Group portrait of a group of women and children in front of a wooden rail fence. Left to right, old Mrs Chapman, Andy, Martha (blurred), Bella, Gran (Sarah Ann Rathgeber), Jac (Joe Rathgeber), Jim, Jack Pianta's mother, Sis Rambi , Dad (Anthony Richard Rathgeber) 1893On Back Martha married Chapman, Bella Married Phillips, Gran is Sarah Ann Rathgeber, Jac is Joe Rathgeber

Includes Diana Tiddy front left of photo and Caleb Tiddy front right. Fathers name also Caleb Tiddy a Hotelier. Diana was a nurse in the Boer War hurse, health, boer war

Silk programs, at that time, were only produced for a very prestigious night at the theatre. Historical note: The town of Gisborne was named after one of the members of the first committee of the Mechanics’ Institution (renamed in 1872 to Melbourne Athenaeum), formed in November 1839. His full name was Henry Fyshe Gisborne 1813-1841. The program, crafted of printed silk with a silk fringe all around the four edges is unique in the program collection. The program reveals an interesting fund-raising entertainment held at the Melbourne Athenaeum theatre in 1884. As the theatre was available for hire by everyone in the Melbourne community, over the course of its history it was hired by a large variety of theatrical performers, political groups, sporting and arts groups, in addition to fundraising groups, as found here. Proceeds of this concert were donated to the Melbourne-based Sick Children’s Hospital and the Upper Macedon Episcopalian Church – an unusual combination of charities. The Mount Macedon area became a popular place for holiday- makers from Melbourne in the 1870s and many professional people built holiday retreats with beautiful gardens in the area. The development of the area created a further need for places of worship. The names of the people taking part numbered over 70, several having the same family names as those listed as members of the Melbourne Athenaeum at that time but there is no proof that the people involved with the performance were subscribers to the Melbourne Athenaeum. At the time the Athenaeum hall consisted of a large flat space requiring chairs to be placed in lines, with hand-written alphabetical signs to indicate the rows and individually numbered chairs. The hall seated 900 patrons. When the hall was used for balls, banquets and exhibitions all the chairs were removed and stored under the stage and in a room at the side of the hall. The layout of the hall can be seen in this photograph from the archives, taken in the early 1900s. This fringed, silk program was produced for a concert held on 9-10 October 1884 under the patronage of the Governor Sir H Brougham Loch at the Athenaeum Hall in aid of the Convalescent Fund of the [Melbourne] Sick Children’s Hospital and the Episcopalian Church of Upper Macedon. The evening of light entertainment comprised eleven solo musical performances and thirteen tableaux, some humorous, referencing biblical and classical themes from plays, paintings and operasm enhanced with painted scenery and a multitude of costumes.melbourne athenauem hall, the sick children's hostipal, episcopalian church

People - The Taylors (Connection Mackenzie Clan) Buildings - West Of Orr St.Opposite Mansions

People - Jones Family Buildings - "House, Fence, Clowes St?"

People - "Mudford, Joseph, Harold, Ralph, Joyce & Elsie; Andrews, Marg" Buildings - Granvue Park Sign Associated with - Malmsbury Primary School

People - "John D Smith, Marion P Smith, U/K & Savina J (Omant) Smith"

People - Turner Pola Hutt Omant Family Nov 1911 Buildings - Gardens? Associated with - Picnic

People - "Hocking, Nicholas; Margaret, Elizabeth & William" Buildings - House Associated with - Borough Of Malmsbury

People - "William'S, J Family" Associated with - Yeoman & Co.

People - "Boundy, Katherine, William, Elizabeth, George; Potts, Lousia" Buildings - Studio

People - Fincher & Stringer Families & J.Hocking Buildings - Warehouse Associated with - John Hocking & Son

The background history to this quilt is unknown as, like several of the Running Stitch quilts, it was found in an op-shop, this time in Ballarat. However, the technique used to bind it together and the rarity of the materials make it a valuable piece of our 'thrifty history'. The quilt insert has been made with layers of recycled bed coverings. It would have most likely had a cover made of a fabric (such as cretonne) as the layers have only been loosely held together with large quilting stitches. The outer layer is made of "marcella": a heavily woven cotton damask. These types of bedspreads were quite expensive and hardwearing. They were often handed down through the family and it is not surprising to see that the use for this particular bed covering has been continued past the 'presentable' stage on a bed.Detail of edge showing layers and stitching method. Deatail of corner showing layers.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, quilting - history

Mr Perkins joined the police force in his early twenties and apart from an 18-month posting in Melbourne, spent the rest of his career serving communities in country Victoria. He was a keen fisherman and hunter- his first love was sitting on the banks of the Murray River with a fishing rod in his hand. Family camping trips were spent by the river where everyone slept on stretchers with several army blankets underneath and a wheat bag wagga on top. This wagga is made from two standard sized jute wheat bags split and hand bound along the seams. It is typical of a basic wagga made by shearers, farmers and swagmen. The paint stains on this wagga display signs of later use as a painting drop sheet by descendants who inherited the quilt. Quilt made of two standard size jute wheat bags (a bushel = 150lbs) split and hand bound along seams. It is an example of the basic type of wagga made by shearers, farmers or swagmen. Another use for the wagga was as a 'drop sheet' when doing house painting- possibly explaining the paint stains on the wagga.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), perkins, mr percy, quilting - history

