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The 5th/6th Battalion Royal Victoria Regiment Historical Collection
Tool - Trophy, Pick Handel
Likeley used by members of Pioneer Platoon Varnished pick handel with chromed ends wark vc club, support company, pioneers -
Merbein District Historical Society
Tool - Drainage rods, Drainage rod
drainage rod used to unblock drains and clean them from vine roots steel long rod with a spiral end block drainage rod, block, horticulture -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Rocket Key, John Dennett, c. 1860s
This rocket launcher key was used with the Dennett's Rocket Launcher system to remove the end cap of the Dennett's Rocket to expose the propellant to be fused . Saving lives in Warrnambool – The coastline of South West Victoria is the site of over 600 shipwrecks and many lost lives; even in Warrnambool’s Lady Bay there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905, with eight lives lost. Victoria’s Government responded to the need for lifesaving equipment and, in 1858, the provision of rocket and mortar apparatus was approved for the lifeboat stations. In 1859 the first Government-built lifeboat arrived at Warrnambool Harbour and a shed was soon built for it on the Tramway Jetty, followed by a rocket house in 1864 to safely store the rocket rescue equipment. In 1878 the buildings were moved to the Breakwater (constructed from 1874-1890), and in 1910 the new Lifeboat Warrnambool arrived with its ‘self-righting’ design. For almost a hundred years the lifesaving and rescue crews, mostly local volunteers, trained regularly to rehearse and maintain their rescue skills. They were summoned when needed by alarms, gunshots, ringing bells and foghorns. In July 1873 a brass bell was erected at Flagstaff Hill specifically to call the rescue crew upon news of a shipwreck. Some crew members became local heroes but all served an important role. Rocket apparatus was used as recently as the 1950s. Rocket Rescue Method - Rocket rescue became the preferred lifesaving method of the rescue crews, being much safer that using a lifeboat in rough seas and poor conditions. The Government of Victoria adopted lifesaving methods based on Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in Great Britain. It authorised the first line-throwing rescue system in 1858. Captain Manby’s mortar powered a projectile connected to rope, invented in 1808. The equipment was updated to John Dennett’s 8-foot shaft and rocket method that had a longer range of about 250 yards. From the 1860s the breeches buoy and traveller block rocket rescue apparatus was in use. It was suspended on a hawser line and manually pulled to and from the distressed vessel carrying passengers and items. In the early 1870s Colonel Boxer’s rocket rescue method became the standard in Victoria. His two-stage rockets, charged by a gunpowder composition, could fire the line up to 500-600 yards, although 1000 yards range was possible. Boxer’s rocket carried the light line, which was faked, or coiled, in a particular way between pegs in a faking box to prevent twists and tangles when fired. The angle of firing the rocket to the vessel in distress was measured by a quadrant-type instrument on the side of the rocket machine. Decades later, in about 1920, Schermuly invented the line-throwing pistol that used a small cartridge to fire the rocket. . The British Board of Trade regularly published instructions for both the beach rescue crew and ship’s crew. It involved setting up the rocket launcher on shore at a particular angle, determined by the Head of the crew and measured by the quadrant, inserting a rocket that had a light-weight line threaded through its shaft, and then firing it across the stranded vessel, the line issuing freely from the faking board. A continuous whip line was then sent out to the ship’s crew, who hauled it in then followed the instructions – in four languages - on the attached tally board. The survivors would haul on the line to bring out the heavier, continuous whip line with a tail block connected to it. They then secured the block to the mast or other strong part the ship. The rescue crew on shore then hauled out a stronger hawser line, which the survivors fixed above the whip’s tail block. The hawser was then tightened by the crew pulling on it, or by using the hooked block on the shore end of the whip and attaching it to a sand anchor. The breeches buoy was attached to the traveller block on the hawser, and the shore crew then used the whip line to haul the breeches buoy to and from the vessel, rescuing the stranded crew one at a time. The rescue crew wore scarlet, numbered armbands and