Showing 59 items
matching camp escapes
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Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Document, POW escapes from Camp 13 Murchison, 1991
... POW escapes from Camp 13 Murchison...camp escapes... of articles of numerous escapes from camps around Tatura. Heinrich... Tatura the-murray Document POW escapes from Camp 13 Murchison ...Documents and newspaper articles concerning POW escapes from Camp 13 Murchison. Gustav Polig compiled this collection of articles of numerous escapes from camps around Tatura. Heinrich Pexa, Rudi Pruckner and Kurt Freidrick and Italian prisoner Joe Pagliari, all captured. Also the murder of POW Karatchali. Also included is a copy of Intelligence report no 94, for the period of 10 June 19944 - 17 June 1944. Notification from the Apostolic Delegation to POW Cpl Paul Fuchs, informing him of the accidental death of his father.Blue backed clear plastic folder. camp 13, murchison victoria, gustav polic, heinrich pexa, rudi pruckner, kurt freidrick, joe pagliari, karatchali, italian pow, internment camps, camp escapes, paul fuchs, intelligence report -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Memoirs, Eileen Barlow, Eileen's Memoirs, June 13th 2010
... in Rushworth. This memoir describes an incident when prisoners escaped... an incident when prisoners escaped from camp. Eileen Barlow ...Eileen's husband Jim, was part of the Home Guard in Rushworth. This memoir describes an incident when prisoners escaped from camp.A page from Eileen Ruth Barlow's Memoirs.On cover, Eileen's Memoirs. Commenced 13/06/2010. Under a photo of Eileen is printed, Eileen Ruth Barlow (nee Edmonds) Born 11th May 1918. -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Document, Personal recollections POW camp 13 guards - George Campbell and Gerald Peacock, 21/11/84
... , a staunch supporter and donor to our museum, and guard of camp 13... museum, and guard of camp 13 Rudi Pruckner escape to prevent ...In response to an advert in the Age, George Campbell, a staunch supporter and donor to our museum, and guard of camp 13 Rudi Pruckner escape to prevent repatriation. It is Gerald Peacock's true story and details of special requirements for internees including family groups, internees, POW's, style of compounds,number interred in compound. Tatura camp 1 held 1000 German, Italian and Austrian internees from Aug1941 to Jan 1947. Camp 2 held 1000 POW's German and Italian internees from Sept. 40 to Feb.46. Rushworth 3 held 1000 family groups of European internees from Nov 40 to Aug 46. Rushworth 4 held 1000 Asian family groups Nov 40 to Aug 46. Murchison 13 held 4000 Japanese officers, German and Italian POW'sClear plastic folder, black margin with white paper insert on which is written "Personal recollections POW camp 13 guards - George Campbell and Gerald Peacock".As noted aboveinternment camp guards, escapees -
Federation University Historical Collection
Newspaper - Newsclippings, Tantanoola Tiger Newsclippings
In the early 1880s a small circus travelled between Millicent and Mt Gambier, South Australia. After camping overnight they discovered their Bengal Tiger at escaped and disappeared into dense scrub. After searching for hours they continued to Mt Gambier and reported the loss of the tiger to police. Police and local volunteers continued the search for the escaped tiger, but no sighting were made. In the early 1890s sheep in the Tantanoola area started to disappear with the still unsighted tiger being blamed. In 1893 reports of an unusual animal in the Tantanoola area started, with many describing the animal as the missing tiger, or a large dog. One eye witness claimed to have seen the animal carrying a full grown sheep in its mouth. The reports grew in number and exaggeration with sightings from Robe to Bendigo. In the Tantanoola district children were escorted with shotgun guards to and from school, with many homes keeping guns at the ready in case the tiger suddenly appeared. In August 1895 Tom Donovan shot the "Tantanoola Tiger" on Mt Salt Station, around 20 kms south of Tantanoola. The corpse was taken to Marks, a Mount Gambier taxidermist, at which time the animal was identified as an Assyrian or Northern Russian Wolf. Donovan displayed the animal far and wide. Despite the animal's death sheep continued to disappear from properties