Martha Watson was born on 17 October 1888 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia as the first child of Robina (Ruby) WATSON. She died on 23 March 1976 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Memories of Martha by Valcia nee Twigg Lowrie, granddaughter of Arthur Watson. My memories and recollections as told to me my Grandmother ‘Mum’ Myers. As a child she had scarlet fever and did not attend school during the illness and missed a lot of school (Macarthur Street State School). When she was meant to return to school having fallen behind her classmates, confused and behind with the school work, she instead spent her time wandering around Lake Wendouree feeling too ashamed to attend school. Her uncle Arthur, born in 1874, whom she idealized, was a type of father/mentor figure who played and important part in her early life. He moved to Queensland in the early 1900’s and they did not meet again until he visited Melton in 1949, he died in 1954. He was a champion rower in Victoria and Queensland and a noted cyclist who rode in three Warrnambool to Melbourne races, and footballer. Her mother’s death certificate reveals her place of death as the Ballarat Hospital on 8th September 1903 aged 36. Martha was not told of the death of her mother, it was some time later when she found out her mother had died. She was greatly distressed when she eventually found out. The grief and the circumstance of her mothers death and her unfortunate life had a permanent effect on Martha’s life. Robina was buried in Open Ground at the New Cemetery Ballarat. Marjorie likened to this to the death of Mozart at the age of 35 who was also buried in a common grave. Martha also told me the stories about how as a child she played at the cemetery, taking the oranges placed as offerings on the Chinese graves and being chased away in fright when caught by a Chinese man. Her description left a vivid impression on my mind. The Burnbank street house was just across the road from the cemetery. The pieces of this story I had heard made sense when I visited the location in recent years. Martha’s described how Nanna would sing on the front verandah, and send her off to t get drink for her. This situation might help explain the reason for Martha’s strong aversion to alcohol. As a young girl it had been distressing to her. Nanna was a colourful and theatrical personality and danced with the Duke when he visited Ballarat. She was also known to have stated that she would marry a man who could give her a bucket of gold, possibly around the time after her first husband, Charles death, she had her young boy Edward to bring up. Martha was about 13 years old when Nanna Watson left Ballarat going to Queensland to visit her son Arthur. Martha slept that night afraid and alone in the empty house. The person who was meant to collect her did not come until the next day. She went to work for a family, a woman with children, they took most of the money that Nanna had left with Martha. There was a new baby in the house and the Scottish man in the house behaved suspiciously towards Martha. She was afraid of him and would hide from him under the bed. At this young age she managed to survive on her wits and sense of self preservation. It is not known how long she worked with this family. The place was from my impression, away from the town of Ballarat. Her very difficult formative years are testament to her strength of character and determination to succeed in life and ambition to provide the best opportunities for her own children. In 1905 Martha received a post card from Uncle Arthur in Brisbane addressed – c/o Mrs Styles 14 High Street Ballarat. Dolly Styles was a Ballarat friend and she kept in contact with her for many years. A letter reveals her living in Minyip in her older years. Martha is thought to have spent a few years working before she arrived in Melton. Miss Shebler hired Martha to help her in the care of her father and to assist with work in the Golden Fleece Hotel. Mr Shebler was a nice old man and mostly confined to his room and somewhat childlike as described by Martha. [The elderly Mr August Shebler died in February 1908]. Martha’s exact arrival in Melton is not