The Victoria Cross (VC) is a military decoration awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the Australia Armed Forces. It may be awarded to a person of any rank in any service, and to civilians under military command. Being the highest award in the Australian Honours Order of Wearing, the Victoria Cross takes precedence over all other postnominals and Australian orders and decorations.Black metal frame containing image of Victoria Cross Medal with two columns of names either side.Australian Victoria Cross Recipients Certificate of Authenticityhowse, bisdee, wylly, bell, rogers, keysor, maygar, jacka, symons, burton, shout, dunstan, hamilton, tubb, throssell, jackson, dartnell, leak, blackburn, cooke, castleton, o'meara, murray, mcnamara, cherry, jensen, newland, kenny, whittle, pope, howell, moon, greive, carroll, inwood, birks, dwyer, bugden, mcgee, peeler, jeffries, mcdougall, storkey, sadlier, ruthven, davey, axford, dalziel, brown, borella, gaby, beatham, statton, joynt, mccarthy, gordon, cartwright, currey, lowerson, mactier, towner, buckley, woods, wark, ryan, maxwell, ingram, sullivan, pearse, edmondson, cutler, edwards, anderson, kingsbury, french, gurney, kibby, gratwick, middleton, newton, kelliher, derrick, rattey, chowne, mackey, kenna, simpson, starcevich, partridge, wheatley, badcoe, payne

