Hand-carved oak bible box with key from the Governor's pew in the chapel at Port Arthur, Tasmania. Identical carving on all four sides. There is a card taped inside the lid.Card: "This hand-carved Oak Bible Box came from the Governor's pew in the Chapel at Port Arthur in Tasmania. It was presented to me by Dr. Arthur Clark."

This volume of the Sacred Law was presented to the Ballan Shire Historical Society on the 30th September 2009, following the closure of the Ballan Masonic Lodge No. 205 on the 9th February 2009. The Bible is assumed to have served the Lodge from it's Consecration on the 15th February 1908 until the Lodge closed. It was presented to the Society in a timber display case with a glass cover containing as well the Masonic Compass and Square and a plaque reading "Donated by Ballan Lodge No. 205 on the Return of the Warrant, February 2009". The display case measures 60.5cm wide, 59cm deep and 19.5cm high.A black leather covered copy of the King James version of the Holy Bible, holy bible, masonic lodge

Handwritten inscription refers to 16th Reinforcements G.S.G (General Service Group). Transported back to Australia via Troop Ship SS Riverina. Printed by Cambridge. Printed at the University Press, for The British and Foreign Bible Society 146 Queen Victoria Street London.Was given to Richard Evans who was born in Chiltern Valley ( who served in WW1 )Blue soft cover fabric weave. Parchment coloured pages with small black print. 64 pages. No. 69029. Pt. R Evans 16th Reinforcements G G G Aus Imperial Forces Abroad 20/11/ 18 Stamped British and Foreign Bible Society Bible House 214/3 Flinders Lane Melbourne. chiltern, chiltern valley, richard evans, ww1, gospel st mark

Bibles given as gifts to siblings or prizes from Sunday SchoolBibles belonging to various members of the Maggs Family. 1 . Jean 1908. 2 Evelyn victoria Maggs 1910. 3 David Maggs 21st. birthday. 4 Eva Maggs 1911. 5 Eva Maggs 1914. 6 Chrissie Maggs 1934. 26272-1 Jean with Mr. and Mrs. Dimants good wishes Nov 1908. 26272-2 To my Dear Sister Evelyn Victoria Maggs with fond love and best wishes for her 13th. birthday from her loving sister Jane E. Maggs. Proverbs 3.6. 26272-3 To my beloved brother David J Maggs as a gift of sincere love for his 21st. Birthday of the 31st. January 1908 from his affectionate sister Jean E. Maggs &. Proverbs 3.6 26272-4 Eva Maggs 2nd class Special Prize May 1911 26272-5 Eva Maggs Presented by her S.S. Super H. L Smythe 25-12-14 also to my dear Alison from Mother Armistice Day 11-11 30 26272-6 Presented to Chrissie Maggs from Mother 24-5-34

Presented by the British and Foreign Bible Society to William Lionel Schwerkolt after he enlisted in WW1Schwerkolt family William LionelSmall leather bound book red colour. Gold embossed script on spine and top right front cover.Gold page edges, black end paper. Presentation British Foreign Bible Society label inside front left end paper.Paper label inside front end paper. Presented to Members of the victorian contingent of theA.I.F. Signed. Melbourne 1914books, religion

Book - cloth Khaki, hard cardboard cover. 462 pages, white, black printed pages.passchendaele barracks trust, bible, ww1

This book, edited by Donald MacLeod, was given in 1883 as a prize to Annie Egerton by the Rev. W.H. Scott for Bible Knowledge. Annie Egerton was a pupil at the Allansford State School. John Jones was the Head Master at this school from 1867 to 1891. The school was opened in December 1856 as a National School and is still operating. No other details concerning Annie Egerton have been found.This book is of importance as it is a 19th century book given as a prize to a pupil of the Allansford School in 1883 for her Bible knowledge. It is particularly interesting that a prize for religious knowledge was given in the 1880s to a pupil at a secular State School. It is also interesting to note the type of book given to a primary school girl in the 19th century – a book with strong moral overtones and some heavy instructional articles. This is a hard cover book of 836 pages. It has a dark green and black cover patterned with an ornamental pattern and gold lettering contained within a square box on both the cover and the spine. The inside front and back pages have a mottled green flower pattern. The edges of the pages have a gilt finish. The book has a bookplate on the inside cover and the book contains an Index of Contents, short stories, articles on various topics and an Index of Authors. There are many black and white illustrations and sketches throughout the text. The first illustration has a piece of tissue paper in front of it. The cover is a little frayed at the edges and somewhat blotched. ‘Allansford State School No.3, 1st Prize given by the Rev. W. H. Scott awarded to Annie Egerton, Bible Class, Senior Division, for Bible Knowledge, 21st December 1883, J.E. Jones Head Teacher’. allansford state school, education in the warrnambool area, annie egerton, john jones, rev. w. h. scott

