Presented to Marie Taffe in February 2025 in recognition of her work with St Vincent de Paul Society over many years. Marie served as Ballarat Conference President, Regional Committee and was active in many charitable works.A recognition of meritorious service to the St Vincent De Paul Society at Ballarat.st vincent de paul society, charities, plaque

Les Stone was the last Shire President of Wodonga and first Mayor of the Rural City of Wodonga. Born in Collingwood, Victoria on 24th August 1919, he was the first of his family to obtain a post-secondary education. He became a Christian Brother but left the ministry after 10 years and became a trained primary school teacher. Les held various teaching appointments in and around country Victoria and Wodonga, the last as Principal of Wodonga West Primary School. It was in Wodonga that Les and his wife Pam settled with their family. Their contribution to the Wodonga community and local government was outstanding. Les established a strong network in the local migrant community, helping many new arrivals at Bonegilla Migrant Reception Centre with language issues and settling them into their new environment. He worked in support of all underprivileged people in the community. In 1967 Les was elected as a Councillor for the West Riding of Wodonga Council. The following year he was elected Deputy Shire President. He was the last Shire President of Wodonga and in 1971 became the inaugural Mayor of the Rural City of Wodonga. The City of Wodonga was proclaimed on 14th March 1973 and Les was re-elected as Mayor. He chose to serve one full term as Mayor having previously served two terms as Shire President. Les Stone passed away at the Mercy Hospital Albury on 28th December 1974 at 54 years of age. He left behind an enduring legacy which included the proactive encouragement of industry to Wodonga. He also championed the selection of Wodonga as a Growth Centre. A champion and defender of local government, Les served as Chairman of the North East Region of Municipalities which comprised 13 Councils including Wodonga and Wangaratta. He also played a critical role on the Albury Wodonga Development Corporation for five years in the early period of the Whitlam decentralization scheme. Les Stone’s life of giving wasn’t just about local government and teaching. He was an old-fashioned community activist who gave far more than he took from the community. Les worked tirelessly for numerous organizations including the Royal Children’s Hospital, Royal Melbourne Hospital (he was made a Life Governor of both), the Wodonga Good Neighbour Council, and Knights of the Southern Cross, Rotary, the St. Vincent de Paul Society and St. Augustine’s Parish Council. However it is in local government that he remains best remembered. He was an active and vocal councillor and gave over 16 years of service to the people of Wodonga - his election and re-election was never once opposed. Les Stone was interned in the Lawn Cemetery in Wodonga. He was aged 54 years. The naming and dedication of the Les Stone Park in West Wodonga is an important acknowledgement of Les Stone’s life. The inscription reads: '’Leslie Edwin Stone JP was the first Mayor of Wodonga from 1972 to 1974 and a former Shire President (1972). A school teacher and principal by profession Les had a long history of involvement with the migrant community and Catholic Church. He was an acknowledged champion of decentralisation’’. These photos are significant because they document the service of an important civic leader in Wodonga.A collection of coloured images related to Les Stone, Mayor of Wodongales stone, wodonga civic leaders, wodonga council

Published: 7 Dec 1934 Published title: A FIJIAN TROMBONIST. Published caption: Although the young Fijian here for the Eucharistic Congress had no uniform, he did not feel out of it with the members of St. Vincent de Paul’s Band at the Sacre Coeur, East Malvern, this week. Trove article identifier: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205071643 Description: A young Fijian boy sits with young members of the St Vincent de Paul’s Band, all seated on the grass in sunshine. The three young band members are jauntily dressed in braided hats, long pants and smart dark jackets, white shirts, dark bow tie, and dark long trousers and boots. One holds a French horn, one a trumpet. In contrast, the young Fijian boy is shoeless, hatless, and dressed in white – a white shirt, and possibly a white “skirt” as observed to be worn by Fijian policemen in their home country at that time. He carries a trombone, which perhaps belongs to the young band member sitting beside him. Research by project volunteer, Louise McKenzie: A photo in the Argus on the previous day shows “two Papuans, Aloysius and Bernard, … talking to Archbishop O’Shea of Wellington (N.Z.).” In a turn of phrase which would be far from acceptable today, the caption notes that the juxtaposition of the dark skinned boys and the white skinned Archbishop makes “A picturesque Contrast”. The photo is also staged in a way that has the two dark skinned boys (wearing white shirts and white “skirts”, and no hats), standing, looking down on the Archbishop in his elaborate clothing and headcovering. The Age caption advises that they are at Sacre Coeur, East Melbourne. The reason for the event – a garden party – was held as part of the National Eucharistic Congress which took place in Melbourne from Sunday 2 – Sunday 9 December 1934. An initiative of the Roman Catholic Church, it was their contribution to Melbourne’s Centenary Celebrations. At this garden party the Papal Legate, Cardinal MacRory, accompanied by dignatories including the Papal Chamberlain, met Old Girls of Sacre Coeur Convent. The Cardinal’s sister was at one time Mother Superior of this Convent. The featuring of Fijian and Papuan boys in these articles reflected the diverse nature of Catholic Church representatives worldwide who attended the Eucharistic Congress which featured as part of Melbourne’s Centenary celebrations. Notable visitors to the Congress included the Papal Legate, His Excellence Cardinal MacRory, several Monsignors from Rome, the Archbishop of Liverpool representing England, Scotland and Wales, together with representatives from New Zealand, China, South Africa, Ireland, the Islands of the Pacific, India, Malta, USA, and of course from across Australia. St Vincent de Paul “Our History” advises that the Society was founded in France in 1833 by a group of dedicated Catholics who put their faith into action to support the poor in their community. The “Vinnies” website “1854 onwards” sets out milestones of the Society’s close involvement with Melbourne from its infancy in March 1854 up to today. A well researched blog by Jeremy de Korte dated February 28, 2024 – Band Blasts from the Past – Anecdotes, Stories and Personalities, notes: Orphanage bands in Australia were a copy of practices in England where the teaching of music in boys’ institutions was commonplace (Sheldon, 2009). There was, however, a major difference to the outcomes of this musical education between the two countries. Boys who were trained as musicians in English institutions readily found themselves recruited into the bands of the British Army and Navy (Sheldon, 2009). Whereas the musicians that graduated from the Orphanage bands in Australia found themselves positions in the wider band movement. … We know that Orphanage bands in Australia have had a long and distinguished history, as well as enviable reputations. The St. Augustine’s Band from Geelong is probably the most famous of them all, and it is mentioned that by 1898 they were already putting the call out for a new set of instruments (“ST. AUGUSTINE’S ORPHANAGE BAND.,” 1898). St. Augustine’s went on to win many competitions at South Street in Ballarat and toured extensively – in one instance, in 1906 they won the A Grade Championships at South Street (Royal South Street Society, 1906). The band at St. Vincent’s de Paul in Melbourne was no less famous than their counterpart in Geelong and in 1921 they gained the services of Mr. Leslie Hoffman, a graduate of the St. Augustine’s Band, as their conductor (“St. Vincent’s Bandmaster,” 1921). This slide is quite badly damaged, reminding us of the fragility of this photographic form. The colour is washed out across most of the slide, and the left of the slide is badly degraded as if the photographic solution hasn’t quite taken. But the culprits are most likely time and mode of storage. References: A FIJIAN TROMBONIST--SUITE FOR DOLL'S HOUSE--LUNCH TIME AT THE SPORTS--A FULL SLIDE. (1934, December 7). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 3. Retrieved April 9, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205071643 "INTERSTATE TENNIS -- EUCHARISTIC GARDEN PARTY" The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957) 6 December 1934: 9. Web. 9 Apr 2024 Photographer notations on slide: "Boy bandsmen B61".1930-1939, bands, catholic church

Gwendoline (Gwenda) Grace Watson Davies, only daughter of Mr. William Watson Davies and Mrs. Grace Davies (nee Hayes) of Arthur Street, Eltham was born in Newport, 18 February 1908. Gwenda grew up in Arthur Street and when she left school she was employed as an officer at the State Bank of Victoria, Chief Accountants Department, Head Office, Elizabeth Street, Melbourne. During 1933-1934 in her early to mid-twenties, Gwenda wrote a series of poems which were captured in three books: one a leather bound three-ring binder with personalised gold embossing on the cover and two paper booklets held together by pink ribbon. These poems are a reflection of her childhood days, home, her mother, her environment, pioneering days and other miscellaneous subjects including one example titled “EIGHTEEN YEARS TO-DAY”, an homage to the brave men of Gallipoli. On October 20, 1937 after ten years of service, Gwenda submitted her letter of resignation effective November 26th as she was to be married in the near future to Fred Jones. Frederick Geoffrey Jones, born 7 January 1911, third son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Jones of Napoleon Street, Eltham, married Gwenda at the Eltham Methodist Church on 27 November 1937. They made their home at ‘Llangollen’, Arthur Street, Eltham, a new house Fred had constructed earlier that year opposite the Shire Offices. Their residence was recorded in the Electoral Rolls from 1963-1980 as 6 Arthur Street, Eltham which was situated on the corner of Arthur Street and present-day Commercial Place. In the 1970s their home was sold and demolished to make way for the new shops. They built a new home at the top of the hill in Bible Street. In the Electoral Rolls for 1943-1980, Frederick’s occupation was recorded as a Plumber’s Assistant. Fred was also a long-standing member of the Eltham Cemetery Trust. He was first appointed 26 April 1944 and resigned 17 July 1957 to be appointed to the Warringal and Eltham Joint Trust where he served till February 1980. He then re-joined the Eltham Cemetery Trust and served a further 14 years till his resignation on 24 August 1994. In total, Fred represented the interests of Eltham Cemetery for 50 years (1944-1994). Gwenda and Fred were blessed with a son, Frederick William Jones in March 1942. Sadly, Frederick only lived two days and was buried at Eltham Cemetery on March 11. It is not known whether his grave is marked. A second son, Geoffrey Morris Jones arrived 25 November 1944 but he sadly contracted polio as a child. A fall down the front steps of Fred and Gwenda’s new home in Bible Street culminated in Geoff’s death from a heart attack whilst in transit to the Austin Hospital on February 6, 1979, at age 34. He was also interred in the Eltham Cemetery. Geoff was posthumously awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to fire safety at the CFA. A small man, handicapped from his childhood polio, he had figured prominently in the area as an active Apex member and as group officer for the 13 local brigades in the CFA Lower Yarra Group. His work for the CFA, all voluntary, included writing a fire-fighting manual and the innovation of aerial fire spotting and weekly fire reports. Gwendoline and Fred were presented with Geoff’s B.EM. award at Government House. Four years later on the anniversary of Geoff’s death, Gwenda could not sleep and collapsed in the hallway at home from a heart attack, 6 February 1983 at age 74. She was interred with her son Geoff, at Eltham Cemetery on February 9th. Fred died 31 July 1997 at age 86 and was also interred at Eltham Cemetery. A memorial plaque to Gwenda, Fred and Geoff lies within the lawn cemetery at Eltham Cemetery. In February 2022 Gwenda’s book of Poems along with a copy of her letter of resignation from the State Bank of Victoria and a news clipping about the Autumn Show held in the Public Hall at Eltham (opposite her home with Fred) in which Gwenda is listed as having entered Cream Puffs and a Swiss Roll into the Cooking section, were donated to the St Vincent’s de Paul Society in Bega, N.S.W.. A dedicated volunteer there researched their origins and desirous for these items to return ‘home’, posted them to the Eltham District Historical Society for which we are most appreciative. EIGHTEEN YEARS TO-DAY “Tell me why you’re dreaming, Daddy” Said my little son to me, So, I told him all about it, As he sat upon my knee. I told him of that Sunday morn, ‘Twas eighteen years to-day, When the men of Australasia, Joined the mighty fray. How they landed on that foreign shore, And fought the gallant fight, Of how they nobly won the day, And put the Turks to flight. We saw the cliffs before us, To be scaled ‘mid shot and shell, And our comrades fell around us - - - - I remember it - - - so well. There are some who’ll sleep forever, On a hill that’s called Lone Pine, And the twenty-fifth of April, Is famous for all time. And so to keep their memory green, We march each Anzac Day, To pay tribute to those Heroes, Who gave their lives that day. - Anzac Day 1933 And in reflections to Gwenda’s childhood home in Arthur Street: HOME Where do my thoughts ever wander? Where do my thoughts always roam? To a little old house, on the top of a hill, To the place, that I call “Home Sweet Home.” No matter where-ever I travel, On land, or away on the foam. My thoughts will return, and my heart ever yearn, To the place, that I call “Home Sweet Home”. - 2/7/1933 Sources: Book of Poems, G. Davies Letter of Resignation, 1937, Oct. 20, G.G.W. Davies Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria New House at Eltham (1937, September 10). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 – 1939), p. 6. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56845735 Family Notices (1937, December 17). Advertiser (Hurstbridge, Vic. : 1922 – 1939), p. 3. Retrieved May 12, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56846386 Geoff Jones, Proud Memory, unknown newspaper clipping, 1979 1979 Birthday Honours, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1979_Birthday_Honours Australian Electoral Rolls, Ancestry.com Family Trees, Ancestry.com Eltham Cemetery, Deceased Search findagrave.com Personal recollections, Joan Castledine The poetry by Gwendoline Davies provides an insight into life growing up in Eltham and the early 1930s. A long time resident, Gwendoline, her husband Fred Jones and son Geoff Jones were fully dedicated to the Eltham community for over 50 years.1. Brown leather bound three-ring binder with personalised gold embossing on the cover 20.5 x 14.5 cm, Walkers Loose Leaf Book, pages typed with some pasted in colour illustrations, alphabeticised dividers (some tabs missing), 21 leafs (some blank) 2. Two paper booklets held together by pink ribbon 15.5 x 12 cm, typed, some with colour illustrations, pages numbered (rh only) 12 pages and 25 pages and paper cover 3. Newspaper clipping 4. Letter sized hand written page in ink folded in three and damaged by foxing and insectsanzac day, arthur street, napoleon street, cfa, eltham cemetery, eltham cemetery trust, frederick geoffrey jones, geoffrey morris jones b.e.m., grace davies (nee hayes), gwendoline grace watson jones (nee davies), llangollen, lower yarra group, poems, william watson davies

COLLECTION OF RECORDS OF BENDIGO AND DISTRICT OLD PEOPLES WELFARE SOCIETY / Manilla folder / writing note on front B.O.P.W.S. Salvation Army , St Lukes , St Vincents De Paul , Bendigo Uniting Church Outreach , Notice to Members / inside includes news clippings , Bank statements , passbook , letters / history of the society , mention of founder Ken Hesse , Annual Return , Rules , map of Golden Oaks Villagedocument, ken hesse

Active involvement in the community has always been a key feature of Galen Catholic College. This series of photos in the early 1990s illustrates this.community involvement, community, volunteers, galen college, meals on wheels, st. vincent de paul society

Love One Another was published by BHS Publishing and written by Michael Taffe. st vincent de paul, michael taffe, ballarat

Purchased by Joy Kenny on behalf of the Society from St Vincent de Paul Opportunity Shop.All in one camisole and knickers combination in cotton trimmed with anglaise around the neck , sleeves and leg. Five linen buttons down front - back has trap door opening and ties at waist.costume, female underwear