the stitches.royal victorian institute for the blind, day centres

The Conder Shield was sponsored by Major Wally Conder, a keen sportsman (amongst other occupations,) who sought to promote wrestling and boxing during his time as president of the Victorian Amateur Wrestling and Boxing Association. Presented to the winning club of the Inter-Club Gymnasium Competition, over a series of matches in individual athleticism. These included skipping, roller cycling and chinning bar, as well as light-weight, middle-weight and welter-weight wrestling. The clubs that vied for this shield were the Trojans (from the RVIB), Bonbeach Surf and Life Saving Club and Beattie's Physical Culture School. In 1934, the Trojans team consisted of Neil Westh, Charlie Bradley, A. McDonald, T. Hanlon, B. Cook and coach/captain V. Blucher. Mr Henry Vincent Blucher was a former police constable to lost his sight in 1931 due to a car accident, and who had previously held the title of Victorian novice middleweight. Metal plates on shield read: V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1933-34 Won by "Trojans" B.P.C.C. V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1935 Won by V.R.I. Gym Club Won by "Trojans" 1936 Won by "Trojans" 1937 Runners Up Bonbeach 1934 Runners Up Trojans 1935 Runners Up "Achilles" 1936 Runners Up "Achilles" 1937 Achilles Runners Up 1938 Presented by W.T. ConderImage of wooden shield with metal plaques and map of AustraliaInter-Club Gymnasium Competition conducted by Victorian Amateur Gymnasium Associationrecreation, royal victorian institute for the blind, awards

An image taken of a man holding a rifle whilst two other men, one wearing a Canada Rifle Club blazer, look on. In the 1960's, the RVIB approached engineer George Glover to produce equipment to allow blind people to shoot, based upon that made available at St Dunstan's Hospital in the UK. The rifle range opened in February 1966 at the rear of St Kilda Road with 30 members, and soon became involved in matches with sighted rifle clubs in the area. The club had many successful years, competing against teams from Canada and New Zealand in 1968, and had the support of ICIANZ which provided them with free munitions as well as teams to compete against. In 1977, George Glover passed away and some of the skills required for maintenance of the equipment was lost, however the club continued until the late 1980's/early 1990s.1 Black and White image of man at shooting galleryrvib rifle club, royal victorian institute for the blind

Employment is a key area that blind or vision impaired people are under-represented. These photographs were taken to demonstrate and provide examples of how blind and visually impaired workers can undertake skilled positions as switchboard operators. In the first image, a man wearing a headset sits behind a small switchboard and on the desk is a sign that reads "Please buzz for attention. Our receptionist/telephonist is blind". In a second image, two people sit at a desk. The woman uses a device to locate a key on the switchboard whilst wearing a headset. Beside her a man points to the key and holds a telephone receiver to his ear. In the third image, a seated man reaches forward to find a socket in the switchboard, with an audio jack attached to his finger. Beside the switchboard a man stands and holds his wrist, possibly guiding him.employment, royal victorian institute for the blind

Providing more than education or employment, blind and low vision organisations recognised that many people needed assistance in navigating paper forms to access support from the government. In these photographs a woman from RVIB helps a man fill in the paperwork required for the Invalid Pension. A brochure for this is situated on the corner of the coffee table that the forms rest on. The man sits between the woman and a television.royal victorian institute for the blind

Early childhood educator Sandie Mackevicius holds a small boy as he reaches overhead for some wooden rods that are suspended from the ceiling. Beside them is a large square cube with holes, that children can play in, and outside the window there is a grassed area bordered by trees. The curtains are distinctly patterned and the room stretches out behind them. This image was probably taken at RVIB School.rvib school, royal victorian institute for the blind, sandie mackevicius

