The story of 90 years of wool classing between father & son begins in 1936, when a young boy by the name of Stanley James Hucker walked through the doors of the Gordon Technical School in Geelong. Born in 1921, Stanley was 15 years of age when he began his 3-year course in Wool Classing. 30 years later, Stanley’s second son Denis completed the same 3-year wool classing course. Beginning in 1966, Denis attended the same Gordon Technical School and walked the same halls as his father before him. Stanley finished his course in 1938. He went back to the family farm in Lake Bolac for a brief period before enrolling in the Second World War. At the completion of the war, Stanley returned home and married before gaining a soldier settler allotment, north of Willaura. This enabled Stan to use his wool classing knowledge. He ran between 1,500 and 2,000 sheep for many years, while his wool classer stencil also allowed him to go out and class at various sheds around the area. He held his stencil from 1938 until he retired at the age of 60 in 1981. On retirement, his second son Denis was working in the district, managing a local property while also leasing land himself. Upon his father’s retirement, Denis had the opportunity to lease his father’s farm, an opportunity he could not refuse. Denis had finished his wool classing course at the Gordon Technical School in 1968, graduating dux of his class. He began working with a local contractor and started classing wool in his team. Denis gained a great deal of experience working as part of this team in big sheds of up to 8 stands servicing between 10 & 20,000 sheep. It was not all smooth sailing for Denis however, and he soon learnt an important lesson. Class wool the way you’re taught, don’t listen to the owner standing over your shoulder. At a clip of Corriedales near Casterton, Denis was pushing too many fleeces into the line of fine wool. This resulted in a notice from the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX) “mixing counts too much, submit three clips for inspection”. Denis was able to submit 3 clips with no further complaints, however, this proved a valuable lesson he would never forget over his long career classing wool. In the early 1980s, when Denis was leasing two properties including his father’s, things were going well until drought struck. February 1983 was the date of the Ash Wednesday bushfires, and saw Melbourne have three days over 40 °C for only the second time on record. This period saw Denis give away farming, turning towards contracting work instead. After the difficult times of the early 1980s, the next two decades were a good time for the sheep industry. 15 micron wool was selling for prices between 4 to 5,000 cents per kilo, double what you’d expect for the same wool in 2022. In 1995 a single bale of wool sold for a million dollars. This was a good time for Denis too. His contracting work saw him employing local shearers and shed staff. His team was involved with the shearing and classing of more than 130,000 sheep. After 20 years of contracting, it was time for Denis to transition into the next phase of his life. He gave up independent contracting, preferring instead to return to being a member of someone else’s team. In 2018, having completed 50 years of wool classing, it was time to call it a day and retire completely. At the annual Gordon Wool School Old Students Association dinner held in 2018, Denis was presented with his 50 years as a registered wool classer stencil awarded by the Australian Wool Exchange (AWEX). This is a rare honour achieved by few. As of February 2020, a total of 430 wool classers had achieved this 50-year milestone. For Denis however, his proudest achievement is achieving 90 years of wool classing with his father. The National Wool Museum is proud to share the collection of objects gained from 90 years in the wool classing industry by Stanley and Denis. This ranges from Stanley’s first stencil and Wool Sample book, started when he first attended the Gordon in 1936. The collection concludes 90 years later with Denis’ 50 years of wool classing Stencil. The collection contains many more objects, all telling the story of these 90 years, and the hard work invested by this dedicated father and son duo. Thin sheet of metal with letters cut to produce a consistent pattern for the surface below through the application of ink. This wool classing stencil belonged to Stanley Hucker. It was his first Wool Classing Stencil. It was used on Stanley’s property named “Yohhatnbu” in Willaura. Stanley gained the property as part of the Returned Soldiers Settlement Scheme for his service in World War 2. The role of a Wool Classer is to sort, classify, and grade wool into various ‘lines’ so that it can be sold for best market price. Wool Classers are typically also tasked with the managing and supervising of wool-handling teams. The stencil is used in the final step of preparing a bale of wool for sale. It is branded across the front of a wool bale to indicate the quality of the wool, with the classers number used as a seal of guarantee.Cut letters. “SJH / BOLAC ”wool classing, stencil, 90 years wool classing between father & son