in the district over many years. It was of particular concern between 1909 and 1910. At that time Herbert Allchurch, an Adelaide detective, was sent to solve the mystery. A few days after his arrival Allchruch went to the front bar of the Tiger Hotel and arrested local rabbit shooter and trapper, Charlie Edmunson, with sheep stealing. After his 1911 trial Edmunson admitted to stealing over 4,000 sheep during the previous 20 years. He was gaoled for six years with hard-labour in January 1911. Edmunson had been selling the skins of the stolen sheep, leaving the carcusses to rot. He earned around five pounds per week during the 1990s and early 1900s, a time when the economy was depressed. It is not known had the animal known as the Tantanoola Tiger came to Australia, but it is believed it survived one of three ships wrecked of the coast between 1890 and 1893, making it to shore along with some of the shipwrecked passengers. (From a card produced by the Tantanoola Tiger Hotel, where the 'tiger' is on display.)A collection of Newsclippings from 1892 - 1895 photocopied onto A4 white paper. The clippings relate to the Tantanoola Tiger. Clippings include: * Border Watch 1892 - Tantanoola Tiger Reward * Sydney Morning Herald, 04/07/1857 - Animals in Zoological Gardens, including a number of large cats. * Claims the Tantanoola Tiger was an escaped circus animal (ie The Advertiser [Adelaide], 31 October 1893) * Search parties for the Tantanoola Tiger (ie Barrier Miner 19/05/1893; Barrier Miner 03/1081893) * Thylacine claim (ie Morning Bulletin [Rockhampton] 11/03/1895 * Afghan and Indian Hunters (ie Barrier Miner 07/02/1895) * Sighting by John Bird of Scarsdale - Wanganui Herald 15/12/1900. " ... Mr Bird was travelling on foot along a lonely track through very dense scrub, when he was stricken with amazement to see a full-grown tiger standing in a small dam about 30ft away, and holding in its jaws the carcass of a newly-killed lamb. He remained long enough to thoroughly take in the animals appearance, and then beat a hasty retreat unmolested. His description of the animal is as follows: A tawny-coloured creature, with a dirty mottled skin; in general appearance like an immense cat; body 4ft long, and of a uniform thickness from shoulder to hindquarters; in bulk equal to a very large pig. The legs were hidden in the water. A similar animal is reported to gave been seen near Canico, some miles away. ..." * Victorian country sightings # Bullarto - Argus 06/05/1905 # Dean - Launceston Examiner 28/01/1895 # Bendigo - Hobart Mercury 15/03/1895 # Ballan - Launceston Examiner 03/08/1895 * South Australian register 17/06/1885 " There is a tiger or panther wandering at large in Victoria, according to a rumour. It has taken the place of the Bunyip, whom hundreds have seen but none captured. This tiger is supposed to have broken loose from a travelling menagerie in the North-eastern district. At the beginning we should like it roved that such an escape ever took place. Perhaps the showmen were afraid to report the fact to the police; at any rate they did not do so. The first story about the tiger being seen came from the neighborhood of Wangaratta, 60 miles from the place where it is said to have commenced business on its own account. He was followed, but vanished among trees. Next we hear of a strange animal, bigger than a St Bernard's dog, but shorter legged, having appeared at least 150 miles from Wangaratta. Between Lilydale and Wangaratta there is a dividing range 2,000 feet high in the lowest past, besides several large rivers. An finally, the tiger - changed from a panther - is reported as having been seen within the suburban circle, about 8 miles from the general Post Office. They show you footprints, and point to the carcasses of mangled cows and calves. Casts have been taken of the footprints for examination by scientific men, who pronounce them doglike, and yet not doglike, but panther-like, which gives a nervous turn, for the panther may take up killing children and grown-up people. One tiger will not account for so many apparitions. There must have been a general strike among the menageries, and a breaking-up companies. ... * Research article by Philip A. Clarke "Indigenous Spirit and Ghost Folklore of 'Settled' Australia. australian animal folklore collection, tantanoola tiger, tom donovan, herbert allchurch, charles edmunson, sheep, charlie edmunson, mythical, myth, folklore -
