Born in Bendigo and trained as a nurse in the 1950s, Sonia Jill O’Brien devoted a lifetime to social and environmental issues at both the state and local level. From her work in the 1960s with the Family Planning Association of Victoria, of which she was a founding member, through to the 1990s as a member of the Ethics Committee of the Department of Health, she supported efforts to improve women’s health and reproductive rights. At the local level she was most active on committees that worked to save the natural and built environment. The Power-line Action Group, the Studley Park Conservation Society, and the Yarra Bend Park Trust all benefitted from her indefatigable endeavours as well her vision. In 1980, Jill O’Brien successfully stood for the Kew City Council and served as Mayor in 1983 and 1984. With an eye to preserving the past as well as guarding the future, she had the Mayoral robes restored and in 1980 and 1981 was president of the Kew Historical Society. The preservation and restoration of Villa Alba in Walmer Street owes much to her determined efforts throughout the 1980s. On Council, she chaired a number of committees involved in the saving of the Kew River Parklands from the proposed transmission line of the SEC. To this end, she was the Council representative on the Merri Yarra Municipal Protection Committee.Rare colour photograph, used as the official mayoral portrait of Cr Jill O'Brien.Formal civic portrait of Cr Jill O'Brien in red mayoral robes wearing lace jabot and cuffs. The portrait is part of the larger Jill O'Brien Collection donated by her daughters.cr jill o'brien, city of kew -- mayors, mayoral portraits -- city of kew

This photographic exhibition was developed by the Federation University-led Community Wellbeing research stream of the Hazelwood Health Study in collaboration with Morwell Neighbourhood House and Gippsland Centre for Art and Design at Federation University Australia. It highlights people's hopes for the future of Morwell has its roots in two unexpected places: the Hazelwood mine fire in 2014 and an academic study into community recovery from that fire. In late summer of 2014 a bushfire spread to the coal mine near the town of Morwell in the LaTrobe Valley, in south-eastern Victoria. The Hazelwood mine fire burned for 45 days, shrouding communities - especially Morwell - in smoke and ash. Strong calls by the community for an investigation into the health impacts of the Hazelwood Mine Fire led to the Department of Health's (Know the Department of Health and Human Services) decision to fund a ten year study of the potential health effects of this smoke event (Known as the Hazelwood Health Study). This exhibition came out of work undertaken by the Community Wellbeing Stream of the Hazelwood Health Study during 2016 and 2017. Based at Federation University Australia's Gippsland Campus, just a few kilometres from where the fire took place, one of our Study's main aims has been to find out from the community how the smoke event impacted on community wellbeing. We also planned to talk to community members about the effectiveness of community rebuilding activities, and find our how these have aided recovery following the smoke event. In 2017 we began working with community organisations on a project to foster community recovery and wellbeing. What emerged from these discussions was the idea for a photographic exhibition, on the theme of 'Our hopes for the future of Morwell'. Invitations to participate were extended to up to 50 members of various community groups. The groups were asked to think of some object that symbolizes their hopes for the future of Morwell. Individuals were then invited to attend a photographic session kindly hosted by the Morwell Neighbourhood House. Each individual was to hold this object while it was photographed, as well as explain what the object represented in terms of Morwell's future. Out of this process twenty nine photographs with their captions were produced, enlarged and framed for exhibiting. The photographs were taken by Clive Hutchison of the Gippsland Centre for Art and Design at Federation University Australia.Twenty nine framed original photographs.morwell, our hopes for the future of morwell, clive hutchison, photography, morwell neighbourhood house, hazelwood health service, gippsland centre for art and design, hazelwood mine fire, haxelwood health study, morwell neighbourhood mine fire, neale stratford, tracie lund, ian brown, susan yell, sue whyte, ainsley ja, ainsley james, michelle duffy, shaun mallia, valerie prokopiv, morwell art and framing

