Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This book was used in a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times.A brown book with ablue spine. It contains pink paper copies of correspondence from M.U.I.O.O.F. (Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows)on front cover - handwritten in pen "M.U.I.O.O.F Orbost Branch"m.u.i.o.o.f. friendly-society manchester-unity

Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This item was used in a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times.An account book for M.U.I.O.O.F. (Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows ). It has a dark blue fabric cover. It contains hand-written accounts.m.u.i.o.o.f. friendly-society accounts-book

Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This item was used in a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits and reflects those times.A very large cash book with a blue fabric cover , a brown spine and edges.

Hand written notes on the fire at the Garden Gully United Mine 29/3/1911. Two reports from the Bendigo Advertiser 29 and 30 March 1911. First report battery watchman John Davey saw nothing unusual, then later saw the reflection of fire in the engine house. Second report mentions hose stretched over Mt Korong Rd being run over by Chinese market gardeners and others making the leaky hose leak all the more. Cages only travelled a short distance after the ropes broke. Unemployment after air compressors ruined by the fire. Written on the back: Some Facts and Figures - The Bendigo Goldfield has had its good and bad years. Yields ranged from 475, 857 ozs in 1852 and 451,588 ozs in 1856 to 168,990 ozs in 1878 and 148,700 -mine, gold, garden gully united mine, garden gully united mine, garden gully united fire, bendigo advertiser 29-30/3/1911, john davey

Date is approximate - early 1930s. Mr Oswald Joyce and Mr Bert Lamble used to ride their bicycles to the country to find work when they became unemployed. This included reworking old gold mines. Here they are seen leaving for Enoch's Point where they fossicked for gold during the Depression. A check of the electoral rolls points to this being the home of Frederick Harry Percival Lamble, labourer, born in Collingwood. He and his family continued to live at 87 Essex Road until his death in 1968 and his occupation is consistently given as labourer. His wife Bessie Louisa Woods died in 1957.Black and white photo of 2 men identified, but not specifically, as Mr Joyce and Mr Lamble, both of Essex Road, Surrey Hills. They are standing next to their bicycles on a roughly made path. The bikes are loaded up with swags and kit as if the two are about to depart on a journey. Behind is a picket fence and in the background the shops along Canterbury Road can be seen.essex road, frederick harry percival (mr), bicycles, depression, 1929-1939, unemployment, economic depression, mr joyce, bert lamble, frederick harry percival lamble, bessie ethel lamble, bessie ethel smith

This item probably belonged to Albert Coulson a farmer of Brodribb. Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This book was used in a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times.A small grey book with the Manchester Unity Independent Order of Oddfellows. At the bottom of the cover in black print is the society's Coat of Arms showing a woman holding a child with two children beside her. On the right is a woman holding an anchor with her arm around a woman holding a cross. There is an images of a group of people holding a scroll beside a reclining lion."Brother A.H.J. Coulto was initiated a member of the Loyal Orbost Lodge 8 Sept 1909"

This book was used by the Orbost Manchester United Independent Order of Oddfellows. Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This record book was created in a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times.A hard back book with a red and blue mottled cover and a dark blue spine. On the front cover is a large brown rectangular label with "Record of Sickness" in black print inside an ornate black frame.on label - handwritten above title - "M.U.I.O.O.F."m.u.i.o.o.f. friendly-societies book-keeping

This book contains M.U.I.O.O.F. (Manchester Unity Independent Order Of Oddfellows) accounts of the Orbost group. Friendly Societies were founded in the Australian Colonies in the mid-19th Century by immigrants from England who had been members in Societies which dated back to the 18th Century. Like all working people these immigrants experienced sickness, accidents, unemployment, death and burial. They needed help of like fellows to tide their families over these times. So they formed a branch of one of the Friendly Societies back in the mother country. The idea was to make fixed contributions to a fund and when they were off work they would receive a payment. When they died funeral benefits would be paid and the widow and children would be cared for. It was a form of local insurance for hard times. This account book was used in a a time of 'look after yourself' as the Colonial Governments did not provide pensions or benefits. This item reflects those times.A hard back book with a blue cover and a brown spine.on spine on red flock in gold lettering "NIGHT BOOK:m.u.i.o.o.f.friendly-societies