This work forms part of the collection assembled by the historian Dorothy Rogers, that was donated to the Kew Historical Society by her son John Rogers in 2015. The manuscripts, photographs, maps, and documents were sourced by her from both family and local collections or produced as references for her print publications. Many were directly used by Rogers in writing ‘Lovely Old Homes of Kew’ (1961) and 'A History of Kew' (1973), or the numerous articles on local history that she produced for suburban newspapers. Most of the photographs in the collection include detailed annotations in her hand. The Rogers Collection provides a comprehensive insight into the working habits of a historian in the 1960s and 1970s. Together it forms the largest privately-donated collection within the archives of the Kew Historical Society."The land on which Swinton was later built was first purchased by John Bakewell in 1851 and later sold to Edmund Laskey Splatt in 1858. Splatt was a member of the first provisional committee of the National Bank of Australia in Melbourne and built the first house on the land naming it Laskey Villa. By 1863 the house was occupied by Herbert Henty. The Johnson family connection with the property began with the marriage in 1858 of Annabella Johnson to David Sym - owner of The Age newspaper and owner of the adjacent property Blytheswood. Annabella's brother, Francis Johnson, bought the villa in 1876 and renamed it Swinton after his birthplace in Yorkshire. The property was later owned by the artistic Colquhoun family. The house is one of the earliest examples of the Italianate style in Victoria - the outstanding element being the tower with its cantilevered walkway and heavily bracketed pyramidal tower. (Source: Victorian Heritage Database)"Swinton. Built about 1959-60. Chap.20 Swinton. Johnson - Col"swinton, swinton avenue (kew)

The Methodist Children's Home was originally the home of Mr Gulliver a chemist. It became the centre of a farm at the Home. When the Home was sold to the Catholic Church 1953 it was renamed 'Marian Lodge'. The Methodist Children's Home in Cheltenham was founded c1880 to provide housing for neglected children from the inner city. The Founders aimed to provide regular nourishment, a stable environment and integrate the children into the local community thereby improving their education and lives. However new settlers to Cheltenham area who were seeking a healthier and more respectable lifestyle for their families were not happy to share Church and School with the Home's Children. ( see 00561) 1950's saw a new direction for the support of children and families in poor and difficult situations . The new Methodist Burwood Homes Facility opened in 1951 and children were transferred from Cheltenham in 1952. The land was sold to the St John of God, Catholic Order in1953 who maintained an orphanage until Myer Pty Ltd bought the site in 1967 and constructed the Southland Shopping Centre c1892-1953 The Methodist Children's Home Cheltenham was founded to provide safe accommodation and education for neglected children from the inner city slums. The St John of God Order purchased the Home 1953 and the land was sold to Myer Pty Ltd. who built Southland Shopping Centre 1967 Black & White photograph showing a farm house that was originally owned by Mr Gulliver, a chemist and then the Methodist Children's Home was established 1892. Named Marian Lodge after the St John of God Catholic Order purchased the property in 1953 Back Hand written information st john of god home cheltenham 1953-1967, marian lodge, mr gulliver, pharmacy, methodist childrens home cheltenham 1892-1953, myer southland 1967, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, parish of moorabbin, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b.; bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, cheltenham state school no.84, methodist chapel cheltenham, methodist school cheltenham, beaumaris west state school, meeres frederick, meeres walter, education, early settlers,

Promissory note isseud by J.A.R. Williamson dated May 8th 1922 and due June 23rd 1922. Promise to pay Eric Broley 403 pounds and 10 shilling possibly for sale of property in Heinz Street White Hills.personal effects

Colour photograph of Kennedy's old stables, Barnadown, situated near the Burke and Wills Memorial site. Shed has timber uprights and iron roof, no cladding on the walls. Large trees behind. Property is situated near the Campaspe River.agriculture, farm, kennedy's woolshed

Green Glass Stoppered Bottles. Slightly Chipped On The Lip. The Moulded Label ''J.G. SPAIN Kyneton & Woodend.Lemonade.'' J.G.S. On The Front On The Back of The Bottle Are The Words ''This bottle is the property of J.G. SPAIN and must be returned.'' A Capital S Is Moulded Into The Base.''J.G. SPAIN Kyneton & Woodend Lemonade'' ''J.G.S.'' ''S''food technology, bottling, soft drink bottle

Photographic images of properties in Port Melbourne. Image may have been taken by a PMHPS member or scanned from a past resident or taken for real estate sale purposes. Spring Street - Numbers 21, 23, 64, 66built environment - domestic, spring street

Photographic images of properties in Port Melbourne. Image may have been taken by a PMHPS member or scanned from a past resident or taken for real estate sale purposes. Turville Place: Number 4A. Taken March 2015built environment - domestic, turville place

Photographic images of properties in Port Melbourne. Image may have been taken by a PMHPS member or scanned from a past resident or taken for real estate sale purposes. Hobsons Bay Parade Number 4 March 2005built environment - domestic, hobsons bay parade

Photographic images of properties in Port Melbourne. Image may have been taken by a PMHPS member or scanned from a past resident or taken for real estate sale purposes. Little Bay Street, number 1 March 2014built environment - domestic, little bay street

Photographic images of properties in Port Melbourne. Image may have been taken by a PMHPS member or scanned from a past resident or taken for real estate sale purposes. Pickles Street 157, 159 (2005), 143 (2015)built environment - domestic, pickles street

Letter to W.H. Walter Registrar School of Mines written in black ink pen from Messrs Cohen Kirby & Woodward View St Bendigo dated 7.9.1907 re a Title in the name of The Trustees of the School for the whole of the Mechanics property.bendigo, institutions, bendigo school of mines, w.h. walter registrar school of mines / messrs cohen kirby & woodward view st bendigo / the mechanics property .

