This medal was presented to J.G.Ralston by the Orbost Cricket Club in 1929 for Fielding. John Gavin Ralston was born 26 July 1914 at Eden, N.S.W. and came to Orbost in the early 1920's, with his parents and siblings. They lived at the corner of Tennyson and Salisbury Streets. Jack was educated at Orbost Higher Elementary School before being apprenticed to William Ross at the Snowy River Mail as a lino-type operator. He married Jean Cameron. After WW11 when he served overseas in the islands) He resumed his trade at the Snowy River Mail until 1949 when began J.G.& J.M. Ralston, Seed & Produce Merchants. Jack Ralston was very involved in the Orbost sporting community, the Presbyterian Church and the Orbost Municipal Band. He also served in the Orbost sub-branch of the R.S.L. He died on April 15 1967. (ref. Margaret Smith O.D.H.S. Newsletter)John Ralston was a prominent Orbost citizen.A 9 ct gold shield-shaped medal with a small hanging hoop. In the centre is an embossed picture of a batsman at the wicket. This is inside a circle. The bottom edge is decorated with leaves. The medal is inside a thin leather look wooden box which is hinged and has a push button metal latch. The box is brown and the inside lid is padded.on back - OCC At bottom - 9 ct Presented to J.G. Ralston Fielding Trophy 1928-1929cricket-orbost sport ralston-john-gavin medal

This special edition was issued as a souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon took place on 2 June 1953. Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952. The Evening News was an evening newspaper published in London from 1881 to 1980 and was very popular. The paper was founded by Coleridge Kennard and Harry Marks with the first issue appearing on July 26, 1881. On the 2nd June 1953, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place and the commonwealth countries, including Australia joined in the celebration. Saving an item dedicated to the royal family is typical of the general feeling of respect and admiration felt by the rural communities towards the British Royal Family, especially towards Queen Elizabeth II.A newspaper of 8 pp, The Evening News Souvenir Edition of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. It contains b/w photographs of the coronation as well as advertisements, stories, comic strips and puzzles.royal-family elizabeth-coronation newspaper evening-news

The Weekly Times was first published on September 11, 1869. After absorbing two other rural publications and expanding its publications, in 1902 The Herald and Standard Newspaper Company Ltd became the Herald and weekly Times, now Australia's oldest rural newspaper (more information on Weekly Times website). The article on Orbost was part of a series written by Steve Cooper with photographer, Mark Griffin. It explored communities which were struggling to survive. At that time the timber industry in the area was in decline and there was much discontent about flows to the Snowy River,This newspaper is a useful research tool.A newspaper, titled The Weekly Times, dated October 23, 1996. It contains articles about Orbost - Towns Against The Tide. The paper has an orange cover with the title in blue print and coloured photographs throughout. orbost-history-1996 weekly-times-newspaper

Women's magazines developed rapidly through the 1800's reflecting marketing and social changes. Publications evolved from being journals aimed at the middle class to cheaper, chattier more domestic magazines more widely available. Alice Letitia Swan was the daughter of Edward Swan (tinsmith and plumber at Orbost) and Emma Dinah Jefferson. Alice married Herman Oswald (Ossie) Wehner (blacksmith, Orbost) on 4-4-1923. She was born in 1899 in Omeo and died 14-6-1979, aged 80 in Orbost.(info. from John Phillips)These are early 20th century examples of English women's magazines. They give practical advice on needlework and they evidence the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so they show what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests in fiction at that time.Two magazines, titled The Lady's Companion. 2424.1 was printed on 21.1.1911 and cost one penny. 2424.2 is dated 25.11.1916 and is titled Leach's Lady's Companion and has a pink cover. Both contain illustrations of the current fashions, interesting facts and selected fiction. 2424.2 : on back in red pen - Miss Alice Swan Nicholson St Orbostwomen's-magazines lady's-companion swan-alice

