3 Page Letter printed on A4 printer paper. Bearing the letterhead of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. Postal Address Secretary PO Box 922 Bendigo 3552 Telephone number (03) 5442 1153 email [email protected] Mark Maddock Case Officer Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat Government house Canberra ACT 2600 28th February 2011. Dear Mark, Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak for Peter Ellis. We know Peter to be a worthy candidate for the award and I think that most people that know him would agree. I had been putting together a nomination for Peter that was suggested by a couple at our club meeting on a night when Peter was not present. Everyone felt that he should have recognition for all the work that he has done and it was unanimously voted on. I was given the job. As someone else has beaten me to it I now can speak for him on my own behalf and in my role as secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter Ellis is a very good friend of mine and I have known him since April 1975 when we met at a Saturday night dance. At that time there was a small group of us that went around the dances. We would go 100kms to find dances that were not on the average programme, dances such as The Lancers, Albert's, Waltz Cotillion and lots of Polkas. We bemoaned the fact that they appeared to be dying out in the Towns and Cities so we tried to get the Bendigo Old Time Dance Club of which we were members, to introduce these dances on to the programme, but they were not interested. After a lot of discussion Peter, Maurie Rayner, myself and several others decided to start our own dance club where we could do the dances that we liked, and to endeavour to keep them alive. We formed the Sandhurst Dance Club in June 1979 (renamed ten years later as the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc.) In 1981 Peter made two attempts to form a band for the club and in 1983 the 'Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band' was born, with Peter as the leader. Later Peter set up a junior section of the Emu Creek Band and some of these children grew up to become competent musicians and leaders of their own bands/Groups. Peter's friendship with the late Harry McQueen of Castlemaine led to and increased knowledge of the dances, calls for the sets and the various tunes used. Peter joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra in late 1979 and travelling around Victoria and interstate with them was of immense help in learning to MC dances, call sets acoustically and in collecting new 'old dances' and tunes. He met elderly MC's who gave him information on the way that they ran the dances in the old days. It was also an introduction to playing items at concerts and in reviving much of the old traditions of the bush. Demand for the tunes for dances led to Peter compiling a series of three books called 'Collectors Choice' which were published by the Victorian Folk Music Club in 1986, 1987 and 1988. 1988 was a very busy year for Peter and The Emu Creek Bush Band as they recorded two double music tapes for the club 'The Merry Country Dance' and 'The Waltz the Polka and all Kinds of Dancing' which were in much demand at the time. Also in 1988 he collaborated with the late Shirley Andrews and they co-authored the book 'Two Hundred Dancing Years and how to celebrate them with a Colonial Ball' for the Bicentennial of 1988. this publication, was instigated by the Government backed Bicentenary Committee, and distributed free to every municipality in Australia. In 1996 The Emu Creek Bush Band and Peter recorded and produced a single CD called a Friday night at 'The Spring Valley Hop'. In 1998 The Bush Dance & Music Club again happily agreed to financially back Peter to produce a series of CDs. The first thing he did was to revive and update the 1988 music tapes for CD. The first of the Qadrille Mania series of double CDs with companion call books was launched in 1999 then in 2000 and 2001. then the triple CD called The Waltz Polka & all kinds of Dances in 2002 followed by the Merry Country Dance CDs in 2005, 2006 and 2007. There were six double CDs and one triple CD produced which was a major undertaking that went on for eight years. The CDs have a great many tunes that Peter collected over the years mixed in with well known tunes and there are very few repeats. During this time we applied for a Grant from the Victorian Government to publish a book on the social History of country dances and dance instructions with Peter as the author. We were successful and published it in 2005. Our CDs and book have all been lodged with the National Library of Canberra as has all Peter's sheet music, boxes of it, as well as everything he has produced. At the 2005 Canberra National Folk Festival, at a meeting of collectors, it was stated that Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library. Peter compiled and produced his own project a triple CD called 'Take Me Back to Bendigo' in 2002. 