Mementos of the Hamilton Base Hospital's former Matron of have been presented after a series of coincidences. While Mrs Nell Dobson (neeBryant)was travelling through Hamilton, she was invited to attend the nurses graduation ceremony at the hospital, where the Dux of the nurses course received the Gwlady Thomas Prize. Nell first met Matron Thomas in 1934 and again in 1941 when Matron Thomas joined her at the 1st Australian General Hospital at Gaza. Nell kept a diary, describing life as an army nurse, including August 31 when Matron Thomas and Sister McPhail were injured and subsequently died on September 1. Nell continued her diary throughout her war service, including the happier times and many moving moments. Nell later returned to Hamilton to present photo copies of her diary and other momentos of her days serving with Gwladys Thomas to the hospital. A newspaper clipping of a story consisting of three columns of text beneath the title.'local paper. 4th June/80' [graphite, along top] Al Matheson was the doctor.' [graphite, down left hand side]melbourne, wwii, middle east, don dobson, len wilkinson, mrs wilkinson, dunolly, australian imperial forces, aif, tobruk, gaza ridge, al kantara, jerusalem, 2nd 4th australian general hospital, al matheson

This violin was played by VX30301 Dvr Roy Arnel, as a member of the Australian Imperial Force Concert Party, in the Changi POW camp, Singapore from 1942-1945. It is claimed that the violin, in its case was thrown over the wall by a Chinese civilian. Roy Arnel, a South African by birth enlisted on 7 June 1940 at Royal Park, Melbourne and served with 2 AASC Company as a driver. He was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army at the fall of Singapore in February 1942. There was more than one concert party in Changi as indicated on the rear of the violin. The details of the Dutch, British and American Concert Parties scratched in to the varnish. There are the some well known names scratched into the violin including: The English author and cartoonist, Ronald Searle; Australian entertainer, Frank Rich; and Australian Author, Russell Braddon. Mr Arnel died in 1982 and the violin was presented to Melbourne Legacy for preservation, safe keeping and display. Further research found that one of the AIF comedians, Harry Smith, had a catch phrase, 'You'll never get off the Island' which became almost the watchword of the prisoners throughout the captivity. That ties with the phrase etched around the outside of the violin, "We'll never get off the island."A very valuable piece of equipment brought back from World War II now on display in Legacy House function room.Violin (00078.1): Violin case (00078.2): Bow (00078.3): Bag of violin parts (00078.4):Around the edge of the instrument's body: "We'll never get off the island" On the front body of the violin: "AIF concert party"; "P.O.W. camp Singapore" Names inscribed on the front body of the violin in columns from left to right: Ray Tullipan, Fred Stringer, Herb Almond, L Jacques, Keith Harris, Jack Garrett, Dave Goodwin, H Sabin, Fred F Brightfield, Jack Boardman, Ern Warne, Ern Banks, T Hoffman, Roy P Arnel, Harold W Reid, W Middleton, Douglas Matthews, Bob Picken, Harry Smith ('appy Harry), Ted Druitt "VIOLIN PLAYED BY" VX30301, (DVR) R S Arnel AIF Concert Party in POW Camp Selerang and Changi Gaol Singapore 1942-1945; T Mack O.C and Producer Harry Tennall; Jack Smith; Walter W Dains; Keith C Stephens; C E Trotter; W Sullivan, Syd Piddington; John Nibbs; Doug Peart; John Wood; Jack Geoghegan; Berry Barton; Barney Bolton; Tom Hussey; Kim De Grey; Clarrie Barker; Ron Caple; Russ Bradon; Bernard McCaffrey; Bart Galbraith; Charles Wiggins; Stan “ Judy” Garland. Rear of Violin has inscriptions top to bottom, left to right. Hans???en; Dutch Concert Party; H.S. Van der Linden; M Bark; B Freunbusch; F Horguine; H. J. Hurgarden; Lt H. J. Scholer (Violin); H.A.F. Pet; M Van Dyk; W J Witte; G H Fransen; E Ewig; M Ruwart (Hypnotist); A V Korem(Dancer) C N Rob (Violin) C H Kuipers (Guitar); W C Emmenes (Cellist) L H R???? (Violin) British Concert Party Alex????; P Holland ( “ Dutchy” Accordian); Wray Gibson :AH!; E J Bawer (Drums); Clem (Lofty) Relf(Clarinet); Bill Williams (Piano); Ken Luke; Ronald Searle; Charles Dobman “Good Luck”; Dan Harts(”Professor”); Gil Mitchell ( Violinist); John Fitzgerald; E Botor (Tenor Horn); Ronald Lewis; Ronnie Horner; Robin Wilbury; Jack M Wood ( Producer); Denis A S Houghton (Bass); C J Buckingham; Stan Mesurier; E B Dobson USA Concert Camberts Party Don Smith; Owen Baggett; Denis Roland; Stan Willner; Albert “ HAP” Kelley (Trombone); Joe Manella; Charles Kelleher. Internal manufactures tag “ “Excelsior” Brand Specally made for the Tropic and reputed for good ton and workmanship Made in Czechoslovakia”changi violin, pow

A compilation of written and transcribed local history stories compiled by Keith Rooney in 1994 for the Nunawading Libraries. It covers the turn of the century to mid sixties and is illustrated by photos and posters. There are three copies one bound with blue reptile skin printed cardboard and blue plastic tape binding which includes 2 copies of the stories, an index and photos, another similar copy, unbound, without the index, and another with only one copy of the stories without photos, index or other support material.non-fictionA compilation of written and transcribed local history stories compiled by Keith Rooney in 1994 for the Nunawading Libraries. It covers the turn of the century to mid sixties and is illustrated by photos and posters.rooney, keith, de stoop, roger, dobson, doris, munt, james, vitclay pipes pty ltd, watts, don, tucker, ross, blackburn dairy, blackburn returned services league., burwood east state school no 454, nunawading primary school no. 4190, nunawading, blackburn

62 p.; 23 cmnon-fictionVarious sketches from all areas of the Dandenong Ranges with descriptions beside itdobson family grave ferntree gully, one tree hill observation tower, puffing billy, nobelius nursery emerald