Written on back of photograph, "Miss Australia contestants at Eastland - 21/10/74". (2 views) and "Spectators looking at Miss Australia contestants at Eastland"

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. This is a photo of Lana Jenkins speaking in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Victoria. Lana was the Victorian state winner in 1992. She got the opportunity to attend the Plain English Speaking national final being held in Sydney - which was a contest for an older age group, not run by Legacy but by the Plain English Foundation. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Black and white photo of a contestant in the Junior Plain Speaking contest.legacy promotion, speaking contest, answer, jpesa

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia. Perhaps this is the score card from the occassion he won a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen.A yellowed card with black print showing lists of numbers with totals. At the bottom is a summary of totals and the grand total. The numbers are scores for a contestant in a musical competition. The contestant is Frank Wright.score card, frank wright, cornet, music competition

Black and white photographImage shows four unknown contestants in the wheelbarrow race.

Donated by Jessie Smith (nee Small) who had an estate agency in Cowes. Letter was sent to David Johnson - Dial for Dollars - explaining that the contestant who spoke of a 6 legged sheep was telling the truth.Sepia photograph of a 6 legged sheep.On back of photograph: "David Johnson Dial for Dollars. You seemed to think your leg was being pulled by one of your contestants when he spoke of 6 legged sheep. Here it is - 6th leg protected from 5th leg, had short leg, hoof and all. This photo was taken 70 years ago also it as a lamb. I thought these may interest you, nothing like seeing for oneself".six legged sheep, david johnson, dial fo dollars, jessie smith

Miss Australia Ball in Charlton Shire Hall 1972Black and White Photo of Miss Australia Ball Charlton Shire Hall 1972. Contestants on stage for judging.charlton shire hall, miss australia ball

Black and white small portrait size photograph Susan Gibson, Miss Australia Quest entrant Lakes Entrance Victoriapeople, contestants

A newspaper article describing a Kew Floral Industrial & Arts Society event associated with the Congregational Church in Kew. Article describing this 1897 local exhibition of art and industry, opened by the Mayor of Kew, Job Smith, which includes notable attendees and the award winning contestants.kew floral industrial and art society, amy grigg, sunday school competitions - 19th century - kew (vic)

Black and white photograph of Miss Leonie Sparks 18 years of Lakes Entrance taken by Bairnsdale Advertiser announcing her entry into the Miss Gippsland lead up to the Miss Australia Quest, Bairnsdale Victoria. Second black and white photograph showing Leonie Sparks in white dress, long white gloves as Miss Gippsland 1956 . Plus 4 newspaper clippings about the eventevents, contestants, fundraising

Black and white photograph of Miss Leonie Sparks after being crowned Miss Victoria in the Myer Music Hall Melbourne Victoria. Also a newspaper clipping of her wedding . Plus 4 newspaper clippings of the event.events, contestants, charities, fundraising

This photograph shows members of the community outside the Moorabbin Council Offices, handing over a brand-new utility truck for use by the Australian Comforts Fund, in support of the war effort. It was purchased with funds raised by contestants in Moorabbin's 'Popular Girl Quest'. Contestants received a vote for each penny they collected. The winner was Gladys Mariott, pictured centre wearing a sash, who raised £528 10s, earning her 126,800 votes. In total, the contestants raised more than a thousand pounds, which enabled the purchasing of the new utility truck.Members of the Moorabbin community were keen to play their part in supporting the war effort. A black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing in front of and behind a utility vehicle with the license plate FA 341. There are two buildings in the background, one of which has a sign out the front that reads "Moorabbin Free Library & Mechanics Institute". The photograph was taken outside Moorabbin Council offices to illustrate the handing over of utility truck for use by Australian Comforts Fund. Money for the truck was raised by the 'Popular Girl Quest' won by Gladys Marriott (centre wearing sash)Handwritten in red ink: A 600 / 72% Handwritten in black ink: CHAP 6. / WITH SUB-STORY / Spy base -- / OR general pix / in Chap 6 / referring to warworld war ii, australian comforts fund, popular girl quest, fundraising, war efforts, vehicles

Melrose died in July 1936, at the age of 22, when his new high-wing monoplane "Billing", a Heston Phoenix registration VH-AJM, broke up in turbulence over South Melton, Victoria on a charter flight from Melbourne to Darwin. Two days later, over one hundred thousand people lined the streets of Melbourne to pay their last respects. Black and white photographic image of Charles James Melrose, the only Australian contestant and the only solo flier in the England-Ausralia air race, 1934. He is being chaired by R.A.A.F. men. Two years later Melrose crashed.aeroplane, aviation, flight, pioneer pilot, charles kingsford smith, p. taylor

