My Story by Bruce Myers – June 2001 Arthur Bruce Myers was born on Wednesday morning on the 29/4/1925 at Kelvin Grove Hospital Bacchus Marsh. Background Information: Prepared by Niece Wendy Barrie. The early life of Bruce Myers “Burnbank” Ballarat Road Melton. The family home was built by his grandparents Ann nee Dowling and Henri Miers in 1867. His father Frederick was born in 1877 in Melton the youngest of four boys. Bruce the fourth son of Frederick and Martha, brother Frederick the eldest was followed by Marjorie and Edna. His brother Max was the youngest child. Father Frederick Myers attended Melton State School No 430 enrolling in 1881 and leaving in 1888 gaining his Merit Certificate No 116343. Bruce enrolled in July 1931 and completed and gaining his Merit Certificate in 1937. In 1938 he travelled to Melbourne Boys High School. Bruce was taught piano by his sister Marjorie, a respected Melton music teacher. He entered many Piano competitions and at the age of 10 winning the radio cup in the Junior Cavalcade at 3AW at Latrobe Street. At Melbourne Boys High School during his lunchtime was allowed to practice the piano in the basement for his recreation. He was pestered by another boy (name I have forgotten) a teacher intervened telling him to leave Myers alone. As a young child when listening to music he was able to on hearing it identify the key it was written in, due to his perfect pitch. I remember “Mum” Myers telling about the time they went to see Artur Rubeinstein at a concert, when Bruce was a small boy, it may have been on this occasion that he had noted the key of the piano composition. Bruce writes – In my early teens Max and I frequently accompanied the Williams boys, Wally and Jim on expeditions up the Toolern Creek near where the Gisborne exit now crosses it. The dogs would chase the rabbits into their burrows after placing nets over the burrows a ferret would be let in to burrow, much excitement would be involved in the rush to grab the rabbits as they bolted into the nets. In the same area I used too accompany Dad on an evening rabbit shoot (summer time). After the heat of the day the rabbits would emerge from their burrows at dusk. We would his behind the tree in silence, a mark contrast to the ferreting scene. Dad with the shotgun cocked would wait until 2 or 3 rabbits were close together then fire (Bang!). Hopefully killing two rabbits. They would have to be killed outright, otherwise they would run back into their burrows. Needless to say, one deafening shot ended the event, also it only cost one cartridge. Our only swimming pool was hole in the Toolern Creek at its junction with the blind creek at the eastern entrance to Melton. Dad swum there in the 1880’s teaching many of the youngsters to swim. Females never swum there to my knowledge. The dressing shed consisted of a 4 corrugated iron nailed to a wooden frame about 4 metres by 3 no floor or roof. We always walked the kilometre in our bathers anyway. The swimming hole once dried up leaving about 2 ft of mud. We Melton boys had so much fun fossicking around with our hands and feet and yanking out numerous eels, some very bid. I don’t know what happened to them all. No doubt Dad would have skun one or two for Mum to cook after cutting them up into short lengths. They used to jump around the pan when they were cooking. Dad accompanied by Max and I, frequently fished for eels in the Gillespie’s waterhole just below our place using a rod, line, sinker, hook baited with a worm, and a white floater so as to easily see when an eel was on the hook, so that it could quickly be pulled before it could anchor itself on and under water snag such as a tree root making it impossible to catch, or causing the line to be lost. At about the age of 8, I suddenly discovered amazingly easily means of movement. One day when I was riding the bike on rough bluestone road near the Presbyterian Church [Uniting Church] in Melton when the front fork broke and I landed on my right knee and right eye gashing both, the knee severely. I have carried the scars ever since. I started getting mobile by riding a scooter with good leg on the scooter and swinging the right leg, keeping is straight because bending it was too painful.Childhood photo of Brucelocal identities

Marjorie Gretchen MYERS was born on 21 February 1912 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 10 September 2004 in Frankston, Victoria, Australia. Arthur Bruce MYERS was born on 29 April 1925 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 26 March 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Maxwell Douglas MYERS was born on 10 August 1927 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 03 May 2005 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.Three of Frederick Thomas Myers and Martha Mary Watson' childrenlocal identies

