1621.1 - 47 A4 pages stapled in the top left hand corner - pages 63 to 121 from a set of documents of 148 pages - "Specifications for Modifications - Driver Only Tram". Details a list of modifications for Class W5/7, Z1/Z2, Z3, A1/2 B1/2 of 26 modifications. Gives the specifications for each modification, and details of maintenance support, reliability, spares and manuals to be provided as part of the contract - No. PSD 93/036. 1621.2 - 17 -A4 sheets landscape format, stapled in the top left hand corner - "W class Tram Overhaul Scope" - Rev 1, dated 30/8/1993 - the form to be completed for a detailed listing of work to be carried out at PTC Preston Workshops. Has the number "728" in the top right hand corner, but has not been filled in. Has a photocopied note "Day one (into body shop) written on the top sheet..1 - top sheet has "JRP copy (1993) in ink and "Driver Only Tram" in blue ink written over a "whiteout" correction fluid.trams, tramways, ptc, preston workshops, overhauls, driver only modifications, w class, z class, a class, b class, specification, modifications

Report - 96 pages - perfect bound, card covers, titled "Special Report No. 15 - Met Ticket", dated Nov. 1990. Report looks at the introduction of Met Ticket, industrial disputes, cost of introduction, revenue loss and protection, scratch tickets, methodology, consultation and loss of passengers. Includes driver only operation impacts, disability services and financial analysis and cost and savings impactstrams, tramways, tickets, driver only modifications, metcard, scratch tickets, conductors, unions, the met

Photocopy of a Magazine extract, 7A4 sheets from The New Electric Railway Journal, Winter 1995-96, titled "A Fair go for the Streetcar", written by Michael Venn. Article looks at the influence of Robert Risson, his work, the Melbourne press, the Transportation study, All electric trams, the Z class. Inclusion within the MTA. The Met, light rail, City Circle trams, Fairways, Driver only, the Heritage Fleet and the Hawthorn Depot.trams, tramways, melbourne, transportation plan`, the met, mmtb, all electric trams, fairways, driver only modifications, hawthorn depot

Photocopy, 12 sheets, of a magazine article titled "Melbourne on the brink of change", Trolley Wire, May 1998 by Dale Budd about the corporatisation of Melbourne's trams into Swanston and Yarra Trams. Gives details of the fleet, operational aspects, ticketing and driver-only operation. Includes notes on South Melbourne depot sale, historic fleet, non-passenger cars, Z class tram overhauls, pantograph operation, possible privatisation, Preston Workshops, low floor trams, W class. Also a brief update of March 1998.trams, tramways, swanston trams, yarra trams, south melbourne depot, driver only modifications, ticket machines, lists, depot allocation, z class, w class, heritage fleet, privatisation

Official M&MTB photograph showing X1 class tram No. 462 at the Footscray Station stop No. 60 with the destination blind showing 'Ballarat Rd'. The trolley pole is set for this trip and several passengers are seated inside. On the roadway adjacent to the open front door stand a uniformed driver and conductress in conversation. As the short Footscray routes were usually driver-only operations and the Footscray Station stop was the busiest, the conductress is likely stationed here to collect fares before each tram's arrival and departure. In the background are a fish and chip shop displaying an advertisement for Savoy Peanuts on its double storey facade and a radio and television sales shop. Span and trolley wires can be seen behind the tram curving into Irving St as part of the southern route to Williamstown Rd route. Yields information about X1 class 462 and Footscray Station stop corner Leeds and Irving StreetsBlack and white print with note on rear.In pencil: "M&MT Car Footscray $5"trolley pole, destination blind, x1 class, 462, ballarat rd, driver only, conductress, savoy peanuts, television, williamstown rd, footscray station, busiest stop

Set of 6 A4 sheets, stapled in the top left hand corner, listing on a wiring table the various terminals, locations wiring for the W class tram conversion project - 1994. Has many notes, particularly on the first page.Drawings has notes, red lines on the first sheet.trams, tramways, w class, one man trams, conversion, electrical equipment, driver only modifications

The Fred Rochow Railways Collection incorporates photos related to the operation of the Wodonga Railway Station including different types of trains and railways staff C. 1930 – 1990. It was donated to the Wodonga Historical Society by Fred Rochow, a railwayman who spent many years based in Wodonga. He joined the Victorian Railways on 17th June l947 and retired in 1988. For some time, he was a member of the Australian Federated Union of Locomotive Enginemen and served a term as a member of the Trades Hall Council. He had an extensive knowledge of the struggles that took place to achieve better conditions for railway workers. Fred worked for many years as a fireman and then worked his way up the ranks to driver, experiencing many changes from the days of steam locomotives through to diesel trains, locomotives and even the modern XPT train. He worked throughout Victoria at different stages of his career, with his final working years focused on the northeast of Victoria and the Albury to Melbourne line. After his retirement, Fred continued to share his love of steam miniature trains with the community.This collection has local and statewide significance as it captures images of trains, locomotives and personnel who operated the railway services in Wodonga and throughout Northeast Victoria. The railways played a critical role in opening up Victoria and connecting Australia for trade, business, social communication and transport. Ray Murphy- First Driver on the "Spirit of Progress". "Spirit of Progress" Drivers were the only Drivers issued with wings to wear on their caps.railways wodonga, fred rochow, wodonga railwaymen, spirit of progress, ray murphy

