These items come from a Gordon Vacuum Break Milking Machine. Vacuum Break milking machines were popular from the 1930s on, with the systems interrupting or breaking the constant milking vacuum, thus avoiding or reducing the harmful effects of vacuum acting constantly on the cow’s teats. An inserted rubber section acted as a valve which affected the pinching action by closing and opening alternately. These items came from a milking machine which was used on the property of Reginald Dalton Hooker and his wife Marjorie. The property was at 155 Rooneys Road, Dennington and twenty cows were milked on land irrigated by a bore. The milk was supplied to the Nestles Factory in Dennington (now Fonterra). These two plates are of interest as they are reminders of the local dairying industry during the mid 20th century. Dairying remains today the chief industry of the Warrnambool district..1 This is a rectangular metal plate with two holes at each end for attachment to a machine and with raised metal lettering on the inside surface. The plate has been painted light brown but the paint is now peeling. .2 This is a small rectangular silver-coloured plate with raised lettering on the front. .1 GVB Gordon Vacuum Break Milker .2 GVBreginald hooker, dennington, gordon vacuum break milkers, history of warrnambool

The photograph was associated with Harry Holmes who was a member of the Australian Imperial Force based in Egypt at the time. Gordon Spittle was the youngest of Three brothers. He grew up in Creswick and attended Creswick Grammar School. Gordon purchased 'Mt Cavern' in 1912. It had 4 years of a 10 year lease to run. His mother and father took delivery of it on 1 April 1916. They lived there and farmed it until Gordon returned from active service in May 1919. He married Violet Holmes and both lived at "Mt Cavern" until their deaths. Gordon died in 1942 aged 51. Violet Holmes-Spittle dies in 1949 aged 56. Egypt was a major base for the AIF from December 1914. A number of campaigns were fought in this theatre. There were two campaigns involving the AIF. Note that not all the fighting was actually geographically in Egypt. (http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8888/about3.html)Four Australian soldiersVerso: 'Moascar, Egypt, June 14th '16. From left to right. S.G.S. [Gordon Spittle], Cam Williamson & Harry [Holmes]. Sitting is Private Berry a son of the big merchants in Melbourne. Am sending these negatives to Jim W. so if they arrive safely, you'll be able to get better proofs from him. From Gordon [Spittle].chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, moascar, egypt, suez canal, spittle, williamson, harry holmes, berry, egypt, moarcar

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 fifth 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 blue ink swirls covering its entirety. It has a central sticker label. 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 recording and tracking the financial transactions of Sheep Stations and Wool Classers. 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: - General bookkeeping terms and definitions - Practise invoices - Larger multiple page definition of bookkeeping - Assets liabilities - Practise bale bookFront Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten. “The “Gordon Geelong / CASH BOOK / Stanley Hucker / Station + Farm / Bookkeeping / Bookkeeping / Terms 1.2.3 for 1936. 1937. 1938”gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

This leaflet gives a chronology of Gordon's life and a photograph of him. And printed on the other side, besides the aerial view of the cottage is a paragraph about the two years he spent in the cottage, 1867-1868 three short extracts of his poetry.Documents available and newspaper extracts make it clear that some Ballarat Citizens were proud of their city's association with this poet. 1 yellow leaflet printed on both sides in blue, with a photo of Gordon on the right side of p.1 and an aerial view of the Cottage off-centre on p.2. Originally folded twice.Noneadam lindsay gordon, adam lindsay gordon cottage, john garner, doctor, ballarat botanic gardens, craig's hotel, australian poet, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, john garner collection, poet, gardens, ballarat

Councilor Samuel Gordon Spittle (born 1891), became Councilor in the Shire of Ballarat in 1932, serving until his death on 21st December 1942.He was Shire President in 1934-1935,during Victoria's centenary year.This photo is a section of a composite photo of Councilors for 1934-1935. Section of Original Historic Photo of Councilors for the year 1934-1935.Sepia photo on grey mount with gold framing photo, of Shire President Samuel Gordon Spittle, situated in middle of second row of all councilors for the year 1934-1935.Collection of photos of all Councilors for the year 1934-1935. shire, president, spittle, samuel, gordon, 1934 1935, victoria s, centenary, year

