"Otira" was built in 1887 for Mr. Henry Berry, owner of a large wholesale grocery business. In 1923, the property was acquired by the Methodist Church for use as a home mission training college. B & W photograph of a group of 7 men and 4 non resident women students of the Otira Methodist Home Missionary Training College. Men: Doug Packett, ? Butcher (went back to farm), Cecil Price (returned to England), Jack Hull, Fred Belcher, Ray Kemp, George Collett. Women: ?, Amy ?, Mrs Bartlett (MLC), ? Sinclairdoug packett, ? butcher, cecil price, jack hull, fred belcher, ray kemp, george collett, ?, amy ?, mrs bartlett (mlc), ? sinclair, otira, methodist, home missionary training college

Third Class tests were set for Pages 10 and 11 years old. Social required Pages to: Assist at a Church social function; Assist at Sunday School, Home or Overseas Missions Appeals by asking for contributions; take part in a working bee. [Methodist Church of Australasia Methodist Order of Knights Commanders' Handbook pg 23-24]Four round 3rd Class Social merit badges. Green background with blue embroidery. New.methodist order of knights

Extract from The Spectator of June 12, 1946: "From the Queensland 'Methodist Times'. Dreams do come true. At any rate, that is what the Rev. Cliff Lanham believes, who after the lapse of several years finds that his early dream of a Flying Patrol for the Inland is now an actuality. The Methodist Inland Mission Board has purchased from the Disposals Commission of the R.A.A.F. a De Haviland Fox Moth Biplane. Indeed, two machines have been bought, but one will be broken up for spare parts. This 'new angel of the air' is fitted with a 130 h.p. engine and possesses a cruising speed of 100 miles per hour. The petrol consumption is only that of a big six-cylinder car—18 miles per gallon. In addition to the pilot there is room for three passengers, and a stretcher is installed whereby urgent cases of sickness or accident can be flown to the nearest hospital. In this machine, Mr Lanham proposes to cover the whole of S. W. Queensland and a portion of the Northern Territory from his headquarters at Mt Isa. It takes little imagination to realise what a boon the 'flying parson' will be to those of the great outback." …. "Before [Mr Lanham] inaugurated the scheme [the idea of a flying parson] he spent his first furlough from inland mission work (and incidentally £60) learning to fly. 'In a month,' he says whimsically, 'I was a pilot of sorts.' Mr Lanham is a son of the Church. His parents were staunch Methodists, and their home offered generous hospitality to mininsters and preachers. His brother, the Rev. Percy Lanham, M.A., died in Libya when on active service as a chaplain. His widowed mother must be proud of her tall, stalwart son, whom the Church now sends forth on his flying mission for the Lord. May he ever be wafted through inland skies on two wings and a prayer." It is of interest to note that although Cliff Lanham's brother, Percy, is listed in the Methodist Church of Australasia's Ministerial Index (9th Edition, Revised to 1961) Cliff Lanham himself is not listed as either active or deceased.Three B&W identical photographs of Lanham standing next to a Methodist Inland Mission bi-plane. Lanham and an unidentified man are holding a stretcher between them with a boy of about 10-11 on it. They seem to be exiting the plane. The original photograph F69-1 is a 110x65 mm Kodak print; the other two are 195x145 mm enlargements. Lanham is wearing a white shirt and grey trousers, the other person is wearing a safari helmet.All three photos identify "Rev. Cliff Lanham" on the back. They seem to have been originally used or intended for use by The Spectator.lanham, cliff, queensland, methodist inland mission, flying parson

Mr. W. T. Aldride was believed to be a pastor. He was involved in Home Missions, retiring in 1953.Matte black and white potograph of Mr. W. T. Aldridge.methodist, aldridge w. t., home missions

Rev. John Wade was a Methodist Minister stationed at: 1934 Wangaratta; 1936 Cudgewa; 1941 Monbulk; 1942 Chaplain; 1943 Womboota, NSW; 1947 Horsham, Pimpinio; 1951 Werribee; 1957 Preston; Home Missions Director at the time of the formation of the Uniting Church.B & W head and shoulders photograph of the Rev. John Wade."Rev. John Wade"wade, john, home missions, methodist, minister

