Folk Dance Festival 11 December 1943 Letter from HN Featonby, Chairman, the National Fitness Council of Victoria, to JM Harry, Dist Traffic Superintendent, advising of event at Como Park.trams, tramways, letters, instructions, events

8 page multi-fold white coloured paper program with gloss paper cover and black coloured printing. There are 3 blank pages, so only 5 pages have printing on themThis program includes a list of the office bearers of the Kolobok Dance Company, The Ringwood Ballet Group and the Utassy Memorial Ballet School. Acknowledgements are made to various contributors. Acts include Cinderella Parts 1 & 2, music by Prokofiev, choreography by Bernice Morrow, "La Boutique Fantasque" - music by Rossini- Respighi, choreography by Leslie Hutchinson and Laurel Martyn. After interval the Kolobok Dance Company presents "The Swagman", "Clog Dance", "Fan Dance", "Over the Legs", "Russian Dances", "Hora and Banul Maracine", "Uzundara", "Ukranian Suite". Date of performance/s not mentioned.

Kew Festival Colonial Dance held at the Kew Town Hall (later used as a library)city of kew, kew festival, colonial dance, kew town hall

The music was supplied for this dance by the Bushwhackers.Cr Alan Hutchinson is central in this photograph of the Kew Festival Colonial Dance held at the Kew Town Hall (later used as a library). city of kew, kew festival, colonial dance, kew town hall, alan hutchison, bushwhackers

Jonathan Benyei spins wool during the Kew Festival Colonial Dance held at the Kew Town Hall. He is warched by his mother Dorothy Benyei. city of kew, kew festival, colonial dance, kew town hall, jonathan benyei, dorothy benyei, spinning wool

The music was supplied for this dance by the Bushwhackers.A table ot people at the Kew Festival Colonial Dance held at the Kew Town Hall (later used as a library). They include Martin O'Toole and Lawrence O'Toole who were both World Champian Woodcutters. city of kew, kew festival, colonial dance, kew town hall, bushwhackers, martin o'toole, lawrence o'toole

The Ithacan dance group, taught by Olga Black, were performing at the annual Greek Community Antipodes Festival in Lonsdale Street Melbourne some time in thein the late 1990s. The dancers are wearing the traditional Ithacan costume. Pictured from L-R: Andrianna Bisas, Nicoletta ?, Emilia Calinikos, Eleni Tsalikis, Yianni Callinikos, unknown, Kristina Tsalikis. Olga who is of Ithacan descent, danced for a number of years in Athens for the Dora Stratou Dance Group which is renown for its traditional dance performances and costumes representing the various regions of Greece. Olga also taught Greek dance in Melbourne across the Greek and Australian community. The Ithacan Philanthropic Society has supported the teaching of traditional Greek dancing over the years and the Ithacan dance ensembles have performed at a variety of functions. A coloured photograph of seven young people dressed in traditional Ithacan costume dancing on an open air stage in a street.

Colour photograph. People dancing in front of marquee. Band to left of photo. Back of photo reads: 1st Canberra NFF.entertainment, dance, dance festival

Colour photograph. People dancing on bitumen in front of big fawn shed. Back of photo reads: 1A/2entertainment, dance, dance festival

Colour photograph. People dancing on wooden stage in front of marquee. Flagpole. Back of photo reads: 16entertainment, dance, dance festival

Colour photograph. People dancing on wooden stage in front of marquee. Piazza Dance Displays Daily 11am - 6pm. Back of photo reads: 19/1entertainment, dance, dance festival

Pinkish ticket fading to white in the centre with a gold multi scalloped edge. On card: ' Bendigo Centenary Festival, January 1st to December 31st, 1951. Grand Dancing Carnival competitive and general dancing, Town Hall Bendigo, Thursday, February 15th 1951. Tickets 7/6 single His worship the Mayor, Cr NJ. Oliver President, Miss K Goetze, Secretary' City of Bendigo emblem in the top left corner. Allan Grant of Melbourne, the judge. His worship the Mayor Cr. N. J. Oliver, President and Miss E. Goetze, Secretary. Ticket No 56.entertainment, dance, dance festival, document, grand dancing carnival ticket, cr n j oliver, miss e goetze

