Sonya Skipper was a painter, sculptor, jeweller and writer. She lived at Montsalvat and later Renmark, South Australia. Contents Newspaper article: "Sonia Skipper", Network, April/May 1991. Biography of Sonia Skipper. Newspaper article: "A skipper's story", Diamond Valley Leader, 22 June 2005. Launch of Sonia Skipper's book "My Story: Tales from a pioneer of Montsalvat". Newspaper article: "Fine focus on everyday life", Diamond Valley Leader, 6 July 2005. Exhibition at Montsalvat of paintings by Sonia Skipper. Newspaper article: "A 'leading matriarch'", Diamond Valley Leader, 4 June 2008. Obituary of Sonia Skipper. Newspaper article: "Painter who left her mark at Montsalvat", The Age, ~June 2008. Obituary of Sonia Skipper. Newspaper article: " Vast vista by a Montsalvat pioneer", Diamond Valley Leader, 25 February 2009. Exhibition of works by Sonia Skipper held at Montsalvat. Newspaper article: "Sonia Skipper art for show", Diamond Valley Leader, 21 June 2009. Exhibition and sale at Montsalvat of paintings by Sonia Skipper. Newspaper article: "Life in the house that art built", The Age, 2009. Exhibition and sale at Montsalvat of paintings by Sonia Skipper. Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcsonia skipper, frances skipper, john michael skipper, lena wiltshire, justus jorgenson, matcham skipper, church of mary immaculate ivanhoe victoria, school of pacific studies canberra, alistair knox, helen skipper, saskia munday, arthur munday, mervyn hannan, joe hannan, jenni mitchell, lena skipper, walter burley griffin, justus jorgensen, julian ashton, sebastian jorgensen, helen lempriere, saskia killingbeck nee munday

