Showing 21506 items
matching commemorative%20medals%20-%20kew%20(vic)
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Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, North Ringwood SS Commemorative Tree, no date
Digital photograph -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Medallion, Cramond & Dickson Commemorative Coronation medallion
This medallion was distributed as a memento of the Coronation of George V1 and Elizabeth. John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established a shop in Warrnambool in 1855 in Timor Street and moved to Liebig Street a few years later. New premises were erected in 1878 and the department store selling mens and ladies wear on the corner of Liebig and Timor Streets was a landmark building in Warrnambool until the business closed in 1973. Cramond and Dickson had their own tailors and milliners.This item has significance with the link to Cramond & Dickson.Small copper medallion with an image of George V1 and Elizabeth on one side with the words King George V1 Queen Elizabeth Coronation 1937.On the other side is Cramond &Dickson Warrnambool 1855- 1937.King George V1 Queen Elizabeth Coronation 1937.On the other side is Cramond &Dickson Warrnambool 1855- 1937.cramond & dickson, warrnambool, coronation medallion, george v1 -
Running Rabbits Military Museum operated by the Upwey Belgrave RSL Sub Branch
Medallion, Anzac Commemorative Medallion
In commemoration of the heroic deeds of the men of ANZAC at GALLIPOLI in 1915 and in recognition of the great debt owed by all Australians. Medical practitioner Army Medical Corps 1st Field Ambulance. Mentioned in despatchesThis Item is significance because apart from only being issued to members who served in GALLIPOLI, This Medallion is significant because Lieutenant-Colonel John Basil Welch "Army Medical Corps" was Mentioned in Despatches and Awarded the "DSO" Distinguished Service Order Medal Bronze /Round /Crown with Anzac on lower part Australia on back with southern cross1915 ANZAC ON FRONT "J.WELSH" ON BACKmedal, anzac, gallipoli, medalion, welch -
Federation University Historical Collection
Souvenir, Five Commemorative plates form Hong Kong nursing students
University of Ballarat is a predecessor of Federation UniversityShow the relationship between Hong Kong and the School of Nursing at the University of BallaratPlate 1 - Gold coloured plate from Graduate certificate of nursing 1997 Plate 2 - Silver Plate from Bachelor of nursing 1998 Plate 3 - Silver Plate from Bachelor of nursing 1998 Plate 4 - Silver and Gold plate from Certificate of Gerontology 1997 Plate 5 - Silver and gold plate Bachelor of Nursing (Postregistration) 1997 All plates from Hong Kong student groups hong kong, bachelor of nursing, graduate certificate in nursing, certificate of gerontology, university of ballarat, plates -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Order of Service, 50th Anniversary Memorial Service Monday 8th June 2015 Vietnam Veterans Commemorative Walk Seymour, June 2015
Order of Service, historical notes and admin matters filed in plastic sleeves in spiral bound file. -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Book, Lights Everlasting: Australia’s commemorative stained glass from the Boer War to Vietnam, 2023
Almost hidden within religious buildings, hospitals, school chapels and civic buildings, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war. Bronwyn Hughes focuses on commemorative stained glass—an overlooked art form—describing its rich artistic and architectural heritage and the artists and firms who created it. Memorial stained glass serves to depict and illuminate the men and women who fought and died for their faith and their country. It has a tragic beauty. The book includes stained glass windows from the St Peter chapel of the Mission to Seafarers.255 pages with colour and black and white illustrations; notes, bibliography, index.non-fictionAlmost hidden within religious buildings, hospitals, school chapels and civic buildings, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war. Bronwyn Hughes focuses on commemorative stained glass—an overlooked art form—describing its rich artistic and architectural heritage and the artists and firms who created it. Memorial stained glass serves to depict and illuminate the men and women who fought and died for their faith and their country. It has a tragic beauty. The book includes stained glass windows from the St Peter chapel of the Mission to Seafarers.australian history, ww1, ww2, boer war, vietnam war, stained glass windows, bronwyn hughes -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Document - Menu, Commemorative Menu for the opening of the Continental Resort, 1976
Cardboard brochure with details of the opening and menuSee Regis No. 388-01. Also signatures of attendees including Jean Archibald, Maisie Clements, Norman Archibald, Keith R. Clements, Douglas Pitt, Norma Pitt, Beryl Hollins, Stuart Hollinsdocuments- menu, continental guest house,, keith and rhonda jobe, hotels, local identities -
Greensborough Historical Society
Domestic object - Glass, Austin Hospital commemorative glass, 1995