This quilt is called "Anzac Anniversary" and was made by Lois Densham in Melbourne in 1985. Lois Densham was a member of the Running Stitch group of quilters. This quilt was displayed in "Wool Quilts Old and New", a touring exhibition presented by the Running Stitch quilters group in 31 Jan. 1986 to Feb. 1987. It was catalogue entry no. 3. The artist's statement reads: "A veil of violence over a calm surface. Violent angles of the tartans and plaids with elongated curved segments which bring to mind Scottish warfare and Australians with Scottish forefathers. I began this quilt because of Anzac Day and the 70th anniversary of the First World War. Anzacs rededicate themselves yearly to peace within their circle of family and friends." This quilt was later exhibited in an identically titled exhibition held at the National Wool Museum in 1989.Quilt - "Anzac Anniversay" by Lois Densham, Melbourne, 1985anzac day, handicrafts quilting, running stitch group, running stitch collection, masters of technique: creators on cloth - exhibition (15/06/2001 - 22/07/2001) highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), densham, ms lois, handicrafts, quilting

Maker unknown. This blanket was part of the standard army issue kit and belonged to Lois Denshams father, who served at Gallipoli during the first world war. Before donating the blanket to the Running stitch collection, it was kept by Lois' Aunty Nita. Lois remembers that it was kept in her fathers original kit bag and kept at her aunts place because of sad memories about the war which her mother found difficult. The humble army blanket had many uses during war times. Issued with two blankets, it was all a soldier had as a bed to keep warm or without a tent, all they had to provide shelter from the sun, rain or wind. (They were supplemented with a woollen army 'great coat', but soldiers still had to huddle together as keeping warm and dry was a desperate game.) The Lighthorsemen used them under their standard leather saddles for extra padding and in the hospitals they were sometimes the only bedding for the wounded. This blanket belonged to Lois Denshams' father who served in the Australian Army in the First World War, landing at Gallipoli. Since the war, army blankets have come to be regarded as the basic type of blanket -no frills. This blanket was used in the Densham family since that time for camping trips.Grey woollen army blanket with stripes near either ends.world war i, running stitch group, running stitch collection

Made for Chris Neyland by Rene Densham when he was born in 1953 and later given to Running Stitch by Lois Densham who is Chris Neylands aunt. The quilt was made from scraps of woollen fabric from clothing used in the family. It was used in Chris' cot or pram when he was an infant. Lois can remember the dark green fabric coming from a jacket she once wore and the blue tartan pieces from a skirt worn by Rene, her mother. Lois also remembers her mother being "a better piano player than a cook or a sewer" and " made in the tradition of making do from a family who knew how". The family structure is as follows: Rene married Bob Densham and had three daughters: Doreen (Saunders), Betty and Lois Densham. Betty married Bob Neyland and they have a son, Chris.Quilt, child's coverlet made of woollen squares from suits and jackets. Colours are greens and browns.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, densham, mrs rene elizabeth neyland, mr chris, quilting - history

Mr Perkins joined the police force in his early twenties and apart from an 18-month posting in Melbourne, spent the rest of his career serving communities in country Victoria. He was a keen fisherman and hunter- his first love was sitting on the banks of the Murray River with a fishing rod in his hand. Family camping trips were spent by the river where everyone slept on stretchers with several army blankets underneath and a wheat bag wagga on top. The green colour of this wagga is from "Dekkol" a preservative which Mr Perkins used to protect his cotton fishing nets from rotting.Quilt made of two standard size jute wheat bags (a bushel = 150lbs) split and hand bound along seams.It is an example of the basic type of wagga made by shearers, farmers or swagmen. The green colour results from the application of "Dekkol" a preservative used for cotton fishing nets.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, highlights of the national wool museum: from waggas to the wool quilt prize - exhibition (22/09/2001 - 02/12/2001), perkins, mr percy, quilting - history

This quilt came to the Running Stitch Group from a visitor at the 'SIO Great Exhibition of Victoria' held at the Museum of Victoria in 1985. This exhibition of historical ephemera about our state included many of the quilts collected by the group. After seeing the value of these utilitarian quilts, many visitors decided to donate their family quilts to the Running Stitch Group. Meg McNab was one such person who identified her step-grandmother as the maker and said the quilt was used in her fathers' family. It eventually came back into her family through her own mother who came to stay in later years. For the journey, the quilt had been used as packing material. Owing to its size, this quilt may have been made for a child. The stained pattern on the back has occurred as a result of rust marks from a wire wove mattress base.This is the front of the quilt. The rod pocket has been applied to the verso. This is the back of the quilt. the rod pocket has been applied to this side.quilting history, running stitch group, running stitch collection, mcnab, meg, quilting - history

This army blanket dates from the time of the Boer War. It belonged to the Densham family, possibly used by great uncle Roland.Army blanket from the Boer War. This picture was during the exhibition, "Quilts & waggas: The Running Stitch collection" in gallery 4 from 4/4/3 to 13/7/3boer war, running stitch group, running stitch collection