Bendigo Military Museum
Accessory - PHOTOGRAPHS, 1942
... in a passport in case of escape from POW camp. Item re Frederick... in case of escape from POW camp. Item re Frederick Gardner DAVEY ...Passport photos of Frederick Gardner DAVEY to be used in a passport in case of escape from POW camp. Item re Frederick Gardner DAVEY DFC No 410533 RAAF. Refer Reg No 3536P for his service details.1) & .2) Black / white passport sized head & shoulders photos of a man in civilian clothes..1) Handwritten on back in black ink: 1942 Escape photo for passportphotography, identification raaf -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Lamp Small Kerosene, circa early 1900s
The period when kerosene was extensively used for indoor lighting was before electrical reticulation was installed in rural areas. In remote areas this was up to the mid 1900's. The kerosene lantern however was still in use, for camping and outdoor activities, well beyond this period and was eventually replaced by LPG and battery powered lighting. The transition phase to "modern" outdoor and domestic lighting lingered on the rural areas where the electrical reticulation suffered from reliable constant supply.In the Kiewa Valley, being a rural region, had reliable electrical domestic and farm supply only after the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme had been fully operational. The supply was relative to how close the homestead was to the major electricity substation. This kerosene lamp was in use during the period when it was the only reliable source of domestic night time lighting. The strength of refractive light produced by this lantern/lamp hinged upon the size of the lamp(wick and glass bowl). The small size of this lamp suggests that it was for use in a small room(children's bedroom) or as providing a light for a safe walk to the outside ablutions (toilet) area. This small kerosene lamp has an enclosed "cup" body which would have contained the kerosene fuel. The top wick holder, made from brass, has an extended enclosed spout which raises the wick approximately 20mm from the bottom of the holder. The wick holder screws into the the top of the kerosene reservoir bowl and has a wick adjustment screw (light control) at one side. The small white glass light reflector bulb nestles securely onto the wick holder and is kept snug by snap designed extending "fingers". The section between the bottom of the refractive glass "light" bowl and the top of the kerosene bowl has perforations to allow air passage to feed directly to the wick.The light refracting bulb is open at the top to allow heat and smoke from the burning wick to escape upwards.On the wick control screw "CWB BRITISH MADE"kerosene reading lamp, domestic lighting, bedside light -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Robert Hale Limited, You'll Die in Singapore, 1955
Hard, black coloured buckram cover, gold print on spine, 189 cut plain pages, illustrated, black & white photo of author, black & red map. Autobiography - an account of Charles McCormac's escape from a Japanese prison camp in Singapore.Front fly leaf in black ink: RSL Stampbooks, military, history, imprisonment -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Hugh Clarke, Escape to Death
Soft cover book, title on front, spine & back. Small photos of escape, red Japanese Rising Sun, soldier figure with camp in background & description of title on back cover. 129 illustrated pages.books, military, history -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Book, Favourite Escapes to the Outer East
Favourite Escapes to the Outer East - 100 years Holidays, Camps, Picnics, Excursions & Sporting Carnivals held in the Outer Eastern region of Melbourne -
Warrnambool RSL Sub Branch
Book, ESCAPE FROM THE SWASTIKA: Colditz, Hell Camp, Stalag Luft 3, The Wooden Horse
Hardback with dust cover Author Burton Graham Publisher Marshall Cavendish London: 1975 ISBN 0 85685 108 6 -
Burrinja Cultural Centre
Aboriginal painting - Paddy Jampin Jaminji, Paddy Jaminji, The Hills of Bedford Station, pre 1995
