Coloured - Panoramic view of vintage Austin 7 cars displayed by Austin 7 Car Club members at Whitehorse Historical Society's Heritage Day held at Schwerkolt Cottage and Museum Complex on 13 April 2003whitehorse historical society, austin 7 car club, heritage day 2003

This sepia digital image shows the Austin car which was donated to the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) in !937 by the Rotary Club of Victoria. It was used by the Matron of the MDNS District Division to visit patients weekly. The photograph is taken outside the MDNS Headquarters at 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood. The photograph appeared along with an article in The Age Friday May 7, 1937. The photograph appeared in the MDNS Annual Report of 1937. On page 8, mention is made of J.D Johnston Esq, President of the Rotary Club of Victoria, presenting the Austin vehicle to MDNS. Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) has had various modes of transport over the last 130 plus years. At first, from 1885 as Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), their Trained nurses (Nurses) walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of central Melbourne. As the Society expanded public transport was used, and bicycles were bought by the Society in 1903 and used in inner areas until 1945. During the Spanish flu epidemic, in 1919, MDNS appealed for assistance to procure Motor vehicles so the Nurses could visit an influx of cases. Through trusts, grants and donations four 'Ford T Model' cars were procured which enabled the Nurses to triple their visits. Through constant use the cars were in such a poor state two were sold in 1922 and the others later. In 1922-23 three Peugeot cars were purchased and a woman Chauffeur, 'Miss Sword', was employed who lived in the Home and was also in charge of the garage. MDNS was expanding and a Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 to take the Trained nurses (Sisters) to patients, and some Sisters used their own cars; even a motorcycle was used by one Sister in 1933. All these forms of transport were intermingled and in the early 1950s, and now as Melbourne District Nursing Service, seven Ford Prefect cars were bought followed by twelve Ford Anglia cars 1955. Having received Royal patronage; the now Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) had its own fleet of Holden vehicles by the mid 1960s and the Motor Auxiliary ceased operating in 1971 as by then all staff employed were required to have a driving licence. Seat-belts had been introduced to Victoria in 1959 and District fitted them to their cars from 1962, even though they did not become compulsory until 1970. The Holden vehicles were replaced with grey Holden Torana vehicles. After several years the fleet was changed to white Toyota Corolla vehicles. The Melways Directory of maps was introduced in 1966, which was a boon to the Sisters, though it was a few years before it went beyond Seville, so a large paper map was used by the Sisters visiting patients in the areas passed Seville. By 2009 there were 598 cars in the fleet and the Sisters travelled 9 million 200,000 kilometres – this is equivalent to 12 trips to the moon and back. In the foreground of this sepia photograph is a side-on view of a four door 1937 style small grey car with a nose shaped bonnet, parked on the road beside the kerb with the headlight facing to the right of the photograph.The bonnet joins onto a straight windscreen which adjoins a slightly curved hood running back along the car. This adjoins a back window which joins onto the sloping rear body of the car with a small protruding boot. Windows are seen above the body work of both facing doors and a smaller sloping window above the body work and rear wheel arch. On the drivers door is a Maltese cross and the words "Melbourne District" written above the Maltese cross and "Nursing Society" below it. In front of this door the body work forms a wheel arch and the headlight is attached between this body work and the bonnet. Rubber tyred wheels with solid hub caps are seen below each wheel arch. On the footpath, behind the bonnet of the car, four Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained nurses (Sisters) are standing. They are wearing dark grey coats over their grey uniforms with white collars, and brimmed grey hats with a Maltese cross on the light coloured headband. The Sister on the right has her left hand gripping the handle on top of her oblong nursing case. A metal spiked fence is behind the Sisters, which runs to the left into one of the two square concrete columns which sit either side of a path. A hedge is behind the fence, and behind this part of a building with three arched windows can be seen. A white plaque is attached to the fence near one of the columns.mdns, melbourne district nursing society, rotary club of victoria, mdns transport, rdns, royal district nursing service, rdns transport

Angelo Di Donato, from Bendigo, is passionate about restoring various items, a hobby he shares with his father, who was originally a blacksmith.Restoration is a nighttime hobby for Di Donato, who works as an RACV regional sales manager. Di Donato discovered a rusted 1960s racing car chassis by chance in Numurkah, Victoria, after missing out on buying machinery at a clearance sale. He researched the car's origins and found it was built by mechanics Derek Smith and Richard Hilyear at Monaco Autos in Dandenong for Bill Lorde-Milnes, using leftover parts. It is the first of seven 'Aussie Specials.'Di Donato spent two years restoring the car, making all necessary parts himself, and ensuring it complied with historic racing rules (e.g., drum brakes, modern tires for safety). The car, known as the Monaco Motors Aljon Special, features a 272 ci V8 Ford Customline engine and a VW Beetle transaxle (which required multiple replacements due to power mismatch). The car weighs 700 kg and can reach speeds up to 230 km/h (145 mph). Di Donato participates in the Regularity class at the Historic Winton event, where drivers aim to match nominated lap times rather than race for speed. He has previously won in this category and prepares meticulously by memorizing corner speeds. The event is organized by the Austin 7 Club and features historic cars, motorcycles, and sidecars, with displays and market stalls. Di Donato involved his family in the restoration and racing activities, including his father and son. He paid tribute to a former owner, John Skipper, by showing him the restored car. The event also celebrates significant vehicle anniversaries, such as 120 years for Studebaker and Cadillac, and 100 years for Austin Seven and others.Bendigo Advertiser Article - "Hobby rebuild revs up" by David Chapman, pictures by Noni Hyett, Sat 28 2022 This item contains the following documents 3486.58a The restored 1960 car with Angelo, colour photo 3486.58b The rusted wreck in Numurkah - colour photo 3486.58c Bendigo Advertiser Article - "Hobby rebuild revs up"bendigo, angelo di donato, monaco motors aljon special