20th Eltham Community Festival and last under the auspices of the Shire of Eltham. The Grand Parade focussing on the theme "Echoes of Eltham - Celebrating the visions of Eltrham from the past and into the future" was headed by Jock Read on his horse Lofty who had been filmed in an Anzac Day Parade on an earlier horse which had featured in the television show Matlock. The parade travelled north along Main Street to just past the Post Office then back south to Panther Place. Parade participants included 1st Eltham Brownies, 1st Eltham Venturers, 2nd Eltham Sea Scouts, 2nd Eltham Venturers, 3rd Eltham Brownies, Australian Democrats, Briar Hill Primary School, Circus Chaos, Country Fire Authority, Diamond Valley People for Disarmament, Diamond Valley Railway, Eltham Community Health Centre, Eltham District Horse and Pony Club, Eltham East Primary School, Eltham Fire Brigade, Eltham Junior Football Club (Panthers), Eltham Little Theatre, Eltham North Primary School, Eltham Playhouse Co-op, Eltham Pre-school, Eltham Roller Skating Club, Eltham South Pre-School Centre, Eltham Steam and Stationary Engine Society, Greenhills Neighbourhood House, Heidelberg Municipal Band, Hurstbridge Learning Co-op, Jocklebeary Farm, Kangaroo Ground Primary School, Learning Co-op Primary School, Lower Plenty Primary School, Main Road, Montmorency Gardening Club, Montmorency South Primary School, North Warrandyte Fire Brigade, Plenty Valley 88.6 FM, Research Pre-school, Research Primary School, Ron Sampson, Salvation Army Band (Briar Hill), Sherbourne Primary School, Shire of Eltham, State Emergency Service (Eltham) and Woodridge Pre-school. The parade commentary was provided by Plenty Valley FM 88.6 with guest commentator, Shire President Cr. John Graves. Following the parade is video footage from a helicopter of Alistair Knox Park, displays along Main Road and activities in Alistair Knox Park and the Rugby oval along with stationary engines, helicopter joyrides, Eltham People's Choir, music entertainment. Scenes also from the Diamond Valley Railway at Eltham Lower Park and finishing with the fireworks display. At the end of the video is a promotional video for Dynavision Video Production, a local video production company that produced the video and Diamond Photos (Kodak Express). One of the highlights of the festival was a tree planting ceremony in Alistair Knox Park to celebrate 123 years of the Shire of Eltham led by Shire President Cr. John Graves and representatives of the Wurrundjeri, traditional land owners of the area.VHS Video cassette (poor quality) Converted to MP4 file format 45:01, 535MB DVD copy of VHS cassette (better quality)1st eltham brownies, 1st eltham venturers, 2nd eltham sea scouts, 2nd eltham venturers, 3rd eltham brownies, 1994, aerial photographs, alistair knox park, arthur street, australian democrats, briar hill primary school, circus chaos, country fire authority, diamond valley people for disarmament, diamond valley railway, eltham community health centre, eltham district horse and pony club, eltham east primary school, eltham festival, eltham fire brigade, eltham junior football club (panthers), eltham little theatre, eltham lower park, eltham north primary school, eltham people's choir, eltham playhouse co-op, eltham pre-school, eltham roller skating club, eltham south pre-school centre, eltham steam and stationary engine society, grand parade, greenhills neighbourhood house, heidelberg municipal band, hurstbridge learning co-op, jock read, jocklebeary farm, john graves, kangaroo ground primary school, learning co-op primary school, lofty (horse), lower plenty primary school, main road, matlock police (tv show), montmorency gardening club, montmorency south primary school, nicholaus lauder estate, north warrandyte fire brigade, plenty valley 88.6 fm, research pre-school, research primary school, ron sampson, salvation army band (briar hill), sherbourne primary school, shire of eltham, state emergency service (eltham), video recording, woodridge pre-school

Small round badge with white background and 'Australia Day' written in blue on the upper edge and 'Citizen Award' on the lower edge. In the middle an Australian flag with a single star beneath the Union Jack, and the left side of the flag has a stylised outline of Australia, with the Southern Cross constellation inside it. The edge of the flag is also shaped to a point. Citizen Awards are presented by local councils to individuals to recognise their outstanding contributions to the community.Round badge with Australia flag on arrow and 'Australia Day Citizen Award' around edgeAustralia Day Citizen Awardhugh jeffrey, badges

