Oral history Interview with Maurie Fabbro conducted by Doug Orford with Mary Reagan at Maurie Fabro's home in Kirby Street, North Eltham, Victoria The interview covers Maurie's life in Eltham. Maurie took over his parents farm which was located opposite Eltham High School and between the Diamond Creek. The house was located in Faulkiner Street. When the land was subdivided, Maurie moved up the hill to the site of the interview. Topics of discussion include: Maurie's Harley Davidson Motorcycle (mention of Keith Gibson), lack of electricity in Faulkiner Street, extreme weather of the past.Audio Cassette tape TEAC mdxi 100 min (yellow) Converted to MP3 file; 79.9MB, 1:03:08oral history, fabbro family, fabbro farm, faulkiner street, eltham, weather, motorcycles, doug orford, maurie fabbro

NILLUMBIK SHIRE COUNCIL ORAL HISTORY PROJECT Interview: Doug Orford Date: Tuesday 19 March 2024 Place of Interview: Aurrum Aged Care in Plenty Interviewer: Katherine Sheedy; Way Back When Consulting Historians In 2023 Nillumbik Shire Council agreed to support two Oral History projects associated with local history groups within the shire. One project was training sessions for group members on undertaking oral history recordings, which occurred in November 2023. The other project involved a professional historian recording two selected history group members, which occurred in March 2024. The interviews were undertaken by Katherine Sheedy of Way Back When Consulting Historians. Doug Orford, whose family first came to Eltham in about 1853, was born in Eltham in August 1929. Doug recalled his family’s connection to the area, starting with his grandfather in 1853, getting to school, growing up on an 18-acre block, working on the orchard, his father’s horse and cart, shops, deliveries, the war and rationing, Black Friday bushfires in 1939, and a little bit about establishing the Shire of Eltham Historical Society, later Eltham District Historical Society, of which he was a life member. Sadly Doug passed away just four months after his interview, in July 2024.audio recording, doug orford, eltham, eltham district historical society, oral history

Presentation of a certificate of Distinguished Life Member to Jock Read at his aged care home, Chatsworth Terrace, 430 Main Road, Lower Plenty, July 2010. Jock had previously been appointed a Life Member at the Annual General Meeting in 2003. He and fellow Life Member, Peter Bassett-Smith were made Distinguished Life Members in July 2010. Present were Jim Connor, Harry Gilham, Russell Yeoman, Peter and Diana Bassett-Smith, Doug Orford and Jock Read.One of four images from an A4 inkjet printactivities, eltham district historical society, jock read, doug orford

Presentation of a certificate of Distinguished Life Member to Jock Read at his aged care home, Chatsworth Terrace, 430 Main Road, Lower Plenty, July 2010. Jock had previously been appointed a Life Member at the Annual General Meeting in 2003. He and fellow Life Member, Peter Bassett-Smith were made Distinguished Life Members in July 2010. Present were Jim Connor, Harry Gilham, Russell Yeoman, Peter and Diana Bassett-Smith, Doug Orford and Jock Read.One of four images from an A4 inkjet printactivities, eltham district historical society, jim connor, doug orford

A colour photograph of the timber tramway bridge along the Michaeldene Walking Track near Marysville in Victoria.A colour photograph of the timber tramway bridge along the Michaeldene Walking Track near Marysville in Victoria. The Michaeldene Trail to Taggerty River Lookout is a 4.3 kilometer lightly trafficked loop trail located near Marysville, Victoria. The track is one of several walking tracks located in and around Marysville in Victoria.Doug ORFORDtimber tramway, michaeldene walking track, marysville, victoria, walking track

Colour photographeltham society (london), gwen orford, margaret taylor, sugarloaf reservoir, doug orford

This was the finishing point for the parade. The Shire of Eltham Historical Society's parade float featured a gold mining theme - "The Eltham Goldrush" Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis Macdonald arranged for some of her friends from the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson was placed in charge of the equipment on the float.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 6 stripsFuji 100 Neltham, main road, eltham central park, eltham festival, parade, shire of eltham historical society, parade float, opal smith, doug orford, joh ebeli

