- Example of C1960's girls' clothing - Example of C 1960's domestic sewing patternC 1960's - Butterick Sewing Pattern No. 4546 size 6 - Child's jumper(apron/smock) - child's long-sleeved dressVarious, some instructions, fabric requirements on reversedressmaking, girls' clothing

This child's white batiste apron was worn by Robert Barnard, son of Mrs W N Barnard of Portland, when he was a young child, circa 1912.This child's apron is representative of ladies fashion of the 1910s.Child's white batiste apron. Hand sewn, inserted front panel, ties to fasten, open back, sleeveless, ruffled hem. Circa 1912. Worn by Robert Barnard son of Mrs W N Barnard of Portland. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mrs w.n. barnard, w.n. barnard of portland victoria, robert barnard, child’s batiste apron c. 1912, child’s clothing c 1912, protective clothing

This child's white batiste apron was worn by Robert Barnard, son of Mrs W N Barnard of Portland, when he was a young child, circa 1911.This child's apron is representative of ladies fashion of the 1910s.Child's white batiste apron. Hand sewn, open back, ties to close, sleeveless, pintuck and lace bodice, lace insert border above hem. Circa 1911. Worn by Robert Barnard son of Mrs W N Barnard of Portland.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mrs w.n. barnard, w.n. barnard of portland victoria, robert barnard, child’s batiste apron c. 1911, child’s clothing c 1911, protective clothing

Black & white photograph of an elderly woman wearing a white blouse and dark jacket and skirt. One male child wearing a white shirt with bow tie and dark trousers. A female child wearing a white apron over a dark dress. They are standing in front of a garden and corrugated iron building.till, alison bertha, alwyn

These items were made as samplers either at school or most likely college. They are samples of embroidery stitches, seam types and sewing and knitting techniques.Nos 1-16 are group of samplers made from cotton lawn, cotton with sateen weave and flannel and made by Ruth McGannon. No 17 is a pair of gloves made by Margaret Russell. .1) A small square of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows in blue thread and three vertical rows in red thread of running stitch each 3.5 centimeters apart. The edges are frayed to 1.2 centimeters. .2) A larger rectangle of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows 7.8 centimeters apart and three vertical rows 10 centimeters apart of long stitch, stitched in blue thread. The edges are frayed to 2 centimeters. .3) A small square of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows and three vertical rows of blue thread of running stitch, each 1.9 centimeters apart. The edges are frayed to 1.5 centimeters. .4) A larger rectangle of yellow lawn with three horizontal rows 9 centimeters apart and three vertical rows 11.2 centimeters apart of running stitch, stitched in red thread. The edges are hemmed with two rows of long stitch .5 centimeter apart with a loose blue thread of laced running stitch weaving in and out of the red long stitch. .5) A rectangle of hemmed yellow lawn with a pocket formed at each end. Two rows of long stitch in red thread hem the edges with a blue thread stitched between each red stitch. The pockets are formed by turning back the edges and stitching them down in brown thread. R.M. is embroidered in brown chain stitch on the right side. .6) A rectangle of hemmed blue lawn the same as the previous piece but with five rows of back stitch in yellow and orange thread creating a pattern. .7) A rectangle of blue lawn with the top and bottom edges hemmed with two rows of long stitch close together in yellow and orange. The other two edge are frayed to 2.5 centimeters and has four rows of long stitch .7 centimeter apart in yellow and orange thread. .8) A blue lawn bag with two packets was made by hemming a rectangle of fabric on three sides in long stitch with orange thread, then yellow thread between the stitches. The fourth side is hemmed in hemming stitch in yellow thread with blanket stitch in yellow thread along the edge. This edge is folded up by one third to create a pocket. The edges on either side are stitched together. A row of chain stitch in orange thread is stitched down the middle to create two pockets. A tape is stitched to either side at the top and this is folded over the pocket. .9) A cream cotton with sateen weave rectangle is hemmed with a double row of orange thread in long stitch. On both sides is embroidery in orange and yellow thread. .10) A yellow cotton with sateen weave baby's bib is made from a rectangle of fabric with a semi circle cut out of the top. The edges are turned and hemmed with a narrower turning on the neck. A tape is stitched at either side of the neck. On the front is embroidered a train in blue and yellow threads. .11) A yellow lawn embroidery sampler using blue and brown thread shows long stitch, stem stitch, herringbone stitch, chain stitch, fly stitch, lazy daisy stitch, cross stitch and satin stitch. It is hemmed using drawn thread work and the bottom is scalloped and finished in blanket stitch. .12) A pink lawn embroidery sampler with green thread shows herringbone stitch, stem stitch, running stitch, chain stitch, cross stitch, lazy daisy stitch, fly stitch, feather stitch, satin stitch and back stitch. The bottom is scalloped and finished in buttonhole stitched. The other three edges are hemmed using drawn thread work. .13) A small cream flannel square with two smaller squares are stitched together down the middle in decreasing sizes using chain stitch. The largest piece is hemmed using both herringbone and a decorative blanket stitch. It also has a run and fell seam on the opposite side using both running and herringbone stitches. A row of feather stitch is on either side of the seam. The two smaller squares are frayed on the edges. .14) A cream rectangular flannel sampler has two seams along the length. One is a run and fell seam using running and herringbone stitches and the other is an open seam using running stitch and both edges are stitched down with herringbone stitch. The two shorter edges are bound and the longer edges have a tape which is stitched down to neaten the edges. On the right side are two rows of feather stitch. .15) This blue lawn apron has a rectangular gathered skirt which is attached to a waistband and in turn attached to a bib front which goes over the head. The bib and skirt sides are hemmed using decorative blanket stitch in pink and dark blue thread. The skirt hem and both sides of the waistband are stitched in two rows of herringbone in pink and dark blue thread. .16) This pale pink lawn child's shirt has french seam side seams, a waist band to which the shirt is attached using slight gathering. The sleeves have cuffs. There is a front facing and a collar and there is a small pocket in the left hand breast. .17) These yellow knitted gloves are made using plain stitch for the hand and rib for the wrist.Written on paper and stitched on to a couple of items - Ruth McGannon V.3 - 312 Written on paper and stitched to the gloves - Margaret Russell x No2embroidery, sampler, gloves, stitches, sewing, knitting, apron, costume, needlework, dressmaking, textiles