Framed papers outlining the courses and coursework for the Textile College at the Gordon Institute of Technology in 1950. The courses include Woolcombing, Worsted Spinning, Woollen Yarn Manufacture, Designing, Weaving and Turning and Finishing. A digital copy of this item was made for the National Wool Museum Collection, with the original remaining with the donor. Digital TIFF file, 100 MB, showing image of framed printed paper.D.P.C. WILSON MEMORIAL BURSARIES. / Textile College / Gordon Institute of Technology. / GENERAL INFORMATION / TERM DATES 1950 ...courses, gordon institute of technology, textile college, geelong, woolclassing, weaving, spinning, coursework, 1950

Colour photograph of fourteen members of squash club winners of Lakes Hardware Squash Championship with Gordon Whelan Lakes Entrance Victoria. Other number 03677.1 Plus LE Junior squash players Lakes post 24.10.2001Colour photograph of fourteen members of squash club winners of Lakes Hardware Squash Championship with Gordon Whelan Lakes Entrance Victoria. Plus LE Junior squash players Lakes post 24.10.2001sports, squash

Banner presented to pipes and drums by Brig Lowen in 1975 Banner main side is of Gordon Tartan with Gold Bullion edging has RVR crest and Rampant lion at base Obverse side is of Royal Stuart has silver castle crest embroided "Virtue . Mire . Honour" Banner main side is of Gordon Tartan with Gold Bullion edging has RVR crest and Rampant lion at base Obverse side is of Royal Stuart has silver castle crest embroided "Virtue . Mire . Honour" 5rvr, 5vsr, pipes and drums, pipe sergeant, 5/6rvr

Associated documents from Mr R Lloyd provide further informationK A Gordonsheep stations - management wool growing squatters, lloyd, mr robert gordon, k a - victoria; premier's department bolte, sir henry, sheep stations - management, wool growing, squatters

Associated documents from Mr R Lloyd provide further informationK A Gordonsheep stations - management wool growing squatters, lloyd, mr robert gordon, k a - victoria; premier's department bolte, sir henry, sheep stations - management, wool growing, squatters

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 first 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 cover of black vinyl with a strip of red tape on the spine to give added support. Some of the vinyl has been removed on the cover, revealing blue card beneath. A sticker label is also found on the front cover. It has been damaged. Part of the sticker has been removed, while blue ink can also be found obscuring the text below. 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 and accompanied by an occasional hand drawn diagram. A selection of pages have been photographed to give an impression of the information taught in classes, 90 years ago. This includes information about a sheep’s heart, hind limbs, and reproduction system in ewes. Front Cover. Wording, printed and handwritten “SERVICE / EXERCISE BOOK / NAME Stanley Hucker / GRADE wool classing / SCHOOL Gordon Technical / SUBJECT Veterinary”gordon institute geelong, wool classing, 1930s sheep farming, 90 years wool classing between father & son

Photo depicts a final year woolclassing class from the Gordon Institute in Geelong. They have prepared a display re: woolclassing for the visit of the Prince of Wales to Geelong in 1920. They are on the top floor of the Dennys Lascelles woolstore. The donor's father, Mr Cyril Cameron, can be seen in the photo at sixth from the right. Cyril Cameron (known as 'Cam') came from the family property 'Burnside' near Glenthompson in the Western District. He joined Strachan & Co. as an office boy in Aug. 1914 and then joined the 8th Battalion, 1st AIF in January 1915. He returned to Australia in early 1920 and started work at Strachan's again. He did the wool classing course (one year, evening?) at the Gordon in 1920-21. He became Head Wool Valuer at Strachan's in 1938 and retired in 1970. His office at Strachan's was on the top floor, directly overlooking what is now the entrance to the National Wool Museum (formerly Dennys Lascelles woolstore). He died in 1983. Interestingly, within the photo, can be seen a poster on the wall advertising the RSS or Diggers' Mill. The mill opened in 1922 but had been advertising for investors since the end of the war.Photograph, Gordon Technical College wool classing course, 1920. Wool classing display for the visit of the Prince of Wales at the Dennys Lascelles wool store.GEOFFREY S. WOOD, PHOTO, GEELONG Dennys Lascelles Show Floor 1920 / Visit of Prince of Waleswoolclassing royal visits, gordon technical college - woolclassing department, cameron, mr cyril, dennys lascelles wool store, woolclassing, royal visits

