Mary Owen OAM (1921-2017) purchased this dress in 1975 in Mexico while attending the first World Conference on Women and wore it to the reception there. A dedicated feminist, unionist and activist, she was a vocal campaigner for the empowerment of women, particularly in the fight for equal pay. Mary's involvement in activism began in 1966 when she joined the staff of the Association of Architects, Engineers & Draughtsmen (AAESDA), where she was responsible for advertising, layout and proofreading editorial for its journal 'Blueprint'. Her contact with the union awoke an interest in women's rights in the workplace, and in 1969 after she joined Dr Bertram Wainer's Progressive Reform Party, which advocated for legalised abortion. She joined the Women's Electoral Lobby in 1972 and remained an active member for over forty-three years, representing the WEL on many government committees. She was a founding co-coordinator of the Working Women's Centre Melbourne from 1975 until 1986, a founding member of EMILY's List Australia, an early member of the Melbourne Press Club and an early supporter of the Australian Women's Archives Project. An annual Mary Owen Dinner was held in her honour for twenty years from 1986 until 2007, which brought together hundreds of women each year. Mary was awarded the Queen's Silver Jubilee Medal in 1977 and the Order of Australia Medal in 1984. She was added to the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2001.Red, white and black cotton halter neck dress with rows of pin tucking on the bodice and applied horizontal strips of red and black cotton and black lace to the skirt. Label, woven black on white acetate, centre back: Disenado con carino por / GEORGIA CHARUHAS / HECHO / EN MEXICO Label, woven black on white acetate, centre back: Gerorgia's / BOUTIQUE LAS MARIPOSAS / Designer: / Georgia Charuhas / MERIDA YUCATAN, MEXICOmexico, international women's conference, 1970s fashion, georgia charuhas, feminism, mary owen

Contents page: 1. Black resistance 2. Convict revolt 3. Eureka uprising 4. Rebellion in the bush--the small farmers 5. The working class develops 6. Women, we were there 7. Same enemy, same fight--people of the world units! 8. Yankee go homeUnion songs and campaigns.Book; paperback.btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, unions ballarat, blf, builders labourers federation, unions, anthems/songs, australia -- republic, eureka stockade, the great depression, constitutional crisis -- the dismissal

This book by Carolyn Rasmussen contains biographical material on Maurice Blackburn and his wife Doris. Maurice Blackburn was the founder of the Melbourne legal firm with a business still operating today under that name. Maurice and Doris Blackburn were prominent 20th century independent Labor politicians and community activists, influencing conscription laws, benefits for working men and women, atomic bomb tests, civil rights and indigenous recognition. They had friends in Warrnambool and enjoyed visiting the city on a regular basis. This book is of historical interest as a biographies of two well-known Victorian politicians of the 20th century and is of minor local interest as the Blackburns were regular visitors to Warrnambool. This is a hard cover book of 400 pages. The black cover has red lettering on the spine and the dust cover is black, red and grey with photographs of a man’s suit and a man and a woman. The book contains fourteen chapters of text and black and white photographs.The Blackburns Private Lives Public Ambition Carolyn Rasmussen maurice and doris blackburn, history of warrnambool

Photo Album, brown in colour, 'Hanro' on front cover. 10 photo's in album - 'winding room','knitting room', 'knitting room', 'section of knitting room', 'finishing room', 'cutting and pressing', 'raschel machines and lace machines' 'jacquard machines (sports wear Dept)', 'folding and boxing', 'part of shipping room', 'shipping room'. 1932 on inside of cover. 'Hanro'products and 'Benknit' brand of sports wear. 2 loose photo's 'staff and Management' Hanro. Bendigo Show Display, Nov. 1950. A stand with 2 women working it.organization, business, hanro knitting mills, bendigo knitting mills. hanro. benknit.