In around 1924 a band of Gija people crossed fences onto their traditional land near Bedford Downs Station in the East Kimberley 2000 km northeast of Perth and killed nine head of cattle. This act precipitated one of the massacres to become known as the 'killing times'. Paddy Quilty, the station owner of Bedford Downs had his men collect wagon loads of firewood which was distributed around the camp. He then invited everyone to assemble for their rations. The food, laced with strychnine, was handed out. As the Gija people fell down dying in agony, they were shot. The firewood was used to burn the bodies. One boy escaped to the the story. Paddy Jamin Jaminji (c.1922-1997) painted The Hills of Bedford Downs Station as part of a series of painting about the Killing Times. It depicts the story and sites of the massacre. At least twelve killing sites are recorded within a radius of 150 km of Turkey Creek, WA. The painting was possibly discarded due to its damage in one corner and later collected from an old shelter at Warmun on a field trip by collector Neil McLeod in 1995.Large painting on board of symbolic landscape. Brown, yellow, cream and white. Framed.bedford downs station, massacre, killing, gija, paddy quilty, turkey creek, warmun -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Book, Favourite Escapes to the Outer East: 100 years of holidays, camps, picnics, excursions and sporting carnivals held in the Outer Eastern regions of Melbourne, 2002
Compiled from articles submitted by member societies of the Association [regional] Historical Societies. A collection of stories about holidays, camping, picnics, sporting carnivals and more. How people enjoyed their leisure time n the early 1900's. Empire Day train services to Surrey Hills 24th May 1907 by Jack McLean is of particular local interest on page 23.A collection of stories about holidays, camping, picnics, sporting carnivals and more. How people enjoyed their leisure time n the early 1900's. Empire Day train services to Surrey Hills 24th May 1907 by Jack McLean is of particular local interest on page 23.scouts, doncaster, empire day, surrey hills, 1907, (mr) jack mclean, trains, box hill, sports and recreations -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Paperback Book, Simon & Schuster (Australia) Pty. Ltd, Interrupted Journeys - Young Refugees from Hitlers Reich, 2004
Jewish refugees from Germany and Austria in pre WW2 "kinder transport" and "Dunera" sent from the UK. 1940 to Australia, Camp 2 Tatura and Hay NSW CampsThese Jewish children's stories of their escape from Nazi Germany most of them assisted by loving parents - many of whom were unable to get visas for themselves - whom the children never saw again as they died in the death camps.Paperback. Cover - photo of teacher leading a group of children, all smiling. Title "Interrupted Journeys - Young Refugees from Hitlers Reich". Alan Gill (author). Nazi stamp bottom left hand corner. Back cover - photo of children (Jewish) on board ship, waving goodbye. This book tells the story of young German and Austrian children fleeing from Nazi oppression to England and later (1940) to Australian Internment Camps.as above. This book is dedicated to Henry Lippman and the late Oswald Von Wolkenstein by author Alan Gill. (two of the "Dunera" Jewish refugee internees. -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Phillips Publications, The 1944 Cowra Incident by Captain W. H. J. Phillips OAM Ed, 2002
... Internment camps Japanese escape POW;s Phillips Publications ...Story of the Cowra incident in 1944Book by Captain W. H. J. PhillipsFrom the series Living Historycowra breakout, internment camps, japanese escape, pow;s -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Folder, Camp 13 Murchison. Archival material, 1991
A large collection of events in regard to Camp 13. Documents include the names of 983 German POW's in Murchison August 1941 - January 1947. An interesting collection confiscated intelligence report. No 94 included 26 gall of wine, 9 drums of fruit in an advances state of fermentation, flex copper wire, clothing, petrol motor and miscellaneous cameras and wireless parts. A letter by the German Naval Commander to all families of the Kormoran crew. History of German POW's in WW2 by H. Wolf. Both in German. Map 13 B. the 21 September 1942 disturbance in D compound; report in German Sydney-Kormoran; weekly rations; dimensions of a tunnel 15 June 1942. Drawings by Heinz Dohmen - Arandora Star; royal Oak both sunk by u boat ace Gunther Prien, Collins gunner Kloppe; Kormoran at the