Thirtyfive page booklet of the Ballarat Asian Student's Association.Handrwitten on front page "S.M.B. Library" Stamped on inside front cover "With compliments from Ballarat Asian Students' Association, P.O. Box 209, Ballarat, Victoriapoh teck shen, william cheng, paul fong, m. moissnac, c.m. chan, murray byrne, harry arblaster, m.g. ekins, f. boonsoong, e.j.barker, john costa, k.e. oui, chaitri boonsoong, richard oh, n. ratnum, liu hsiang, e. yap, tan heong ming, wilbert lau, ballarat asian students' association, chinese, international students, ballarat asian students' association constitution, g. ekins, ymca, sport, table tennis, soccer, basketball, badminton, richard oh, l.k. oh, lay loan, william siah, yok lin, chung ling old boys' association, wendouree rotary club, lion dance, begonia festival procession, immigration requirements for overseas students, mee hing chinese cafe, howard smith travel centre, myer emporium, golden star chinese cafe, j. ewins and sons, wilbert zau

Yellow dance card with black printing for the National Folk Festival, Easter Canberra, Traditional Colonial Ball, music by Wongacreek, Wongawilli, Emu Creek and friends, Mc, Anthony Simon.entertainment, dance, folk festival

National Fitness Folk Dancing Festival at Como Park Saturday 11 December 1943, 3:00PM to 5:00PM Memo from JM Harry, Dist Traffic Supt SS regarding tram arrangements to various depots. Memos dated 3 December 1943."Copy to Hawthorn and Hanna St Insps. Hanna St Insp to cover both ways" written in lower half in pencil.trams, tramways, events, festival

The National Folk Festival was first held in Melbourne in 1967 and thereafter was held in various cities throughout Australia. In 1992 it became a permanent fixture in Canberra and is held each year over Easter. 1. Colin Silk was born in Geelong 31/1/1920 and developed his interest in Old Time Dancing in his early teens. He and his wife moved to Bendigo in 1946 where they both continued their love of dance, also becoming teachers. Colin was responsible for the building of the Lockwood Sth. Hall in 1966 and the Sutton Grange Hall. He and Harry Wiegard MC'd dances at Lockwood for 40 years. He died 10/8/2011. 2. Henry (Harry) Wiegard, (1918 - 8/10/2002) began dancing as a young man primarily at the St Killians Hall in Bendigo. He also travelled to Melbourne to undertake more advanced training in Old Time Dances. He MC'd and called dances throughout the district for over 20 years.A country music dance program from the Canberra Folk Festival in 1995. The program is printed on pale blue card with black text and features an illustration of a man and a woman dancing. on the reverse side is a list of dances. The Masters of Ceremonies were Colin Silk and Harry Wiegard and the band was the Gay Charmers from Northern Victoria.emu creek bush band, australian colonial dance, canberra folk festival, gay charmers band, colin silk, harry wiegard

Three copies of the Australian Tradition, two copies of June 1996 and one copy of March 1997. Contains club news, an article on the Thirtieth National Folk Festival, regular Functions at Other Venues, Membership Forms and Contacts. March issue has a postscript on the Nariel Creek Folk Festival 1996/7Festival Guide, the Multicultural Nature of Australian Traditional Social Dance, Festival Guide, Regular Functions at Other Venues, Application Form, Newsletter Contributors and Contacts.clubs, music, victorian folk music club, peter ellis collection, australian tradition, victorian folk music club incorporated, harry gardner, betty davis, rick garrick, wongawilli colonial dance club, jo cresswell, wliza carthy, nancy kerr, ted egan, martin pearson, james fagan, alistair hulett, dave swarbrick, danny spooner, bernard bolan, simon nicol, ric sanders, roy bailey, nina simone, kristina olsen, phil wilson, elma gardner, bill buttler, maree buttler, jane bullock, melbourne folk club, bush dance and music club bendigo, the peninsula folk club, comhaltas ceoltoiri eirann, danswyr cumreig melbourne, melbourne scottish fiddle club, aussie music workshop and session, scottish box and fiddle group, fiddlers' workshop, colonial dancers, geelong folk music club, tsdav, modern american square dance workshops, shirley andrews