The buildings at Kooyong have undergone various re-modelling and redesign over the years. These plaques commemorate the dual activities taking place at the Kooyong Centre, as it strove to adapt to the increasing need for technological support and the changes in information, day centre and supports needed by the blind and vision impaired community. These plaques were located in the corridor between reception and the day centre, but were dismantled during renovations in 2018.This plaque commemorates the start of construction of Vision Australia Foundation's information and technology facilities and was unveiled by Mr D R Argus AO, Patron Vision Australia Foundation, Chairman, Centenary Appeal in recognition of all who made this development possible for the lasting benefit of people who are blind or have severe sight loss. 27 March 2000, Malcolm Daubney, President. John Cook, Chief Executive Officer. This plaque commemorates the official opening of Vision Australia Foundation's Kooyong Centre by John Landy, AC, MBIE, Governor of Victoria, 11 October 2001. Building Donors: Don Argus, AO - Appeal Chairman, Shirley Admans, Amcor Limited, Aspect Consulting Pty Ltd, Atalina Nomines Pty Ltd, Robert Bosch (Aust) Pty Ltd, The William Buckland Foundation, Cadbury Schweppes Australia Ltd, Terry Cocks OAM, Coles Myer Ltd, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Consolidated Paper Industries, John & Beverley Cook, The Craftsman Press Pty Ltd, Norma Crook, CSR Limited, Malcolm & Beverley Daubney, Don Draffin, Sir Andrew & Lady Fairley Foundation, Ford Motor Co. of Australia Ltd, Fortis Australia Ltd, Gandel Charitable Trust, Harold Gration, Dept of Health & Community Services, Peter Isaacson Publications Pty Ltd, Kayarem Pty Ltd, Kooyong Auxiliary, Kooyong Fair Committee, Lady Joan Law-Smith, Elaine Leahy, Eve & Lewis Lustig, Henry Malycon, Ann Miller, John Moule AM, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, AC DBE, Sidney Myer Fund, National Australia Bank, Pacific Dunlop Ltd, Raleigh Paper Co Pty Ltd, Lady Catherine Ramsay, Rothschild Australia Ltd, Shell Australia Ltd, Slade & Partners, Springfield Auxiliary, Ian Roach AO, Rotary Club of Albert Park, Rotary Club of Hawthorn, The Top Opp Volunteers, Sir Donald & Lady Trescowthick Foundation Ltd, Graham Upton, John Wall OAM, John Wicking AM, Ian & Beverley Wilson, Woodside Petroleum Ltd.vision australia foundation, nameplates

An overview of activities and achievements during the past financial year. Articles in annual report include: increased funding from state government, possibility of sustained funding in providing a public library service, success of low vision clinic and need to increase opening times to accommodate demand, decision to move to standard cassette, change in direction by providing support for children to stay in family unit and community kindergartens rather than placement in a separate kindergarten program or residential care, introduction of Closed Circuit TVs into the workshop, winning a 2 year contract with Australia Post to provide bicycles and an order from Dubbo Zoo for family cycles and tandems, formation of RPH with a trial broadcast and radio license application made, the success of the 2UW-Lions Club Appeal, and the Society held it's first Open Day.1 volume of text and imagesroyal blind society of new south wales, corporation records, fundraising, education, mitchell manufacturing, rph, alexis albert, paul cullen, h.f. benning, john simon, norman healey, black and white committee, lions club, keith kent, graeme bradshaw, graeme innes, des lean-fore, graham coulton, nona skinner, william street blind women's bowling club

Report from individuals and agencies forming the Illawarra Community Centre, including: the retirement of Flo Dodge and Joyce Lake, awarding of 32 Tilly Aston awards for 15 year or more voluntary service, the 'Illawarra Tigers' Day Centre bowlers winning the State Blind Indoor Biased Bowls Competition, telephone support groups established in Colac and Portarlington, and involvement in a local Taxi Driver training day with other agencies, running a successful 'Banking and Budgeting Program' with Gordon Technical College.1 volume of printed materialassociation for the blind, illawarra community centre

Articles in annual report include: the opening of the new Craft, Recreation and Activities Centre at Mirridong and Kelaston Community Day Hospital, 60 bed nursing home at Mt Eliza almost nearing completion, waiting for approval for 30 bed nursing ward at Shepparton, block of land secured at Warragul for future day centre, loss of Stan Middleton and retirement of Alex Cook.1 printed volume with illustrationsannual reports, association for the blind

