Showing 239 items
matching commemorative plaque
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Brimbank City Council
Commemorative Plaque, 1951 Commemorative Plaque, Centenary of Government in Victoria and Centenary of the Discovery of Gold, 1951
... Commemorative Plaque...1951 Commemorative Plaque, Centenary of Government in...Small dark blue box with round commemorative plaque inside.... Small dark blue box with round commemorative plaque inside. 1951 ...Small dark blue box with round commemorative plaque inside. -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Plaque - Commemorative Plaque Commonwealth of Australia Peace Loan, 1919
... Commemorative Plaque Commonwealth of Australia Peace Loan...Commemorative Plaque Commonwealth of Australia Peace Loan... the plaque to be secured to a wall. Commemorative Plaque Commonwealth ...During World War One, to finance the war the Commonwealth Government had a series of war loans, and then peace loans. To recover the cost of the war and fund soldier pensions the government launched 'Peace Loan' campaigns after the war. The various Shires in each State were given quotas that they were expected to raise. The Central Peace Loan Committee endorsed the issue of a metal tablet to each district which secured its quota. The tablet was made of bronze, and it was to be fixed on the wall of the local municipal building. It bore the name of the town, borough or shire to which it was awarded, and the name of the mayor or president. The inscription explaining the object of the award appeared over the signatures of the Prime Minister and the Treasurer of the Commonwealth. In the case of districts which secured double their quota the tablet also included the Commonwealth coat-of-arms. This plaque was presented to the Shire of Wodonga for exceeding its allocated quota which had been set at £10,000. The Wodonga community subscribed more than £12,845 to the Peace Loans which was acknowledged with the presentation of the plaque.A bronze rectangular plaque with raised text and an border. A hole in each corner allowed the plaque to be secured to a wall. COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA / PEACE LOAN/ A.D. 1919/ TO COMMEMORATE THE OVERSUBSCRIPTION / OF THE ALLOTTED QUOTA OF THIS LOAN / BY/ THE SHIRE OF WODONGA/ W. TWOMEY PRESIDENT / W. A. WATT TREASURER/ W. M. HUGHES PRIME MINISTER"ww1, peace loans australia, shire of wodonga peace loans -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Shire of Eltham Commemorative Plaque 1994, 1994
... Shire of Eltham Commemorative Plaque 1994...Colour photograph of Commemorative plaque marking... commemoration Colour photograph of Commemorative plaque marking ...Colour photograph of Commemorative plaque marking the conclusion of the Shire of Eltham 1994plaques, eltham shire council, municipal restructuring, commemoration -
Hepburn Shire Council Art and Heritage Collection
Medal, 1951 Commemorative Plaque, 1951
... 1951 Commemorative Plaque...commemorative plaque... governement meszaros kg luke commemorative commemorative plaque ...Medal commemorating the Centenary of Government of Victoria and the Discovery of Gold, commissioned by the Victorian Government and gifted to the Shire of Glenlyon. Designed by Andor Mészáros and minted by K.G. Luke, Melbourne, 1951. 1951 marked the centenary of Victoria's separation from the colony of New South Wales. As part of the celebrations, the Victorian Government commissioned this medal from Andor Meszaros. Drawing on his classical background, Mészáros developed the imagery for 'Equality and Justice through Freedom'. The man holding the torch represents equality; the blindfolded woman holding a sword is the symbol of justice, and both are mounted on a horse that has broken its shackles. Features on the reverse a design of a banksia and bottlebrush. There was another version of this medal which depicted a pair of gold prospectors on the reverse.This medal was presented to the Shire of Glenlyon in 1951. For over half a century, sculptors Andor (1900-1973) and Michael (1945- ) Meszaros have created medals that reflect the high points of life in Australia. From major awards and portraits of eminent Australians to artwork celebrating popular culture and the natural world, these objects illuminate our culture and history. Grounded in a centuries-old European art tradition, the medals create connections across disciplines and link such diverse subjects as scientific advances, religious themes, sport, the performing arts and motherhood. Through