Mary Stalker’s engagement notice in The Argus in July 1947 indicates that she was the youngest daughter of Mr & Mrs A M Stalker of Montlare [Monclair] Avenue, North Brighton. It announces her engagement to ”Cr Howard Breedon Everard JP Ev-Ron, Woori Yallock, Youngest son of Hon WH Everard Wellington St Kew and the late Mrs Everard.” Beatrice Mary Stalker was born in 1919. Her parents were Alexander MacLaren Stalker (1885-1970/1973) and Charlotte Eleanor Hayward (1884-1953) who were married in 1911. Her sisters were Joan Winnock Stalker, Betty Neil Stalker and Ruth McLaren Stalker. Charlotte was a teacher prior to her marriage. Alexander, an accountant, lived in Wattle Valley Road, Canterbury in 1910. From 1912-1931 they are listed at ‘Benwerrin’, Wandsworth Road, Surrey Hills. Mary Stalker married in 1949 and by 1954 she and Howard were living at 44 Wandsworth Road, Surrey Hills, which was their home for decades. Howard was born in 1914 and died in October 2010: "EVERARD. - Howard Breedon. In loving memory of Howard, who lived life to the full to the very end of his 96 years. Greatly loved and honoured by Mary, Rosemary, David, Elizabeth, John and extended families." Beatrice Mary Everard died on 25 September 2019, aged 93. it is assumed that the woman in the photo is Mary's mother, Charlotte Eleanor Stalker (nee Hayward). The photo taken at the beach in 1930's may have been at Brighton, given the family’s later association with the suburb. This photo documents part of the social history of a family with a long and strong association with Surrey Hills. The backdrop of the typical bathing boxes used for changing into swimsuits, for lunch and for storing sports and beach gear, documents beach recreation and culture of the 1930s. Given the family's later residence in Brighton, this may well have been taken at Brighton Beach. For many years in the late nineteenth century, Brighton was Melbourne's favourite seaside destination. The now iconic bathing boxes were a response to Victorian ideas of morality and sea bathing. There are 82 Brighton bathing boxes, which protected by a heritage overlay because of their uniform scale and proportion, building materials, sentry order alignment. All retain their classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs. They remain as they did over one hundred years ago, as licensed bathing boxes. Service amenities such as electricity or water were never connected.A black and white photograph of a lady and little girl on the beach. There is a row of bathing boxes behind them.(miss) mary stalker, bathing boxes, (mrs) mary everard, (miss beatrice mary stalker, (mrs) beatrice mary everard, (mrs) charlotte eleanor stalker, (miss) charlotte eleanor hayward

The donor and family of this gown were long-term Brighton residents, and the gowns were held by them as family heirlooms prior to donation to Brighton Historical Society. Originally owned by Elizabeth Emma Adams and Cecilia Elizabeth Adams, it is believed that the dress was brought to Australia by either a half brother, James Smith Adams, or a younger sister, Sophia Charlotte Louisa Adams (later known as Mother Rose Columba Adams). Elizabeth and Cecilia were the daughters of James Smith Adams (a squire, 1780-1860) and Elizabeth Emma McTaggart (1793-1843) of Tower House, Woodchester in Gloucester, a property which Elizabeth later inherited. Originally a monastery, Tower House had been converted into a stately home after the Reformation. According to information originally provided by the donor, both this dress and the dress T0004.3 were made for Elizabeth and Cecilia, to be worn at the young Queen Victoria’s first 'drawing room ball' following the end of court mourning in 1838 for her uncle William IV who died in 1837. In 1838 Cecilia would have been twelve years old and Elizabeth would have been ten years old. It is possible that the dress T0004.3 was worn by one of the girls to this event as it is of appropriate dimensions for a child of that age, although its design is very formal and adult. However, it is unlikely that either of the girls wore this dress at the ball due to the size and styling of the dress. It is likely that the dress belonged to one of the girls, but was worn at a later date. Elizabeth was born on 30 June 1828 at Tower House and died on 1 May 1909. She created a scandal when she eloped with her first husband, Thomas Charles Gardiner at the age of 18. The validity of the marriage was later formally investigate and, while it was confirmed as valid, a second church wedding was subsequently held. Thomas died in 1878. Elizabeth subsequently remarried Reverend