Desk set with Heidelberg Golf Club logo presented to Bill Balgowan for his work with the Club.Onyx base desk set with 2 pen holders, brass plates and logo. Felt on base. One pen missing.memorabilia, jan balgowan, bill balgowan, heidelberg golf club

An ink stand was a basic household item in the homes of the more affluent people in past generations before the more common use of the fountain pen and the biro (late 1940s). The ink stand in a home would have been used mainly for letter writing. It was also a basic item in business houses in the same time frame. There is no provenance for this particular item but it is of interest as a household object of the past and is useful for display. Wooden base with indentations for two ink bottles and pens and white metal handles (000633.1). Two ink bottles made of cut glass with white metal necks and hinged glass tops (000633.2 and .3). One ink pen with bone handle, brass top and rusty nib (000633.4).Pen marked 229.2 (old cataloguing number) Base has name in handwriting ‘Mrs A.H. Davidson’ (the donor) communication, ink set, writing set, warrnambool

The family of Miss Carol Pedersen-Green migrated to Australia from Norway c1900 and probably brought this desk set with them. A desk set comprising a wooden base with 2 cut outs for 2 clear glass ink wells with silver hinged lids. A ledge on either side to hold pens. and 4 rubber stops under base to maintain stability 5 wooden pens with steel nibs writig equipment, pens, glass inkwells, pederson-green carole, cheltenham, moorabbin, bentleigh, early settlers

HMAS Sydney was a Chatham class light cruiser of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN). Laid down in 1911 and launched in 1912, the cruiser was commissioned into the RAN in 1913. During the early stages of World War I, Sydney was involved in supporting the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force, and escorting the first ANZAC convoy. On 9 November 1914, the cruiser defeated the German cruiser SMS Emden at the Battle of Cocos. During 1915 and 1916, Sydney operated on the North America and West Indies Station, before joining the 2nd Light Cruiser Squadron at Greenock, Scotland in November 1916. On 4 May 1917, the cruiser was involved in an inconclusive action against the German zeppelin L43; neither was damaged. During late 1917, Sydney became the first Australian warship to launch an aircraft, and the first warship to do so from a rotatable platform. After the war's end, Sydney spent a year in reserve before being reactivated to serve as Flagship of the RAN. The cruiser was decommissioned in 1928 and broken up for scrap. Several sections of the ship, including her bow and foremast, have been preserved as monuments, and three of the ship's main guns saw later use in shore fortifications.A number of these desk sets were manufactured and given to the Headmasters of selected schools throughout Australia in recognition of the efforts of school children in assisting the War effort during World War IMade from timber extracted from a companionway or staircase in the battle cruiser H.M.A.S. Sydney 2 x 5 cm.square glass containers are fitted. Blue attachment advising,wood from H.M.A.S. Sydney h.m.a.s. sydney, desk set, r.a.n

Clear glassink, desk, set

glass, desk, set

After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission Victoria invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the war, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The advent of solid-state electronics in the 1960s replaced the more delicate valve sets which enabled greater use of vehicle mounted radios. The Commission continued to research, develop and build new radios at its many workshops around Victoria. The network was supported by a large team of skilled radio technicians. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 5G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s. Radio Desk SetAltona VL3 AA HFbushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

After the 1939 bushfires, the Forests Commission Victoria invested heavily in a radically new communications network. After suffering some inevitable delays due to the war, radio VL3AA switched into full operation in October 1945 proudly beaming out 200 watts across the State. But by today’s standards, the technology was primitive and the reception poor unless the user was on a high point somewhere. The radio signal was "line-of-sight" and bounced between fire towers and relay transmitters across the mountains back to the District offices. The advent of solid-state electronics in the 1960s replaced the more delicate valve sets which enabled greater use of vehicle mounted radios. The Commission continued to research, develop and build new radios at its many workshops around Victoria. The network was supported by a large team of skilled radio technicians. The more secure and versatile State Mobile Radio (SMR) digital trunk system came into operation in about 1995. Upgraded Tait Radios were purchased in 2014 after recommendations of the 2009 Bushfires Royal Commission. But it was the convergence of separate technologies such as 5G mobile phones, high-capacity and light-weight lithium batteries, Wi-Fi, the ever-expanding internet, cloud data storage, digital cameras, GPS, personal organisers and hundreds of supporting Apps into powerful smartphones and tablets which revolutionised bushfire communications from the mid-2000s. Radio Desk SetRemote Control Unit RC4B CFL Ballarat Region 09/123bushfire, radios, forests commission victoria (fcv)