their public and private commissions and their personal artworks, the Meszaros sculptors have defined the modern Australian medal.Bronze medal with images and text insetObverse Description: Horse bounding left, broken shackles on foreleg, carrying woman holding sword and man holding torch; around, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE THROUGH FREEDOM Artist's name behind horse's tail: A MESZAROS Reverse Description: Stake supporting plant; above, CENTENARY OF GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851 - 1951; inscribed, Presented to / the Shire of / Glenlyon / 1951 Artist's initials to left of stakeglenlyon, hepburn shire, centenary of government, centenary of gold discovery, history of victoria, victorian governement, meszaros, kg luke, commemorative, commemorative plaque, centenary 1951 -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, Commemorative Plaque of Opening by Sir Rohan Delacombe
... Commemorative Plaque of Opening by Sir Rohan Delacombe.....Colour Photo of Commemorative Plaque of Opening by Sir... Photo of Commemorative Plaque of Opening by Sir Rohan Delacombe ...Colour Photo of Commemorative Plaque of Opening by Sir Rohan Delacombe, Governor of Victoria, 17/10/1965.delacombe, rohan, sir, schwerkolt cottage -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Photograph, Frank Parker and other identities at unveiling Ringwood Commemorative Plaque to pioneers 1974
... Commemorative Plaque to pioneers 1974... identities at unveiling Ringwood Commemorative Plaque to pioneers.'... Commemorative Plaque to pioneers.' Frank Parker and other identities ...Typed below photograph, '1974 - Frank Parker and other identities at unveiling Ringwood Commemorative Plaque to pioneers.' -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Commemorative plaque
... Commemorative plaque...Small polished metal commemorative plaque mounted on a wood...-6-1977." Small polished metal commemorative plaque mounted ...Small polished metal commemorative plaque mounted on a wood block."The first Service was held at St Andrew's Warrigal Road Oakleigh 4-6-1865, This emblem was dedicated 5-7-1959 and remained in the sanctuary until Church Union 22-6-1977." -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Plaque - Commemorative Plaque, 1970s
... Commemorative Plaque...Brass commemorative plaque. This Tree was planted... 1973. Eucalyptus Maculata (Spotted Gum) Plaque Commemorative ...Brass commemorative plaque. This Tree was planted in commemoration of 100 years of State Education and completion of the school oval 17th March 1973. Eucalyptus Maculata (Spotted Gum)As aboveschool, equipment -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Commemorative Plaque
... Commemorative Plaque...Octagonal cream china commemorative plaque with 6 labelled... commemorative plaque with 6 labelled transfer print images and text ...Octagonal cream china commemorative plaque with 6 labelled transfer print images and text on border and a central image of John Wesley. Border images: Wesley's teapot; He, being dead, yet speaketh; Wesley's chair; First head-quarters of Methodist; A brand from the burning; John Wesley. Born 17 June, 1703 Died, March 2, 1994.; "The world is my parish". wesley, john -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Plaque - Commemorative Plaque - dedicated to Captain James Fawthrop and the Portland Lifeboat Crew for the rescue of Admella survivors, 1859, 1859
... Commemorative Plaque - dedicated to Captain James Fawthrop...Commemorative bronze plaque to Cpt. James Fawthrop...: (no inscriptions) Commemorative bronze plaque to Cpt. James Fawthrop ...City of Portland collectionRelates to the Portland Lifeboat and the wreck of the AdmellaCommemorative bronze plaque to Cpt. James Fawthrop and the crew of the Portland life boat, who rescued the survivors from the wreck of the SS Admella. Mounted on wooden stand with stained finish, plaque slopes towards viewer. 1859Front: In commemoration of the brave and gallant action of Captain James Fawthrop and crew of this lifeboat who rescued 19 survivors of the ill fated SS Admella wrecked near Cape Northumberland S.A. 10 August 1859. -Life boat crew-W.Rosevear - Cox W.Booth P.Francis H.McDonald A. Carey W.Guy C.Patterson J.Dimond J.Kean T.Tweedle J.Dusting W.Kerkin T.J.Ward Back: (no inscriptions)portland lifeboat, captain james fawthrop, admella, shipwreck -
Glenelg Shire Council Cultural Collection
Plaque - Plaque - 1951 Commemorative Plaque, 1951
