Bonegilla Army Base and Migrant Reception Centre began when funds were allocated to build Bonegilla Army Camp in June 1940. Builders began to erect about 600 huts prior to the Army moving in during September of that year. Between 1942 - 1943 it was enlarged to 848 buildings. In 1947 Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre began operating with the Army providing transport, security and catering services. From 1949 until 1965 the Bonegilla Reception and Training Centre operated without a military presence. Bonegilla Migrant Reception and Training Centre was made up of 24 blocks. It had its own churches, banks, sporting fields, cinema, hospital, police station and railway platform. It became the largest and longest operating reception centre in the post-war era. More than 300,000 migrants passed through its doors between 1947 and 1971, with most of those originating from non-English speaking European countries. From1965 with the increased Australian commitment to the Vietnam War and the need to find accommodation to train National Servicemen for Vietnam, the Army negotiated with the Department of Immigration to take over several blocks at Bonegilla. In 1971 the Reception Centre closed and the site reverted to the Army. After 1971 the Army undertook a major site redevelopment with the construction of Latchford Barracks as the Army Apprentice School. Later Latchford Barracks was redeveloped into part of the Army Logistic Training Centre. Between 1978 and 1982, nearly all of the centre was demolished in a major redevelopment. The new replacement buildings were formally opened as Latchford Barracks in 1983. Demolition of the buildings prompted calls for recognition of the site and the role it had played in Australia’s post-World War II Immigration program. After much discussion between the Department of Army and Heritage and local groups about the significance of the site, the Australian Heritage Commission proceeded with its listing on the Register of the National Estate. A Conservation Management Plan was prepared for Block 19 in 1996. The Army transferred Block 19 to the Victorian Government. In 2002 Heritage Victoria listed Block 19 on the State Heritage Register, giving attention to both the migrant and army connections with the site. Hut 97 at Bonegilla Migrant Experience is the home of the Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc.This image is significant because it records a building which is part of the Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre which played a critical role as the largest and longest operating Migrant Reception Centre in Australia.A colour photo of Hut 97 at Block 19, Bonegilla Migrant Experience, now the home of Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc.hut 97 bonegilla migrant experience, wodonga & district historical society, immigration australia

Leather bound book, gold on edges of pages 867 pages, shield on front is goldNew Testament Psalmsbible, new testament, girdler, gumbleton, deaconate

Group of Stawell Ministers Serving in Stawell District June 1912 Back Row Rev. Griffith, (Baptist), Rev. Matthew, (Presbyterian), Rev. Dewhurst, (C of E), Rev. Milne, (Congregational) Front Row Adj. Perry, (Sal. Army), Rev. Harrison, (Methodist), Rev. Storrs, (The Missioner), Rev Shipway, (Church of Christ)Two Black & white photograph of a group of males, four standing, four seated. Picket fence in background. These photographs were taken from a Photographic Post Card.Empire Post Card June 1912 Back Row Rev. Griffith, (Baptist), Rev. Matthew, (Presbyterian), Rev. Dewhurst, (C of E), Rev. Milne, (Congregational) Front Row Adj. Perry, (Sal. Army), Rev. Harrison, (Methodist), , Rev. Storrs, (The Missioner), Rev Shipway, (Church of Christ)stawell portrait

Salvation Army Barracks Main Street Stawell. Weatherboard building part roof corrugated iron - remainder wooden shingles. Picket fence in foreground. Large group of people standing and seated on the footpath. The original Salvation Army Barracks is now at the rear of the present Citadel a red brick building. Stawell Corps was opened in the year 1884 in the month of May. The first meeting was conducted in a Church but afterwards the old market (area present Library) was secured for meetings. Captain Furbur and Lieutenant Quick were the first officers appointed. Photograph of a weatherboard building with a group of people standing and sitting in front of a picket fence. Part of the roof of the building is corrugated iron - remainder wooden shingles. The group of people standing and seated on the footpath, are a mixture of adults and children, some in uniforms, women in long dresses. Salvation army Barracks above the building door. Written in handwriting Stawell Barracks Mrs. R.J. Reeve.stawell religion