The "nib" pen was the preferred scribe method up until the "fountain" pen was produced (1940's), both could use specific inks that had longer life periods on paper surfaces. Ink wells such as those incorporated in this desk set allowed the user to select the colour and "type of ink" required. The nib pen was the only writing pen that could tolerate "Iron gall" ink. Legal documents were at the start of the mid 1980's required by law(in Australia) to be signed by "well" filled pens. The inks used were either "indian" or "iron/oak gall" because their infusion into paper could not be erased and they had a longer "paper" life and were harder to forge. Bottled ink was superior to that supplied in fountain pens or "biro pens" because the user's choice to a greater range of inks covered a variety of scenarios. Forging a nib signature is extremely hard compared to that of a "biro pen" because a nib settles in to the users particular style of pen movement and arm pressure.This desk writing set was typical of those used by administrators, businesses or quasi legal sectors within the Kiewa Valley, before the lifting of the ban on the use of biros "to sign" legal documents. Fountain pens were used extensively before cheaper biros (throw away) writing implements (1940's) came into the market place.This glass ink well desk set has two circular ink wells connected to their respective nib holders. The nib holders are smaller circular receptacles and feed off the larger ink reservoirs. Between the two larger ink wells is a shallow bottomed elongated "oval" sphere able to contain "slide on" clips, two pronged fasteners (require a hole to be punched in papers) or small "bulldog" clips. At the front edge is an elongated and grooved (two) place for writing nibs. The grooves keep each nib or fountain pen separated.The glass structure is made from clear glass and only the outside "boxed" walls of the desk set make contact with the desk surface. The ink wells can also securely accommodate small bottles of ink. This would have been the case for refillable fountain pens.stationery, fountain pens, nib pens, ink receptors, glass ink wells

1966, 104, city of heidelberg repertory group, heidelberg theatre company inc, director barry coves

Trench art desk set consisting of a wooden base with two inkwells, a pen rest and an ornate carrying handle. The two inkwells have been made from fuse fittings removed from 18 pounder artillery projectiles. The fittings have been modified to enable the tip to hinge open revealing an ink well. The bottom of the wells has been sealed by inserting coins, one well has a British halfpenny coin and the other has a French five centimes coin. The item is of World War 1 origin and has a small shield attached with the inscription "FRANCE 1916-7 BELGIUM"There is a shield with the inscription "FRANCE 1916-7 BELGIUM".

Silver plated metal pin tray, part of desk set, hinged lid with Japanese scene.domestic equipment, containers, desk set

Displayed in History House.Brass, cut glass (clear) ink containers, black lids. Rectangular black base, moulded glass (black). Brass fittings.

Britannia metal deskset, base with six legs supporting 6 small figures joined by garlands of laurels, a container with 4 elephant heads and small lid with female bust, on either side are two cut glass inkwells with Britannia metal flip up lids sitting in recesses. Inscription reading 'Presented to the Hon & Mrs D.J.Duggan by F.Gillman & L.A.Trouchet on the occasion of their silver wedding 26.4.07. Hon. D J Duggan was the member for Dunolly and the first Minister for Lands and Mines in the State Parliament,Manufactured by Phillip Ashbury & Sons Sheffield Pattern 89Fdomestic equipment, writing equipment, deskset, di1449.1.1 - di 1449.1.3

Wooden ink well stand with two glass ink bottles with lids. Stand has inserts for bottles, a long rounded inset to hold instruments, one drawer and a curved handle. Glass bottles are square and have metal around the lip.domestic items, writing equipment

Large black leather blotter holder in book form. Four gold ornate corners on front. Dark blue 'water wave' moire taffeta inside with paper blotter.domestic items, writing equipment

Wooden desk writing set with three inkwells, labelled 'Copying', 'Red' and 'Black' on separate hinged lids. One of the small glass inkwells is missing. A heavy glass decorated pen tray sits in a recess across the front. The wood is prominently grained, especially the lids. Impressed in the wood between the red and black inkwells is a crown symbol with the words: 'SERIES MADE IN ENGLAND'.

This writing set would once have adorned someones writing desk.Two glass inkwells on an ornately decorated black wooden base, with a hollow at the front for pens. Mother of pearl inlay in a star pattern between the ink wells and in the pen hollow. Goldleaf decoration around sides of the base, which are bevelled and sit on four small ornamental feet. The two inkwells do not sit correctly in the base and are probably not original.