Fifteen year old Albert Edward Gill was born in Poplar, Middlesex, in 1868. He volunteered in May 1883 as an Apprentice Ordinary Seaman with the Merchant Services under the London shipping company James P. Corry & Co., owner of the Star Line. The shipping company by this time had a fleet of both clipper and steam cargo ships that sailed as far away as Australia and New Zealand. Gill’s apprenticeship was a four year unpaid term, with only his food, drink, lodgings, washing and medical needs provided for him. The contract had many conditions but it was a wonderful opportunity for a young man. His father James Gill signed the papers as his guarantor. In December 1887 Gill completed his apprenticeship and qualified as an Able Seaman. He served for another seven years with James P. Corry & Co. and earned his Certificate of Competency as a Master in the Merchant Service in April 1894, having passed the Ordinary Examination. (The transcription of Gill's two certificates is provided further down this page.) JAMES P. CORRY & CO. - The Belfast Company was formed in 1826 by Robert Corry, and imported timber from Canada to Ireland. In 1859 the company expanded to import timber from Calcutta, and relocated its offices to London. In the 1880s the company had a fleet of 13 tall clipper ships and included ports in Australia and New Zealand in its destinations. It continued to expand trade even further and by 1908 the Star Line had seven cargo steamers trading with the East and Far East (the ships were named Star of Australia, Star of Japan, Star of England, Star of New Zealand, Star of Ireland, Star of Scotland and Star of Victoria). In 1912 the Star Line ships added an emigrant service to Australia. TRANSCRIPTION OF CERTIFICATES - = = = = = = = = = = = = “Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture” Transcribed:- (Printed form with printed logo of the Marine Department, Commonwealth Council for Trade. Sanctioned by the Board of Trade, May 1855. ) Registered at the Port of London, Sixteenth of May, 1883, and signed for the Registrar General. Stamped in blue ink “REGISTERED IN LONDON, MAY 16 1883” “RECORD OF THE REGISTER GENERAL OF SEAMEN” “This Indenture, made the SIXTEENTH day of MAY 1883 between ALBERT EDWARD GILL aged FIFTEEN years, a native of POPLAR, in the county of MIDDLESEX of the first part JAMES P. CORRY & CO. OF 9 & 11 FENCHURCH AVENUE in the CITY of LONDON of the second part, and JAMES GILL, of POPLAR, in the county of MIDDLESEX, of the third part, WITNESSETH, That the said ALBERT EDWARD GILL hereby voluntarily binds himself Apprentice unto the said JAMES P. CORRY & CO., his Executers, Administrators and Assigns, for the term of FOUR years from the date hereof; And the said Apprentice hereby covenants that, during such time, the said Apprentice will faithfully serve his said Master, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, and obey his and their lawful commands, and keep his and their secrets, and will, when required, give to him and them true accounts of his or their goods and money which may be committed to the charge, or come into the hands, of the said Apprentice; and will, in case the said Apprentice enters Her Majesty’s Service during the said term, duly account for and pay, or cause to be paid, to his said Master, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, all such Wages, Prize Money and other Monies as may become payable to the said Apprentice for such service; and that the said Apprentice will not, during the said term, do any damage to his said Master, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, nor will he consent to such damage being done by others, but will, if possible, prevent the same, and give warning thereof; and will not embezzle or waste the Goods of his Master, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns, nor give or lend the same to others without his or their licence; nor absent himself from his or their service without leave; nor frequent Taverns or Alehouses, unless upon his or their business, nor play at Unlawful Games : IN CONSIDERATION WHEREOF, the said Master hereby covenants with the said Apprentice, that during the said term he the said Master, his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, will and shall use all proper means to teach the said Apprentice or cause him to be taught the business of a Seaman, and provide the said Apprentice with sufficient Meat, Drink, Lodgings, Washing, Medicine, and Medical and Surgical Assistance, NO WAGES, the said Apprentice providing for himself all sea-bedding, wearing apparel, and necessaries (except such as are herein-before specially agreed to be provided by the said Master): AND IT IS HEREBY AGREED, that if, at any time during the said term, the said Master, his Executors, Administrators or Assigns, provide any necessary apparel, or sea-bedding for the said Apprentice, he and they may deduct any sums properly expended thereon by him or them from the sums so agreed to be paid to the said Apprentice as aforesaid: And for the performance of the Agreements herein contained, each of them, the said A.E.GILL and JAMES P CORRY & Co., doth hereby bind himself, his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, unto the said JAMES P. CORRY & CO., his Executors and Administrators, unto the other of them, his Executors and Administrators, in the penal sum of THIRTY pounds; and for the performance of the covenants on the part of the said Apprentice herein contained, the said JAMES GILL as surety, doth hereby bind himself, his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators unto the said JAMES P. CORRY & Co., his Executors and Administrators, the penal sum of THIRTY pounds; Provided, that notwithstanding the penal stipulations herein contained any Justice or Justices of the Pease may exercise such jurisdiction in respect of the said Apprentice as he or they might have exercised if no such stipulations had been therein contained. In witness whereof, the said parties have hereunto set their hands and seals, the day and year above written. Signed, sealed, and delivered, in the presence of - - Weston, 9 & 11 Fenchurch Avenue Signed, James P. Corry (Master) Signed, Albert Edward Gill (Apprentice) James Gill (Surety) NOTE – This Indenture must be executed in duplicate, both copies must be taken to the Registrar General of Seamen; or if in the Outports to the Shipping Master; one copy will then be retained and recorded, and the other returned to the Master with the necessary endorsement. = = = = = = = = = = = = Reverse of the Indenture, Transcribed:- “This is to certify that the herein mentioned Alfred Edward Gill has served the full term of the Indenture in our employ during which time he has conducted himself satisfactorily. According to the Captain’s report he has been strictly sober during the last – years [? from his failure?] Signed: James P. Corry & Co., Owner, Star Line 9 Fenchurch Avenue St, 13 Dec. ‘87 = = = = = = = = = = = = Certificate of Competency, Transcribed:- (Board of Trade logo and printed text of the certificate, with hand written details filled in) By the Lords of the Committee of Privy, Council for Trade Certificate of Competency as MASTER to Albert Edward Gill Whereas it has been reported to us that you have been found duly qualified to fulfil the duties of MASTER in the Merchant Service, we do hereby, in performance of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1854, grant you this Certificat6e of Competency. By Order of the Board of Trade, this 19th day of APRIL, 1894 Signed INGRAM B WALKER (one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Board of Trade) Countersigned -, Regulator General. Registered at the Office of the Regulator General of Shipping and Seamen. = = = = = = = = = = = = Reverse of Certificate of Competency, Transcribed:- No. of Certificate - 020886 Address of Owner - SUNNY LAWN, WALLWOOD ROAD, LEYTONSTONE Date and Place of Birth – 1868, POPLAR Signature – A E GILL. This Certificate is given upon an Ordinary Examination passed at LONDON on the 17th day of APRIL 1894 Every person who makes, or procures to be made, or assists in making any false Representation for the Purpose of obtain for himself or for any other Person a Certificate either of Competence or Service, or who forges, assists in forgery, or procures to be forged, or fraudulently alters, assists in fraudulently altering, or procures to be fraudulently altered, any such Certificate or any Official Copy of any such Certificate, or who frequently makes use of any such Certificate, or copy of any such Certificate, which is forged, altered, cancelled, suspended, or to which he is not justly entitled or who fraudulently lends his Certificate to, or allows the same to be used by any other person, shall for each offence be deemed guilty of a Misdemeanour, and my be summarily punished by imprisonment with or without hard labour for a period not exceeding Six Months or by a penalty not exceeding 100 pounds, and any Master or Mate who fails to deliver up a Certificate which has been cancelled or suspended is liable to a penalty not exceeding 50 pounds. N.B. – Any person other than the Owner thereof becoming possessed of the Certificate is required to transmit it forthwith to the Register General of Shipping and Seamen, Custom House, London, E.C. Issued at the Port of LONDON on the 20th day of APRIL 1894. Signed J I-, - Supt. = = = = = = = = = = = = These certificates are significant as a record of the process required to qualify as a ship’s Master, which was required by the vast number of merchant ships that crossed the world to Australia with cargo and passengers, all contributing to the early settlement and development of Australia as a Colony and a Nation. The certificates are also significant for their association with James P. Corry & Col. owner of the Star Line shipping company that provided trade and passengers to Australia in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Set of two documents from the Board of Trade, printed on cloth and wax paper, each relating to achieving the standard of Master Seaman, and belonging to Albert Edward Gill. They are dated 1883 to 1894. The forms have been stamped, signed, dated, details completed and sealed with three red wax seals. The certificate number has been stamped onto the document is such as was as to deter forgery. The forms relate to Albert Edward Gill and James P. Corry & Co, Star Line Merchant Services and show his registered number as a Master Seaman. 245.1 – Front: Ordinary Apprentice’s Indenture, printed certificate, with spaces completed and signed by hand, and sealed with three red wax seals. Signed and dated 16 May 1883 Reverse: Handwritten statement, signed and dated 13 Dec 1887. 245.2 – Front: Certificate of Competency, Master in the Merchant Service, printed and completed by hand, registered at the Office of the Regulator General of Shipping and Seamen, dated 19 April 1894. Reverse: Certificate, Ordinary Examination Passed, printed and completed by hand, dated 17 April 1894Signatures and other handwritten details. Stamped with security lines, Registration Number "020886"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, albert edward gill, certificate of compentency, apprentice's indenture, education, employment, 1880's, ordinery examination, able seaman, master seaman, james p. corry & co., star line, timber merchant, emigrant ships