Programme and invitation to the Greensborough Primary School's Combined Opening/Centenary Celebrations held from Friday 31st October to Tuesday 4th November 1980. The celebrations included an Art Show, Historic display, Bush Dance, Centenary Festival, Billy Cart Derby and other activities.Bruce Morgan was the first Shire Secretary (1964-1983) of the Shire of Diamond Valley. This collection was compiled by his wife, Mavis Morgan, detailing the events they attended in their official capacityInvitation - Cream card with black text and sketch, and programme - green paper with black text and sketch.bruce morgan, mavis morgan, greensborough primary school

Pink ticket with blue printing for the Bendigo Centenary Festival Dancing Carnival Competitor's Ticket, dated Thursday, February 15th, 1951. 67 printed on the back. Miss E. Goetze, Secretary.ephemera, mementoes, dancing carnival competitors ticket, ticket, bendigo centenary festival dancing carnival competitor's ticket, miss e goetze

Slovenians Participating at Melbourne Moomba festival in 1969 or 1970Slovenians in Slovenian national costume, Moomba festival MelbourneColour photo of Anica (Anne) Markic and Alojz (Lojze ) Markic in Slovenian national costume in front of the home of Slovenian Association Melbourneo priort o participating in a dance at Moomba festival melbourneslovenians, slovenian association melbourne

White bifold pamphlet with black printing and one black and white photographSponsored by the Ringwood City Council and organised by Ringwood Community Groups. Pages 2, 3 and 4 contain information about the timetable of events and performances including bands, orchestras, theatre, choirs, ballet, movie, children's events, family variety concert, dancing and Festival Ball organised by Ringwood Jaycees.

Bright yellow sash with white fringes. Northern Dance Centres Spring Festival of 1977 Ballroom Dancing Provincial Sen. Printed in green. On the left is 2nd with green background and seven green petals and on the right is a couple dancing. A scroll work at each side of the printing.ephemera, mementoes, ndc 1977 ballroom dancing, peter ellis collection, northern dance centres

Newsletter page. Items include an Idea by Barry, More from the National Folk Festival Canberra by Peter, a comment on the Festival from the Barkers, a comment on the rain and dancers and musicians by Anon, a comment by Kurt (Ian Walder) regarding electronic instruments in a band and the culture and heritage were popular, Asst Editor wanted some strong Groupies to move a piano, Olive Dobbyn commented on the weather, the lack of a piano, the Australian content and Ted Egan playing his fosterphone and singing 'the Drover's Boy', and Carol Higman commenting on the dances, how well the festival went and thanked Mary, Peter and anyone else who helped to organise the trip to the 1994 National Folk Festival. Handwritten at the top of the page is a thank you from Dianne and Barry for the success of Ben's 21st Birthday Party, Geoff Barker at the BBQ, Don & Julie for helping set up and for Videoing and Garry Clancy for calling and overnight caretaking.person, individual, peter ellis oam, peter ellis collection, shirley andrews, monaro colonial dancers, emu creek, bush dance and music club, colin silk, rob willis, ted egan, the barkers, kurt (ian walder), olive dobbyn, carol higman, geoff barker, garry clancy