... Plaque - 1951 Commemorative Plaque...1951 Commemorative Plaque (Centenary of Government... Cliff Street Portland great-ocean-road 1951 Commemorative Plaque ...1951 Commemorative Plaque (Centenary of Government in Victoria and Centenary of the Discovery of Gold) THE obverse side of this Medallion represents the three qualitities of democratic Government which makes the citizen's life worth living. Freedom, Justice and Equality. But the basic quality, through which Equality and Justice can be achieved or which results in Equality and Justice is FREEDOM. So the artist, in agreement with the sub-committee, selected a beautiful horse, gallantly bounding forward, his broken shackles still on his foreleg, carrying a woman representing Justice and a man representing Equality on its back. Without Freedom there is no Justice and Equality, but if there is Freedom, Justice and Equality are its natural results. The Stake on the reverse side represents strong democratic Government. Supported by it society grows and blossoms freely.Medal: OBVERSE: Depiction of a bucking horse with two nude riders. The first rider is a man wielding what appears to be a torch. The second rider is a blind folded woman wielding a sword. The horse has a broken shackle on the left foreleg. Information sheet in case. Case: Black leather, white satin lining and green velvet insert. Top bears gold coat of arm of Government of Victoria.Front: Equality and Justice through freedom. Back: CENTENARY OF THE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851-1951 (edge) Presented to THE TOWN OF PORTLAND 1951 (engraved, centre)medal, commemorative, centenary, victoria -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers unveils the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and... unveils the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock ...Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, From left, Mary Owen and John Withers, grandchildren of Walter Withers and other family members at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and... at the unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock ...Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
... Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve... photograph Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal ...Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
... Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve... photograph Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal ...Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque mounted rock at corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, donated by R.C. McLellan, Nov 1988
... Commemorative plaque mounted rock at corner of Bible and... negative film, 2 strips Commemorative plaque mounted rock at corner ...Russell Yeoman advised (14 Jun 2017 society meeting) that the Shire of Eltham had been given the plaque to commemorate Walter Withers and that the rock was sourced from west of Melbourne with funds from a local government grant. The initial crane to lift the rock in place was too small and another crane was arranged. This also proved too small to lift it until a third and larger crane was arranged and the rock was installed 17 May 1990.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 2 stripsFuji 100arthur street, bible street, memorials, r.c. mclellan, walter withers, walter withers reserve, walter withers rock -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers... negative film, 1 strip Unveiling of the commemorative plaque ...Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve, unveiled 23 March 2013
... Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal Reserve... photograph Commemorative plaque on rock, Warrandyte Aboriginal ...Colour photograph2013, plaques, warrandyte aboriginal reserve -
4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Unit History Room
Order of Ceremony, The Royal Australian Amored (sic) Corps the Keeffe Family & Eoghan McDonald Celebrates (sic) the Unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque 16 November 2014, 2014