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, bruce ness, jack hodson, opal smith, peter bassett-smith, youth road, doug orford, russell yeoman

[from a contemporary report:] The Shire of Eltham District Society's Parade float theme for 1989 was gold mining which, of course, was a most important aspect of our early history. Bruce Ness assembled the float with items loaned by Warrandyte Historical Society and quite a bit of his own ingenuity. Phyllis MacDonald also arranged for the Victorian Folk Music Club to provide us with appropriate musical accompaniment. To provide a level of authenticity, a present day prospector, Jack Hodson, was in charge of the equipment on the float. The parade assembled in Youth Road and commenced at 10:30am.Colour photographeltham festival, shire of eltham historical society, 1989, main road, sue law, doug orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Awarded to Spr. W. H. Orford by Shire of Eltham Welcome Home Committee Welcome Home Medal The Welcome Home Medal was issued to acknowledge service during World War 1. As groups of servicemen returned and were discharged a local welcome home function was held in their honour. The welcome home committee decided that to commemorate the occasion a medal should be presented to the returned servicemen and also to the nearest relations of those who had fallen during the conflict. The medal shown was presented to Sapper William Henry Orford, of the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, an uncle of Doug Orford, one of our members. Sapper Orford participated in an operation where on June 7, 1917, British and Australian tunnellers detonated 19 massive mines beneath German lines at Messines Ridge, Belgium, marking a pivotal moment in WWI underground warfare. The explosions, including those at the heavily contested Hill 60, created craters 60 feet deep, killed roughly 10,000 German troops, and were heard as far away as London. Tunnellers from Australian and British units worked for over a year (since 1916) in treacherous conditions—including quicksand and mud—to dig tunnels beneath German strongpoints. At 3:10 a.m. on June 7, nearly 1,000,000 pounds of explosives (ammonal) were detonated, creating one of the largest pre-atomic explosions in history The explosions shattered German morale and destroyed defences, allowing Allied forces to take the ridge. Specifically, Australian miners placed, at great risk, two massive mines under the German-held Hill 60 and the nearby "Caterpillar" crater. Inscribed on the front of the medal is: SPR W.H. ORFORD FROM ELTHAM WE HONOUR YOU GREAT WAR 1914 – 1919 On the back of the medal is the image of a soldier standing at ease with a rifle. Smaller than originally stated the Eltham Districts medal is midway between a 10 and 20 cent piece in size. The medal is a fine piece of craftsmanship and is understood to have cost £4 to make. On 22nd April 2014 Society members were pleased to attend an announcement by Mr Damien Drum, Victorian Minister for Veterans Affairs and Sport, of funding for installation of signage for the Eltham and Hurstbridge Avenues of Honour. Doug Orford was there and created much interest with his Welcome Home Medal, including from Minister Drum. See also EDHS Newsletter No. 216 May 2014spr. w.h. orford, welcome home committee, welcome home medal, world war 1, avenue of honour, jim connor collection, mr damien drum, victorian minister for veterans affairs and sport, william henry orford

Key to a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, fitzsimons lane, yarra river

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, henty road, lower plenty

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, lower plenty, main road, plenty river

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, plenty river, para road, briar hill

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbriar hill, mountain view road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbriar hill, leach street

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographkaringal drive, eltham

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographeltham, warringah crescent

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographeltham, ryans road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographeltham, silver street

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographeltham, bridges, gum glade

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, diamond creek, wattletree road, eltham north

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, diamond creek, eltham north, allendale road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographingrams road, research (vic.)

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographresearch (vic.), lorimer road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographkangaroo ground - wattle glen road, wattle glen

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographwattle glen, bridges, diamond creek, wilson road

From a collection of 35 photos taken by Doug Orford at 35 specific locations along the exact boundary of the then Shire of Eltham.Colour photographbridges, diamond creek, hurstbridge - arthurs creek road, hurstbridge, monash bridge