Black bound book with silver writing on spine. Dust jacket has collage of photographs on front, spine is black with white writing on it.non-fiction'Mercy trains - Australian Army Ambulance trains during World War II recounts the hitherto untold story of trains provided by Australia's State railway departments to convey the tens of thousands of the armed force's sick and wounded needing transportation across the continent. Conceived as large-scale ambulances to evacuate battle casualties suffered on Australian soil in the event of a landing by enemy forces, their role changed when Australia was spared the trauma of invasion. Instead, the trains becam mobile hospitals: their task to convey invalids from all allied (and enemy) forces to medical centres throughout the nation. One major assignment was to bring south from Queensland casualties evacuated from the battlefields of Papua-New Guinea, whose numbers reached crisis proportions at the close of 1942 and into early 1943. The trains were operated by United States Army personnel for twelve months, one in New South Wales and one in Queensland. Author Jim Harvey spent three years searching through Army (both Australian and U.S.) and railway department files and what he found was a story of demanding military, a penny-pinching government prepared to endanger the lives of train staff rather than permit necessary improvements, some railway operating problems, fires, more than a fair share of floods, a bombing attack, examples of a generosity from caring local communities, a dexicated staff of doctors, nurses, medical orderlies and cooks, supported at all times by sympathetic railwayment of all grades.' [from inside front dust jacked]australian nurses, world war two, wwii, ww2, papua new guinea, pacific theatre, homefront, australia

Program produced as part of the open air play peformed in Hurstbridge twice on the 4th and 12th of October 2024. Contents include: Allwood history - Allwood today - Construction of The Bridge - Cast - Synopsis - Directors - Crew - Hearfelt thanks and tribute to Pam Lawson. The Premiere of the open air play The Bridge performance at Hurstbridge was by members of the Allwood Neighbourhood House and the Hurstbridge Community. To commemorate 100 years of Hurstbridge township, the production was led by local historian David Kerrigan who co-wrote the play with Keira de Hoog. The quiet life of the Diamond Creek district was shattered on the 4th October 1866 when a visitor arrived seeking food and shelter. What followed has become part of the Hurstbridge story. The death of Henry Hurst by the bushranger Robert Burke and the subsequent inquest, trial and execution of Burke captured the attention of the nation. News of the event was reported nationally and in UK newspapers. Rain at sunset on opening night set the scene for the sombre story which opened with clap sticks and imagery as part of the acknowledgement of country. Attention to detail in Act One included the enactment of writing a letter that Ellen Hurst had actually written back to her family in England, days before the incident, which set the scene – and choreography of the “capture” of Burke immediately following the shooting as drawn by the engraver Robert Bruce and published in 1866. The cast, crew and audience moved around the actual physical site the altercation took place till the final act and judgement of Sir Redmond Barry to execute Burke. The souvenir program given to ticket holders includes photos and biographies of the cast taken in costume at Gulf Station, Yarra Glen, together with background information and the narrative of the play. Guests on opening night – 158 years ago to the day of the event included Dianne Switzer, descendent of pioneer Cornelius Hailley and Rob Fergusson, descendent of Henry Hurst. plays, hurstbridge, allwood neighbourhood house