Order of service for the laying-up of colours of the 14th Battalion in St George's Presbyterian Church St Kilda (now St George's East St Kilda Uniting Church) on 10 December 1950White card, discoloured with age, printed in blue on both sides and folded in half2/14th army battalion, 2/14th army battalion association, st george's presbyterian church st kilda

Pamphlet explaining the memorial at St George's Church in East St Kilda to former minister Rev Andrew Gillison, MA, who served as Chaplain for overseas service in World War I and died at Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier. The memorial was erected at the request of the 14th Battalion.White paper printed in black on both sides and foldedworld war i, 14th battalion aif, 2/14th army battalion, rev andrew gillison, st george's east st kilda uniting church

Annual memorial service in memory of those who died in war service, including former minister Rev Andrew Gillison, MA, who served as Chaplain for overseas service in World War I and died at Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier. Held on 25 August 1996.The memorial service was followed by a lunch, a tour of the Army Depot, 2nd/10th Medium Regiment Artillery, 8 Chapel Street, East St Kilda, and then a concert back at the church later in the afternoon.Pamphlet of three cream coloured pages, folded and printed on both sides in black. Unbound. Illustration of the church on the front. rev andrew gillison, 14th battalion aif, 2/14th army battalion

Annual memorial service in memory of those who died in war service, including former minister Rev Andrew Gillison, MA, who served as Chaplain for overseas service in World War I and died at Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier. Held on 21 August 1994.Pamphlet of two folded sheets of white paper, printed in black on both sides14th battalion aif, 2/14th army battalion, st george's east st kilda uniting church

Annual memorial service in memory of those who died in war service, including former minister Rev Andrew Gillison, MA, who served as Chaplain for overseas service in World War I and died at Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier. Held on 20 August 1995. Contains background notes on the 2/14 and 14/32 Battalions.Multi paged pamphlet of cream coloured paper, printed in black on both sides. Illustration of the church on the front.14th battalion aif, 2/14th army battalion, st george's east st kilda uniting church, 14/32nd battalion

Annual memorial service in memory of those who died in war service, including former minister Rev Andrew Gillison, MA, who served as Chaplain for overseas service in World War I and died at Gallipoli in 1915 while attempting to rescue a wounded soldier. Held on 20 August 2000.Multi-page pamphlet of cream coloured paper, printed in black and stapledrev andrew gillison, 14th battalion aif, 2/14th army battalion, 14/32nd battalion

Group of Salvation Army personnel standing in front of pipe organ in St. Matthew's Church in 1968. Captain & Mrs. Noel Clegg Back Don Reeve, Dennis Tyler,2 Guests, Alf Perry,2 Guests, John White In front of backrow Amy Collins, Cynthia Perry, Eileen Esky, Phyllis Folkes, ?, ?, V White, Gwen Reeve In front of them, guest, Margory Brown, Eileen Clarke, Jenny Biggs, Una Watson, Anita Brown, guest, ?, Janet Tyler Front Ruby SymesMr Capt Noel Clegg, S/Lindsay BrownBlack & white photo of a group of male & female singers in front of a pipe organ. Songsters in St. Matthew's Stawell, pre-Petersham trip 1968.stawell religion

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand.The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society.Small black and white photograph of the Salvation Army Hall in High Street, Kew (now demolished)."Salvation Army / Kew 1967"churches -- kew (vic), salvation army -- high street -- kew (vic.)

