This book of prayers was given by the Warrnambool Sisters of Mercy to Dorothy Ardlie on the occasion of her 12th birthday. The Sisters of Mercy came to Warrnambool in 1872 and established St. Mary’s Convent School, Wyton in North Warrnambool (re-named St. Ann’s in 1888). This school merged with the Christian Brothers College in 1990 to form the present-day Emmanuel College. The Sisters of Mercy ceased active involvement with the school in the 1990s. Dorothy Ardlie (1910-1993) and her sister Agnes Ardlie (1915-1993) were the daughters of Arthur and Ethel Ardlie of Warrnambool, the granddaughters of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the great granddaughters of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer settlers in Warrnambool. This book and the loose cards are interesting mementoes of Dorothy Ardlie, a member of a prominent Warrnambool family in the 20th century and of the Sisters of Mercy, an order of nuns that has been important in Warrnambool’s educational history. This is a book of 138 pages with a brown leather cover and gilt edging along the sides of the pages. The front and back cover and spine are embossed with two decorative patterns. The front cover has an embossed heart with flames and a cross and the spine has gold lettering. Some of the pages are loose and some have been re-attached to the binding using adhesive tape. Some of the pages are stained. The book contains black printing and there is one black and white illustration. In the pages of the book were 29 small cards, scraps of paper etc. These are now kept with the book but in a separate folder. Most of these are of a devotional nature – prayers, images of saints etc. Wishing dear Dorothy a very happy birthday with much love from the Sisters of Mercy 26th April 1922ardlie family, sisters of mercy, history of warrnambool

1.Photocopy of letter dated 24/12/1914 handwritten by William Thomas Byrne of Docker's Plain whilst at training camp - 3rd light horse brigade train - to his sister. 2.Photocopy of brief summary of W.T.Byrne's life to when he was discharged in 1918 - photocopied from Docker Plains School Honor Book William Thomas BYRNE was born on 21/9/1890 at Docker Plains to William and Johanna Byrne. He was educated at Docker Plains and Wangaratta State schools. A farmer when he enlisted on 13/10/1914. He trained at Broadmeadows and embarked on Hororata on 17/4/1915. He served with the 3rd Light Horse and 12th and/or 27th ASC - Army Service Corps as a Driver. Newspaper article dated 7/11/2003 states letter was found inside second hand book and the writer of the letter identified as the uncle of local Wangaratta resident and historian Bill O'Callaghan. The letter written prior to embarking overseas was addressed to Mrs Connell Ford Street Wangaratta but intended for his sister Nora, a Nun at Brigidine Convent, Albert Park. Photocopy of handwritten letter and life history summary in black ink on white paper 3rd Light Horse Brigade train 24/12/14william thomas byrne 5692, docker's plains

Illustrated book with white front cover that has four coloured illustrations of women in various activities. Title and authors' names are printed in red ink, along with a book description in black ink on the front cover along with publisher's logo and four red lines. Abbreviated title, underlined, in white ink, and authors names in black ink are printed on an orange background on the spine along with the publisher's logo. The back cover has a summary of the book printed in orange, along with another three illustrations of women, publisher's logo and 'Victoria 150 ' logo on a yellow backgroundnon-fictionThis book explores the experiences of women in Victoria over 150 years, highlighting their diverse roles in public and private life. It features more than fifty women, from convicts to nuns, actresses to soldiers, settlers to writers, and housewives to political activists, showcasing their social and personal diversity. The book emphasizes the home's importance, alongside the marketplace, and examines the significance of both reproduction and production. It provides a new perspective on Australian history, focusing on women's place, relationships between public and private life, paid and unpaid work, and the intersection of politics and gender. women-victoria-history-19th century, women-victoria-history=20th century, women-victoria-social conditions