Desk set made of wood from St Paul's Cathedral with an added metal and enamel calendar. A history of the item is stuck on the reverse. "St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne. Foundation stone, 1880; Consecrated, 1891; Spires completed, 1931; Exterior length, 317'; Moorhouse Spire, 317 feet in height. The Bells of St Paul's Cathedral were supported on this timber of English oak from 1891 to 1963 when, during the absence of the bells for tuning in Loughborough, England, the timber was replaced with a steel frame. Refer Cathedral Guide Book, page 10, by Rev Godfrey Kircher"handicrafts, desk sets, pen holders, st paul's cathedral - melbourne (vic)

Based in the Wales county of Montgomery Shire, Edward and Maureen Ann Story Jones produced crafted silver plated on pewter giftware under the range name The Silver Scenes in 1984. Well made, high quality and durable they produced items from 1984 - 2005. These items were probably gifts from visiting council representatives. Desk set of magnifying glass (0447.1) and paper knife (0447.2) with ornate handle, both sides featuring grapes and vines motifs.Both pieces are signed by hand 'MASJ © 93' (?) at top of handle. Paper Knife has 'Silver Scenes' engraved on blade.city of greater bendigo corporate gift

An olive green lady's wooden writing desk set. It is decorated in silver, black and red on front. It has a purple fabric lining. Inside is a sheet of poetry, a ruler and two pens.writing-set communication domestic

Desk set consisting of an almost square wooden base, and glass paperweight in the form of a tennis ball. Inscription across base, below the Dunlop 'Maxply' logo: SOUVENIR OF AUSTRALIA'S/VICTORY IN DAVIS CUP. 1939. Materials: Glass, Wood, Ink, Lacquertennis

The 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles was raised as a regiment of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps on 1 May 1948 with Headquarters in Melbourne and squadrons in Sale, Benalla/Wangaratta and Albury. In 1955 Regimental Headquarters moved to Wangaratta and a second squadron was located at Albury. The Sale squadron transferred to 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse. In 1977 8/13 VMR Regiment was reduced to an independent squadron A Squadron 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles and in 1991 was linked with 4th/19th Prince of Wales’s Light Horse forming the VMR Squadron of that regiment.Unique collection of photographs showing the first years of an armoured regiment of the post-Second World War Citizen Military Forces showing equipment, uniforms, training and social activity and some personalities.Black and white photograph of soldiers wearing headsets and sitting in front of radio set on desk. One of a collection of photographs of 8th/13th Victorian Mounted Rifles Regiment between 1948 and 1951." Old Radio Set Room, Albury "8th/13th victorian mounted rifles, radio

This guards van is part of a set of matching carriages. The 1CW refers to it being a class leader or the first of that type ever built.Guards Van 1CW, steel sides painted red with a white clerestory roof, contains two compartments with a controllers section at each end of the carriage. Each compartment is made up of 3 hinged shelves, a desk with a set of shelves and pigeon holes above the desk. The ceiling is decorative pressed metal with hooks attached in rows.1CW painted on the front