Wedding of Edna Myers [Barrie]local identities

Elizabeth (Lizzie) Daley, born c.1865, died 8 Aug 1949. Daughter of William and Eliza, Melton, sister of Ann. The Daley family's cottage was on High St north nearest to Alexander St. The photo of William Daley was taken in front of his Bootmaker Shop. The shop remained in the family later being run as a Haberdashery shop by Lizzie his second daughter John Lugg rented the cottage after Lizzie death. Max Myers built a house on the east side of the cottage in 1952. The cottage was demolished and the weatherboard house was eventually moved to another location when the street became a shopping area 1970’s. The Condon family lived beside Lizzie’s ShopPhotographs of Elizabeth Daley taken different periods of her lifelocal identities, pioneer families

Frederick and Martha were married on the 30th April 1908. Martha (Mattie) Mary (Watson) MYERS, b. 11 Oct 1888, d. 23 Mar 1976 and Frederick Thomas MYERS, b. 20 Jan 1877, d. 30 Apr 1963. Frederick was the son of Henri MIERS and Ann DOWLING. Frederick worked as a labourer, road builder and sheep shearer all his life. He often worked away and travelled long distances by bike with his swag. He travelled into the Riverina shearing at many of the well known sheep stations. In 1907 he met Martha Mary Watson. She came to the Golden Fleece Hotel to work for the Shebler family. Mr Shebler was getting older and support was needed in the running of the hotel. Mattie was born in 1888 in Ballarat. She had a firm dislike for alcohol. She had experienced the ill effects of the excesses of alcohol with her Grandmother Watson. They lived at 1 Burnbank Street Ballarat and drink was close by and easily obtained. While serving drinks at the Golden Fleece she got to know Fred, in time as the friendship developed she began to water down his drinks while serving full strength to his mates. Fred and Martha were married in 1908 and she moved into the Myers family home. Martha had a life long aversion to the excessive use of alcohol forbidding it in the household. Martha lived in the family home naming it Burnbank after the street in Ballarat where she spent her childhood where she lived with her grandmother Robina Watson, her mother was Robina (Ruby Watson). They lived a No 1 Burnbank Street Ballarat. Her grandfather was John Smith Watson. His early address was Macarthur Street just opposite the Burnbank street house. John was a member of the Ballarat City Fire Brigade. John died at the Macarthur Street home in 1895. The death certificate gives the ages of the children as Robina 26, Adam Arthur 22 and Alex 18 years.Wedding was in Fitzroy, Victorialocal identities, pioneer families

Henri MIERS was born in 1835 in Minden, Minden-Lubbecke, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany. He died on 15 December 1886. When he was 32, he married Ann DOWLING,daughter of John DOWLING and Bridget KEANE, on 28 May 1867 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Henri MIERS was also known as Henry MYERS. Henri MIERS and Ann DOWLING had the following children: 1. Henry John MYERS was born in September 1870 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. He died in 1952. 2Thomas MYERS was born in August 1872 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. He died on 11 November 1909 in Brunswick, Victoria, Australia. 3. George William MYERS was born on 04 September 1874 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. He died in 1954 in Alexandra, Victoria, Australia. 4. Frederick Thomas MYERS was born on 20 January 1877 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. He died on 30 April 1963 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia. He married Martha Mary WATSON on 30 April 1908 ( Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia).Family photo of Frederick, Henry John (Harry), Henri, Ann, George William and Thomas Miers.local identities, pioneer families