The Hamilton-Smith collection was donated by the children of Grace Mary Hamilton-Smith nee Ellwood (1911-2004) and John Hamilton-Smith (1909-1984) who settled in Wodonga in the 1940s. The Ellwood family had lived in north-east Victoria since the late 1800s. Grace’s mother, Rosina Ellwood nee Smale, was the first teacher at Baranduda in 1888, and a foundation member of the C.W.A. Rosina and her husband Mark retired to Wodonga in 1934. Grace and John married at St. David’s Church, Albury in 1941. John was a grazier, and actively involved in Agricultural Societies. The collection contains significant items which reflect the local history of Wodonga, including handmade needlework, books, photographs, a wedding dress, maps, and material relating to the world wars. This Christian bible belonged to Grace Hamilton-Smith (nee Ellwood). The inscriptions indicate it was owned and used while she was at boarding school in Melbourne in the 1930s. It was published by the London printer Eyre and Spottiswood, established in 1739.This item has well documented provenance and a known owner. It forms part of a significant and representative historical collection which reflects the local history of Wodonga. It contributes to our understanding of social and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.A black cloth bound Christian bible containing old and new testaments. On inner front page proper left upper corner in pencil: "Grace W Ellwood/"Braeside"/Bethonga./Victoria/Grace Ellwood/Morris Hall/Sth Yarra". On inner front paper proper left lower corner in pencil: "Grace Ellwood/Morris Hall/M.L.L. GLS/1925-6-7".bible, religion, christianity, hamilton-smith, ellwood, wodonga, school, jesus

Donor's Grandaughter of AB Jonnesonserved H.M.V.S Cerberus 1800'sCatholic-Very large- carried in owners sea chest used by jonsson Victorian Navy off no 55.Holy Bible

As written in the note inserted in the front of the bible ,"This Welsh Bible was brought to Australia by John Morgan and his wife Sarah in 1865. With baby daughter Mary, they settled at Allansford, where John took up land"Acme" farm. Their other children Margaret, Jane, Evan, Lewis and Elizabeth were born there." The Memorial card provides the additional information that Sarah Morgan died July 30th 1906 at the age of 68. The date of the Bible 1864 fits with their arrival in Australia in 1865. The Morgan family have been connected to Allansford from that time. This bible has significance social and historical significance as the Bible was common in many family homes. This one written in Welsh shows the connection between the origins of the Morgan family and their new country. It is well provenanced and is well connected to the district.Dark brown leather cover over card.The pages are edged in gold and the front and and back covers have a rectangular scrolled design . The pages are not numbered.There is an envelope inside the front cover with a George Hose docket for threshing wheat, barley and oats and an In Memoriam card for Sarah Morgan who dies July 30th 1906. There is also a handwritten note with the owners details and a navy ribbon which may have been attached at one time.There are no inscriptions on the bible itself but the handwritten card reads, " This Welsh Bible was brought to Australia by John Morgan and his wife Sarah in 1865. With baby daughter Mary, they settled at Allansford, where John took up land"Acme" farm. Their other children Margaret, Jane, Evan, Lewis and Elizabeth were born there. There is also an envelope dated 2004 and addressed to Mr Bill Morgan 6 Vera St Iluka NSW 2466. Watkins Binder label inside the back cover.allansford, welsh bible, morgan family, sarah and john morgan

Reverend Tom Houston Executive Director of the British and Foreign Bible Society was in Australia to conduct seminars for the Society and the Evangelical Alliance.B & W head & shoulders gloss photograph of Rev. Tom Houston.C&N 30/11/1977, p. 16. The Reverend Tom Houston The Bible Society in Australia National Public Relations Department PO Box 507 Canberra City ACT 2601tom houston, executive director, british and foreign bible society, evangelical alliance

