The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. This is the third in a series of 5 wool classing exercise books. They were written by Stanley Hucker in his time at the Gordon Technical College from 1936-1938. This book begins in a white cover with black ink illustrations and writing. These illustrations have been added to with Pink ink. Internally, the book is handwritten on yellowed pages with blue lines for the assistance in clarity of handwriting. The pages are also surrounded by a margin of red pen. The exercise book’s content is about veterinary studies relating to the diseases, injuries, and treatment of sheep. It is handwritten. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about blow fly and bacterial diseases.Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten “THE / AUSTRALIAN / EXERCISE / BOOK / Veterinary / NAME Stanley J Hucker / GRADE III / School “Gordon” Geelong” Front Cover. Illustrations, printed. Kangaroo, kookaburra / Map of Australia with state names / Emu, Koalagordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

1970 Battledress jacket with Lt Col rank with cloth shoulder title' Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps.Major B. Dance

Francis Gordon Davis is the only student from the Ballarat Junior Technical School who died during World War One. Back L-R: Francis Gordon Davis 1899-1919, Alfred Ernest Davis 1891-1968, Herbert Arthur Davis 1892-1964, Edward Henry Davis 1896-1958 Front L-R: Violet Isabel Davis 1894-1962, Alfred Ernest Davis 1858-1933 Copied courtesy of the Davis Family.francis davis, aif, australian infantry force, alfred ernest davis, herbert arthur davis, edward henry davis, violet isabel davis

This blazer belonged to Gordon Burleigh (1888-1956) who lived at ‘Macken Hill’ in Mepunga. He was the ninth child of James and Janet Burleigh who were early settlers in the Nullawarre area. Gordon Burleigh was a prominent and successful sportsman playing football and cricket in the local area and playing one game in 1914 in the Victorian Football League for Geelong. The blazer indicates that the cricket team he played for was the Premier team for 1934, 1935, and 1936 and the ‘S.W.’ on the blazer pocket may indicate South Warrnambool but it is more likely to be ‘South West’, perhaps the name of the district the team played in. This blazer is of considerable interest as it belonged to Gordon Burleigh, a prominent sportsman in the district in the early decades of the 20th century.This is a maroon-coloured blazer which belonged to Gordon Burleigh of Mepunga. It has gold-coloured edging and piping on the sleeves, pockets and edges (collar etc) of the blazer. It has two material-covered buttons and stitched buttonholes and gold stitching on the pocket. There is a tag on the collar but no writing is visible. Pocket: ‘Premiers, S.W., 1934-35-36’gordon burleigh, local cricket in the 1930s, warrnambool, cricket blazer

Description: 200 pages. Published by RAAF. Published May 1947. Australian Lincoln Mk.30 Repair Manual: Part 1-Minor Repair Scheme/Part 2-Major Repair Scheme Level of Importance: World.

Given to Major and Mrs Rathven on their 25th wedding anniversary from the people he worked with at Dhurringile Mansion during WW2.Black leather case with gold embossed patterns around top edge of lid. Two brass decorative catches on front. Inside of the top of the case is lined with cream satin. The base is lined with black velvet. Six silver plated spoons with a green enamel bead on tip sit on the velvet base. Handwritten note loose in the top."Twenty five years of married bliss. Do your stuff - give the misses a kiss". Congratulations and best wishes from all at Dhurringile. To Major and Mrs W Rathvenmajor rathven, mrs rathven, 25th wedding anniversary, dhurringile mansion, silver plate spoons