Martha Watson was born on 17 October 1888 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia as the first child of Robina (Ruby) WATSON. She died on 23 March 1976 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. Memories of Martha by Valcia nee Twigg Lowrie, granddaughter of Arthur Watson. My memories and recollections as told to me my Grandmother ‘Mum’ Myers. As a child she had scarlet fever and did not attend school during the illness and missed a lot of school (Macarthur Street State School). When she was meant to return to school having fallen behind her classmates, confused and behind with the school work, she instead spent her time wandering around Lake Wendouree feeling too ashamed to attend school. Her uncle Arthur, born in 1874, whom she idealized, was a type of father/mentor figure who played and important part in her early life. He moved to Queensland in the early 1900’s and they did not meet again until he visited Melton in 1949, he died in 1954. He was a champion rower in Victoria and Queensland and a noted cyclist who rode in three Warrnambool to Melbourne races, and footballer. Her mother’s death certificate reveals her place of death as the Ballarat Hospital on 8th September 1903 aged 36. Martha was not told of the death of her mother, it was some time later when she found out her mother had died. She was greatly distressed when she eventually found out. The grief and the circumstance of her mothers death and her unfortunate life had a permanent effect on Martha’s life. Robina was buried in Open Ground at the New Cemetery Ballarat. Marjorie likened to this to the death of Mozart at the age of 35 who was also buried in a common grave. Martha also told me the stories about how as a child she played at the cemetery, taking the oranges placed as offerings on the Chinese graves and being chased away in fright when caught by a Chinese man. Her description left a vivid impression on my mind. The Burnbank street house was just across the road from the cemetery. The pieces of this story I had heard made sense when I visited the location in recent years. Martha’s described how Nanna would sing on the front verandah, and send her off to t get drink for her. This situation might help explain the reason for Martha’s strong aversion to alcohol. As a young girl it had been distressing to her. Nanna was a colourful and theatrical personality and danced with the Duke when he visited Ballarat. She was also known to have stated that she would marry a man who could give her a bucket of gold, possibly around the time after her first husband, Charles death, she had her young boy Edward to bring up. Martha was about 13 years old when Nanna Watson left Ballarat going to Queensland to visit her son Arthur. Martha slept that night afraid and alone in the empty house. The person who was meant to collect her did not come until the next day. She went to work for a family, a woman with children, they took most of the money that Nanna had left with Martha. There was a new baby in the house and the Scottish man in the house behaved suspiciously towards Martha. She was afraid of him and would hide from him under the bed. At this young age she managed to survive on her wits and sense of self preservation. It is not known how long she worked with this family. The place was from my impression, away from the town of Ballarat. Her very difficult formative years are testament to her strength of character and determination to succeed in life and ambition to provide the best opportunities for her own children. In 1905 Martha received a post card from Uncle Arthur in Brisbane addressed – c/o Mrs Styles 14 High Street Ballarat. Dolly Styles was a Ballarat friend and she kept in contact with her for many years. A letter reveals her living in Minyip in her older years. Martha is thought to have spent a few years working before she arrived in Melton. Miss Shebler hired Martha to help her in the care of her father and to assist with work in the Golden Fleece Hotel. Mr Shebler was a nice old man and mostly confined to his room and somewhat childlike as described by Martha. [The elderly Mr August Shebler died in February 1908]. Martha’s exact arrival in Melton is not known, but could be estimated as late 1906 to early 1907. In her room at the hotel she could hear the spring cart of Mr Minns going on the milk delivery rounds in the very early hours of the morning after coming across the creek from his house When she was 19, she married Frederick Thomas MYERS, son of Henri MIERS and Ann DOWLING, on 30 April 1908 ( Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia). Frederick Thomas MYERS and Martha Mary WATSON had the following children: 1. Frederick John Watson MYERS was born on 01 October 1908 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 07 February 2001.He married Mary June BATTYE on 18 September 1948 in Victoria, Australia. 2. Marjorie Gretchen MYERS was born on 21 February 1912 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 10 September 2004 in Frankston, Victoria, Australia.She married Herbert Vivian BUTLER on 07 January 1939 in Victoria, Australia. 3. Eva Edna MYERS was born on 15 October 1918 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 31 January 2008 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Australia.She married Ernest Wesley BARRIE on 25 October 1941 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. 4. Arthur Bruce MYERS was born on 29 April 1925 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 26 March 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.He married Olive Irene NORTON in April 1953 in Balliang, Victoria, Australia (or Church of Christ Footscray? (WB)). 5. Maxwell Douglas MYERS was born on 10 August 1927 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 03 May 2005 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.He married Rosemary Rebecca BARRIE on 31 August 1951 in Melton, Victoria, Australia. Valcia nee Twigg Lowrie granddaughter of Arthur Watson, daughter of Mercia and Val Twigg did extensive research on the Marshall family of Lerwick Shetland Isle obtaining birth information of the Scottish forebears. She also got the birth/marriage and death certificates of the Ballarat connection of Robina’s husbands and children. Copies were sent to Edna and Wendy during the early 1990’s. Bruce and Irene also obtained certificates and Myers family information. Wendy applied for certificates at this time.Photographs of Martha (Watson) Myers taken at different times of her life

Married 30 Apr 1908. Martha (Mattie) Mary (Watson) MYERS, b. 11 Oct 1888, d. 23 Mar 1976 and Frederick Thomas MYERS, b. 20 Jan 1877, d. 30 Apr 1963Black and White photograph of Martha and Fred Myerslocal identities, pioneer families

Martha Myer swith daughter Marjorie Gretchen (Myers) Butler, Adrian Butler is one of Marjorie and Herbert Butler's sons.Marjorie, Martha Myers, Adrian Butler, Diana Butler, Meryl (other grandmother) and baby Sally Butlerlocal identities

Named after Burnbank St Ballarat by Martha Myers1909. Demolished 1969 due to compulsory order after Martha moved to her house in McKenzie st.Myers family members at the Burnbank propertylocal identities

Picnic at Ballarat gardenslocal identities

Past students of Melton State School 430. Frederick John Watson MYERS was born on 01 October 1908 in Melton, Victoria,Australia.He died on 07 February 2001. Marjorie Gretchen MYERS was born on 21 February 1912 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 10 September 2004 in Frankston, Victoria, Australia. Eva Edna MYERS was born on 15 October 1918 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.She died on 31 January 2008 in Bacchus Marsh, Victoria, Arthur Bruce MYERS was born on 29 April 1925 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 26 March 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Maxwell Douglas MYERS was born on 10 August 1927 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 03 May 2005 in Geelong, Victoria, Australia.Frederick Thomas Myers and Martha Mary Watson's children at Melton Primary School 125 year anniversary, 1995local identities, pioneer families, education

Arthur Bruce MYERS was born on 29 April 1925 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.He died on 26 March 2015 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.He married Olive Irene NORTON in April 1953.At the wedding of Bruce and Irene Myerslocal identities

Jennifer Coral Scott [Barrie] & Peter Barrie, Wendy Barrie, Edna Myers [Barrie], Vivienne Developments representative, Wilma Ryan [Barrie] & Jim Barrielocal identities, council

Alexander Blackwood original allotment owner. Other occupants include Chalmer, Wraith 1920, McDonald, Bardsley 1948. 1970 became Arnolds News Agent. It also operated as a State Savings Bank Agent. Demolished in 1974.Jean and George Arnold, and Martha Myers at the front of the news agency local identities, local architecture

Frederick John Watson MYERS was born on 01 October 1908 in Melton, Victoria. First child of Frederick Thomas MYERS and Martha Mary WATSON. He married Mary June BATTYE on 18 September 1948 in Victoria, Australia. He died on 07 February 2001.Photos of Frederick John Watson Myerslocal identies

Rosemary Rebecca BARRIE was born the 12th of April 1930, , sister of Hugh and the youngest grandchild of William and Mary Ann. She is a valuable source of family and Melton history. She married Max Myers of ‘Burnbank’ Melton, on the 31 August 1951 in Melton, Victoria, Australia.Max was the youngest brother of Edna Barrie. Rosemary at the beachlocal identities

Childhood photograph of Bruce and Max Myers with Edna (Butler) Missenlocal identities

Ernest Wesley BARRIE and Eva Edna MYERS's childrenlocal identities

Photograph of brothers taken at Myers Gully (Ryans Creek), Western Highway Melton. Bruce 9.5 years, Max 6 years old.local identities

Elizabeth Daley later turned her father's bootmaker shop into a haberdashery shop. She died in 1949. Her sister Annie had a tiny house nearby according to Edna. John Lugg rented the house after her death. Max Myers built a house on the west side of the cottage. Elizabeth Daley's property with Max Myers' house in the backgroundlocal identities

Mr Benjamin Richards, headmaster from 1881-1888. Frederick Thomas Myers Born Jan 20th January1877 Died 30th April 1963 Melton SS 430 Merit Certificate No116343 10th of Oct A.D. 1889 [1881 – 1889] Book belonged to Benjamin Richards, Head Teacher at Melton State School. Inside the book cover mentions Frederick Myers.education, pioneer families

Rosemary Myers spoke about Lizzie Daley in May 2012. She described the house as having lots of ornaments, and how she enjoyed going thereto buy ribbons and laces for a pair of baby booties she knitted for her school handwork at Melton P S 430. Margaret Nolan's memories of Lizzie: When we were young kids we would go down to visit our cousins, the Myers who lived on the Highway. My great grand mother Mary Luby lived in Reserve road when she came to Melton, she was married here in 1857. Her sister Ann nee Dowling was married to Henri Miers [Myers] in 1867. Her other sister Eliza married William Daley in 1862. He had a Bootmakers shop in the High street. Their daughter Lizzie later turned it into a haberdashery shop. We would go there to buy sewing threads and ribbons. Margaret nee Nolan Brooks memories recorded on the 20th September 2013 Book was from Lizzie Daley's shop in High Street, Meltonlocal identities

Cole's Australian Gardening book belonged to Frederick Myerslocal identities, pioneer families

A collection of some of Lizzie’s ornaments, furniture, sewing box with her label inside was retained by the Myers family at the Burnbank house. local identities

Cr Robert Hornbuckle Melton Shire President 1882-83, 1896-97, 1997-98, 1907 -08 Justice of the Peace. Melton Mechanics Institute 1st Treasurer 1904, President 1904, 1905 , Trustee 1910 Children of Robert and Mary nee Poulton Sarah, Robert, Emma, William, Charles, Thomas, and Mary Sarah nee Hornbuckle Nixon and Frederick Myers Snr were at school together at the same in the 1880s. CROXTON Court Name of the Hornbuckle and Knox family homePhotocopy of Marriage Certificate of Robert Burton Hornbuckle and Mary Poulton at Kerrie District of Lancefield 27 th May 1869. (some damage to the originial) Descendants of Robert Burton Hornbuckle and Mary Poulton, and Sarah Hornbuckle and George Nixon's Family Treelocal identities, council, pioneer families

Fred Myers, David Wilkie and Effie Wilkie are siblings. George Tinker married Pearl Wilkie and had a daughter called PamelaFred Myers, David Wilkie, Effie Wilkie and George Tinker at Melton State School's First Hundred Years Celebration, the event was held at Mechanic's Hall, Melton. local identities, local significant events, education

Melton State School Photograph Junior Classes May 3rd 1917 Thomas Lang was the Head Teacher from 1896 - 1917 Back row: William Kilpatrick Bill D Whiting John Flynn Archibald MacDonald Arch Edward Radford Ted John Radford Jack Keith Beardemore Second Back Row: Percival Cook George Nixon Frederick Myers Bill ? Coburn Jim Coburn Bill ? Coburn [Arthur 06 Geo, William 06 Frdk Thomas 06 F James F] Second Front Row: Rita Wilson Mary Coburn Frdk Ivy Prickett - Winifred Barrie Marie Jongebloed Mary Phyllis Pearcey E. Waller Front Row: Kenneth Beaty John Parker Margaret McDonald Mary Kilpatrick Greta Jongebloed .. Norman Minns Francis Shelly Juniors classes with headmaster Thomas Lang. education, local identities

Photographer : Jack Coe, Bacchus Marsh. Scots Church Review 1947, page.8Allan Rogers(Rodgers?), Walter Barrie, Malcolm Cameron, Bon (Ernest) Barrie, Bruce Myers, Hugh Barrie, Tom Barrie and Robert Macdonald standing in front of Scots Church.churches, local identities

​Cinderella 1924 cast: Back Row Second Back Row Second Front Front Standing Harry Radford 1. Billy Mentha Bonnie Mentha Eleanor Crosier (Jester) (Witch) Crozier Maud Dunmore 2. Ameli Russell Elvie Lethbridge Kath Whitehouse Marie Jongebloed 3. Lizzie Nixon Marjorie Myers Evelyn Brunton 4. Valma Wilson Greta Jongebloed Marjorie Peterson (Housemaides) Maisie Shearwood 5. Olive Crosier Mary Kilpatrick Edna Myers Crozier 6----------- Gwen Shelley 7. Elsie McCorkell Aileen Whitehouse 8. Mary Coburn Lynda Cameron (Cinderella) 9. Silvia Dunmore Rosie Shearwood (Prince charming) 10. Vera Shearwood 11. Elaine Lethbridge 12. Malcolm Cameron Front Row – sitting Edith Keys, Florence Mentha (Mushrooms) Names compiled by Edna Barrie at the time of the 100 years celebrations of the Melton State School No. 430 in October 1970. Original Photo scanned and restored by Morrie Forte 2011 The cast of Cinderella in front of the Melton Mechanics Institute Hall local identities, education