The photograph appeared in the MDNS Annual Report of 1922 and is taken on the veranda of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Nurses Home at 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood. The Sisters lived and worked out of the Nurses Home from June 1914 to 1953. They attended the disadvantaged in the inner suburbs of Melbourne. The Sisters and Matron are wearing the grey uniform and hat with a red Maltese cross is in the centre of the hatband which was introduced in 1921. These Sisters, plus two others visited 29.079 visits in the metropolitan area and in suburbs as far distant as Elwood, Glen Huntly, Deepdene, Essendon and Fairfield. Of the 1666 patients on the books 394 were midwifery patients nursed in their own homes. It is believed the Matron in the photograph is Matron Reynolds. In February 1885 it was recognized that nursing care was needed for the sick poor in inner Melbourne. The Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) was founded on the 17th of February with one Trained nurse (Nurse) who qualified under the Hospital training system, commencing on the 1st of May, and a second employed six months later, both working in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care. They provided high quality nursing care; educated their patients in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of cleanliness and good nutrition, both by verbal instruction and demonstration, even supplying soup and milk when needed. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bag containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron. The also supplied equipment, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing clean bed linen and nightdresses and clothes as necessary. In 1891 the first Nurses Home was rented for 1 year at £65 per annum at 66 Cardigan Street, Carlton; Nurses wages were now £60 per annum. A Doctor gave lectures from the Home to the public on the understanding and prevention of diseases. The Society decided to commence a Midwifery Service and Nurse Fowler, who had previously worked for the Society, was re-employed as their first trained Midwife. She began home births in August 1893 giving them Ante Natal care, taking midwifery bundles and providing clothes for the babe as needed. Following birth, she gave Post-natal care to the mother and babe twice a day for three days and then daily for a week, and longer if required. She resigned after twelve months and Nurse Wilkie was appointed to the position. As well as walking, the Nurses used Public transport in the limited areas it ran, though a taxi was used by the Nurses and Midwife in emergencies and at night. Late in 1891 the Society moved to larger rented premises at 49 Drummond Street and in 1902 moved to 188 Leicester Street, Carlton. The Nurses were becoming exhausted, particularly in the heat of summer. Permission to use bicycles was given to them in 1898 and the Society decided to purchase their own in 1903. A business man offered ‘new free wheel’ bicycles at £13 each, which included maintenance for one year. Bells and wooden frames were added at a cost of £5 per frame so the Nurses could carry extra equipment. Nurses bags were strapped to the handlebars. Soup was made for those in need 2-3 times a week, and if patients could not arrange to have it collected, the soup was delivered by the Nurses on their bicycles. Their use caused a change in uniform, with white pith helmets, and veils covering them and tied under their chins, now being used. In 1904 the Society relocated to rented premises at 5 Royal Terrace, Nicholson Street in Fitzroy. In 1913 a Nurse had her ‘board and residence, uniforms, bicycles and laundry expenses’ provided and was paid £50 a year for her first six months. At the end of a year her salary was increased by £5, and later she earned £60 a year. Over the years the Nurses complained their veils became wet in the rain and asked for a change of uniform, but this did not occur until 1921. In 1914 the Society was at last able to purchase their own premises, 'Floraston' 39 Victoria Parade in Collingwood. During the Spanish Influenza epidemic, in 1919, MDNS appealed for assistance to procure Motor vehicles so the Nurses could visit an influx of cases. Through trusts, grants and donations four 'Ford 'T Model' cars were procured which enabled the Nurses to triple their visits. It was recorded on the 21st of May, that the seven Nurses had visited 1,212 persons with influenza in the last three months, how many visits to each is not known. In the whole of 1918 the Nurses, including midwifery cases, visited 1,100 persons. It was also recorded on May 7th the Nurses were delivering 100 quarts of soup to the needy each morning. In winter they also carried wood in the cars to distribute to their destitute patients as needed. In 1921-22 many of the people nursed by the Trained nurses (Sisters) suffered from malignant and tubercular disease, often the Sister would visit to find the patient was desperately ill living in a room alone and no one there to even give them a drink. In these cases the Sister would send them to hospital, but if possible most cases were nursed in their home. During July 1921- 30 June 1922 the four Midwifery trained Sisters averaged 8 confinement cases a week and sometimes gave Post Natal care to 15 to 18 patients a day. At the time of confinement a Student from the Women's Hospital accompanied the MDNS Sister and if complications occurred the patient was transferred to the Women's Hospital. The Society often had to provide blankets, sheets, set of baby clothes and night gowns for the mother. In many instances the Society provided milk for many months. The midwifery Sisters often travelled long distances in the cars Through constant use the cars were in such a poor state they were sold in 1927 and the Sisters went back to using public transport, as well as their bicycles which continued to be used in inner areas until 1945.. The Midwives used taxis when a birth was imminent. Black and white photograph showing 9 Sisters, 5 standing at rear and Matron, in the centre, of 4 seated Sisters on a balcony wearing their Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) uniforms of grey coats, with revered collars and belt, over their partly seen grey uniforms with white collars. Five of the Sisters are wearing glasses. All are wearing grey brimmed hats with a Maltese cross in the centre of the lighter colour hatband. Part of deep metal scroll work of the veranda rail can be seen. A concrete wall is behind the Sisters.mdns, mdns matron, miss reynolds, royal district nursing service, rdns, melbourne district nursing society, mdns uniforms