worked on a numerical rotation system, swapping members out to rest them. This rocket launcher key is a necessary part of the equipment for the the rocket launcher, which is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Key, part of the Rocket Rescue equipment. T shaped metal key, round handle across the top and hexagonal shaped shaft and square end. Used to remove the end cap of the Dennett's Rocket to expose the propellant to be fused . Donation from Ports and Harbour.flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, great ocean road, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, port of warrnambool, tramway jetty, breakwater, shipwreck, life-saving, lifesaving, rescue crew, rescue, rocket rescue, rocket crew, lifeboat men, beach rescue, line rescue, rescue equipment, rocket firing equipment, rocket rescue equipment, maritime accidents, shipwreck victim, rocket equipment, marine technology, rescue boat, lifeboat, volunteer lifesavers, volunteer crew, life saving rescue crew, lifesaving rescue crew, rocket apparatus, rocket rescue method, shore to ship, rocket apparatus rescue, stranded vessel, line throwing mortar, mortar, rocket rescue apparatus, line thrower, line throwing, lifeboat warrnambool, rocket house, rocket shed, rocket machine, rocket head, rocket launcher, rocket line, beach rescue set, rocket set, john dennett, rocket key, rocket launcher key, life saving -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Musical Instrument, Accordian, Late 19th century
Accordians came into being around the start of the 19th century and has become a well loved instrument. It is thought that they originated from areas in Austria and Germany but over the following century its popularity has spread to all parts of the world. Accordians come in various sizes but all operate on the same wind principle. An object which is relatively common .Brown wooden ends with metal buttons with concertina section painted blue with black edge.Two glass buttons on one end with dark pink and clear glass centres. Parts of the wood work are decorated with scroll work. two metal discs with diagrams of lyres on end above the buttons. Remains of floral pattern around each end.warrnambool, button accordian -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Mathieu's Needle Holder - long
This medical / hospital instrument was used in the Tawonga District General Hospital which was built in the 1950s specifically for the increase in population due to the Kiewa Hydro Scheme. Historical: Shows the development of scientific hospital equipment. Provenance: Used in the Tawonga District General Hospital which was remote and therefore required good equipment. Good condition and good interpretation capacity.In sterilised bag. Steel medical instrument used as scissors for holding needles. The handle section is very long with teeth at the end enabling that end to join. In between the two handles is a piece of steel running lengthwise and attached at the end to each handle (goes across). The scissor end is short and blunt. Used as a needle holder during operations. medical instrument. hospital instrument. mt beauty. tawonga. doctor. nurse. needle. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Caulking mallet, mid-to-late 20th century
Caulking is the use of cork or other substances to seal the seams and joints of the vessel to make them watertight. Caulking lasts for quite some time but eventually dries out and needs to be replaced. A mallet or hammer is often used with a caulking iron to drive it along the seams. The caulking iron’s blade is tapered to be narrower at the tip to make it easier to remove it from the joint. The shipwright’s tools on display in the Great Circle Gallery are connected to the maritime history of Victoria through their past owner, user and donor, Laurie Dilks. Laurie began his career as a shipwright in the mid-1900s, following in the wake of the skilled carpenters who have over many centuries used their craft to build and maintain marine vessels and their fittings. You can see Laurie’s inscription on the tool called a ‘bevel’. Laurie worked for Ports and Harbours, Melbourne, for over 50 years, beginning in the early 1960s. He and a fellow shipwright inscribed their names on a wheelhouse they built in 1965; the inscription was discovered many decades later during a repair of the plumbing. Many decades later Laurie worked on the Yarra moving barges up and down the river and was fondly given the title ‘Riverboat Man’ His interest in maritime history led him to volunteer with the Maritime Trust of Australia’s project to restore and preserve the historic WWII 1942 Corvette, the minesweeper HMAS