Item donated by R.W.T. Rowland and was sent to wife of a friend serving in 2/78th Batallion A.I.F., Middle East.From the R.S.L. Mitcham.Pink polyester cushion cover 36cm x 30cm. Black 6cm fringe all around, depicting four 9cm x 9cm pictures of Church of Nativity, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mosque of Oman and The Citadel. At each corner plus two 7cm x 13cm pictures of people. 21cm x 20cm picture A.I.F. Badge Palestine and the words 'Souvenir from The Holy Land'. Backed with cream cotton material.SOUVENIR FROM W.W.2.; Copyright by P.C.H. Bulmestermilitary history, army

WW2 items from Alwyn Till donated to Mitcham RSL And now donated to Historical Society.Alwyn Till was born and raised in Mitcham. He was a popular and well respected member of the community especially the Mitcham Anglican church. His father served in WW1 and after Alwyn's death in WW2 his sister and mother venerated his memory by keeping all his effects. The WHS published a history of his service as an airman in 2010..1 cardboard box addressed to Mrs Cook -Mitcham from Dr Lewis, Burwood Rd Auburn.|.2&.3 Navy coloured Warrant Officer cloth badge with British coat of arms|.4 navy blue and white wing badge with ' O'|.5 Navy blue and white wing badge with 'O' with blue wreath embroidered and aluminium backing.|.6 silver coloured Rising Sun ' Sweetheart brooch' with boomerang. Inscribed with Alison. Alwyns' sister.|.7 membership card for Caterpillar Club. F/Sgt. A. Till..|.8 small bronze coloured junior airman badge 'Pelaco Club'.badges (use numismatics), military history, army, containers, commercial, documents, cards, air force, societies, service clubs

Medical practitioner Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle (1867-1940) was a man ‘much admired’ for his civic contribution to Kew. To ensure ‘pure [uncontaminated]’ milk for Kew, he co-foundered the Willsmere Certified Milk Company in 1898. His mayoralty of Kew, 1902-04, exhibited superior leadership. In association with local chartable institutions and churches he ensured the unemployed of Kew were not distressed. He also agitated for the removal of the Kew Lunatic Asylum. After a long stint as a doctor in the Army Medical Corps with the Australian Expeditionary Force, Kew formally welcomed him back home in 1918. However, in 1919 he left his two-storey red brick home, on the ‘corner of Gellibrand Street’ for Toorak. He went on to have an outstanding career in radiology at the Alfred Hospital and in Victorian politics. He was cremated following a State funeral. (SMcW)An important photograph of local and statewide historical significance showing Sir Stanley Argyle, Mayor of Kew. Argyle was later to be Premier of Victoria. This is a commemorative photograph, presented by Argyle to the Town of Kew.An early, important photograph of the Kew Councillors at a meeting in the Council Chamber of the Kew Town Hall in Walpole Street. The framed photograph was donated by Sir Stanley Seymour Argyle (1867-1940) who was Mayor of Kew in 1902-03 and 1903-04. Stanley Argyle, later to be Premier of Victoria, is in the mayoral chair wearing his robes of office. The photograph was once displayed in the Kew Town Hall. Brass Plaque: "Presented by / Cr Stanley S. Argyle / Mayor 1902-3 & 1903-4".sir stanley argyle (1867-1940), kew town council, council chamber (kew town hall)

