Letters of Sympathy from RAAF Units for Dental Surgeon "Mervyn Clive Townsend" lost on HMAS SYDNEY on 15/11/41. Refer Cat No. 2313P for Townsends service.1. Handwritten letter on white paper. Paper headed with RAAF stamp and name of Military Base. 2. Handwritten letter on cream white paper. Royal Australian Air Force stamp in top left corner and name of RAAF Unit in right corner. 3. Handwritten letter of cream white paper. Stamp at top of bird with outstretched wings with crown at top.1. Listed from RAAF Station, Nhill, Victoria and dated 3/12/41, signed by “Edward Campbell”. 2. Listed No. 1 School of Technical Training, Radio Mechanics Course, Dated 1st December and signed “Allan Davis”. 3. Listed No. 2 METO Course, School of Technical Training and dated 3/12/41.hmas sydney, kia, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Part of the "Kevin John Herdman", No. 397661 Collection. See catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service.Jungle green knitted woollen crew neck jumper. Shoulder boards with Major's crown and RACT badge attached to each epaulette. Epaulettes fastened with velcro. Khaki fabric reinforcement panels sewn onto shoulders and elbows. khaki fabric pockets for pens sewn onto top of LH sleeve. Black plastic name badge attached to RH side. White calico manufacturers and washing instruction labels sewn to inside of collar. Button hole on front of neck band.8405. 66-3-2702, size small (upwards arrow^), SERVICE NO, NAME.On black plastic name badge: "HERDMAN". On manufacturers label: JOHN BROWN, VIC, 1978, DSN uniform, jumper, royal australian corps of transport, major, kevin john herdman

Uniform issued to Warrant Officer 2nd Class. "R. HOSKING", "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY CORP OF TRANSPORT".1. Jacket, khaki colour wool/polyester fabric. Service dress style with belt. Gold colour plastic buttons with shank and split ring. Buttons have raised emblem and letters - "Royal Australian Army Corp of Transport". Collar, shoulder epaulettes, four front pockets, top two with buttons and two metal press studs on flap, lower button down flap. Two lapel badges - metal, for Royal Australian Corps of Transport. Two rank insignia on sleeves - crown - Warrant Officer 2nd Class. Green colour polyester fabric lining with white cotton manufacturers label inside right. 2. Belt, khaki colour wool/polyester fabric with plastic buckle and leather belt keepers. Green plastic buttons.Manufacturers information on label - black ink print. 1. KEITH COURTNEAY PTY LTD/ VICTORIA/ 1978 1979/ ^/ NAME/ SERVICE NO" "HOSKING R.D." - handwritten black ink pen. "W/02 THOMAS R.J. type written black ink. " 4362/ 42R" Size label - handwritten black ink.uniform, army, service dress r, r. hosking

Battle uniform jacket is for less formal circumstance. Belonging to "Peter Stoklahsa" enlisted 1966. Refer Cat 7674P.RAAF blue uniform jacket size 10 OR. Royal Australian Air Force shoulder patches.. Commonwealth emblem patch sewn onto lower arms. Two breast pockets with service ribbon attached above left pocket. Material epaulettes on each shoulder with a black button and gold RAAF Eagle and Crown Emblem. Zipped front with stretch bands on bottom sides. Inside cotton lining. Inside pocket - label of maker on inside.Label - "A.G.C.F. VIC. 1981. 8405.66.103.8063 Size 10 OR. Service No. Cleaning instructions. raaf, uniform, peter stoklahsa

Part of the Kevin John Herdman No. 397661 Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record..1) Khaki battle dress jacket with button front and attached belt and buckle. Royal Australian Corps of Transport badges on each shoulder. Major's Crown on each epaulette. Red and blue lanyard threaded through left epaulette and secured in left breast pocket. Two button-down breast pockets. Buttons are khaki bakelite. .2) Pair khaki trousers with pleated front and zippered fly. Two side pockets and button-down hip pocket. Fob pocket and six belt loops. Buttons are khaki bakelite. .3) Khaki peaked cap with brown leather band. RACT badge on front of cap. Brown sweat band and clear plastic lining..1) and .2) On manufacturer's label: ' KEITH COURTENAY PTY LTD, VICTORIA, 1972-1973, 9upwards arrow), NAME: CAPT HERDMAN. K.' .3) On label inside cap: 'HERBERT JOHNSON, 13 OLD BURLINGTON ST, LONDON, W1, FOR CHORLEYS, CANBERRA'.royal australian corps of transport, kevin john herdman, uniform

