The Melbourne Olympic games were mainly conducted at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and were one of the most successful in terms of medals for Australia. Among the medal winners were Shirley Strickland, Betty Cuthbert in Athletics and Dawn Fraser and Murray rose in swimming. The games commenced in November 1956. The games were noted for the 19 Hungarian athletes who applied for asylum with their home country undergoing upheaval at the time. The Melbourne games also enjoyed the advent of television with the technology having recently been introduced to the country. These badges note ten of the many athletes who competed for Australia in 1956. These items are of social significance and interest. Among the names listed, Dawn Fraser and Shirley Strickland were two of Australia’s best known athletes.001042.1 Dawn Fraser Swimming 001042.2 Dawn Fraser Swimming 001042.3Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.4Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.5Gary Chapman Swimming 001042.6Jim Bailey Athletics 001042.7 Winsome Cripps Athletics 001042.8 Lionel Cox cycling 001042.9 Hector Hogan Athletics 001042.10 Kevin O’Halloran Swimming 001042.11 Shirley Strickland Athletics 001042.12 Merv Wood Sculling 001042.13 Jon Henricks Swimming Items 001042.1-001042.13 are white background with green wreath , black text on yellow background and have B & W photo of Olympian in centre. 001042.14 Melbourne Olympics Souvenir dark blue text, pale green with wattle 001042.15 Melbourne Olympic Games 1956 with red text Straight pin at the back. Patrick Pty Ltd on edge.1956 olympics, melbourne olympics, souvenir badges, dawn fraser, gary chapman, jim bailey, winsome cripps, lionel cox, kevin o'halloran, hector hogan, shirley strickland, jon hendricks, merv woods, melbourne olympic games

Long black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of the winner of the Dragon Mile Michael Hillardt running in front of a crowd. Bendigo Advertiser description: Winner of the Dragon Mile Micheal Hillardt 20 - 04 - 87 Run.Crecreations, sports, athletics, michael hillardt.

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of Tony Birrell doing some forward stretches in front of the camera. Bendigo Advertiser description: Tony Birrell 5/3/93 10,000 winner Last year 1992UNrecreations, sports, athletics, tony birrell.

Black and white photograph, 1 boy, athletics, photograph of Ian Prendergast holding a trophy and a packet of Adidas clothing, 1992. Bendigo Advertiser description: Kerang athlete Ian Prendergast Story - Prender Prender cap Sportrecreations, sports, athletics, ian prendergast.

Black and white photograph, 1 girl, photograph of a young girl in a numbered tank top, 1101, running. Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo: 9/2 Athletics at Epsom Angela Cousins 15, Competes in the walk event.recreations, sports, athletics, angela cousins.

This booklet celebrates the 25th Zatopek Classic Athletics Meeting and was attended by Emil Zatopek at Olympic Park, Melbourne 19th December 1985.This booklet is significant because it was the Silver Jubilee of this important event and the booklet must be considered rare as it has been signed by Emil Zatopek who is now deceased.Athletic Programme, Illustrated, cover, 16 pp.Athletic Meeting Olympic Park Signed by EMIL Zatopeksport, athletics, olympic park, emil zatopek, victorian athletic association, marathons

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of winner Leigh Partill standing in front of a race track with a Charles Sufferin Race trophy in his hands. Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo: Token Tuesday! Runner Leigh Partill Winner of Charles Sufferin Race Leighcap SLArecreations, sports, athletics

Black and white photograph, athletics, running, photograph of three men in white shirts and shorts running against each other in a race, 1994. Bendigo Advertiser description: 13/3/94 10,000 m final. Chris Ferreira leads.recreations, sports, athletics, chris ferreira.

Dot Browne was President of the Doncaster Womens Athletic Club for 11 years. She represented Australia in the 1982 World Veteran Ocean Games in Fiji, winning 4 Gold Medals and in the 1987 World Veterans Games in Melbourne winning 3 silver Medals.In 1952 Dot was presented with the Order of Australia for her contribution to athletics.Black & white photo of Dot Browne during an athletic event beside a public road.browne dot, athletics, doncaster women's athletic club

Black and white photograph, athletics, 1 boy, close-up photograph of Rick Ermel running in the field, 13/3 Bendigo Advertiser description: 13/3 10,000 meet Rick Ermel of Bendigo Competes in the Baker's Delight 1600 M handicaprecreations, sports, athletics, rick ermel.

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of an unknown runner running at the Bendigo tracks. Bendigo Advertiser description: Pub date: 2812 Size width: 36:8 Depth: 22.3 Section: SPRT Page: 18. Description: Runner Special Instructions/Percentage: Scan to PSport "Runner" Ordered by: T.L Date: 2712recreations, sports, athletics

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of Iron Man winner Craig Logan in front of some trees and a mountain in 1987, 4/10/87. Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo: Iron Man Craig Logan 4/10/87 Aiw Fierecreations, sports, athletics, craig logan.

Black and white photograph, athletics, close-up photograph of Anne Cross who is a 5 Time winner of the Dragon 12 Mile Open Bendigo Advertiser description: 4/4 AH Dragon Mile Open Womens winner Anne Cross 5 time winnerrecreations, sports, athletics, anne cross.

Black and white photograph, 1 woman, photograph of a girl wearing a Australian Sugar Industry jumper who is named Glynis Nunn, Gold heptathlon at the 84 Olympics Bendigo Advertiser description on on back of photo: Glynis Nunn Gold heptathlon 84 Olympics For Athletics File Boxrecreations, sports, athletics, glynis nunn.