Castlemaine, which is a sister ship to the HMAS Warrnambool J202. Laurie Dilks donated two handmade displays of some of his tools in the late 1970s to early-1980s. The varnished timber boards displayed the tools below together with brass plaques. During the upgrade of the Great Circle Gallery Laurie’s tools were transferred to the new display you see there today. He also donated tools to Queenscliffe Maritime Museum and Clunes Museum.The shipwright’s tools on display in the Great Circle Gallery are connected to the maritime history of Victoria through their past owner, user and donor, Laurie Dilks. Laurie began his career as a shipwright at Ports and Harbours in Melbourne in the mid-1900s, following in the wake of the skilled carpenters who have over many centuries used their craft to build and maintain marine vessels and their fittings.Caulking mallet; a thick wooden handle with a round ‘T’ cross-bar near the end. Metal reinforcing is added around the ends of the head. Both sides of the wooden head are flared outwards towards the end. The head is reinforced where it intersects with the handle and around the ends of the head just above the tips. It once belonged to shipwright Laurie Dinks.flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, shipwright, carpenter, shipbuilding, ship repairs, hand tool, equipment, caulking, ship maintenance, cooper, shipwright’s tools, shipwrights’ tools, tools, maritime trade, caulking mallet, caulking iron, laurie dilks, l dilks, port and harbours melbourne -
Linton Mechanics Institute and Free Library Collection
Book - Novel, Ayres, Ruby M, Where Are You Going? by Ruby M. Ayres, 1946
Romance novel.Hardcover book, 190 pages. Book has a plain red cover. Text, front cover: ' WHERE / ARE YOU / GOING? / RUBY M. / AYERS.fictionRomance novel.romance, fiction, ruby m. ayres -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Ski Skins - Pair
Ski skins and webbing were introduced into the Victorian Alps by European skiers. Enthusiasts travelled to enjoy the snow and to explore the Victorian Alps including the Bogong High Plains. This equipment enabled them to travel over snow without slipping when going up hills. They took the skins off when they wanted to slide down hills. In later years waxes were used for cross country skiing and then 'fish tail' markings on the back of skis to enable skiers to travel distances up and down mountains. Later developments also included motor transport (replacing horses to get to the snow line) and roads to take skiers to the ski fields and mechanised tows to take skiers up mountains so they could ski down (downhill skiing).Skiers visited the Bogong High Plains especially during the years of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria's construction of the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme from the 1930's onwards. Tourists to the area increased during this time and influenced the development of Falls Creek.Long cream strips with soft short 'fur' on one side and a type of strong hessian on the back with the length of the middle and sides stitched. At one end an adjustable strap is attached to a steel, hinged clasp and at the other end is a loop that fits over the ski. A quarter of the way from each end is a steel attachment for fastening over the ski - the 'toe' end with a rubber embossed flap and the other with a short and long strap each with a steel ring at the end.On the rubber attachment: 'vinersa/pat uno'ski skins; bogong high plains; falls creek -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Miners candle holder, Late 19th century
This candle holder has a sharpened point to push or hammer into soft rock and a hook to hang on a ledge or piece of rock. It is intended to be used in a mine and many residents of Warrnambool and district went to the gold mining districts in the 19th century. But it could have been used in the Warrnambool district if a small night light was required in one of the many local quarries or even in the search for coal deposits in the region. It could also have been used in a household.This miner’s candle holder has no known local provenance but it is retained as an interesting example of a candle holder used in the past.This is a thin piece of metal tapering to a point at one end and curving around in a loop at the other end to make a handle. Along the straight metal piece is attached a curved metal hook. At the end of the loop is an open-ended circular piece with a serrated top. The circular piece has a rectangular-shaped end piece which enables the hole in the curved piece to be pushed out or pulled in to make the hole smaller or bigger. The metal is much rusted. 19th century mining, history of warrnambool -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Tool, Miner's Pick