The Austin Hospital founded in 1882, merged with the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital on 01/01/1995. This glass was issued to commemorate the event.Clear glass drinking glass, gilt rim and inscriptionAustin Hospital 1882-1995, with Coat of Armscommemorative glass, austin hospital, glasses -
Greensborough Historical Society
Booklet, City of Preston, Commemorative brochure: History of Preston 1835-1994, 1994
Significant events in the history of Preston, includes the names of Mayors and Councillors.8 p., black and pink on white paperpreston, city of preston, preston victoria -
Greensborough Historical Society
Documents, Shire of Diamond Valley: 30th Anniversary Commemorative Council Meeting Agenda, 30/09/1994
Agenda of 30th anniversary council meeting of the Shire off Diamond Valley, with letters of apology from Ray Rooke and Harry Nash3 pages comprising Agenda paper, with col. Coat-of-Arms of the Council, with 2 letters of apologyshire of diamond valley -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Medal, Centenary of Melbourne 1835 Commemorative Medallion, 1834
White metal medal issued to commemorate Melbourne's centenary 1934-35. This medal was given out to Victorian school children; 325,600 white metal medals were struck. There were also a few VIP pieces in other metals, including two in gold. The medal references Portland, the location of Victoria's first settlement. The Henty brothers, entrepreneur farmers and whalers, established the state's first permanent European settlement in Portland in 1834. Melbourne was established the following year by a party of settlers led by John Batman.White metal medal. Medal, silver. with hole and ring at the top. Obverse: Sailing Ship, Coast, Boat on shore, 3 men. Reverse Colonial man on grass, river, city buildings on other river bank Medal commemorates the centenary of Victoria and Portland 1834 and Melbourne 1835. Obverse:Scene of landing at Portland Bay; in ground below, PORTLAND / 1834; above, centenary of victoria / 1934 Reverse: Pioneer on south bank of Yarra looking across to Melbourne, below 1835 above, CENTENARY / OF / MELBOURNE / 1935Front: Inverse: Centenary of Melbourne 1835 (Top) 1835 (Bottom) Back: Obverse: Centenary of Victoria 1934 (Round Top) Portland 1834 (Bottom)medal, numismatics, celebration, 1834, 1934, 1935, melbourne, portland -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Souvenir - Lapel Pin - Admella 150th Celebration Portland, Victoria, Admella 150th Commemorative, c. 2009
Gold metal lapel pin in shape of ship's wheel. Blue, white, brown Admella 150th logo in centre. Pin attached to yellow card. Diameter of Pin: 3.4 cm Card measures 7.5 x 5cm -
Greensborough Historical Society
Glasses, Bundoora Primary School Centenary 1877-1977 commemorative glasses, 1977_
Set of 6 glasses to commemorate the centenary of Bundoora Primary School 1877-1977. Collected by the Fraser family whose children were students at the school at this time.A memento of this school and its centenary.Set of 6 glasses, clear glass with gilt edge and gilt inscription.Front: Bundoora Primary School Centenary 1877-1977. Back: Bundoora Primary School No 1915.fraser family, bundoora primary school, centenary, commemorative glasses -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers unveils the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, From left, Mary Owen and John Withers, grandchildren of Walter Withers and other family members at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque mounted rock at corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, donated by R.C. McLellan, Nov 1988
Russell Yeoman advised (14 Jun 2017 society meeting) that the Shire of Eltham had been given the plaque to commemorate Walter Withers and that the rock was sourced from west of Melbourne with funds from a local government grant. The initial crane to lift the rock in place was too small and another crane was arranged. This also proved too small to lift it until a third and larger crane was arranged and the rock was installed 17 May 1990.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 2 stripsFuji 100arthur street, bible street, memorials, r.c. mclellan, walter withers, walter withers reserve, walter withers rock -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper, Diamond Valley News, 29 Sep 1964; Commemorative Issue on the Occasion of the PROCLAMATION of the Shire of Diamond Valley and its severance from the City of Heidelberg, 29 Sep 1964
Local newspaper (complete); 40 pagesnewspaper, local newspapers, diamond valley news -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Order of Ceremony, Laying Up of the Guidons of Victorian Light Horse Regiments and Commemorative Service for the 90th Anniversary of the Charge of the Nek, 08/2005