The book, awarded to Ethel Henderson in 1903, from Christ Church, Warrnambool is an example of a Sunday School prize given to children attending Sunday School at the time. Christ Church Anglican Church was one of the early churches in Warrnambool.The Puzzle Picture Book is a rare 'movable' children's book from 1900. It contains 6 chromolithic dissolving scenes (also called slats/transformations). It is unusual due to its educational content. It was published by Ernest Nister in London, E F Dutton & Co in USA and is also thought to have been published in German under the title 'Ueberraschungen Aller Art'. [source: The Little Book Store]Child's picture book with full colour cover depicting a mother dressed in long white spotted dress, white apron, white bonnett and black button-up shoes, sitting on a wooden armchair while dressing a young girl's hair with pink flowers. The girl is dressed in a pink frock with puffed sleeves and frill around the hem, and cream apron. She is looking in a brown wooden-backed hand mirror. A woven straw basket with pink roses sits on the floor. A framed silhouette picture is on the wall. The title is in a display typeface mimicking rose stems; a swag of pink roses decorates the top right hand corner. The publishers' names are printed on the bottom left and right hand corners at the bottom, and the printer in the centre. The inside cover has a book plate. The title page shows two boys arguing over the book. The verses are by Clifton Bingham, the pen and ink illustrations by Hilda K. Robinson. The story has a monochrome page with rhymes opposite a colour page with cut-out boxes showing four small pictures, each with a question. By pulling the tab at the bottom of the page the answer to the questions is revealed. There are six chromolithic 'dissolving scenes'.Book plate: Christ Church. Sunday School, Warrnambool. 1st Prize Girls Class II. Awarded to Ethel Henderson. S M George Vicar. Warrnambool, May 1903children's picture books, ethel henderson, children's picture books, puzzle books, christ church anglican church, sunday school prizes, ernest nister london, warrnambool, ethel henderson, e f dutton & co new york