R. E. Blackwell, but was widowed again by 1889. Cecilia was born on 17 December 1826 and died in 1902 a spinster recluse in England. At the inquest into Cecelia's death in 1904 it was revealed that she had clearly come from a family of means as her home was filled to the brim with highly valuable goods, many in boxes. She was buried in the family vault at Woodchester. Elizabeth and Cecilia's sister Sophia converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and became a nun, taking the religious name 'Rose Columba'. In 1883 Mother Rose Columba led a group of eight to Australia, answering a call for Dominican sisters to nurse the sick in Adelaide. Upon arrival, she founded St. Dominic's Priory and the Church of Perpetual Adoration in North Adelaide, using her inheritance to build the chapel. Elizabeth's second son, George Henry Somerset, who inherited the Adams family estate dropped the 'i' in Gardiner and added the maiden name of his grandmother. Therefore, the family name has now become Gardner McTaggart. These Adams family entries have been updated with information provided by Dr Herbert Gardner McTaggart, great-grandson of George Henry Somerset in April 2016. Mr McTaggart contacted the society after finding our entries online.A hand sewn white purple, pink, green, blue and yellow floral silk chiffon dress from circa 1870. The dress consists of two pieces worn together as a dress. This dress has received a great deal of mending and alteration and so it is difficult to be sure of what constitutes its original state. The following description is of its current state. The bodice has a high neck with a simple shallow band collar, an olive braid and a press stud closure. The bodice fastens down the centre front with ten hook and eyes closures and two sets of ribbon ties . The bodice has three darts providing shaping into the waistline. The bodice finishes at the waist and gently tapers towards the front creating a 'V' line. Down the centre front from the neck to the waist concealing the bodice opening is a pressed pleated ruffle of the dress fabric and a line of olive braid. The dress features pagoda sleeves finished at the hem with pressed pleated ruffle of the dress fabric, a line of olive braid and a silk fringe of 4 cm pale pink and white. The skirt part of the bodice section attaches to the front of the dress with two hooks and eyes on the left hand side of the waist. The fabric drops down to approximately the knees at the front, curving up and splitting on either side over the hip. The edge of this piece is also trimmed with a pressed pleated ruffle of the dress fabric and a line of olive braid. Just below the hip on either side is a large bow of pink, cream, purple and green taffeta. The bodice at the back is shaped with four panels into the waistline. Where it joins the bodice skirt the skirt is pleated, creating fullness. The skirt of the dress ensemble secures at the waist on the left hand side. At the front it has two pleats (that may have been repositioned during repair), and is fully gathered at the back. At the front the dress falls to the floor whilst at the back it is longer to accommodate the bustle and possibly a small train.cecilia elizabeth adams, elizabeth emma adams, 1870s fashion, tower house, woodchester, james smith adams, elizabeth emma mctaggart, mary rose columba adams, sophia charlotte louisa adams

The donor and family of this gown were long-term Brighton residents, and the gowns were held by them as family heirlooms prior to donation to Brighton Historical Society. Originally owned by Elizabeth Emma Adams and Cecilia Elizabeth Adams, it is believed that the dress was brought to Australia by either a half brother, James Smith Adams, or a younger sister, Sophia Charlotte Louisa Adams (later known as Mother Rose Columba Adams). Elizabeth and Cecilia were the daughters of James Smith Adams (a squire, 1780-1860) and Elizabeth Emma McTaggart (1793-1843) of Tower House, Woodchester in Gloucester, a property which Elizabeth later inherited. Originally a monastery, Tower House had been converted into a stately home after the Reformation. According to information originally provided by the donor, the skirt portion of this dress (along with the bodice T0004.3) was made for either Elizabeth or Cecilia to be worn at the young Queen Victoria’s first 'drawing room ball' following the end of court mourning in 1838 for her uncle William IV who died in 1837. In 1838 Cecilia would have been twelve years old and Elizabeth would have been ten years old. It is possible that this dress was worn by one of the girls to this event as it is of appropriate