Desk wooden varnished dark stain with hinged lid set at angle and ornate machine turned legsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This framed document titled "The Victorian Missions to Seamen, St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown" shows a list of donors of significant items to the St Nicholas Missions to Seamen's Church in Williamstown when the new building opened in 1944. The organisation ceased in 1966, and the furnishings were later donated to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village in Warrnambool by the Missions to Seamen Victoria. The transcription of the document is as follows: The Victoria Missions to Seamen, St Nicholas Seamen's Church, Williamstown To the Glory of God List of Gifts Altar - Mrs. and Miss J.R. Schutt Cross - Mrs. R.J. Ewart Chalice and Paten - Mr. and Mrs. Percy Taylor 1 Pair Altar Lights - Mrs. R.J. Ewart 1 Pair Altar Lights - Mrs. M. Jackson Sanctuary Lamp - Miss C. Roberts Rerebos - Miss. M. Breaks, in memoriam Miss. L.A. Breaks Sanctuary Window - Victoria Missions to Seamen Lightkeepers' Auxiliary Missal - Mrs. R.J. Ewart Missal Desk - Mrs. R. Hodgkiss Altar Vases - Mrs. R. Kaybould Bible - Mrs. R.J. Ewart Sanctuary Chairs - Mr. and Mrs. F.H. Twist Credence Table - Mrs. F. Clark Altar Dish – Mrs L. Clark Font - Mr. and Mrs. C.V. Dyble Prayer Desk - H.M.H.S. "Centaur" Reed Organ - "Joy Club for Fighters" Collection Plates - Mr. D. MacKae Hymn Board - St. David's Musical Society, Brighton Pews, Carpet and Hangings - Williamstown Lightkeepers' Auxiliary Bell - Mrs. A.L. Feenes THE MISSIONS TO SEAMEN (Brief History: for more, see our Reg. No. 611, Set of Pews) The Missions to Seamen, an Anglican charity, has served seafarers of the world since 1856 in Great Britain. It symbol is a Flying Angel, inspired by a Bible verse. Today there are centr4es in over 200 ports world-wide where seamen of all backgrounds are offered a warm welcome and provided with a wide range of facilities. In Victoria the orgainsation began in Williamstown in 1857. It was as a Sailors’ Church, also known as ‘Bethel’ or the ‘Floating Church’. Its location was an old hulk floating in Hobson’s Bay, Port of Melbourne. It soon became part of the Missions to Seamen, Victoria. In the year 2000 the organisation, now named Mission to Seafarers, still operated locally in Melbourne, Portland, Geelong and Hastings. The Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild was formed in 1906 to support the Missions to Seamen in Melbourne and other centres such as Williamstown. Two of the most significant ladies of the Guild were founder Ethel Augusta Godfrey and foundation member Alice Sibthorpe Tracy (who established a branch of the Guild in Warrnambool in 1920). The Guild continued its work until the 1960s. In 1943 a former Williamstown bank was purchased for the Missions to Seaman Club. The chapel was named St Nicholas’ Seamen’s Church and was supported by the Ladies’ Harbour Lights Guild, the Williamstown Lightkeepers’ Auxiliary and the League of Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Friends. It ceased operation in 1966. A Missions to Seamen Chapel and Recreation Room was a significant feature of ports during the late 1800s and into the 1900s. It seemed appropriate for Flagstaff Hill to include such a representation within the new Maritime Village, so the Melbourne Board of Management of Missions to Seamen Victoria gave its permission on 21st May 1979 for the entire furnishings of the Williamstown chapel to be transferred to Flagstaff Hill. The St Nicholas Seamen’s Church was officially opened on October 11, 1981 and closely resembles the Williamstown chapel. This document is significant through its association with the St Nicholas' Mission to Seamen Church in Williamstown, Melbourne, established in 1857. The document is socially significant as it connects the community of Williamstown with the St Nicholas' Missions to Seamen and represents the importance of the church to the community. The items in our collection from the Missions to Seamen in Williamstown, Victoria, have historical and social significance. They show that people of the 1800s and 1900s cared about the seafarers’ religious, moral, and social welfare, no matter what the religion, social status or nationality. It had its origins in Bristol, England when a Seamen's Mission was formed in 1837. The first Australian branch was started in 1856 by the Rev. Kerr Johnston, a Church of England clergyman, and operated from a hulk moored in Hobson's Bay; later the Mission occupied buildings in Williamstown and Port Melbourne. Document titled "The Victorian Missions to Seamen, St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown". The document is a list of gifts originally given to the St Nicholas Seaman's Church in Williamstown, Victoria. The document is mounted in a decorative wooden frame with glass cover. This is one of the original items in our ‘St Nicholas Seamen's Church Williamstown Collection’.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, framed document, donations to st nicholas seamen's church williamstown, 139 nelson place williamstown, religion, religious service, sailors rest, bethel sailors’ church, bethel floating church, ladies harbour light guild, mission to seafarers, st nicholas seaman’s church williamstown, mission to seamen williamstown, st nicholas seamen’s church flagstaff hill, flying angel club, mrs. and miss j.r. schutt, mrs. r.j. ewart, mr. and mrs. percy taylor, mrs. m. jackson, miss c. roberts, miss. l.a. breaks, miss. m. breaks, victoria missions to seamen lightkeepers' auxiliary, mrs. r. hodgkiss, mrs. r. kaybould, mr. and mrs. f.h. twist, mrs. f. clark, mrs l. clark, mr. and mrs. c.v. dyble, h.m.h.s. "centaur", "joy club for fighters", mr. d. mackae, williamstown lightkeepers' auxiliary, mrs. a.l. feenes, st. david's musical society brighton