The 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment was the custodian of the guidons of the 8th, 13th, 17th, 19th, and 20th Light Regiments. On 7 August 2005 the Regiment, with due ceremony, presented these guidons to the Trustees of the Shrine of Remembrance to be laid up in the Shrine. The activity also commemorated the charge at The Nek during the Gallipoli campaign of World War 1. This charge over artillery and machine gun swept ground resulted in the slaughter of 8th and 10th Light Horse Regiment members for no tactical gain.Soft covered bookletarmy, gallipoli, ceremonial, shrine of remembrance, the nek, laying up guidons, light horse regiments -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Order of Ceremony, The Royal Australian Amored (sic) Corps the Keeffe Family & Eoghan McDonald Celebrates (sic) the Unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque 16 November 2014, 2014
The 13th Australian Armoured Regiment was a Gippsland militia unit that had been called up for full time duty in December 1941 as a traditional light horse regiment. The early months of 1942 had seen the regiment lose its horses, a conversion to a motor regiment and finally to an armoured regiment in May. During this period there were considerable changes in personnel, however the regiment maintained its strong links to Gippsland and its former identity. Between May and November 1942, individual soldiers had become proficient in their trade training and the regiment changed its focus to troop and squadron activities. On 16 November 1942, the unit was located at the Puckapunyal Army Camp. C Squadron's training program involved a night driving exercise where a column of armoured and B vehicles would depart camp at 0245 hours and proceed to a site to the East of Seymour and set up a bivouac between Whiteheads Creek and Highlands Road. Numerous army camps surrounded the Seymour area; and much of the surrounding farm land had been acquired for military purposes. By November 1942 exercises such as C Squadron's were commonplace and had been repeated on numerous occasions since 1939. At 0400 hrs, C Squadron's vehicles reached O'Sullivan's Paddock on the Kobyboyn Road; prior to reaching the Old Telegraph Road the column turned to the North towards a known crossing point on Whiteheads Creek. The column consisted of seven M3 Medium Tanks and four Universal Carriers. In the case of Corporal McLeod's vehicle, there were seven crewmen rather than the usual five man crew. On arrival at the creek crossing, Captain C.M.I. 'Sandy' Pearson dismounted and with the assistance of Sergeant R.J. Ball began to guide individual tanks across the creek. Four tanks had crossed the creek without difficulty when Corporal McLeod's tank, ARN 24652, began its descent. Captain Pearson stated at the Coroner's Inquiry in December 1942, "Whilst climbing out of the ford the vehicle swerved to the left, apparently striking the tree. It was not the portion of the tank (front) that struck the tree. The tank straightened and appeared to be well under control, suddenly the bank on the left collapsed to the extent of 3ft by 12ft by15ft long causing the vehicle to slide into the creek and turn upside down." Captain Pearson and Sergeant Ball were faced with a nightmarish situation: The Grant had come to rest upside down in soft mud, six crew members were unaccounted for, escape hatches could not be opened and the weight of the tank was settling deeper into the water and mud. Compounding the problem was that the location of the tank did not allow for the other tanks to safely conduct a recovery. It was truly the darkest night.Single A4 card. folded, Contains an account of the raising of 13 Armoured Regiment in December 1941and a tank accident during a night creek crossing in which six crewmen were killed, and, Order of Ceremony for plaque unveiling, Guest of Honour LtCol Stuart Cree CO/CI School of Armour13 armored regiment, tank accident, puckapunyal -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham 1871-1994 Commemorative Seat, Alistair Knox Park, 1994, 1994
This seat was placed in Alistair Knox Park in commemoration of the end of the Shire of Eltham after Victorian Council amalgamations with the words "Shire of Eltham 1871-1994" included on the back wooden plate of the seat. A similiar seat was placed in the Montmorency Shopping Centre referencing the west riding of the Eltham Shire, which incuded Montmorency.Colour photographshire of eltham, alistair knox park, commemorations, eltham, parks -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
Six colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[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.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
[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 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
Seven colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Plaque, Norwood State School commemorative plaque for the official opening, 29 May, 1956, 1956
Installed 29-May-1956.Plaque, engraved, white infill, text: 'This tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.' +Additional Keywords: Bloomfield, J.S. MLAThis tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.' -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Ceramic - Bowl, Ringwood Town Hall commemorative bowl - circa 1960s
Royal Sydney China. Made in Czechoslovakia. Beneath the bowl, in the centre, is a cup under a crown with the letters RKG.Brown/Orange bowl, irregular leaf shape and a B&W drawing of the Ringwood Town Hall in the centre. Town Hall, Ringwood, Victoria.