Certificate of Marriage.Hand written entries

A blank certificateballarat school of mines, prize, award, certificate

Framed Certificatesr, o'keane, long, service, cerificate

J.H Boyd Girls High School (No.7933) was previously known as Montague Domestic Arts School 1917-1933, and prior to this was known as J.H Boyd Domestic College 1932-? The Argus 3 March 1934 J. H. Boyd Domestic College. Evening classes at the J. H. Boyd Domestic College, City road, South Melbourne, will com- mence shortly. The head mistress (Miss Meeres) will be in attendance at the college on March 5 and March 12 from 5 to 8 p.m. to enrol students.Cookery CertificateJoyce Chew Boyd Dom College, Melb 10th Dec 1933 M Ryderson (Teacher) Ruth (or Mitch) Evans (Inspector) cooking, certificate, boyd domestic college, 1933, joyce chew

Historical Significance.Framed Certificate.Inscribed to Oswald Arthur Thewlis. Australian Imperial Force. Served with honour and was disabled in The Great War. Honourably discharged on 31-3-21. Signature of George R J . # 11540. Metal placard with " Donated by Peter Adamowicz " on frame.

Framed Certificate

Framed certificate

framed certificate

Framed CertificateShire of Lillydale. To Driver A Gilbert. Sept.18th. 1919. Dear Sir, We desire to accord you a Hearty Welcome on your return from the front. You nobly responded to the call of Empire and gallantly performed your duty in the vindication of right. We fully appreciate your bravery, and the inestimable value of the part you have taken in the Great War for freedom and justice i which Great Britain and her Allies have lately been engaged. We trust that you will soon recover from the effects of the terrible experiences you have undergone. On behalf of thr Citizens of the Shire, We are, Yours Sincerely, William Mackinlay President. J C Winterbottom Shire Secretary.

Cpl. Jack was a farmer from Seville, Victoria. He Served 1915-1917. K.I.A. October 9th. 1917. No known grave. Remembered on the memorial at Menin Gate, Belgium.Framed Certificate In Memoriam / Anzac's, you've graved your name upon Immortal Scroll. Naught can compare with what the World acclaims. Zenith of fighting patriot soul. A host of heroes, you have but echoed back with Clarion tongue. Coo-ee! Comrades "Kia Ora" your distant couch eill ever be Sacred to all Eternity sub heading / 655/ Private L. Jack/21st. Battalion/ 6th. Brigade/ "C" Company.