This miner’s pick was of the type used to extract limestone at the Warrnambool limestone quarries, mainly for buildings and walls. This pick cut the sides and across the top of the block and then the block was levered off the strata using a crowbar at an angle of 30° or 40°. These blocks were then reduced to the required size using cross-cut saws. There were about 12 limestone quarries operating in Warrnambool in the 19th century and limestone was extensively quarried for about 85 years to the 1930s when the quarrying ceased. Today there has been a small revival in the use of limestone blocks for building. Warrnambool also once had several bluestone quarries on the outskirts of the town. This miner’s pick is of considerable interest as an example of the type used in quarrying limestone in Warrnambool . Quarrying was once an important industry in Warrnambool. This miner’s pick has a short wooden handle with a metal stud inserted at the bottom end. The handle is rounded on the sides and tapers slightly from the top to the bottom. The metal pick has a curved shape with one blunt end and one sharp end. It has a cavity in the end nearest the blunt end and the wooden handle slots into this. The pick is painted black, green and orange, perhaps for display purposes. A handwritten information tag is attached to the handle. quarrying in warrnambool, limestone quarries in warrnambool -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Hooks
Items found with a metal detector by Barry Maggs in the Whipstick National Park. Three metal hooks, one is 28.5 centimeters long with a five-centimeter hook on the end the other is twenty-five centimeters long with a ten centimeter D shackle on the end. Both are very rusted. a; Is 28.5 centimeters long with a five centimeter hook on the end, b; Is twenty centimeters long with a ten centimeter D shackle on the end. c; Is nine centimeters long with a six centimeter hook, the other end has a two centimeter hole. barry maggs, whipstick national park, metal detection, metal hoooks -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Document, Coach and mail routes, n.d
A list of coach and mail routes from 1862 - 1876.A list of coach and mail routes from 1862 - 1876. Robertson & Wagner started a line of coaches running between Lilydale and Melbourne. They sold out to Cobb & Co in 1874. Mitchell & Co started a line in opposition in 1880. Coaches ceased to run when the railway was opened at the end of 1882. Also a list of early hotels.A list of coach and mail routes from 1862 - 1876.robinson & wagner, cobb & co, mitchell & co, carriages and coaches -
Orbost & District Historical Society
catheter, Mayer & Co, early 20th century
This veterinaary item as found in an old walk-through dairy on Wombat Track, Orbost.These items are representative of items used in Orbost on dairy farms in the first half of 20th century.A very small trumpet-shaped funnel made of silver/brass(?). It has a loop handle at the funnel end and is bent towards the end for insertion.MAYER & Co LONDON SILVERcatheter veterinary-instrument dairy farming -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Tool - Saddler's Tool, n.d
Saddler's tool, bone, curved, rectangular, rounded ends, narrowing at one end. An arrow and word starting 'Se' are stamped on one side -
Orbost & District Historical Society
curette instrument, c. 1985-1990
This instrument was used in the surgery at Orbost District Hospital and was donated to the Historical Society in 1991.This item is associated with Orbost Hospital.A medical instrument of cylindrical shaped stainless steel. It has a screw piece at one end and an adjustor on the other end. It is sealed in a plastic bag. Suction curette 7/3/91 surgical-instrument curette -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Maul
Shipwright maul with wooden handle, round head one end & pointed end other. Head 165mmL x 35mmW. 355mm overall.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, maul, shipwright maul, shipwright -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Sign - House number, 349, Thomas Anderson, Jun 1892
Enamelled house number 349 - white background, royal blue numbers; rectangular shape with rounded ends, holes each end for screwsbuilt environment - domestic, thomas anderson -
Churchill Island Heritage Farm
Functional object - fishing reel handle