Rev. Desmond Tarran (1916 - 1992). Born at Werribee. Converted at age 15. Entered the Home Missionary Training College in 1936. Spent 29 years in many appointments including 3 years 1950 - 1952 in Inland Mission in the Murchison area, Western Australia. Enlisted as an army medical orderly in 1940. Served in the medical service in Palestine and was transferred to a forward casualty station, then taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942. On the Death Railway in Thailand worked closely with Dr E. (Weary) Dunlop and Dr Albert Coates in caring for starving and maltreated prisoners. Returned to home mission service in 1947. In 1966 was selected for special ordination as a Methodist minister. Served 11 years in country and city churches before retiring in 1978.Satin, black and white, head and shoulders, studio portrait of Rev. Desmond Tarran, as a post card.desmond tarran, home missionary, methodist minister, prisoner of war

Wooden giving box Front: "The Methodist Church of Australasia, Home & Foreign Missions. Go Ye Into All the World And Preach the Gospel to Every Creature". Top: "freely have Ye Received! Freely Give". Side 1: "Home Mission: To Spread Scriptural Holiness Through the Land". Side 2: "Foreign Mission: The Idols He Shall Utterly Abolish".methodist church of australasia home & foreign affairs

Mary Ena married Keith John Robinson son of Isaac and Henrietta nee Raleigh of Creighton Melton. Mary and her father are photographed beside the Darlingsford house prior to her wedding in February 1930. Mary their first child was born in 1907. In circa 1980 she wrote about her parents and her early life. Page 1 of part of the original hand written script - Mother and father were married at the Methodist Church Melton by the Rev B E Williams on Aug 23rd 1906 and lived in the house beside the chaff mill for some years. [The family left Melton South in 1910. In 1911 they moved to the farm “Darlingsford” near the town of Melton home for their nine children born between 1907 - 1922 They had three daughters and six sons, the second boy died of diphtheria 1916 aged 5 years.] Page 2 Mary writes… Each winter Father would send a 20 ton truck to the Collingwood Central Methodist Mission to be distributed to the needy people in the area. Sr. Faith who was at the mission for many years became a very much loved friend of my parents and the family. I remember her as a prolific writer of childrens stories in the Methodist paper the “Spectator”. I still treasure a book sister Faith gave me for my birthday. Father and Mother gave the first donation of 10 pounds to open the fund to start “Yooralla” for crippled children all because a small boy asked for a bag of sweets for his brother who was crippled and not able to attend kindergarten. Sister Faith who was a small fragile woman with a tremendous spirit was a frequent visitor at our home where she loved the warmth, good food and the loving companionship of the family for many years. Later she ran the Chaucer Library in Collins just below Georges near the Athenaeum Theatre. Mother was an avid reader and many of the books she read came from this library. Page 4 – Mary writes….. Dad was always involved in district affairs ever ready to help someone in need, especially as a J. P. helping young people who may have been in trouble. He was always involved in the care of his [eight] brothers who were in need at times. He was an elder at the Scots Church Melton and Sunday School Superintendant when the Sunday School thrived. The anniversary became a special event with good singing supplemented by good music by Dad’s friends from Footscray saxophone and violin. The church would be packed both Sundays. The family home was open to all and sundry from the little Salvation Army lass from Bacchus Marsh driving a horse and jinker (without any experience) round the district. collecting, came looking for a bed for the night (and later crept into bed with me because she was terrified). The Methodist local preachers regularly spent several night and breakfast while visiting people in the Melton area. They were stationed at Bacchus Marsh and again drove a horse and jinker. One preacher I remember with gratitude was Mr Webster a retired school master and a fine man. Another was Pastor Tuttlebee again with no experience driving a horse and jinker. The first time he called Mother found him taking the winkers off the horse whilst it was still harnessed to the jinker. Another regular visitor was Mr Lister the federal member for Corio, he always stayed with us when he had meeting in this area. Another evening just as dusk another minister and his dear little wife were driving the horse and buggy to a new parish at Ballarat. They had asked at the Mac’s Hotel for accommodation, and their reply was we have no accommodation, go down to Mr and Mrs Barrie they will put you up for the night. They were most grateful to be taken in and cared for, somehow it seemed the most natural thing in the world that they would be welcome. A copy of Mary’s writing was given to her niece Wendy in 1990. Mary Ena Barrie's wedding daylocal identities