memorial service for HMAS Sydney; Red Cross reports in German as are letters; Rudi Pruckners escape; the general conditions and the recently found tunnel.Foolscap size folder with pillar box red 3 cm wide flap which extends to the back. On the front red flap is the inscription below. Prominent centre left is Australia with gum trees and sentry box and anti clockwise POW 1941-194. A kangaroo and emu on the top right hand corner. Prison of war and beneath Murchison - Australian.Camp 13 Murchison. Archival material.gustav pohlig, camp 13, murchison victoria, hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, heinze dohman, rudi pruckner -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Document, Probably early 1940's
Detailing some of the ingenious methods of escape and the camouflaging of tunnelling. In January 1945, 20 officers escaped from Dhurringile and Lt Edgardo Simone , the Italian P.O,W was the outstanding escapee in Australia. Others are noted in Barbara Winter's book "Stalag Australia"Clear plastic folder, red margin on which is a white strip of paper. A red back cover. On the top right hand corner on the front clear plastic is a white self adhesive label on which is printed " Security of Prisoners of war and Internees - and escapes - Australian War Museum Archives - Canberra.As noted aboveaustralian war museum archives -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Rampage of Killer Kast, 2005
... a spy. Escaped from POW Camps. In Queensland he shot 3 doctors... a spy. Escaped from POW Camps. In Queensland he shot 3 doctors ...Story of karl Kast - a ship's deserter. Could have been a spy. Escaped from POW Camps. In Queensland he shot 3 doctors then himself in 1955Black and white cover, red writing. Terror of the Terrace - in black writing. Photograph of Karl Kast. Part of Wickham Terrace depicted on back coverlife of karl kast, kast k, blanch k, camp 1, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camps 1 and 2, biography -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Greatcoat, 1940's
Ex Australian Military Forces great coats were dyed a brilliant burgundy to make them easier to see, particularly should there be an escape. They were not exactly colour fast. Issued to Richard Bladau, internee from South Africa, at Camp 13.Greatcoat, 9 AMF buttons, 2 plain buttons. Pleat and belt at the back. 2 pockets with flapsM. TX. Size 28great coat, australian army, baumann m, camp 13, tatura, clothing, pow burgundy great coat, costume, male -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Folio, Australian Army Archives from Brighton, Vic
Material collected from Australian Archives by Lurline and Arthur Knee. Reports of Special Visitors to the Camps.|Plan of alteration to Camp 2 dated September 1943|Conduct report and release form for Walter Koenig.|Approval for marriage of internees Hans Fischer with LotteCalm.|Report on escape of von Amelunxen from Camp 10, 11.12.1942.|List of various reference number of Aust. Archive file of interest.|List of photograph negative numbers relating to the Tatura Camps.|Report on need for camp school.Blue plastic foolscap sized folder containing printed and handwritten material in plastic sleeves.Australian Army Archives Material from Brighton, Vic.documents, reports -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Hugh Clarke, Escape to Death
Purchased by T & D Historical Society.Paperback account of Cowra breakout by Japanese POW's 1944.Escape to Deathcowra breakout, japanese pow's, hugh clarke, camp 13 -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph, Dhurringile Escape
Copy of map made in Dhurringile POW Camp and carried by Captain Detmers during the tunnel escape by twenty German Officers and men. Map confiscated by the arresting officer at Tallygaroopna, Senior Constable Wilson.german officer pow's, dhurringile escape map, captain detmers, photograph, senior constable wilson -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph - copy, Lanzinger Brick, Original brick 1941