E H "Ted" Jenkins was the paraplegic son of Harry Jenkins who bought Churchill Island in 1936 as an interest for Ted. Ted lived on Churchill Island at various times with his nurse Sr Margaret "Jimmy" Campbell, e.g. second world war when they ran a shorthorn dairy farm, and at other times lived in their home in Melbourne. He moved freely around the island in a cart pulled by a Shetland pony and had strong arms for shooting and fishing. The reel suggests he went shark fishing or deer water fishing. Ted was also keen on 'ham' radio, and had many friends from his school who became life-long friends and frequent visitors to him on Churchill Island.brass handle with turned wooden handles either end, brass flat and slightly tapered each end, hole in centre for attaching to reel.ted jenkins, fishing, reel, churchill island, western port, handle, jenkins, campbell, margaret, jimmy -
Coal Creek Community Park & Museum
Broken-tipped gad (chisel
8411.1 - Long, narrow metal spike with tapered tip, broken at the very end. Shows slight flaring from hammering at blunt end. -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Costume - Puppets Neck Band, 1940's
Part of a collection of clothes and accessories for puppets from the Beinssen family.Red, blue and green brocade-like material neckband with a buttonhole at one end. Heart shaped opening at the other end. Used on a puppet.puppets, beinssen, camp 3, ww2 camp 3, puppetry, dr silke hesse, ekke beinssen, ww2 camp puppet theatre -
Hume City Civic Collection
Pipet
This item was used in the Pharmacy Department of Sunbury Asylum [Caloola] prior to Asylum becoming a campus of Victoria University.A Long thin narrow glass measuring instrument with bulbous shape approximately halfway along. One end is pointed and it is open at both ends.Yellow band/brown band "20/cm3/ex..."sunbury asylum, sunbury, george evans collection -
Yarrawonga and Mulwala Pioneer Museum
Chinese Shoulder Bar
Smooth wooden pole flattened round shape, flat at one end, pointed on the other Used for carrying baskets of produce on each end.None -
Dandenong/Cranbourne RSL Sub Branch
Memorabilia - Swagger Stick
Swagger stick consisting of a wooden rod with a brass rifle round on one end and a brass bolt(?) with a Major's Crown applied on the opposite end.ww1, ww2, swagger stick -
Trafalgar Holden Museum
Accessory - Equine back band
Used on cart and carriage horses. Fits along the back of horse with the two divided sections connecting to breechersManufactured and sold by Holden and Frost C1900Adjustable leather strap split into two at one end. Each end fitted with metal ring and buckle stitching in places for extra strength. equine, leather, back band -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Functional object - MMTB Cincinnati "bundy" clock keys, Cincinnati Time Recorder Co. of Ohio, 1930s
Item used to operate and record the time in the Cincinnati Time Recording clock. This type of clock was used by the MMTB in the 1930s. The key would be issued by the depot staff to crews for use in the clock to record times so that they could be matched up against the timetable to see whether tram or bus services were running on time. Understood that this style of key was last used on the Port Melbourne bus route. The Museum has one of these clocks at its depot which was obtained from The Met in? The second photo shows the key in position before turning the handle around it. By the 1960's (or earlier) they were only used on the M&MTB bus routes. All the tram routes had M&MTB copies with a very different style of key. Only used on two man bus routes and the conductor held the key due to the half-cab bus design. On the tram routes the driver was responsible for the key and recording the time. The key number represented the crew's shift number. For a while towards the end of their use on the trams they were the Run number. This change led to many lost keys! See item 9568 for an example of the time recording clock itself.Demonstrates a Cincinnati "Bundy" time recording clock key.Key - or Bundy Clock key made for a Cincinnati Time Recording Clock comprising a circular brass section with a key number section secured by a screw at one end and a flat steel strip inserted into the brass section, with a hole at one end that could be placed on a hook. The steel strip is riveted into the brass round section. Two keys held.Steel section stamped "tramways" and "55" and "263"tramcars, tramways, bundy clock, cincinnati, time recorder clocks -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Bed Pan, Early 20th century
