non-fictionThe detailed history of the No.8 Independent Commando Company during World War II. Plastic protective cover over the book. The 2/8th Independent Company was formed at Wilson’s Promontory, Victoria, in July 1942 and travelled to Yandina, in Queensland, in September. While the other seven independent companies saw action in the islands off Australian and in New Guinea, the 2/8th spent most of the next two years based at Adelaide River, in the Northern Territory. While it was in the Territory, the independent companies underwent a series of reorganisations and the name of the 2/8th was changed from the 2/8th Independent Company to the 2/8th Cavalry (Commando) Squadron. This name was later simplified to just commando squadron. In July 1944, after years of waiting, the squadron left the Territory and sailed from Townsville to Lae, via Milne Bay. While at Lae, the squadron received an intake of 70 men from the 2/8th from the 2/3rd, 2/5th and 2/6th Cavalry (Commando) Squadrons, many of whom were veterans of the earlier New Guinea campaigns. Their experience was no doubt a useful reserve that would have been called upon during the 2/8th’s subsequent campaign in Bougainville. Others though, were able to implement some of their commando training when a small group from the 2/8th they made a secret landing on New Britain. Towards the end of the 1944 the 5th Division was preparing to make a landing at Jacquinot Bay in New Britain. Part of these preparations included landing a small group of officers from the division at Jacquinot Bay to make a secret reconnaissance of the potential landing site. As Jacquinot Bay was still in Japanese controlled territory, ‘C’ Troop from the 2/8th provided the protection for the reconnaissance party by establishing a position on the beach and by patrolling the surrounding country. Everything went well and the 5th Division later landed at Jacquinot Bay in November. The squadron too was on the move, and in October it sailed to Torokina, the main Australian base on Bougainville, where it joined the II Australian Corps. The campaign on Bougainville was dived into three areas, the Central, Northern and Southern Sectors. The 2/8th served in the latter two areas. The 2/8th made the first move of the Australian campaign in the Northern Sector, by patrolling from Torokina to Kuraio Mission and Amun once a week. The squadron did this from the second week of November unit the second week of December. The 2/8th was then transferred to the Southern Sector. The main battle for Bougainville was fought in the Southern Sector, as the 3rd Division advanced towards Buin – the main Japanese base on the island. As the division’s infantry brigades advanced along the coast, the 2/8th’s task was to protect their flank by conducting forward reconnaissance patrols, harassing the Japanese with raids and ambushes and conducting a form of guerrilla warfare. The squadron had a long campaign. For nine months, from the end of December until August 1945, the troopers were in action the whole time. After securing the Jaba River, they moved inland, first to Sovele Mission, then the villages of Opai, Nihero and Morokaimoro. They had reached Kilipaijino by the end of the war. Each village taken became a patrol base. Patrols were usually limited to two sections, although up to six sections could be operating at a time. Patrols generally lasted four to six days, but nine-day patrols were not unknown. The squadron collected and collated track information, terrain reports and located the enemy. Once patrols had gathered information, they were free to make a ‘strike’ against the Japanese by setting an ambush or taking a prisoner. These raids were very effective, as they forced the Japanese to deploy troops to their rear areas, removing men from the front created by the infantry. Following Japan’s surrender and the end of the war, the ranks of the squadron thinned quickly as men were discharged or were transferred to other units. For those who were left, the squadron returned to Australia at the end of December. In mid January 1946, at Liverpool, the 2/8th Commando Squadron was disbanded.

Bell brought from Longerenong Homestead by former boundary rider William McClintock. Given to John Hamilton and used on his farm to call the men to dinner. In 1922 it was used as a school bell when Higher Elementary School classes began in the Firebrigade Hall and in the Methodist & Presbyterian hall untill the Murtoa H.E.S. was built in 1925 and their own bell was purchased. The bell was donated by Miss Grace Hamilton.The Bell is significant as it was originally the property of William McClintock - one of the original settlers to obtain land in Murtoa around 1872. Its significance is enhanced by its connection to the Hamilton family and its use on the farm and later its use in the temporary school setting.Metal bell with wooden handle and metal clapperwilliam mcclintock, bell, murtoa higher elementary school, john hamilton

A sailing or rope block has single or multiple pulleys with one or more sheaves enclosed in an assembly between cheeks or chocks. In use, a block is fixed to the end of the line, spar or load to be lifted such as at a transport dock. A rope line is reeved through the sheaves, and through one or more matching blocks at the far end, to make up what's known as a tackle. Generally, the more sheaves in the blocks that make up a tackle, the higher its mechanical advantage. Various types of blocks are used in sailing. Some blocks are used to increase mechanical advantage and others to change the direction of a line. A ratchet block turns freely when a line is pulled in one direction but does not turn in the other direction, although the line may slip past the sheave. This kind of block makes a loaded line easier to hold by hand.This rope block is an example of rope and tackle systems used in maritime settings to lift and move cargo and machinery, often with the help of a crane. It is also used on sailing vessels as part of the rigging, help to raise and lower the ropes and sails.Block; two sheave wooden rope block with ring and becket. It features a Closed Spelter Socket (CSS). Rings are galvanised metal. There is a compliance plate attached with an inscription. It was once owned by a government body, as indicated by the 'up-arrow" symbol.Compliance plate: stamped twice "CS" [Closed Spelter] and "↑"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, lifting equipment, stevedoring, rope block, rigging block, sailing equipment, css, closed spelter socket

Sepia image mounted on board: two women and two men, sitting and reclining on grass . Woman on LH side dressed in long dress, leg-of-mutton sleeves, hat, other woman long dress, hat on grass in front. Men are wearing three piece suits, ties, and boaters. Written on bottom of image : Rose Herbel, A Dehne, Dora Herbel, Wm. Kileen, As we like it !person, group, group in park, sandhurst, bendigo, group portrait, 'as we like it'.

