This is a special issue of the annual Orbost High School magazine. It revisits the decade 1960-1970. The name Croajingolong derives from the Australian Aboriginal Krauatungalung words galung, meaning "belonging to" and kraua, meaning "east". 2218.1 belonged to Mary Gilbert, a former teacher at the school.This magazine is a useful reference tool.Two copies of a magazine with a dark blue cover. It is titled Croajingolong Document of a Decade. On the front cover the print 1960-1970 Vol.2 No. 3 is in yellow/gold and the Orbost High School crest is on the left hand side in yellow. 2218.2 has autographs inside the covers. 2218.1 has the Orbost Historical Society stamp on the inside back cover.croajingolong orbost-high-school

This is a photograph of the settlement of Orbost on the banks of the Snowy River,. In the foreground in the paddock there is a water trough (Bills?) and the B Drain can be seen on the far left. D.S. Campbell had a stationery store in Nicholson Street Orbost and published several black and white postcards of Orbost.This is a pictorial record o The township of Orbost in the late 19th century.A black / white photograph / postcard. There is a river in the foreground with houses and shops in the background behind a cleared paddock.on front - Orbostorbost-19th-century snowy-river

These photographs are pictorial record of Orbost in 1961.They enable us o observe the objects in their spatial context and in detail. They are useful for reference.Four black / white aerial photographs. there are spare copies of each. 3276.1 is an aerial photograph of the Orbost Show with Lochiel Park in the foreground. 3276.2 is an aerial photograph taken over a township. 3276.3 shows the Orbost High School on the left. 3276,4 shows the high school in the foreground.on the back of each is "March 10th 1961 Aerial of Orbost"photographs-aerial-orbost-1961 orbost-1961 lochiel-park

The East Kew Women’s Club was formed on 20 July 1945 as an experiment amongst local women, who felt that there was a need for some organised group to give full scope to their various interests and hobbies. In the beginning, they met at the house of their founder, Mrs Eric Thake, 48 Harp Road, East Kew, but the growth and interest was so rapid that it was soon necessary to find a larger meeting place, so the group moved to the Harrier’s Pavilion in Victoria Park, Kew. At the fifth meeting of the group, a committee was formed, and a constitution adopted on 4 December 1945.The Club was aimed to be non-political, non-sectarian and open to women from any locality. The Club’s motto was “To Help others, Improve Ourselves, and Foster the Community Spirit”. The first twenty years of the Club was recorded in a small, nine-page publication “East Kew Women’s Club : Twenty Years 20-7-1945 - 30-7-1965”.Following the closure of the Club in 1973, after twenty-eight years, its records were deposited with the Kew Historical Society and are thus available for research into the history of women’s groups in the post war period in Australia. The Society holds the Club’s Minute Books of Meetings (1953-73), Attendance Registers (1959-73), Visitors Book, and sundry items of print ephemera published by the Club.Stapled self-published history of the East Kew Women’s Club, entitled - "Twenty Years 20/7/1945 - 30/7/1965". 9pp & covers.east kew women's club, community clubs -- kew (vic.) -- histories

The original Rose Chapel was erected in 1866 by Major Anthony Beale in memory of his wife Katherine Rose Beale; later renovated and handed over to the Church of England and renamed St Katherine's.Concerns the early history of St Helena and the Beale familyTwo photocopied pages, text with photos. 2 copiesWomen's World, 1/7/1934beale family, st katherines church st helena

The name Croajingolong derives from the Australian Aboriginal Krauatungalung words galung, meaning "belonging to" and kraua, meaning "east". This is the thirty-second edition of the annual magazine of Orbost High School. The magazine belonged to Mary Gilbert, a former teacher at the school. This 32nd issue of the annual Orbost High School magazine is a useful reference tool.A white 62 pp light card covered magazine. On the front cover in the middle is the title in green print. Around it are photographs of men and women - staff of Orbost High School.orbost-high-school magazine croajingalong