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of Cec Kerr in 1994 who is waving in front of a crowd while wearing his victory gear that he won in the 1931 Gift Track, Castlemaine. Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo: Cec Kerr 1/1/94 83 years (MBH) Only local winner of the gift track in 1931recreations, sports, athletics

Black and white photograph, athletics, photograph of Ron Nancarrow holding a small medal that he earned after being awarded a life membership at the foot races, 7/5/94 Bendigo Advertiser description: Ron Nancarrow awarded a life membership today at the foot races (Ph. 413591)Katerecreations, sports, athletics, ron nancarrow.

The Ballarat School of Mines Athletics Team of 1919 were the inaugural winners of the Inter Techncal Athletics Competition known as the Herald Shield. The team is photographed with a repouse shield which was made by the Ballarat Technical Art School (a division of the Ballarat School of Mines) The 1919 Ballarat School of Mines Students' Magazine reports: "One of the most successful gathering ever witnessed in Ballarat took place on the City Oval on Saturday 9th, when the Technical Schools of Victoria particiapted in their first combined school sports. This event was the first of its kind ever promoted, and provided an interesting and exciting display of athletics. Last yeat the Junior Technical Schools of Victoria competed for the "Winner Cup" for pepetual competition, in which Swinburne Technical School was the successful winner. This latter competition proved such a success that it was decided to incorporate with the senior Technical Schools, and form an association to encourage sport throughout the Technical Schools of the State. This was achieved by the generous response of the proprietors of the "Herald," who kindly presented a handsome shield to be known as the "Herald Shield' for pepetual competition for the Senior Technical Schools of Victoria. This, by the way, was designed and executed at our own Art School. ..." David McGrath later played 0 game and kicked 6 goals for Fitzroy Football Club in the Victorian Football League (later Autralian Football League).A black and white image of the first inter-technical school Champions in Athletics. Back Row left to right: R.S. Dale, N. Hay, D.G. McGrath, F.M. Larkin Front Row left to right: R. Fleming, W.P. O'Halloran, D. Miller, W. Shttock Front: H.G. Wakelingn. hay, d.g. mcgrath, f.m. larkin, w.p. o'halloran, d. miller, w. shttock, r.s. dale, r. fleming, h.g. wakeling, w. shattock, david gullen mcgrath

Black and white photograph, athletics. photograph of an elderly man named Cyril 'goldie' Heath in 1994 wearing his old victory gear that he earned in the Castlemaine Athletic Club 1936 Boxing Day 130 Yards & 41/4 Yard Handicap race. Bendigo Advertiser description: Castlemaine City 6/3/94 Cyril "Goldie" Heath won the gift 1936recreations, sports, athletics

Black and white photograph, 1 woman, photograph of Wendy Ryan "with the two gold medals she won in the Australian Veterans titles", 22/4/93 Bendigo Advertiser description on back of photo:22/4/93 OH/SPRT Veterans Athletics. Wendy Ryan with the two gold medals she won in the Australian Veterans titles.recreations, sports, athletics, webdy ryan.

Three golden medals with a blue ribbon presented by the North East District Secondary School Sporting Association. On one face the medals depict four figures doing athletics, and on the other the medals read NEDSSSA U17 athletics champion 2005 NEDSSSA U21 athletics champion 2005 NEDSSSA U16 athletics champion 2006

As of 2016 Tony Benson is the last Australian to win the 5000m at one of the major meets (now called Diamond League). That year Tony Benson was undefeated in Europe something no Australian has done since. He was also undefeated in the USA in early 1972 and probably would have medalled in Munich 1972 except for an incurring a hamstring injury 10 days before the race AND not being able to find the team medical doctors until some 16 hrs after the injury due to them being away from the village. Despite running with a torn hamstring Tony Benson broke Ron Clarke's Australian Olympic record for the 5000m but had no 'kick' and finished 7th in the heat. None of those who made the final had ever beaten Benson. Kip Keino and Tony Benson became friends. Keino received the first ever Olympic Laureate Award by the IOC at the Rio opening ceremony in 2016. Five images from the Collection of Tony Benson. .1) Tony Benson runs during the Ballarat Teachers' College Lap of the Lake, 1962 .2) Ballarat Teachers' College Athletics, 1963 .3) Ballarat Teachers' College Athletics, 1963. Lecturer and coach Peter Fryar hand out the oranges. .4) Ballarat Teachers' College Tennis Team, 1963 .5) Tony Benson defeating the great Kip Keino at the 1971 Stockholm Grand Prixtony benson, olympics, olympic games, running, ballarat teachers' college, peter fryar, olympian, football, tennis, athletics

Trophy awarded to Isla Veal who attended the school 1949 - 1951. Isla left the school aged 14years to undertake commercial studies at SMBC. She returned to compete in Old Collegian events at Sports Day 1952 and also participated with the school debutante set in 1954. Small silver double-handle cup on melamine standEngraved on face of cup: C.P.L.C / INTERMEDIATE ATHLETICS / 1951 / ISLA VEALisla-veal, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, sports

Black and white photograph, 1 boy, athletics, photograph of a man called James Watson in his semi-final, 1995. Bendigo Advertiser description: 5/3/95 Scotland's James Watson (6 metres) was his semi-final in 12.19 secs from David Driscoll Finished 2nd in the final to Robert Lehmanrecreations, sports, athletics, james watson, david driscoll, robert lehman.

Black and white photograph, athletics, family photograph of mother Gayle Prendergast, son Ian Prendergast and father John Prendergast standing together to pose for a photograph by Bendigo Advertiser. Bendigo Advertiser description L. Gayle Prendergast 9/12/92 mum M. Ian Prendergast K. John Prendergast Junior Sportstar.recreations, sports, athletics, gayle prendergast, ian prendergast, john prendergast.