The Ballarat School of Mines was the first site of technical edducation in Australasia. It is now a predecessor institution of Federation University Australia. It's first president was Redmond Barry.Correspondence and planning documents relating to the setting up of the Ballarat School of Mines. it includes tenders for contractors for the refurbishment of the former Ballarat Circuit Court. .1) Rules for the pupils of the Mining School at Zurickau, 18/11/1870 (not translated by Emanuel Steinfeld, perhaps by W. Henderson) .2) Regulations of the Mining Academy at Frieberg, 18/11/1870 .3) Einrichtungen, Freiberg, 1870 (written in German) .4) Letter from Somerville Learmonth of Ercildoun to Harrie Wood, Clerk of the Board of Mines Ballarat, accepting a position as one of three trustees of the Ballarat School of Mines, along with Redmond Barry and R.H. Bland, 08/01/1870 .5) Printing order with Robert Wreford, 26/01/1870 .6) H. Waymouth to Mr Bickett re the Ballarat School of Mines, 1780 .7) Letter from R.H. Bland of Clunes to Harrie Wood of the Ballarat Mining Board, 27/01/1870 .8) Letter from Somerville Livingstone Learmonth of Ercildoun to Harrie Woods of the Ballarat Mining Board refusing the offer to be a Trustee of the Ballarat School of Mines, 28/01/1870 .9) Minutes of the meeting of the Ballarat School of Mines Executive Council, 05/02/1870 and Correspondence from Harrie Wood to J. Warrington Rogers re the lease of the building for the Ballarat School of Mines, 21/01/1870 .10) Chief Secretary's Office to Ballarat Mining Board re Life Membership of the Ballarat School of Mines, 02/02/1870 .10b) Letter from Redmond Barry, Carlton Gardens, Melbourne re the visit of the Governor of Victoria to the Ballarat School of Mines, 04/02/1870 .12) Letter from Charles Pucke on behalf of Mr McCulloch to H, Ainswood, Secretary of the Ballarat Mining Board, 11/07/1870 .13) Correspondence from Henry Rosales of Walhalla (Chairman of the Gippsland Mining Board) to James Baker of the Ballarat School of Mines, 28/12/1870 .11) Meeting of the Executive Council, Bickett, Eddy Downes, 08/02/1870 .14) Letter from John Phillips, contract surveyor of St Arnaud to Mr Newman, Vice-President of the Ballarat School of Mines, 15/12/1870 .15) Articles ordered and obtained for the Ballarat School of Mines, 03/01/1870 .16) Telegram from John Lewis of Clunes to the Ballarat School of Mines. .16b) Quote from painter Thomas Robson for painting the Ballarat School of Mines, 05/06/1870 .17) Note from Duncan Gillies to Harrie Wood re grant for the Ballarat School of Mines, 05/06/1870 .18) Correspondence re Grant to the Ballarat School of Mines, Duncan Gillies, 04/07/1870 .19) Correspondence concerning the Ballarat School of Mines from F. Valient to Harrie Wood, 14/05/1870 .19b) Correspondence from Somerville Livingstone Learmonth to Harrie Woods - an apology for a meeting with Judge Rogers, 23/05/1870 .20) Letter from R.H. Bland to Harrie Wood, 15/07/1870 .22) Telegraph from J. Warrington Rogers to Harrie Wood of the Ballarat Mining Board concerning tenders for the Ballarat School of Mines, which was established in 1870. .23) Letter from Ballarat Mining Board to Judge Warrington Rogers, 31/05/1870 .24) Telegraph to Harrie Wood of the Ballarat Mining Board from J. Warrington Rogers concerning Sir Redmond Barry. A note at the bottom of the telegraph notes ‘This telegram has been delayed through repairs on line. .25) Letter on Melbourne Public Library Letterhead from librarian Augustus Fulk, 05/08/1870 .26) Letter from R.H. Bland to Harrie Wood, 30/05/1870 .27) Letter from Robert Park re alteration of the former Ballarat Court House for use as the Ballarat School of Mines, 05/05/1870. .28) Letter from G. Whitty re painting of the former Ballarat Court House for use as the Ballarat School of Mines, 04/05/1870 .29) Letter from William Newman re plastering of the former Ballarat Court House for use as the Ballarat School of Mines, 05/05/1870 .30) Letter from Charles A. Abbott re teaching Mechanical Drawing at the Ballarat School of Mines, 04/04/1870 .32) Letter from Redmond Barry to the Ballarat School of Mines, 07/1870 .31) National Insurance Company of Australia insurance for the Ballarat School of Mines (former Ballarat Circuit Court), 01/05/1870 .33) Letter from R.H. Bland to Harrie Wood, 09/1870 .34) Letter from Somerville Livingstone Learmonth to Harrie Wood, 06/09/1870 .35) Letter to the Chief Secretary to the Ballarat School of Mines Library & Museum, 30/11/1870 .36) Parliament house (Kitto) to the Ballarat Mining Board, 15/11/1870 .37) H. de la Poer Wall of Grenville College to R.W. Newman of the Ballarat School of Mines, 27/04/1971 .38) W.H. Odgers to the Ballarat East Town Clerk, 20/05/1870 .39) Correspondence to the Borough of Clunes for the Ballarat Mining Board requesting a grant to set of a school of mines at Ballarat. 25/03/1870 .40) Surveyor to Harrie Wood, Mining Registrar, 27/04/1870 .40) Letter to Judge Warrington Rogers re the contractor's account for satisfactory completion of work on the Ballarat School of Mines, 11/07/1870 .43) Desks for the Ballarat School of Mines by Henry Gough, 1870 .44) Ballarat Star Office to James Baker of the Ballarat School of Mines, 1870ballarat school of mines, frieberg mining academy, learmonth, somerville learmonth, wreford, weymouth, bland, rivet henry bland, barry, redmond barry, mcculloch, phillips, john phillips, robson, gillies, duncan gillies, warrington rogers, melbourne public library, whitty, robert park, newman, william newman, charles abbott, janes baler, de la poer wall, odgers, louis le gould, wood, harrie wood, steinfeld, emanuel steinfeld, ainswood, pucke, thomas robson, telegraph, telegram, state library of victoria, fulks, architecture, reed, j. reed, rosales, abbott, charles a. abbott, mechanical drawing, drawing, ballarat circuit courthouse, ballarat courthouse, national insurance company of australia, grenville college, chief secretary's office, robert sandon, school of mines, schools of mines, establishment, ballarat school of mines establishment, germany, london, ercildoun