Change the Rules is an ACTU campaign starting in 2018 targeted at regaining fairness around right to strike, work, wages, job security, penalty rates, taxation (especially businesses that pay zero tax), equity for working women and younger workers. Nationally, Change the Rules rallies were held on Wednesday 9 May 2018. A contingent from Ballarat travelled to Melbourne by train and participated alongside 100,000 other unionists in the CBD. Photos: 1. Rally - Melbourne CBD - Pictured left to right, Moses, Doug Stewart (CFMEU/Trades Hall), Gabriel Waldron (Trades Hall staffer), Michaela Settle (State ALP candidate for the seat of Buninyong), Sarah De Santis (State ALP candidate for the seat of Ripon), Brett Edgington (Secretary, Ballarat Regional Trades and Labour Council. 2. Rally - MUA and other comrades marching. 3. Ballarat Railway Station - Comrades gathering to make the train journey to the rally. Gabriel Waldron (Trades Hall staffer) in the foreground and Michaele Settle in black jacket. 4. Ballarat Railway Station - Comrades gathering to make the train journey to the rally. Tracey Brown, HWU organiser, pictured in red puffer jacket. 5. Ballarat Railway Station - Comrades gathering to make the train journey to the rally. Gabriel Waldron (Trades Hall staffer) and Tracey Brown, HWU organiser, pictured in red puffer jacket. From the Change the Rules website: "Australian Unions are campaigning to change the rules so that working people have more secure jobs and better pay. Right now, big business has too much power. A third of them aren’t paying any tax. And, too many big businesses are in a race to the bottom on wages and job security. As a result, 40% of Australians are in insecure work and wages have flat-lined. We need a wage rise and secure work. We need to change the rules to give all working people the basic rights they need to improve their living standards. We are building a powerful movement to change the rules, and we need you to join your union to be part of it."Significant to nationwide union campaigning and to living and working conditions of all Australians.Electronic photographs.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, union campaigns - change the rules, actu, rallies, wages, penalty rates, workers' rights, women, equal pay, right to strike, taxation

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

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

These four certificates belonged to William Hunter. William Hunter (1893-1971) was a resident of Tatura and Mallacoota. He was a soldier, surveyor and amateur naturalist. The certificates include two first prizes for surveying, a technical scholarship for full day courses and a certificate for Applied Mechanics. William received his Surveying Certificate in April 1916. In June 1887, the Working Men's College opened after Francis Ormond, a noted Victorian philanthropist and member of parliament, suggested that a technical institute be built in Melbourne, offering further education for working men and women. He had offered to match the sum raised through public subscription if the government could provide a site for the College. William Hunter made valuable contributions to our knowledge of far East Gippsland plants. His records were meticulous. These certificates are part of his history.Four card certificates of merit for "Annual Examinations" from the Working Men's College, The Technical College and School of Mines for the Metropolitan District.All four certificates awarded to "William Hunter" and signed by Mordaunt Arundel Hall (accountant & chief clerk WMC) as the Acting Director.hunter-william-surveyor

Needlework Illustrated is issue 196 and cost 1/-. it was published quarterly. Australian Home Journal is the May 1963 issue. Women’s magazines just after WWII played a “reflecting role,” including topics of readers’ interests as well as containing news items. Women’s employment rate had grown 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 home crafts. Articles as well as advertisements presented information on keeping the family healthy with guidelines for thrifty shopping and advice on how to look good through it all. Patterns and instructions were provided for women to create home articles and clothing. The main sources for kntting and needlework designs available to women were in journals, magazines and pattern books. Embroidery was an affordable way to personalise and add aesthetic value to domestic linen and examples of embroidered and crocheted pieces could be found in most Australian homes. These are examples of women's magazines. They give 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 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Two magazines. 3097.1 contains patterns, instructions, advertisements and photographs. It has a coloured cover - a pink background, black print an drawings of a woman wearing a top embroidered with roses and examples of needlework. 3097.2 contains patterns, advertisements, correspondence, and stories. It has a coloured cover with a photograph of a woman wearing a knitted jumper and three sewing patterns.magazine- needlework-illustrated magazine-australian-home-journal

In the 2000s Legacy released a range of Legacy Bears to expand the merchandise available for sale during Legacy Week and at other fundraising opportunities during the year. This special edition WW2 land army bear was released in 2019. The Women's Land Army (WLA) was a British civilian group created during World War II to replace the men called up for the military. Over 80,000 women served working on farms, in sawmills, and in forestry. They became know as Land Girls and Lumber Jills. Please note the archive does not have a copy of this bear but is recorded here to complete the series.An example of the type of products sold along with Legacy Badges for fundraising in the 2010-2020s.Legacy bear dressed in a female WW2 Land Army uniform with a printed cardboard tag.Printed tag gives the price as $20.legacy appeal, fundraising, legacy bear

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.ModernismDrawing in texta of a bright bowl of flowers.art, artwork, sybil craig, craig, texta, flowers