Colour photocopy of article from Bendigo Advertiser. Dated Saturday, May 23, 2015. FAREWELL, MA.. When Peter received his Order of Australia Medal it was one of his proudest moments. He couldn’t resist wearing it on every occasion. FROM - PREVIOUS PAGE The Emu Creek Bush Band has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and numerous times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for most of its history as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter wrote and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include: Three volumes of 'Collector's Choice' which is musical notations for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts, are 'Two Hundred Dancing Years- How to run a Colonial Ball' (Co-authored with Shirley Andrews (AM), 'Music Makes Me Smile- The Music of the Nariel Valley' (Co-authored with Harry Gardner), and his last completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' with over 300 pages.. .. .. Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter taught old time musicianship, accomplished as he was on the concertina and button accordion, tin whistle, and harmonica, as well as the Swanee whistle, piano and ukulele. In demand for workshops in music and dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National Folk Festivals, he was a hit at festivals across the country. As a trained ballroom dancer, with many gold medals to his name, Peter passed on his knowledge every time he trained debutante sets in the Bendigo region. As an early environmentalist, he was a life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, secretary in the 1970's and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagated many Australian plants. Peter took regular guided tours through the Whipstick each spring, on wildflower educational tours. He was a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. When Peter received his Order of Australia Medal it was one of his proudest moments. He couldn’t resist wearing it on every occasion. Funeral details. Family, friends and his supporters will farewell Peter.. .. .. ..person, individual, peter ellis oam

2 A4 sheets. Handwritten pencil note at top of first page reads: Eulogy published in Trad & Now Magazine. Vale Peter Ellis OAM. By John Williams. The folk community lost a giant on May 18th when Peter Ellis passed away after a short illness. Peter had been a collector, author and musician for nearly forty years and his work has been prodigious to say the least. Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library and had travelled Australia on his collection trips. He produced twenty CDs of dance music and historical music with his Bendigo based band the Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band which he founded and led for thirty four years. His final project was the double CD 'Cooee, Songs of the ANZACS' which he organised in conjunction with the Bendigo Historical Society. It was launched on 24th April and was Peter's last performance. Peter has also been a member of the Wedderburn Old Timers for over thirty years and has assisted with many of their recordings including their latest Bush Concert CD which Peter Organised. Peter has contributed to many other CDs over the years and has been thanked on many a CD cover by many folk artists. Peter has also written several books, the three volume 'Collectors' Choice,' 'Two Hundred Dancing Years' co-written with Shirley Andrews OAM, and 'Music Makes Me Smile' the history of the Nariel Valley musicians co-written with Harry Gardner. Peter's recent major work The Merry Country Dance will become the bible for people wishing to learn about our bush music heritage with its matching six CD collection. Peter has also contributed to 'Verandah Music' edited by Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Folklore' edited by Graham Seal and is a regular contributor to Trad & Now. He completed his last Trad & Now article the week before he died. Peter was also a life member of the Field Naturalists and was extremely active in campaigns to preserve Lake Pedder, the Whipstick Forest and Kamarooka Forest (now part of Bendigo National Park and preserved forever) One Tree Hill, Jackass Flat Flora Reserve and Saloman's Gully bushlands. Peter has discovered and named plants in the whipstick and enjoyed propagating native plants. He loved his amazing bush block in suburban Bendigo. Peter was also a keen photographer and had photos published in the book 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. Peter taught dancing and music classes with Continuing Education for many years and encouraged many young musicians over the years. Peter was an accomplished ballroom dancer and had achieved gold medal status in that field. He was one of Australia's finest exponents of the button accordion, concertina, harmonica and tin whistle. Peter also played piano, organ and ukulele as well as the Swanee whistle and bones. Peter was the founder of the Annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk as a tribute to the old MC's. Peter was happy playing for fund-raisers for any organisation who asked and also enjoyed plying the big gigs such as for the opening of the Melbourne Museum or for State Parliament. He played in the National Folk Festivals in four states and was a regular at the National in Canberra where he gave regular classes, performed with his bands and was a stalwart of the Aussie section of the session bar. He performed at nearly every Maldon Folk Festival and was MC at Nariel Folk Festival dances for many years. Peter was very proud of his OAM and wore the little medal at all of his performances. That honour was rightly given to one who did so much to preserve Australia's dance history. Peter lived a full life and was a friend to hundreds of people. He was taken far too young and in typical fashion was planning new projects right till the end. His passing is a huge loss for us all but one thing is certain. He will never be forgotten.person, individual, peter ellis oam