This photograph depicts W. M. Anderson's store on the corner of what is now Kilvington Drive and Heroes Avenue. At the time, these may have respectively been Beaconsfield Road and, according to the label, Avenue of Honor. Anderson's store is believed to have been built by the Stillwell family in 1921, but Anderson had his store at least from 1923 and therefore likely owned it from the point of its first construction. By the late 1940s, Anderson's had become Legge's General Store. It is difficult to determine precisely when within that range this photograph was taken. We believe Anderson's store was on the corner now occupied by Grace and Louie Booksellers. Some of the people in the photograph include Bill Anderson with Albert Legge, and Leo Hirst - employees of Anderson - in the center-left, and George Davey standing in the cart.This photograph captures a now-unfamiliar store in a familiar part of old Emerald, documenting the changes to the commercial landscape over the past century.This black and white photograph depicts a store on a street corner, with a porch covering the walkway outside and several signs on the building, along with writing on the end of the porch covering. In the left of the frame is a car, with two dogs, a horse, and a man surrounding it; in the right, a man strands on a horsecart drawn by a white horse. In the center-left are three men wearing aprons with a child besides them, while in the center a woman and child stand in the doorway. In the background, other buildings continue down both streets. The reverse is annotated, and has six rectangular artefacts where adhesive was once applied. A section of handwriting is illegible due to damage, but likely read 'Heroes Avenue' or 'Avenue of Honour'.Reverse: "Built in 1921 / Cr [illegible] & Kilvington / Cross reference 56" Obverse: In Photograph Sign, Left: "W. M. ANDERSON" In Photograph Sign, Right: "THE / STORE" In Photograph, Porch: "W.M.ANDERSON [illegible]"emerald, commerce, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s

Due to relative long distance to haberdashery stores majority of children's garments were hand made by a local talented seamstress or mother/relative. This apron is very similar in style to the other children's clothing which indicates it could have been made in the early - mid 1900's. It is preventative of aprons which little girls wore over their dresses at the time. This items has good historical significance because it shows the style of aprons which little girls wore over their dresses in the Kiewa Valley during the early to mid 1900's. This is part of the children's clothes in the KVHS collections which gives this item more interpretive capacity. Natural coloured linen with red binding around the edges. 2 white buttons. Would fit a small child.clothing. children. apron.

Filet crochet, bib front, waistband extends to tie at the wearer's back. Gathered skirt, edged at the hemline with a 3.5 cms crocheted frill. Bib has a floral design, and shell shaped edging around three sides. Neck strap and waistband/tie are treble crochet. Skirt has the floral design repeated and a border of block and open crochet. The lower frill is edged with a floral shell shaped design. neckband is shaped and curved.costume, children's, child's crochet apron

Blue cesarine, trimmed with red and white check cotton. Bib has red and white centre panel, with a three cm band on each side. These bands extend over the shoulder, and cross at the back, to fasten with a button and button hole at the back waistline. Skirt gathers onto the 4 cmwide waistband. An 8.5 cm X 9 cm rectangular pocket of red and white check cotton on right hand side. A 3 cm wide band of red and white cotton decorates the skirt 4.5 cm above the hemline.( This trim is badly worn-one section completely gone).costume, children's, child's cotton apron

Black and white image of young child - approx. 6 months, seated on rustic style chair. Baby is dressed in dark dress, white frill on bottom, crocheted apron ( strings of apron tied to chair to secure child in position ). On back of image ' Bendigo Portrait Rooms, F. De Kock & Co, Photographic artists, corner of Mitchell and King Streets. N.B. copies may be had and enlarged to size'F. De Kock & Coperson, individual, baby portrait, bendigo, sandhurst, f. de kock & co.