Army Australian Tropical. With Majors insigniauniform, ww2, army

Desert Cam Major(1 pair)uniform, 2010, army

Epaulettes WRAAC RAAOC Major (2)uniform, 1987+, army

Rank slide, Major (Country unknown)uniform, 2010, general

Army Major's small crown for hatbadge/buttons, 1999, army

Donated by Robert Gordon Lees VX93348photo/pictures, ballarat rsl, ballarat

This photograph is a visual record of Mrs. Major, then Miss Beatrice Williams was appointed Matron of the District Nursing Division of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) After Care Home in April 1929 until 1933 when she resigned to marry Mr. J.P. Major. Following her marriage she was invited to become a member of the Society's Committee. In 1957 she was the first President of the Melbourne District Nursing Service.Mrs. Major, then Miss Beatrice Williams worked as a Sister with the Melbourne District Nursing Society in the early 1920s, before sailing tor England where she studied Midwifery and Community nursing. On her return her leadership qualities were recognized and she was appointed Matron of the District Nursing Division of the Melbourne District Nursing Society After-Care Home in April 1929, being considered 'capable, sympathetic, a good organizer and administrator and with understanding of the problems of the under-privileged, the aged and the sick'.. She was instrumental in convincing the Committee of Management of the need for an Ante-Natal Clinic which then opened at the After-Care Home in September 1930. Matron Williams tendered her resignation in 1933 as she was to marry Mr. J.P. Major. Following her marriage she was invited to become a member of the Society's Committee, and at the time of the dissolution of the Society and After-Care in 1957, was the first President of the now Melbourne District Nursing Service, a role she held until her death on 15th of February 1958.Black and white photograph of the head and shoulder view of Mrs. J.P. Major, nee Beatrice Mary Williams, who has short dark hair curled at the ends. She is wearing a light coloured floral frock with a square neckline.. She is sitting in front of a closed curtain.melbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, mdns, after-care home, rdns, royal district nursing service, matron, beatrice mary williams, mrs j.p. major

History of the AFV School, Editors - Major John E, Baines, RFD Major Peter G. Branagan, OAM Mr David A. Finlayson army, history, training, tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, afv school, school of armour, puckapunyal, baines, branagan, finlayson, army, history, training, tanks, armoured fighting vehicles, afv school, school of armour, puckapunyal, baines, branagan, finlayson

Sheet from Service of Thanksgiving (Edgar Skill Harrison 27/10/1916 - 10/9/2003). Order of Service with extract from Bendigo Advertiser re 'Edgar honored for his work' (with trams) - no date but mention of Sir Rupert Hamer!person, individual, edgar skill harrison, bendigo tram service. sir rupert hamer

The Officer in Uniform was Major Phil Chapman OC of 15th Transport Sqd based in Bendigo in the old Passchendaele Barracks depot in Mollison Street where the Battle Honour board was held. The other in civilian clothes is Cliff Richards who was Junior Vice President of the Bendigo RSL Sub Branch at the time. The photo relates to the Board being donated to the Bendigo RSL Museum in the SMI building in January 1999. The 38th Battalion AIF was known as Bendigo's own, raised in Bendigo in 1916 for service in the Great War. Due to its size it was placed high up in what was the Billiard Room in the Museum. After a major renovation to the BDRSL Inc Club in Havilah Rd in 2013 it was then placed over the foyer front entrance. Due to another up grade it was placed in storage for awhile and is now on display in the rear foyer patrons entrance. Refer Cat No 8176.Photograph colour showing one person in military uniform and another in civilian clothes, the Officer is steadying the 38th Battalion Battle honours board.On rear in black pen, "Jan 99 C Richards Jnr Vice - Major Chapman OC 15th Tpt Platoon".brsl, smirsl, 38th

This book is an autobiography of George Meudell (1860-1936). He spent about six years in Warrnambool as a young boy when his father came to Warrnambool as the Manager of the Bank of Victoria. Meudell went to the Warrnambool Common School 646. He later became well-known in Melbourne in social, economic and political affairs. He was a company promoter, stockbroker and writer and an acquaintance of most of the influential and wealthy people of the time. In 1928 Meudell wrote an article for the Royal Historical Society of Victoria Journal detailing his memories of Warrnambool and this article is now a very important piece of local social history. He was enthusiastic about the benefits of living in Warrnambool in the 1860s and 70s. Meudell’s book, ‘The Pleasant Career of a Spendthrift, was an important publication as it gave a complete account of the commercial morality of the power brokers in the financial world - those concerned with the land boom and the banks’ crash of 1886-1893. The book was so inflammatory that it was initially withdrawn from sale. This book is of considerable interest as it was written by George Meudell who lived in Warrnambool in the 1860s and 70s and played a part in Warrnambool’s history by writing about these years. The book is also of wider interest as it has some information on people connected with Warrnambool’s history, including John Archibald and Thomas Bent. The signature in the front of the book is of no known relevance to Warrnambool.This is a hard cover book of 282 pages. The cover is red with black printing and the spine is very faded. The book has a foreword and twelve chapters of text. The first page contains a signature and notes written in pencil.‘Gordon Leitch Christmas 1942’ george meudell, victoria’s land boom (19th century), history of warrnambool