Thank-you card given to Australian Nursing Federation (Victorian Branch) staff member Catherine Hutchings by staff at the Bundaberg Branch of the Queensland Nurses Union. In 1993, Victorian Branch staff travelled throughout Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory for a series of meetings on recent events impacting nurses' conditions in Victoria. The meetings were strategically held ahead of the 1993 Federal election to discourage the election of a Coalition government. The election of the Coalition government in Victoria in 1992 had seen the introduction of the Employee Relations Act, which saw the end of the state award system in Victoria. This gave employers greater powers to establish wages and conditions and less power to the Industrial Relations Commission, foreshadowing what would later occur at a Federal level. An article in the Victorian Branch newsletter 'On the Record' from April 1993 describes the 'tour'. Entitled 'Vic. Nurses Spreading the Word in Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory', it explains: "Catherine Huntchin[g]s and Elizabeth Hulme recently spent a week in Queensland informing nurses about the effect of a Liberal Government on nurses. As well, Tracy Austin visited WA to talk to nurses there about life under Kenneyt [sic]. Catherine and Liz held a total of 23 meetings from Cairns to Brisbane, as well as giving media interviews. It was well worth the effort and certainly there was much support given to nurses in Victoria. Perhaps the most interesting issue was that many nurses did not realise that they may find themselves in the same situation if we have a change in Federal Government. In February, Catherine went to the NT to talk to nurses in Darwin, Alice Springs and Katherine and despite some minor hiccoughs (the Health Department banned all the meetings so alternative venues had to be found) the turnout was gratifying - you have to be dedicated to attend a meeting held in a carpark in 32 C heat! Catherine says that the reception she received in both QLD and the NT was superb. "Everyone went out of their way to make us feel very welcome, and to shower us with sympathy over the situation. More important, is the fact that the information was distributed so no matter how the votes go on March 13 [1993, federal election] - they will be informed votes." she said. Catherine, Liz and Tracy extend sincere thanks to all interstate nurses who made their visits a success."Typed card given with flower bouquet. Printed on one side with personalised, typed message 'DEAR CATHERINE, UNITED WE STAND DEVIDED [sic] WE BEG THANKS FOR SPEAKING UP FOR US. FROM B'BERG [Bundaberg] BRANCH Q.N.U. [Queensland Nurses Union]'.nursing, nurses, unionism, solidarity, victoria, queensland, bundaberg, campaigning, 1993 federal election, 1992 victorian election, australian nursing federation, trade unions, politics, queensland nurses union, qnu, anf

These photos were saved with a label saying "Veterans Health week '96" which is an awareness campaign from the Department of Veterans Affairs. From an article in The Answer in December 1996, the motto of the week was "Enjoying Life" and over 80 events were held in Victoria. these photos are from "the annual Veterans' Health Week Afternoon Tea Dance. Three hundred people danced in style to the music of the Mellow Tones, filling the dance floor every dance. During a delicious afternoon tea, Melbourne Legacy Line Dancers demonstrated their fun style of dancing and encouraged everyone to join them."A record of an event for widows and a way of keeping them active and of the relationship with the Department of Veterans' Affairs.Colour photo x 2 of widows line dancing in Veterans Health Week.Handwritten on the back '2' in red pen.widows, activities, answer

This set of baby scales is believed to have been used in a Baby Health Centre in Warrnambool. The first Baby Health Centre in Warrnambool was opened in Liebig Street in October 1921. It was initially run by Sister Riley. The development of Baby Health Centres in Victoria was largely due to the work of Dr Isabella Younger-Ross (1887-1956). She was born in Warrnambool to Henrietta and John Younger (the Younger department store operated in Liebig Street Warrnambool for over 60 years). Isabella Younger Ross studied medicine in Melbourne and Glasgow and she was a prominent worker in the field of maternal and infant welfare for over 40 years. These scales are retained as an example of the type of equipment used in baby health centres in the early to mid 20th century. It will be useful for display.This is a metal set of scales with a rectangular base tapering at one end. At the top is attached a metal receptacle for holding a baby and underneath this on top of the base is the scale mechanism with a metal measuring device. The item is painted yellow and green but the paint is well rusted and peeling in places. 15 lb.warrnambool baby health centres, dr isabella younger-ross