Basil George Watson was an aviation pioneer born in Bendigo 12/10/1893. The family moved to Melbourne when he was a child. In 1914 he went to England to work as an engineer for the Sopwith Aviation Company. He also took flying lessons and received his licence in 1915. He now worked as a test pilot for Sopwith but when a crash rendered him unfit for military duty, he returned to Australia in late 1915. He designed and constructed his own biplane in the back yard of his Elsternwick home. At the end of 1916 he tested his plane by flying from Point Cook to Bendigo and then to Melbourne. This included an aviation display in Bendigo. He followed this by flying to Warnambool 25/1/1916. He then set up an experimental airmail flight from Melbourne to Mount Gambier. On 28th March 1917, Watson was demonstrating aerobatics for the entertainment of AIF servicemen at Point Cook, when his plane collapsed and fell into the ocean close to shore. Unfortunately, Watson was tangled in the plane's wires and died. On hearing of his death, the bells of St Pauls in Bendigo and the Bendigo fire bell tolled.A paper detailing the life of Bendigo pilot Basil Watson, one of the first Australian pilots. 4 pages.aviation, basil watson, sopwith

Vietnamese boat people landing in Philippines during the first years of the events (1975 - 1996). They were grouped up from many different islands and transferred to the refugee camp in Palawan Island. There they were interviewed and waited for decision from UNHCR to be granted settlement approval. Then they would be transferred to Bataan Processing Centre in Manilla waiting for flight to a third country.It is one of the very rare black and white photographs collected during the first years of the Vietnamese boat people in Philippines.Black and whilte picture taken at Lubang Island, Philippines, 1978. A group about 50 Vietnamese refugees landing in Lubang Island, Philippines, 1978. Pictures taken on a beach of the island, in front of 2 huts covered with coco-palm leaves as temporary shelter, together with two nuns and government workers coming to pick up and transfer to a refugee camp.Nguoi Viet ty nan tai Lubang, Philippines, 1978.lubang island, philippines, vietnamese refugees

Henry Ison (1832-1915) was a butcher and cattle agent who lived mainly in the Dunnolly - Tarnagulla area. He married Elizabeth Carter in 1853 and they had 7 children of which 3 reached adulthood. These included their son Thomas (1863-1947). Henry was one of the founding members of the Loyal Prince Alfred Lodge of Oddfellows, a member of the Dunolly Borough Council for 9 years and one of the first trustees of the Dunnolly Racecourse.8524 Three receipts for purchases in early 1900. 8524a Mr. H Ison bought 6 bullocks on 4/10/1904 from Howe & McCulloch. 8524b Mr. T Ison bought 4 pigs, 2 & 13 lambs from Alf. E. Wallis & Co. on 26/07/190?. 8524c Mr Thos. Ison bought a Thurmer piano for 46 pounds on 23/02/1909 from Flights, Mitchell Street, Bendigo.livestock and a piano, purchases in early 1900

Copy of letter from The New Zealand Government Trade Commissioner to Mr.L.MacPherson Manager RVAC dated 03.08.64 seeking appraisal and opportunity to supply.