This photograph is of Angela Elizabeth Pearce, granddaughter of Tom Pearce - one of only 2 survivors from the shipwreck LOCH ARD. Angela Elizabeth Pearce had written in her grandfather’s Bible in childish handwriting the words “This Bible belongs to Angela E. Pearce”. Angela was born in England in 1925 and died in Woollahra N.S.W. in 1944, aged 19. She was one of Tom Pearce’s granddaughters. Her father, Robert Pearce was Tom’s second son. Tom Pearce is a famous hero, the rescuer of Eva Carmichael, the only other survivor from the 1878 shipwreck of the LOCH ARD. The Bible was given to Tom Pearce in recognition of his bravery at the wreck of the LOCH ARD. It is on loan to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village from Parks Victoria. The ‘official’ inscription in the Bible reads, “Presented to Mr Thomas Pearce, In recognition of invaluable service performed in saving life when the Loch Ard was wrecked off the coast of Australia., by the Loyal Orange Institution of Victoria, Protestant Hall, Melbourne, August 1878” The photograph is accompanied by a letter, dated 4th May 2010, and is written by Angela’s cousin, Pamela Dormer of Devon, U.K. Her letter includes the words “Dear Mr Abbott, re Tom Pearce’s Bible, As you know, I have been in contact with Mr Peter Yarnis about means by which my grandfather’s presentation Bible can be released to be exhibited with his other effects, like the binoculars at Flagstaff Hill Museum. In the event that it will be, I have enclosed a photograph to join it. When my son Bill Dormer was at Port Campbell he was about to handle his great grandfather’s Bible and was surprised by a childish inscription opposite that of his presentation, which reads (I think this is the way it goes), THIS BIBLE IS THE PROPERTY OF ANGELA ELIZABETH PEARCE. Angela is my late cousin. Her father was Tom Pearce’s second son Robert Strasenburgh Pearce. I and my brother Raymond Simpson are the surviving grandchildren of Tom, by my mother Edith May Pearce, his only daughter. Angela and her mother, at the beginning of W.W.2, evacuated from England to Sydney, N.S.W. but sadly both were dead by early in the 60’s. Robert (my uncle Bobby) went down with his ship on the Malta Convoy, code named PEDESTAL, escorting with other ships the vital oil tanker OHIO to the island. (signed) Pamela Dormer” THE LOCH ARD’S STORY The sailing ship LOCH ARD was built in Glasgow in 1873 and belonged to the famous Loch Line. She made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage which ended in tragedy near Port Campbell. The LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. The ship carried a general cargo which reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. LOCH ARD also had a crew of 37, and 17 passengers. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the boat out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers, and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef running out from Mutton Bird Island. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. It took time to free the lifeboats and when one was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "if you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open a case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance, upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. The media of the time had created one of Australia's first media celebrities. Everyone followed the story of Tom Pearce and Eva Carmichael with great interest and were disappointed when the two went their separate ways. It was felt by many that Tom should have proposed to Eva - given they had spent an evening together unsupervised in the cave and had drunk brandy to keep warm. Coleman Jacobs composed the music “The Young Hero Schottische” and dedicated it, by permission, to Mr. Thomas R. (Tom) Pearce. The sheet music was published in 1878 by the Messieurs Roberts, professors of dancing etc. Melbourne. It was on sale for 3/- (3 shillings) and in aid of the “LOCH ARD” fund. [This is Coleman Jacobs’ only surviving musical work Coleman Jacobs, accomplished pianist, musical performer, singer, composer, professor of music and music teacher, was born in 1827 and died on 4 July 1885, aged 58 years. Coleman Jacobs was buried in the Melbourne Cemetery (grave 461, Church of England section).] The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island and much of the cargo has been salvaged. Some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge following the shipwreck. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. The photographic is of significance because of Tom Pearce and his association with the disaster of the LOCH ARD shipwreck, which is of State significance ― Victorian Heritage Register S417 Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Photograph, sepia coloured, with accompanying letter. The photograph is a portrait of a young girl in a short sleeved top with a flower on her left shoulder. The girl is "Angela Elizabeth Pearce, granddaughter of Tom Pearce" as inscribed on back of photograph. Tom Pearce was one of two survivors of the 1878 shipwreck LOCH ARD. Included with the photograph is a letter from its donor, Pamela Joan Dormer, other granddaughter of Tom Pearce. The letter dated 4th May 2010 explains the connection between Angela Pearce and Tom Pearce's Bible.Back of photograph, written in blue pen “ANGELA ELIZABETH PEARCE / TOM PEARCE’S GRANDAUGHTER / PHOTO PRESENTED BY / HIS OTHER GRANDAUGHTER / PAMELA JOAN DORMER / 2010” Letter from Pamela Dormer verifying the connection between Angela Pearce and Tom Pearce’s Bible.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, angela pearce, tom pearce, thomas r pearce, eva carmichael, loch ard shipwreck, tom pearce bible, loch ard presentation bible, hero tom pearce, loyal orange institution of victoria, royal humane society of victoria, mutton bird island, coleman jacobs, the young hero schottische