This bed pan was used in the past for patients in hospitals and other places where there were bedridden people. Bed pans are still used in these circumstances but they are now made of materials that are more easily sterilized. This item has no known local provenance but it is an interesting example of hospital equipment used in the past and will be useful for display. This is a spherical-shaped white china bowl with a pointed end and with the opening partly covered at the smaller end. It has a china handle at the top section. There are three drainage holes at the bottom of the smaller end. Inside the bowl at the top section there is black printing. The New Slipper Bed Pan This slipper should be passed under the Patient in front between the legs. If a flannel cap is made for the blade fastened by strings under the handle considerable comfort will be afforded. vintage hospital equipment, history of warrnambool -
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
Tool - Broad ligament needle associated with Dr William Geoffrey Wicks
This needle was owned and used by Dr William Geoffrey Wicks and was referred to as a "boomerang needle". [source: Curator Sue Barnett, 2000] The needle is similar to Ralph Worralll's broad ligament needle, page a/210, Felton, Grimwade & Duerdins catalogue 1948.Broad ligament needle with slot eye. Distal end of metal shaft tapers at an angle to a needle point. Proximal end of needle shaft forks to create a handle shape with a rounded bulb at the end. Underside on needle is stamped "J.AUSTIN" and "STAINLESS". "J. AUSTIN" "STAINLESS"surgery -
Linton and District Historical Society Inc
Gas light bracket, Gas Light, Presbyterian Church, Linton
Until Linton was connected to the statewide electricity grid in 1939, this gas light was used to light the altar at the Presbyterian Church in Linton.Curved gas light wall bracket, ornamented with leaves. One end designed to be attached to a wall, the other end has a valve, presumably to control the flow of gas. Beyond this valve, the end of the fitting is threaded, to facilitate attachment of a glass cover.gas lighting, presbyterian church linton -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Studley Park [Toll] Bridge, Kew, 1870s
‘Studley Park Bridge’ or ‘penny bridge’ linked Church Street in Abbotsford and what is now Yarra Bend Park. The privately constructed bridge opened in 1857, gaining its popular name from the toll charged at the Abbotsford end. The engineer of the 485ft wide bridge was Mr. Austin and the builder was ‘Mr Grant, who threw the bridge over the Niagara’. Following the opening of Johnston Street Bridge, declining tolls led to the Bridge falling into disrepair. Badly damaged by the flood of 1891, the Bridge was compulsorily acquired by the Government in 1899, and later dismantled and sold for firewood.This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.A print, taken in the 1960s by Dorothy Rogers, from an original albumen silver photograph now in the collection of the Kew Historical Society. The photograph shows the toll bridge (also known as the Penny Bridge) from the northern end."P[enny] Toll Bridge - built 1857. from old photo"studley park bridge, penny bridge, bridge, timber bridge, toll bridge -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Curette, late 19th century
This curette was donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village by the family of Doctor William Roy Angus, Surgeon and Oculist. It is part of the “W.R. Angus Collection” that includes historical medical equipment, surgical instruments and material once belonging to Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Thomas Francis Ryan, (both of Nhill, Victoria) as well as Dr Angus’ own belongings. The Collection’s history spans the medical practices of the two Doctors Ryan, from 1885-1926 plus that of Dr Angus, up until 1969. ABOUT THE “W.R.ANGUS COLLECTION” Doctor William Roy Angus M.B., B.S., Adel., 1923, F.R.C.S. Edin.,1928 (also known as Dr Roy Angus) was born in Murrumbeena, Victoria in 1901 and lived until 1970. He qualified as a doctor in 1923 at University of Adelaide, was Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Adelaide Hospital in 1924 and for a period was house surgeon to Sir (then Mr.) Henry Simpson Newland. Dr Angus was briefly an Assistant to Dr Riddell of Kapunda, then commenced private practice at Curramulka, Yorke Peninsula, SA, where he was physician, surgeon and chemist. In 1926, he was appointed as new Medical Assistant to Dr Thomas Francis Ryan (T.F. Ryan, or Tom), in Nhill, Victoria, where his experiences included radiology and pharmacy. In 1927 he was Acting House Surgeon in Dr Tom Ryan’s absence. Dr Angus had become engaged to Gladys Forsyth and they decided he would take time to further his studies overseas in the UK in 1927. He studied at London University College Hospital and at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and in 1928, was awarded FRCS (Fellow from the Royal College of Surgeons), Edinburgh. He worked his passage back to