A habitat corridor and it strengthens the community. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p185 Barak Bushlands lie west of the Diamond Creek on the corner of Falkiner Street and busy, noisy Main Road. They form part of an important habitat corridor linking the Yarra River to the Kinglake National Park.1 Manna Gums, tawny frogmouths and platypuses are some of the indigenous plants and animals that have made their home there. The bushlands are the result of more than nine years of hard work by the local community with the Nillumbik Council, to transform a degraded flood plain into this refuge of natural beauty. In 1997, shortly after moving into the new Riverside Estate on Falkiner Street, Eltham, several residents noticed the sorry state of the Diamond Creek and surrounding area. Part of it was used as a cow paddock and although small patches of vegetation survived, the area was infested with weeds, rabbits, rubbish and drainage from the housing estate. At various times the 4.4 hectares had been used as a market garden and for shire stock piles. The residents began to restore the area by revegetating land along the Diamond Creek. In 1998 they established the Friends of the Diamond Creek Falkiner Street Reserve2 and 35 families joined from the 90-house Estate. Carolyn Mellor, as the Friends’ Land Manager, undertook a four-year horticulture course to guide this massive project for a volunteer organisation. Since 1999, she has been the Friends’ President. In 1999 the Friends urged the Nillumbik Council to undertake a feasibility study into establishing a wetland system and urban forest. Work began in 2002 with Nillumbik Council funding the project, supplemented by government grants. The Friends also received grants from Melbourne Water and Parks Victoria.3 Aided by the Friends and other community members, the Council created the Barak Bushlands consisting of a forest, a wetland, a bridge, a path and open space. The beautiful wetland treats most of the estate’s stormwater runoff. Storm water is filtered through plants in the wetland ponds then is released slowly into the billabong, before flowing into the Diamond Creek. The wetland also helps to minimise flooding and the improved water quality provides a flora and fauna habitat. The Friends and other volunteers planted more than 27,000 plants, more than one third of which they grew from seeds they collected at Lower Eltham and Wingrove Parks. Eltham High School students planted thousands of these through a Year Eight program introduced for this purpose. Other groups who assisted were: Green Corps, local Scouts and Guides – 2nd Montmorency, 1st Diamond Creek and 1st Eltham Cub Packs, Eltham College students, Eltham East Primary School, Landcare members, Eltham Lions Club and the Eltham Baptist Church. To maintain enthusiasm for the mammoth task, the Friends and other volunteers ‘adopted’ trees to water and wrote their names on the stakes. In 2004, to recognise the area’s original occupiers, the reserve was named Barak Bushlands. William Barak, who lived from 1824 to 1903, was the last chief of the Yarra Yarra tribe of the Wurundjeri-willam people.4 Traces of these original inhabitants remain in scar trees (bark sections removed to make a shield or canoe). That same year the Friends’ group was a finalist in the prestigious Federal Government, Banksia Environmental Awards. The Friends have also participated in Clean Up Australia, removing tonnes of rubbish and regularly testing the billabong, wetland and creek, for pollutants. For years the Friends, together with the Australian Platypus Conservancy, have tagged, measured and checked the health of platypuses from the Diamond and Mullum Mullum Creeks. With Latrobe University the Friends have conducted night walks to view owls, possums, bats and sugar gliders.5 Challenges for the council and the Friends continue with a large rabbit population, some vandalism, weed eradication and maintenance. However, thanks to this community effort, locals can now escape confined urban living on small blocks of land and enjoy the beauty of indigenous plants and animals. Working together has also strengthened the local community,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, barak bushlands, diamond creek (creek), eltham

Presented to Australian school children on the opening of the First Federal Parliament in May 1901. The opening of Parliament was attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York. The Australian states became a Federation during the reign of Queen Victoria, however by the time Parliament opened, Edward VII had ascended the throne.Gilt bronze medal, in shape of shield, with crown at top. Obverse of medal has portraits of Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, and wording "Aust. Commonwealth Est 1 Jan 1901 / 63D. of Victoria, R. I. / First Parliament Opened May 1901-1st of Edward V11". Reverse of medal has portraits of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York, and wording "Opening of the First Federal Parliament / TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cornwell and York / Melbourne, May 1901".medals, australian federation 1901, parliament of australia

1986 Grand Parade, 8 November. The Society's entry in the Eltham Community Festival parade included Ben Hall's Cobb and Co. coach and was awarded the major prize for the parade. This involves a perpetual trophy which the Society holds for one year. Individual shields attached to trophy inscribed with annual Grand Parade winners: 1979 - Cubs of the Eltham District 1980 - Montmorency South Primary School 1981 - Co Winner, Eltham Primary School Dalton Street 1981 - Co Winner, Our Lady Help of Christians 1982 - Cubs of the Eltham District 1983 - Research Primary School 1984 - Montmorency South Primary School 1985 - Montmorency Garden Club 1986 - Shire of Eltham Historical Society and one blank shield It appears the trophy was replaced in 1987 with a Best Display award which again was won by the Society, and again in 1988 Polished wooden trophy with gold plastic wreath, inscribed metal plaques and ten inscribed metal shields. Gold plastic ornament sitting on top (broken off)The Rotary Club of Eltham Perpetual Trophy Awarded to the Best Display In the Grand Parade Eltham Community Festivalaward, eltham community festival, eltham festival, trophy, shire of eltham historical society, eltham district historical society, victorian folk music club, rotary club of eltham, perpetual trophy, 1986, grand parade, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, cubs of the eltham district, eltham primary school, montmorency garden club, montmorency south primary school, our lady help of christians primary school, research primary school