... internee who escaped several times from Camp 1, recaptured... of the photo to Tatura Museum. lanzinger escape camp 1 camp 4 gaol ...The inscription in the brick was made by Lanzinger a German internee who escaped several times from Camp 1, recaptured and placed in Camp 4 gaol. The brick was recovered by the Stanhope Museum, where it is now on display. The curator of the Museum contacted Tatura Museum for information about Lanzinger, and was advised that Lanzinger's daughter ( Ann Flegel) had visited Tatura Museum and Camp 1, from Canada. A photo of the brick was forwarded from Stanhope to Flegels, who in turn forwarded it to Josef Friedrich whom she had made contact with through the Tatura Museum. Friedrich then forwarded a copy of the photo to Tatura Museum.Colour photo of common red brick with inscriptions carved by and named Lanzinger, a date in 1941,and two swastikas.lanzinger escape, camp 1, camp 4 gaol, photography, photograph, slides, film -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Adolf Wilke, Die Nibelungen Besprechung, 1940's
This manuscript was the brain child of German, Adolf Wilke, Afrika Korp, Prisoner of War. In a cell in Camp 13 he watched smoke from a chimney of the Recreation Hall where his mates were discussing a play. The verses describe various members of the group and their activities. The cartoonist was Count Hans Wolter van Gruenewaldt, a German mining engineer who escaped internment in South Africa, ending as a prisoner in Camp 13. This is a copy of the original. Only 3 copies of the original were made by Gerry von Gruenewaldt - one for Adolf Wilke, one for Gus Pohlig and one for himself. Gerry had a photographed copy made, printed and bound and donated it to the Tatura Museum.Cream coloured card front and back, bound together with a black multi ring binder. Photographed pages of the original printed and put together in book form. Name of book on front top left in black print with first letter of each word in red. Inside pages are on cream card. Text is in German.camp 13, world war ii, tatura, murchison, prisoner of war camps, german pows -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Air Horns, c 1940
This was used as a siren in Tatura during WW2 to alert locals to the escape of POW's or for any other war time emergency. It was attached to the front of Groom & Beckwith's garage in Hogan Street.Two air horns staged on a metal frame with tubes attached for fitting to air compressor. -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
DVD, E. Simoni Italian POW Escapee, 1980
Recording of ABC TV production in 1980 about escaped Italian POW, E. Simoni, from Camp 13Clear DVD case with white discABC TV 1980e simoni, abc tv, camp 13 escapees, murchison camp escapees -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, Transit Lounge Publishing et al, Exile. The Lives and Hopes of Werner Pelz, 2012
Story of Werner Pelz and his escape from Nazi Germany for being a Jew.Paperback book, 367 pages.Sketch of back of man in front of the side of a hut. Title and author on front along with paragraph about Werner Pelz. Written by Roger Averill.werner pelz -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Map - Map - Photocopy, New Guinea Escape Route
At the end of January 1942 there was only about 250 men left in Wau, as the women and children had been evacuated by air a little earlier. With no planes to take the men they had to make their own way to Port Moresby and then travel by ship to Australia. Some men went down to Salamaua and made their way along the north coast, but small groups also made their way over the Owen Stanley Ranges; rafting down the Lakekamu RIver to Yule Island and by boat to Port Moresby. Donor Vanessa Kiessling's Father was part of the second group, and had drawn a detailed map of their route. This might be the same route taken by Rev. Willi Hertle (Ref C0750)Photocopy of New Guinea map showing escape routePlan of surveyed route from Edie Creek to Bulldog Dromepapua new guinea, escape, map, wau, willi hertle, kiessling -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Photograph, Bill Elmecker, 2001
... Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum 49 Hogan Street ...Photo taken at his arrest after the HMAS Sydney/Kormoran battle.elmecker bill, camp 13, graytown, kormoran, escape, photograph, people -
Brighton Historical Society
Suit, 1940s