This photograph shows Percy De Forest and his brother, Alfred of McLeod Street, Orbost. The photographer was Warren, Helena (1871-1962) who was a self-taught photographer who became both the local press correspondent and a producer of humorous trompe l'oeil postcard images. Helena Warren was a thirty-two year old settler living on a small mixed farm with her husband, William, at Newmerella, near Orbost in Gippsland, Victoria, when she bought her first camera, an Austral Box quarter-plate. Her family says she was entirely self-taught, like many women photographers who started out with nothing but the instructions on the packets of film and chemicals. In over fifty years practice she graduated from the total novice, who opened all her first mail order plates in bright sunlight and ruined them, to a competent photographer who became both the local press correspondent and an inveterate producer of humorous trompe l’oeil postcard images. Helena Francis Warren (nee McKeown) was married to William John Warren and lived in Newmerella. She supplied the photos for the Back-To-Orbost celebration book in 1937 and also designed the Back-To-Orbost badge. She was known for her soft toy making. (by Ivy Rodwell in from Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District by Mary Gilbert). This photograph has significance in its association with Helen Frances Warren, a popular Orbost identity who was well known as an accomplished photographer and needleworker,Two black / white photograohs of two small children sitting in a large pumpkin on water.on front - An Orbost Pumpkinpumpkins-orbost de-forest warren-helena-photography

The RSS&AILA was the name of the RSL in 1956, called Returned Sailors and Soldiers and Airmen Imperial League of Australia. The Australian Imperial Service of Women’s Auxiliary of the RSL was formed by mothers, wives, widows, sisters, daughters and aunts of men who served in the Australian Imperial Forces in the First World War (1914-1918). The auxiliaries grew from this beginning to raise money for the welfare of men and women who served and their widows and families. In Victoria, the RSL Women’s Council of Victoria is headquarters for Auxiliaries throughout Victoria. The aim of Women’s Council is to support the Auxiliaries, in assisting the Returned & Services League to give a helping hand to Service Members, their families and the wider community. RSL Sub-Branches and their Women’s Auxiliaries work together towards the same goals. As of August 2015 there are 64 Women’s Auxiliaries with approximately 1250 members. The Lara Ladies Auxiliary was disbanded in September 1952, due to not enough members to continue the auxiliary (the ladies from the beginning becoming too old – First World War). Those left promised to continue to support the RSL in all its future activities, which the ladies continue to do today as members and Associate members. Here is the last entry, dated 8th September, 1952: “Since our last meeting our President Mrs Marshall has passed away. It was decided that as there is not enough members to continue the Auxiliary the Lara Sub Branch was requested to have the Auxiliary disbanded. Assistance was promised the League by the ladies present in all its futher activities.” There were four present at this meeting. Signed by P. Walker, Hon Secretary and Treasurer.This badge is of historic significance as it represented a badge held by a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of the RSL in 1956.A metal circular badge with outer blue rim with words R.S.S.&.A.I.L.A. Women's Auxiliary. Inner gold circle has blue Australian flag. At top of badge is 56.On the reverse side of the badge is the stamped number 6965

Frances Rigg was a local business identity in Kew, at one stage managing the local branch of the English, Scottish and Australian (ES&A) Bank at 175 High Street from c. 1920 until the 1940s. After Francis Rigg’s death, the collection of buttons and medallions was inherited by his son, Ken Rigg (1922-2014). The collection was subsequently donated to the Kew Historical Society in 2015 by Francis' grandson, Adrian Rigg, at the time of the Gallipoli & Beyond Commemoration in 2015. The collection covers a period of almost 40 years. The majority of the buttons are patriotic buttons, issued and sold during and immediately after the First World World War (1914-1918) to raise funds for national and overseas causes. The collection also includes a number of locally significant sporting event buttons and sporting club medallions, issued in the 1920s and 1930s.Patriotic and other pressed tin buttons and badges were produced in large numbers in the first decades of the twentieth century. By nature, insubstantial and ephemeral, they have not always survived. The collections of badges, buttons and medallions in the Kew Historical Society collection is homogenous and yet diverse, ranging from buttons sold to raise funds for the war efforts in 1914-18 and 1939-45, to those used at festivals and sporting events. Because of the manufacturing process, many surviving buttons and badges have been affected by inadequate storage, suffering from oxidisation and physical damage. These survivors are now historically and socially significant artefacts, revealing much about the attitudes and values of the period in which they were produced. Their widespread distribution means that they are frequently significant at a local, state, national and international level.A postwar fundraising button featuring a simple design using white text in a red boarder with and central blue cross. In February when the buttons were sold, The Argus reported that: ‘Each suburban municipality has formed a committee under its mayoress, to assist in the button distribution, and local committees in the country are also working for the success of the appeal. Kiosks are prohibited in the city streets, but many suburban councils have granted permission for their erection. In addition to buttons, many kinds of saleable articles will be obtainable at the kiosks.’"Women’s Hospital Appeal 1923"royal womens hospital, fundraising buttons, badges

