Vega Trophy (Mounted Wooden Life Ring) Donor: Graham Noel During World War II when the Germans occupied the Channel Islands the local people went through very severe food rationing and were on the verge of starvation. Near the end of the war, the Swedish ship Vega was allowed by the Germans to deliver several shipments of food to the civilian population, easing the critical shortages of food on the islands. Further background detail can be found below. Graham Noel was born on the Islands and lived there during this harsh period. The trophy is awarded to the winner of the Combined Division AMS Aggregate Series. First Winner: Under Capricorn, P. Bedlington 2005/06 Vega – Further historical background Early in the Second World War Jersey was declared “unarmed” and the German military took over, taking quite a few lives in the process, through strafing the main harbour and a few other places which they needlessly considered threatening. A considerable number of locals evacuated to England before the Germans arrived, but more than 60% of the population remained and endured 5 years of very strict and difficult conditions. Not only was the population unable to contact relatives in the UK or elsewhere, but very quickly they found themselves subject to harsh curfews, strictly rationed foodstuffs, no fuel for vehicles, radios confiscated, and homes and hotels commandeered by the military. The military demanded first pick of all foodstuffs and kept meticulous records of all livestock forcing farmers even to show newborn calves and piglets to them, then claiming the new arrivals for their dinner tables. However there are many stories of farmers outwitting their masters when twin calves or suchlike arrived! Lawbreakers were quickly dealt with, mostly with lengthy prison terms in Jersey, but the more serious crimes were punished by being sent to some horrible French prisons, or even some of the notorious German concentration camps. All local Jews were dispatched to concentration camps, and even English born families were similarly shipped through France and on to Germany. Sadly, a considerable number of those deported did not make it back safely to Jersey. In June 1944 the locals were delighted to hear that the Allies had invaded Normandy and very soon they could hear the battles as the Allies worked their way along the French coast. Little did they know they would still have to wait another 11 months for freedom, having to put up with a very demanding German occupation force which was still determined to obey Hitler’s order to “Defend the Channel Islands to the death”. Now that France was in Allied Hands the local military commanders were unable to supplement their food supplies from France and even harsher demands were made on the local population to ensure that all branches of their still very substantial military force were reasonably well fed. As well as the military, Jersey farmers had to provide food for the Allied POWs and the many “forced labourers”, mainly of Russian, Polish and Italian backgrounds who had been directed to the island to build all the concrete bunkers. This included an underground hospital, all this complying with Hitler’s orders to ensure that the Channel Islands would never again be part of Britain. Many requests by the Jersey authorities for Red Cross assistance were rejected, but finally in December 1944 they agreed and on 30th December the Red Cross vessel “Vega” (Swedish Registry) arrived and delivered parcels to the civilian population. These parcels contained a variety of foodstuffs supplied mainly by Canadian authorities, desperately needed medical supplies, flour, oils and soaps, as well as tobacco from New Zealand. Vega made a further 3 or 4 trips and most certainly eased the desperate situation being faced by the locals. In fact, it resulted in the locals having slightly better food supplies than the military and many local farmers tell stories of having to protect their stock from marauding soldiers. Understandably Churchill was reluctant to send in an invading force to retake the Channel Islands, but by May 1945 it was clear that the Third Reich was finished and on May 9th the German Military surrendered, without a fight, to a large British landing force. On a slightly lighter note … in January 1945 Jersey stonemasons were seen in the main town square repairing flagstones … the Germans had never noticed that the name “Vega” had been formed in those flagstones! As a side note Vega is the name of the brightest star in the universe. Furthermore, throughout the occupation, despite German law that demanded confiscation of all radio sets, punishable by long prison terms or deportation to Germany, there were still many sets being listened to. The locals had a well refined news system for the dissemination of news of what was happening in the outside world. vega, graham noel, ams, combined division, aggregate

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This object is a German bible printed in 1702. It was published by Sebastian Göbels at the town of Schleusingen in the Thüringian Forest, and has 1770 pages. The bible was brought to Australia by the Haeusler-Klinge family when they migrated to South Australia in 1846. Ferdinand Haeusler came to Wodonga with other German families in 1866, bringing the bible with him. This item significant due to its age and rarity. It has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical Haeusler Collection, which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of European colonisation and settlement in Wodonga and north east Victoria in the mid nineteenth-century. A large bible printed in German and bound with brown leather. bible, christianity, german, germany, immigration, 1800s, 1700s, prussia

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This album contains portrait photographs of the Haeusler family in the mid-twentieth century, and images of the town of Wodonga. They were taken by Alf Haeusler (1922-1997). This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A black leather photograph album containing family photographs from the early to mid twentieth-century.photograph, photographs, photography, family photos, album, photograph album, haeusler, haeusler collection, wodonga