dimensions for a child of that age, although its design is very formal and adult. Elizabeth was born on 30 June 1828 at Tower House and died on 1 May 1909. She created a scandal when she eloped with her first husband, Thomas Charles Gardiner at the age of 18. The validity of the marriage was later formally investigate and, while it was confirmed as valid, a second church wedding was subsequently held. Thomas died in 1878. Elizabeth subsequently remarried Reverend R. E. Blackwell, but was widowed again by 1889. Cecilia was born on 17 December 1826 and died in 1902 a spinster recluse in England. At the inquest into Cecelia's death in 1904 it was revealed that she had clearly come from a family of means as her home was filled to the brim with highly valuable goods, many in boxes. She was buried in the family vault at Woodchester. Elizabeth and Cecilia's sister Sophia converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and became a nun, taking the religious name 'Rose Columba'. In 1883 Mother Rose Columba led a group of eight to Australia, answering a call for Dominican sisters to nurse the sick in Adelaide. Upon arrival, she founded St. Dominic's Priory and the Church of Perpetual Adoration in North Adelaide, using her inheritance to build the chapel. Elizabeth's second son, George Henry Somerset, who inherited the Adams family estate dropped the 'i' in Gardiner and added the maiden name of his grandmother. Therefore, the family name has now become Gardner McTaggart. These Adams family entries have been updated with information provided by Dr Herbert Gardner McTaggart, great-grandson of George Henry Somerset in April 2016. Mr McTaggart contacted the society after finding our entries online.A hand and machine sewn cream, pale blue, orange and gold embroidered satin formal dress, the bodice dates from circa 1890. This dress shares a skirt with T0004.3, which dates from circa 1840. The bodice features a high scoop neckline with gathers at the base of the scoop and directly below where the bodice finishes creating fullness over the bust. The bodice front encloses the bust with a right panel over the top of a left panel and securing with two hook and eye closures over the left shoulder. The panels are secured together with 15 hook and eye closures. The sleeves are set neatly on the true shoulder and are elongated full puffs to just above the elbow. The fullness is created by nine pleats from the top of the shoulder over the back of the shoulder. At the base of the sleeve the fullness is gathered just above the elbow. At the centre back of the bodice are four inward facing pleats running from the centre neck to the waist. The bodice is secured around the waist with a tape and four hook and eye closures. The bodice is boned around the sides and back of the torso with eight bones. This bodice is finished at the waist with a pleated cummerbund of the dress fabric that is designed to appear to be a sash with two decorative bows. One front left of centre and one back right of centre. The skirt secures at the waist with an opening to the left of centre at the back. The skirt gathers tightly at the centre back with a dart on either side. The skirt has a front central panel and the skirt falls to floor length. At the back, the skirt is also floor length. The back of the skirt may have been modified at some time and may have originally finished in a train. It would be more appropriate to the period of the bodice, and the believed use of the dress with a train.cecilia elizabeth adams, elizabeth emma adams, queen victoria, tower house, woodchester, james smith adams, elizabeth emma mctaggart, sophia charlotte louisa adams, 1890s fashion

The donor and family of this gown were long-term Brighton residents, and the gowns were held by them as family heirlooms prior to donation to Brighton Historical Society. Originally owned by Elizabeth Emma Adams and Cecilia Elizabeth Adams, it is believed that the dress was brought to Australia by either a half brother, James Smith Adams, or a younger sister, Sophia Charlotte Louisa Adams (later known as Mother Rose Columba Adams). Elizabeth and Cecilia were the daughters of James Smith Adams (a squire, 1780-1860) and Elizabeth Emma McTaggart (1793-1843) of Tower House, Woodchester in Gloucester, a property which Elizabeth later inherited. Originally a monastery, Tower House had been converted into a stately home after the Reformation. According to information originally provided by the donor, both this dress and the dress T0004.1 were made for Elizabeth and Cecilia, to be worn at the young Queen Victoria’s first 'drawing room ball' following the