known, but could be estimated as late 1906 to early 1907. In her room at the hotel she could hear the spring cart of Mr Minns going on the milk delivery rounds in the very early hours of the morning after coming across the creek from his house When she was 19, she married Frederick Thomas MYERS, son of Henri MIERS and Ann DOWLING, on 30 April 1908 ( Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia). Frederick Thomas MYERS and Martha Mary WATSON had the following children: 1. Frederick John Watson MYERS was born on 01 October 1908 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 07 February 2001.He married Mary June BATTYE on 18 September 1948 in Victoria, Australia. 2. Marjorie Gretchen MYERS was born on 21 February 1912 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 10 September 2004 in Frankston, Victoria, Australia.She married Herbert Vivian BUTLER on 07 January 1939 in Victoria, Australia. 3. Eva Edna MYERS was born on 15 October 1918 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 31 January 2008 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia.She married Ernest Wesley BARRIE on 25 October 1941 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. 4. Arthur Bruce MYERS was born on 29 April 1925 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 26 March 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.He married Olive Irene NORTON in April 1953 in Balliang, Victoria, Australia (or Church of Christ Footscray? (WB)). 5. Maxwell Douglas MYERS was born on 10 August 1927 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 03 May 2005 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.He married Rosemary Rebecca BARRIE on 31 August 1951 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. Valcia nee Twigg Lowrie granddaughter of Arthur Watson, daughter of Mercia and Val Twigg did extensive research on the Marshall family of Lerwick Shetland Isle obtaining birth information of the Scottish forebears. She also got the birth/marriage and death certificates of the Ballarat connection of Robina’s husbands and children. Copies were sent to Edna and Wendy during the early 1990’s. Bruce and Irene also obtained certificates and Myers family information. Wendy applied for certificates at this time.Photographs of Martha (Watson) Myers taken at different times of her life

Mother - Jane, nee Dunstan born Linton Vic 1862, Father - Thomas Allen, born 5.10.1860 at Kapunda SA. Names of family members inscribed on back of photocopy.Photograph shows family of mother, father and 9 children. Parents and 6 children seated, 3 boys standing, youngest child on mother's knee."Thomas and Jane Allen, nee Dunstan. Taken at-Moonta about 1900. Back row, Thomas Wesley, Herbert Stanley, Edward Uren,- second row, Joseph Nicholas, Emily Jane, next to Father,-Tresa Maud on Mother's lap, Albert Ernest-William Henry, with bow tie- seated in front Arthur John-Thomas Allen, born 5.10.1860 at Kapunda Sth Aus.-Wife Jane, nee Dunstan born Linton Vic 1862".thomas allen, jane allen, jane dunstan, allen family

BHS CollectionPages 7 to 15 of the Bendigo Circuit which includes some history of California Gully and Long Gully. Written at the top of the page is 'The Spectator' Methodist History Vol. 11, about 1900.Photos for California Gully include: Mrs Christian, Wesleyan Church and Sunday-school California Hill, Pulpit of Wesleyan Church California Hill, Lat Mrs Wood, Choir and Organist California Hill, Sunday School Teachers and Officers California Hill, Senior Sunday School California Hill, Trustees California Hill, Mrs M Fawcett, Executive Christian Endeavour California Gully, Some of the Best Workers, Long Gully Wesleyan Church, Sunday School teachers and Officers Long Gully, Executive and Officers Christian Endeavour Long Gully, Mr W Gard, Mr P H Ebbott, Choir and Organist Long Gully, Sir John Quick Kt LL D, MP, Late Mr M Fawcett, Trustees and Church Officers Long Gully, Mr J F Stephenson,bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - the bendigo circuit, the spectator methodist history vol 11, mrs christian, mr f clark, d padwick, john dawborn, w b batkin, john falder, wesleyan church, thos benson, william batkin, miss fawcett, mr