Chairman of the Victorian Railways, Harold Clapp, established The Victorian Railways Public Relations and Betterment Board as part of a campaign to launch the Spirit of Progress – the first new train constructed during the Depression era. Clapp was an aggressive Chairman of Railway Commissioners who was determined to keep Victorian Railways prospering. This book was a promotion book for "The Gippslander". The Gippslander name has been used for trains in the Bairnsdale corridor since 1954This book is a useful research tool.A 28 pp paper back book, titled Gippsland and its Lakes and Caves Victoria Australia. The front cover has orange and black print with yellow, green and blue motifs on a white and yellow background. The book has a stapled spine. It contains a short description of each of Gippsland's towns, a centre, double page maap of the region and many b/w photographs.railway-transport gippsland clapp-harold

This magazine was edited by Meredith Fletcher.This journal is a useful reference for the history of the Bairnsdale to Orbost Railway. Two copies of a 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. It has a red cover with a b/w photograph of a special train taking workers to Melbourne for a Christmas break c 1915. The journal is No 17, December 1994 and cost $7.50. It contains an article , "Tent Life on the Orbost Line" with photographs and history of the Bairnsdale - Orbost railway line.2426.1 has a call no. on front cover 994.56 and a bar code on the back cover GIP journal-gippsland-heritage-journal history-railway

This issue was edited by Meredith Fletcher. This magazine is a useful reference on the history of East Gippsland. A plastic-covered ,64 pp magazine, titled, Gippsland Heritage Journal. It has a dark blue cover with a b/w photograph of a shop at Lakes Entrance, East Gippsland. The shop is Bulmers Gift Salon. The cost of the journal is $7.50. It contains photographs and article on the history of East Gippsland.gippsland-heritage-journal history-east-gippsland history-lakes-entrance

The main photo is by Max Lowenhardt and shows John Green, Mrs Eva Penny (inside the tree and hardly visible) nursing Charlie, May, George and Nicolas Penny. Colin Silcock wrote of the tree on p.39 that the family lived int he hollowed-out butt for nine months in 1906-1907. It was 20 feet across at floor level with 12 feet of head room inside. Nicholas Penny ring-barked the tree in 1905, with it being 130 feet high with the top broken off. The fires the following year destroyed the tent in which he was living and hollowed out the tree. After "making a few alterations" Penny moved in and brought his wife and children across from Outtrim. They later built a more permanent home. The tree was destroyed in the 1926 bushfires. (ref Linda Barraclough)This magazine is a useful reference on Gippsland history.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. It has a dark green cover with a photograph of the "Penny Tree" . The magazine is dated March 1996 and cost $7.50. It contains stories and photographs on the history of Gippsland.There is a library bar code on the outside back cover.gippsland-heritage-journal penny-tree history-gippsland

This magazine was edited by Meredith Fletcher. Lake Tali Karng is a natural lake in the Alpine region of Victoria, in eastern Australia. Lake Tali Karng is a sacred place to the Gunai Kurnai people.This item is a useful reference on the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. It has a grey cover with a b/w photograph of Tali Karng lake in 1929. It contains photographs and articles on the history of Gippsland. The magazine is dated September 1996 and cost $8.00.There is a library bar code on the outside of the back cover and a call number 994.56 on the front. GIPgippsland-heritage-journal lake-tali-karng history-gippsland

This magazine was edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. The front cover is yellow with a b/w photograph of a lookout made of ti-tree at Ocean Grange. The magazine is covered in plastic and is dated March 1997. It cost $8.00.On the outside back cover is a library barcode. On the front is a call no. 994.56 GIPgippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland

This issue was edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference on the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. The cover is olive green with a b/w photograph of the Snowy Creek bridge at Mitta Mitta in 1914. The magazine is dated September 1997 and is covered in plastic. It contains photographs and articles on the history of Gippsland.On the outside back cover is a library barcode. On the front is a call no. 994.56 GIPgippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland

This issue was edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal - No. 64. The cover is green with a b/w photograph of Thomas Prankerd of Buchan in his apiary. The journal contains photographs and articles on the history of Gippsland.There is a library barcode on the outside back cover.gippsland-heritage -journal history-gippsland tankerd-thomas

This issue was edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal -No 25. It has a dark green cover with a b/w photograph of a lighthouse at Point Hicks -1937 - Cape Everard. It contains photographs and articles on the history of Gippsland including Mallacoota, point Hicks and Buchan caves. The journal is dated 2001On back is a price sticker Gippsland Heritage Journal $9.00gippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland point-hicks cape-everard mallacoota buchan-caves