Nancy (Margaret Dillon) Steele born 1906 and Hattie ( Harriette Vevers) Steele were daughters of Charles Henri Dillon Steele (1869-1935) and Sarah Margaret Russell (1873-1944),he was a pioneer of dentistry in Victoria who was in practice in 1890 and later in Collins Street for 40 years. The family lived at ‘Dalriada’ (dem.) on the corner of Bona Vista Avenue and Union Road. Sarah Margaret Steele was President of the local Patriotic League during WW1 and is credited with starting the move to raise funds for the WW1 memorial in the Surrey Gardens. Nancy and Hattie were graduates at Melbourne University in Dentistry and Agricultural Science respectively. They continued their studies in Toronto and obtained their Doctorates. In 1923 Nancy and Hattie started the first girl guide group in Surrey Hills at Holy Trinity Church. Both married and had families. Nancy married Dr William Brayshaw Woodhouse and, while he took up army duties during World War II, Nancy continued his practice. Their son Anthony became a dentist, while Peter was known locally when he became a councillor and Mayor of Camberwell. Their daughter Margaret married Herbert Andrewartha and lived in NSW.A black and white photograph of two portraits of two young ladies. Their dress and hair styles are suggestive of a 1920's date..(miss) nancy (margaret) steele, (miss) hattie vevers steele, dalriada, house names, bona vista avenue, union road, surrey hills, dentists, first girl guide group, 1923, holy trinity church, world war, 1939-1945, mayors, councillors, (miss) margaret brayshaw-woodhouse, dr william brayshaw woodhouse, peter brayshaw woohdhouse, dr charles henri dillon steele, dr anthony brayshaw woodhouse, (miss) nancy steele, (mrs) nancy andrewartha, (miss) hattie steele, (miss) harriette vevers steele, (mrs) margaret brayshaw woodhouse, (miss) margaret dillon steele, (miss) sarah margaet russell, (mes) sarah margaret steele

Ronald Horace Setford was born in April 1915 at 18 Church Street, Hawthorn, at his family’s home above their decorator shop. He was the second of three sons born to Horace Turner Setford (1880-1944) and Mabel Crofts (1887-1943). He attended Hawthorn West Primary School and then Swinburne before beginning work in his family’s business ‘Setford and Son’ in October 1930. This was formalised in April 1931 when he became a carpentry and joinery apprentice. In 1934 he graduated as a grade four carpenter. Ron worked in the family business until 1964 and then worked at J S Kidd and Co Pty Ltd as a storeman until his retirement in December 1973. Ron married Grace Muriel Agnes Perrey (1915-2001) in 1936 and they first lived in Kew around 1940, at 38 Marshall Avenue. Ron served in the Citizen Military Forces as a sapper with the 9 Australian Army Transport Company, Royal Australian Engineers, signing up a week after Darwin had been bombed. He spent time in Darwin, Wayville (South Australia), Herberton and Grovely (Queensland). Afterwards he refused to eat rice, never spoke of the war, nor took part in any ANZAC day proceedings. In 1941, Ron and Grace bought their block of land at 9 Tanner Avenue, East Kew, part of the Old Golf Links Estate, for £225. It was not until December 1945 that Ron started building their home and they moved in during May 1947. Ron and Grace remained there for thirty-seven years until the house was sold to their nephew in 1984. It has since been demolished. Ron’s great passion was photography and in the early 1960s he purchased his Minolta camera. Slide evenings at Tanner Avenue were a regular occurrence. Ron made his own title slides, interval slides and end slides. As well as many holiday photos (around Australia and their world trip in 1966), he enjoyed photographing local landmarks, flowers, insects and family. One of Ron’s photography projects was to record the progress of the building of the Eastern Freeway. This was near their home, and he’d walk down to the works on a regular basis, dressed smartly, with his camera in hand. The workers thought he was an official photographer, and he was allowed on site to take his photos. In 1984, Ron and Grace downsized and moved to Bayswater. Ron passed away on 31 October 1988 at the Maroondah Hospital in Ringwood East, at age 73. His ashes were spread on his beloved rose bushes at Tanner Avenue. Lauren Thomson, 2025ron setford, 9 tanner avenue -- kew east (vic, setford and son -- 18 church st (hawthorn), grace muriel agnes perrey, 9 australian army transport company, j s kidd and co pty ltd, eastern freeway, f19 freeway

This photograph was taken around 1958.Scanned from a coloured slideView from this sidepapua new guinea, papua, thatch roof, hut

maldon easter fair, good friday service, anglican church, baptist church, catholic church, salvation army

Donated by Presentation Sisters of Mt Carmel Convent. Father James Lawless (later Monseignor) was a much loved Parish Priest of St Mary's Parish Rutherglen for well over 30 years. His funeral was one of the largest ever seen in Rutherglen. A true gentlemanSmall black & white photograph of Father James Lawless on right with two unknown Priests & an unknown Army Chaplain."L. J. Romey, Chemist & Chiropodist. Rutherglen Tel 36"james lawless, priests, army chaplain, mt carmel convent, mount carmel convent, st marys church, presentation sisters