Several German families arrived in Wodonga, usually via South Australia, in the late 1850 and 1860s. Some of the earliest settlers to arrive were the Haeusler, Schlink, Trudewind, Pfeiffer and Klinge families. Many of them had left from Prussia and Bavaria to escape religious persecution. They all became actively involved in the community and made outstanding and lasting contributions to the development of the town. In the years 1868-69 more settlers arrived from South Australia and other parts of Victoria. Among the names were Heckendorf, Mueller, Zeinert and Schubert. These families were instrumental in lobbying for the establishment of the St. John's Lutheran Church in Wodonga, the foundation stone being laid in 1874. By the 1890s to the early 1900s many other Germany names were added to the local community including Muller, Lange, Pumpa, Greschke, Lobbe, Posselt, Kreuger, Schuster, Pertzel, Star, Draper, Mueller, Semmler, Thiele, Terlich, Wegener, Schreiber and Draper. Germans continued to arrive in the area until 1914. In the great post-war migration that started through Bonegilla in December 1947, Germans were among the tens of thousands who arrived. Most of the migrants who settled in Wodonga at this time were born in Germany. According to the 2016 Census, Wodonga still has a larger percentage of people with German ancestry than most other rural communities in Victoria. The German Austrian Australian Club, Wodonga was originally formed in 1960 by immigrants to Australia, to provide a meeting place for refugees and immigrants from Europe. Oktoberfest has become a world-wide occasion for all people to share in the celebration of Bavarian traditions. The Wodonga Hospital approached the Club and asked for their involvement in holding an Oktoberfest to raise funds for the Hospital. These Fests took 11 months to organize and ended up raising over $27,000.00 for the Hospital. A large number of families of German origin have arrived in the Wodonga area from as early as the 1850s. They have made valuable and lasting contributions to the area in a range of fields including agriculture, local government, businesses, retail and medical services. Their contributions are recognised in several street names in Wodonga. A white china beer stein bearing the blue logo of the Wodonga 1979 Oktoberfest. Logo includes an image of a woman in German national costume.Above the image "WODONGA" Underneath the image "OKTOBERFEST 1979"wodonga, oktoberfest, german immigrants

An aerial photo of the Somme in France during World War One. There are coordinates or numbers in some areas. Also labelled are the Johannes and Anvil Wood. Was with 11 other photos of World War One that had been mounted on board for display at Legacy House at some stage. When they were taken off display they were put in the archive cabinets. The founding legatees all served in World War One so these photos would have been of significant places for them. (see 01888 to 01899). From the AWM: Anvil Wood was a small wood to the north of Peronne that marked the centreline of an attack by the 14th Brigade on the morning of 1 September 1918. The northern approaches to Peronne were covered by numerous field and machine-guns, but the leading battalions of the brigade - the 53rd and 54th - pushed their attack home with determination, and sent the German defenders fleeing back to Peronne. The attack opened the way for the 14th Brigade to advance on to Peronne itself and break into the town's northern defences.Photos from World War One that would have been significant to the founding legatees.Sepia photo of the Somme battlefield in France during World War One.world war one, france, somme

Printed postcard of a busy scene at Charing Cross with two ESCo trams in the view. Many people are in the view along with the Alexandra Fountain, the Beehive building, Town Hall, the Shamrock Hotel, and on the left side a mine poppet head. The card was printed in GermanyDemonstrates a Bendigo postcard featuring Charing Cross and Pall Mall.Postcard black and white- divided back - used.in ink - dated 25/12/1910 from Arthur Grofrey wishing the receiver, J H Hooke - Bank of Australasia in Leongatha a Happy New Year.tramways, trams, bendigo, alexandra fountain, charing cross, esco, pall mall

Printed black and white postcard of Charing Cross Bendigo with three trams in the view and several horse-drawn cabs. Has Town Hall and other buildings in the background. See item 3451 for a similar photograph with a different crop, produced for the visit of The American fleed in 1908. The card was printed in Saxony, Germany.Yields information about Charing Cross Bendigo and ESCo trams.Postcard - black and white, divided back, used as a letter.Hand written letter on rear.tramways, trams, bendigo, charing cross

Coloured postcard of the Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston, and Collins Sts. Has three cable car sets in the view, one with two trailers southbound in Swanston St. In the bottom right-hand corner can be seen a shelter and signalman for the control of the intersection. The card was printed in Germany.Yields information about the Melbourne Town Hall and a signal box.Colour postcard, divided back unused. Has number "09 871" in bottom right hand corner.tramways, collins st, swanston st, signalmen, trailers, cable trams, melbourne town hall