Little girl from Sióagárd, Hungary in traditional dress. Sióagárd is a village in Tolna County, in central Hungary. The Sárvíz river flows into the Sió in the village. Black and white postcard of a child from Sióagárd, Hungary in traditional dress. Described as very similar to the apron in the EGV Collection.embroidery, aprons, hungary, surface stitchery

Brought from England by Lady Hamilton Fairley.Pink cotton with fine white double strip. Embroidered in white. Hem and bib faced in white. Simple design of fish and seaweed.? sewing sampler.embroidery, garments, 1940-60, england

Photograph which accompanies this garment shows the apron being worn by Christina Thomson Ball - nee Somerville.Fine white lawn with decorative lace and gathered centre panel. Lace round armholes. Decorated with fine feather stitching.embroidery, whitework, 1900-20, aprons

This apron was done by a small girl in order to learn different needlework techniques and shows hemming, buttonhole edgings, bars, eyelets, darning, drawn thread and feather stitch. Made by the donor's mother Mrs J.B. Rentoul (nee Floretta Thomas) late of St. Georges Manse, Geelong and St. Andrews, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. It was worked when she was six, for the Sydney Exhibition and was highly commended.Tiny dolls apron in white cotton with pale blue stitching.embroidery, samplers, dolls clothes, late 19th century, australia, plain sewing

Louisa Amelia Schwerkolt was the oldest child of Louis and Franceska(Cissie) Schwerkolt. Louis was the fifth child of August and PaulineSchwerkolt.Sepia photograph of a small girl wearing a large hat and lacy apron and sitting on a strange looking chair made of branches. Decorative surround around photographLouisa Amelia Schwerkolt 1890schwerkolt louisa amelia, schwerkolt family

Photograph likely taken on Childs Road in Kalorama in the early 1900s.Black and white photograph showing a woman with a long dress, apron and headscarf leading a got that is hitched to a small cart loaded with collected firewood. They are on a dirt road with bush above them. The photograph has been produced in postcard format with the picture in an oval in the centre of white frame.goat, wood collection, cart, wood, kalorama, childs road

The photograph is from the album of Ivy Child. The woman standing on the veranda is her mother Ethel Child (nee Madden). The homestead is on Childs Road and belonged to Ted and Ethel Child. Ivy May Child (1910 – 1989) was the daughter of Arthur Edward (Ted) Child (1878 – 1964) and Ethel May Madden (1888 – 1970). Ted Child was the son of Matthew Francis Child (1839 – 1933) and Martha Jeeves (1857 – 1926). He was the grandson of one of the early pioneers Francis Child. Ivy grew up on the family property on Childs Road and took many photographs. Most of these are glued into her photo album. The album covered the years from c1927 – 1932. Ivy married Henry William Burgess (1906 – 1968) in 1944. The photographs remain in their original state in the album with individual copies made. Black and white photograph showing a woman wearing an apron standing on the veranda of a wooden homestead. Ferns are in the foreground and around the building.ethel child, ted child, homestead, childs road

George (Gus) Gervasoni was the son on George Gervasoni of Yandoit Creek and Annie Pedretti of Dry Diggings. Gus married Elizabeth Hogan and worked as a grocer in Daylesford. Gus and Elizabeth Gervasoni had one child, John Hogan Gervasoni.A man in a grocer's apron, and wearing a hat, stands beside a truck. It is Gus Gervasoni, who worked as a grocer in Daylesford.gus gervasoni, grocer, daylesford, grocer's apron

Given to donor's daughter for her 3rd birthdayChild's nurse outfit consisting of white apron, red cape and triangular headdress/veil with stitched red cross.costume, children's

Small apron in brown and White Pattern. One pocket. All edges in whitecostume, children's

Child's pattern of dress, briefs and apron from age two to fourWeigallsdomestic items, sewing, handcrafts, dressmaking

The red cloth covered front hardcover has the title printed in black lettering and an illustration of a woman wearing an apron holding a dessert with a child beside her. At the bottom left is a kookaburra. The title page has full details of the collection and arrangements of the recipes, a short Anon poem about cooking and the publisher details. The spine has the title printed in black lettering. There is an advertisement opposite the title page for Maize Products Pty. Ltd. Inside is a Foreword, Preface to Second Edition an Editor's Note, several advertisements for cooing related products, Contents, followed by hundreds of recipes. At the back is an Index and a list of The Popular Series Competition Card Games for sale from all stationers. The back cover advertises Agee Preserving Jars. Pp.330.non-fictionA vintage hardcover Kookaburra Cookery Book first published in 1911 in Adelaide, South Australia, as a charity fundraiser compiled by the Committee of the Lady Victoria Buxton Girls' Club. cookbooks, cookery books, domestic objects, p.w.m.u., reference books

