Icon, likely painted by a seamen, possibly depicting an archangel, was given to the mission in 1985 by Polish seamen.IsographyMission to Seafarers Victoria CollectionThick panel of recycled wood with acrylic painted image of an archangel on one side and painted black on verso with blue painted inscriptionupper left : (indecipherable) Golden HERH; upper centre: WITH COMPLIMENTS / FROM POLISH SEAMEN; lwr right corner date: 1985 . 09. 21 [sic]icon painting, isography, polish, seafarer gifts, hobbies, orthodox, byzantine, archangel, saint, seamen, seafarers

The Lay Reader David Conolly was associated with the Mission for many years in particular working with trainee cadets and RAN Officers. Painted wood crucifix on a very thin backing support of hardboard. Style of the painting is that of icon artist of Russian/Greek/Byzantine style. An inscription on the reverse. Small steel hanging hook at top edge on reverse. The edges of the icon are painted red and the whole depiction is decorated with much gilding. The whole support is in the form of a t-shaped cross. The top section depicts a risen Christ at the centre surrounded by ten disciples or saints and the hand of God appears to be at the upper central edge. The Christ figure is flanked on the main cross piece by five archangels and Saint Peter. Flanking the torso of the crucified figure appear to be Maria and St Joan and on the right side Mary Magdalen, Mark (Saint?) and a centurion figure. Three small figures also featured in this section. At the lower right corner are two haloed male figures (unidentified).Front; above haloed head of the crucified figure U.C.; IHSNAZARE in gold on a red ground/ REXIVDEORV. Beneath the central panel again gold on red SEASIOANNES AND MARIA. On the other side of the central figure; MARIAMARK CENTURIU/ MAGDALEN...IACO/ BI. Hand-written inscription on reverse; "For/ all who enter/ this sacred space./ The gift of/ David Conolly/ sometime stipendiary Lay Reader/ in the Mission/ 1956-1958.david conolly, crucifix, icons, othodox, artwork

Bass Strait passenger ship Nairana. Built for Bass Strait ferry operator Huddart Parker & Co. Ltd. of Melbourne during World War One, the Nairana was requisitioned by the Royal Navy and completed as a seaplane carrier, HMS Nairana. Serving from 1917 to 1920 participating in the capture of Archangel during the Bolshevik Revolution. After 1920 she was decommissioned as a seaplane carrier and returned to her Australian owners crossing Bass Strait until she was laid up in 1948. Just off Port Phillip Heads on April 12 1936, a strong wave struck the Nairana, tipping her over for two minutes before she righted herself again. During the horrifying two minutes, four people were drowned, and eight people were injured. The ship was reportedly carrying roughly one tonne of concrete in the hull when she tipped. Reports from the local papers said that it was a tidal wave meanwhile others were saying it was either an earthquake or a total lie. A later paper said that the ship had been caught in a rip at the mouth of the bay, causing the tragedy. The S.S Nairana, was sold for £4,000 (over $170,200 in today’s money!) in 1951 after two years of being stranded on the beach at Port Melbourne, when the moorings broke one night during a storm and drifted ashore, causing her to wreck.Items associated with the TSS/HMS Nairana in its military and civilian roles and items relating to Capt. JF Spence, navigation Officer and possibly later the captain who sailed with the Nairana out of Plymouth after WWI. .01 Barometer and Clock from Dining Saloon .02 Commemorative plaque describing the HMS Nairana's WWI service with timber mount for plaque with information sheet attached. .03 Clock Key .04 Two 2 Log books owned by Capt. Spence containing the navigation calculations for the journey from Plymouth to Melbourne. .05 Huddart Parker hat badge [Capt. JF Spence].Barometer and Clock from dining saloon, TSS Nairana 1917 - 1951 Clock Key - 4 50-No9 Hat badge - HPtss nairana, wwi, bass strait, huddart parker, capt. spence