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.ModernismFramed sketch of flowers undertaken in texta colour.art, artwork, sybil craig, craig, flora, texta, texta colour, available

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed pencil drawing of a flower.art, artwork, sybil craig, craig, flowers, drawing

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed pencil and watercolour sketchart, artwork, sybil craig, craig, available, pencil drawing, watercolour

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed life drawing by Sybil Craigart, artwork, sybil craig, craig, life drawing, life model, charcoal, drawing, available

Sybil CRAIG (18 November 1901-09 September 1989) Born London, England Arrived Australia 1902 The National Gallery School, Melbourne, gave Craig a sound training for her popular flower and portrait studies. However, her association with leading modernists between the wars led her to pursue her art in a deliberately experimental and spontaneous way. Sybil Craig was the third woman appointed by the Australian War Memorial as an official war artist. She was the first woman to paint women working in the munitions’ factories. The Castlemaine Art Gallery & Historical Museum, held the first retrospective exhibition of Sybil Craig's in 2006. The exhibition highlighted her wonderful use of colour and design in a diverse range of media, techniques and subject matter. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed sketches of plantsSigned lower left side "Sybil Craig"art, artwork, sybil craig, craig, flora, plants, flowers, available

Sybil CRAIG (18/11/1901-09/09/1989) Born London, England Arrived Melbourne 1902 Died Melbourne, Victoria Sybil Frances Craig was a student of John Shirlow in 1920 who introduced her to French avant-garde artists such as Matisse and Gauguin. In 1924 she studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. She also underook private classes with George Bellfor several months where individual expression was encouraged, and she became associated with a group of Modernist artists including Sam Atyeo. In 1945 Sybil Craig became the third woman to be appointed as an official war artist. Based in Melbourne she worked for fourth months at the Commonwealth Ordinance Factory at Maribyrnong, becoming the first female artist to paint women working in the munitions factories. In her work Craig was attracted to many changing ideas and continued to explore line, rhythm, colour, simplicity and design. This item is part of the Federation University Art Collection. The Art Collection features over 2000 works and was listed as a 'Ballarat Treasure' in 2007.Framed pencil sketch.art, artwork, sybil craig, australian war artist, kitchen

Sybil CRAIG (18/11/1901-09/09/1989) Born London, England Arrived Melbourne 1902 Died Melbourne, Victoria Sybil Frances Craig was a student of John Shirlow in 1920 who introduced her to French avant-garde artists such as Matisse and Gauguin. In 1924 she studied at the National Gallery of Victoria Art School. She also underook private classes with George Bellfor several months where individual expression was encouraged, and she became associated with a group of Modernist artists including Sam Atyeo. In 1945 Sybil Craig became the third woman to be appointed as an official war artist. Based in Melbourne she worked for fourth months at the Commonwealth Ordinance Factory at Maribyrnong, becoming the first female artist to paint women working in the munitions factories. In her work Craig was attracted to many changing ideas and continued to explore line, rhythm, colour, simplicity and design. 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.Framed texta sketch of a correa.art, artwork, sybil craig, craig, flora, available, leaves, texta, texta colour, correa

This is the story of the women of the bush, women who performed more than the traditional duties of wife and mother. They worked alongside their men, through good/times and bad and they were rare to complain. Six former country women of the Portland/Heywood district provide us with a snapshot of life as it was from the 1920's through to the 1960's. They speak about their own and their mother's lives, lives which have experienced the greatest material and personal changes in history. The story of the 'Remarkable Mary Stuchbery' details the struggles of a wife and family whose husband/father contracted polio shortly after returning from WWII service. Garry Kerr has produced a series of local history stories, initially for the Heywood [history group] and more recent items privately.The material contained in these interviews provides a first-hand insight into the experiences of women who were involved in carving farms from virgin bush. Their recollections of work, social activities and opportunities for their children are an invaluable primary source.Full colour DVD cover featuring image of old hip-roof weatherboard house with front verandah and skillion roof to rear with stone chimney attached to outside. Corrugated iron roof is rusty. To the left is an outbuilding. Picket and wire fencing is in the foreground, background has large cypress tree to left and gum to right. At the bottom is a series of three black and white images showing (L-R) three women in working clothes and a woman holding a baby; woman chopping wood; woman milking cow with young boy standing beside her. The back cover is yellow with images of the seven women featured showing coloured images of the interviewees beside black and white images of the interviewees when young. DVD features the same images as the front cover.Garry Kerr's LOCAL HISTORY Series 5/On Our Selection/The/Women's/Story/Produced by Garry Kerr (front) WOMEN WERE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF THE BUSH/This is the story of the women of the bush [see historical information] ... Running time 74 minutes/Plus an additional 30 minutes of/'The Remarkable Mary Stuchbery'

