Handwritten notes, undated, on A & G Bills horse trough Main Road Research. Handwritten notes, undated, "Annie and George Bills" listing locations of other Bills horse troughs. Typed notes by Dianna Basset-Smith, July 2003, her memories of the Bills trough at Research. Letter, RSPCE to Andrew Lemon, 17 December 1993, lists other horse troughs known to the RSPCA, use of money from Bills estate managed by John Crook. Newspaper article: Legacy is set in concrete, The Weekly Times, 25 June 2003, history of Bills horse troughs from 1930s, biography of George Bills and Annis Swarm [correctly Swann], quoting Barbie Roach, Gorge Bills' great-grandneice, notes locations of other Bills troughs. Newspaper article: No drought in water troughs, Weekly Times, 9 July 2003, Response to 25 June 2003 article, readers reporting Bills troughs in their area, photograph of trough at Korong Vale. Newspaper article: The horse lover, (photocopy, no publication details), Decaying Bills horse tough in Geelong council yard proposed to be moved to RSPCA, history of George Bills, Annis Bills (nee Swann), legacy, great-grandneice Judith Crook writing Bills history. Email exchange, Eltham District Historical Society and Geraldine Sanderson 2015: enquiry re Bills trough at Research for planned history of Bills trough, and provision of EDHS-held information.Annis Elizabeth Swannmain road, research (vic.), horse troughs, annis and george bills, bills trough, audrey bills, annis bills, george bills, barbie roach, royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals, judith crook, audrey morton, kathleen wood, acclimatisation society, john lugg, ian stacey, harry bills, annis swann, james boreas crook, william buesst, myer emporium, richard bills, buesst and bills brothers, daisy bills

Full page newspaper clipping featuring the March 1965 Victorian bushfires. Items include: Photograph - TWO-WOMAN BUCKET BRIGADE, Mrs Henry Marsden (left) and Mrs Moureen Ellis, whose fire-fighting efforts yesterday were highly praised today by their Eltham neighbours, carry out mopping-up operations Photograph - DOGS MADE HOMELESS by the fire in North Eltham yesterday are being cared for at First-Constable Doug. Mummery's kennels at Eltham and here is kennel maid Helen Oliver, 17, with some of them today. The two basset hounds are owned by Mr Bill Guy who lost about 100 daschund and basset hound puppies and dogs in the fire. Photograph - He died at Eltham [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 Other news stories of the day:  Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight.   IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue, doug mummery, helen oliver, mrs henry marsden, mrs moureen ellis

The Student Prince, Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo. For a six night season: Thursday 15th, Friday 16th, Saturday 17th and Thursday 22nd, Friday 23, Saturday 24th June, 1972. Bendigo Operatic Society: Mr J McK. Cannon, Mr F Trewarne, Miss Ann Ball, Mr L Spencely, Mrs P Lyon. Committee: Mesdames J Cannon, M Reed, Misses P McCraken & M Welch, Messrs. J Beaumont, J Boquest, G Daws. Photos: Producer-Max Collis, Assistant Producer, Ballet & Wardrobe Mistress-Madge Welch, Assistant Pianist-Edith John, Musical Director-Gwen Grose, Society Pianist- Ruth Gorman. Photos of cast: Margaret McQueenie, John Boquest, John McCormack, Graham Bumford, Graeme Daws, Annette Beckwith, Jill James, Ferd Lorenz, Shane Brennan, Patricia Lyon, Max Rule, Ian Beckwith, John Tonkin, Michael Filippini, Valerie