The MDNS Trained nurses (Sisters) are about to board two motor vehicles outside their Nurses home, at 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood, to be driven to give nursing care to their patients who lived a distance away. The lady Chauffeur is probably Miss Sword who was employed by MDNS in 1922-23; she was also in charge of the garage. This enabled the Sisters to do more visits in a day than when using Public transport all the time. This image also shows the style of cars driven in that era. The Sisters uniforms are grey and their hats have a red Maltese cross attached to the centre front of the hatband. Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has had various modes of transport over the last 130 plus years. At first, from 1885 as Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), their Trained nurses (Nurses) walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of central Melbourne. As the Society expanded public transport was used, and bicycles were bought by the Society in 1903 and used in inner areas until 1945. During the Spanish flu epidemic, in 1919, MDNS appealed for assistance to procure Motor vehicles so the Nurses could visit an influx of cases. Through trusts, grants and donations four 'Ford T Model' cars were procured which enabled the Nurses to triple their visits. Through constant use the cars were in such a poor state two were sold in 1922 and the others later. In 1922-23 three Peugeot cars were purchased and a female Chauffeur, 'Miss Sword', was employed who lived in the Home and was also in charge of the garage. MDNS was expanding, and In 1929 Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) formed a volunteer Motor Auxiliary to transport their Trained Nurses (Sisters) to make visits more patients who lived a distance away. At first wealthy people offered their car and chauffeur, but then the general public supplied their own vehicles. They operated on week days when able and could take up to three Sisters at a time, collecting them from the Nurses Home, 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood, at 9 a.m; dropping each Sister at a patient then picking them up and taking them to the next patient before completing the morning round and returning to the Nurses Home at 1 p.m.. The Sisters were able to double the number of visits they did each morning and did their afternoon visits on public transport. At its peak there were 60 volunteers but this fell off during World War 11. In 1944 the Red Cross were assisting, and by 1953 were taking out 16 MDNS Sisters. Appeals for volunteers occurred over the years, particularly during the Tram and Tramway Bus strike in the 1950s, and when the Royal Women's Hospital had an influx of births and wanted to send the mothers and babies home on day four but could not do so if M.D.N.S. could not visit. During 1962 the Motor Auxiliary transported 34 Sisters who preferred not to drive themselves, but as the MDNS fleet of cars grew there was less need for their service and the Auxiliary was disbanded in 1971. Some Sisters used their own cars; even a motorcycle was used by one Sister in 1933. All these forms of transport were intermingled and in the early 1950s, and now as Melbourne District Nursing Service, seven Ford Prefect cars were bought followed by twelve Ford Anglia cars 1955. Having received Royal patronage; the now Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had its own fleet of Holden vehicles by the mid 1960s and the Motor Auxiliary ceased operating in 1971 as by then all staff employed were required to have a driving licence. Seat-belts had been introduced to Victoria in 1959 and District fitted them to their cars from 1962, even though they did not become compulsory until 1970. The Holden vehicles were replaced with grey Holden Torana vehicles. After several years the fleet was changed to white Toyota Corolla vehicles. The Melways Directory of maps was introduced in 1966, which was a boon to the Sisters, though it was a few years before it went beyond Seville, so a large paper map was used by the Sisters visiting patients in the areas passed Seville. By 2009 there were 598 cars in the fleet and the Sisters travelled 9 million 200,000 kilometres – this is equivalent to 12 trips to the moon and back. IA black and white digital image showing, in the left foreground, the frontal view of an early model, 1920s, soft hooded car parked on the road next to the gutter. Two front spoked wheels are seen, and headlights sit either side of the radiator at the front of the nose shaped bonnet.. '3758' is written in white on the black number plate below the radiator. The female Chauffeur is dressed in a dark coat and peaked hat and is standing by the partly open driver's door. The passenger door is open and a Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Sister is standing on the footpath behind the door. Another Sister stands behind her. There is another similar car parked behind the first one. It is partly obscured, its hood is down; it has spoked wheels and one of its headlights can be seen beside the partially obscured radiator. Part of the black number plate can be seen with two of its numbers, '69', written in white. A partly obscured Sister is standing by the driver's door and another behind the open passenger door. Another Sister is standing at the rear of this car..The five MDNS Sisters are wearing their uniform grey coats and felt brimmed grey hats with a Maltese cross applied to the centre hatband, Leafless trees and some buildings can be seen in the background.melbourne district nursing society, after-care home, rdns, royal district nursing service, mdns motor auxiliary, mdns uniforms, miss sword, female chauffeur

