WW1 Nurses of Lara District, Victoria AustraliaPhotographs x 2 - Australian Army Nursing Service - World War 1Sister Sarah (Sadie) McIntosh 1885-1970 and Sister Catherine (Kit) McNaughton R.R.C. 1884-1953

Correspondence to & from soldiers in WWI..1) - .3) Rectangular coloured postcards sent during World War I..1) “To my hero on Active Service” .2) “Dear (Albert) After a long time on rail have just arrived at Bendigo” .3) “Hope I'm not intruding in gold lettering”documents - postcards, military history, passchendaele barracks trust

Captain Henry Southby, later 39th Batt AIF, KIA 12.10.1917. Refer Cat No 1906 for service details also 1903.2.Photo, sepia tone, portrait of a soldier Henry Southby with Boer War medals.photography-photographs, military history

Henry Thomas Ridge V57996, VX148845, CMF & 2nd AIF. Refer 473P, 475.10,495, 499. Medal and ribbon not mounted re H.T.Ridge. 1. War Medal 1939-45."VX148845 H.T. Ridge"numismatics - medals - military, metalcraft

This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. German War Birds Author: Vigilante Publisher: John Hamilton Date: 1933Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 940.44 VIG Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Public Library coveered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, german war birds, vigilante

Gordon Spittle was the youngest of Three brothers. He grew up in Creswick and attended Creswick Grammar School. Gordon purchased 'Mt Cavern' in 1912. It had 4 years of a 10 year lease to run. His mother and father took delivery of it on 1 April 1916. They lived there and farmed it until Gordon returned from active service in May 1919. S. Gordon Spittle married Violet Holmes and both lived at "Mt Cavern" until their deaths. Gordon died in 1942 aged 51. Violet Holmes-Spittle died in 1949 aged 56. Handwritten lower front 'Do we look down hearted?' Handwritten verso 'Egypt, March 23rd 1916. Dear Mrs Troup. Your very fine and interesting letter dated Feb 15th came to hand to-day and needless to add was delighted to receive it, and can promise you that I'll answer it at my earliest opportunity. We are now having a better time since we came to this part, as we are able to enjoy a little of city life, although we have a good deal more work to do, & which is mostly carting goods to & from the ships & railway stations etc, all of which is interesting & quite a change from our life on the Desert. Hope this card finds you in good health. I will now have to say au revoir for the present with kindest regards to Mr Troup, self and family. From your very sincere friends, A. Gordon Spittle."Two uniformed Australian soldiers pose for a photograph during World War One.chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, france, spittle, gordon spittle

Seven Australian Soldiers sit around a table during World War One. chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one

Metras, SuezSepia photograph of the Australian horse lines in Egypt during World War one. Verso: 'Portion of the Remount Depots horse lines at Metra.'chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, suez, horse

Printed on the postcard (verso) 'this impressive picture shows a Church of England service on the battle-field for troops going into the trenches, the Chaplain officiating from a small field altar. A number of men near around an altar with a priest during World War One. chatham family archive, chatham, holmes, world war, world war 1, world war i, world war one, egypt

White sign on linen by Keith Rash publicising the Ballarat Prisoners of War Appeal.keith rash, rash, prisoner of war, pow, world war, world war two

Holmes Family WW1 memorabiliaA Canadian Lance-Corporal receives the DCM in the field during World War One.chatham-holmes family collection, canada, canadian, dcm, world war one, world war 1, world war, medal, postcard

Harry Holmes was from Ascot and was a member of the 18th Company Australian Army Service CorpsColoured painting by A.R. Quinton on a post card from post war England.harry holmes, ship, canal, world war one, holmes family collection, chatham-holmes family collection, henry smerdon holmes

Polish Jews, D-Day, Hitler Falls, Pacific War 1942/5photo, general

Newspaper The Age Supplement 10/11/1996 War Memorial and Memorials in generalnewspapers, ww2, general

black and white photograph of a war memorial. Field gun in front of a Memorial rotundra.photograph, building, memorial