This Collection of photos was taken during Victoria' centenary year,and depicts Shire President Samuel Gordon Spittle,and Councilors C.T.Henderson, M,J,Ryan, D.Baird, J.A.Charles(J.P.), W.A.Rain (Secretary & Engineer), R,T.White, R.B.Walton, H.J.Wheeler, and W.R.Crosthwaite. Original Historic Photo Of Councilors for the 1934 - 1935 year.This is a composite collection of photos,Sepia in colour,on grey mount,with gold surounding middle photo,and framed in wide plain wooden frame.It is of Shire President Cr Samuel Gordon Spittle and Councilors For the year 1934 - 1935. PRESENTED BY THE PRESIDENT CR.S.G.SPITTLE TO THE BALLARAT SHIRE COUNCIL.1934-35.shire president samuel gordon spittle, ballarat shire council 1934 1935, victoria centenary year 1934 1935

Papers donated by Gordon Pearce, 30 Apr 2021 pertaining to Eltham Pre-school and Eltham War Memorial Trust. Gordon was a former President of the Eltham Pre-school at the time the Eltham War Memorial Trust was disbanded by Eltham Shire Council in December 1973.Contents: 1. Articles of the Eltham War Memorial Trust (9 foolscap pages – photocopied on A3) 2. President’s Report: Eltham War Memorial Trust, Committee of Management, Dec. 1973 in which it was advised that the Committee was to be disbanded. 3. Letter: Gordon J.J. Pearce, President Eltham Pre-school to C.J. Bock, Chief Administrative Officer, Shire of Eltham, 21 Nov 1973 expressing disappointment at the Shire wanting to disband the Committee of Management of the Eltham War Memorial Trust 4. Minutes: Eltham Pre-school Committee, 26 Nov 1973 5. Minutes: Eltham Pre-school Committee, 17 Dec 1973 6. President’s Report: Gordon Pearce, Eltham Pre-school, 4 Feb 1974 (All photocopied on A4 paper except where noted) articles of trust, committee of management, eltham pre-school, eltham shire council, eltham war memorial trust, gordon pearce

Sales plan for land in the suburb of South Brighton (Moorabbin), bounded by Point Nepean Road, South Road, Patterson Street and the Mordialloc Railway Line. Incorporates Wolsely Street and Gordon StreetThe developing urban area of Moorabbin within the City of Kingston. This land sale pamphlet illustrates the subdivision of land within the municipality and the changing demographic of the district as new houses are constructed close to infrastructure.Colour pamphlet advertising for private sale the South Brighton Township Estate, South Brighton. Incorporates a map of the estate bordered by Point Nepean Road, South Road, Patterson Street, and the Mordialloc Railway Line. Includes Wolsley Street and Gordon Street. land sales, south brighton, estate, moorabbin

Court Loddon No 344 minutes held at the Maldon Methodist Sunday School. The book has the minutes recorded from April 1961 too May 1962. Gordon Exercise BookOn cover: Minute Bookmethodist order of knights

The Municipality of Kew (1860-1863), the Borough of Kew (1863-1910), the Town of Kew (1910-1921) and the City of Kew (1921-1994) were local government instrumentalities in the State of Victoria. In 1994, the City of Kew was amalgamated, together with the former Cities of Camberwell and Hawthorn, into the new City of Boroondara (1994- ). Like other local government entities of the period, Kew was administered by town clerks. The two notable town clerks in Kew's history were H. H. (Henry Hirst) Harrison (1868-1955) and W. D. (William Dickie) Birrell (1899-1974). Harrison was appointed to the position in 1901 and retired in 1938 after 37 years. Birrell, appointed Acting Town Clerk in 1921, became Town Clerk in 1938, following Harrison's retirement. He continued in this role until his retirement in 1966.This card is part of an historically significant civic collection, containing hundreds of separate invitations, documents, greeting cards, programmes and tickets issued and/or collected by successive town clerks. Items in the collection illuminate the political, social and cultural history of the district. As a continuous record, ranging across most decades of the Twentieth Century, they reveal changing tastes in design, values and relationships in the history of local government in Victoria.ON THE OCCASION OF ADMITTING THE DISTINGUISHED PERSONAGE OF / SIR ROBERT GORDON MENZIES KT, CH, FRS, QC / TO / HONORARY FREEMAN OF THE CITY OF KEW / THE MAYOR, CR G F PETRIE JP, AND COUNCILLORS OF THE CITY OF KEW / REQUEST THE PLEASURE OF THE COMPANY OF / ______________ / IN THE CITY HALL / ON SUNDAY, 11TH AUGUST, 1974 / RSVP MRS E BENNETT 31ST JULY, 1974 86-6292 / INVITATION TO BE PRESENTED AT DOOR / DRESS : LOUNGE SUITcivic invitations -- kew (vic), freemen of the city of kew, sir robert gordon menzies, cr gerald petrie