Black and white photo of Game Family Home, 18 Gordon Crescent, Blackburn. Land at side of house belonged to the property, at left was an orchard, the whole surrounded by Pines, very neglected during World War 1. C.1916.game, gladys, tom, kate

Sir Robert Menzies and his family lived in a number of houses in Kew. He was the local MHR for Kew and for many years Prime Minister of AustraliaTwo colour photographs, mounted in a single gilt frame of the exterior of 74 Charles Street, Kew. During the 1920s, the house was the home of [Sir] Robert and [Dame] Pattie Menzies. The framed photographs were donated by subsequent owners of the property.The annotations to the photographs read: "74 Charles Street Kew / Home of Sir Robert and Dame Pattie Menzies / Early 1920s / Presented by John and Mary Curtin / May 2016".sir robert menzies, dame pattie menzies, 74 charles street (kew)

This is the home of Ernest Augustus Young (1891-1985) and Ruby Nichell Whitby (1892-1984) and their son Ernest Lance Young. Lance was born 24 March 1915 in Surrey Hills; after he married Beryl Mair. Electoral roll for 1937 gives the house name as 'Whitby Lodge'. Ernest and Ruby also had twins Clive and James who died in infancy. Buried at Box Hill Cemetery - M-*-0867 (family plot) This is part of a large collection relating to the Mair, Deakin and Young families. REF: Memoir of Laurie Newton (nee Young) - Her grandfather bought the land and had the house built. She remembers it as having pressed ceilings in some rooms and ornate fireplaces and tiles and leadlight windows in some rooms and doors with leadlight panels. Her grandfather was a keen gardener with an ornamental front garden and many vegetables and fruit trees in the back yard. Her grandfather sold the adjoining block (No 3 York Street), which had been used for growing flowers and vegetables, to John and Edna Jean. Reid. She also remembered that he extended the house and divided it into 2 flats, renting out the northern side for 20 years. Sold by Jellis Craig on 24 December 2010 - With formal living, dining, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, garage/ample OSP. Land: 18.2m x 40.8m (60' x 134') approx. Large 2 storey house replaced the house. Adjacent house (No 7 York Street) has been renovated. Colour photo of a rear view of 5 York Street, Mont Albert. Only part of the house can be seen but part of the roof of the house next door and brick and stucco chimneys can be seen. There is a greenhouse between these 2 properties.Red photographic processing stamp "PROCESSED BY / KODAK / MAY 85M"ernest augustus young, ruby nichell whitby, ruby nichell young, ernest lance young, box hill cemetery, whitby lodge, house names, mont albert

These bottles came from the Warrnambool aerated waters factory of Charles and Frederick Flett. They were sold under the name of Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd. This business was first established in the 1920s by Joseph Lescai who had a fruit shop in Fairy Street, Warrnambool (his brother James also had a fruit shop in Liebig Street). Joseph Lescai began to make cordials and moved his business to another location in Fairy Street. His cordial business was sold to a company of local businessmen who employed a cordial maker. In the 1930sThomas Hill then purchased this business, followed by the Flett brothers’ purchase in the 1940s. Charles and Frederick Flett, the sons of William Flett, a Timor Street tinsmith, also operated their father’s plumbing business for some time. In the 1960s Frederick Flett, the surviving brother, sold the Warrnambool Cordials business to Thomas McKenzie.These bottles are of interest because they are examples of the soft drinks bottles sold by the Flett brothers in the 1940s, 50s and 60s. The Warrnambool Cordials business was a prominent one in Warrnambool for many years. These are two glass bottles with a round base and body and rounded neck with a moulded glass opening at the top. The stoppers are missing. The bottles have the contents maker’s details impressed into the body of the bottle.‘Fletts Warrnambool’ ‘Net Contents 6½ fl.oz.’ ‘Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd Warrnambool’ ‘This bottle is the property of the Warrnambool Cordials Pty. Ltd. Warrnambool’ ‘39 L103’ charles and frederick flett, warrnambool, cordial manufacturers in warrnambool, history of warrnambool