end of court mourning in 1838 for her uncle William IV who died in 1837. In 1838 Cecilia would have been twelve years old and Elizabeth would have been ten years old. It is possible that this dress was worn by one of the girls to this event as it is of appropriate dimensions for a child of that age, although its design is very formal and adult. Elizabeth was born on 30 June 1828 at Tower House and died on 1 May 1909. She created a scandal when she eloped with her first husband, Thomas Charles Gardiner at the age of 18. The validity of the marriage was later formally investigate and, while it was confirmed as valid, a second church wedding was subsequently held. Thomas died in 1878. Elizabeth subsequently remarried Reverend R. E. Blackwell, but was widowed again by 1889. Cecilia was born on 17 December 1826 and died in 1902 a spinster recluse in England. At the inquest into Cecelia's death in 1904 it was revealed that she had clearly come from a family of means as her home was filled to the brim with highly valuable goods, many in boxes. She was buried in the family vault at Woodchester. Elizabeth and Cecilia's sister Sophia converted to Roman Catholicism in 1851 and became a nun, taking the religious name 'Rose Columba'. In 1883 Mother Rose Columba led a group of eight to Australia, answering a call for Dominican sisters to nurse the sick in Adelaide. Upon arrival, she founded St. Dominic's Priory and the Church of Perpetual Adoration in North Adelaide, using her inheritance to build the chapel. Elizabeth's second son, George Henry Somerset, who inherited the Adams family estate dropped the 'i' in Gardiner and added the maiden name of his grandmother. Therefore, the family name has now become Gardner McTaggart. These Adams family entries have been updated with information provided by Dr Herbert Gardner McTaggart, great-grandson of George Henry Somerset in April 2016. Mr McTaggart contacted the society after finding our entries online.A hand sewn cream, pale blue, orange and gold embroidered satin formal dress, the bodice dates from circa 1840. This dress shares a skirt with T0004.2, which dates from a different period (circa 1890). The bodice features a wide shallow neckline finished with a beige coloured cord in two decorative lines. The sleeve is set on the true shoulder and is a short fitted sleeve with decorative gathering and two lines of corded detail. The bodice is shaped to the body with 2 sets of six fine knife pleats diagonally positioned narrower over the waist and spreading out over the bust. These pleats are secured with six double lines of stitching. The bodice finishes high on the waistline at either side and points down to a point over the centre front. The base of the bodice is finished with a piped edge and beige decorative cording. The bodice encloses the body at the centre back where it has holes that presumably would have held lacing. The back features four diagonal knife pleats finishing at the centre back and splaying out over the shoulders. The waistline at the back features only a very gentle point.cecilia elizabeth adams, elizabeth emma adams, james smith adams, elizabeth emma mctaggart, sophia charlotte louisa adams, queen victoria, drawing room ball, 1840s fashion, tower house, woodchester

Hilda Charlotte Foster, 1902 - 1990, was a Double Certified Nurse when, at the age of 35, she successfully applied to the board of the Australian Inland Mission (AIM) to work at an outback field centre in South Australia. Born and raised in suburban Melbourne, she had been inspired by stories told to her by other missionaries about the fulfilment to be gained working amongst Aboriginal communities. Given her religious faith and nursing skills, she believed she could make a difference. She worked in Oodnadatta in South Australia for two years (1937-1939), followed by a stint in Innamincka in New South Wales in 1940 -1942. Before she became a nurse, Hilda Foster trained to be a Sunday School teacher and was a member of the Sunday School Council of Victoria. She completed first aid courses run through the Presbyterian Deaconesses Institute in Carlton, Victoria, and in 1930 successfully applied to become a trainee nurse at the Austin Hospital for Incurables, in Heidelberg. She commenced her training there in 1931, before moving to the Women's Hospital in 1933. In 1934 she had six months at the Fairfield Infectious Diseases Hospital, before returning to the Austin, where she was employed when she sat her final exams in November 1934. Her combined skills made her a most attractive option for the Australian Inland Mission. As well as being multi-skilled as a nurse, she provided religious instruction and spiritual ministry to members of the community. https://trove.nla.gov.au/people/762093?c=people Sister Foster nursed at Toora Bush Hospital prior to leaving for the Paton Memorial Hospital, Vila, New Hebrides in 1944. She left the New Hebrides in 1946.Matt, black and white, head and shoulders, studio portrait of Sister Hilda Charlotte Foster on card.australian inland mission, presbyterian deaconess, sister hilda charlotte foster, paton memorial hospital vila new hebrides