4 page A4 printed document. Achievements of Peter Ellis (for consideration for the Order of Australia) Peter is regarded as one of the leading collectors and presenters of traditional dance tunes, dances and musical instruments in Australia. At the 2005 National Folk Festival it was announced by Robyn Holmes that he has the largest selection of dance related material collected in the National Library Archives in Canberra. Peter has been collecting for many years and has collected with the late John Meredith (AM), Shirley Andrews (AM), Rob Willis and Dave Di Santi amongst others. Peter has literally travelled Australia collecting over the past thirty years. He has extensive field recordings from Western Australia and Tasmania in addition to his Victorian collection, for example. Most of his recording has been in North Western and Central Victoria. Peter collected a lot of his material from Harry McQueen ( Castlemaine), which led to a double CD of Harry's music. Harry had played in dance bands for over sixty years in Central Victoria. Harry had a number of tunes from Bill McGlashan who had taken Harry under his wing as a young man. Through Peter's efforts much valuable material and knowledge from almost a century ago was saved for posterity. Founder, Charter member and life member of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo. Life Member of the Victorian Folk Music Club. Recipient of the Graham Squance award (for the person who has done the most to promote folk dance and music in Victoria)) from the Folk Song and Dance Society of Victoria. Member of the famous Wedderburn Old Timers Band for over twenty-eight years (two platinum and several gold recordings in that time). Founder and leader of the Emu Creek Bush Band (twenty-nine years old in 2010) Emu Creek has made many CDs of dance music as listed. Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop, Three double CDs called 'Quadrille Mania' which contain many rare dances and tunes which have been learnt and recorded, under Peter's guidance, so they would not be lost to posterity. A triple CD called 'Take Me Back To Bendigo' with heritage songs and music from the Gold Rush to Federation (solely organised and financed by Peter) These CDs show the multicultural heritage in Bendigo and include music and groups from the Koorie, Chinese, Cornish, German, Irish, Italian, Scots, English and Welsh communities of Bendigo and district. Upon his recovery of costs Peter has handed over copyright to the Bendigo Community so future profits go back into the community. Three double CDs called 'The Merry Country Dance' with dances and tunes going back to the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's Ball in 1804. Most of the tracks are performed by Emu Creek Following much practice under Peter's tutelage. For further authenticity Peter liaised with other musicians to record some tracks which were revived from almost two hundred years ago and have now been recorded using the instruments of the time. A three volume set of Bush Concert recordings (Vol 1 Goornong (launched Australia Day 2006 with any profits going to the Soldier's Memorial Hall Committee), Vol 2 Heywood and Vol 3 Maldon/Sutton Grange, already recorded and to be released as money from other projects becomes available. NOTE: None of these CDs have led to any profit. All money raised is put back into the community and further heritage recordings, books and videos through the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. In 2009 a full collection of all Peter's book and CDs was donated to the John Gorton Library as part of the recognition of the fifty year career of the Gay Charmers Dance Band from Lake Charm. 'Music of the Diggings' (4 tracks by Peter or Emu Creek). In addition the Emu Creek Band, under Peter's leadership, has appeared on a CD backing Bruce Watson on his song, 'The Old Bush Dance'. Emu Creek has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and several times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for over twenty years as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter has written and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include Three volumes of 'Collectors Choice' which is musical notation for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts. 'Two Hundred Dancing Years - How to run a Colonial Ball: (co-authored with Shirley Andrews (A.M.), 'Music Makes Me Smile - The Music of the Nariel Valley' (co-authored with Harry Gardner). The Merry Country Dance' (292 pages) a companion to the three double CDs. He has also been a contributor to Verandah Music' authors Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australia Folklore' Ed Graham Seal. Peter is also a regular contributor to 'Trad and Now' Magazine. His latest completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' and is over three hundred pages of social history, recipes and dance instructions. It was completed with the assistance of a Victorian Government Heritage Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter has taught many children