Clausthal-Zellerfeld is a small town in Lower Saxony in Germany.Photocopied pages of book held together with bulldog clips, The Regional Museum of Clausthal-Zellerfeld with its inspection mine, written in German, contains black and white photographs & illustrations.organization, business, museum, museum-german

The discovery of gold in Smyth's Creek in 1854 and subsequent gold rush to the Caledonia diggings led to the establishment of Queenstown (present day St Andrews). The first recorded burial was July 31st, 1861 and it was officially declared a Cemetery Reserve in 1866. Many graves are unmarked and unrecorded including many Chinese and other itinerant miners. The cemetery was closed for new burials in 1851. The last recorded burial was in 1981 in an existing family grave. In Loving memory of David Band Died 30th Decr. 1862, aged 51 years. John Cork Knell Died 11th April 1867, aged 42 years. Eliza Smith Died 20th Jany. 1874, aged 3 1/2 years. William Band Died 20th Feby. 1883, aged 51 years. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p73 The discovery of gold at Smyth’s Creek* in 1854 brought 3000 people to the area in search of their fortunes.1 However in the harsh conditions many miners and their families died young, and were buried in unmarked graves. Their stories died with them but by 1861, the first burial was recorded at the Queenstown Cemetery – that of William Dalrymple aged 65 – although the cemetery was only officially declared a reserve in 1866. Even before this in 1856, a double burial had been recorded for the twin baby daughters of George Harrison at Market Square, the miners’ settlement – presumably where the cemetery is today. In 1951 the Queenstown Cemetery at 70 Smiths Gully Road, Smiths Gully, closed for burials. However the last burial in a family plot, that of Grace Evelyn Smith, occurred in 1981. Today only 55 headstones remain, but more than 380 burials are recorded. Remnant bushland dominates the cemetery where many graves are merely mounds and others have been damaged by vandalism and the neglect of time. Bushfire in 1962 destroyed the picket fencing, grave markers and cypress boundary planted in the early 1900s. The box/stringybark woodland in the 1.7 hectare Cemetery Reserve is regrowth from then and the indigenous and heritage vegetation is protected. Thanks to the volunteer Cemetery Trust and Friends & Relations of Queenstown Cemetery, the cemetery is maintained, stories recorded and the burial index corrected and expanded.2 Close by the cemetery on the site of today’s Peter Franke Picnic and Nature Reserve stood Market Square, the Caledonia Diggings village of tents and stores, the forerunner of Queenstown, now St Andrews. Many of the Caledonia Diggings miners were Chinese, many of whom, with itinerant prospectors, were buried in unmarked graves. Histories are being recorded of other immigrants, mainly English and German, who settled after the gold rush, some of whose descendants fought and died in the two world wars. Names on many headstones are also recorded on the district’s roads, reserves and war memorials such as Motschall, Joyce, Howard and Coutie. The oldest surviving tombstone is that of Scot, David Band who died in 1862 at 51 years. His oldest daughter Elizabeth, with husband John Knell, owned the Queenstown Hotel and the post office. Child-rearing in a colonial gold town was often tragically difficult, as demonstrated in the first 20 years, when 41% of the 34 burials recorded were children. Settlers endured harsh conditions graphically illustrated with the deaths of Annie Joyce at 30 years and of her family. Annie was married to gold miner Walter Joyce. Their third child Walter, born in 1886, died in March 1887. Eight months later Annie died of breast cancer. Walter died in 1909, aged 53, of miner’s phthisic caused by stone dust destroying his lungs. It was so hard to make a living that burials were usually held from 2.30 pm to allow mourners to work a day before paying their last respects.3 Most burials before 1890 were recorded as Anglicans, as the only church on the Caledonia Diggings was the Church of St Andrew, until 1897, when the Primitive Methodist Church came to Panton Hill. Generally miners came to better themselves, but some, like Grace Hopkinson (nee Milward), born in England in 1828, came from a well-off and educated family. According to family legend Grace emigrated with husband William, to live in a tent, but had kept her personally embossed sterling silver cutlery service. Amid the tough environment were some successes like that reported in The Evelyn Observer April/May 1901 of miner William Hopkinson who was buried at the cemetery in 1912 aged 81. The Observer stated that Hopkinson ‘recently dropped across another find in his claim at One Tree Hill’. The lump of gold found this time weighed more than half a kilo. Mr Hopkinson referred to it as ‘another little speck’. *Today’s Smiths GullyThis collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, david band, eliza smith, gravestones, john cork knell, queenstown cemetery, smiths gully road, st andrews, william band