Black and white copy of original photograph which shows a timber cottage with two windows at the front, one each side of a fairly narrow central door. The house has no awning or verandah. It has a shingle roof, and a chimney on one side. A man, two women and a child are outside the front of the house. The man is wearing a waistcoat, tie, jacket and bowler hat, and he is holding a clarinet. The two women are wearing aprons and one of them is holding the child. The location of the house, date of the photograph and the identities of the people in it are unknown.Typed on a piece of paper attached to back of the photograph: "Early wooden miner's cottage, Woady Yaloak District".buildings, houses

The people in the photograph are not identified, but the man is believed to be Frederick Mitchell, who farmed at Argyle (on road now known as Mitchells Road). The farm was known as Clifford Farm. Frederick Mitchell ran a butcher's shop there from the late 1880s to the mid 1890s. Frederick Mitchell's first wife was Jane McDonagh, and his second wife was Jane's sister Isobel McDonagh.Enlarged black and white copy of original photograph. Photograph shows a shop building with a verandah, which has a shingled roof in fairly poor condition. A sign "CLIFFORD BUTCHERY" is over the shop building, and the name "F. MITCHELL" on the fascia board of the verandah. Three adults and a child are standing outside the shop under the verandah - a man wearing a coat and hat and a long apron, a woman wearing a dark dress and an apron which has a white trim, a young boy, and an older girl who is wearing a dark top and a light-coloured apron. A horse and cart are also under the verandah - horse only partly visible.mitchell family, frederick mitchell, clifford butchery, clifford farm

This photograph shows Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained Nurses (known as 'Nurse' in those days) attending to a family in the early 1900s. It also shows their uniform which had a red Maltese cross in the centre of the pith helmet. The bicycle seen is the first mode of transport purchased by MDNS in 1903. The Nurse's bag is seen strapped to the handles of the bicycle. In February 1885, 50 years after Melbourne was founded, it was recognized that nursing care was needed for the sick poor in inner Melbourne. The Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS), the first District Nursing Society in Australia, was founded and the decision was made to only employ fully qualified nurses who had trained in a Hospital. In those days they were known as 'Nurse'. One Trained nurse, was employed in March, and a second employed six months later. They worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care and only attended patients seen by a Doctor. They provided high quality nursing care; educated their patients in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of cleanliness, ventilation and good nutrition, both by verbal instruction and demonstration, even supplying soup and milk when needed. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bag containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses as necessary. Trained midwives began home births in late 1893 taking midwifery bundles and providing clothes for the babe and mother as needed. This was arduous work, particularly in the heat of summer. Permission to use bicycles was given to the Nurses in 1898 and the Society decided to purchase their own in 1903. A business man offered ‘new free wheel’ bicycles at £13 each which included maintenance for one year. Bells and wooden frames were added, at a cost of £5 per frame, so the Nurses could carry extra equipment. Nurses’ bags were strapped to the handlebars. Soup was made for those in need 2-3 times a week and if patients could not arrange to have it collected the soup was delivered by the Nurses on their bicycles. The use of bicycles caused a change in uniform, with white pith helmets, and veils covering them and tied under their chin, now being used. Over the years the Nurses complained their veils became wet in the rain and asked for a change of uniform but this did not occur until 1921. Bicycles continued to be used in inner areas until 1945. The Nurses provided high quality nursing care to a range of people often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered by a Doctor, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. The Nurses liaised with the person's Doctor. They educated their patients, and their Carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of hygiene, cleanliness, ventilation and good nutrition. They taught them, by verbal instruction and demonstration, how to make poultices, to make and apply bandages, apply medical appliances such as splints; and the Nurses supplied milk, beef tea and cooked soup when needed. As the work increased a third Nurse was employed but this was arduous work, particularly in the heat of summer and many Nurses only remained with the Society for several months. Black and white photograph of two Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained nurses, 'Nurse', wearing their full length grey uniforms, with white collar, cuffs and belt, and white pith helmets with a Maltese cross applied. One Nurse is standing and holding her bicycle, while the other is kneeling and holding a small child. They are in the garden behind a horizontal weatherboard house. A man dressed in dark clothes is also kneeling beside the child. There is a child, dressed in white, in the doorway of the home, and a lady, dressed in a full length black dress and a white apron, is standing in front of the wooden fence in the garden. The bicycle has two large wire spoked wheels at either end of the black V shape bicycle frame; a rubber tyre runs around the outside of each wheel. The metal handlebars are a horizontal configuration and are attached with a central column into a black vertical column at the front of the V shape bicycle frame which has ‘fork shaped’ thin metal pierces running down either side of the wheel attaching the frame to the central hub of the wheel. The rear wheel is attached the same way to a central column at the rear of the frame which runs up to V shape solid seat. At the bottom of the V of the frame a pedal is attached with a rotating arm on either side of the bicycle and on the right side the rotating arm is attached to a sprocket which has a chain running around it back to a smaller sprocket on the hub of the back wheel. The chain has a thin metal guard over it. There are narrow thin metal mud guards running a short distance above the top of each wheel.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, mdns uniforms, mdns transport, rdns, royal district nursing service