Part of the Kevin John Herdman No.397661 Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Pair of khaki coloured shoulder boards, each with a Queen's Crown and RACT badge. The crown represents the rank of Major. On the back of each board are loops for fitting to an epaulette.Stamped on a loop on each board: 'SMALL 14 - 151/2'.uniform, shoulder board, major, kevin john herdman, royal australian corps of transport

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Four jungle green coloured shoulder boards. each has an RACT corps badge. .1) to .3) have a Queen's Crown signifying the rank of Major. .4)'s crown is missing. Each board has two loops on the back for attaching to an epaulette. .1) to .4) Stamped on one rear loop: “SMALL 14 - 15 1/2”uniform, shoulder boards, major, royal australian corps of transport, kevin john herdman

1st Battalion RAR is a Motorised Battalion of the Australian Army, based out of Townsville. Banner donated by Shane Reynolds of 1 RAR A Coy. PT321635.Large banner, predominately dark blue, large gold and black emblem in centre. Emblem has standing Kangaroo in centre over two crossed rifles. A crown above the Kangaroo who is standing on a base with motto on the base. Below the base is a boomerang with Royal Australian Regiment inscribed. From the end of the boomerang, leaves and fruit of a plant curling up to the crown giving a rough circular configuration. In top left corner numeric of "1" in white. Top right corner a flag emblem in colours of green, blue and green. Left edge of banner has white reinforcement and small plastic hole at top and bottom.Inscribed on base " Duty First" as motto and " Royal Australian Regiment". 1 rar, banner

Ribbon - Efficiency decoration instituted in 1935 - Dec 1986. Uniform issued to "BUTTERWORTH/ 15280".Service dress style - khaki colour wool/polyester fabric jacket with belt and trousers. 1. Jacket collar, with two lapel badges, gold and silver crown and shield with cannons and lettering. "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS" shoulder epaulettes with silver and red metal crown rank insignia = MAJOR. Four front pockets. Two top patch pockets with button and two metal press studs on flap. Green and yellow service Ribbon above left pocket. Two lower inset pockets with button down flap. Two metal belt keepers insitu. Buttons - gold colour plastic with shank and metal ring. Buttons have raised emblem - crown and shield with three cannons. Brown colour cotton sateen fabric lining. No manufacturers label. 2. Belt - fabric with gold colour plastic buckle, leather belt keepers and brown plastic buttons. 3.Trousers - fabric with fob pocket, two side pockets and one inset back pocket with concealed button down flap. Button missing. Green colour polyester fabric libning, cream colour cotton waistband lining. Metal zipper fly with plastic button. White cotton label on waistband. 4. Lanyard - red colour cotton cord with knots.3. White cotton label with black ink print "REGIMENTAL NO./NAME" on waistband lining - handwritten black ink 'BUTTERWORTH/ 155280/ 7/ COY".uniform, army, service dress, butterworth

.1) Oxeford Shire & Buckingham Shires Light Infantry. .3) Cheshire Infantry Regiment. .4) 18th Royal Hussars Cavalry. Items in the collection re John D Gardiner No 2832, refer Cat No 5892.2 for his service details..1) Badge brass curved shape all lettering with two lugs on rear. .2) Badge pressed brass crown at top, wreath and Serpent, scroll at bottom, pin on rear. .3) Badge pressed brass, 8 sided star with central motif, scroll under with raised lettering, pin on rear. .4) Badge pressed silver colour, crown at top, central circle with raised lettering, wreath under and pin on rear..1) "OXE & BUCKS" .2) "Royal Army Medical Corp". .3) "CHESHIRE" .4) Queen Mary's Own".