Modern porcelain or ceramic doll, belonging to 6th generation of Henry and Martha Sebire. Emma & Karlee Jennings.Porcelain or ceramic doll with blue eyes and red lips. Wearing a long sleeved white lace and embroidered christening style dress with a matching bonnet, a ribbon bow is on the bodice of the dress, and two white buttons on the back of the dress. Towelling type cotton body with panties.dolls, baby dolls, toys, leisure objects

These picture books were read to very young children in the early 1900's. A collection of 12 children's books for the very young. 1. A for Apple. 2. The Words of Jesus. 3. The Sleeping Beauty. 4. The Peg Family Number Books. 5. Father Tuck's Letter Box. 6. Nursery Land Adventures. 7. Chatterbox. 1912. 8. Range Rider Annual. 9. My ABC of Shops. 10. The Last Days of Jesus. 11. The Boyhood and Manhood of Jesus. 12. Fun and Frolic.books, baby books, children's books, children's fiction

The dress is on doll.A handmade cream coloured fine wool dress. It has blanket stitch hemming and crocheted lace around the neck, sleeve and hem.baby dresses, baby clothing

Dark green fabric covered novel, Mother's Little Girl by Ethel Turner (Mrs H.R. Curlewis) and illustrated by A.J. Johnson, with gold lettering on front cover for title and author with a gold illustration of two children sitting on a bank. Spine has gold title and author and floral pattern. Has black and white illustrations throughout.fictionAn Australian story of a family that has too many children and not enough money, so gave up for adoption their last baby, Sylvia to its aunt. young people's fiction, australian fiction, family life

9.5mm home projector - circa 1925

Bone fan with hand painted violets. One pair of black leather wrist length gloves. One pair of grey suede gloves (made expressly for Peter's Glove Specialist, Melbourne.) One beige beaded hand held handbag. Original Schonanek. Made in Czechoslovakia. Two lace doileys with dogs on them and pink embroidery around the edges. Two linen embroidered pillowslips with covered buttons.folding fans, fans, evening bags, pillowcases, gloves, baby clothing, doilies, detachable collars

Made for Mrs. W. Johnson's daughter - Gertrude.Cream silk and lace Christening robe and carrying jacket.Dress gathered at skirt with tucks and lace inserts, and smocking on sleeves. Circular cape with tucks and lace inserts.christening clothing, baby clothing