This issue edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 60 pp magazine, covered in plastic, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal -No 26. The cover is blue with a b/w photograph of Walhalla timber cutters c 1910. The magazine contains articles, photographs on the history of Gippsland. It includes a story on John Flynn at Buchan.On the back is a library barcode and a price sticker -$9.90. On the front is a call no. 994.65 GIPmagazine-gippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland flynn-john

Gippsland Heritage Journal is a journal, produced about every nine - twelve months, for those interested in regional, local and family history in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. It is compiled by Meredith Fletcher, Debbie Squires and Linda Barraclough and includes a diverse range of articles, both academic and non-academic. This issue has been edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, plastic covered, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. The front cover is orange with a b/w photograph of Mr Stringy at Dead Horse Flat on the Omeo Road c 1937. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland.On back - library barcode and price sticker - $13.20. On the front cover is a call no. 996.65 GIP journal-gippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland mr-stringy-omeo

This issue edited by Meredith Fletcher.This item is a useful reference for the history of Gippsland.A 64 pp magazine, plastic covered, titled Gippsland Heritage Journal. The front cover is purple with a b/w photograph of the Hamilton Brothers on the verandah of Ensay Station. The magazine contains photographs, articles on the history of Gippsland. It includes a story on "The Snowy River Bandit".On back is a library barcode and a price sticker-$13.20. On the front cover is a call no. 996.65 GIPmagazine-gippsland-heritage-journal history-gippsland snowy-river-bandit

This book was a Slab Hut display item. It was published to mark the 75th anniversary of the Anglican diocese of Gippsland.This book is a useful reference on the history of the Anglican church in Gippsland.A paperback book, titled "Light & Life a History of the Anglican church in Gippsland. It was compiled by I.T. Maddern. The front and back cover has a sepia photograph of a woman standing outside a bark hut. The book contains b/w photographs of churches an d clergy of the Gippsland Anglican churches until 1977.. On the back cover is the emblem of the diocese.On front cover in black print - SLAB HUT.book-light-&-life anglican-church-gippsland history-churches-gippsland

This suture needle was used by Ferguson Fisher, a farmer, of Orbost. He was a private , 17340, with the army medical corps reinforcements and then with 8 Field Ambulance. He did his initial training at Seymour Clearance Hospital (AMC) at Royal Park and then 5 Australian General Hospital. He served in France and Belgium. He was not a trained doctor but had been taught to stitch wounds.He returned to Australia in 1919. This item gives an insight into the human element of World War 1 ensuring that those who were part of the Orbost community and played a vital role during this time are remembered.A small curved stainless steel suture needle.ww1 fisher-ferguson-linklater suture-needle

GFS Australia began as a local branch of the Girls' Friendly Society founded in England in 1875 by Mary Townsend. This was an Anglican Church group which formed to give maids and female domestic staff spiritual guidance and social activities for their days off. The Society later also functioned in part as an employment agency. The first local Australian branch was formed in Adelaide in 1879, with branches being established in all states by 1901. Vera Constance Sophie Saunders (1897 -1967) was the daughter of Arthur Scott Saunders and Agnes Louise Stuart Morris. Her father was a storekeeper in Orbost.The Girls' Friendly Society was an early youth group and was associated with the Anglican Church and were a common way to attract children and teenagers to the congregation. The group is an example of the social importance of the churches in rural communities in the early 20th century.A folded card which is a senior candidate's card for membership of the Girls' Friendly Society. The card is white with blue print. On the front is the name of the member with details of the diocese and parish as well as the date of enrolment. At the top is the emblem of the Girls' Friendly Society.Vera Saunders written in cursive with red pen Orbost April 4 1912 St Jamessaunders-vera girls'-friendly-society anglican-church-orbost

This item was used at The Men's Club Orbost in Livingstone Street, Orbost.This item is representative of the leisure activities of people during the nineteenth century and early 20th century. The Orbost Men's Club no longer exists. It is also significant as being associated with the history of Australia's leading manufacturer of billiard tables, Alcock of Melbourne who were established in 1854 and are still in business today.Billiard table iron; a heavy iron of cast metal. This has a large, rectangular face with attached, cast metal handle. This was used for pressing the cloth of a billiards table. Engraved/embossed on handle is ALCOCK THOMSON & TAYLOR PTY LTDrecreation billiards billiards-table-iron men's-club-orbost