2006 Peter and Emu Creek Bush Band produced another single CD 'Bush Concert Vol one Back to Goornong'. 2008 A pet project of Peter's was compiling and producing a double CD for the Wedderburn Old Timers it was of all the recorded material performed by them at concerts and taped by friends and fans. It was funded by Gavan Holt a son of the late Lindsay Holt an original 'Old Timer'. Recent publications are a book mainly music 'Music Makes Me Smile' a tribute to Con Klippel and the music of the Nariel Valley near Corryong Victoria. Peter Ellis & Harry Gardner 1998. The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dancing' a sheet music book for musicians supported by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. 2007-8 not sure of year. Peter has been involved over the years in collecting music and dance by himself and also with Rob Willis and the late John Meredith for the National Library in Canberra. He is continually asked for information and to write articles for people and to verify points re dance and music. He corresponds with like minded people overseas and frequently goes off to Folk Festivals all over the country, usually running dance classes, musician's workshops or just playing for dances. He is an excellent musician and plays Piano, Button Accordion, Concertina, Mouth Organ, Tin Whistle, Ukulele, Spoons and the Bones. He is regarded as one of Australia's foremost collectors and presenters of Australian traditional dance tunes, dances and some musical instruments. Over the years I have heard him referred to as the Guru of folk dance and music. Peter lives and breathes for this passion of his and always has several irons in the fire. He is a life member of The Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. The Victorian Folk Music Club, and The Bendigo Field Naturalists Club. He was a recipient of the David Squance Award in 1994 presented by the Folk Song & Dance Society of Victoria. Over the last twelve months for the folk magazine 'Trad & Now' he has written articles on the old dances and music and this is an ongoing project. This has led to our clubs present project which is the filming of the dances to be shown on UTube as it is referred to in the magazine. This involves members in hours and hours of practising the dances then filming them, and all with Peter's expert teaching and watchful eye on everyone. The Bush Dance & Music Club are and always have been behind Peter wholeheartedly in everything that he does and we are extremely proud of what he has achieved. His drive and enthusiasm for the preservation of music and dance is catching. People like Peter are absolutely necessary in finding and preserving our Australian Heritage, without them it would be lost forever and Australia would be a great deal poorer for it. The Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. and I fully support this nomination for an award as he is truly deserving of it. Yours sincerely Mary E Smith. Secretary of the Bush Dance & Music Club Inc. Peter's Timeline. 1979 A Foundation Member of the Bush Dance & Music Club of Bendigo Inc. 1979 Joined the Wedderburn Old Timers Orchestra. 1983 The Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band was formed. 1986 Collectors Choice. Volume one. 1987 Collectors Choice. Volume Two. 1988 Collectors Choice. Volume Three. 1988 Recorded Tapes - The Merry Country Dance & The Waltz Polka & all Kinds of Dances. 1988 A book with the late Shirley Andrews called Two Hundred years of Dancing. 1991 Across to Perth collecting for National Library with the Late John Meredith. 1996 Single CD A Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop. 1998 Music Makes Me Smile. A tribute to Con Klippel 7 music of the Nariel Valley. 1999 Double CD Quadrille Mania 1&2 2000 Double CD Quadrille Mania 3&4 2001 Double CD Quadrille Mania 5&6 2002 His own project triple CD Take Me Back To Bendigo. (Goldrush to Federation and Beyond). 2002 Triple CD The Waltz The Polka & All kinds of Dances. 2005 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 1 & 2. 2002 Book, The Merry Country Dance. 2006 Single CD with Emu Creek 'Bush Concert Vol 1 Back to Goornong' 2006 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 3&4 2007 Double CD The Merry Country Dance 5&6 2007-8-? A book of music, The Waltz, The Polka & All Kinds of Dances. 2008 Double CD The Wedderburn Old Timers in Concert.person, individual, peter ellis oam