Events that occurred during the year : two day 'Olympic Fair' held at Ormond Hall, opening of a Community Mart at 382 Chapel St in conjunction with School for the Deaf, Alfred and Prince Henry hospitals, Penny Serenade program conducted by John Best on 3KZ and Janet Irving a Penny Serenade Ball has increased funds, six concerts held at Melbourne Town Hall, resignation of Country Concert Party director John Broadway and succeeded by Alban Whitehead, two stalls operated at Royal Agricultural Show, Easter Scout Camp at Gilwell Park, visit to Olympic Village, matinee performance by Dame Margot Fonteyn, opening of St Paul's School for Blind has decreased enrolments and two ex-pupils (Joan Ryan and Hugh Jeffrey) are on staff there, Keith Smith, Joan Ryan and Margaret Russell completed their university courses, and plans for Box Hill site have had to be re-drawn given decreased numbers due to opening of St Paul's - resulting in a delay to the start of building.1 volume of text and illustrationsannual reports, royal victorian institute for the blind

The origin of Moomba dates back to 1951, when Melbourne celebrated fifty years of Federation with a parade and the staging of the theatre production 'An Aboriginal Moomba: Out of the Dark'. The following year, the final Labour Day procession was held in Melbourne after running for almost a century. A parade through the streets of central Melbourne have been a key part of the Moomba festival since its beginning. The floats have an annual theme, usually an elaboration on 'Let's get together and have fun', the avowed mission and vision statement of Moomba. In the beginning the floats usually promoted a Commercial or Government organisation, but in later years, as business became more reluctant to spend money on elaborate floats, they tended to represent sporting clubs, ethnic groups and other community organisations (source Melbourne Museum).Mounted colour photograph with cover depicting the COGB Moomba Float. Taken on corner of Flinders and Swanston Streets, Melbourne. Bendigo Easter Fair Guest Float.moomba, swanston street, labour day, city of greater bendigo tourism, city of greater bendigo events

Villa Fortuna is described as having unprecedented local historical importance and whimsical architecture, making it a cultural asset for Bendigo. Saving the villa requires a bold and visionary individual or group willing to take on the challenges of restoration, including significant financial and logistical commitments. If restored, the villa could become a major attraction, hosting events, tours, and community activities that would benefit the local economy and tourism sector. The main obstacle is not whether the villa should be saved, but what sacrifices—financial and otherwise—are necessary to achieve this goal. The Villa Fortuna Action Group has developed a plan for the site, but more stakeholders may become involved. The Department of Defence, current owner, is proceeding cautiously with no urgency to sell. The upcoming public opening is seen as a potential turning point, with the document stressing that Bendigo cannot afford to lose this historic property, regardless of the cost. Mayor Kevin Gibbins opposes transforming Fortuna Villa into an arts and cultural precinct, as proposed by the Villa Fortuna Action Group. He believes the property should address local needs such as aged care, dementia, disabilities, and respite for carers. Gibbins emphasizes these are his personal views, not official council policy. Gibbins is concerned about the council's ability to finance the maintenance of the large property, even if acquired at no cost. He questions the justification for using ratepayers' money for new arts projects when there is already a masterplan for the existing art gallery that requires significant funding and staged development. The Villa Fortuna Action Group is the only organization with a public proposal for the site, aiming to create an arts and cultural precinct similar to Melbourne's Abbotsford Convent.The group plans to present its vision to newly elected councillors. The Department of Defence is preparing Fortuna Villa in Bendigo for sale, likely early next year. A tentative timeline suggests most site assessments will be drafted by Christmas, with finalization expected in the new year. Thorough assessments are underway to understand the site's characteristics, including heritage and environmental aspects.These assessments are detailed and time-consuming to ensure accuracy and completeness. An open day for the public and media is part of the ongoing community consultation process. Additional consultation activities are planned but not yet finalized. The City of Greater Bendigo is a key stakeholder in the disposal process and will receive relevant site information.The property has not yet been valued.Fortuna Article - "Great Bravery is now required for villa" - The Bendigo Advertiser Friday Dec 05 2008 by Nino Bucci This item contains the following: 11217.24a Colour Photo of the stained glass window on the staircase 11217.24b Colour Photo of David French outside the villa 11217.24c Colour Photo of the Grand conservatory 11217.24d Part of page 14 - Article "Great Bravery is now required for villa" 11217.24e Part of page 14 - Article "Mayor defends his view for the site" 11217.24f Part of page 14 - Article "Fortuna's future is one step closer"non-fictionbendigo, fortuna, george lansell, villa fortuna action group, myor of bendigo kevin gibbins

Articles in annual report include: President's report, Philosophy, Objectives and Goals, Blind members, Finance report with Balance sheet, Auditors' report, How help is provided, Service highlights, Low Vision Clinics, Rehabilitation services, Day Centres, Domiciliary services, Recreation programmes, Nursing homes, Community education and In-service training, 3RPH, International links, Volunteer service group. 1 printed volume with illustrationsassociation for the blind, corporation records