50th Anniversary of WWII. Photos and brief captions of enlisted, voluntary and social occupations of women during WWII.Two pages, back to back, from a magazine with black and white images of former magazine covers, black and white photos, captions and text. Most images and photographs depict women and men in uniforms or working clothes from WWII. Part of a four page article.wwii, world war 2, world war two, wwll, women's roles, women, australian women's weekly

Owen 'Doc' Matthews is remembered for his spectacular Grand Prix dressage exhibitions with his horse Aintree Boy, performed to music under spotlights at Melbourne Royal Show from 1965-1975. He also performed at smaller country shows. Doc Matthews was born in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy in 1923, during the Great Depression. He and his brother Paddy were placed in a foster home and then in a Geelong orphanage before being put to work at a dairy farm. Doc was given an elderly piebald mare to ride, which ignited his passion for horses. When he was 16, he enlisted in World War 2 but captured by the Japanese and ended up working on the Burma Railway, spending years as a prisoner of war in the notorious Changi Prison. Doc joined Victoria Police in 1952 and by 1962 was chief horse master and riding instructor in the mounted branch. He drilled teams to perform musical rides and horses and riders were always turned out to perfection. Doc and Aintree Boy became a partnership after the horse had been used in the mounted branch for four years. Doc decided to try his hand at dressage and as there were few instructors, trained Aintree Boy with nothing to go by but a couple of books and film of a single dressage competition. Owen 'Doc' Matthews was truly a pioneer of Grand Prix dressage in Australia. ( ref. TOPHORSE )Agricultural shows are an important part of cultural life in small country towns and the Orbost Show is an integral part of Orbost 's agricultural history.A square shaped ticket for Orbost Show - Monday, March 10th 1975. It is on white card with blue print.Orbost Wonder Horse "Aintree Boy". Monday, March 10th 1975aintree-boy dressage equestrian matthews-owen

Produced by the VCE Consultative Committee: Women's Art Register in 1991 at a time when art courses in secondary schools had little material to use in relation to Australian women artists. An invaluable resource for secondary school teachers to broaden the scope of student knowledge about women artist's and thereby offer alternative role models for art students. This slide kit and booklet is a comprehensive, practical resource which provides a rare snapshot of women's art practices in the early 1990s. It is an excellent resource for research and teaching purposesKit containing 74 page booklet and 36 slides, activities, artist's comments and other source materials. Published in 1991 by the Women's Art Register. Artists include Elizabeth Gower, Sally Smart, Wendy Stavrianos, Pam Hallandal, tori de Mestre, Lyn Moore, Deborah Halpern, Tracey Moffat & Jill Orr. Cover image by Jill Orr, 'Walking on Planet Earth'elizabeth gower, sally smart, wendy stavrianos, pam hallandal, tori de mestre, lyn moore, deborah halpern, tracey moffat & jill orr.

Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905, the daughter of John and Annie (nee Cameron) Gilbert. She had seven sisters and one brother. Four siblings died at a young age. She died in 1989 aged 84. .She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community. Mary Gilbert was not only the founder of the Orbost Historical Society and Museum but was a teacher at bhe Orbost High School for many years. She contributed much to the community as she was involved in so many aspects of it. Mary Isabelle Gilbert was born in 1905 in Orbost, Australia. She was born to John Gilbert and Annie Cameron Gilbert. She was a teacher historian loved and respected by her family and the wider community.A black / white photograph of an elderly women accepting an award from a young womanl. Below the photograph is a medal and inscription on a light blue buff card. This is all inside a light blue wooden frame with gold edging.on front - "British Empire Medal, Miss M. Gilbert for Services to Orbost High School and Education in Greneral"gilbert-mary-orbost