White woodedn cross with knitted poppy attached coloured red with green & black centre. Soldier's name & serial number printed in black ink on front of the Australian flag attached on the back of the cross.Sharp, Gordon Cameron 2781465.cross, memorial cross

Items in the collection re Lt.Col. C.J. Swatton, refer Cat No 6719.2P for his service details.1. Booklet - Dark Beige, light cardboard cover, black print. 2. Booklet - Dark beige, light cardboard cover, black print, 40 pages. 3. Pocket compendium - 5 cardboard cards, black print.1. Guide to the Art of Coaching on the Range - 1953. 2. Musketry small book for Australian Imperial Force 1916. 3. Pocket Compendium of Infantry Tactics 1936 by Major General H Gordon Bennett.passchendaele barracks trust, military training booklets, lt.col. c. j. swatton

The Late Major Murdoch Nish Mackay was born in Bendigo and went to the Gravel Hill State School. He won many scholarships and honors during his studies to become a lawyer. He married Miss Margot Gordon Watson in 1915 and sailed to the front a week later. He was killed during the 1914 - 1918 War.military, world war 1, bendigo soldiers, the late major murdoch nish mackay, 6th infantry brigade, mr & mrs george mackay, gravel hill state school, st andrew’s college, waverley prize, ormond college, hastie exhibition, sir john madden, jessie leggatt, melbourne university, d company 22nd battalion, mr c e w bean, miss margot gordon watson, mr t g watson

Refers to the service of MAJOR THOMAS GLAZEBROOK, Royal Australian Engineers. Refer to Cat No 4330.2 for service details.1. Black and white photo of an Australian Army Officer in uniform. Peaked cap with R.A.E. Hat badge. Rank shown as a Major. His shoulder cloth badge shows Royal Australian Engineers. He has a microphone in front of him. 2. Coloured portrait of an Army officer. He is in Polyester Khaki uniform. He has a slouch hat on and shoulder tabs show rank as Major. He is wearing a brown leather "Sam Browne" belt assembly. He is wearing 5 service medals court mounted. He has a black lanyard. 3. Coloured photograph of Tom Glazebrook in civvy suit. He has a microphone in front of him. He is wearing 5 medals.army engineers, major thomas glazebrook

The Vaudevilles Costume, Comedy, Concert, Company Jack Clapham, Miss Hilda Butterfield, Miss Doris Medley, Miss Doris Mitchell, Miss Edith Gordon, Jack Hammond, Bert Hiles, Will Summerscales, Wilf MitchellTwo Pages printed program (A5 in size) Front labelled The VAUDEVILLES. With company members names ; Jack Clapham, Miss Hilda Butterfield, Miss Doris Medley, Miss Doris Mitchell, Miss Edith Gordon, Jack Hammond, Bert Hiles, Will Summerscales, Wilf Mitchell. Two inside pages Labelled REPERTOIRE PROGOGRAMMEthe vaudevilles programme

This book belonged to Australian Army Officer Major W.A. Cronk.This book is designed for Officer's on Active Service and at manoeuvres and on instructional exercises in conjunction with operations.Brown imitation leather covered book oblong in shape.W.A. Cronk 59 Bn on front cover. Inside first page Major W.A. Cronk 2/14 Trng Bn. J.W.B. Anderson B Coy. 59th Infantry Coburg. On the spine FSPB 1932.book field service pocket 59 bn 2/14 trng bn

Built by Samuel Jackson 1840 (First major architect in Australia. Prefabricated house imported from UK in sectionsblack and white photograph,unmounted, fair conditionWritten on the back: Wattle House, 53 Jackson St, photograph 28.8.69. Built by Samuel Jackson 1840 (First major architect in Australia. Prefabricated house imported from UK in sections

Major F Cobain was the last Officer Commanding (OC) 'A' Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles and the first OC VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse following the formation of the new regiment. On 1 April 1991, ‘A’ Squadron 8/13 Victorian Mounted Rifles linked with 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse Regiment to form a new regiment of two squadrons: VMR Squadron and PWLH Squadron. The 4/19 Prince of Wales’s Light Horse title was retained, but the VMR Squadron continued to wear the VMR hat badge.Black and white photograph of Major Fred Cobain, VMR Squadron 4/19 Prince of Wales's Light Horse, at Annual camp Puckapunyal September 1992.military, vmr, puckapunyal, training, uniform