Items in collection re John D Gardiner No 2832, refer Cat No 5892.2 for his service details..1) Badge pressed brass, shape is of an old style Artillery piece on large wheels, rear has two lugs on. .2) Badge, metals crown at top, centre has 5 stars in silver, outside is oval shape with lettering, scroll under, rear has two pins. .3) Badge silver colour metal, crown at top, oval shape, raised lettering, scroll under with same, pin on rear..2) "Royal Australian Army Pay Corps, Integrity" .3) Royal Australian Army Nursing Corps, Pro Humanitate"badges, artillery, nursing, pay

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.RAASC officer's metal collar badge. The badge is bi-metal construction using silver and gold coloured metals. The silver metal background features a Queen's Crown and a seven-pointed star. Gold coloured metal is circular in shape with a royal cypher in the middle. Blue and red enameling in the centre. On the back are two loop fittings.Stamped on gold coloured metal: ' ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS'. Printed in gold on blue enamel garter: 'MONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE'. Stamped on back: 'STOKES, MELB'.badge, uniform, royal australian army service corps, kevin john herdman

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.RACT officer's collar badge. Badge is constructed of gold and silver plastic. Silver coloured laurel wreath is mounted on a gold coloured seven-pointed star. A Queen's Crown is located at the top of the star. Laurel wreath encloses a Royal Cypher and blue garter featuring silver lettering. Two metal pins on back for fastening to a collar.Printed on blue garter: ' ROYAL AUSTRALIAN CORPS OF TRANSPORT'. At bottom of wreath: 'PAR ONERI' Stamped on back: 'SWAN & HUDSON'.badge, uniform, royal australian corps of transport, kevin john herdman

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No.397661, collection. Refer Cat No 5492P for service details.Two RAASC Officer's metal hat badges. The badges are of bi-metal construction using silver and brass coloured metals. The silver metal background features a Queen's Crown and a seven pointed star. Centre piece is brass coloured and features a Royal Cypher encircled by a blue enameled band. On the back of 1, are two pins and brass fastening clips. 2. has two loops on two threaded rods for fastening. Both brass coloured centerpieces' are loose.Stamped on brass centrepiece "ROYAL AUSTRALIAN ARMY SERVICE CORPS" Printed in gold on blue enamel circle "MONI, SOIT, QUI. MAL. Y.PENSE" Stamped at back: “STOKES, MELB”badge, uniform, royal australian army service corps, kevin john herdman

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See Catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Royal Australian Corps of Transport stable belt with two red and two white stripes on a navy blue background running the length of it. The belt has a chromed metal locket-style buckle and slide adjustment. Centre of buckle is embossed with an eight pointed star behind a Queen's Crown.Stamped on the back of buckle: "HOBSON & SON, LONDON"uniform, stable belt, royal australian corps of transport, kevin john herdman

Part of the Kevin John Herdman, No. 397661, Collection. See catalogue No. 5942P for details of his service record.Burgundy coloured painted wooden shield shaped plaque with RAASC badge mounted in the middle. Badge has a seven-pointed star topped with a Queen's Crown. Star is overlaid with a brass wreath embossed with the corps' name. Inside the wreath is a blue enamel garter with the corps motto in gold coloured lettering. Within the garter is a royal cypher on a burgundy background. Badge is attached with two small bolts. Facility for hanging on back.Stamped on the back in purple ink: 'LEGA PTY. LTD., 24 WILLIAM STREET, BALACLAVA, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA'.plaque, unit badge, royal australian army service corps, kevin john herdman