In the early 1950's Lionel Nowlan had a Hairdresser & Billiard Room in Nicholson Street (where the Caltex Service Station stands today). A circulating library is a small library with books lent for a small fee to subscribers and was often inside an existing business. Circulating libraries were common before a more substantial local library was established. Circulating libraries offered an alternative to the large number of readers who could not afford the price of new books in the nineteenth century but also wanted new material. Circulating libraries rented out bestsellers in large numbers, allowing publishers and authors to increase their readership and increase their earnings. They were also profitable for those businesses that established them. Nowlan's, Marshall's and McCoys were circulating libraries which operated in Orbost in the first half of the 20th century.Circulating libraries offered an alternative to the large number of readers who could not afford the price of new books in the nineteenth century but also wanted new material. It was common for them to stock the latest novels.A red cloth covered hard back book with a repaired black spine. It is titled "The Cost of a Promise" and is a novel in Three Parts by Mrs Baille Reynolds.Stamped on some pages - McCoy's Circulating Library On inside front cover - No 249 Contains a sticker for Nowlan's Library Orbost Stamped - Marshall's Circulating Library McCoy's Circulating Librarythe-cost-of-a-promise reynolds-baillie libraries-orbost circulating-libraries

This photograph was found inside item 2441 - a book titled "The cost of a Promise".This item is an early photograph of the Nowa Nowa Hotel.A black and white photograph taken in the main street of Nowa Nowa. It is of three men sitting on the verandah of the Nowa Nowa Hotel. Two men are standing in front and another one is holding a book. There is a car on the right.On back - stamped KODAK PRINT in pen - NOWA NOWA HOTEL photograph nowa-nowa-hotel

Wooden Fishing Reels are the earliest reels ever made, with most wooden reels dating between 1800 and 1920. They were very simple reels and the design stayed basically the same for the entire period of manufacture.These reels represent a large part of common fishing history. Fishing is a significant recreational activity in the Orbost area.Four wooden fishing reels. They have brass fittings and nylon(?) line. 2443.2 has one handle missing. 2443.1 has K A scratched int the wood.2443.1 has K A scratched in the wood.fishing-reels

This special edition was issued as a souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 11. The coronation of Queen Elizabeth II as monarch of the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the Union of South Africa, Pakistan, and Ceylon took place on 2 June 1953. Elizabeth ascended the throne at the age of 25, upon the death of her father, King George VI, on 6 February 1952.On the 2nd June 1953, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II took place and the commonwealth countries, including Australia joined in the celebration. Saving an item dedicated to the royal family is typical of the general feeling of respect and admiration felt by the rural communities towards the British Royal Family, especially towards Queen Elizabeth II.A 64 pp Daily Mail souvenir edition titled, The coronation. It is b/w and cost one shilling. It traces the accession of Queen Elizabeth 11 to the coronation and afterwards.coronation royal-family elizabeth-11

Water For the Thirsty Inland was published by The Murrumbidgee Valley Water Users Association as a case for diversion of part of the Snowy River waters to the Murrumbidgee. In 1950 The Murrumbidgee Valley Water Users Association and the League established the Murray-Murrumbidgee Development Committee to ensure the Snowy Scheme was completed.This book is a significant research tool for the history of the diversion of the Snowy River.A 44 pp book, titled Water For The Thirsty Inland. On the front cover is a coloured print of a painting of a river (Snowy River?) from the mountains to the flats. The text of the title is white with a black shadow. The book contains b/w photographs and the print is black and green.Some pencilled notes on back.snowy-river murrumbidgee-valley-water-users' irrigation