The boys from Bulla Primary School were attending a school camp at Hanging Rock. At that event the students engaged in a variety of activities and judo was one of them.This was a chosen activity in the evening as during the day the students were introduced to a variety of outdoor pursuits.A non-digital coloured photograph of two boys engaged in a judo bout in a large room while an adult and little child and another boy are watching. One of the contestants is wearing a judo outfit and black belt while the other boy is dressed in jeans and a tartan shirt.school camps, hanging rock, judo, bulla primary school

8 copies of cardboard tags which are to be attached to the entries in the 'King Cohn Bottle Top Work of Art ' Competition. There are a choice of 3 categories to choose from, they are; 'Crown', 'King Cohn', and ' Free Choice'. On the reverse side there is a form for the Name address and age of the contestants. The printing on the tags is in redcommerce, advertising, competition tags, cohn brothers , king cohn

Since 1988 Legacy has held a public speaking contest called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award. Schools were eligible to send along representatives to compete. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that was run by Legacy from 1988 to the present day.Re-recordable video tape. Black plastic outer case with paper insert.Handwritten lable on video tape ‘Youth Speak Out - Legacy Vic State Finals. Produced by Optus Vision Channel 55 Additional yellow post-in note ‘LJPSH Winners, where are they now? ( longer than 5 mins?)’speaking contest, legacy promotion

Also a colour photograph of similar view of event named King of the Straits. Not held again at this venue due to dangerous conditions in Bass Strait. number 04234.1 size 9 x 13 cmColour photograph showing the Entrance, power boats in the ocean contestants in the Offshore Powerboat Race hosted by the Gippsland Lakes Boating Club, six power boats in the lake. Good view of rock groynes at entrance to North Arm and clay and gravel filling on Bullock Island extension, Lakes Entrance Victoria. c 1979 waterways, events, boats and boating

Since 1988, Legacy has held a public speaking contest called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award, later called Legacy's Junior Public Speaking Award. Schools were eligible to send along representatives that competed. This certificate was issued to participants. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a certificate from the Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Buff colour A4 card with blue printing as a certificate of participation in the speaking contest. Has not been used x 5 copies.legacy promotion, speaking contest

Cutting with a title "Popular Conductress Competition" with multiple small portraits of women in uniform, some with names and locations printed below. Cutting in poor order - include contestants from Bendigo, Preston, Central Bus, Brunswick, Malvern and Geelong depots. Yields information about the contestants for the most popular conductress competition and the style of promotion of the event.Newspaper cutting with portraits of conductresses, probably from a Melbourne Paper.tramways, most popular conductress competition, conductresses

For many years from 1988, Legacy held a public speaking contest called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award. Schools were eligible to send along representatives that competed. These two photos show President Geoffrey Swan with a Lana Jenkings (the winner) of Genazzano FCJ College in Kew. Part of her speech was printed in the Melbourne Legacy newsletter and she was featured in an article in the Herald Sun on 26 June 1992, before she headed to Sydney for the National finals. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the Stat, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Colour photo x 2 of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1992 and a newspaper article.legacy promotion, speaking contest

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. These photos are from 1995 and used to promote the event in 1996 in the Answer. One photo shows Belinda Raffa of Sacred Heart Regional Girls' College. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of the one of the Junior Plain English Speaking contests that was run by Legacy since 1988.Colour photo x 2 of Junior Plain English Speaking contest in 1995 and an article in the Answer.legacy promotion, speaking contest, answer, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. The photo shows President John Sullivan with the 1991 Victorian winner Jamie Friebe on 27 June 1991 at the Melbourne Water Theatrette. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of a Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Colour photo of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1991 and an article in the Answer.legacy promotion, speaking contest, answer, jpesa

From 1988 to 2021, Legacy held a public speaking contest for young secondary school students. It was initially called the Junior Plain English Speaking Award (JPESA) and later called Legacy Junior Public Speaking Award (LJPSA). Schools were eligible to send along up to 4 representatives to compete in a preliminary round. This is a photo of two men presenting certificates to two schoolgirls. On the left is Ray Maddocks, National Director of Plain English Speaking Award. The following was taken from a programme in 1996: "The Award aim is to promote enhanced oral communication skills for 12-14 year old students and to help young people appreciate the ideals of Legacy - voluntary service, caring and comradeship - and the need for remembrance. It began in 1988 in the Melbourne area with the support of the Ministry of Education and The Plain English Foundation. Entries have grown from 24 in the 1988 competition to over 300 in schools across the State, plus greater numbers participating in the process of selecting four contestants from each school. In 1995, a successful Interstate Championship was held with contestants from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. On 11 November 1996 the first National final was held with contestants from six states."A record of the Junior Plain Speaking contest that has been run by Legacy since 1988.Black and white photo of Junior Plain Speaking contest in 1995Stamped on the back 29 May 1995 in blue ink. legacy promotion, speaking contest, jpesa