B&W typed and photocopied sheets of Strathfieldsaye buildings. Two typed pages and ten pages of photocopied photographs (seven coloured and ten B&W photos). Information gained during discussions with Alf Ryall in 1997, during 125 years celebrations of Education at Strathfieldsaye Primary School.strathfieldsaye, local buidings., history

Copy of a photo of Ava Jane Hall, dressed in a ball dress. Original photo taken by Bartlett Bros. Bendigo. The dress has frills and bows and is about mid calf length. She is wearing a shawl over it and holding the sides of the dress out. P696 written on the top right corner. Sheet of paper with information of the photo. 'Wooton Lansell's granddaughter, Ava Jane Hall. The dress was made circa 1860. It was also worn in 1920 to a ball held in the Bendigo Town Hall. Photographed by Bartlett Bros. Bendigo. Bendigo Historical Society Inc. P696 photographed by Bill Hawking of Bendigo Advertiser 4/7/2000'.Bartlett Bros, Bendigodocument, memo, ava jane hall, peter ellis collection, wooton lansell, ava jane hall, bendigo town hall, bartlett bros. bendigo, bendigo historical society inc, bill hawking, bendigo advertiser 4/7/2000

Merle Hall Collection - Arts Bendigo, Various sundry documents- a. One-page notice (''To All Teachers of Piano in the Bendigo Area'') of visit to Bendigo of former Bendigo student Tony Gray, notice date March 1993 - concert in the Banquet Room, Capital Theatre 14/3/1993; b. One-page notice of visit of Russian pianist Elisio Virsaladze and ''Moving Harps'' (trio) for October dates Year??; c. A5 brochure of information and dates for 1985 ''for many of the local and visiting arts-associated functions''. (3 pages of functions with dates, summary of performance and location of show; d. Single-page sheet of ''Arts Bendigo Activities Oct. '84 - Sept. '85 with paragraphs of ''Major Achievements'' and ''Disappointments'' and ''Thanks''. Also - ''Just Happened of Still To Come''; d. Six paged listing of 'Bendigo Subscribers' List 1979'' (Arts Council of Australia) with * annotations of being ''Financial'' - mostly personal names/addresses but some organizations. Approx 150 entries; e. two-paged list of ''Arts Bendigo Members July 1985'' with annotations of s= Single and F = Family members - approx 65 names; f. one-page Brief Report of Program Subcommittee June 1982, with rough analysis of attendance figures for recent shows; g. 3-page report of AB Development Sub-Committee meeting of 25/2/1985; h. two-paged report on ''Possible rehearsal and performing spaces in Bendigo area as known at June 1988 by Merle Hall, Secretary - brief details of 7 facilities and a number of ''Other'' facilities, with a final section on ''The Grand Vision''; i. One-page ''Proposals from Development Sub-committee'', prepared by Ellis C Blainer 3/3/87 - eight proposals in small detail; j. Bi-fold flyer ''Membership Information'' with description of AB activities and membership details/application form (not dated); k. A5 invitation of 'parchment' paper to ''25 Years of Achievement in the Arts'' (27/101995) - a brief AGM with a Social Evening from 8 pm; l. one-page invitation note accompanying the formal invitation to the special evening for 25th celebration of working with the arts in the Bendigo region.

Newspaper Cutting with picture of male band members. Caption reads: ABOVE: The Bendigo Lyric Orchestra, photographed in 1901, with its conductor Mr E.R.Andrews, who was a prominent musician in Bendigo at that time. The orchestra had no connected with the Lyric Theatre. The photograph is the property of a Bendigo collector of sheet music and musical memorabilia, who is anxious to list the names of the musicians pictured. Any reader with information and names should contact Bendigo Historian, Frank Cusack, at the Bendigo Advertiser.Bendigo Advertiserentertainment, music, bendigo lyric orchestra

Document regarding the abandonment of tramways in Ballarat and Bendigo. Presented to State Parliament Sept. 1970 by the MInister for Fuel and Power, the Hon J C M Balfour MLA. Outlines the losses incurred by the SEC, replacement public transport system, the worn out nature of the system, the gifting of one Bendigo tramcar to the AETM, costs of track repairs and new trramcars, tenders for replacement bus services, retrenchment payments to staff, reconstruction of existing roads following removal of the tracks, and town planning and traffic aspects. Includes a photo of a bus and interior seating. A graph from 1934 to 1970 shows the service miles, passengers carried, average fare, expenditure, revenue and loss, along with dates of major fare revisions.Yields information about the 1970 proposal to close Ballarat and Bendigo tramway systems which was successful despite previous attempts when the Bolte Governments did not have the numbers in the upper house.Document 16 Quarto sheets, duplicated and one sheet with a folded colour graph.In ink on front sheet "D/T/S"tramways, ballarat, bendigo, abandonment, closure, parliament