Jenni Mitchell, daughter of Grace and Arthur Mitchell, is a painter. Contents Newspaper article: "Back to the drawing board", Diamond Valley News, 19 May 1981. Jenni Mitchell's early life. Newspaper article: "Jenni captures the cast and rugged desert", Diamond Valley News, 13 March 1984. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition of Wimmera paintings, 16-25 March 1984. Exhibition list: Jenni Mitchell studio exhibition, ?1984 ?1986. Newspaper article: "Jenni mingles with greats of art world", Diamond Valle News, 29 July 1986. Jenni Mitchell exhibitor in Melbourne Spoleto Festival exhibition, Ross House Gallery, Kew. Newspaper article: "Poet, painter a formidable duo", Diamond Valley News, 28 October 1986. A poem from Cornelis Vieeskens's book and story of connection to Grace Mitchell's art works. Newspaper article: "Eltham artist to stage her 20th solo exhibition", Diamond Valley News, 31 May 1995. Jenni Mitchell's "Survey Exhibition 1975-1995", at Dempsters Fine Art Gallery, Canterbury, opened by poet Judith Rodriguez on 2 June 1995 . Election flier: Jenni Mitchell, candidate for Eltham Council, 1989. Newspaper article: "Aiming to keep history alive", Diamond Valley News, 22 August 1989. Newly elected Eltham Councillor Jenni Mitchell's objectives. Newspaper article: "Poetry in paint", Diamond Valley News, 23 November 1992. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition of Australian contemporary writers at the National Poetry Festival at Montsalvat, December 1992. Newspaper article: "Eltham artist to stage her 20th solo exhibition", Diamond Valley News, 31 May 1995. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition, "Survey Exhibition 1995-1985" at Dempsters Fine Art Gallery, Canterbury, opened 2 June 1995. Newspaper article :Keen to get focus on art again", Diamond Valley News, 6 November 1996. Jenni Mitchell exhibiting in Nillumbik Festival's Artists Open Studios program 1996. Newspaper article: "Rocky mountain high", ?1997. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition of Flinders Ranges work in Mains Restaurant, Eltham ?1997. Newspaper article: "Inspired works", ?1999. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition of works from artist-in-residence at Bundanon and Riversdale, Adam Galleries, Melbourne until 8 September ?1999. Newspaper article: "Gone bush, in search of the still place", The Age, 2 May 2000. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition Portraits of Extraordinary People, Queens Hall, Parliament House until 12 May 2000. Booklet: "Sharing a History, an essay by JHenni Mitchell", produced in association with exhibition Captured at the Eltham Library Community Gallery, 22 February to 3 March 2002 Flier: "Artists Open Studio 2001-2002. Exhibition of artists participating in the Nillumbik Artists Open Studio Program at Eltham Wiregrass Gallery, 21 February to 7 March 2002. Newspaper article: "Not just white in sight", Diamond Valley Leader 3 September 2003. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition "To the Ice, Images from the Antarctic at Montsalvat until 7 October 2003. Newspaper article: "Works are poetry on canvas", Diamond Valley News, 2003. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition 'Desert, Ice and Poetry, at Montsalvat until 12 December 2003. Newspaper article: "In love with a world of ice", Herald Sun, 25 October 2003. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition 'Desert, Ice and Poetry, at Montsalvat until 12 December 2003. Newspaper article: "Display honours artist, wife", Diamond Valley Leader 28 July 2004. Jenni Mitchell had been student of Alan Martin, retrospective exhibition of Martin's work at Eltham Community Centre 31 July to 1 August 2004. Newspaper article: "Portrait due get to the heart of the matter", Diamond Valley Leader, 13 April 2005. Jenni Mitchell painted double portrait of Colin Royse and Allstair Royse for Archibald Prize. Newspaper article: "Brothers impress artist", Diamond Valley Voice 13 April 2005. Jenni Mitchell painted double portrait of Colin Royse and Allstair Royse for Archibald Prize. Newspaper article: "Poles apart but online", Diamond Valley Leader 2005. Jenni Mitchell's journey to the North Pole will have a website set up by Hugh Stubley and Stephen Pearce, Tribity Digital Solutions. Newspaper article: "Going to extremes for ideas", Diamond Valley Leader, 1 June 2005. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition "Images of the Antarctic" at Dickerson Gallery 7 June to 3 July 2005. Newspaper article: "Works are poetry on canvas", Diamond Valley News, ~2005. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition "Desert, Ice and Poetry" at Montsalvat until 12 December 2005. Newspaper article: "Places for painting", Diamond Valley Leader, 2 November 2005. Jenni Mitchell organising plein air painting workshops around Eltham for students. Newspaper article: "Spirit of past inspires artist", Diamond Valley Leader, 1 November 2006. Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan have opened a studio at Montsalvat, appealing for more volunteers. Newspaper article: "Art in Action", Heidelberg and Valley Weekly, 31 October 2006. Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan's Working Studio Gallery at Montsalvat. Newspaper article: "Honey lures art taste to sport", Diamond Valley Leader 11 July 2007. Jenni Mitchell's portrait of Gary Honey entered for Basil Sellers Art Prize., on show at Gateway Galleries Eltham as part of her Extra-Ordinary People series. Newspaper article: "Celebrate history and her story", Diamond Valley Leader, 20 February 2008. Jenni Mitchell and Grace Mitchell already nominated for a Nillumbik Women's Network publication. Newspaper article: "Aura of northern lights draws Eltham artist", Diamond Valley Leader, 13 January 2010. NewspaperJenni Mitchel will travel o a Norwegian cruise ship for six weeks. Newspaper article: "Brush with fame", Banyule and Nillumbik Weekly, 28 September 2010. Jenni Mitchell's house and studio, and her exhibition "From the Edge" at Montsalvat until 30 September 2010. Talk flier: "A visual presentation and floor talk" by Jenni Mitchell for her exhibition "From the Edge" 16 September 2010. Exhibtion flier: "From the Edge" exhibition of painting and photography by Jenni Mitchell, Montsalvat 3-30 September 2010. Newspaper article: "Home is where the art is", Diamond Valley Leader, 16 November 2011. Jenni Mitchell's early life with Grace Mitchell, and exhibition as part of Artists Open Studios. Newspaper article: "Artists visit Mongolia", Diamond Valley Leader, 25 April 2012. Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan will spend seven weeks in Mongolia, exhibiting at the National Museum of Mongolia. Flier: Open Studio, Jenni Mitchell, Mervyn Hannan, Grace Mitchell, 5-6 May 2012. Newspaper article: "Shared love fires artists", Diamond Valley Leader, 4 July 2012. Exhibition of works by Mongolian artist Tugsoyun Sodnom, Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan at Montsalvat. Newspaper article: "Tribute to an art legend", Diamond Valley Leader, 26 September 2012. Exhibition "Grace Mitchell" A selected Retrospective" to open at South Fine Art Studios and Gallery on 7 October 2012. Newsletter article: "Jenni Mitchell - My mother Grace", Eltham District Historical Society No.207 November 2012. Exhibition notes: "The Retro Eltham Show", Eltham South Fine Art Studios and Gallery, 14 April to 9 June 2013. Newspaper article: "Jenni salutes Mongolia", Diamond Valley Leader, 12 November 2013. Jenni Mitchell's exhibition "Two Mongolian Journeys" at Eltham South Fine Art Gallery until 24 December 2013. Flier: Eltham South Fine Art Studios and Gallery, 6 Mount Pleasant Road, undated. Newspaper article: "Moving on is not without a shockwave", Diamond Valley Leader, 26 October 2016. Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan are moving to Hamilton, selling their Mt Pleasant Road property and gallery Newspaper article: "Great Grampians, It's Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan!", Jenni Mitchell and Mervyn Hannan's exhibtion at Streamline Publishing's Gallery, opened by Vicki Ward, 7-28 September 2022.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcjenni mitchell, grace mitchell, cornelis vieeskens, dempsters fine art gallery, judith rodriguez, montsalvat eltham, professor a d hope, judith wright, geoffrey eggleston, shelton lea, montsalvat poetry festival, artists open studios, mervyn hannan, south fine art studios and gallery, jennifer mitchell, ken taylor, nic taylor, ross house gallery kew, melbourne spoleto festival, brian pearce, robert wilson, bundanon, adam galleries, eltham wiregrass gallery, alan martin, eltham community gallery, eltham cemetery, cemeteries and crematoria bill, isla heddle, nillumbik cemetery trust, michael dobson, tpmy raimoc, belinda clarkson, friends of nillumbik, catherine dale, allstair royse, archibald prize, dickerson galley, hugh stubley, stephen pearce, trinity digital solutions, gateway galleries eltham, gary honey, basil sellers art prize, nillumbik women's network, warwick leeson, national museum of mongolia, tugsoyun sodnom, michelle morgan, zanzy community choir, eltham south fine art gallery, streamline publishing's gallery, vicki ward, sonia skipper, joe hannan, robert marshall, hamilton regional gallery, petschel house hamilton, colin rouse, st. katherine's church, st helena