The RDNS Sisters are both holding the 1st day Cover Envelope issued by the Australian Postal Department in 1985 to commemorate the founding of the Melbourne District Nursing Society on the 17th of February 1885. A stamp is in the right hand top corner of the envelope. The main body of the stamp is pale blue. On the top of the stamp, written in deeper blue/grey, are the words "Centenary of District Nursing Services 1985" Below this, and to the right, is a pale bone colour original sign on a metal fence which reads, in white capital letters, "Melbourne District Nursing Society" Standing on the left in the foreground is a MDNS Trained nurse (Nurse) in her long grey uniform frock with white collar, cuffs and belt. She is wearing a grey helmet style hat which has a white hat band with a red Maltese cross in the centre. Her black shoes can also be seen. She is holding a bicycle; only the front wheel and part of the frame and the handlebars, which have a brown nursing bag strapped to them, can be seen, The nursing bag and handlebars cover part of the MDNS sign. At the bottom of the stamp, on a strip of white background, are the words in capital letters "Australia 33c". Below the stamp is a rectangular1st mark. On the left half of the envelope are some sketches of several two storey buildings either side of a set of steps. Some adults and children are standing on the steps as well as in the foreground; some are sketched and others dressed in various coloured clothing. In the foreground right in front of steps, stands a lady with her hair drawn up and wearing along grey frock and white apron; partly seen against her right side is a small child dressed in brown. Sister Willie Fleming is the Supervisor of the RDNS Sunshine Centre and Sister Phillipa Kariko is Supervisor of Essendon Centre. They are wearing their RDNS uniforms of white short sleeve blouses under royal blue V neck tunic style frocks. The RDNS insignia is round and has royal blue writing on a white background. In Melbourne in 1885 it was recognized that skilled nursing was needed to care for the sick poor in their own homes. On the 17th of February a meeting was held with prominent Melbourne citizens, five gentlemen and fourteen ladies. ‘Dr. Caffyn and Rev. Charles Strong explained the objects and scope of District Nursing Societies that had been formed in towns in UK’. On that day the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) was founded, the first District Nursing Service in Australia. Subsequent meetings were held to form a Committee and to draw up a Code of Rules of the Society. It was decided only nurses who had attended a Nurses Training School at a Hospital and were fully qualified would be employed by the Society, and that the Nurses would keep a daily journal of their work. After interviewing several candidates, the first Nurse, Mrs. Ferguson, was employed with a salary of £100 per annum and commenced work on the 1st of May 1885. She was employed for three months initially, but this was soon extended, “on the understanding she will make arrangements to live in the more immediate vicinity of her district”. A Doctor was consulted before any person was seen. In rotation, a member of the Superintendence Sub-Committee supervised the Nurse’s visits and could assist to alleviate some of the poor social conditions they found. Though only Trained nurses were employed, the term ’Nurse’ was used in those days, not the term ‘Sister’ that is used these days. A second Trained nurse, Mrs. Joanna Cannon, was employed in late 1885, with a trial period of six months which was extended. The two Nurses worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses as necessary. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care and liaised with Doctors. They provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. They educated their patients, and their carers, in the curing and prevention of disease; teaching the importance of hygiene, cleanliness, ventilation and good nutrition. They taught them, by verbal instruction and demonstration, how to make poultices, to make and apply bandages, apply medical appliances such as splints; and the Nurses supplied milk, beef tea and they cooked soup when needed. As the work increased a third Nurse was employed but this was arduous work, particularly in the heat of summer and many Nurses only remained