Pamphlet advertising the Museum, with a sketch of tram 40, with the name "Ballarat Tourist Tramway" on the rear and giving visiting details and fares. Has a map on the rear showing the location and track along Wendouee Parade. See item 6296 for an earlier example. Yields information about BTPS Marketing c1975.Duplicated quarto sheet two sided on white paper.tramways, ballarat, btps, map, drawings, sketches, fares, operations

List showing the destination blind or curtain arrangement of destinations on Geelong tramcars. Notes that it is black letters on a white material. Also lists the coloured route indicators and how they were shown on a box above the destination roll. Author unknown.Yields information about the arrangement of Geelong destination roll and the indicator lights.Typed document with handwritten notes on a quarto sheet of paper.tramways, geelong, tramcars, destination roll, destination indicators, lists

Report - possibly only page 1 of a multiple-page report - "Inspection of Birney Cars at Adelaide", dated 11/12/1935 about the differences between the Geelong Birney safety car and those of the Adelaide tramways that were based at the Port Adelaide depot. Notes the condition of the cars, whether they have been overhauled, floor coverings, and brake gear. The Author (VP) notes that they are in good condition. The trams were subsequently purchased and entered service in Geelong during 1936.Yields information about the condition of the Birney trams at Port Adelaide prior to acquisition.Typed document glued to another sheet of quarto paper.tramways, geelong, tramcars, birney tramcars, port adelaide

Lists for each weekday, the work done on each tram, who was on leave, and events or failures, derailments - shown in red ink, motormen examined. Related item diaries: 8280 - 1960 8281 - 1961 8282 - 1962 8283 - 1964 8284 - 1965 8285 - 1966 8286 - 1967 8286A - 1968 8287 - 1969 8288 - individual sheets for each tram 8289 - 1970 8290 - Monthly reports from May 1965 to August 1971Yields information about the Ballarat Workshop activities, tramcars maintained and events.Printed and bound book - Collins Australian Diary No. 324 for 1966 - two pages per week, ruled with date and holiday information.ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance

Westinghouse part catalogue for their T1C tramway controller style number 15948, undated, possibly c1909 given a number on the bottom left-hand corner of the first sheet. Gives images and a list of all the parts including smaller images in the controller and their prices along with the part number. Published in the UK by The British Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Co. Ltd. London and Manchester. Shows both main drum and brake drum development, that is the connecting strips or contacts.Yields information about the Westinghouse UK products.Manual or document 16 printed pages centre stapled within card covers.tramways, tramcars, equipment, westinghouse, maintenance, instructions, controllers

List titled "Numbers and Particulars of Trams", dated 28/9/1970, split into separate sheets for single truck and bogie trams which includes the Scrubber tram. Tram 20 has been deleted following its demolition on 17/9/1970 (see item 1088). Gives details of where purchased from, date of purchase, type, body builder, seating capacity, overall length, overall height, overall width, Lightning arrester, controller make and type, Truck Maker and type, type of truck, axle type, wheelbase, axle diameter, motors type and maker, Motor horsepower, Armature bearings, suspension bearings, gear teeth, Air compressor make and type, Brake Valves make and type, Governor make and type, Weight in tons. Has a list of abbreviations on the base of each sheet. See also 8721 and 8722 for other versions - different dates and 8690 for a Bendigo list. Note: Framed copies of both Ballarat and Bendigo are held in the depot. Yields information about the dimensions and equiipment on Ballarat Tramcars operated by the SEC.Typed List of tramcars and their details for Ballarat - carbon copy two double foolscap sheets.tramcars, ballarat, equipment, lists, data

Set of 15 typed sheets listing: 1 - Geelong tramways truck fittings and spare parts - 4 sheets 2 - Geelong track rail dimensions - 2 sheets 3 - Geelong track construction layout drawings - 6 sheets 4 - Bendigo - drawings of track sections - 1 sheet 5 - Bendigo - track plans - 1 sheet 6 - Bendogo - truck equipment and parts - 1 sheet Yields information about the drawings prepared by the SEC for Geelong and Bendigo - whether these still exist is questionable.Set of 15 typed quarto sheets within a manila card folder.tramcars, lists, geelong, bendigo, track work, plans, rails, parts, trucks, equipment