Griffiths, Jim Feteris. Synopsis if Story. Synopsis of Scenes. Bendigo Operatic Society Presents by arrangement with Allan's Music (Australia) Pty. Ltd. ''The Student Prince'' A Max Collis Production. Music by Sigmond Romburg. Book & Lyrics by Dorothy Donnelly. Stage Manager Malcolm Cannon. Musical Director Gwen Grose. Choreography Madge Welch. Wardrobe Miss M Welch, Mrs A Ball. Cast: Kerry Hogan Brian Fitzpatrick, Garry Burns, Alan Petrie, Graham Bumford, John McCormick, John Boquest, Graeme Daws, Annette Beckwith Margaret McQueenie, Michael Filippini, Nicholas Kasterovic, Max Rule, Graham Bumford, Ian Beckwith, Ferd Lorenz, Shane Brennan, Jill James, Patricia Lyon, Valerie Griffiths, Jim Feteris, John Tonkin. Time _ Spring 1860. Female Chorus: Marion Alcock, Ann Ball, Wilma Baldwin, Dorothy Field, Ann Garrat, Dawn Moncrieff, Coral Rivett, Lois Semmens, Marilyn Storey, Marion Wright. Male Chorus: Garry Burns, Edmund, Burke, Peter Edgley, Brian Fitzpatrick, Jim Feteris, Kerry Hogan, Ross Jones, Nicholas Kasterovic, Bernie Keogh, John Keogh, Alan Petrie, Fred Trewarne, Philip Wilkin. Ballet: Dianne Austin, Annette Basset, Wendy Kent, Jocelyn Lyon, Lyn Rowe, Ann Rendell, Helen Southby, Pauline Waugh. Publicity Officer: Mrs J Cannon. Scenery & Properties: M & J Cannon, J Moncrieff, R Spicer. Art Work: M Cannon, S James, B Agnew, Tony Lorenz, J Hall, Karl Steinberg. Prompt: Mrs J Cannon. Lighting: L Reed, H Bridges & T Vincent. Make-up: Mrs H Cannon & Mrs D Coia. Hairdressing: Ross Coiffure. House Manager: Garry McDonald. Bendigo Concert Orchestra Violins: Mrs R Weldon, Mrs A Boulton, Mrs M Robbins, Mrs C Messer, Mr C Gill, Mr J Jordan, Mr P Phillips, Mr T French. Violas: Mr E Jarrett, Mr H Werry. Cellos: Mrs C Bubb. Bass: Mr S Anderson. Flute: Mr C Bubb. Clarinets: Mr R Holyoake. Trombones: Mr W Neuman. Trumpets: Mr D Gray, Mr David Gray, Mr Ian De Araugc. Percussion: Mr Brian Beale. Pianoforte: Mrs P Gorman. Songs From ''The Student Prince'' (wording). Acknowledgement; Bendigo Advertiser, BCV8, 3BO, 3CV, St Mary's. Advertisements through last half of program: Don Semmens Photographic Studio, The Copper Pot Licensed Restaurant, Ross Coiffure Beatty Salon. A and b are both the same copy a in the better of the copies as b is lightly faded. Otherwise excellent condition.program, music, bedigo operatic society, the student prince, capital theatre, view street, bendigo. 15th, 16th, 17th 22nd, 23, 24th june, 1972. bendigo operatic society: mr j mck. cannon, mr f trewarne, miss ann ball, mr l spencely, mrs p lyon. committee: mesdames j cannon, m reed, misses p mccraken & m welch, messrs. j beaumont, j boquest, g daws. photos: producer-max collis, assistant producer, ballet & wardrobe mistress-madge welch, assistant pianist-edith john, musical director-gwen grose, society pianist- ruth gorman. photos of cast: margaret mcqueenie, john boquest, john mccormack, graham bumford, graeme daws, annette beckwith, jill james, ferd lorenz, shane brennan, patricia lyon, max rule, ian beckwith, john tonkin, michael filippini, valerie griffiths, jim feteris. synopsis if story. synopsis of scenes. bendigo operatic society presents by arrangement with allan's music (australia) pty. ltd. ''the student prince'' a max collis production. music by sigmond romburg. book & lyrics by dorothy donnelly. stage manager malcolm cannon. musical director gwen grose. choreography madge welch. wardrobe miss m welch, mrs a ball. cast: kerry hogan brian fitzpatrick, garry burns, alan petrie, graham bumford, john mccormick, john boquest, graeme daws, annette beckwith margaret mcqueenie, michael filippini, nicholas kasterovic, max rule, graham bumford, ian beckwith, ferd lorenz, shane brennan, jill james, patricia lyon, valerie griffiths, jim feteris, john tonkin. time _ spring 1860. female chorus: marion alcock, ann ball, wilma baldwin, dorothy field, ann garrat, dawn moncrieff, coral rivett, lois semmens, marilyn storey, marion wright. male chorus: garry burns, edmund, burke, peter edgley, brian fitzpatrick, jim feteris, kerry hogan, ross jones, nicholas kasterovic, bernie keogh, john keogh, alan petrie, fred trewarne, philip wilkin. ballet: dianne austin, annette basset, wendy kent, jocelyn lyon, lyn rowe, ann rendell, helen southby, pauline waugh. publicity officer: mrs j cannon. scenery & properties: m & j cannon, j moncrieff, r spicer. art work: m cannon, s james, b agnew, tony lorenz, j hall, karl steinberg. prompt: mrs j cannon. lighting: l reed, h bridges & t vincent. make-up: mrs h cannon & mrs d coia. hairdressing: ross coiffure. house manager: garry mcdonald. bendigo concert orchestra violins: mrs r weldon, mrs a boulton, mrs m robbins, mrs c messer, mr c gill, mr j jordan, mr p phillips, mr t french. violas: mr e jarrett, mr h werry. cellos: mrs c bubb. bass: mr s anderson. flute: mr c bubb. clarinets: mr r holyoake. trombones: mr w neuman. trumpets: mr d gray, mr david gray, mr ian de araugc. percussion: mr brian beale. pianoforte: mrs p gorman. songs from ''the student prince'' (wording). acknowledgement; bendigo advertiser, bcv8, 3bo, 3cv, st mary's. advertisements: don semmens photographic studio, the copper pot licensed restaurant, ross coiffure beatty salon.

Lilac Time, Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo, Bendigo Operatic Society. For a five night season. Commencing Friday, 20th November, 1970. Bendigo Operatic Society President: Mr J McK. Cannon. Vice-President: Mr P Houston. Hon. Secretary: Miss Ann Ball. Hon. Treasurer: Mr L Spencely. Hon. Subscription Secretary: Mrs P Lyon. Committee: Mesdames I Brown, J Cannon, Miss M Welch, Messrs. R Holyoake, G Lambert & N Roxburgh. Photographs: Cyril Holden, Patricia McCracken, John Boquest, Neil Roxburgh, Bartina Daws, Ruth Iredale, John Tonkin, Harry Brewer, Peggy Green Fred Trewarne, Patricia Lyon, Ann Ball, Graeme Daws, Brian Thomas, Douglas Sayle, John McCormack, Fred Lorenz, Madge Welch, Ruth Gorman. Synopsis of Story. Synopsis of Scenes. Cast in order of their appearance: Ann Ball, Dorothy Field, Cheryl Marshall, Graeme Daws, John Tonkin, Harry Brewer, Shane Brennan, Ruth Iredale, Peggy Green, Patrick McCracken, Brian Thomas, Douglass Sayle, John McCormack, John Boquest, Neil Roxburgh, Fred Trewarne, Fred Lorenz, Michael Filippini, Patricia Lyon, Christine Cavanaugh, Bartina Daws. Choreography: Madge Welch. Adaption & Lyrics by Adrian Ross. Music from Franz Schubert Arranged by Heinrich Bene & G H Clutsam. Wardrobe: Madge Welch & Mrs. Ann Ball. Musical Director: Gwen Grose. Stage Manager: Malcolm Cannon. Members of the Chorus: Wilma Baldwin, Christine Cavanaugh, Dorothy Field, Lynette Gillies, Anne Lewitska, Dawn Mackay, Cheryl Marshall, Dawn Moncrieff, Trudy Montfroy, Wilma Pearce, Henry Johnson, Max Knott, Michael Filippini, Shane Brennan. Ballet: Diane Austin, Annette Basset, Janice Jane, Kathy Jinks, Ruth Lyon, Coral, Rivett, Lyn Rowe, Ann Rundell. Children: Karl Steinberg, Debra Lockett, Wendy Kent, Karin Sutton, Cathy Johnson, Michael Sutton, Graham Orr, Bronwen Smith, Debbie Moyle, Vicki Lockett, Hayden Cornwall. Publicity Officer: Mrs J Cannon. Scenery and Properties: Messrs M Cannon, J Cannon & J Moncrieff. Art Work: Malcom Cannon, Mesdames L Neilsen, C Pla & Miss J Hall. Prompts: Mrs J Cannon & Miss A Ball. Lighting: Messrs, L Reed, H Bridges & T Vincent. Make-up: Mrs J Cannon. Hairdressing: Ross Coiffure. House Manager: Garry McDonald. Songs from ''Lilac Time'' Bendigo Concert Orchestra: Violins: R Weldon, A Boulton, M Robbins, C Messer, C Gill, J Jordan, P Phillip. Viola: E Jarrett. Cellos: C Bubb, D Nankivell. Bass: T French. Flute: C Bubb, D Bubb. Clarinets: R Holyoake. Bassoon: S Anderson. Trombone: N Neuman. Trumpet: D Gray. Percussion: G Aitken. Pianoforte: R Gorman. Acknowledgements: Bendigo 'Advertiser', BCV 8, 3BO, 3CV, Allans Music Store, St. Mary's College. Advertisments: Don Semmens Photographic Studio, Allan's World of Music, Ross Coiffure Beauty Salon.Cambridge Pressprogram, theatre, bendigo operatic society, lilac time, capital theatre, view street, bendigo, . five night season. 20th november, 1970. bendigo operatic society president: mr j mck. cannon. vice-president: mr p houston. hon. secretary: miss ann ball. hon. treasurer: mr l spencely. hon. subscription secretary: mrs p lyon. committee: mesdames i brown, j cannon, miss m welch, messrs. r holyoake, g lambert & n roxburgh. photographs: cyril holden, patricia mccracken, john boquest, neil roxburgh, bartina daws, ruth iredale, john tonkin, harry brewer, peggy green fred trewarne, patricia lyon, ann ball, graeme daws, brian thomas, douglas sayle, john mccormack, fred lorenz, madge welch, ruth gorman. synopsis of story. synopsis of scenes. cast: ann ball, dorothy field, cheryl marshall, graeme daws, john tonkin, harry brewer, shane brennan, ruth iredale, peggy green, patrick mccracken, brian thomas, douglass sayle, john mccormack, john boquest, neil roxburgh, fred trewarne, fred lorenz, michael filippini, patricia lyon, christine cavanaugh, bartina daws. choreography: madge welch. adaption & lyrics by adrian ross. music from franz schubert arranged by heinrich bene & g h clutsam. wardrobe: madge welch & mrs. ann ball. musical director: gwen grose. stage manager: malcolm cannon. members of the chorus: wilma baldwin, christine cavanaugh, dorothy field, lynette gillies, anne lewitska, dawn mackay, cheryl marshall, dawn moncrieff, trudy montfroy, wilma pearce, henry johnson, max knott, michael filippini, shane brennan. ballet: diane austin, annette basset, janice jane, kathy jinks, ruth lyon, coral, rivett, lyn rowe, ann rundell. children: karl steinberg, debra lockett, wendy kent, karin sutton, cathy johnson, michael sutton, graham orr, bronwen smith, debbie moyle, vicki lockett, hayden cornwall. publicity officer: mrs j cannon. scenery and properties: messrs m cannon, j cannon & j moncrieff. art work: malcom cannon, mesdames l neilsen, c pla & miss j hall. prompts: mrs j cannon & miss a ball. lighting: messrs, l reed, h bridges & t vincent. make-up: mrs j cannon. hairdressing: ross coiffure. house manager: garry mcdonald. bendigo concert orchestra: violins: r weldon, a boulton, m robbins, c messer, c gill, j jordan, p phillip. viola: e jarrett. cellos: c bubb, d nankivell. bass: t french. flute: c bubb, d bubb. clarinets: r holyoake. bassoon: s anderson. trombone: n neuman. trumpet: d gray. percussion: g aitken. pianoforte: r gorman. acknowledgements: bendigo 'advertiser', bcv 8, 3bo, 3cv, allans music store, st. mary's college. advertisments: don semmens photographic studio, allan's world of music, ross coiffure beauty salon.