In 1944-1996 Edna Barrie was a member of the Melton Branch Country Women’s Association (CWA), Melton Branch, Secretary of the Branch in 1945 – 1946 and Branch International Secretary 1970-1971. She worked with choir, music and drama interest groups within the branch attaining both first and second place in 1959, second place in 1952 Exhibition and second in Music in 1960 in the state. She was involved in their handicraft craft events, fund raising and musical events and singing competitions. During the 1950s she trained Trios and Quartets in part singing for the CWA competitions in Ballarat and Melbourne. It was at this time that she developed her skill as a conductor and trainer of choirs. She later auditioned for the Victorian Choir for alto parts believing she would stand a better chance of being chosen, because of her ability to sing in natural harmony. In 1962 she participated in the Tenth Australian Country Women of the World (ACWW) Triennial Conference “Australia Presents: CWA Massed Choir” in the Melbourne Town Hall. This event was recorded by Super Sound Spotlight on 45 extended play vinyl record. The songs were Australian music and words, for example The Silver Stars are in the Sky, The Graceful Swaying Wattle and Kookaburra. Edna continued with her interest in the Victorian Choir regularly meeting at the CWA Headquarters in Toorak for rehearsals. In 1974 she took part in the Australian Choir at the fourteenth Triennial conference of the ACWW Interfaith Service held at the Perth Concert Hall on the 13th of October. Items celebrating 80 years of Country Women's Association and the closure of the Melton branchlocal significant groups, local identities, local special interest groups

This glass was produced as a souvenir following the name change from Orbost High School to Orbost Secondary College in 1990.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This souvenir drinking glassis representative of its history.A clear drinking glass with a stem and base stand produced as a souvenir of Orbost Secondary College. Tt has a gold rim and the school badge is pirinted in gold on the outside of the glass.Orbost Secondary Collegesouvenir orbost-secondary-college

This postcard is addressed to Tom Lloyd from Uncle Frank c/o F. Lloyd Esq, Bairnsdale.This item is a pictorial record associated with the agricultural history of Orbost. .The extensive Snowy river flood plain was swampy, but by the 1880s the river flats were being drained. The Orbost flats are very fertile and crops were planted on the rich deep soil, with maize rapidly becoming widespread.A black / white photograph of the Orbost farming flats. The sky is very cloudy. There are paddocks of crops in the foreground.on front - "Orbost Flats" on back - "How are you enjoying your holiday.......Uncle Frank"orbost-flats-farming lloyd-frank

These are photos of the second Orbost Butter Factory built in 1916 in Forest Road Orbost.These photos are pictorial records of the Orbsot Butter Factory.Two b/w postcards of the Orbost Butter Factory. Both are copies of the originals.2627.1 on back ; John Scouller and Jo Cross standing behind grave of Dan the Cookorbost-butter-factory

First croquet committee in Orbost started up in 1919. (ref : The Whos' Who of Orbost Settlers - Mary Gilbert). Often croquet lawns were in private gardens eg. at Connort (now Moogji). (Date on photograph?)This item is part of the history of Orbost Croquet Club. In the museum, there is also a mallet, a trophy and a photo of the first committee.A framed black/white photograph. It is of six women standing on a croquet lawn holding mallets. All are wearing hats. The frame is brown wood.On a glued sheet of paper - First Croquet Committee Orbost - 1929 Mrs Neil Edgar..........Mrs Dave Pardew Mrs Molly Dreverman Mrs Carl Dreverman (President) Miss M. Reynolds Mrs A. Nixon Mrs G. Hovey

Used to wrap half pound packs of butter made at the Orbost Butter Factory.The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. .1 is a bundle of twenty wrappers for Orbost Choicest Butter -Half Pound Nett Weight. They are white, rectangular with yellow,red ang green print . .2 is two blank letter heads for Orbost Butter and Produce Co LtdManufactured and Packed by C.M. -L/FD Orbost Butter & Produce Co Ltd in bottom Orbost Victoria R.H. cornerorbost-butter-factory agriculture farming letter-head wrappers butter

Black and white photographWritten on backing sheet: "Lilydale Football Club Women's Committee". Two women are identified as, " Susie Tait" and "Lallie Herry"