This magazine belonged to Roma Cameron, who was the daughter of Harry Purchase Cameron and Lilian Gladys (nee Harding). Roma married Ronald Richard Smith in 1944 and is the mother of Lorraine (Mrs Peter Coulton) and Margaret Smith. Harry's father, James Cameron, came to Bellagoogan on Majors Creek in 1882. Bellagoogan was on Majors Creek near Orbost and was the site of the first race course. Like many others at the time, the Camerons bred race horses.Harry died in 1964 aged 75. Roma was the youngest of three siblings: Jean (Mrs John Gavin (Jack) Ralston) and James (Jim) (m. Joan Hossack). 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 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 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 An English magazine published monthly. It is titled Woman and Home & Good Needlework Magazine, July 1944. On the front cover is a picture of a bride and groom cutting a wedding cake. The groom is dressed in military uniform. the price 9D has been crossed out and 1/- is below it. The magazine contains advertisements, stories, needlework patters and news articles.On front cover handwritten in pen : Miss R. Cameronmagazine-woman-and-home magazines-women's cameron

Len Parker's Bedford truck is featured in one of the public art mosaics in Were Street, Montmorency. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker, panton hill, tosch property

Len Parker's Bedford truck is featured in one of the public art mosaics in Were Street, Montmorency. The little girl is Grace de Visser's sister. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker

Len's Bedford truk is featured in one of the Montmorency Were Street shopping precinct mosaics. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker

Mavis Jensen (nee Knight) was born in Broadford in 1920 and came to Beechworth with her family a year later, so her father could assist his father at Knight's Blacksmith at 1A Camp Street, where the Hotel Nicholas is now located. Mavis Jensen left school at the age of 13 and worked as a kitchen maid at Ovens Benevolent Asylum. She was employed as a ward assistant at Mayday Hills Hospital from 1939 to 1980, except for 1958-59 when she gave birth to her son, Noel. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Mavis Jensen's account of her life in Beechworth and the local area during the 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. She details important historical events and hardships in the region's history that had a lasting local, regional and national impact, including Australia during war time, economic struggles, and women's societal roles in a rural area. Her oral history is particularly significant for its insights into developments in psychiatric patient treatment and care in regional Victoria, as well as women's work conditions in the mid-twentieth century. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mavis Jensen /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, jensen, mavis jensen, psychiatric hospitals, mid-twentieth century psychiatry, regional hospitals, regional mental health care, mid-twentieth century women's working conditions, mayday hills hospital., ovens benevolent asylum, beechworth hospital history

Barry Pope left Melbourne at the intentions of travelling around Australia, met a local girl in Beechworth and decided to stay. He worked firstly in logging operations at the mill in Stanley, had some bartending jobs at Beechworth hotels, then got a job as a kitchen-hand at the Mayday Hill Hospital. Taking up new opportunities to advance his career and earning potential, he trained as a prison officer, working for several months at Pentridge Prison and Fairlea Women's Prison in Melbourne. He then returned to Beechworth to work in the prison system. In his story Mr Pope discusses many aspects of prison life for both prisoners and prison officers, from the food and daily routine, attitudes to discipline and rehabilitation, industries and opportunities available to prisoners and how prisoners were viewed in society after their period in prison was finished. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Barry Pope's account of his career is historically and socially significant as it details practices within the prison industry in the Twentieth Century as well as the operations of regional hospitals. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Barry Pope /beechworth, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, stanley mill, logging, hotel wentworth, oral history, hospital garden, mayday hill hospital, met hospital, social welfare department, loyola, lyolla, pentridge prison, fairlea women's prison, prison officer training, drug crimes, prison daily life, prison farm, prison wood workshop, prison industry, prison escapes, beechworth prison, prison suicides, prison violence, prisoner attitudes to crime, mental health, isolation cells, walking dog scheme, guide dogs, prison concerts, prison plays, george smee, prison food, prison officer accommodation