... & Eoghan McDonald Celebrates (sic) the Unveiling of a Commemorative... McDonald Celebrates (sic) the Unveiling of a Commemorative Plaque ...The 13th Australian Armoured Regiment was a Gippsland militia unit that had been called up for full time duty in December 1941 as a traditional light horse regiment. The early months of 1942 had seen the regiment lose its horses, a conversion to a motor regiment and finally to an armoured regiment in May. During this period there were considerable changes in personnel, however the regiment maintained its strong links to Gippsland and its former identity. Between May and November 1942, individual soldiers had become proficient in their trade training and the regiment changed its focus to troop and squadron activities. On 16 November 1942, the unit was located at the Puckapunyal Army Camp. C Squadron's training program involved a night driving exercise where a column of armoured and B vehicles would depart camp at 0245 hours and proceed to a site to the East of Seymour and set up a bivouac between Whiteheads Creek and Highlands Road. Numerous army camps surrounded the Seymour area; and much of the surrounding farm land had been acquired for military purposes. By November 1942 exercises such as C Squadron's were commonplace and had been repeated on numerous occasions since 1939. At 0400 hrs, C Squadron's vehicles reached O'Sullivan's Paddock on the Kobyboyn Road; prior to reaching the Old Telegraph Road the column turned to the North towards a known crossing point on Whiteheads Creek. The column consisted of seven M3 Medium Tanks and four Universal Carriers. In the case of Corporal McLeod's vehicle, there were seven crewmen rather than the usual five man crew. On arrival at the creek crossing, Captain C.M.I. 'Sandy' Pearson dismounted and with the assistance of Sergeant R.J. Ball began to guide individual tanks across the creek. Four tanks had crossed the creek without difficulty when Corporal McLeod's tank, ARN 24652, began its descent. Captain Pearson stated at the Coroner's Inquiry in December 1942, "Whilst climbing out of the ford the vehicle swerved to the left, apparently striking the tree. It was not the portion of the tank (front) that struck the tree. The tank straightened and appeared to be well under control, suddenly the bank on the left collapsed to the extent of 3ft by 12ft by15ft long causing the vehicle to slide into the creek and turn upside down." Captain Pearson and Sergeant Ball were faced with a nightmarish situation: The Grant had come to rest upside down in soft mud, six crew members were unaccounted for, escape hatches could not be opened and the weight of the tank was settling deeper into the water and mud. Compounding the problem was that the location of the tank did not allow for the other tanks to safely conduct a recovery. It was truly the darkest night.Single A4 card. folded, Contains an account of the raising of 13 Armoured Regiment in December 1941and a tank accident during a night creek crossing in which six crewmen were killed, and, Order of Ceremony for plaque unveiling, Guest of Honour LtCol Stuart Cree CO/CI School of Armour13 armored regiment, tank accident, puckapunyal -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers... photographs Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers ...Six colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and... the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible ...[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers, unveiling the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and... the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible ...[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers Rock at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990, 13/10/1990
... Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers... photographs Unveiling of the commemorative plaque on Walter Withers ...Seven colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Plaque, Norwood State School commemorative plaque for the official opening, 29 May, 1956, 1956
... Norwood State School commemorative plaque for the official...: Bloomfield, J.S. MLA Norwood State School commemorative plaque ...Installed 29-May-1956.Plaque, engraved, white infill, text: 'This tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.' +Additional Keywords: Bloomfield, J.S. MLAThis tablet commemorates the official opening of the Norwood State School/ by/ The Honourable J.S.Bloomfield M.L.A.,/ Minister of Education/ on the 29th May, 1956.' -
Ringwood and District Historical Society
Plaque, City of Ringwood replica Antimony Mine Poppet Head commemorative plaque - 1987, 1987