John Glass Cramond 1829 and James Dickson 1831-1910 were founders of a large drapery store. Both were Scots and both came separately to Australia in 1852. Cramond initially came for gold but soon opened a store in St Kilda with a post Office attached and he was the first post master there. Dickson was a farmer’s son but became a draper and while he was unsuccessful on the Bendigo diggings and then returned to Melbourne where he met Cramond and soon after they opened a store on Lonsdale Street. They opened their business in Warrnambool in 1855 as a general store with groceries, drapery and ironmongery. Both partners were involved with the community and James Dickson was an original director of the Warrnambool Woollen Mill 1909 and the Warrnambool Cheese and butter factory. He also served on the committee of management of Warrnambool Base Hospital. This case was a wedding gift from James Dickson Jnr to his wife Mary Glass Cramond on the occasion of their wedding. This item has significance on a number of levels. It belonged to a member of one of Warrnambool’s earliest pioneering families and it marks the occasion when the two families of Cramond and Dickson were linked through the marriage of James Dickson jnr and Mary Glass Cramond. The firm played a significant part in the development of the city and traded for nearly 150 years. It therefore has social significance to Warrnambool. The item is well provenance with the case initialed and items within the case monogrammed. The case and its items are aesthetically quite beautiful as well as being typical of travelling or dressing cases of the more well to do, of the time. Mappin & Webb were manufacturers of some standing with the Mappin name appearing in manufacturing as early as 1775.The company has held a royal warrant as silversmiths since 1897 to the present day and as crown jeweler since 2012. Throughout this time, they have manufactured quality items for the luxury market. It provides an insight into the way ladies travelled and the items which they considered essential. This consists of a black leather with leather handle attached with brass fittings. Middle opening with side pocket on one side with metal catches. Inside has removable sections for holding the numerous containers and items belonging to the case. Interior of the case is dark blue satin. The items contained within the case are as follows: 321.1 Luggage case 321.2 Glass bottle rectangular, silver monogrammed lid, empty. 321.3 Tall round glass bottle, silver monogrammed lid, empty. 321.4 Small glass bottle with pink powder, silver monogrammed lid. 321.5 Small multi sided bottle with stopper and brass hinged lid. 321.6 Tall round bottle with silver monogrammed lid. 321.7 Tall thin multi sided bottle with brass lid. 321.8 Cream coloured monogrammed jar cotton wool inside. 321.9 Clothes brush rectangular cream back. 321.10.1Glove stretcher bone coloured .10.2 Case black leather. 321.11.1 hair comb cream with silver edge .11.2 Case black leather 321.12 Hair brush cream handle 321.13Spatula cream monogrammed 321.14 Mirror, silver round with handle. 321.15 Writing compendium .1 Case black leather .2 Pen with nib .3 Lead pencil .4 Navy satin covered blotting book 321.16 Inkwell glass bottle in small black leather case. 321.17 Match striker in leather case. 321.18 Mirror in black leather case rectangular 321.19 Small case for visiting cards. 321.20Sewing kit rectangular, contains threads and needles pkts x 3 321.21Container, small, hinged tortoise shell patterned. 321.22.1 Manicure set .2 Scissors small .3 Scissors large .4Corkscrew with Mother of pearl handle .5 Pocket knife with Mother of pearl handle .6Tweezers with Mother of pearl handle .7 File with Mother of pearl handle .8 Fine hook Mother of pearl handle .9 Bodkin .10 Bodkin 321.23 Hairbrush oval silver backed 321.24 Mirror silver handled hand mirror. 321.25 Hairbrush wooden handled with Mother of pearl inlay. 321.26 Cylinder, silver with removable lid and small phial of iodine labelled Felton’s pocket iodine. 321.27 Phial small glass with gold decorations. 321.28 Inhaler with insert 321.29 Thimble, metal. 321.30 Silver backed hair brush 321.31 silver backed clothes brushEngraved on side pocket: M.G.D. Mappin and Webb Sheffield and London. Some of the items are monogrammed as per the list above. A number of the glass bottles have lids hallmarked Mappin & Webb London and Sheffield makers stamped inside lid with hall marks history of warrnambool, cramond and dickson, mary glass cramond, dressing bag, woman's toiletry bag 1880

A keepsake badge which relates to the tumultuous period of the English royal family with the death of George V when his son Edward V111 abdicated from the throne due to his involvement with divorcee Wallis Simpson. His brother Albert was crowned as King George VI on May 12 1937. This badge is of interest as the dates are a mere two weeks before the abdication. The Christ Church fetes and flower shows have been a part of Christ Church social and fundraising agenda since the 1890’s, with the ladies’ guild playing a large part in their organization and operation. This object has significance as it commemorates a long running and popular event on the social and religious calendar for the parishioners and people of Warrnambool. It also is linked to an event of world- wide interest.Small white badge with red writing and symbol of crown in the centre. Pin at the back.1936 Coronation Fair Christ Church Warrnambool Nov 25 & 26.christ church fete 1936, coronation fete warrnambool