Associated with the Stalker family of Surrey Hills. Betty Neil Smith (Stalker) was born in 1919 in Balwyn (Surrey Hills). She was one of 4 daughters of Alexander MacLaren Stalker (1885-1970/1973) and Charlotte Eleanor Hayward (1884-1953) who were married in 1911. Her sisters were Ruth McLaren Stalker (1913, Surrey Hills), Joan Winnock Stalker (1917, Surrey Hills) and Beatrice Mary Stalker(1919). Their mother Charlotte Hayward was a teacher prior to her marriage. Their father Alexander, an accountant, lived in Wattle Valley Road, Canterbury in 1910. From 1912-1931 they are listed at ‘Benwerrin’, (44) Wandsworth Road, Surrey Hills. This was later the home of Beatrice Mary and Howard Everard. Betty, Ruth and Joan later lived at 9/48 Wandsworth Road. it is assumed that the photo is of the Stalker girls and given their parents' later residence at Brighton, this may have been taken at Brighton beach. This photo documents part of the social history of a family with a long and strong association with Surrey Hills. The backdrop of the typical bathing boxes used for changing into swimsuits, for lunch and for storing sports and beach gear, documents beach recreation and culture of the 1930s. For many years in the late nineteenth century, Brighton was Melbourne's favourite seaside destination. The now iconic bathing boxes were a response to Victorian ideas of morality and sea bathing. There are 82 Brighton bathing boxes, which protected by a heritage overlay because of their uniform scale and proportion, building materials, sentry order alignment. All retain their classic Victorian architectural features with timber framing, weatherboards and corrugated iron roofs. They remain as they did over one hundred years ago, as licensed bathing boxes. Service amenities such as electricity or water were never connected.A black and white photograph of many people enjoying the beach. There are bathing boxes in the background and some ti-tree beyond that.uniforms, clothing and dress, bathing boxes, stalker family

Local children in Wandsworth Road, c1930 Taken outside No. 44, home of the Stalker family, later that of Howard and Mary Everard, nee Stalker. Betty Stalker is on the left. The car is a Dodge c1920. House just seen at left is No. 57 then home of the Butler family. To the right is No. 61, the Stevens family one. Further research: Betty Neil Smith (Stalker) was born in 1919 in Balwyn (Surrey Hills). She was one of 4 daughters of Alexander MacLaren Stalker (1885-1970/1973) and Charlotte Eleanor Hayward (1884-1953) who were married in 1911. Her sisters were, Betty Neil Stalker and Ruth McLaren Stalker (1913, Surrey Hills), Joan Winnock Stalker (1917, Surrey Hills) and Beatrice Mary Stalker (1919). Their mother Charlotte Hayward was a teacher prior to her marriage. Their father Alexander, an accountant, lived in Wattle Valley Road, Canterbury in 1910. From 1912-1931 they are listed at ‘Benwerrin’, (44) Wandsworth Road, Surrey Hills. This was later the home of Beatrice Mary and Howard Everard. Betty, Ruth and Joan later lived at 9/48 Wandsworth Road. The 1931 electoral roll has Olive Myra Butler (machinist), Herbert Arthur Butler (carpenter), Ernest Philip Butler (pastrycook), Mary Butler and Hilda Jarrett Butler (machinsit) at 59 Wandsworth Road ('Bona Vista'). The 1936 electoral roll has Hugh Joseph Stephens (fireman), Ada Agatha Stephens (HD), Mary Christina Stephens (dressmaker) and Sylvia Ada Stephens (dressmaker) at 63 Wandsworth Road. Hugh and Ada are at the address in earlier electoral rolls. It is presumed that these are the families referenced in the general information noted by Jocelyn Hall. A black and white photograph of some children standing beside a dodge car. At least one is a member of the Stalker family.surrey hills, wandsworth road, (mr) howard everard, (mrs) mary everard, (miss) mary stalker, (miss) betty stalker, dodge, butler family, stevens family, cars, (mrs) betty smith, (miss) beatrice mary stalker, (mrs) beatrice mary everard, (miss) joan winnock stalker, (miss) betty neil stalker, (miss) ruth mclaren stalker, bluestone kerbing, children