These are milk bottles from the Warrnambool firm of Antarctic Ice. In the 1930s a pasteurising plant was set up in Warrnambool in conjunction with an ice works in Kepler Street, Warrnambool, known as Antarctic Ice (Good and Stevenson). This firm secured a milk supply from several dairy farmers in the Warrnambool district. Antarctic Ice at the Kepler Street site was eventually bought by the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Company and Kraft Foods as equal partners and the milk was marketed as the Sungold brand. A farmer, Kaye Ryan, had set up a pasteurization plant in East Warrnambool (Raglan Parade/Verdon Street) to treat his own milk in opposition to Antarctic Ice and later Sungold. Kraft and Warrnambool Cheese and Butter purchased the Ryan business and the Sungold operations moved to the Ryan site. Kraft sold its share of Sungold and in 1989 the Sungold plant was moved to the Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Factory at Allansford where it operates today. These bottles are of great interest, firstly as examples of the pint bottles in which we used to receive bottled milk in the mid 20th century and secondly as examples of the bottles used by an important local Warrnambool firm, Antarctic Ice. These are six clear glass one pint milk bottles. They have round bases and bodies tapering through to the neck with a round moulded glass top. These bottles were originally sealed with a circle of waxed cardboard pressed into a recess at the top but there are no seals with these bottles. .1 bottle has a slight chip on the base and on the top opening.‘This bottle contains milk bottled for sale by Antarctic Ice Products Pty Ltd Warrnambool’ ‘Bottle is the property of the above. It is loaned and cannot be legally used by others.’ ‘497’ milk supply in warrnambool district, history of warrnambool

A book outlining recreational activities available in the towns of Marysville, Alexandra and Eildon and their surrounds Paperback. Front cover has a series of colour photographs depicting flora, places to visit and activities in the areas named in the title. Back cover has a photograph of houseboats at Eildon Boat Club at Anderson Harbour on Lake Eildon.Property of Blackwood Cottages / available for sale at Office @ $3.00 per copy Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, alexandra, eildon, recreation

A book outlining recreational activities available in the towns of Marysville, Alexandra and Eildon and their surrounds Paperback. Front cover has a series of colour photographs depicting flora, places to visit and activities in the areas named in the title. Back cover has a photograph of houseboats at Eildon Boat Club at Anderson Harbour on Lake Eildon.Property of Blackwood Cottages / available for sale at Office @ $3.00 per copy Stamp of Marysville & District / Historical Society Inc / P.O. Box 22 / Marysville 3779marysville, alexandra, eildon, recreation

.1) “81” on the badge denotes owner was a financial member of the RSL in 1981. .2 & .3) Possibly issued to WWI veteran..1) Enamelled Returned Soldier's, Sailors & Airmen badge with metal crown attached to top. .2) & .3) Returned Soldiers & Sailors Imperial League badge..1) 66280 on rear. Badge remains property of League Stokes Melb. Copyright V80458. .2) Copyright V69575 Stokes & Sons Melbourne. .3) Copyright 65280.badges, membership, rsl

Newspaper clipping 11 July 1972. See KVHS 1030 and KVHS 0198The tree was found along the Kiewa River and indicates that Aborigines lived by the river and used tree bark to craft canoes to cross rivers and to fish in the deeper sections of the river.Wooden board with raised letters glued on. Surrounded by a wooden frame with decorated corners. It has 3vwooden footings. some letters have fallen off. See KVHS 1030Message: Aborigine Canoe Tree / From Mr D. Leys Property / Presented By / Kiewa Valley Historical Society / To The / Kiewa Consolidated School. / 11 July 1972canoe tree at kiewa

Warrnambool Cordials was started by James and Joseph Lescai in the 1920’s which was later taken over by a group of businessmen. Charles and Frederick Flett owned and operated Warrnambool Cordials for some time. It was later operated by Mr Thomas McKenzie before finally closing down.A common object associated with a well known local business business. Three clear glass bottles with neck with raised lettering. Fletts Warrnambool, horizontally on front centre, This bottle is the property of Warrnambool Cordials, Pty Ltd Warrnambool. Vertically on other side Warrnambool Cordials Pty Ltd Warrnambool. warrnambool, warrnambool cordials, flett’s cordials, flett.

Written on back of photograph, "1981, Charters Street from across its junction with Seymour looking north-west. Staley Gardens on left. Telecom property on right."

Jack Lundy was a well-known author in the Ringwood area as well as being associated with Ringwood Methodist Church.Written on back of photograph, "Big tree. Add two pictures together to show height". on second: "Big tree on Jack Lundy Clark's property, Burlock Avenue"

The photo shows children seated at the Government House Christmas party celebrated on the 9th December in 1972. There are 5 visible children on it and one of them is eating an ice cream. The children on the photo were showing interest about the celebration while enjoying a nice ice cream. A record that Legacy held Christmas parties at Government house for junior legatees due to the close relationship with the Governor of Victoria who was patron of Legacy.Black and white photo of children sitting on lawn enjoying entertainment at a Government House PartyHand Written on the reverse 'P7 LEGACY / Children at Government House Party' in blue pen. Stamped, 'THE PROPERTY OF MELBOURNE LEGACY / 9 DEC 1972' in purple ink.government house party, junior legatee outing, christmas