The photograph is dated 1938 in the early LDHS "Index of Photographs". However a companion photograph showing the boys' group (Registration no. 2018-40 - shows same location) is dated 1937. Names in early "Index of Photographs" at LDHS: Back row (L-R): Violet Shepherd, Bertha Cluff, Eileen Barr, Mildred Shepherd, Esther Cluff, Ida Nelson, Joy Gillett, Eva Foster. Second row: Brenda Megee, Bertha Stratton, Doris Watson, Joyce(?) Uren, Doreen Keating, Gwen Smith, Mavis Gillett, Wilma Shields, Joy McCorkell. Third row: Dawn Witton, Joan Kerr, Joy Stratton, Ailsa McDonald, Betty Lancaster, June Emerson. Front row: Yvonne Cluff, Gracie Hearn, Myrna Howard, Nannette Hunt, Enid Shields, Beryl Shields, Dawn Lancaster, Lorraine Nelson, Margaret Gangell.Black and white copy of original photograph, mounted on white card, which shows a group of girls posed for a photograph under a tree. The school building and a picket fence can be glimpsed in the background.linton state school no. 880, violet shepherd, bertha cluff, eileen barr, mildred shepherd, esther cluff, ida nelson, joy gillett, eva foster, brenda megee, bertha stratton, doris watson, joyce(?) uren, doreen keating, gwen smith, mavis gillett, wilma shields, joy mccorkell, dawn witton, joan kerr, joy stratton, ailsa mcdonald, betty lancaster, june emerson, yvonne cluff, gracie hearn, myrna howard, nannette hunt, enid shields, beryl shields, dawn lancaster, lorraine nelson, margaret gangell

Blue hard covered book with hand written reports from the Art Principal, H.H. Principal. Two letters are pasted into the front, one from Frank Tate of the Victorian Education Department. 26 April 1918 - Proposed pottery industry in Ballarat 31 May 1919 - Erection of pottery kiln, with Selkirk bricks. 28 June 1918 - Daylesford Technical Art School. 30 August 1918 - Resignation of C. Campbell, instructor of Photography. 25 October 1918 - Returned Soldiers Classes in Art Metal and Signwriting. 25 October 1918 - Herald Shield Trophy 28 July 1922 - Ragged Boys Home, Tennis Court 22 August 1924 - Letterhead of the Attorney General Victoria concerning the transfer of the Ballarat Supreme Court to the Ballarat School of Mines. 15 October 1924 and 20 May 1925 - Carvings of 24 panels decorated with Australian birds, animals and flora to form part of the decoratve scheme for the Villers Bretonneux school. 21 April 1926 - White Flat is available for the use of the school. 29 February 1928 - Donation of a linotype machine by The Courier. 27 June 1928 - Internal Sewerage to the Ballarat Technical Art Schoolballarat school of mines, ballarat technical art school, h.h. smith, returned soldier teachers, harold herbert, ponsonby carew-smyth, f.h. hoskin, carpentry workshop, donald i. johnston, herald shield, kenneth moss, hilda wardle, miss bell, margaret bell, millinery, j.y. mcdonald soldiers memorial, john rowell, repatriation building, stained glass classes, dressmaking fees, ballarat supreme court, m. baird, carvings, villers bretonneux school carvings, ethel kift, m.c. young, macrobertson scholarship, elvie ford, edwin robinson, annie hauser, robina mackie, e. quick, tennis court, w.e. gower, colin hunt, white flat, frank hall, effie holmes, mavis beacham, henry harvey, plaster casts, pearl frickie, w.r. dean, marjery henderson, sewerage, laura crouch, ballarat teachers' college, gertie gough, gwen nagle, lynda clark, jack walker, cyril gibbs, repatriation, donald johnston, ceramics, kiln, c. campbell, photography, jean maude, sylvia copperwaite, olga dulfer, may pollock, margaret bailey, stella clarkson, may norrie, nellie nicholls, nancy govan, edith curnow, kathleen windsor, betty johnson, edna pearson, elvie thege, gwen neagle, effie george, gwen tunbridge

This medallion was awarded to Mirth Marfell for swimming. The award was given to students in Victorian schools for advanced prowess in swimming and lifesaving. Mirth Marfell was a student at Warrnambool High School in 1935 when she received the medallion. Warrnambool High School was established as an Agricultural High School in 1907 and, after a merger with Warrnambool North Technical School, it is known today as Warrnamboool College. Mirth Marfell, the daughter of Henry and Helena Marfell, was born in Warrnambool in 1919. Her grandfather, John Marfell, a Warrnambool hay and corn dealer and miller connected to the Warrnambool Co-operative Milling Company, was prominent in community and civic affairs in the town. Mirth Marfell completed her nursing training at the Warrnambool Base Hospital and served in the Australian Army Nursing Service in World War Two for five years. She then became the first Australian nursing organizer for the Victorian Royal College of Nursing. This medallion is of interest, firstly as an example of the medallion given to students for swimming achievements in the 1930s in Victorian schools and secondly because it was awarded to Mirth Marfell, a Warrnambool person who had a distinguished nursing career.Circular metal medallion . Obverse features raised semi naked figure holding a cloth across the lower torso with one hand and a palm like branch in the other hand, an oval shield with text and decorative sprays of leaves. The reverse features the back of a naked female figure with long hair and a trident holding the hand of a child half immersed in the sea, another child"s head is raised above the sea. A lighthouse is featured on the distant shore. MIRTH MARFELL 1933. 34 on rim EDUCATION DEPARTMENT VICTORIA SWIMMING AND LIFE SAVINGmirth marfell, warrnambool co-operative milling company, australian army nursing service, history of warrnambool