This is a photograph of the Saunders Family at Orbost 1888-89. It is Arthur and Agnes Saunders with their children, Beatrice, Cyril, Hilda and Vera. Arthur Scott Saunders was born 1864 in Orbost and died 3.12.1913 in Orbost where he is buried. He was the son of Son of Thomas Frederick Saunders and Lucy Beard Scott. He was a storekeeper at Orbost, a member of the early Show Committees, a Rechabite in 1893, and was a member of the Board of Guardians of the Church of England from 1894 to 1913 where he served as secretary and treasurer of the Board. His wife was Agnes Louisa Stuart Morriss who was born in 1862 and died 26-11-1938 at East Malvern and is buried in . Orbost cemetery. She sold the business in 1919 to Mr J. H, V. Dale. She left Orbost with her two daughters for East Malvern in April 1927. Saunders General Store was opened in 1900, overlapping part of the present Mensland and Coultons. The ―Melbourne Store‖ refers to it being a branch of their Melbourne store. The shop was burnt down in the early 1930‘s. ( info. from Saunders Family Newsletter by John Phillips)This is a pictorial record of a prominent early Orbost family and is a useful research item.A black / white photograph of a family group with the parents seated and their children standing around them. In the background is a wooden fence. It is on a beige coloured buff card.on front - "Saunders family at Orbost" on back - " Saunders family at orbost, 1888 - 1889"saunders-orbost

These postcards are part of the Rose series of photograph / postcards taken around Victoria. Rose was born in Clunes in 1861 and later worked in his father’s boot-making business in Prahran while studying photography. In 1880 he founded the Rose Stereograph Company and became famous for producing stereographs, or stereoviews, which gave the illusion of being in 3D when seen through a hand-held viewer, a big craze of the era. Rose produced stereoviews of the Western Front during the First World War. In all, he took about 9000 images in about 38 countries. As stereographs lost popularity in the 1920s, Rose switched to production of postcards and decorative cards, and he and the photographers who followed took thousands of scenes around Victoria as well as interstate that became iconic images of Australian life.These postcards are pictorial records of Orbost in the mid 20th century.Postcards such as these were a way of showing the scenic attractions of Orbost to potential tourists.Three black / white postcards of views over the Orbost flats and railway viaduct. 3183.1 is of a railway viaduct in the foreground and farming flats. 3183.2 is a view over the Orbost flats taken from Grandview Lookout. 3183.3 is a view from the Grandview Lookout showing the back of a woman looking across a rail fence. 3183.1 - bottom front - Rose Series P 478 SNOWY RIVER FLATS, ORBOST VIC 3183.2 - bottom front - Rose Series P 49 ORBOST, FROM GRANDVIEW HEIGHTS,VIC 3183.3 - bottom front - Rose Series P 14443 A VIEW FROM THE LOOKOUT, ORBOST, VICpostcards-orbost rose-series orbost-railway-viaduct grandview-lookout-orbost

The photo was probably taken by Will Herbert and used at the 1937 "Back to Orbost" celebrations. The photo depicts the Snowy River at Orbost when it was at a high level.A coloured photograph in a brown wooden frame which has gold painted decorated edges. A wire hanger is attached. The photo shows reflections of trees along the bank of the Snowy River in 1937.On bottom right of photo - Snowy River Orbost On back of frame - Back to Orbost 1937 from Will Herbertphotography snowy-river orbost-1937

The photographs show the Butter Factory at Orbost in 1892 and 1906. The postcard is addressed to Miss N. Cameron C/- Mrs H. Nixon of Picnic Point Bairnsdale. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. The first shipment in about 1893 to England went rank and was only good for axle grease on wagons and carts.The milk was brought to the factory by horse and dray.Most people would take the whey home for their pigs,which were abundant on the farms in the Orbost district. Mr John Gilbert is the man second from the left in 1250.1.Postcards form a vital part of social and historical records for researchers. These cards are photographs of the Orbost Butter Factory. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. Two photographs / postcards of the Orbost Butter Factory. 1250.1 is a a photograph of several horse-drawn wagons outside a large wooden building.There are several men on top of the wagons, seated and standing. 1250.2 is a postcard with a photograph of the butter factory taken from the north side showing the two storeys with a person standing at a door on each level. There are horse drawn carts behind a wooden fence and several men standing on the front verandah with one man at a top window. On the back of this postcard is a hand-written letter.1250.1 - on front - Orbost Butter Factory Ward Bros Sale 1250.2 - on front - Butter Factory Orbost on back - " 27/11/06 Dear Girls Yours to hand you should have had a letter from me yesterday. Glad you wrote to Miss Alexander. Hope ypou have a good time out there. ??? meeting a success, Mother"dairy-orbost orbost-butter-factory