Sculture in bronze of Alan Marshall by Marcus Skipper, 1995 Alan Marshall, AM., O.B.E., Hon.LL,D. (1902-1984) was born at Noorat, Victoria and became one of Australia's most famous authors. His association with the Eltham area began in 1920 when he started his first job as a junior clerk at the Eltham Shire Offices, Kangaroo Ground. In the 1940's he spent some time living at Research. From 1955 he lived in Eltham for nearly 20 years. Disabilities resulting from polio as a young child did not prevent a wide range of experiences. Alan's occupations have been listed as clerk, night watchman, fortune teller, freelance journalist and author. He has been patron of many disadvantaged Children's Societies. Alan's books are numerous and include novels, short stories, children's books, history and travel. Among the best known are his autobiographies "I Can Jump Puddles" and "This is the Grass". Others include "These are My People", "Ourselves Writ Strange", "People of the Dreamtime"; "The Gay Provider" and "Wild Red Horses". In 1971 he wrote the Centenary History of the Shire of Eltham, "Pioneers and Painters". Covered under National Trust of Australia (Victoria), State significance. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p159 Outside the Eltham Library a bronze figure of a short one-legged man with a crutch invites people to the world of literature. The bronze statue, by Marcus Skipper, is of author Alan Marshall, who is famed for his autobiography I Can Jump Puddles, about growing up and overcoming the effects of polio. That plucky little boy later lived in the Nillumbik district for more than 50 years, and on his death in 1984, was buried in the Nillumbik Cemetery at Diamond Creek. Although a hugely successful author, his grave is modest with only a tiny boulder and simple bronze plaque on a grassed plot. From 1955 to 1972 Marshall lived in a tiny fibro-cement bungalow at the rear of a house at Park West Road, Eltham, owned by his older sister, Elsie McConnell. It was there that he wrote most of his autobiographical trilogy and his history of the former Eltham Shire, Pioneers and Painters. His long association with Eltham Shire began in 1918 when his family moved to Diamond Creek. Then in 1920 he began work as a junior clerk at the Eltham Shire Offices on Main Road, Kangaroo Ground near the Yarra Glen Road, while boarding at the hotel next door. Marshall later bought a block of land in Research, which had three bark huts. In one of these he wrote his first book These Are My People. He later sold the land but lived in a caravan there and in 1955 wrote I Can Jump Puddles.1 Proud of its citizen, the Eltham Shire named a park after Marshall at the corner of Main Road and Leanne Drive, Eltham. In 1985 the Shire initiated the Alan Marshall Short Story Award. It was Marshall’s early life in the country that taught him to live courageously in spite of his crippling polio, and he inspired many. This informed his writing – full of courage, championing the battler and love of the bush. Alan Marshall was born in 1902 at Noorat in Western Victoria, as the only son of Billy a drover, horse breaker, hawker and then general store owner. At the age of six, Marshall contracted infantile paralysis and was later hospitalised in Colac for 18 months. With his father’s encouragement, Marshall learnt to swim, wrestle and box, ride a bicycle (downhill), ride a horse and drive a car. Marshall won a scholarship to Stott’s Correspondence College to study accountancy. To help him continue his studies and find employment, his family bought 12 acres (4.8ha), in Ryans Road, Diamond Creek, opposite Windmill Court. There they ran cows, some poultry and an orchard. But life with a disability and during the Depression was hard for Marshall, who for 20 years, endured long periods of unemployment and loneliness and was often exploited at work.2 However, life improved in the 1930s, when he published short stories and articles in newspapers and magazines, including a column of advice to the lovelorn, which he wrote for nearly 20 years. At age 42 Marshall published his first book and in the next 30 years he published more than 20. His most successful book was I Can Jump Puddles, which sold more than three million copies internationally. It was made into a film, released in 1971, by Czechoslovakian director Karel Kachyna. Marshall was one of the first Australians to write about Aborigines who called him Gurrawilla - teller of tales - when he lived with them in Arnhem Land for eight months.3 In 1941 Marshall married Olive Dixon, with whom he had two daughters, Catherine and Jennifer. Marshall and Olive divorced in 1957. In 1972 Marshall was awarded an OBE for his work with the handicapped. He was also awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Melbourne University, an Order of Australia for services to literature and the Soviet Order of Friendship of Peoples.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, alan marshall, art in public places, eltham, eltham library, marcus skipper, panther place, public art, sculpture

White binding, title in red and black writing, some group G nurses photos and AHNL badge on front covernon-fictionsignificant record of nursing at the Alfred Hospital in the late 1950's-early 1960's and is accompanied by pictures, stories, anecdotes and documents of that periodnurses, nurse training, alfred hospital, ahnl

Some of Minnie Laurence sketches from this book were used by Pat Baird in her book "Churchill Island History and Her Story" Black cover 124pp; 54 with pencil or pen and ink drawings. 1 cut-away page of writing. 2 drawings inside back cover. Spine deteriorated and many pages loose."M.L. M.S.A."churchill island, minnie laurence, sketchbook

The story is written by Ingrid Stephen, daughter of Hans Barth who was an internee in camp 1 during WW2. She wrote the story for her children as part of their knowledge and heritage, the history of how and why she arrived in Australia and her life in this wonderful country which has been so good to her and her family. Tells what her father went through from capture to release.A white book with a sepia colour photograph, in centre, of a lady and child. Title at top and author below, in black writing. Family photograph on back in colour.ingrid barth, ingrid stephen, hans barth, john stephen, camp 1 internees

Contents: • Our Congratulations and thanks to Russell Yeoman • Our Next Meeting - 2.00pm Saturday 12th August 2023 • Heritage Excursion - Saturday 2nd September 2023 - Shillinglaw Farm Walk • Writing Local History in Florence by Deirdre Pirro • One hundred years ago by Jim Connor • Sands and McDougall Directories by Jim Connor • The MEN behind the Names – Eltham Roll of Honour Board (Part I) by Terry Beaton • Judge Book Village: from Willandra to St Vincent's by Richard Pinn • Snowfall Memories by Peter Pidgeon • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Liz Pidgeon o Agnes Somerville Irvine, nee Wanliss, 1867-1954, First Lady The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society