Paper Certificate non-fictionCertificate awarded by Shire of Colaccertificate of appreciation, 2nd world war, colac

The Australian Music Examinations Board awarded Mary Elizabeth Holmes Honours in Theory of Music Pianoforte in 1947. This was at the Public Examinations. She was taught Piano and Theory at Marys Mount [Loreto Coinvent] BallaratCertificate with sealName hand written Signature of Chairman: Brian D Henry Signature of Registrar, University of Melbourne: F H Johnstonchatham-holmes collection, mary elizabeth holmes, australian music examinations board, university of melbourne, brian henry, chairman, f h johnston, registrar, 1947, honours in theory of music

Each coloured degree related to a particular value of the Manchester United Oddfellows. Purple certificate was related to charity. The Bendigo chapter of the Manchester United Oddfellows began in 1854.Blu folder. On one side the coloured logo of the Independet Order of Oddfellows in Victoria, Bendigo District, Manchester Unity Friendly Society. On the other the inscription: Purple Degree Certificate - We hereby certifythat brother R. G. Evans a member of the loyal Albert lodge, presented to us a certificate from his lodge entatling him to receive the Purple Dergee, which was duly conferred upon him at a Past Grand's Lodge, held at the M. U. Hall, Bendigo on the 20th day of January 1940. In witness whereof we have affixed our names and the Seal of our district this 25th day of January 1941. Signed bt the District Grand Master: L. Spencely. Dist. Dep. Grand Master and Secretary. Memebr signature: R. G. Evans.societies, freemasons

E3032.15.1 Cream certificate with blue and gold text and borders. The certificate has an image of s Sabbath School and an image of its Superintendent. The certificate was awarded for unbroken attendance at the Sabbath School. E3032.15.2 Cream certificate with blue and gold text and borders. The certificate is partially made out to a recipient for retiring as a teacher.Miss Elsie Swainest albans sabbath school, methodist sabbath school, mr j whittington superintendent st albans sabbath school, miss elsie swaine sunday school teacher sta albans methodist sunday school.

June Harris Smith (1935) died before, "Green Grows Our Garden," A.P. Winzenried, was published and last visited the Gardens in the late 1980's. Her son, Leigh Harris, donated the photograph and photocopies of her Certificate of Competency in Horticulture, her Report Card for 1934 and her Business Card. He visited the College in on FOBG Open Day 2000 (his letter filed ?). Black and white photograph. A group of female students resting in a grain crop with 1 sitting on the horse. June Harris (nee Smith) (1935) is holding the reins. Also photocopy of Certificate of Competency and Report Card female students, grain crop, horse, june harris ( smith), leigh harris, certificate of competency, report card

Two black and white certificates with a decorative border and a southern cross shield symbol, presented to the WHS Co-Op society to certify it as a community advancement organisation in 1965 and 1986VICTORIA Co-operation Act 1958/1981 Certificate of Incorporation This is to Certify that WANGARATTA HIGH SCHOOL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY LTD is this day incorporated as a COMMUNITY ADVANCEMENT Society under the above-named Act. Given my hand and seal at Melbourne this TWENTY-OURTH day of MARCH 1965 NINTH day of DECEMBER 1986 (Acting) Deputy Registrar of Co-operative Societies

The photograph was taken at the Ithacan Philanthropic Society's Year 12 Awards functions. Children of Ithacan Club members who have successfully completed Year 12 are awarded a bursary to assist them in their further studies Pictured is one of the award recipients, Bianca Levis, who is displaying her certificate. Also in the photo from L-R: Dimitri Dollis, a member of the Victorian Parliament at the time, Bianca's parents - Helen (nee Stratos) and Bill Levis, Bianca Levis, Tony Drakopoulos IPS President and Koula Stratos (Bianca's grandmother).The awarding of bursaries to successful Year 12 students reflects the importance the Ithacan Philanthropic Society places on education and further study.A coloured photograph of three men and three women standing in front of a photograph at a function. The youngest lady is holding a certificate in her hand. There is a potted plant at the far RHS of the photo.

The Volunteers Air Observers was formed in 1941 with the aim of observing aircraft flying over Australia. There were over 24,000 civilians volunteering their services and as the military threat to Australia subsided they took on roles as coast and weather watching. This certificate was presented to Miss S. McDonald of Warrnambool.A common item presented to people who contributed to the defence of Australia while in a civilian role.Cream paper with aircraft and Union Jack flags at top with man and woman in between with Royal Australian Air Force insignia below. Pale blue surrounding dark cream columns framing the details on the certificate. One Years service stickers x 2 on bottom For King and Empire. Presented to Miss S McDonald by the Royal Australian Air Force Volunteers air Observers Corps. Signed by G Jones Air Vice Marshal volunteer air observers corps,, miss s mcdonald warrnambool