Set of notes for the Provincial Tramways Maintenance meeting to be held in Bendigo on 30/5/1953 and in Geelong on 13/4/1953. Has a summary of actions from the 1952 conference (see item 8056) and the Agenda for the respective meetings. See item 8113 for the minutes of these meetings.Yields information and demonstrates SEC Meeting minutes about discussions between the three Provincial operators about tramcars and operations.Twenty Five foolscap typed sheets stapled in a landscape format to a folded manila card.secv, ballarat, trams, tramways, minutes, sec, geelong, bendigo, tramcar equipment, maintenance, trackwork, trolley wheels, motors, maximum traction, employees

Lists for each tram a summary of work done to the vehicle for 1969 by the SEC Ballarat depot. To be read in conjunction with item 8287. Was located within item 8287.Yields information about the Ballarat Workshop work for each tram during 1969.Hand written notes, blue pen on off white sheets, some both sides.ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance

Lists for each weekday, the work done on each tram, who was on leave, and events or failures, derailments - shown in red ink, motormen examined. Gives an entry for Xmas tram No. 32. Related item diaries: 8280 - 1960 8281 - 1961 8282 - 1962 8283 - 1964 8284 - 1965 8285 - 1966 8286 - 1967 8286A - 1968 8287 - 1969 8288 - individual sheets for each tram 8289 - 1970 8290 - Monthly reports from May 1965 to August 1971Yields information about the Ballarat Workshop activities, tramcars maintained and events.Printed and bound book - Collins Australian Diary No. 324 for 1967 - two pages per week, ruled with date and holiday information.ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance

Record of the monthly reports from April 1965 to July 1971, signed by the Depot Foreman S Lakey, D Irwin or acting F. Minns. Lists the number of brake blocks replaced and summarises the principal work done on the tramcars and special jobs eg replacing the destination rolls. image i2 - April 1965 to December 1966 image i3 - Jan. 1967 to December 1968 - including an entry dated 10-9-1968 with a list of depot staff, addresses and phone numbers, 17 in all. image i4 - Jan. 1969 to December 1970 image i5 - Jan 1971 to July 1971Yields information about the Ballarat Workshop activities, tramcars maintained and events on a monthly basis.Memo reporting book, with sheets headed "Departmental State Electricity Commission of Victoria" - ruled, carbon copy with heavy card covers with green tape binding. Form SF-466-12-0254. A sheet of carbon paper remains in the book as if for the next entry.ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance

Issued by the SECV in March 1947 as a Safety guide or Code of Practice for its employees. Has a forward by the Chairman with a good coverage of Safety Practices of the time, including rules, regulations, statistics, publicity, first aid, general safety, safety equipment, and hints. Item collected by the donor from the Ballarat Tram Depot at the time of closure.Yields information about the Safety Practices of the SEC in 1947 and its methods of educating its workforce.Book - grey covers with Arnos binder holding about 90 duplicated sheets with 14 tab sheets.secv, safety, handbooks, secv rules

Issued by the SECV in July 1954 with some 1955 updates as "Personnel Regulations Safety & First Aid" for its employees. Has a table of contents, covering the general safety items or matters at the time, including clothing, managerial instructions, first aid, first aid kits, and equipment. See item 8292 for the 1947 version. Item collected by the donor from the Ballarat Tram Depot at the time of closure.Yields information about the Safety Practices of the SEC in 1954 and its methods of educating its workforce.Book - manila cover with green and yellow striping on the spine, secured with Arnos binder holding about 114 duplicated sheets.secv, safety, handbooks, secv rules, first aid

The book is a record of work carried out in accident repairs on Ballarat trams from 20/12/1960 to 23/3/1971. Gives the tramcar number, accident report number, dates, labour, materials, date completed, and whether the work is claimable.Yields information about the Ballarat Workshops accident repairs.Memo reporting book, with sheets headed "Departmental State Electricity Commission of Victoria Electricity Supply Department" - ruled, carbon copy with heavy card covers stapled. A sheet of carbon paper remains in the book as if for the next entry.ballarat, tramcars, workshop records, workshops, maintenance, accidents, insurance