about old time musicianship through the junior bands which have functioned over the years with many children joining Emu Creek and then going on to follow their own musical inclinations. He has trained several young concertina and button accordion players over the years. Peter has been a regular tutor with Continuing Education in tin whistle, harmonica and old time dancing for many years. Peter has conducted workshops in music dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National folk Festivals. He has also done this at Maldon for many years, Port Fairy, Glen Innes, Jamberoo and Kiama Festivals. For over thirty years Peter has been a guest player and MC for the dances at the Nariel Folk Festival (Australia's oldest continuing Folk Festival) Peter is very well known in the Corryong area as a collector and the co-author of the book, Music Makes Me Smile, about the Klippel/Simpson dynasty in the Nariel Creek Band. This book is currently being revised for re-issue as more material has come to light since the original publication. For many years Peter trained Debutante Sets in the Bendigo District. Peter was an instigator of the annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk for the past thirteen years. At this ball three bands play for a quarter of the night and then join together for the final part of the evening. The bands are Emu Creek, The Wedderburn Old Timers and the Gay Charmers. Up to four hundred dancers, many in heritage costumes have attended this dance. The ball also pays tribute to, and involves, the old MC's. Through this example their skills have been passed down to a younger generation of MC's. All profits are returned to the Dance Club to foster our musical heritage. Each Ball includes presentations designed to promote social dancing in Australia. Over the years several young musicians have been presented with musical instruments at the Ball, libraries have been given copies of Peter's books and CDs and one year a keen young dancer was presented a pair of dancing shoes. Peter is a trained ballroom dancer and has gained gold medal status in this field. Peter is an accomplished musician and is one of Australia's foremost button accordion players. He is also highly accomplished on the tin whistle, bones and harmonica. He is the only exponent of the Swanee whistle that I have seen. Peter also plays the piano and ukulele. Thirty six years membership of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, Secretary in the 1970s and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). Peter was also extremely active in the establishment of the Salomon's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves in Bendigo which have now been saved for posterity. Peter has also been involved in efforts to save One Tree Hill and this area has now been included in the Greater Bendigo National Park. He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagates Australian plants. Peter takes regular guided tours of interested people through the Whipstick each Spring on wild flower educational tours. He is a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. Life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists. Peter contributed text and photographs to their publication 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. When the Victorian State Parliament had its first historical sitting outside Melbourne Emu Creek played during lunch for the guests and public. They have also played at functions such as the Centenaries of Federation, the Bendigo Post Office, the Shamrock Hotel and the opening of the new Melbourne Museum and the Federation Museum in Bendigo. The band regularly plays for Seniors week and at homes for the aged such as Bethlehem, Mirridong, Bignold Park, Bendigo Village and others. Peter has been instrumental in getting the band to play for fundraisers such as schools, scouts and environmental groups. The band plays many charitable 'gigs'. The band supports the Bendigo Easter Fair and the Eaglehawk Fair when able and has appeared in several parades over the years. The above list shows the invaluable contribution that Peter Ellis has made towards the collecting and distributing of Australia's musical and dance heritage. No one has done more than Peter in this area. He has also been active locally and nationally in his endeavours towads saving the natural environment. He has put many years of time and energy into both area's and has many on going projects in mind for the years ahead. The awarding of an honour from Australia would be just reward for a man who has preserved so much of our musical and dance heritage for future generations. Knowing Peter I have no doubt he would treasure such an honour as he has given so much to preserve Australia's music and dance heritage over most of his sixty plus years. Compiled by John Williams. Handwritten notes at bottom of last page reads: Referees Jacinta Allan MLA Steve Gibbons MHR Willie Carney ex Mayor of Bendigo Supporting letter Mary Smith Sec. Bush Dance + Music Club.person, individual, peter ellis oam