and mrs matthew fawcett, mrs wood, rev a r edgar, miss batkin, andrew dowding, john dowding, jas thomas, jas snell, j brewer, j green, w jeffrey, w batkin, m thomas, jas cox, h jeffrey, l perry, a mccoy, e moyle, k harvey, l roberts, h hambley, j matcott, i jeffrey, f martin, j stirton, m trewartha, n moyle, mr penaluna, a thomas, rule, a chirgwin, m thomas, f thomas, mrs shum, mrs wood, joseph williams, e mattcott, w mattcock, r martin, mrs g owen, ellis, crossman, r williams, inch, w kidd, mattcott, hicks, miller, gilbert, roberts, thomas, arthur, green, r williams, m thomas, j h miller, r crossman, g owen, miss rule, dermer smith, j roberts, j perry, mr w c kidd, a roberts, mr w c kidd, g williams, j thomas, mr w jeffrey, miss chirgwin, mr w stephens, mr m williams, miss dennis, miss batkin, mr j johns, mr r williams, mr richard williams, mr clark, m thomas, m fawcett, w batkin, t t roper, rev joseph dare, rev john mewton, j h miller, r c crossman, w owen, m thomas, robert martin, john chirgwin, mrs martin, mr bickford, mr powell, mr tregear, mr scholes, john thompson, robert crossman, daniel reeves, j miller, mrs richard williams, tobias stephens, joseph williams, rev herbert williams, james williams, mrs m thomas, john thomas, rev thomas james, mrs m fawcett, jacob perry, rev charles tregear, j hopkins, walter jeffrey, w j stephens, w jones, miss b youlder, miss h hambly, miss alice perry, miss melita williams, miss annie chirgwin, miss e batkin, miss b arthur, miss e dennis, jacob perry, arthur lelean, joseph roberts, george willen, michael thomas, robert thomas, rev joseph dare, mrs matcott, mrs geo roberts, mrs joseph roberts, mrs a crosswell, mrs j m inch, mrs w c kidd, mrs r thomas, mrs a ellis, mrs g owen, mrs r williams, mrs j h miller, edward jeffrey, michael thomas, the argus, the age, judge higinbotham, mr clucas, mrs christian, queen victoria, mr and mrs michael thomas, richard williams, mrs thomas, william goyne, rev george daniel, dermer smith, j wearne, c thomas, j langdon, h thomas, e payne, jennings, j penberthy, martin, goldsworthy, white, jennings, campbell, pascoe, langdon, miss gard, mrs thomas, miss l berryman, miss e malcolm, mr peters, miss mason, miss l williams, miss a warren, miss s knuckey miss m bolitho, miss c allen, miss m jennings, miss s thomas, mrs may, miss j jenkins, miss a pickles, miss e woolcock, miss m knuckey, miss a hampton, miss f thomas, miss a thomas

North Bendigo Primary School operated from 1873 to 2010 when it amalgamated with Comet Hill Primary to become Lightening Reef Primary School, initially in Nolan Street before moving to a new building in Holmes Road.Digital Photograph of Honour Board from Bendigo North Primary School: Head Teachers and Principals. 1873 - 1879 Thomas Read 1879 - 1886 James Burston 1886 - 1893 Alexander Cook 1894 - 1905 James Robertson 1905 - 1908 Henry Barker 1908 - 1910 Darcy Lear 1911 - 1913 Charles McLean 1913 - 1926 James Houston 1927 George Ranson 1928 - 1938 Herbert Allen 1938 - 1944 Laurence Kennedy 1944 - 1947 Thomas Conroy 1947 - 1948 Laurence Kennedy 1949 - 1959 Donald Campbell 1960 - 1964 Noel Wearne 1965 Arthur Bryant 1966 Peter Ri\utherford 1967 - 1970 Earnest Harkin 1971 - 1977 Reginald Vogele 1978 - 1986 John Goodrich 1987 - 1989 Bryan Barras 1999 Graham Gordon Honour Board in Container 1. Decision to be made re keeping the Honour Board. Yellow Label

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection. A black and white photograph of Gnr Dave Thomas & Gnr Owen Herbert tense themselves and cover their ears against the concussion of the artillery gun. photograph, gibbons collection catalogue, artillery, gnr dave thomas, gnr owen herbert, denis gibbons

