[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

Round tin with fitted lid. Dr Pat brandDE-LUXE / Dr. Pat / READY RUBBED / CIGARETTE TOBACCO / 50g Net / WILLIAM BUTLER TOBACCO COMPANY / D10114 MADE IN AUSTRALIAtobacco, wwii, smoking, dr pat, william butler

Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. 98 page hardback book of verse by Mary Augusta Poynter (Lady Poynter). Published in 1925 by Fleming H. Revell Co. and printed in the USA. Catalogue sticker ''2087 POY'' on spine.Mary Augusta Poynterbooks, collections, poetry, alec h chisholm collection, mary augusta poynter, poetry

This photograph is part of the Caulfield Historical Album 1972. This album was created in approximately 1972 as part of a project by the Caulfield Historical Society to assist in identifying buildings worthy of preservation. The album is related to a Survey the Caulfield Historical Society developed in collaboration with the National Trust of Australia (Victoria) and Caulfield City Council to identify historic buildings within the City of Caulfield that warranted the protection of a National Trust Classification. Principal photographer thought to be Trevor Hart, member of Caulfield Historical Society. Most photographs were taken between 1966-1972 with a small number of photographs being older and from unknown sources. All photographs are black and white except where stated, with 386 photographs over 198 pages. Page 87 of Photograph Album with two photographs (portrait and landscape) plus a photo of a photograph of St Mary's Old Vicarage.Handwritten: Hood Cres St Mary's Old Vicarage[top left] / bottom photo of photograph is titled "St Mary's Vicarage" / 87 [bottom left]trevor hart, elsternwick, hood crescent, helenslea, c.e.g.g.s., school, 1860's, sir george stephen, shelford, glen eira road, st mary's vicarage, st mary's old vicarage, vicarage, church of england, gardens, chimneys, caulfield north

Book. ALEC H CHISHOLM COLLECTION. A 65 page softcover book of poems by Mary Gilmore. Selection and introduction by Robert D. Fitzgerald. Published in 1963 by Angus & Robertson, ''Australian Poets'' series and printed by the Halstead Press, Sydney. Catalogue sticker ''2106 GIL'' on front cover.Mary Gilmorebooks, collections, poetry, alec h chisholm collection, mary gilmore, robert d. fitzgerald, poetry

The first meeting of the 1st Bendigo Guides was held by Miss Merle Bush on the 22nd of August 1922 in the St Paul's School Room. Twelve girls were present. Miss Bush was given permission to open the Company by Miss R. Hamilton, State Secretary for Victoria, she received her Captain's Warrant on 12th December 1922.An order of Service for Emily Mary Lowery "Maisie" with photo on front coverA Thanksgiving and Eucharist to celebrate the life of Emily Mary Lowery "Maisie" 21.9.1930 - 4.4. 2007 St Mary's Anglican Church High Street Kangaroo Flat Wednesday 11th April 2007 Reverend Christie Kimpton Organist Joy Bruechertgirl guides, guiding, merle bush, trefoil guild, emily mary loweery, st marys anglican church

Colour photograph of Dr. John Hunter, principal of Ovens College, against a dark blue background. The image has grey mounting and a brown wooden frame. Written in the mounting in silver pen is:Principal 2002-2005 Dr. John Hunter

Small, inscribed metal plaque nailed to wooden backing board. Plaque acknowledges that the heating service of a church was installed by Dr Agnes Donaldson in memory of her parents, Dr James Blair Donaldson Snr. and Mrs. Amelia Jane Donaldson. The church referred to is the Linton Presbyterian Church.Plaque reads: "The Heating System of this Church was installed by Dr. Agnes Donaldson in loving Memory of her Father Dr. J.B. Donaldson 1859 -1944 And her Mother Mrs A.J. Donaldson 1859-1946".plaques, memorials, presbyterian church linton, dr james blair donaldson snr., mrs amelia jane donaldson, dr agnes donaldson

A decorated cardboard box containing travel brochures, passenger lists and a map of Scotland. Also contains a letter to Grandma from Mary and George, dated 1st July, 1963, telling of their trip around Scotland.Mary, George travel letterplace, lydia chancellor, collection, letters, correspondance, communication, travel brochures, tourism, place, scotland, map, passenger list, ephemera

This is a most comprehensive and succinct history of the Palmer/Wood family and their descendants from 1838 to 2013. Several members of the Palmer family were prominent in the history of Warrnambool and district. These include Octavius Palmer of Waarn, Claude Palmer of Dalvui, William Palmer, Manager of the Bank of Australasia in the 1860s and Thomas Palmer of Grasmere. The noted novelist, Mary Gaunt, who lived in Warrnambool for some time, was the granddaughter of Frederick and Mary Palmer. These biographical notes of the Palmer family are of some significance as they will be very useful for researchers.These are 13 pages of printed notes enclosed in a folder with a clear plastic front cover and a black plastic back cover. The pages are attached using plastic clips. The pages include illustrations and photographs. Palmer – The Family of Frederick William Palmer and Mary Eliza Wood of Woodlands, Tasmania 1838-2013 Front Cover: ‘Palmer – The Family of Frederick William Palmer and Mary Eliza Wood of Woodlands, Tasmania. Researched by Florence Charles, 1838-2013palmer, frederick william palmer and mary eliza wood of woodlands