Albert was founded as a Roman outpost, in about 54 BC. After being known by various forms of the name of the local river, the Ancre, it was renamed to Albert after it passed to Charles d'Albert, duc de Luynes. It was a key location in the Battle of the Somme in World War I, and World War I tourism is important for the town. During World War I, the statue of Mary and the infant Jesus – designed by sculptor Albert Roze and dubbed the Golden Virgin – on top of the Basilica of Our Lady of Brebières was hit by a shell on 15 January 1915 and slumped to a near-horizontal position, where however it remained until further shelling in 1918 destroyed the tower. The German army recaptured the town in March 1918 during the Spring Offensive; the British, to prevent the Germans from using the church tower as a machine gun post, bombarded and destroyed the basilica.[5] The statue fell in April 1918 and was never recovered. Albert was completely reconstructed after the war, including widening and re-orienting the town's main streets. The Basilica, however, was faithfully rebuilt according to its original design by Eduoard Duthoit, the son of the architect who had overseen its construction in 1885–1895. The present statue is an exact replica of Roze's original design, and a war memorial designed by Roze and featuring an image of the Leaning Virgin can be seen in the Abri (Shelter) Museum, which houses souvenirs of the war. The underground shelters in which the museum is located served as protective bunkers for Albert's residents during aerial bombardments in World War II. (Wikipedia)Photographs of the Church at Albert taken during a tour of the World War One battlefields.albert, church, the somme, world war one

Mary Ena married Keith John Robinson son of Isaac and Henrietta nee Raleigh of Creighton Melton. Mary and her father are photographed beside the Darlingsford house prior to her wedding in February 1930. Mary their first child was born in 1907. In circa 1980 she wrote about her parents and her early life. Page 1 of part of the original hand written script - Mother and father were married at the Methodist Church Melton by the Rev B E Williams on Aug 23rd 1906 and lived in the house beside the chaff mill for some years. [The family left Melton South in 1910. In 1911 they moved to the farm “Darlingsford” near the town of Melton home for their nine children born between 1907 - 1922 They had three daughters and six sons, the second boy died of diphtheria 1916 aged 5 years.] Page 2 Mary writes… Each winter Father would send a 20 ton truck to the Collingwood Central Methodist Mission to be distributed to the needy people in the area. Sr. Faith who was at the mission for many years became a very much loved friend of my parents and the family. I remember her as a prolific writer of childrens stories in the Methodist paper the “Spectator”. I still treasure a book sister Faith gave me for my birthday. Father and Mother gave the first donation of 10 pounds to open the fund to start “Yooralla” for crippled children all because a small boy asked for a bag of sweets for his brother who was crippled and not able to attend kindergarten. Sister Faith who was a small fragile woman with a tremendous spirit was a frequent visitor at our home where she loved the warmth, good food and the loving companionship of the family for many years. Later she ran the Chaucer Library in Collins just below Georges near the Athenaeum Theatre. Mother was an avid reader and many of the books she read came from this library. Page 4 – Mary writes….. Dad was always involved in district affairs ever ready to help someone in need, especially as a J. P. helping young people who may have been in trouble. He was always involved in the care of his [eight] brothers who were in need at times. He was an elder at the Scots Church Melton and Sunday School Superintendant when the Sunday School thrived. The anniversary became a special event with good singing supplemented by good music by Dad’s friends from Footscray saxophone and violin. The church would be packed both Sundays. The family home was open to all and sundry from the little Salvation Army lass from Bacchus Marsh driving a horse and jinker (without any experience) round the district. collecting, came looking for a bed for the night (and later crept into bed with me because she was terrified). The Methodist local preachers regularly spent several night and breakfast while visiting people in the Melton area. They were stationed at Bacchus Marsh and again drove a horse and jinker. One preacher I remember with gratitude was Mr Webster a retired school master and a fine man. Another was Pastor Tuttlebee again with no experience driving a horse and jinker. The first time he called Mother found him taking the winkers off the horse whilst it was still harnessed to the jinker. Another regular visitor was Mr Lister the federal member for Corio, he always stayed with us when he had meeting in this area. Another evening just as dusk another minister and his dear little wife were driving the horse and buggy to a new parish at Ballarat. They had asked at the Mac’s Hotel for accommodation, and their reply was we have no accommodation, go down to Mr and Mrs Barrie they will put you up for the night. They were most grateful to be taken in and cared for, somehow it seemed the most natural thing in the world that they would be welcome. A copy of Mary’s writing was given to her niece Wendy in 1990. Mary Ena Barrie's wedding daylocal identities