Peechelba School Roll of Honour 1914-1918 - list of students who served during the First World War as follows:- Christopher George EVERITT 5582 Born Bremen/Wangaratta Enlisted 20/7/1915 Aged 20 years 7 months Died of Wounds 26/4/1918 at Villiers Brettoneux France James Samuel EVERITT 3319 Born Rutherglen Enlisted 30/7/1915 Served with the 23/57/58 Battalions Killed In Action 18/7/1916 France William John RHODES 917 Born Wangaratta Enlisted 29/6/1915 Aged 20 years 8 months Unit 29th Battalion Wounded twice GSW left knee Discharged 30/5/1918 Henry RHODES 2779 Born St James Enlisted 6/7/1916 Aged 19 years 6 months Unit 58th Battaliion Wounded GSW Head right leg and hand Discharged 10/8/1918 Thomas Lewis RHODES Reserve Born Benalla Enlisted 15/7/1915 Aged 22 years 4 months Discharged 29/4/1916 medically unfit due to meningitis and lumbago - Later drowned aged 25 years in June 1917 at Wangaratta during the disastrous floods in which six people lost their lives. Robert Ernest PAYNE 5215 Born Killawarra Enlisted 29/1/1916 Aged 20 years 9 months Unit 28th Battalion 2 Pioneer Battalion Killed in Action 15/4/1918 in France James Joseph KELLOW 6836 Born Peechelba Enlisted 16/7/1917 Aged 18 years 7 months Unit 20/22 Reinforcements Embarked 21/11/1917 Discharged 12/2/1920 George PRESSLEY 3017/a Born Wangaratta Enlisted Cairns Aged 29 years Unit 52nd Battalion Embarked 27/10/1916 from Brisbane. William Hawden PRESSLEY 3016 Born Wangaratta Enlisted Cairns Aged 32 years Unit 52nd Battalion Embarked 27/10/1916 from Brisbane Killed in Action 20/9/1917 in Belgium Leslie PRESSLEY 5446 Born Wangaratta Enlisted Cairns Aged 26 years Unit 12th Battalion Embarked 20/4/1916 from Sydney Killed in Action 25/8/1918 Villers-Brettoneux Charles Reginald Walter CRAWFORD 2211 Born Wangaratta Aged 23 years Unit 24th Ballatlion Embarked 17/1/1917 Gassed and GSW R Forearm Discharged 3/5/1919 Charles BROOKER aka BROWN 1619 Born Benalla Enlisted Wagga Aged 28 years Unit 55th Battalion Embarked 14/4/1916 - Deserted on Active Service - Declared Illegal Absentee from 8/5/1917 Still Absent on 2/1/1920 and Discharged from AIF on 1/4/1920. In 1924 sought to receive war medals and informed Not Eligible. Thomas Erlsford HAYES 1337 Born Peechelba Enlisted Wangaratta Aged 19 years Unit 37/38th Battalion Embarked 3/6/1916 Discharged 30/4/1919 Charles John JACKSON 418/2nd Lieut. Born Rutherglen Joined 23/8/1915 Aged 22 years 8 months Unit 1st Div Signals MID Returned to Australia Discharged 30/3/1920 Walter Herbert JACKSON 2645 Born Wangaratta Joined 13/7/1916 Aged 32 years Unit 2nd Pioneers Returned to Australia 5/9/1919 Discharged 28/12/1919 Edward Francis KELLOW 3825/6837A Born Gippsland Enlisted Melbourne 9/8/1915 Aged 21 years Unit 59 Battalion Returned to Australia 10/6/1916 for Hernia Operation Discharged 11/12/1916 - ReEnlisted Wangaratta 16/7/1917 Embarked 21/11/1917 22nd Battalion Wounded GSW Returned to Australia 24/8/1918 Jep Frances KENNY 3041 Born Thoona Enlisted Yarrawonga Joined 16/7/1915 Aged 18 years 5 months 57/58 Battalion Died of Wounds 17/7/1916 James NIKLAUS 3881 Born 20/11/1892 Peechelba Joined 7/8/1915 Aged 22 years 9 months Enlisted Yarrawonga Embarked 23/11/1915 1st Machine Gun Coy/8th Battalion Discharged 4/1/1918 due to Trachoma Benjamin SARGENT 56 Born Peechelba Joined 18/1/1915 Enlisted Wangaratta Aged 22 years 3 months Embarked 9/7/1915 Unit 21st Battalion Wounded 11/6/1918 -Gassed Returned to Australia 9/3/1919 Frederick SARGENT 439 Born Peechelba Joined 4/2/1915 Enlisted Yarrawonga Aged 22 years 5 months Unit 23rd Battalion Killed in Action 2/9/1915 Greece Samuel Cook SARGEANT 2874 Born Thoona Joined 9/11/1916 Enlisted Bendigo Aged 24 years 6 months Embarked 16/12/1916 Unit 38th Battalion Wounded 13/10/1917 GSW left hand. 16/12/1917 Returned to Australia due to Injury Discharged 6/8/1918 Herbert WILLETT 2413 Born Yarrawonga Joined/Enlisted 24/7/1916 Melbourne Aged 21 years 8 months Embarked 20/10/1916 Unit 8th Battalion Wounded x 3 times Returned to Australia due to Injury Discharged 21/6/1919 H. TOOHEY ? Phillip James McINTYRE - School Teacher - 3207 Born Snake Gully Joined 29/9/1916 Aged 28 years 3 months Embarked 16/12/1916 Unit 37th Battalion - WoundedA primary school was opened in Peechelba in 1880 and closed in 1903 after a new school opened in Peechelba township in 1891 which was closed in 1970. This timber honour board was made as a tribute to honour and remember the Peechelba School students and their teacher who enlisted and served during the First World War. Wooden honour board with three columns of names, the centre being an "In Memoriam" listPeechelba School Roll of Honour 1914-1918wangaratta, world war 1, honour board, peechelba school