The 1894 minutes of the Old Colonists' Association read: James Vickery presented the Association with an old relic, the 1856 Pledge Book of the Ballarat Total Abstinence Society, which contained the signatures of a number of Old Colonists’ who had since passed away. pledge book, toral abstinence society, james vickery, old colonists' association

The Old Colonists' Association Ballarat Inc. is a not for profit charitable organisation providing accommodation for elderly people. It manages a 27 Home retirement village at Charles Anderson Grove Ballarat. Accommodation is offered at significantly below market rates. It has been providing low cost accommodation to the elderly since the 1920s. The Association Council overseas the running of this facility on a voluntary basis. "GIFT COTTAGES.- Ballarat Old Colonists Benefit BALLARAT.— High tribute to the good citizenship of Mr. and Mrs. F. J. Williams, now of Melbourne, and Mr. S. Clark, of Ballarat. was paid by a representative gathering at Gillies-street on Thursday afternoon, when the two cottages respectively presented by them for the use of old and indigent colonists were handed over to the council of the Ballarat Old Colonists' Association. The cottages are handsome brick structures, modern in design and equipment, and cost about £650 each. Mr. A. H. Nevett, president of the Ballarat organisation, expressed the gratification of the association at the commencement of a scheme of cottages for old colonists, which had been the aim of the association for many years. Mr. Williams said that when in Ballarat he had been in many public movements as President of South-street and president of the amalgamtion (sic) movement, but in giving this cottage for the use of the old people he had established a tangible and definite link between himself and Ballarat. Similar sentiments were expressed by Mr. Clark, who said his benefaction had given him a great and genuine pleasure. Both donors were warmly thanked on be half of citizens generally by the mayor (Cr. A. E. Nicholson). At subsequent social gathering appropriate toasts were honored, and assurances were given that the association's scheme for 50 gift cottages on the lines of Melbourne would be furthered by several in the not far distant future. (The Age, 30 October 1925.) OBITUARY MR. SIDNEY W. J. CLARK BALLARAT, Friday. - After a long illness Mr. Sidney W. J. Clark, 76, a member of the Courier Pty. Ltd., died at Ballarat today. He was a son of the late Mr. Robert Clark, one of the founders of the journal. Mr. Clark was president of the Ballarat Bowling Club for 10 years, and was a member of the Australian bowling team that visited Britain some years ago. He was a benefactor to Ballarat charities, and gave a cottage to the Ballarat Old Colonists' Association Cottage Scheme. (The Argus, 27 December 1941.)s. clark, sidney clark, sidney w.j. clark, old colonists' association, ballarat old colonists' club, charles anderson grove, philanthropy