Australia as a Ship’s Surgeon on the on the Australian Commonwealth Line’s T.S.S. Largs Bay. Dr Angus married Gladys in 1929, in Ballarat. (They went on to have one son (Graham 1932, born in SA) and two daughters (Helen (died 12/07/1996) and Berenice (Berry), both born at Mira, Nhill ) Dr Angus was a ‘flying doctor’ for the A.I.M. (Australian Inland Ministry) Aerial Medical Service in 1928 . The organisation began in South Australia through the Presbyterian Church in that year, with its first station being in the remote town of Oodnadatta, where Dr Angus was stationed. He was locum tenens there on North-South Railway at 21 Mile Camp. He took up this ‘flying doctor’ position in response to a call from Dr John Flynn; the organisation was later known as the Flying Doctor Service, then the Royal Flying Doctor Service. A lot of his work during this time involved dental surgery also. Between 1928-1932 he was surgeon at the Curramulka Hospital, Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. In 1933 Dr Angus returned to Nhill where he’d previously worked as Medical Assistant and purchased a share of the Nelson Street practice and Mira hospital from Dr Les Middleton one of the Middleton Brothers, the current owners of what was once Dr Tom Ryan’s practice. Dr L Middleton was House Surgeon to the Nhill Hospital 1926-1933, when he resigned. [Dr Tom Ryan’s practice had originally belonged to his older brother Dr Edward Ryan, who came to Nhill in 1885. Dr Edward saw patients at his rooms, firstly in Victoria Street and in 1886 in Nelson Street, until 1901. The Nelson Street practice also had a 2 bed ward, called Mira Private Hospital ). Dr Edward Ryan was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1884-1902 . He also had occasions where he successfully performed veterinary surgery for the local farmers too. Dr Tom Ryan then purchased the practice from his brother in 1901. Both Dr Edward and Dr Tom Ryan work as surgeons included eye surgery. Dr Tom Ryan performed many of his operations in the Mira private hospital on his premises. He too was House Surgeon at the Nhill Hospital 1902-1926. Dr Tom Ryan had one of the only two pieces of radiology equipment in Victoria during his practicing years – The Royal Melbourne Hospital had the other one. Over the years Dr Tom Ryan gradually set up what was effectively a training school for country general-practitioner-surgeons. Each patient was carefully examined, including using the X-ray machine, and any surgery was discussed and planned with Dr Ryan’s assistants several days in advance. Dr Angus gained experience in using the X-ray machine there during his time as assistant to Dr Ryan. Dr Tom Ryan moved from Nhill in 1926. He became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 1927, soon after its formation, a rare accolade for a doctor outside any of the major cities. He remained a bachelor and died suddenly on 7th Dec 1955, aged 91, at his home in Ararat. Scholarships and prizes are still awarded to medical students in the honour of Dr T.F. Ryan and his father, Dr Michael Ryan, and brother, John Patrick Ryan. ] When Dr Angus bought into the Nelson Street premises in Nhill he was also appointed as the Nhill Hospital’s Honorary House Surgeon 1933-1938. His practitioner’s plate from his Nhill surgery states “HOURS Daily, except Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturday afternoons, 9-10am, 2-4pm, 7-8pm. Sundays by appointment”. This plate is now mounted on the doorway to the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, Warrnambool. Dr Edward Ryan and Dr Tom Ryan had an extensive collection of historical medical equipment and materials spanning 1884-1926 and when Dr Angus took up practice in their old premises he obtained this collection, a large part of which is now on display at the Port Medical Office at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool. During his time in Nhill Dr Angus was involved in the merging of the Mira Hospital and Nhill Public Hospital into one public hospital and the property titles passed on to Nhill Hospital in 1939. In 1939 Dr Angus and his family moved to Warrnambool where he purchased “Birchwood,” the 1852 home and medical practice of Dr John Hunter Henderson, at 214 Koroit Street. (This property was sold in1965 to the State Government and is now the site of the Warrnambool Police Station. ). The Angus family was able to afford gardeners, cooks and maids; their home was a popular place for visiting dignitaries to stay whilst visiting Warrnambool. Dr Angus had his own silk worm farm at home in a Mulberry tree. His young daughter used his centrifuge for spinning the silk. Dr Angus was appointed on a part-time