Coloured map of Palestine, Syria, Iraq & Crete, countries involved in the war.documents - maps, military history, middle east

Schooling, Service & The Great War. Secondary Resource. See also Reg No 3929.8.Schooling, Service & The Great War. .1) Soft cover book, cardboard with front fold out flap. White print on front / back covers. Illustrated in colour, background, group photo of children at school desks, 2 posters & embroidery. Inside of cover is colour photo of timber, leather satchel & papers. Spiral bound in black wire. 94 cut, plain, white pages. Illustrated black / white / sepia / colour photos. CD plastic pocket on front flap. .2) Paper poster, white print, college colour, black white photos, copy of book cover. .3) CD Rom, plastic. illustrated copy of book cover.education, kit, schools, ww1

Schooling, Service and the Great War Primary Resource. See also Cat No 3930..1) Book, soft cover, cardboard with front fold out flap, white print on front & back covers. Illustrated with colour background, group photo of children, embroidery & badges. Inside of cover is a colour photo of timber, leather satchel & papers. 82 cut, plain, white pages. Illustrated black / white / colour photos. Spiral bound, black wire. .2) Poster, paper, Schooling, Service and the Great War. Collage copy of book cover, colour photos. .3) Paper, paper, Australian War Memorial Education Services 2015. Black print, collage colour photos. .4) Poster, paper, Discovering Anzacs. Black print, black / white / colour collage photos. .5) Poster, paper, Anzac Day Schools Award 2015. Black print, black / white photo. .6) Poster, paper, Leadership and Legacy. Yellow print, colour photos. .7) Bookmark, paper, Gallipoli, The First Day. Black print, colour photos. .8) Erratum. Paper, black print for page 30.education, schools, kit ww1

ISBN 1-8770-0718-8Illustrated softcover book with black cover and purple spine. Front cover has white text and a purple edged B&W photo of Australian and US troops wading through water.books, military history

Soft cover book, 34 pages, background on cover black & white photo of railway. Small inset of picture of drawing of men working underground excavating a cutter.Written on title page in pen: Donated by Bgo YMCAbooks, military, history, forced labour

Book, black & grey soft paper cover, no dust cover, abstract design. 867 cut edge pages, black & white photos.books, military, history

On a drizzly day, viewed from from the beach at Port Melbourne, the Spirit of Tasmania sits waiting for her cargo at Station Pier.Maritime ArtLarge black and white painting depicting the Spirit of Tasmania in Port Melbourne"Greyer than ..."anl maritime art prize, lara bardlsey, 2013, larisa bardsley, spirit of tasmania, port melbourne, station pier, artwork-paintings

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a natural bollard on the reef at Sunderland Bay, Phillip Islandlocal history, photography, rock formation, black & white photograph, coastline, sunderland bay, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a map of Phillip Island in the making and showing fourteen separate Islands before natural processes joined them.local history, photography, phillip island, black & white photograph, phillip island geology, map, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a map of Phillip Island showing a late stage in the geological formationlocal history, photography, phillip island, black & white photograph, phillip island geology, map, map of phillip island, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of inter basaltic formations on basalt shore platform eastern end of Smith's Beachlocal history, photography, rock formations, black & white photograph, coastline, smith's beach, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of the boulder beach banked up against the cliff base at the eastern end of Surf Beachlocal history, photography, boulder beach, black & white photograph, coastline, boulder beaches, surf beach, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

One of a collection of over 400 photographs in an album commenced in 1960 and presented to the Phillip Island & Westernport Historical Society by the Shire of Phillip IslandPhotograph of a Quarry in jurassie rock near Rhylllocal history, photography, jurassic rock quarry, black & white photograph, coastline, rock formations, rhyll, dr g baker, john jenner, bryant west

The history of the 4th Australian Light Horse Regiment.The 4th Light Horse Regiment is a distinguished predecessor unit of the modern day 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment. Hard covered book. 873 pagesOn cover - badge of 4th Light Horse Regiment. On fly leaf: "This edition of Endure and Fight is limited to 513 copies, the number of the 4th Light Horse Regiment's other ranks who embarked for overseas service in October 1914. This is copy number 211.world war 1, unit history, 4th australian light horse regiment

Fabric hard covered with gold lettering on spine. Pages numbered to 192non-fictionchemistry, philosophy, wurtz, theories

Soft cover book, 168 pages.The Eastern Kulin, like indigenous people all over Australia, believed that they were an integral part of the land; for them nature and culture had been created as one by ancestral beings. Gary Presland presents a unique picture of the Eastern Kulin way of life.