This ship model of the Wilhelmsburg was made by Johann Landmann during his journey on the very vessel, the sailing ship Wilhelmsburg. It was donated to Flagstaff Hill by the wife of Landmann's great-grandson. Landmann (or Landman, also known as August Landmann) was born in 1826 in Ganhor, Silesia, Prussia. At the age of 20, he travelled through Europe, working from town to town as a cabinet maker. At 26 years old he returned to Germany, married Anna Rosina in Wahlstatt, Prussia, and on the same day sailed for Australia on the Wilhelmsburg in 1853, the year the ship was registered. The Wilhelmsburg was a three-masted, square-rigged sailing ship built at Reiherstieg, Hamburg, and registered in Hamburg on 27th April 1853. On her maiden voyage in 1853, the ship sailed from Hamburg, Germany, to Australia with 510 passengers on board, including emigrants under the Bounty Scheme. Johan Landmann was one of the passengers. The Wilhelmsburg arrived in Hobson’s Bay, Melbourne after sailing for 100 days. Johann spent a week in Melbourne then travelled to Warrnambool aboard the Merry Kitty, arriving fourteen days later. Johann had landed in Melbourne with only 16 shillings in his pocket and by the time he arrived in Warrnambool, he only had one shilling and sixpence left. He also had very limited ability to speak English. He settled in the Allansford area, near Warrnambool, together with other families from Germany and went on to play a significant role in the history of Warrnambool. Johann worked as a cabinet maker in Warrnambool, making the first coffin in the Warrnambool cemetery. He also worked as a general merchant. He built many of the earliest shops in Warrnambool, and the first paddle boat used on the local Hopkins River. He made models of Warrnambool’s Ozone Hotel and Presbyterian Church; the model of the Hotel is now in the Warrnambool Art Gallery, and the model of the Presbyterian Church has been in the care of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society since around 2017. One of Landmann's residences was a two-storey building in Henna Street Warrnambool where he, lived upstairs and operated his business downstairs. After he retired Landmann built a ‘handsome stone residence’ at 30 Mickle Street, Warrnambool, where he lived until his death in June 1920; he was aged ninety-five. “Landmann Street” in Warrnambool has been named after Johann and appears on a map in 1872. He has also been honoured on Warrnambool’s Pioneer Memorial Board which is displayed at the Warrnambool and District Historical Society. Landmann's son Adolph Fritz Landmann (Fritz Landmann) born in 1861, was a Councillor from 1905 to 1915, and Mayor of Warrnambool from 1912 to 1915. The Wilhelmsburg sailed from Hamburg in 1863 heading for Queensland, Australia, but in December the vessel was wrecked off the coast of Holland during storms, with the loss of 247 lives.The ship model of the Wilhelmsburg is significant historically, having a connection to the maiden voyage of a ship that holds the record for the number of passengers carried in one journey on such a small vessel. It is also significant as it is believed to be the only existing model or representation of the ship. Johann Landmann, the maker of the model, was one of the earliest residents in Warrnambool and is a significant historical figure in colonial Warrnambool. He has the honour of appearing on the Memorial Pioneers’ Board. Landmann used his craftsmanship skills to make several early Warrnambool buildings, the first coffin in the cemetery, the first paddle boat on the Hopkins River as well as models of significant local buildings. Model of the sailing ship Wilhelmsburg, carved in wood by Johann Carl Augustus Landmann in 1853. The three-masted model barque is painted black. It has a long bow spit. flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, warrnambool, barque, wilhelmsburg, landmann, johann landmann, augustus landmann, landman, ozone hotel warrnambool, presbyterian church warrnambool, 30mickle street warrnambool, ship model, shipwreck coast, 1853, fritz landmann, warrnambool councillor, warrnambool mayor, anna rosina, maiden voyage, bounty scheme, hobson's bay, hamburg, merry kitty, coffin maker, cabinet maker, paddle boat, henna street, landmann street, pioneer memorial board

Postcard, colour photo of the Town Hall in Leipzig, Germany - building on right. Autumn trees in a park at left with other buildings. Horse drawn vehicles and pedestrians in the street.postcard, photograph, postcard, leipzig, germany, town hall

William Charles Vahland (1828-1915) was born in Germany and came to Bendigo in 1854. He married Jane Barrow in 1859. He was an architect responsible for over 200 building, both public and private, in the Bendigo area. These included the Town Hall, Shamrock hotel, and Fortuna Villa. He was a director and committee member of many Bendigo institutions.Oil painting, in ornate gold frame, of W.C. Vahland. On bottom of frame is a brass plaque on which is engraved written 'W.C. Vahland, Pioneer Bendigo Architect' Painting by Ruth Ellis. Donated to BHS by Licensee of Shamrock Hotel. Given to Jim Evans. No paperwork. The painting was originally hanging in the Shamrock Hotel. Deframed