This souvenir of the Coronation of Edward V11 in 1902 was produced by William Ferguson when he was the Mayor of Warrnambool (1901-2). Ferguson was a jeweller, optician and watchmaker in Timor Street in the early 1900s. This is an interesting item as an example of the fervor with which the coronation of a King of England was celebrated in Warrnambool in 1902. It was appropriate at the time that the Mayor of Warrnambool should issue a commemorative ribbon as a loyal gesture from the civic authorities. This is a fragment of red silk ribbon which was a souvenir piece produced by William Ferguson in 1902 to celebrate the Coronation of King Edward V11 of England. The ribbon is braided at the sides and frayed at the edges and has a split in the middle and tears across the top section. The ribbon has an imprint of the Royal Crest, the side profiles of Edward and Alexandra and the Town of Warrnambool crest. ‘Born 1841, Crowned 1902, Edwardvs V11 Rex et Imp et Alexandra, Reg. 1902, Presented by W. Ferguson, Mayor, June 26th 1902’edward v11 coronation, william ferguson, warrnambool

This book containing the 17 cantos of Don Juan, was owned by Con O’Mahony a lawyer who lived in Warrnambool at the turn of the 20th century He won the Bowen prize for essay writing in 1883. He operated from Royal Chambers in Kepler St Warrnambool for some time in partnership with Mr E W Klingender. An item which belonged to one of Warrnambool’s most prominent citizens at the time.Blue linen over card embossed in gold with crest and mermaid on front cover with overall pattern of crowns and the letter “B” Title Poet and publisher’s name in gold on spine of book. Back cover plain. 612 pages with 4 black and white plates included.Stamped C O’Mahony Solicitors Warrnambool in purple ink. Dedication: to Algernon Charles Swinburne. MDCCCC11(1902)Printed by William Clowes and sons Limited London and Beccles.warrnambool, con o’mahony, byron’s works,

These buttons and lapel wings were issued either by the English Royal Australian Air Force or the Royal Australian Air Force and probably date from pre-World War Two. The Royal Australian Air Force is the aerial section of the Australian Defence Force and was established in 1921. It succeeded the formation of the Australian Flying Corps in 1912. These badges are of interest as early mementoes of the Air Force.1 Two metal badges with raised image of eagle in full flight with a crown above it.They are shank buttons with a connecting link. The eagle is yellow metal with split pin at the rear..1 Buttons J R Gaunt Ltd London.english royal australian air force, australian defence force

This item is a souvenir of the Bi- Centenary of Australia (1988) It features the new Parliament House in Canberra which was opened in May 1988 and cost more than one billion dollars to build and contains four thousand seven hundred rooms. This item came from the estate of a well known Warrnambool lawyer and is retained as a high quality souvenir of the Bi-Centenary of AustraliaCircular ceramic plate. White concave surface with blue drawing of Parliament House, Australian Coat of Arms, flowers including banksia, Sturt Desert Pea, eucalypt and seven pointed stars. Reverse has raised inner rim and includes text in blue. Front 1988 Reverse ROYAL COPENHAGEN DENMARK and crown. COPYRIGHT THE A.B.A 1981 REG.TRADE MARK OF THE A.B.A. USED UNDER LICENCE BY ROYAL COPENHAGEN NEW PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA Logo Australia 1788-1988 Signature " Gorn Uestezaul"(?)parliament house, bi centenary of australia

This item is one that was sold to tourists in Warrnambool in the mid to late 20th century. The dish has been mass produced in England and the image of Shelly Beach in Warrnambool added later, probably in Australia. As it is a Royal Stafford china piece it would have been a relatively costly item. It could have been bought for use in the buyer’s home or as a present for another person. Souvenir dishes such as this one have been popular souvenir items for tourists for over 100 years. Warrnambool, as a coastal location, has always been a tourist town and it remains today an important industry for the city. This dish is of interest as an example of the items sold to tourists in the mid 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is an oval-shaped china dish with fluted sides and a fluted edge and gold paint around the edge. The gold edging is partly worn off. The dish is white with a multi-coloured image set into the base of the dish. There is a crack on one side of the dish. On the base of the dish is a crown symbol and details of the manufacturer. ‘Shelly Beach, Warrnambool, Victoria’ “Royal Stafford China Made in England” tourism in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