when the Buddha died (mahä Parinibbhäna) BC 543, his body was cremated in a sandalwood pyre at Kusinagara in India and his left canine tooth was retrieved from the funeral pyre by Arahat Khema. Khema then gave it to King Brahmadatte for veneration.[1] It became a royal possession in Brahmadatte's country and was kept in the city of Dantapuri (present day Puri in Odisha). (Wikipedia) Esala Perahera (the procession of Esala) is the grand festival with elegant costumes held in July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This historical procession (perahera) is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha, which is housed at the Sri Dalada Maligawa in Kandy. A unique symbol of Sri Lanka, the procession consists of many traditional local dances such as fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan dances and various other cultural dances, in addition to the elephants who are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional diya-kepeema ritual, a water cutting ceremony which is held at the Mahaweli River at Getambe, Kandy. (Wikipedia)Black and white photographic postcard on elephant on the stairs outside the Kandy Temple, Ceylon.chatham-holmes family collection, tooth relic, elephant, kandy temple, ceylon

May Sewell was born in Beechworth in 1917, her paternal grandparents had come to Beechworth from Ireland and her maternal grandparents from Scotland. She was the youngest of five siblings and the only one to be born in a hospital rather than at home. May loved growing up and living in Beechworth, and fondly recalls knowing all her neighbours, meeting friends at the pictures, attending girl guides, picking wildflowers around the gorge, participating keenly in the Church of England choir and dances, and the big Easter festivals. May worked various jobs before getting married. After leaving school at fifteen, May learnt dressmaking with Lal Anderson (and was delighted with her wage of two and six pence a week) and then went on to learn tailoring with Mr Charles. May then worked in the dining rooms at the Commercial Hotel and Hotel Nicholas. May was at the Hotel Nicholas for seven years but stopped when she got married as female employees were not asked to stay once they were married. May married her husband in 1944 and had known him since school. They went on to have six children, sadly three did not live past infancy. Her first children were twin girls who died six hours after birth. May briefly discusses the difficulty in grieving her twin daughters, the lack of available support, and the expectancy to carry on. Her next child, a son named Ian James, died when he was only ten months old from a tumour. May described Ian James as a lovely boy. May had multiple connections to the Zwar Brothers' Beechworth Tannery. Her father and then her three brothers worked there, and also her husband for a short period of time. The tannery was a major employer in Beechworth, and May having multiple family members employed by the tannery underlines the significant role of the tannery in Beechworth. May described her husband as very hardworking, he worked as a cleaner overnight at the Ovens and Murray Hospital for the Aged while during the day tended his cattle and sheep farm. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke. Miss May Sewell’s account of her life in Beechworth is historically and socially significant to the cultural heritage of the region. May in reflecting on her experiences of leisure opportunities, town festivals, work available for women, leaving the workforce once married, the tannery, post-natal care, grief and child mortality provide essential historic, economic, social, and healthcare insights. May’s oral history recording is part of a larger collection of oral histories recorded by Jennifer Williams in 2000, collectively they provide invaluable insights into Beechworth during the 20th century, much of the information in these oral histories would be lost if not documented and missed in the interpretation of tangible objects. This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a clear flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up 40 minutes of recordings on each side.Mrs May Sewellmay sewell, oral history, jennifer williams, listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century beechworth, beechworth church of england, easter festival, beechworth girl guides, hospital birth 1917, lal anderson, tailor beechworth, commercial hotel, hotel nicholas, zwar brother's beechworth tannery, ovens and murray hospital for the aged, dressmaking beechworth, beechworth cinemas, paul voglis