with the Society for several months. A Midwifery Service commenced in August 1893 with Nurse Fowler the first trained Midwife. She had previously worked with the Society carrying out General nursing. The Society expanded its areas using public transport and with the Society purchasing bicycles in 1903, before procuring its first cars to cope with the influx of patients during the Spanish influenza epidemic in 1919, though these were sold in 1927 due to their poor condition..A Motor Auxiliary was formed in 1929 to take 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 vehicles in 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. Over its years of expansion the RDNS Trained nurses (Sisters), continued to visit patients in their homes and gave best practice care in many fields of nursing, and to people of many cultures. Initial visits not only assessed the specific nursing situation but the situation as a whole. Their patients ranged in age from babes, children, adults to the elderly and referrals were taken from Hospitals, General Practitioners and allied Health facilities. Some of the care the Sisters provided is as follows: – Post-Natal care given to mother and babe, Wound Care following various types of surgery, accidents, burns, cancer, leg ulcers etc. Supervising and teaching Diabetic Care, including teaching and supervising people with Diabetes to administer their own Insulin, and administering Insulin to those unable to give their own injections. Administering other injections and setting up weekly medication boxes. The Sisters performed Catheterizations on adults suffering from conditions such as Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and Guillan-Barre Syndrome, and when required at school on children for e.g. those with Spina Bifida. The Sisters visited those requiring Cystic Fibrosis support and care; those requiring Haemo-Oncology care, including visiting children at school; those requiring Home Enteral Feeding care, and those requiring IV therapy at home and home Dialysis. Palliative Care was given including pain relief with the use of syringe drivers, personal care as needed, and advice and support to both patient and family. The Sisters provided Stoma management to those needing Urostomy, Ileostomy and Colostomy care and those requiring Continence care. HIV/AIDS nursing care was provided; visits to Homeless Persons were made. Personal care was given to patients ranging in age and with varying mobility problems, such as Amputees, those with MS, MND, Guillan-Barre Syndrome, Poliomyelitis, Quadriplegia, Paraplegia, Acquired Brain Injury, to those following a Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke), those with severe Arthritis and those with a form of Dementia. When necessary the elderly were assisted with personal care and advice given on safety factors with the use of hand rails, bath or shower seats, and hand showers. Rehabilitation with an aim towards independence remained at the forefront of the Sister’s minds and when possible using aids and instruction on safe techniques enabled the person to become fully independent. All care included giving advice and support to the patient and their Carers. The Sisters liaised with the persons Doctor, Hospital and allied Health personal when necessary. On the left of the black and white photograph is Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS), Sister Willie Fleming, who has curly blonde hair, and on the right, Sister Phillipa Kariko, who has short dark hair. They are standing outside Essendon RDNS Centre.. They are both wearing their RDNS summer uniform of dark V neck tunic style frocks, with emblazoned RDNS insignia on its upper left, over short sleeve white blouses, Each are holding an envelope with writing, sketched buildings and figures on the envelopes left side, and a stamp is on the upper right corner. Below the stamp is writing in a rectangle. Behind the Sisters is a brick wall with them hiding some of the white capital letters of the words 'District Nursing Service' and 'Essendon Centre'. Windows and part of the fascia of the building is seen behind this.Handwritten informationmelbourne district nursing society, melbourne district nursing service, mdns, royal district nursing service, rdns, rdns centre, sister willie fleming, sister phillipa kariko, rdns 1st day cover centenary envelope