Ernest Buckmaster (1897-1968) was born in Hawthorn. He was not a strong boy and was taken by his grandparents to help on their mixed farm at Box Hill until he was fourteen. He attended the local state school. In 1913 he was apprenticed to James Beament, a signwriter and amateur artist. After he was rejected for military service, Beament encouraged him to join the Victorian Artists Society and to enrol at the National Gallery Art School. On 24 August 1945 he was appointed an official war artist, commissioned to paint the Japanese surrender in Singapore. He completed twenty-five pictures for the Australian War Memorial. Lothian published his book 'The Art of Ernest Buckmaster' in 1951. REF: ADB entry. Thomas Carlyle Lothian (1880-1974), publisher and publishers' representative, was born on 7 May 1880 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, eldest child of John Inglis Lothian, bookkeeper, and his wife Lillias Charlotte, née Smith. He arrived in Melbourne in July 1888, John having come to represent the publishing firm of Walter Scott. In 1912, on his father's retirement, he formed the company of Thomas C Lothian Pty Ltd. Following the outbreak of war, he formed the Lothian Book Publishing Co. Pty Ltd (from 1924 the Lothian Publishing Co. Pty Ltd). By 1918 he had published more than half of his total of some 230 titles, including, in 1916, his two most ambitious productions, Elves and Fairies, illustrated by Ida Outhwaite, and The Art of Frederick McCubbin.A black and white photograph of a man, wearing glasses and a suit coat, shirt and tie.thomas lothian (mr), ernest buckmaster (mr), windsor crescent, surrey hills, john lothian (mr), house names, york street, greenhaze, mont albert road, barton street, 'st abbs', 'tantalton'

The program describes the performance as 'original burlesque' and was written, composed and produced by A E Woffinden and A W Sutton, members of the Chatham Fathers' Club, to raise money for the school. There were 250 programs printed at a cost of one pound fifteen shillings. This performance starred 21 of the fathers with Mr W Crellin as the only female character, Miss Eileen Flapper. The Chatham Fathers' Club became renowned locally for the quality of its performances, repeats being given to other community organisations. In the publication 'Chatham Past & Present: A Patchwork of People' there is also a photo of the cast taken in the quadrangle of the school. The original program and photo were lent to the school at the time of the 70 year reunion in 1997 by Mrs Jean Lacy (nee Walker), whose father took part as a member of the jury. Many of the performers were also in the formal photo of the Father's Club, taken in February 1928 on the front steps of the school. The original hangs in the school entry foyer and is reproduced in 'A Patchwork of People: Chatham Past and Present'. In relation to names, these are better identified and the following identifications have been reached by referencing this and the 1931 electoral roll. The geographic spread of addresses reflects that when Chatham opened in August 1927, surrounding schools were overcrowded and some families chose to relocate their children. Albert Ernest Woffinden (manufacturer) lived at 14 Banool Road, Surrey Hills. Alfred William Sutton (clerk) lived at 528 Whitehorse Road, Surrey Hills. Mr A Davidson - not found in electoral roll. Walter Dallas Kinross (mechanic) lived at 72 Empress Road, Surrey Hills. Gilbert Leslie (Bert) Rae (sales) lived at 63 Empress Road, Surrey Hills. Mr Joseph P Braddick (mechanic) lived at 1 Northcote Avenue, Canterbury; now Balwyn (NB/ Name is miss-spelt Braddock in the program). Norman Patrick Smart (bt opr) lived at 61 Sir Garnet Road, Surrey Hills. Henry Albert Wysham (show card writer) lived at 9 Northcote Avenue, Canterbury. Mr Sidney Bessant (labourer) lived at 191 Mont Albert Road, Canterbury. William Morrison (teacher) lived at 37 Chatham Road, Canterbury. William Charles Crellin (breadcarter) lived at 59 Empress Road, Surrey Hills. Mr F Parsons - taken as Fred Parsons (bricklayer) lived at 2 Kaarumba Grove, Balwyn. Mr MacDougal (incorrectly spelt in program) is Dougall MacDougall (gas collector) lived at 5 Wells Street, Surrey Hills. Mr A V Webb - not found. Mr McKie - not found. Victor Harold Theodore Clow (civil servant) lived at 4 Talbot Avenue, Balwyn; listed as T. Clow. Mr M Walker (donor's father) not found in electoral roll for 1931; thought to have lived in Sir Garnet Road. Mr McLeod - a number listed in the 1931 electoral roll. Richard Frost (carriage builder) lived at 341 Mont Albert Road, Surrey Hills. Mr Allen - a number listed in the 1931 electoral roll. Mr J Tulloch - not found in the 1931 electoral roll. This is an example of 'home-spun' entertainment and creativity of the era when the sense of community was very real. It is an example of the fundraising efforts undertaken by school communities to provide 'extras' that would later be regarded as 'basics'. For many years the sense of community in this part of Surrey Hills revolved around Chatham school, the Benson Street Methodist Church and the football club, located at the Canterbury Recreation Ground.A photocopy of the programme for the Chatham Primary School Fathers' Club "Trial by Jury" performance on 16 November 1929. It includes the words of the song 'Carry me back to dear old Chatham'. It lists the performers by character and some details regarding the Chatham Primary School Fathers' Club.chatham primary school, chatham primary school fathers' club, theatrical productions, entertainment, albert ernest woffinden, fundraising, alfred william sutton, walter dallas kinross, gilbert leslie (bert) rae, joseph p braddick, norman patrick smart, henry albert wysham, sidney bessant, william morrison, william charles crellin, fred parsons, dougall macdougall, mr a v webb, mr mckie, victor harold theodore clow, mr m walker, mr mcleod, richard frost, mr allen, mr j tulloch