The following are the recollections of John Elkins, who started school in February, 1945 at Maryborough in Queensland, Australia. 'I think in Prep 1 that we had some paper to write on with pencils, but my memory of the routine use of slates is much more vivid. Each slate was framed in wood and one side was inscribed with lines to guide the limits for the upper and lower extremities of letters. The slate "pencils" were made of some pale gray mineral softer than slate which had been milled into cylinders some one-eighth of an inch in diameter and inserted into metal holders so that about an inch protruded. Each student was equipped with a small tobacco tin in which was kept a damp sponge or cloth to erase the marks. Sharpening slate pencils was a regular task. We rubbed them on any suitable brick or concrete surface in the school yard. Teachers also kept a good supply of spares, all writing materials and books being provided by the school. It is possible that the retention of slates stemmed from the political imperative that public education should be free. I do recall being given a Copy Book for home practice of letter formation, a typical practice until Grade 6. The tables at which we used to sit in the Infant School were replaced in the primary Grades by long desks seating five or six pupils. These had slots into which the slates could be inserted vertically. When the teacher asked the class to clear their desks, the command issued was "slates away!" This was an occasion for a noisy expression of relief as we dropped the slates producing a sound not unlike a volley of rifle shots, and usually brought a request from the teacher to repeat the process with no noise by holding the frames throughout. Thus, I suspect we may still have used slates in Grade Three, though by then paper, which may have been scarce during the War, seemed to be used more routinely.' The full context of John's account of writing during his primary school days can be found at: https://www.readinghalloffame.org/sites/default/files/history_of_literacy_22slates_away22_penmanship_in_queensland_australia.pdfSchool desks and benches/chairs have been in use in schools since formal group education started.Eight long school desks (five higher three lower), each with four inkwells and groove along length. eight school benches (five higher three lower). Each desk and bench accommodates four children.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

This librarian's chair was given to the school by the family of Joy Chapman who had died during 1948. The chair was part of a number of furnishings supplied by donation for the new library which was opened in 1949. These included blackwood shelves, tables and chairs and a new set of Encycopedia Britannica supplied by the Parents and Friend's Association, a grooved periodical table given by Old Collegians Younger Set, a librarian's desk supplied by the E M Bell estate and more than 200 books supplied by the Old Collegians. (see 'A lamp burns brightly' p. 61). This item is a significant example of the degree to which the school relied on donations from the community to develop the school during the post-war years. Solid wood chair with high solid back and solid arm rests. Carved CPLC crest attached to neck rest. Padded seat. Bronze plaque at front of seat. Plaque: In memory of / JOY CHAPMAN / 1947 - 1948 - The Gift of Her / Father, Mother & Ruthc-p-l-c, younger-set, parents-and-friends-association, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, library, joy-chapman