This photograph was with a number of others associated with Harry Holmes of Ascot, Victoria. The postcard was written on by Harry Holmes who was a member of the Australian Imperial Force based in Egypt at the time. Nurse Kirkham is Laurie Hemsley Kirkham She was admitted to the Suez Public Hospital (Abbassia) post 06 January 1916. She left Australia with a group of South Australian nurses. Egypt was a major base for the AIF from December 1914. A number of campaigns were fought in this theatre. There were two campaigns involving the AIF. Note that not all the fighting was actually geographically in Egypt. (http://www.aif.adfa.edu.au:8888/about3.html) The Nurse Kirkam mentioned by the writer is probably Sarah Alice Kirkham, Staff Nurse with the Australian Army Nursing Service. Nurse Kirkham was from North Perth, Western Australia. She was posted to the Auxiliary Hospital, Egypt on 09 November 1915 leaving for France on 23 June 1916. Samuel Gordon Spittle (8005) enlisted into the AIF on 17 July 1915, a member of the 18th Australian Army Service Corps (AASC). He left Alexandria on 15 June 1916 disembarking at Marseilles 24 June 1916. Harry Holmes was discharged from a hospital in Egypt on 15 August 1919. He was awarded the Military Medal promulgated on 11 December 1919. (NAA: B2455, Spittle Samuel Gordon) Not only does this photograph portray life in Egypt during World War War, it highlights the role played by members of the Australian Army Nursing Service in both professional and social activities in the theatre of war.Two Australian nurses and a number of Australian soldiers in Hospital Uniform pose for a photograph in Egypt during World War One. Verso: "A little group of Australians at Suez Hospital Joe F[awcett] & I [Gordon Spittle] are standing in the back row with Nurse Kirkham standing between, she is on the short side so stood on a box. Gordon S."chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, gordon spittle, kirkham, suez, egypt, samuel gordon spittle, joe fawcett, laurie kirkham, nurse kirkham, suez hospital, laurie helmsley kirkham, l.a. kirkham, harry holmes, nurses

Gordon Frederick HawleyBlack and white photograph mounted on rectangular grey board. House, two tone weatherboard, triple window on front Return verandah . Front and side entrance. Fretwork trim to verandah. Ornate wooden gate. Picket fence with capping, corrugated iron roof with snailback trim. Small palm front garden. Trimmed hedge.On back of photo: ' Gordon Hawley ( crossed out) High and Myrtle St., £1400 sold' Date stamp 25 August 1928.Frank A. Jeffree Photo Bendigo [White Ink]bendigo, business, t c watts and son, s

Artist - Gordon Thurling, BTV6 graphic artist at the time. Understood that he also worked for Myer in Ballarat, has since passed away. See item 6422 for another example.Strong association with the artist Gordon Thurling and demonstrates in a pen and ink drawing the last tram in Sturt St at the time of the closure of the SEC system.Coloured photocopy of a drawing by Gordon Thurling titled "The last tram Sturt Street Ballarat 19 September 1971". Originally a Black and white drawing of tram 39, with destination "Sebastopol" with Ballarat Town Hall in background, which has been coloured with green, grey and yellow watercolours.ballarat, trams, tramways, closure, drawings, last day, town hall, tram 39, gordon thurling

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies Australia's 12th Prime Minister, served April 1939 to 1941 and a second term from 1949 to 1966. The Prime Ministers Avenue is a collection of bronze bust portraits of the Prime Ministers of Australia, located at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens in Ballarat, Victoria. The Prime Ministers' portraits are commissioned after the incumbent term of each Prime Minister by the City of Ballarat. The City of Ballarat has taken responsibility for commissioning the busts after funds set aside by politician Richard Armstrong Crouch were exhausted in 2014. Crouch originally donate money to pay for six busts, the first of which was unveiled in 1940. The collection of prime ministers' busts are unique in Australia, representing the only sculptural portrait collection of all past Australian Prime Ministers. The different styles used reflect the unique artistic practices of the selected artists; textures, sizes and features and proportions are used by the artists to interpret the characteristics of each of the subjects.The artwork is of historic and aesthetic significance to the people of BallaratBronze bust cast on granite and concrete plinth.Sir Robert Gordon Menzies Prime Minister 1939-41 1949-66prime minister, australian pm

NilPlaque from The Gordon HighlandersBritish crown with BYDAND written under crown. Stag deer over Scottish Crown on tartan back ground.

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

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

Black and white photograph of Gordon Hale.ballarat school of mines, gordon hale