Worn by family of late Mrs. W.J. SebireWhite infant's long Christening gown - eyelet linen with tucked panels. Puffed sleeves. Cotton Batiste.christening clothing, baby clothing

Worn by Mervyn SebireInfants white Christening gown - heavily embroidered and smocked, with lace trimming and gathered sleeves.christening clothing, baby clothing

Worn by Edgar R. Sebire at age of approximately one year old in 1916, and made by his aunt Miss Lily Sebire.White child's petticoat with pleating and embroidery at hem.baby petticoats, petticoats

Brought from Scotland in 1905 and worn by her son Alwyn in 1946. Given to Mrs. Mavis Henderson (nee Hunter)One pair of cream crocheted bootees.booties, baby clothing, baby shoes

Worn by Edna Sebire, and other children of Thomas and Linda Sebire. Circa 1909.Pair of cream leather child's boots with pink pompoms and pink laces.baby shoes, shoes

Pair of new brown infant socks. Special dye.socks, baby clothing

non-fiction Howard Jones’ sequel to ‘Astonishing Tales from Albury’, published in 2018. More “sad, bad and mad” true stories including local murders, drownings and the scandalous deaths by malnutrition of 23 migrant babies in 1949. Also some bizarre or amusing events such as the bloodiest football grand final in Albury, a sensational divorce case, and some happy stories about local heroes such as Lauren Jackson, Lee Kernaghan and Fr Kevin Flanagan.albury stories, albury, albury local heroes

The Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection provides invaluable insight into life in late nineteenth and early twentieth century north east Victoria. The collection comprises manuscripts, personal artefacts used by the Haeusler family on their farm in Wodonga, and a set of glass negatives which offer a unique visual snapshot of the domestic and social lives of the Haeusler family and local Wodonga community. The Haeusler family migrated from Prussia (Germany) to South Australia in the 1840s and 1850s, before purchasing 100 acres of Crown Land made available under the Victorian Lands Act 1862 (also known as ‘Duffy’s Land Act’) in 1866 in what is now Wodonga West. The Haeusler family were one of several German families to migrate from South Australia to Wodonga in the 1860s. This digital image was produced from one of the glass negatives that form part of the collection, probably taken by Louis Haeusler (b.1887) with the photographic equipment in the Wodonga Historical Society Haeusler Collection.This item is unique and 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 domestic and family life in early twentieth century Wodonga, as well as providing interpretative capacity for themes including local history and social history.Digital image created from the Haeusler Glass negative collection. A young child sitting in the middle of the bush. The chair appears to be roughly made from surrounding wood and branches covered by a blanket.wodonga pioneers, haeusler family, glass negatives, dry plate photography

Wright’s Coal Tar Soap was a popular brand of household soap, manufactured by William Valentine Wright from 1867. The yellow soap was antiseptic, designed to cleanse the skin thoroughly. It was originally named Sapo Carbonis Detergens, which remains a registered trademark. The product was developed from ‘liquor carbonis detergens’, the liquid by-product of the distillation of coal to make coke. The liquid was made into an antiseptic soap for treating skin diseases. William Valentine Wright was born in 1826 at Aldeburgh, Suffolk. He was a wholesale druggist and chemist who had a small business, W.V. Wright & Co., at 11 Old Fish Street Hill, City of London, where he first sold the soap. In 1863 Wright moved his firm to small premises at 50 Southwark Street, Southwark, London, and not long afterwards M. Sellers and Mr Charles Noel Layman joined the partnership. The company's name changed to Wright, Layman & Umney, when Charles Umney (1843–1909) was taken into the partnership on June 17, 1876, after the death of M. Sellers. William Valentine Wight 1877. Rob Umney, great-great-grandson of Charles Umney, provided further details about the firm, adding that in the late 1960s, the Wright’s Coal Tar Soap business was taken over by LRC Products Ltd who sold it to Smith & Nephew in 1994. The current owners of the brand, Simple Health and Beauty Ltd are based in Solihull and the soap is called Wright's Traditional Soap ‘With coal tar fragrance’. The coal tar has been replaced with tea tree oil. There were concerns that ingredients in coal tar could cause cancer when a person is exposed to very high concentrations, such as in roofing and road paving. In January 2025 the current manufacturers still produce the Wright's Coal Tar Soap.The flier states that Wright's Coal Tar Soap was sold throughout the United Kingdom and Colonies, which includes Australia. The soap is representative of the many consumer goods sold at pharmacies and chemist shops across the world, such as Sambell and Son, who operated a pharmacy in Fairy Street, Warrnambool in the 19th century. The paper flier is rectangular and has printed text and a logo. The top right corner has stamped punch marks. It promotes Wright's Coal Tar Soap, made by Wright, Layman & Umney Ltd. England.Punch mark; "1176"flagstaff hill, maritime museum, wright's, coal tar soap, soap, bathing, antiseptic, washing, personal hygiene, london, southwark, chemist, pharmacist, colonies, wright's coal tar soap, sapo carboni detergens, punch marks, england, soap tablet, babies soap, nursery soap, advertising, poster, flyer, wright, layman & umney ltd., w.t. wrifght & co., soap bar, soap cake