Silver Fork with Kings Head pattern , appears to be made in England.E *domestic equipment, table setting, kings head pattern

Pottery condiment set with copper coloured lustre glaze & ringed with pink & gold rough cast decoration. Consisting of a Sugar shaker, mustard pot with wooden spoon & a bowl.domestic equipment, table setting, kitchen

3 beaded napkin rings, burgundy, cream & orange.domestic equipment, table setting, napkins

White china toast rack with gilding around rim.domestic equipment, table setting, kitchen

Oval shaped brass tray engraved with 2 Chinese figures and Lotus flowers, scalloped top.Chinadomestic equipment, table setting, tray

Four cut glass salt cellars in various shapes and sizes.domestic equipment, table setting, salt cellar

2 odd white souvenir cups with scenes of Sturt Street Ballarat & gilt edging & Collins Street Melbourne.Guaranteed English Bone China Made In England Royal Stafforddomestic equipment, table setting, cups

2 white souvenir china saucers showing scenes of Government House Melbourne and The Treasury Melbourne in black.domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china side plate in 2 tone orange mottled pattern.D M Peters 11domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china side plate, white with sepia scene of Mud Brick Hut Bendigo.Hand painted by J.Nichener. Bendigo 1985domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china plate with coloured painting of a clown, gilt edge.Sticker E.Leamondomestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china side plate with coloured scene of Chinese Joss House Bendigo and gilt edge.Hand painted by J.Mitchener Bendigo 1985domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china side plate with sepia scene on white china with gilt edge of Dudley House Bendigo.J.Mitchener 1985domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china plate with sepia scene of Central Deborah mine with tram in foreground on white china with gold edge & wording Birney car & Central Deborah Mine Bendigo.Handpainted by J Michener Bendigo 1985domestic equipment, table setting, plate

Hand painted china plate with grapes and vines in autumn tones and gilt edging.Zena ( Cohn)domestic equipment, table setting, plate

China souvenir plate of Bendigo, off white fluted with holes around edge showing a sepia scene of miners panning for gold Bendigo 1800's.Norwood Ceramics Bendigo 1985 RWdomestic equipment, table setting, plate

Electro Plated Nickel Silver Dish with swivel handle, embossed base in leaf pattern, 4 ball feet & 1 ball on handle.EPNS British Electro Company Platedomestic equipment, table setting, dish

Clear cut glass salt container, circular with scalloped edge.domestic equipment, table setting, kitchen

Single napkin ring EPNS over Brittania metal, Chrysanthemum pattern.domestic equipment, table setting, napkins

Small stemmed amber glass.domestic equipment, table setting, glass

Small cut glass dish with fluted top, flower pattern in base and around sides.domestic equipment, table setting, dish

White china plate with fluted and gilded edges decorated with flowers, crossed flags and a portrait of a military officer with medals in centre. Titled General Sir Redvers H Buller VC GCB KCMG PCPatented England Grindley & Co Oct 31st 99 USAdomestic equipment, table setting, plate

Objet: White china jug decorated with flowers and gold trim, inscription in gold on front reads a present from George Bowers Jun to his friend Mr James Bailis 1853domestic equipment, table setting, jug

Metal sweets or fruit bowl standing on four filigree legs, with folding handle, ornate decoration around rim & engraved decoration on base. Donated by Jennifer Armstrong 107 Therese Ave Mt Waverley 3149 and had been in the possession of Louisa Amelia Poole (Weekley) Koroop for approximately 70 years.New Amsterdam Silver Co Quadruple plate 653domestic equipment, table setting, dish

Silver plated serving or sweets dish on four legs with folding handle on top, pressed decoration of flowers.Homan Mfg Company made in USA 866 Speciaal metal Warranted Quadruple platedomestic equipment, table setting, dish, di498 old cat no 2362206 tb/a

Publication accompanying the project, The f Word: Contemporary feminist art in Australia. Curated by Caroline Phillips, this project included multiple components: A Dinner Party: Setting the table; the Regional Feminist Art Forum, the Technopia Tours Feminist Art Bus, and two exhibitions.feminism, feminist art, melbourne, the dinner party, australia, judy chicago, west space, latrobe visual art institute, bendigo, gippsland art gallery, sale, victoria, ararat regional art gallery, ararat, technopia tours, kim donaldson, catherine bell, penny byrne, filomena coppola, kate just, jill orr, clare rae, elvis richardson, kate beynon, karen buczynski-lee, destiny deacon, laurene dietrich, eliza-jane gilchrist, janice gobey, georgia macguire, robyn massey, caroline phillips, louise saxton, inez de vega, lyndal walker, justine makdessi, the great petition, natalie thomas, laura castagnini, lyndal jones, vicki kinai, dot ket, virginia fraser, juliette peers, louise burchill, carolyn barnes, melbourne social equity institute, ebony gulliver, kalinda vary, kate robertson, stephanie alexander, kate macneill, victoria duckett, hana assafiri, victoria bennett, anne marsh, catherine deveny, danni zuvela, jon dale, marcia jane, catherine evans