This plaque was made to commemorate the generous funds donated Mr A.M Nicholas in 1936 almost entirely funding the building of the new Mission to Seamen at Port Melbourne opened in 1937. Mr Nicholas died in Feb 1937. The new building was opened on the 4th of December 1937 by Lord Huntingfield, the plaque was dedicated and unveiled the same by his nephew Mr Nicholas Lightfoot. The plaque was removed from the building which ws demolished in 1995. The plaque is really similar to the memorial plaque made in memory of Ethel Godfrey (see item 2053).Mr Nicholas together with Mr HW Shmith organised rights to produce Aspirin aka ASPRO in Australia in 1915 during WW1. The Nicholas Family were significant philanthropists in Melbourne and Victoria and this plaque commemorates his gift to the Mission for visiting seamen between 1937 and late 20th C. The story of the donation is told in an unpublished autobiography by the then Rev'd Frank Oliver, based at 717 Flinders st. as senior Mission Chaplain 1930-1960.A heavy ceramic plaque with moulded metal alloy frame, polychrome glazed irregular ceramic tesserae design and memorial text in Gothic script in central lozenge set into a rectangular clay base.in each corner design features initials: "ihs" / IN central lozenge of design text reads: " To the Glory of God/ and in grateful memory of/ ALFRED MICHAEL NICHOLAS Esq / through whose generous gift/ the whole of this Institute / and Chapel were built./ Died February 26th 1937"1908, plaque, alfred m. nicholas, memorial, alfred michael nicholas, port melbourne, 1937, aspro

The photograph is a record of a historic conference of MTS representatives from Australia and New Zealand. , September 1-3 , 1936: Revd Wm Hoog (Brisbane) Revd W.H. Terry (Port Pirie) Revd H.C Cuthbertson (Adelaide) Revd W.R. Tyler (Melbourne) Mr J.W. Neill (Melbourne) Revd. F. J. Evans (Sydney) Revd Frank L. Oliver ( Melbourne MTS) F W Melbourne (Archbishop F W Head 1929- 1942) Mr J.C. Grahame (Hobart) Rev B.J. Williams ((Wellington NZ) Rev J.C. Clift (Fremantle) From the Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 5 September 1936, page 34: "For three days this week chaplains of missions to seamen in different ports of Australia and New Zealand met in conference in Melbourne. Bishop Stephen, chairman of the executive committee of the mission in Melbourne, presided over the conference, which was opened by Archbishop Head celebrating Holy Communion in the Chapel of St. Peter at the mission. Among the questions considered was the problem of foreign vessels, from which nothing is contributed toward the support of the missions. It was felt that there was great scope for work of an international character, and that every effort should be made by the chaplains to bring men from the ships of different countries together. The chaplains said that many thousands of men from foreign ships attended the mission institutes. Efforts will be made for more contact to be made with men on coastal ships, and commendation of men from one port to the next will ensure that the needs of men are cared for as well as possible. An ordained chaplain will be sent from London for a new mission at Geraldton (WA), and a new mission will also be opened at Port Kembla (N.SW.). The chaplains will endeavour to obtain police cooperation in keeping docks and wharves free from undesirable persons. It is hoped that an effort will be made to seek the co-operation of the port authorities in order to ensure the pos-sibility of ships being allowed to be alongside during week-ends and public holidays without having to face the full port charges. To avoid the heavy charges the ships now anchor in the bay during week-ends and public holidays. Melbourne was chosen as the central port for Australia for supplies for mis-sions to seamen, and it was decided that the conference should be held every three years, in Melbourne. The last was held 11 years ago." The photograph was published in the 1936 Annual ReportThis photograph is representative of the relationship between the Mission to Seafarers Victoria and the Anglican Church. Reverend Frank Oliver served as Chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria from 1930 - 1960. A gift of £20,000 for the rebuilding of the Port Melbourne institute, which was old and dilapidated, was announced at the conference. Black and white photograph mounted on cardboard with border detail on the front. The photograph is of eleven men, five standing behind six seated. Nine of the men are wearing clerical collars and two are in suit and ties. The photograph appears to have been taken in the courtyard of the Mission to Seafarers Victoria, at 717 Flinders St. Each of the people in the photograph appears to have hand inscribed their names/ signatures on the lower edge of the mountboard.Top edge of mountboard title of occasion and photo in Black ink all upper case: (see title details this record); Lwr edge first line corresponding to back row of group: 'REv Wm Hoog (Brisbane); Revd W.H. Terry (Port Pirie); Rev H.C Cuthbertson (Adelaide) ; Rev W.R. Tyler (Melbourne) ; Mr J.W. Neill (Melbourne) : / Lwr edge second line corresponding to front row seated: "Revd. F. J. Evans (Sydney) ; Revd Frank L. Oliver ( Melbourne MTS); F W Melbourne (Archbishop F W Head 1929- 1942); Mr J.C. Grahame (Hobart); Rev B.J. Williams ((wellington NZ).; Rev J.C. Clift (Fremantle); courtyard, chaplains, archbishop melbourne, mission to seafarers, flinders street, frank leslie oliver, conference, australasian chaplains, anglican church, reverends, australia, new zealand, 1936, seamen's mission, chaplains group, chaplain conferences

This photograph was taken at the Triennial Congress, Melbourne. Frank Leslie Oliver served as chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers Melbourne for 30 years from 1930 - 1960. He is in this photograph, second from right, with a cigarette in his hand. Also in this photograph, at the far right, is the Most Reverend F. Head, Archbishop of Melbourne. The photograph is a record of a historic conference of MTS representatives from Australia and New Zealand. , September 1-3 , 1936: Revd Wm Hoog (Brisbane) Revd W.H. Terry (Port Pirie) Revd H.C Cuthbertson (Adelaide) Revd W.R. Tyler (Melbourne) Mr J.W. Neill (Melbourne) Revd. F. J. Evans (Sydney) Revd Frank L. Oliver ( Melbourne MTS) F W Melbourne (Archbishop F W Head 1929- 1942) Mr J.C. Grahame (Hobart) Rev B.J. Williams ((Wellington NZ) Rev J.C. Clift (Fremantle)Frank Leslie Oliver served as chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers Melbourne for 30 years from 1930 - 1960, including time served as chaplain with the Royal Australia Navy aboard HMAS Australia. He was a live-in chaplain and was supported by his entire family, including wife Moira, for whom a memorial window exists in the chapel. The Chaplains' Conference was held in 1936.Black and white photograph of a group of chaplains outside the Mission to Seafarers building in Flinders Street, Melbourne. Frank Oliver is second from right holding a cigarette in his right hand.Top left in blue ink (written by Padre Oliver): Australian MTS, Chaplains gathered in Triennal Congress, with most Rev.J Head, Abp of Melbourne. Top right corner in black ink: prior to 1939 In black and blue ink some names: Archbishop Head, Dad, Bill Tyler Port Melbourne, Padre Williams Wellington, Pat Neil Layreader Faded stamp in pink ink: Herald Feature Service, Melbourne A sticker with: Ret to B Kentroyal australian navy, mission to seafarers, anglican, frank leslie oliver, archbishop head, triennial conference, chaplains, herald newspaper, cigarette, robin kent, beverley kent nee oliver, chaplains conference, padre oliver, new zealand, pat neil, lay reader, bill tyler, port melbourne, reverend william wellington, chaplains group