Wright’s Coal Tar Soap was a popular brand of household soap, manufactured by William Valentine Wright from 1867. The oval yellow soap tablet was antiseptic, designed to cleanse the skin thoroughly. It was originally named Sapo Carbonis Detergens, which remains a registered trademark. The product was developed from ‘liquor carbonis detergens’, the liquid by-product of the distillation of coal to make coke. The liquid was made into an antiseptic soap for treating skin diseases. William Valentine Wright was born in 1826 at Aldeburgh, Suffolk. He was a wholesale druggist and chemist who had a small business, W.V. Wright & Co., at 11 Old Fish Street Hill, City of London, where he first sold the soap. In 1863 Wright moved his firm to small premises at 50 Southwark Street, Southwark, London, and not long afterwards M. Sellers and Mr Charles Noel Layman joined the partnership. The company's name changed to Wright, Layman & Umney, when Charles Umney (1843–1909) was taken into the partnership on June 17, 1876, after the death of M. Sellers. William Valentine Wight 1877. Rob Umney, great-great-grandson of Charles Umney, provided further details about the firm, adding that in the late 1960s, the Wright’s Coal Tar Soap business was taken over by LRC Products Ltd who sold it to Smith & Nephew in 1994. The current owners of the brand, Simple Health and Beauty Ltd are based in Solihull and the soap is called Wright's Traditional Soap ‘With coal tar fragrance’. The coal tar has been replaced with tea tree oil. There were concerns that ingredients in coal tar could cause cancer when a person is exposed to very high concentrations, such as in roofing and road paving. In January 2025 the current manufacturers still produce the Wright's Coal Tar Soap.Wright's Coal Tar Soap was sold throughout the United Kingdom and Colonies, which includes Australia. The soap represents many consumer goods sold at pharmacies and chemist shops across the world, such as Sambell and Son, who operated a pharmacy in Fairy Street, Warrnambool in the 19th century. The product has endured for over 150 years.Soap; yellow oval tablet of soap engraved with the brand Wright's Coal Tar oval."WRIGHT'S / COAL TAR / SOAP"flagstaff hill, maritime museum, wright's, coal tar soap, soap, bathing, antiseptic, washing, personal hygiene, london, southwark, chemist, pharmacist, colonies, wright's coal tar soap, sapo carboni detergens, england, soap tablet, babies soap, nursery soap, wright, layman & umney ltd., w.t. wrifght & co., soap cake, soap bar, medical, cleansing, baby care

Coronation Wishart was born at Linton in 1911, a son of Neil Wishart and Ethel Wishart, nee Bersey.Black and white photograph of a young child wearing long gown, seated on a chair with left arm on lap."Corrie Wishart"corrie wishart, coronation wishart

Handmade by the donor, using fabric from the donor's wedding dressc1990Handmade cream nylon christening gown with applied lace, satin ribbon and embroidery. It closes at the back with a false button and press stud fastening.Nilbaby clothing, christening gown, handmade