In 1987, Australia Post released Christmas stamps and two first-day covers (envelopes with stamps affixed) with the Carols by Candlelight theme. The top first-day cover has a red candle in a gold old-style candlelight holder, with five stamps showing groups of people who are singing and holding similar candles. A large '50th Performance of Carols by Candlelight, Melbourne, Vic 3000, 24 Dec 1987' mark is stamped on the envelope, which has a background image of the Myer Music Bowl, a candle and songbook. The lower first-day cover has a boy holding a red candle in his right hand and a songbook in his left, singing. Two stamps, different to the ones in the envelope above, are affixed to the envelope and consist of groups of people holding red candles and singing. One '50th Performance of Carols by Candlelight ...' cancellation mark is stamped. In between the two envelopes is a photograph which shows the Myer Music Bowl at night, from the rear of the large crowd who are holding candles and songbooks.royal victorian institute for the blind, carols by candlelight

Five photographs of groups of staff members at RVIB. Image 1 - Maree Littlepage, Christine Harding, ?? Image 2 - ? and Sandie Mackevicius Image 3 - Group photograph in driveway: Blue letters: A - Chris Headland, B - Barbara Williams, C - Ramona Mandy, D - Barbara Royce, E – Tess Rousso, F – Robyn Gale, G – Peter Cronin, H – Chris Edwards, I – Glen Morrow, J – Graeme Craig, K – Barbara McKenzie, L – Marg Harvey, M – Judy Williams, N – Len Stephens, O – Nina Sutton, P – Sherry Cunningham, Q – Marissa Depitta, R – Uli Pfisterer, S – Rosemary, T – Maree Sheehan, U – Linda Rivette, V – Rachel Grealy, W – Fiona Pelusi, X – Maree Littlepage, Y – Danielle, Z – Sophie Tzoukalis. (Between Pelusi and Stephens, Christine Harding. Green letters: A – Emma Rogers-Wilson, B – Rory Fraser, C – Gary Stinchcombe, D – Alex Zolradkovic, E – Nicola Misso, F – Mary Barron, G – Barbara, H – Kathy Lazzaro, I – Linda Morris, J – Pam McAleese. Image 4 - ?? Image 5 - Robyn Gale, ??RVIB - St Kilda Road - 1998royal victorian institute for the blind, staff

Unsubstantiated photograph of the Asylum for the Blind in 1875. The four storey bluestone building rises above a group of trees planted in the garden. A picket and wire/string fence border the unpaved circular driveway. 2 black and white images of the Guiding Light at Elanora Blind Asylum School, St Kilda Road Victoria c. 1875 Charles Nettleton 1826-1902 Spencer Scott Sandilands 546 High Street, East Preson, 3181 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Tel: (03) 529 8011 Fax: (03) 521 1754 33 George Street, The Rocks, 2000 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Tel: (02) 241 4251 Fax: (02) 2414535 Rare Prints, Antiquarian Books, Old Maps, Australiana, Antiques, Photographs, Framing c.1875 Charles Nettleton School from the Blind Original Photograph $65 Guaranteed over 100 years oldroyal victorian institute for the blind, buildings

A schoolgirl uses a foot treadle Singer sewing machine, surrounded by classmates who listen to Matron give instructions.royal victorian institute for the blind, education, children

Colour photograph of the crowd at Carols by Candlelight held at the Myer Music Bowl. The view is from the rear of the crowd, with a sea of candles visible. The stage is lit up, and the Melbourne city skyline appears behind the shape of the Bowl.1 digital images of crowds during Carols by Candlelightroyal victorian institute for the blind, carols by candlelight

Talking Book Machines were used by clients for audio books sent out by libraries for the blind and visually impaired. In this undated photograph, the machine appears to be either a cassette or cartridge player, and the top and cardigan worn by the lady, indicates that this image may have be taken in the 1980-1990s. Talking Book Machines had more features than a regular cassette player, combined with the various speeds used and tone indexing, allowed readers to skip through the book or slow it down.audio equipment, talking books, royal victorian institute for the blind

Unknown portrait of an older female, slightly smiling and facing away from the camera. She is wearing a white collared top and a darker coloured cardigan or jumper. She could be either a client or a staff member.royal victorian institute for the blind, portraits

Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

Annual reports were both a way of informing benefactors as well as generating new ones for charitable organisations. In 1867 an asylum and school for blind children began in Melbourne. Between that first intake and 1891, the asylum went through a great many changes, including the building of the St Kilda Road building, growing in size and developing a workshop for blind workers. 1 bound volume with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports