Signed on the night of the Graduation Dinner of Aquinas Girls College 1977.One signature reads "To Mandy" so this may have been originally intended for one person. Signature of John Mahon, former Principal of Aquinas College on front cover. Signatures make this item unique.Green A4 card folded to A5 size, printed both sides. Hand signed by attendees.Aquinas logo on front cover. Signatures of attendees on front and back cover, including signature of John Mahon former principal of Aquinas College.graduation dinner, aquinas girls college, john mahon

This photograph is from the Max Harris Collection held by the Ballaraat Mechanics' Institute. Please contact BMI for all print and usage inquiries. ballarat, aquinas, college, school, 1960s

Black and white photographWritten on rear of backing sheet: "Aquinas College, opened 1961."

Parent Record for Archive collection of photographs and documents relating to Aquinas College, Ringwood

Black and white photographWritten on back of photograph: "Aquinas College, Ringwood. Archbishop Simons, Co-adjutor Archbishop of Melbourne. See 'Mail' 8/12/1960." Stamp on back of photograph reads- 'Boronia Studios, 204 Boronia Rd, Boronia.'

Black and white photograph

Black and white photograph

Newspaper Clippings covering the laying of Foundation Stone and commencement of construction of "Victoria's first Roman Catholic high School for boys and girls"

Newspaper Clipping on Aquinas Old Collegians History and the resulting book (See VC 4528 for book record)

2 Newspaper Clippings - Michael McMahon - Canoing competitor from Aquinas, and Opening of New Arts Centre 1996

Newspaper Clipping - Aquinas Athletics Team - won Independent Schools Carnival

In 1881 Cyrus Bath Retallack purchased land now known as 1200 Mair Street Ballarat. Retallack was a successful Cornish miner and engineer. He built a two storey brick mansion between 1882 and 1883, naming the property ‘Carn Brae’ after the castle in Cornwall. Substantial grounds were established with with range of exotic trees planted, a tennis court was laid out and a stables building was erected. In 1918 the site become a campus of Queen’s GIrls’ Grammar School, then Aquinas College which was merged into the Australian Catholic University from 1973. Photograph of a double storey brick building on bluestone foundations, with cast iron balcony. ballarat, geoff biddington, cast iron, bluestone, cyril retallick, australian catholic university, ballarat, aquinas college

In 1967 the site for the Mt Helen Campus was selected and purchased to permit the tertiary division of the Ballarat School of Mines - the Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education (BIAE) to move from the crowded Lydiard Street site, to occupy new accommodation designed for the purpose. The brief given to the campus master planners called for the creation of a modern, attractive, efficient and stimulating concept. It called for careful landscaping and enhancement of the environment, but above all it demanded flexibility for an unpredictable future. During 1974 major new directions were made at Government level quite beyond the scale of change that had been foreseen in 1967. This change was to be that of merging BIAE and the State College of Victoria at Ballarat (formerly Ballarat Teachers' College) into one large new college of broadened scope. By the end of 1974 joint committees representing the still separate, autonomous Councils of the two institutions had agreed on the means of achieving the merger to the extent that a new brief as prepared and given to G.J. Harrison, one of the original master planners who had been chosen to revise the plan to meet the new needs. Yellow soft covered book of 63 pages reviewing the Development Plan for Mount Helen Campusuniversity of ballarat, ballarat institute of advanced education, mount helen, master plan, ballarat college of advanced education, mb john, ian gordon, pdf, development plan, mount helen campus, g.j. harrison, state college of victoria ballarat, m.b. john, canadian valley, aquinas college, site survey, land use zones, landscaping, campus plan, mt helen campus

Donated to Aquinas College Archives by the Chapel in May 2013. Previously located in a cupboard in the Aquinas chapel.Insribed with a name of Father O'Driscoll, one of the founders of Aquinas College in 1961.Round, silver container with attched lid. Interior is gold in colour.Rev. W. O'Driscoll Catholic Chaplain Cross engraved on lidaquinas, o'driscoll, relics, pyx

Summary - The article features four Aquinas College students — Matt, Renee, Tim, and Angela — who took part in the State heat of the 1995 Mobil Managing the Australian Economy Competition. Using a computer simulation, they adjusted economic variables such as interest rates, sales tax, and government spending to understand how governments attempt to meet economic goals. The piece notes that Aquinas College has ranked among Victoria’s top ten schools four times in seven years, highlighting the school’s strong academic performance. (Co-Pilot 11/7/2026)

Grey soft covered book with a photographic image of E.J. (Jack) Barker on the front. The contents include family history, teaching at the Ballarat School of Mines, Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines, inaugural Director of Ballarat Institute of Advanced Education, Committees hobbies and travel.e.j. barker, jack barker, winsome barker, ballarat school of mines, ballarat institute of advanced education, ballarat college of advanced education, higher education council, williamstown, edward john barker, footscrat technical school, engineering, joe barberis, baseball, tennis, john barker, queenscliff, david gordon, emine karakan, robby main, dick richards, r.w. richards, laboratory, thermodynamics laboratory, fluid mechanics laboratory, harry arblaster, warren perry, ballarat school of mines museum, derek wooley, ed phillips, ballarat gaol, gaol tunnels, mount helen campus, geoff harrison, lindsay pryor, tree planting at mt helen campus, ballarat technology park, 1870 founders hall, john beaumont, initiations, goon's gift, raft races, bath tub push, centenary appeal, prince charles visit, philip law, fourth university committee, ballarat teachers' college, ballarat school of mines motto, caro conference centre, creswick school of forestry, ballarat hospital nurse education, aquinas catholic teachers' college, family history, genealogy

Summary - The article by Leonora Elliot-Bruce reports that students from Aquinas College raised $1500 for the Fred Hollows Foundation, enough to help restore sight to around 200 people in developing countries. Gabi Hollows, widow of renowned eye surgeon Fred Hollows, visited the school to acknowledge the donation and speak with students. She explained how the foundation continues Fred Hollows’ work by funding low‑cost eye operations, producing intraocular lenses, and supporting blindness‑prevention programs worldwide. The article highlights both the students’ fundraising efforts and the ongoing global impact of the foundation’s work. (Co-Pilot 11/7/2026)Photo Captions: Gabi Hollows, widow of famout eye surgeon Fred Hollows, thank Aquinis students for raising $1500, which will save the sight of 200 people in the Third World. Picture Michelle Kelcey. Images by Jim Stirling.

Summary:The article reports that construction of Great Ryrie Primary School is progressing well, with completion expected by April 20. The new school is being built as part of a $3 million merger of Ringwood, Heathmont, and Southwood Primary Schools. Bayswater MP Gordon Ashley says the area will form an education precinct, with Aquinas College and Heathmont Secondary College nearby. He also notes that Tintern Anglican Girls Grammar School is interested in purchasing the Southwood site for a junior boys’ campus, while housing is likely for the other two former school sites. Principal Brian Allen explains that the three schools will continue operating as campuses of Great Ryrie until the new complex opens. The new school will include 15 classrooms, a relocatable room, around 28 staff, and 410 students. Planned facilities include new computer technology, larger classrooms, an administrative centre, art and music rooms, a library, and a hall/gymnasium. Allen describes the facilities as state‑of‑the‑art and says everyone is looking forward to the opening. (Co-Pilot 11/7/2026)Photo Caption: On Site: Principal Brian Allen with Bayswater MP Gordon Ashley at the new Great Ryrie Primary School

Summary Article 1 (School cash row) - The article describes an escalating dispute over funding for parking and traffic‑management works at the new Great Ryrie Primary School in Heathmont. The Department of Education (DOE) has not yet confirmed $120,000 for parking infrastructure, despite what the council understood to be a verbal commitment to fund 60 parking spaces on the eastern side of Great Ryrie Street. Bayswater MP Gordon Ashley is accused by residents and councillor Nick Kirmos of backing away from earlier promises. A residents’ group called “School of Broken Promises” claims Ashley had committed to a “dollar‑for‑dollar” funding arrangement. Ashley rejects these accusations as “misinformed” and “disappointing,” arguing that the larger $409,000 figure includes works that may not be required. Cr Nick Kirmos expresses concern that the parking works may not be finished before the school opens in second term. The council had accepted the DOE’s verbal offer and sought guarantees for additional funding tied to traffic‑management reviews. A public meeting to discuss options for the merged schools—Heathmont, Ringwood, and Southwood—was scheduled for Tuesday, March 17, at Aquinas College, Ringwood. Summary Article 2 (MP Ends car park fight): The article reports that the long‑running dispute over parking funding for Great Ryrie Primary School has finally been resolved. The Department of Education (DoE) confirmed it will provide $150,000 and transfer a small parcel of land to Maroondah Council, enabling construction of 60 parking spaces—30 along Great Ryrie Street and 30 within the school grounds. Bayswater MP Gordon Ashley is credited with breaking the stalemate by urging both the DoE and the council to adopt recommendations from an independent traffic consultant. The funding issue had previously involved disagreements over the number and location of parking spaces, as well as concerns raised by a local residents’ group about traffic and safety. The new school, Great Ryrie Primary, is nearing completion, and the resolution clears the way for essential parking and traffic‑management works to proceed. (Co-Pilot 11/7/2026)

Written by Michael Anderson on RDHS Facebook on March 2016 CITY ROAD, RINGWOOD 1959 My family moved to City Road in 1959. At that time, it was a narrow rutted dirt road, with a large drain running on the northern side, and a wide nature strip complete with big wattle trees on the southern side, ideal for playing cricket and other games. There was no Salvation Army Citadel, nor was there a Lutheran Church. As you proceed from Wantirna Road towards Jubilee Park, there were no houses on the right hand side at all until you reached our house, 14 City Road, which at the time was Lot 51. On the corner where the Lutheran Church now stands, there was an old rusty farm gate, attached to a very weathered wooden post. This indicated that at some stage, City Road had been a private road. This rusty old gate was never closed, but it was a remnant of bygone days. Ireland St, Regina St, and Greenwood Avenue south of Haig Street were all narrow dirt roads as well. Jubilee Park Oval was fairly new, and there was no grandstand. The players and staff had to make do with a small wooden building that looked like a garden shed. Just beyond the southern end of the oval were growing many wild pumpkins, and I understand that the land had been a rubbish tip in the not so distant past. The park also had a couple of tennis courts. There was no road from Jubilee Park to Reilly St, and Reilly St didn't go all the way through from Wantirna Road to Great Ryrie St. It was broken by a creek. Aquinas College was an orchard. As you proceed up City Road from Wantirna Road, The Salvation Army church is on the left corner. The Hobbs family lived on that corner, in an old house on a block which was bordered by a huge hedge. The house next door in Wantirna Road, which is also Salvation Army land now, was owned by the Bayliss family. Mrs Bayliss was a teacher at Ringwood High. The first house in City Rd proper was at no. 1 to 5. The Roberts family lived there in an old weatherboard house on an acre of land. Mr Roberts was a carpenter who had built our house at No. 14, and he lived there with his wife and two sons, Graeme and Max. Eventually, they wanted more space, so they moved to the acre. Next door to the Roberts was Ted O'Regan at no. 7 to no. 9. He appears to have been a widower, and he lived by himself in an old wooden house which was surrounded by a large veranda on about 2/3 acre. Next door to Ted O'Regan lived his brother Jack O'Regan at no. 11 on about 1/2 acre, with his wife Edna, his son Alan, and his Daughter Judith. Barney Meadows lived on about 1/2 acre at no. 13. Barney was an old widower, and his front garden had a huge palm tree in it. Next to Barney lived the Reeves at no. 15, and finally there was the McDonald family at no. 17, which is on the corner of Regina St. From then on, City Rd, was a bush block down to Greenwood Ave, and the bush continued up Greenwood Ave to the Williams house, one house block from Haig St. On the right hand side of City Road it was all paddock to Ireland St, and another paddock which ended at our house was over the other side of Ireland St. Both paddocks were developed in about 1961/62, and there are about 12 houses there now, plus the Lutheran Church. When we first moved there, there was a horse and a cow grazing in the paddock beside our house. For the first couple of years, there was a huge bonfire in "our" paddock to mark Guy Fawkes day. It was a lot of fun, although I concede that it might have been a tad dangerous, with 3d. bungers and all that! Next door to us at no. 16 was the Goessling family. From now on the house blocks were normal sized. The Goesslings had one baby girl who was about 9 months old when we first moved in, but they ended up with 4 kids, all of whom would be middle aged now. They were observant Lutherans, but they were there before the church. Next door to the Goesslings at no. 18 was the Weir family on the corner of Regina St. On the other side of Regina St. at no. 20 was the Gowland family, and the last house in the street at no. 22 was owned by Arthur Johnston and his family. Arthur was an Ambulance Driver. Of course, many other people moved in and moved out in all those years. There was one particularly bad week for the street in June 1969. My brother Peter was killed in a work accident on Saturday 7th June. The next Wednesday 11th June Ted O'Regan, who lived diagonally opposite us died. Then on the next Saturday the 14th June, Ted Bell, who lived next door to us at no. 12 died from a heart attack at the age of 47. Three deaths in one week was a bit too much. It was eerie! Our old house is still standing, but I doubt for much longer. It was bought by people who wanted to develop it. Their plans were knocked back, so they sold it again. I would bet that in the not too distant future the house will be a piece of history. City Road was a paradise for kids when we moved in. We had lived in the inner suburbs, so the space and freedom were amazing for us "city slickers." I don't know where you could move to now if you wanted to bring up your children in a similar environment. Somehow, I don't think it would be possible.

Written by Michael Anderson on RDHS Facebook on March 2016 CITY ROAD, RINGWOOD 1959 My family moved to City Road in 1959. At that time, it was a narrow rutted dirt road, with a large drain running on the northern side, and a wide nature strip complete with big wattle trees on the southern side, ideal for playing cricket and other games. There was no Salvation Army Citadel, nor was there a Lutheran Church. As you proceed from Wantirna Road towards Jubilee Park, there were no houses on the right hand side at all until you reached our house, 14 City Road, which at the time was Lot 51. On the corner where the Lutheran Church now stands, there was an old rusty farm gate, attached to a very weathered wooden post. This indicated that at some stage, City Road had been a private road. This rusty old gate was never closed, but it was a remnant of bygone days. Ireland St, Regina St, and Greenwood Avenue south of Haig Street were all narrow dirt roads as well. Jubilee Park Oval was fairly new, and there was no grandstand. The players and staff had to make do with a small wooden building that looked like a garden shed. Just beyond the southern end of the oval were growing many wild pumpkins, and I understand that the land had been a rubbish tip in the not so distant past. The park also had a couple of tennis courts. There was no road from Jubilee Park to Reilly St, and Reilly St didn't go all the way through from Wantirna Road to Great Ryrie St. It was broken by a creek. Aquinas College was an orchard. As you proceed up City Road from Wantirna Road, The Salvation Army church is on the left corner. The Hobbs family lived on that corner, in an old house on a block which was bordered by a huge hedge. The house next door in Wantirna Road, which is also Salvation Army land now, was owned by the Bayliss family. Mrs Bayliss was a teacher at Ringwood High. The first house in City Rd proper was at no. 1 to 5. The Roberts family lived there in an old weatherboard house on an acre of land. Mr Roberts was a carpenter who had built our house at No. 14, and he lived there with his wife and two sons, Graeme and Max. Eventually, they wanted more space, so they moved to the acre. Next door to the Roberts was Ted O'Regan at no. 7 to no. 9. He appears to have been a widower, and he lived by himself in an old wooden house which was surrounded by a large veranda on about 2/3 acre. Next door to Ted O'Regan lived his brother Jack O'Regan at no. 11 on about 1/2 acre, with his wife Edna, his son Alan, and his Daughter Judith. Barney Meadows lived on about 1/2 acre at no. 13. Barney was an old widower, and his front garden had a huge palm tree in it. Next to Barney lived the Reeves at no. 15, and finally there was the McDonald family at no. 17, which is on the corner of Regina St. From then on, City Rd, was a bush block down to Greenwood Ave, and the bush continued up Greenwood Ave to the Williams house, one house block from Haig St. On the right hand side of City Road it was all paddock to Ireland St, and another paddock which ended at our house was over the other side of Ireland St. Both paddocks were developed in about 1961/62, and there are about 12 houses there now, plus the Lutheran Church. When we first moved there, there was a horse and a cow grazing in the paddock beside our house. For the first couple of years, there was a huge bonfire in "our" paddock to mark Guy Fawkes day. It was a lot of fun, although I concede that it might have been a tad dangerous, with 3d. bungers and all that! Next door to us at no. 16 was the Goessling family. From now on the house blocks were normal sized. The Goesslings had one baby girl who was about 9 months old when we first moved in, but they ended up with 4 kids, all of whom would be middle aged now. They were observant Lutherans, but they were there before the church. Next door to the Goesslings at no. 18 was the Weir family on the corner of Regina St. On the other side of Regina St. at no. 20 was the Gowland family, and the last house in the street at no. 22 was owned by Arthur Johnston and his family. Arthur was an Ambulance Driver. Of course, many other people moved in and moved out in all those years. There was one particularly bad week for the street in June 1969. My brother Peter was killed in a work accident on Saturday 7th June. The next Wednesday 11th June Ted O'Regan, who lived diagonally opposite us died. Then on the next Saturday the 14th June, Ted Bell, who lived next door to us at no. 12 died from a heart attack at the age of 47. Three deaths in one week was a bit too much. It was eerie! Our old house is still standing, but I doubt for much longer. It was bought by people who wanted to develop it. Their plans were knocked back, so they sold it again. I would bet that in the not too distant future the house will be a piece of history. City Road was a paradise for kids when we moved in. We had lived in the inner suburbs, so the space and freedom were amazing for us "city slickers." I don't know where you could move to now if you wanted to bring up your children in a similar environment. Somehow, I don't think it would be possible.

Official opening of East Ringwood Baptist School room in November 1960 Archbishop Simonds lays Foundation stone of the new Diocesan College of St Thomas Aquinas in Thomas Street, Ringwood Vandalism in Ringwood Heathmont Scouts Parent's Association garden fete on 2nd November 1960 New Heathmont Welfare Centre Viviani Crescent opened by Lady Brooks

The Ballarat Base Hospital trained nurses for 100 years. Today Ballarat nurses train at the University of Ballarat or ACU (Aquinas campus). Matron M.S. Ogden (Shirley Falkinder) became president of the Ballarat College of Advanced Education.Cream and red annual report booklet of 32 pages. Includes images.university of ballarat, ballarat college of advanced education, nursing, nurse, ann neilson, sarah bishop, ballarat base hospital, m duggan, e macauley, c richardson, nurse education, rosa quartermain, ms ogden, shirley falkinder, health, shirley ogden