This helmet has been used by a member of the Royal Australian Navy in the early to mid 20th century. The Commonwealth Naval Forces were formed after Federation in 1901 and became known as the Royal Australian Navy in 1911. Pith helmets are now used only in the Australian Defence Forces for ceremonial purposes. No information is available on A.B. Pollock.This helmet is retained for display purposes.This helmet is made of white material with a six-segmented crown and a peak and back covering. In the centre of the crown is a dome with three breathing holes. On top of the dome is an ornamental gold-coloured metal finial. The edge of the crown has a band of white fabric and in the centre of this is a metal badge with a crown, anchor and seven stars and the wording ‘Royal Australian Navy’. Inside, the helmet has a leather rim with an adjustable leather string with brass clips (one missing). Inside, the breathing holes are made of brass and the metal rotates to open or close the holes. Inside also are the size of the helmet, the owner’s name and some other indecipherable information Royal Australian Navy A.B.Pollock 6⅞ vintage headwear, royal australian navy, history of warrnambool

These badges are hat or cap badges used by the Royal Australian Air Force . These badges may date from before World War Two but the ones used today are of similar design. The basic design mirrors the equivalent design of the badges of the Royal Air Force of Britain. The Royal Australian Air Force was established in 1921 and is the second oldest Air Force in the world, being formed from the Australian Flying Corps which was established in 1912.These cap badges are of interest as early examples of those worn by members of the Royal Australian Air Force..1Bronze badge featuring a crown, a wreath of leaves and berries enclosing stylised RAAF. There are two small rings on the reverse each with a two pronged brass pin inserted in the rings. .2 Identical to .1 except the brass pins are missing. RAAF

This medal was made by W.J.Amor Mint, a medal making company from New South Wales. It was made to commemorate both the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Canberra in 1963 and the Royal Visit of 1963. Because of the rivalry between the two major Australian cities, Melbourne and Sydney, it was decided to establish a new capital city somewhere between the two cities. The Australian capital Territory was established in 1913 and the American architect, Walter Burley Griffin, in association with his wife, Marion Mahony Griffin, was chosen to design the new city of Canberra. The first Parliament House was opened in 1927 and Melbourne ceased to be the location of the Federal Parliament meetings.This medal is of interest, mainly because it commemorates the 50th anniversary of the first Parliament House in Canberra and the establishment of Canberra as Australia's capital city.Circular brass medal with ring attached at the top and a split ring through the ring. The obverse features a raised profile of Queen Elizabeth 11 wearing a crown and text. The reverse depicts old Parliament House, decorative leaves and text.THE ROYAL VISIT OF HM. QUEEN ELIZABETH 11. 1963. JUBILEE OF CANBERRA 1913-1963 AUSTRALIA 1788-1963 australian capital territory, canberra australia, walter burley griffin, queen elizabeth 11

This was the first visit of Queen Elizabeth to Australia following her coronation in 1953. Queen Elizabeth is the only British monarch to have visited Australia. She visited Hamilton on 26th February. School children from Warrnambool were transported to Hamilton showgrounds to stand in lines to view the Queen and the Duke standing in a land rover. All school children received a commemorative medal.These medals are retained as a memento of the Queen's visit in 1954.Three identical gold coloured metal medals. Each medal is attached by a ring to a bar with decorative surrounds. The bar has text. The obverse of the medal features profiles of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Duke of Edinburgh. The reverse has a crown and text. There is a pin clip on the reverse of the bar. Bar Obverse PRESENTED TO THE CHILDREN BY THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA Bar Reverse STOKES MELB Medal Obverse QUEEN ELIZABETH 11 : DUKE OF EDINBURGH Medal Reverse E11R ROYAL VISIT 1954 VICTORIA queen elizabeth 11. duke of edinburgh, royal visit

These medals were given to school children in Victoria in 1954 as a memento of the visit to Australia of Queen Elizabeth 11 and the Duke of Edinburgh. This was the first visit to Australia of a reigning British monarch. The tour took in 57 Australian towns and cities, including ten days in Victoria. These medals have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes..1 A circular bronze-coloured medal with the image of Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh and printing on one side and a crown and printing on the other side. A bar with a decorative scroll on the top portion with printing is attached to the medal by a metal ring. The bar has a metal pin at the back. .2 as above except that the medal is a little tarnished .3 as above except that the medal is tarnished and the bar is missing. Presented to the children by the Government of Victoria Queen Elizabeth 11 Duke of Edinburgh Stokes Melb. E11R Royal Visit 1954 Victoria royal visit 1954, history of warrnambool, queen elizabeth, duke of edinburgh

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river