... commemorative plaque - 1987.... Antimony Mine Poppet Head commemorative plaque - 1987. Plaque ...Installed 12-April-1987 on the poppett head near the Ringwood Lake. It was removed c.2005.Plaque 'City of Ringwood/ Poppett Head' embossed. +Additional Keywords: Rosewarne, Lillian, Cr'City of Ringwood/ Poppett Head/ This Poppett head is a replica of one which was used at/ the Ringwood Antimony Mine located at the present/ Civic Centre Site, Mines Road, Ringwood east./ The Poppett head was erected by the/ Ringwood City Council, in conjunction with the/ Ringwood Historical Research Group, and was/ commissioned by the Mayor of Ringwood/ Councillor Lillian Rosewarne, JP/ on 12th April 1987/ -
Australian Commando Association - Victoria
Memorabilia, Special Operations Australia WW2 Commemorative Plaque
... Special Operations Australia WW2 Commemorative Plaque... Operations Australia WW2 Commemorative Plaque Memorabilia ...Soft Cover without Dust Jacket – 41 pages -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph - Colour, Bakery Hill Monster Meeting Commemorative Plaque, St Paul's Way, Ballarat East, 2015, 10/05/2015
... Bakery Hill Monster Meeting Commemorative Plaque, St Paul's... Anglican Church. Bakery Hill Monster Meeting Commemorative Plaque ...A photograph of a plaque in the shape of a star, and a flagpole on Bakery Hill, commemorating the Bakery Hill Monster Meeting of 1854, when the Ballarat Reform League was launched. The plaque is in St Paul's Way, in close proximity to St Paul's Anglican Church.bakery hill, monster meeting, eureka stockade, plaque -
Kyneton RSL Sub Branch
Artefact, Commemorative plaque, 2001
... Commemorative plaque... on wooden turned circular frame. Commemorative plaque Artefact ...Round wall plaque. Metal plate centred on wooden turned circular frame.Front: Outer ring, 100years service to the nation. 1901 - 2001 Inner ring, Teamwork. Courage. Initiative. Centre, Rising sun emblem, The Australian Army. Back: Market Link Solutions Canberra Australia Kyneton RSL. S/B Donated by Don Radleyplaque -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Plaque, Kew Heights Sports Club Commemorative Plaque 1904-2004, 2004
... Kew Heights Sports Club Commemorative Plaque 1904-2004... organisation Kew Heights Sports Club Commemorative Plaque 1904-2004 ...Sports Clubs in Kew in the final decades of the 19th century and in the early 20th century were often umbrella organisations with facilities for a number of sports. Typically in Kew, this included teams in lawn bowls, tennis and croquet. The Kew Bowling Club was formed in 1880 while the privately owned Auburn Heights Recreation Club was opened in 1904. By 1998, the two Clubs decided to amalgamate at the Auburn Heights site in Barkers Road, forming the Kew Heights Sports Club. The combined club was itself taken over by the Melbourne Cricket Club in 2012 becoming MCC Kew Sports Club. In 2017 MCC Kew closed and its landholding was subsequently sold to Carey Baptist Grammar School. Both the Kew and Auburn Heights Clubs assembled important collections. These historically significant and large collections were donated to the Society in 2020. The collections include manuscripts, pictures, trophies, plans, honour boards etc. References Barnard FGA 1910, 'Sports and Pastimes' in Jubilee History of Kew Victoria: Its origin & progress 1803-1910. Chapman J & C 1999, The history of the Auburn Heights Recreation Club, 1904 to 1908. Reeve S 2012, City of Boroondara: Thematic Environmental History, p.216.The combined collections of the four sporting clubs making up the collection number hundreds of items that are historically significant locally. They are also significant to the sporting history of the greater Melbourne area and to the sports of lawn bowls and tennis in Australia in the 19th and 20th centuries. The collection illuminates two of the Victorian historic themes - 'Building community life' through forming community organisations and 'Shaping cultural and creative life' by participating in sport and recreation.RVBA Plaque. Kew Heights Sports Club. Wood, metal and enamel. Commemorating the founding of the Auburn Heights Recreation Club, of which Kew Heights was the successor organisationkew heights sports club - barkers road - kew (vic), kew heights bowling club -
Vision Australia
Plaque - Object, Commemorative plaque: Baird, 1962
... Commemorative plaque: Baird... Commemorative plaque: Baird Plaque Object ..."This tablet commemorates 17 years of loving service given by Mrs Celeste Baird to the choir and blind members of The Association 1945-1962". She volunteered her time at the Blind Community Centre in Kooyong.1 wooden shield with engraved silver plateThis tablet commemorates 17 years of loving service given by Mrs Celeste Baird to the choir and blind members of The Association 1945-1962association for the blind, celeste baird