From 1928 Melbourne Legacy ran an excellent exercise program for its widows. Classes were held weekly at Legacy House and there was often a waiting list for the water classes, which had both swimming instruction and water exercises. Some of the class members were in their 90s, many just learning to swim. The image depicts eleven older women sitting on the edge of a swimming pool, names unknown. A record of activities provided for Legacy widows.Black and white photo of Legacy Widows at swimming class.Stamped on the back: "COPYRIGHT / THE AGE / MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA". Written on the back in black pen "Legacy Widows Swimming Class - Published in The Age 1985"widows, activities, swimming, exercise classes

Page 245 of Harper's Weekly (Vol. 35, No. 1789) featuring a colour lithographic print of men and women playing badminton, entitled: THE MIDWINTER GAME OF BADMINTON. Materials: Paper, Inktennis

This jacket and cap were designed by Rosalie 'Rosa' Kiessling about 1967. They formed part of the Fashion Group Inc's Walkabout Tour of the USA in 1967 which aimed to promote Australian fashion design in America. German by birth Rosalie, grew up skiing and ice skating, studied fashion design in Munich and worked designing women’s ski wear and lingerie before migrating to Australia via New Zealand in 1939 with her husband. As skiing increased in popularity following the end of WWII, Rosalie’s business grew reaching its peak during the 1960s. Though it was never large; at most she employed three staff. Her designs featured in the pages of Australian Vogue, Flair and the Women’s Weekly throughout the 1960s and received coverage from newspapers in Australia, New Zealand the United States. Rosalie was closely involved with the Swiss Club of Victoria, the Australian Wool Board and the Fur Traders Association, participating in numerous fashion shows and awards run by these groups. In the late 1960s she became involved with the Melbourne Branch of the Fashion Group Inc, a worldwide non-commercial association of women involved in the fashion industry. Rosalie continued to design and manufacture fashionable but functional ski wear until the late 1970s, although increasing imports from large overseas manufactures and constant new innovations in fabric technology made it difficult for her to compete in a relatively small industry. This ski jacket and cap illustrate Rosalie Kiessling's emphasis on practical glamour. She was the first Australian ski wear manufacturer to bring high fashion to ski wear design; which though common in the boutiques of St Mortiz, Chamonix and St Anton was new to Australia. The use of an Australian wildflower motif and of these pieces in the Fashion Group's Walkabout Tour also speak to her involvement in and promotion of the Australian fashion industry during the 1960s.Ski jacket and matching cap appliqued with Australian wildflowers.Noneskiing, ski clothing, fashion design, australian fashion, australian flora

This suit was tailor-made for Latvian dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Vija Vetra, who lived at the Old Hall, 93-95 Bay Street, Brighton and ran a dance academy at 97 Bay Street during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Riga, Latvia in 1923, at the age of sixteen Vija ran away from home in order to study classical, character and modern dance at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. She spent several years performing on European stages. When Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, more than 100,000 Latvians fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Vija's sister, mother and aunt were among them, managing to join her in Vienna. The following year, all four had to flee again when the Soviets moved into Austria. Escaping to Bavaria, they spent three years in displaced person camps before emigrating to Sydney as refugees in 1948. Vija found success as a dancer in Sydney. She toured Australia and New Zealand with the Bodenwieser Ballet, formed a Latvian folk dancing group and established a dancing school. By the mid-1950s she had gained recognition as a recitalist in her own right. She developed a passion for Indian classical dance. In the late 1950s she moved to Victoria. She opened a dance school in Bay Street, Brighton, while continuing to perform on stage in productions such as the musical 'Kismet' and the ballet 'Corroboree'. In 1959 she starred in the four-part live ABC television program 'Music and Dance'. She left Australia in 1964 for a tour of the United States and Canada, ultimately settling in New York City. Interviewed in the 'ABC Weekly' in 1957, Vetra described her taste in clothing as minimalist, saying she preferred to own as few clothes as possible to save the trouble of deciding what to wear: "And no bows or extravagances, but always a simple line."Two-piece women's suit made of maroon corded silk; comprising fitted jacket (.1) and straight skirt (.2). Jacket fastens with one large black faceted glass button. Jacket lined with pink satin; skirt unlined. vija vetra, migration, brighton, refugee, dancer, 1940s

Neville Mirvane BUNNING (1902-1990) During World War Two he served with the RAAF. He was an Art Teacher at the Ballarat School of Mines from 05 February 1946 to 22 September 1964. Neville Bunning formed the Ballarat Artist's Society (later the Ballarat Society of Artists), a group that sponsored art and which invited modernist artists to speak to students and to the public of Ballarat. He also wrote a weekly column in the Ballarat Courier. Bunning produced a bust of Australian Prime Minister, The Right Honourable J.A. Lyons from Tasmania, who died in office. Bunning died in Subiaco, Western Australia on 29 April 1990. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 1000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Women in red dress sitting on a stool. Gift of Pauline Diggins, 2008Neville M Bunning signature middle bottom art, artwork, neville bunning, bunning, available

This black and white photograph of Sister Pat McPherson was taken at the 1st International Congress on Domiciliary Nursing held in Melbourne. The congress was hosted by the Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) and ran from the 1st - 8th of February 1970. Following this Congress, Sister Patricia McPherson was employed by RDNS from 1970 - 2003, mainly in the area of Administration.Sister Patricia McPherson, State Registered Nurse, Midwife, and Infant Welfare trained nurse, B.A. was awarded an M.B.E. for her community health work among the Aboriginal communities during the time she worked as a Sister for the Australian Inland Mission (AIM). This was just prior to her joining Royal District Nursing Service. Patricia McPherson is listed on page 210 in the 'Women Shaping the Nation - Victorian Honour Roll of Women Vol 1 - 2001' - Centenary of Federation 1901 - 2001.This black and white photograph is a portrait head and shoulders view of Sister Patricia McPherson, who is smiling and has short straight dark hair. She is wearing a black and white patterned frock; on its upper right is attached a plastic name badge with two lines in white capital letters on black background stating: "Miss P. MCPHERSON / WESTERN AUSTRALIA' . Seen in the background is black and white vertical striped wallpaper.The Herald & Weekly Times Ltd, Melbourne, Australiardns, royal district nursing service, 1st internation congress on domisiciary nursing, sister patricia mcpherson

Women's Budget', July 30, 1921 is printed on unstapled newsprint quality paper with a red and black cover featuring a picture of a young girl holding a hoop.non-fictionThe "Woman's Budget" was published in Sydney, Australian from January 1906 until November 1934. This is issue Number 810, released on July 30, 1921. It includes articles related to Australian and overseas stories and society news, short stories, fashion, handicraft and patterns, recipes and a wide range of advertising. As on this cover, 'I.X.L. Jams' and 'Hean's Tonic Nerve Nuts' were regular advertisers. It was printed by S. Bennett Ltd. in Sydney, Australia who were taken over by Associated Newspapers in 1929.women's magazine, women's periodicals, womens social history