This suit was tailor-made for Latvian dancer, choreographer and dance teacher Vija Vetra, who lived at the Old Hall, 93-95 Bay Street, Brighton and ran a dance academy at 97 Bay Street during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Born in Riga, Latvia in 1923, at the age of sixteen Vija ran away from home in order to study classical, character and modern dance at the Vienna Academy of Music and Performing Arts. She spent several years performing on European stages. When Latvia was annexed by the Soviet Union in 1944, more than 100,000 Latvians fled, seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Vija's sister, mother and aunt were among them, managing to join her in Vienna. The following year, all four had to flee again when the Soviets moved into Austria. Escaping to Bavaria, they spent three years in displaced person camps before emigrating to Sydney as refugees in 1948. Vija found success as a dancer in Sydney. She toured Australia and New Zealand with the Bodenwieser Ballet, formed a Latvian folk dancing group and established a dancing school. By the mid-1950s she had gained recognition as a recitalist in her own right. She developed a passion for Indian classical dance. In the late 1950s she moved to Victoria. She opened a dance school in Bay Street, Brighton, while continuing to perform on stage in productions such as the musical 'Kismet' and the ballet 'Corroboree'. In 1959 she starred in the four-part live ABC television program 'Music and Dance'. She left Australia in 1964 for a tour of the United States and Canada, ultimately settling in New York City. Interviewed in the 'ABC Weekly' in 1957, Vetra described her taste in clothing as minimalist, saying she preferred to own as few clothes as possible to save the trouble of deciding what to wear: "And no bows or extravagances, but always a simple line."Two-piece women's suit made of maroon corded silk; comprising fitted jacket (.1) and straight skirt (.2). Jacket fastens with one large black faceted glass button. Jacket lined with pink satin; skirt unlined. vija vetra, migration, brighton, refugee, dancer, 1940s -
Brighton Historical Society
Swimsuit, circa 1950s
This swimsuit belonged to Brighton local Joyce Fuller, nee Harries (1920-2018), who wore it at Dendy Beach in the 1950s. Ada of California was a Melbourne swimwear company founded in the early 1950s by Brighton locals Ada and Toni Murkies. Born in Poland in 1922, Ada was 17 when the Second World War reached her doorstep. She and her family were torn from their home by Soviet soldiers and sent to a brutal labour camp in Siberia as part of a series of mass deportations. In order to escape the horrific conditions of the camp, Ada and her sister Barbara joined the Soviet-backed Polish Army. During her time in the military she became close with a handsome young Jewish officer, Lieutenant Antoni Murkies, who later became her husband. After the war Toni was awarded 15 medals including the highest Polish military honour, the Virtuti Militari. Ada was awarded 10 medals, including the Order of the Cross of Grunwald. Emigrating to Australia as postwar refugees in 1948, Ada and Toni arrived in Melbourne with little to their name. Working initially in garment factories and building their connections, by the mid-1950s the couple were able to start a company of their own, with Ada designing the garments and Toni managing the business. Within ten years, Ada of California swimwear was being sold in department stores throughout Australia, and the Murkies family were able to build a permanent home of their own in Brighton. By the early 1980s they had acquired several other major labels, including Watersun. Visiting Brighton Historical Society in 2019, Ada recalled this particular swimsuit style to be a popular one, particularly with older women, as the cinched waist and pleated modesty skirt suited many body types. This was important to her, as she wanted women of all ages and sizes to look and feel good in her swimwear, and she devoted much time and attention to the fit and finish of the garments. When the company began introducing padded bras, such as the one in this swimsuit, Ada insisted on using lacy floral lining and a small ribbon rosette in the centre gore, to give women a sense of quality, femininity and care in construction.Blue one-piece swimsuit with waist tie and short finely pleated overskirt. Sleeveless with thin elasticised straps. Inbuilt padded underwire bra with label and pale pink ribbon rosette on centre gore. Fastens with back zip.Label: "Ada / OF CALIFORNIA / 38"swimwear, brighton, dendy street beach, ada of california, ada murkies, toni murkies, joyce fuller, joyce harries