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

Catholic Chaplains Communion kit carried by Rev JJ Tresidder. Rev Tresidder served during the second world war as an Army Chaplian.Catholic Chaplians Communition kit, carried by WW2 chaplain VX117292 John Joseph Tressider. This is an example of the style of equipment, soldiers would have been offered communion from.Communion kit, consisting of 10 items. 1. A white linen Corporal with small red cross embroidered in its centre. This item was used during Mass/ communion/ Lords Supper to collect any host if it were to be dropped, especially after concecration. 2. Pyx. This is a flat circular dish with a hinged lid. On the side of the container is a small silver ball with a hole drilled through it to allow a string to be placed through and the Pyx to be worn around the priests neck. The Pyx is made of silver, and has a cross engraved on the lid. on the reverse " Rev. J.J.Tressider Catholic Chaplain" is enscribed. This item holds individual hosts ( bread) Following Concecration hosts are to be consumed or worn by the Priest and later to be distrubted as reserved sacrement. 3.Paten, a small silver dish, slightly bowing in the centre. There are no engraving on this item except for the makers stamps on the reverse. "T.G. Aunt & Co." " STG. Silver" Use for holding the Priests Host (Bread) representing the body of Christ, broken for all. 4. Chalice. Silver cup with flaired base.The inseide of the cup has a gold coloured appearence. On the base is a small raised silver cruisifix affixed by a screw. The Chalice was used asa a cup for holding water and wine, drunk from by all as a common cup, beginning and ending with the Priest. 5&6. Two silver Cruets. Each crust is a small silver jug with sloping sides with a small pinched lip for pouring. There are no handles and each cruet has the words " Catholic Chaplain" enscribed on its side. One of the cruets is used for adding a small amount of water to the chalice, representing Christs humanity, the outher is used to add a small amount of wine, representing the blood of Christ and divinity. 7. Lavabo Bowl. a small silver bowl with raised sides. The bowl has " Catholic Chaplain" inscribed in the base of the disg. The Lavabo bowl is used to wash the Priests hands prior to celebrating the Mass. 8. Ewer. A small silver water jug with a curled handle. The Ewer has 3 bands engraved arounf its middle and inside has a goldish tint. On its base is stamped "Albion Pla" "EPNS A" The Ewer is used to wash the priests hands prior to Mass. 9. Oil for the infirm- A small sliver canister that can be screwed to two similat canasters. The base has an internal screw thread to allow this to happen. The lid can be screwed on/ off and has an ornate cross enscribed on its top. The side of the canaster has a letter "I" incribed on it filling most of the canasters side. The canaster is believed to still contain the oil. The oil of the infirm is used outside of the mass in a service to administer the sacrement of the anointing of the sick. 10, Leather Oil Carry case, small, chocolate brown tubular carrying case with two snaps for closure on the side. the case has cardboard stiffening and a small amount of cottonwool to soak up any spilt oil. Case is used to carry upto three oil canasters. listed in descriptioncatholic church, 5/6rvr, chaplains kit