basis as Port Medical Officer (Health Officer) in Warrnambool and held this position until the 1940’s when the government no longer required the service of a Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool; he was thus Warrnambool’s last serving Port Medical Officer. (The duties of a Port Medical Officer were outlined by the Colonial Secretary on 21st June, 1839 under the terms of the Quarantine Act. Masters of immigrant ships arriving in port reported incidents of diseases, illness and death and the Port Medical Officer made a decision on whether the ship required Quarantine and for how long, in this way preventing contagious illness from spreading from new immigrants to the residents already in the colony.) Dr Angus was a member of the Australian Medical Association, for 35 years and surgeon at the Warrnambool Base Hospital 1939-1942, He served as a Surgeon Captain during WWII1942-45, in Ballarat, Victoria, and in Bonegilla, N.S.W., completing his service just before the end of the war due to suffering from a heart attack. During his convalescence he carved an intricate and ‘most artistic’ chess set from the material that dentures were made from. He then studied ophthalmology at the Royal Melbourne Eye and Ear Hospital and created cosmetically superior artificial eyes by pioneering using the intrascleral cartilage. Angus received accolades from the Ophthalmological Society of Australasia for this work. He returned to Warrnambool to commence practice as an ophthalmologist, pioneering in artificial eye improvements. He was Honorary Consultant Ophthalmologist to Warrnambool Base Hospital for 31 years. He made monthly visits to Portland as a visiting surgeon, to perform eye surgery. He represented the Victorian South-West subdivision of the Australian Medical Association as its secretary between 1949 and 1956 and as chairman from 1956 to 1958. In 1968 Dr Angus was elected member of Spain’s Barraquer Institute of Barcelona after his research work in Intrasclearal cartilage grafting, becoming one of the few Australian ophthalmologists to receive this honour, and in the following year presented his final paper on Living Intrasclearal Cartilage Implants at the Inaugural Meeting of the Australian College of Ophthalmologists in Melbourne In his personal life Dr Angus was a Presbyterian and treated Sunday as a Sabbath, a day of rest. He would visit 3 or 4 country patients on a Sunday, taking his children along ‘for the ride’ and to visit with him. Sunday evenings he would play the pianola and sing Scottish songs to his family. One of Dr Angus’ patients was Margaret MacKenzie, author of a book on local shipwrecks that she’d seen as an eye witness from the late 1880’s in Peterborough, Victoria. In the early 1950’s Dr Angus, painted a picture of a shipwreck for the cover jacket of Margaret’s book, Shipwrecks and More Shipwrecks. She was blind in later life and her daughter wrote the actual book for her. Dr Angus and his wife Gladys were very involved in Warrnambool’s society with a strong interest in civic affairs. Their interests included organisations such as Red Cross, Rostrum, Warrnambool and District Historical Society (founding members), Wine and Food Society, Steering Committee for Tertiary Education in Warrnambool, Local National Trust, Good Neighbour Council, Housing Commission Advisory Board, United Services Institute, Legion of Ex-Servicemen, Olympic Pool Committee, Food for Britain Organisation, Warrnambool Hospital, Anti-Cancer Council, Boys’ Club, Charitable Council, National Fitness Council and Air Raid Precautions Group. He was also a member of the Steam Preservation Society and derived much pleasure from a steam traction engine on his farm. He had an interest in people and the community He and his wife Gladys were both involved in the creation of Flagstaff Hill, including the layout of the gardens. After his death (28th March 1970) his family requested his practitioner’s plate, medical instruments and some personal belongings be displayed in the Port Medical Office surgery at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, and be called the “W. R. Angus Collection”. The W.R. Angus Collection is significant for still being located at the site it is connected with, Doctor Angus being the last Port Medical Officer in Warrnambool. The collection of medical instruments and other equipment is culturally significant, being an historical example of medicine from late 19th to mid-20th century. Dr Angus assisted Dr Tom Ryan, a pioneer in the use of X-rays and in ocular surgery. Curette from W.R. Angus Collection, St Clair Thomson's adenoid curette. 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