The McLeods, were the original holders of the Orbost station. Sir William Clarke bought the station from McLeod Bros. Sir William was a very fine man and noted for his philanthropic actions. He finally cut up and sold the Orbost station and presented 10 acres of land to the people of Orbost for a show and recreation ground. Sir William Clarke had taken over the Orbost run from the McLeods in 1870. (more info. July 2006 Newsletter) When Sir William died the property was owned by his son, Rupert who offered the land for sale at 4 pounds per acre. No sale resulted and the property was leased for a few years until in 1898 it was subdivided and sold to many of Orbost's first families. (info. from In Times Gone By- Deborah Hall) This house was located on the western side of Forest Road. Orbost.This is a pictorial record of one of the first residences in Orbost.A black/ white photograph of a large wooden house. It has a verandah at the front and sides. There are three children two girls and a boy - standing on the verandah to the left of the door. The house is surrounded by gardens.on front - Orbost Home Stationorbost-station clarke-william clarke-rupert

The first Orbost Brass Band was formed in 1889. Around 1908 the town band split and the Orbost Workers' Band was formed. Eventually the two bands merged in 1913 to reform as the Orbost Municipal Band under conductorship of Charles Spink. Further info and Ref: In Times Gone By - Deborah HallThe various Orbost bands over the years played a major role in community activities providing entertainment and musical experiences for the many members. Square shaped fabric banner. Red background with yellow braiding and tassels. Embroidered with initials O M B for Orbost Municipal Band. Ten shoulder tabs which are black with Orbost in gold embroidery.banner orbost-band societies music

3151.1 is of a water tanker on stand by at Orbost ready for emergency use. Similar suppliers were at Bairnsdale and Nowa Nowa. The two tankers hels about 9,000 gallons (34068.7 litres) - from a news item in "Gippsland" September, 1971. 3151.2 is of Victoria's X class 1,800 H.P general purpose diesel electric locomotive. Si had been ordered for the Victorian Railways and cost about £ 250,000 each. 3151.3 is of several loaded, covered railway trucks on a rail line. 3151.4 was taken at the goods yard at Orbost Railway Station. 3151.5 has some rail wagons with "SHOWMOBILE COUNCIL OF ADULT EDUCATION" on the sides. 3151.6 is of goods wagons (Probably not at Orbost Station) 3151.7 is a goods train 3151.8 shows the loading or unloading of farm produce at Orbost railway Station. 3151.9 shows cattle being loaded at Orbost Railway Station. 3151.10 is of a container N.Y.K. LINE ( a Japanese shipping company) This item is associated with the history of the Orbost-Bairnsdale railway line and therefore reflects the role that the rail line played in the social and economic history of Orbost.Ten black / white photographs related to Orbost rail. orbost-railway east-gippsland-railway transport-railway railway-engine orbost-railway-station export-produce

The photo shows the Orbost Marching Girls at the Golden Jubilee of the Orbost High School in 1962.Orbost High School / Orbost Secondary College has played a significant part in the education of senior students in the Orbost district . It is the sole senior educational institution. This item is representative of its historyA black / white photograph of female students marching at the Orbost High School with a crowd watching.front bottom - "1962 Back To + High School Gold Jubilee opening new block" on back - "Golden Jubilee 1962. Girls marching"education- orbost orbost-high-school-golden-jubilee orbost--marching-girls

Information from research by Mabel Rogers from the first meeting in August 1939 – 1969 Notable Events of the CWA The document contains information about meetings and events and numbers of members who attended. December 2013 – a selection of some of the items of interest have been extracted by Wendy Barrie NOTABLE EVENTS Page 1 1938 August 10th 1938 Minutes of inaugural meeting of Melton Branch Country Women’s Association. Cr Coburn introduced Mrs Toose, Ballarat G.P. [Group President] 42 ladies were present, including visitors from Bacchus Marsh and Smeaton Branches. September – Miss A Raleigh was elected Magazine Secretary October- 26 members present. Penny Collection for Million Members Fund November December – Mrs Swan gave demonstration of basketry, using stringy bark, Eucalyptus bark and reeds 1939 February 1939 – 18 members present. Branch total 50. Donation towards Pedal Transmitting Set. Inquiries made of Shire Council re permission to fence War Memorial March April – cost of fence material beyond Branch Funds May- 24 members present June, July, August – birthday celebrations. September 25 members present October – Meeting hled at Toolern Vale Bird Sanctuary 36 members present November – 1st Annual Meeting December – Owing to harvest operations, only 11 members present. 1940 February electric kettle and urn to be purchased for Mechanics Institute. Also to install a power point. [Electricity was connected to Melton in December 1939] April end of page 1 Page 2 May – Council Permission to be sought, to plant trees on oval below Shire Hall P.M.G. to be asked to supply a seat outside telephone booth for convenience of callers after P.O. was closed. June- Wives of A.I.F. soldiers be made honorary members. “1d per week drive” for gift for the Empire. July, September, October November – Group President stressed the importance of keeping Branches together during time of war. Collection of sheep skins to be made into vests for fighting forces worthy of consideration. Group President, Mrs Morgan-Paylor. December 1941 February 30 members present March – Eight members attend Ballarat Group Conference. Approach Council re fencing and preparation of land for tree plantation May – Mrs Swan demonstrated making of slippers from pieces of sheepskin June – Empire Gift Scheme of 1d per week to be continued for another year or duration of the war. July – Demonstration on making camouflage nets August, September Group Conference at Smeaton, October, November meetings held 1942 February- Enquiries to be made as how to help with A.R.P. work March, April, May, June,- Headquarters busy on war work. July end of page 2 Page 3 August, September. October – 15 Camouflage Nets forwarded to Headquarters November- Mrs Glasson Group President presided at Annual Meeting. Meetings to be held at 3 monthly intervals. Overseas link, enquiries be made of Melton Mowbray had a C.W.A. Branch 1943 February- Overseas link to be Lampeter, Cardiganshire, Wales May- 7 Camouflage Nets to Headquarters. American overseas link Nov 5th Annual Meeting, letters received from Wales and America 1944 May – Approach to be made to Council re formation of Baby Health Centre July – Ball held for Baby Health Centre effort. Admission 3/- 1945 February- Mrs Lemke present at meeting May August- Miss Strahan of Womens Hospital gave a talk on “Work of Almoner Departments in Public Hospitals” November Annual meeting. eight food parcels sent to Britain, 2 to Lampeter 1946 meetings held every two months May- Congratulations to Mrs Swan, Group President Elect June – 20 members present. August- 8th Birthday celebrated with a Social Evening Music was supplied by Mrs E.W. Barrie September - Scone competition 1. Mrs Beaty, 2. Miss Robinson 3. Mrs Exell November- Eggs sent to Somers House 1947 February – Demonstration of Glove-making March – revert to monthly meetings April - decided to have an auto tray made for the Branch May – Branch decided to plant a tree for Princess Elizabeth’s 21st Birthday.. Council to be asked if agreeable to continue arrangements in 1940, to fence C.W.A. Plantation end of page 3 Page 4 June - Food parcels sent to Overseas Link July – Invitations to birthday celebrations sent to Bacchus Marsh, Ballan, Sunbury, Mt Egerton August September - Collection of silver coin taken a donation from Branch towards wedding gift to Princess Elizabeth … forwarded to H.Q. November – C.W.A. together with Red Cross and Bacchus Marsh C.W.A. to provide afternoon tea and luncheon at Eynesbury sale. 1948 February – Food parcels sent to ex-Prisoner-of-war. Publicity agent appointed April – Decided to apply for trees to be planted in area already chosen a beauty spot May – Additional listeners to Broadcast Session were appointed June July – Gift of books received from Overseas Link. I was decided to stat a Library . Miss Raleigh to at a Librarian. August – 5 pound donation from Branch funds to “Save the Children” Appeal. September, October, November 1949 January – At Group Conference, delegates to vote in favour of resolution that State School children be allowed to sit for exams in own school March – Decided to contact Council for permission to fence off Water Reserve April, May – Another parcel to be sent to Ret. British P.O.W. Association June July – Fancy Dress Children’s Ball to be held for Annual Effort August – 11th Birthday September – Bank Balance November – 11th annual Meeting. Members agree to supply small gifts to Ballarat Mental Hospital 1950 February – Five books were received from Lampeter March – Branch to support idea of holding a Music Drama Festival in Group April – Miss Smith elected Group President May – C.W.A. Science Van visited Melton June – Demonstration of Macrame work - July August – 12th Birthday Celebration end page 4 Page 5 September, October November 12th Annual Meeting, Miss Smith Group President. Melton's Country Women's Association Choirlocal special interest groups, local identities