Sumner Berg was born in the small logging town of Toledo in Oregon, USA. He came to Australia in 1970 as a teacher. Prior to teaching, he travelled in Africa and joined the peace corps. Upon arriving in Australia, he was originally placed in Melbourne, then transferred to Beechworth in 1971, and has since taught and lived there, teaching biology at Beechworth High School. He is a nature enthusiast and animal rights activist. 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.Sumner Berg’s story is significant because he provides an opinion on life and schooling differences between America and Beechworth during the 1970s. His story also presents a perspective on teaching in Beechworth and what it was like to emigrate from America in the 1970s.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.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, jennifer williams, twentieth century, berg, sumner berg, usa, toledo, oregon, teaching, nature, animal rights

Francis Blair was born on January 17th, 1910. He was born in Bendigo, and lived in Daylesford from pre-school to the age of thirteen. His father was a miner who died in an explosion when he was one years old. As a result he was handed from relation to relation, commenting that he can never remember seeing his mother. He has a sister and aunt who owned a hotel in Daylesford. His sister was placed in the local convent to be looked after. He overheard his aunt talking about having him work in a drapers store, and not liking the idea, took a bicycle and rode off. He headed to Bendigo, staying with a relative where he eventually got a job at a wholesale food manufacturing company, making jelly crystals, custard powders and other things. He arrived in Beechworth in 1952, due to having built up a consultancy in the food manufacturing business. When he moved to Beechworth he had no prior contacts except the firm that was in Beechworth (Beechworth Brewery). He eventually became a well known personality around Beechworth, becoming president of the hospital and the bowls club. 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.Francis Blair's story is significant because he details how many food and beverages were crafted in the 1900s in Victoria. His story also allows the craft to stay alive by detailing the different aspects required to create specific food and beverage items.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.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum

Mr Forrest was born on the 11th of November 1916 in Beechworth. Mrs Forrest was also born in Beechworth. Mr and Mrs Forrest's families have strong association with Beechworth's farming community, especially when it came to rearing sheep and cattle. 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.Although Beechworth is famous for its history in gold, the project by Jennifer Williams is significant as it captures the everyday life and struggles of residents living in Beechworth during the twentieth century. Mr and Mrs Forrest’s story is significant as their story brings to light the life on a farm in Beechworth. It gives insight into not only the Forrest’s role in Beechworth’s farming, but it also gives insight into the changed Beechworth went through during and after the war period.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.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, forrest, mr and mrs forrest, farm, farming

Ken Howe was born on the 9th February 1941 in Beechworth. His parents came from Everton. His mothers parents were from Northern Island and his fathers parents from Everton. They were farmers and did not come to Beechworth for gold. Ken left school when he was 13 and a half and worked at the Zwar brothers Tannery for four years. He then went on to work at with the Forest Commission. Ken discusses his job's, family, the arrival of Baltic immigrants after world war 2, The impact of the story of Kelly's in his life and just life in general at Beechworth. 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.Ken Howe's story offers an insight into life in Beechworth from the 1940's onwards, he details the various jobs that occurred in the Zwar brothers tannery factory, the tasks that occurred for the forest commission. He also provides insight into the role the Kelly story played in their lives and the significant places were incidents occurred. His story also offers a look into everyday Beechworth life and how the baltic immigrants after World War 2 integrated into the Australian lifestyle by working at the Zwar brothers tannery. 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.Mr Ken Howe /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, ken howe, howe, everton, northern island, farmers, zwar brothers tannery, glue, forest commission, family

Bill Gerrard was born in Albury in 1934 and moved to Beechworth in 1960 when his wife was employed as a nurse at Mayday Hills Hospital, later becoming nurse-in-charge. Gerrard first worked for the local railway and then as a taxi driver in Beechworth, and was involved in volunteer fund-raising activities such as raffles for charitable causes. 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.Mr Bill Gerrard's account of his life in Beechworth and the local area during the mid-to-late 20th century is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. He recounts aspects of community life and working conditions in Beechworth, particularly during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as conditions for staff and patients at Mayday Hills Hospital where his wife worked during that period. His story also provides insights into economic hardhsip and the role of voluntary fundraising in the Beechworth community. 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.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.Mr Bill Gerrard /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, bill gerrard, mayday hills hospital, taxi driver, beechworth railway, religion, beechworth 1960s, beechworth 1970s, social welfare, community cohesion, twentieth-century working conditions, twentieth-century regional victoria, hibernian hotel, fund-raising

In this interview we hear from Don and Bobbie Hayes who met and were married in Beechworth. Mrs Hayes was born in Beechworth to a blacksmith and a teacher who had moved to the area not long before she was born in 1925. She discusses her family and the struggle her mother had being a city woman relocated to the bush and into a family who didn't accept her for her Methodist religious beliefs as they were a staunch Catholic family. After working in the Tannery when they first moved to Beechworth from Melbourne, Don got a job in the 1950's at the Beechworth Mental hospital known as Mayday Hills (est. 1862) and continued working there for the next thirty six years. Starting as a nurse Don would be one of three or four staff known then as attendants, who would oversee up to forty patients in a ward taking them out to work the land and gardens or chop wood on the grounds. Mrs Hayes also worked in the Hospital and discusses the need at the time to be earning to pay for large medical bills that came from two of their children, one having a congenital heart problem which was not covered by hospital benefits and the other displaced hips that required surgery. By the end of his time working at the hospital, Don was in charge of the patient training centre where those destined for discharge would be trained on how to cope in the world outside of the hospital grounds they were so used to. Both talk openly and with heartfelt candour, recalling their years spent among the patients of the hospital community, their sense of humour and compassion are evident and although the times and the jobs were definitely hard and the wages low, this couple cared deeply about the people they worked with and sit among those people from the local area who established Beechworth as a significant social welfare region. 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.The significance of this oral history lies in the firsthand accounts from two people who were directly involved in the significant nursing work undertaken at Mayday Hills Mental hospital from the 1950's. Hearing the stories from those who were there and had lived experience, adds depth and we gain valuable insight into how and what the asylum was like for those who worked there and colourful details about the kinds of patients they encountered too, it adds human and personal context to what could otherwise become statistic and abstract information about a historic site. 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.listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, mayday hills hospital, may day hills, beechworth mental asylum, mental hospital, asylum, nursing, hospital, patient training centre, patients, social welfare