The Kew Presbyterian Church was located in Cotham Road, Kew on the corner of Highbury Grove. The Church Hall was located next door in Highbury Grove. On amalgamating with the Uniting Church the buildings became redundant and are now the Kew Chinese Baptist Church.Original photograph from 1924 that records the preoccupations of committed church goers in Kew in th e1920s.Posed photograph of Reunion of Past and Present Members of Kew Presbyterian Young Men's Bible Class. The men are seated in 5 rows on a raised wooden floor. Wooden board hanging on the wall behind the men reads Presbyterian Church of Victoria. Possibly the church hall with stage curtains On front Reunion Past and Present Members of Kew Presbyterian Young Mens' Bible Class. 1924" On reverse "Reunion Some of the Past and Present Members Oct 1924. Unclear ?YMBC"kew presbyterian church, presbyterian churches - kew (vic), bible classes

Dark burgundy coloured leather bible with gilt page edges. The bible has been mended with black tape. There is printed sheet pasted inside the front cover of the bible. "PRESENTED TO THE Rev. Henry Worrall ON THE OCCASION OF HIS ORDINATION TO THE CHRISTIAN MINISTRY IN CONNECTION WITH THE Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church AT THE New South Wales and Queensland Conference at Stanmore Sydney Febr. 4th 1886"worral, henry, rev., wesleyan methodist conference

The book has a plain brown leather cover, the front of which is scuffed, stained and completely detached from the spine. On the spine is printed Bankes's Bible, an alternative title. The pages contain text, black and white plates, images and engravings. Some of the pages are torn, others have been repaired with paste. The dedication by Thomas Bankes, a clergyman, is to his Bishop Lord James Beauclerc. All the 's' letters are written as ' f'.non-fictionThis is a family bible circa late 1700's18th century literature, family bible, 1786 bible, warrnambool

King James Bible published Aug. 1934 Family Bible of Robert William Whatmough and Mary Whatmough (nee Hill), married August 4, 1839 in Manchester, Lancashire, England and migrated to Australia with baby daughter Jemima, arriving Port Phillip Bay 19 February 1841. Inscribed in ink on inside front cover: Jemima Whatmough born January 18th 1840 on Saturday Robert Whatmough born March 26th 1842 on Saturday Job Whatmough born May 11th 1844 Saturday Died April 12th 1845 Sarah Whatmough born September 17th 1845 James Whatmough born June 28, 1847 Died February 1st 1848 Margaret Whatmough born June 15th 1848 Died March 24th 1850 Jessy Whatmough born January 26, 1851 Inscribed in ink on inside front cover facing page: William Jordison’s Thirty knoul (?) Bok (?) 25th – 1839 ROBERT WHATMOUGH BOOK Presented by Mr. Ferguson Robert Whatmough Presented By the Teacher Mary Ann Whatmough born September 4th 1853 Died November 11th Friday 1853 Benjamin Whatmough born 25 July 1854 Died January 2 1855 Inscribed in ink on inside rear cover facing page over: 1852 This Book Belongs to Mr. Robt. Whatmough On the River Plenty September 16th And in pencil: presented by mr sanger Jemima Whatmough married Robert Fielding on June 23, 1859 at Fitzroy, Victoriabenjamin whatmough, holy bible, james whatmough, jemima fielding (nee whatmough), jessy whatmough, job whatmough, margaret whatmough, mary ann whatmough, mary whatmough (nee hill), robert whatmough, robert william watmough, sarah whatmough, tom fielding collection, plenty river, pioneer family

Black vinyl cover with zip. "Holy Bible B.L. Start 3791450" embossed on front in gold print. "Holy Bible Boxford" Embossed on spine. Inside contents of Holy Biblebible

Small black bibleTrooper Almour (?) 7th LH Rgt. ANZAC div.

Black and white photographic printOriginally located in a Filmpro King Size Prints processing envelope $3.01 Shire of Eltham 9/9/66 and noted as Calrossie Ave area and crossed out Eltham-Yarra Glen Road, Bridge Street to Elsa Court existing conditions mid 1967bible street, eltham milk bar, pitt street, road construction, streets

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques

Born Digitaleltham, bible street, bible street reserve, grove street

Born Digitaleltham, bible street, bible street reserve, grove street

Born Digitaleltham, bible street, bible street reserve, grove street

Six colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

Seven colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve