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 and numbers cut to produce a consistent pattern for the surface below through the application of ink. In small text on the top edge of the stencil two separate phrases are engraved.” A.W.C. PROPERTY NOT TRANSFERABLE” and “PROFESSIONAL“. This wool classing stencil belonged to Stanley Hucker. It was his last Wool Classing Stencil. Dated to 1983, it is 45 years older than his first stencil. 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.Engraved letters. “A.W.C. PROPERTY / NOT TRANSFERABLE” Engraved letters. “PROFESSIONAL“. Cut imagery. Sheep’s head Cut letters, numbers, and imagery. “83 (Image Australia) P I / 50922”wool classing, stencil, 90 years wool classing between father & son

This is one of a collection of items associated with Dr Felix Henry Meyer (1858-1937). Meyer was a very prominent early obstetrician and doctor, playing a part in the establishment of the role of the chair of obstetrics at the University of Melbourne in 1929. He was also a foundation member of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons.Metal optometer. Consists of a glass lens, metal scale and a sliding sight test plate. The words 'CONVEX' and 'CONCAVE' are engraved on the side of the scale. Top of the scale is engraved with various measurements. Test plate is engraved with the words 'COUNT THE DOTS' and a series of dots.optometry

Lapel medal belonging to John Garbutt. John Garbutt was Principal of Ballarat College 1877 - 1909. He was educated at Geelong National Grammar School and in 1860 was the first dux of the college. First class Honourman Arts and Laws at Melbourne University 1866; Two years a master at Geelong College; seven years master and three years senior master at Scotch College, Melbourne. Circular silver medal with ornate decoration to top and bottom with green ribbon attached to top with engraved silver fasteners; engraved writing on face of medal.Front:Geelong National Grammar School 1858ballarat-college, principal-john-garbutt, 1860, 1858, geelong-national-grammar-school, dux

Souvenir collected by a member of BCOF in Japan Post War WW2. Items re collection of "RICHARD WILLIAM McGILVERY" RAAF. Refer Cat No. 7287P for his service details, photos and awards.Silver coloured metal platter. Raised edges engraved with decorative flowers and leaves, mostly silver but some red. Small hole at each end. Base engraved with series of rural images. Back engraved with speckled image and each corner slightly raised.bcof, souvenir

Roy Arnold enlisted in A Coy 20th Batt AIF on 10.3.15. Awarded the Military Medal at Mont St Quentin on 31.8.18. He carried messages through heavy artillery, machine gun and rifle fire then acted as a Stretcher Bearer for 12 hours carrying wounded to the RAP. He was appointed L/Cpl on 22.9.18. Discharged from the AIF on 30.7.19. Medal set, court mounted, set of (4) re R. Arnold "MM" 1. Military Medal, replica not engraved. 2. 1914-15 Star, replica not engraved. 3. War Medal 1914-19, replica not engraved. 4. Victory Medal. " 157 PTE R Arnold 20 Bn AIF"numismatics - medals - military, metalcraft

The University of Ballarat conducts courses in brewing and holds the Australian International Beer Awards. This trophy dates from an early incarnation of that award.Lidded silver trophy on timber stand featuring metal plate with engraved winners. The trophy was awarded to the Open aggregate winner of the National Beer and Brewing Exhibition, BallaratWinners engraved onto the metal plate: 1988 - Bond Brewing W.A. Ltd 1989 - Dominion Breweries Ltd - Central 1990 - Not held 1991 - Dominion Breweries Ltd - Waitemate 1992 - Not held 1993 - Dominion Breweries Ltd - Tul 1994 - Dominion Breweries Ltd - South Island 1995 - Tuohey's Breweing Team, Tuohey's Pty Ltd (Lidcombe, NSW) 1996 - DB Mainland Brewery, Timaruuniversity of ballarat, brewing, australian international beer awards, beer, national beer and brewing exhibition

This plaque commemorates 100 years of banking service in Ballan by the Commercial Bank of Australia Limited. Unveiled by the President of the Shire of Ballan, Councillor K. D. Andrew J. P. on the 11th day of April 1967.A bronze engraved plaque mounted on a timber baseAs in the photographballan shire, commercial bank, andrew k.d.

Brass Collection Plate presented to St Paul's Anglican Church, Allansford, by the mother of Joseph & Frank Dallimore as a Memorial to the two brothers who drowned at Ryan's Den (near Cape Otway) on Jan 1st 1903. Major Joseph Dallimore (aged 32) was on leave from Sth Africa during the war and he, his wife (Beatrice Wiggs) and baby, his brother Frank Rupert Dallimore (aged 22), a farm hand Arthur Geach (aged 19) and a house maid servant, were picnicing at Ryan's Den (near Cape Otway) when the three men went walking, but never returned, all assumed drowned. One theary has it - Mrs M.E. Dallimore was picnicing at Lake Gillear beach when an enormous wave swept over the shore - (much larger than any other during that day) and rolled in all along the beach. This wave may have also reached the area where the three men were walking on the rocks and swept them into the ocean. Only one body was recovered - some 4 weeks later - that of Frank Rupert Dallimore and washed into Brown's Creek, 1 mile from the Johanna River and ten miles east of Ryans Den.It is a memorial plate and records the family's attachment and importance to the Church.Brass engraved and embossed Memorial Collection PlateEmbossed wording around edge of plate in Old English font reads - "All things come of Thee and of Thine own have we given Thee". The inscription on the tondo of the plate reads - "TO THE GLORY OF GOD / AND IN MEMORY OF / JOSEPH & FRANK RUPERT DALLIMORE, / WHO WERE DROWNED AT RYAN'S DEN, / JAN 1ST 1903. / PRESENTED BY THEIR LOVING MOTHER, / M.E.DALLIMORE."brass st pauls anglican church allansford warrnambool church of england christ church parish of warrnambool collection plate memorial plate dallimore drowning ryan s den alms dish

Item was used to show awards gained by the 38th Battalion AIFDistinguished Service Order 'DSO'. Replica not engraved.military history, numismatics-medals-military, passchendaele barracks trust

Item was used to show awards gained by the 38th Battalion AIF.Meritorious Service Medal 'MSM'. Replica not engraved. "For Meritorious Service"numismatics-medals-military, passchendaele barracks trust

Item was used to show awards gained by the 38th Battalion AIF.Distinguished Conduct Medal 'DCM'. Replica not engraved.:For Distinguished Conduct in the Field"numismatics- medals - military, passchendaele barracks trust

Group photograph of people at the opening ball at the Montmorency Public Hall in 1936.Black and white photograph, inscription engraved on negativemontmorency public hall

Plaque to commemorate the 1992 reunion of staff and students from Preston Technical College (1964-68)Timber plaque with PTC crest and engraved label.Inscription on label: "1992 Reunion / Staff and Students / 1964-68preston technical college, ptc, reunion, nmit

Early chalice used by the college for MassesThis item is significant because of it's historical valueSmall gold plated chalice, engraved on the underside"S.J.O.G."chalice

Spherical silver engraved bowl with 2 handles.Front: Presented to The Union Memorial Church by Mrs T Ingram Back: Jubliee October 1904

Engraved wooden frame with sepia coloured photograph. H M A S Sydney was launched from Newcastle on Tyne on 22nd September 1934 in England. Sydney was commissioned into the Australian Navy in September 1935. H M A S Sydney was a modified "Leander" class Cruiser. Sydney was involved in offensive actions in the theatre of war. .

Presented to the Bishop of Ballarat, Dr. James Moore, when he laid the foundation stone for the new schoolroom/residential wing at Loreto Mary's Mount. A decorative artefact manufactured by an early Ballarat jeweller. Records the early building and expansion of Mary's Mount.Silver engraved commemorative trowel with ivory handle.Presented by the Architect to The Very Rev'd J. Moore D.D.V.G. on the occasion of his laying the foundation stone fo the Loretto Convent Ballarat 8th Dec'r 1881

Silver with "G.L" engraved and Rising Sun badgepersonal items, ballarat rsl, ballarat

Polished chrome clock with engraved plaque below.

Engraved sterling silver trowel with ivory handle Presented to F W Lamonby PM 752, 1002 E.C. W.M. Gordon Lodge No. 2112 E.C. By Parker & Pater, Contractors On his laying the corner stone of The Ascot Vale Masonic Hall, Oct 14th 1886

"This tablet commemorates 17 years of loving service given by Mrs Celeste Baird to the choir and blind members of The Association 1945-1962". She volunteered her time at the Blind Community Centre in Kooyong.1 wooden shield with engraved silver plateThis tablet commemorates 17 years of loving service given by Mrs Celeste Baird to the choir and blind members of The Association 1945-1962association for the blind, celeste baird

To share information and gain first hand knowledge, organisations sometimes undertook study visits to various countries. In appreciation for the hospitality and information gained as part of this, the Singapore Association for the Visually Handicapped presented a commemorative plaque to RVIB.1 plastic stand with engraved brown platePresented to Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind in appreciation of the warm hospitality extended to our official during study visit on 18th-19th October 1993. October 1993 from Singapore Association of the Visually Handicappedroyal victorian institute for the blind, singapore association for the visually handicapped

To assist in offsetting the costs for building works, some donors made a provision in their will. In this instance Betty Ross-Wyatt contributed to the recording studios in Kooyong, where books and magazines are recorded for dispatch across Victoria. 1 wooden tablet with engraved gold plate These recording studios were constructed with assistance of a major contribution from the estate of the late Betty Ross-Watt M.B.E. Member of Gisborne Auxilliary 1932 to 1989.association for the blind, nameplates

"National Federation of Blind Citizens of Australia Ltd. NFBCA David Blyth Award 1994. Presented to: Hugh Jeffrey. In appreciation of his outstanding contribution through dedication, tenacity and by example, as a leader of blind people and as an advocate for the rights and responsibilities of citizenship to be accorded to blind people everywhere." Gold coloured disk with NFBCA logo is located above the citation, which is written in Braille on the back of the shield.1 wooden shield with engraved gold plateshugh jeffrey, awards

Wooden shield with a metal plate attached. On the plate is inscribed "In appreciation of Mrs Hilda Kozlowski's gift towards the refurbishment of RVIB's Early Education Room 2002".1 wooden shield with engraved silver plateroyal victorian institute for the blind, awards