This booklet was compiled for the anniversary celebrations of the Orbost Municipal Band on November 8, 1975. It was compiled by Peter Fagg who worked as a scientist with the Department of Sustainability and Environment (now DELWP) to study dieback in eucalypts. He specialised in the silviculture of the eucalypt forest types of South-East Australia for most of his 40-year career, which started with the Forests Commission Victoria. He was in Orbost from 1968 - 1973. The first Orbost Brass Band was formed in 1889. Around 1908 the town band split and the Orbost Workers' Band was formed. Eventually the two bands merged in 1913 to reform as the Orbost Municipal Band under conductorship of Charles Spink. The band continued for many years but was later disbanded and again reformed. This was to happen a number of times, the last time being in 1961 and continuing through to the late 1970's. Further info and Ref: In Times Gone By - Deborah HallThe various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many members.A 12 pp stapled booklet compiled for the anniversary celebration of the Orbost Municipal Band. It has been typed in black ink on foolscap sized white paper.orbost-municipal-band music-orbost fagg-peter

Women’s magazines during WWII played a “reflecting role,” meaning they cooperated with government agendas while still including topics of readers’ interests Women’s employment rate skyrocketed during WWII. However, even though the number of women working outside the home grew rapidly most of them were still engaged entirely in homemaking. Therefore women’s magazines centered mostly on the stresses and shortages of wartime. Articles as well as advertisements presented information on “product rationing, tips on keeping the family healthy, guidelines for thrifty shopping and advice on how to look good through it all.This is an example of an English women's magazine published during WW11.It gives practical advice on needlework / knitting and evidences the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so it shows what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests.A 64 pp magazine, titled Woman and Home and Good Needlework Magazine. The front cover has a a coloured picture of a man in a uniform and woman sitting at a round table drinking tea and photographs of knitted jumpers, the patterns of which are inside the magazine.Handwritten on front cover in pencil -Mehlert

The magazine was started in 1933 by Frank Packer as a weekly publication. The first editor was George Warnecke and the initial dummy was laid out by WEP (William Edwin Pidgeon) who went on to do many famous covers over the next 25 years. It is the most widely read magazine in the history of Australian publishing. During wartime despite printing restrictions, and it began publishing coloured photographic covers.This is an example of anAustralian women's magazine published during WW11.It gives practical advice on needlework / knitting and evidences the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so it shows what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests.A 32 pp magazine, titled The Australian Women's Weekly. On the front cover is a coloured drawing of a man and a woman sitting under a tree. The woman is pouring tea from a billy into the tin cup held by the man. A tethered horse is grazing to their right and a small brown and white dog is in the foreground. This illustration is signed WEP (William Edwin Pidgeon). The magazine contains advertisements, stories and recipes.The special 4 page peace supplement is missing from the centre.In handrwitten pencil on the front cover - Gibbs.australian-women's-weekly magazine-ww11

Women’s magazines just after WWII played a “reflecting role,” meaning they cooperated with government agendas while still including topics of readers’ interests Women’s employment rate had skyrocketed during WWII. However, even though the number of women working outside the home grew rapidly most of them were still engaged entirely in homemaking. Therefore women’s magazines centered mostly on the stresses and shortages of wartime. Articles as well as advertisements presented information on “product rationing, tips on keeping the family healthy, guidelines for thrifty shopping and advice on how to look good through it all.This is an example of an English women's magazine published post WW11.It gives practical advice on needlework / knitting and evidences the widespread interest in contemporary fashion. In doing so it shows what were the fashionable, but broadly affordable, women's and children's clothing styles of their day. These magazines also reflect women's interests.A 64 pp magazine, titled Woman and Home and Good Needlework Magazine. On the front cover is a coloured drawing of a fashionably dressed and made-up woman with red hair and holding a bunch of similarly coloured flowers (gerberas?) At the bottom left are knitted baby clothes - pattern inside - as well as a man and woman wearing fashionable clothing - suggesting patterns are inside the magazine. The magazine cost 1/6 and is dated October 1951.magazine-woman-and-home

The Australian Woman's Mirror, was an Australian weekly women's magazine published by The Bulletin magazine in Sydney, between 1924 and 1961.Women's magazines reflect class and family structures as well as contemporary women’s role in society. A 32 pp magazine, titled The Australian Woman's Mirror. The magazine's contents include recipes, knitting patterns and articles about fashion, holiday destinations and household tips.It also contains short stories, poems, and a serialised novel. On the front cover is a b/w photograph of a woman wearing a knitted jerkin indicating that the pattern is inside the magazine. The magazine cost 3d and is dated Tuesday, Sept. 4 1945.magazine-the- australian-woman's-mirror literature