Denis Gibbons (1937 – 2011) Trained with the Australian Army, before travelling to Vietnam in January 1966, Denis stayed with the 1st Australian Task Force in Nui Dat working as a photographer. For almost five years Gibbons toured with nine Australian infantry battalions, posting compelling war images from within many combat zones before being flown out in late November 1970 after sustaining injuries. The images held within the National Vietnam Veterans Museum make up the Gibbons Collection.A coloured Photograph of a specially constructed 'up armoured' Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) being used to explode anti personnel mines buried in the 'Barrier' minefield from the village of Dat Do to the sea, Phuoc Tuy Province, South Vietnam. Each driver only spent and hour in the APC.photograph, apc, 3rd cavalry regiment, dat do, phuoc tuy province, gibbons collection catalogue, armoured personnel carrier, mine "anit-personnell m18a1, denis gibbons

Notice - Folded A3 sheet titled "Staff Bulletin - Public Transport Reform Package", dated 6-1-1993 with an announcement by the Minister Alan Brown about the contracting out metropolitan bus services, country rail passenger service, substituting trams with buses, all night bus services, Automated Fare Collection, Driver Only suburban trains, Rolling stock maintenance, closure of Preston tram depot, infrastructure maintenance, cleaning, catering contracting out freight and other services. Signed by John McMillan. See also Reg items 3048 and 3052.trams, tramways, services, buses, bus replacement, tram replacement, railways, contracts, preston depot, met ticket, maintenance, unions, atmoea, agreements

Photo of Ballarat tram 27, southbound at Grey St. loop waiting to cross a City bound tram car. Has one male passenger waiting to board the inbound tram and a conductor (in SEC hat) waiting to board the tram and act as the conductor back into the City. Trams between Bell St. and Sebastopol during the day, were driver only. Conductors changed trams at Bell St. or wherever they crossed one another on the single track. Tram has destination of "Sebastopol", and advertisements for "Twin Lakes" and Whitehorse whiskey. Note long grass on the left hand side of the photo. Tram has tiger stripes but not the white dash under the lights. Kodak cardboard mount slide, taken by Peter Moses December 1963.On back of slide in blue ink "1963 Dec. Tram Ballarat" and bottom right hand corner "P. Moses"tramways, trams, grey st, sebastopol, conductors, tram 27

Folder - presentation white card - with printed gold front with large round tab on the right hand side, with the words "Goninan Quality" on the cover. Inside are papers: 1. Welcoming the members of the Australian Electric Traction Association - AETA - for a tour of the Preston Light Rail Facility on Friday 10 November 1995, including a very prelim sketch of a Hong Kong light rail vehicle, newspaper cuttings about overseas contracts for the Hong Kong - Kowloon Canton Railway. Includes notes on Howard Smith Company, the owner of Goninan at the time. 2 - Copy of Goninan News - No. 78, July / August 1995 - all locomotives. 3 - Pamphlet on Goninan - activities, Victoria operations - Double Deck train for Melbourne, Sprinter Rail Cars, City Circle Trams and Driver Only trams. Gives contact details. 4 - Press Release - about Goninan & Co being successful for the building of up to 120 locos for the National Rail Corporation - dated Thursday 5/10/1995.trams, tramways, goninan & co., light rail, hong kong, preston workshops, aeta, tours

.1 Full colour, A4 report printed on gloss paper, 16 pages, centre stapled titled "Public Transport community consultative Committee - First Annual Report 1993/94", reporting on the Victorian Public Transport Forum, Accessible Transport Consultative Council and the "W class tram implementation monitoring committee". Has a foreword by Alan Brown, provides membership of each Committee, meetings, Consultation, major issues, public transport safety, Upfield railway line, sponsorship of tram shelters and signage, Metcard, fares, public relations, on-train refreshment, First class fares, accessible travel, driver-only trains and trams. The W class committee look at the major issues, tram livery, advertising on the trams, deployment, storage and alternative uses for stored trams. .2 - Full colour, A4 report printed on gloss paper, 16 pages, centre stapled titled "Public Transport community consultative Committee - Annual Report 1997", reporting on the Victorian Public Transport Forum, Accessible Transport Consultative Council, City Circle tram promotion committee and public transport heritage advisory committee. Has forward from Robin Cooper, lists membership of every committee and gives detail of their work and project outcomes.trams, tramways, minister for transport, accessible transport, w class, advertisements, city circle, heritage

1302.1 - A4 size, 88 page report on Melbourne's tram and bus system produced by 'Tram & Bus Strategic Review Committee' in May 1992. Report printed on white paper, with blue covers, stapled on sides. Report examines cross linking of trams routes and many other recommendations regarding services, union awards, ticketing, opportunities for expansion, reliability, revenue impacts, driver only trams, workplace reform, staffing, revenue protection and tourism opportunities. Note the report has been mis-bound with pages out of order eg 2, 1, 4, 3, 6, 5 etc. Gives a series of recommendations, few of which were implemented in reality. 1302.2 - A4 size - approx. 200 page document with blue covers - appendix to the above report. List of appendices given in 1302.1. Appendix No. 1 - Left/right turn priority at intersections 2 - draft structural efficiency proposal 3 - selection and training procedures report 4 - absenteeism report 5 - cost study of W and Z class trams 6 - Trams in Melbourne - AGB Australia Consultants 7 - Proposed tram and bus depot - South Melbourne - Detailed evaluation 8 - Depot and Route vehicle composition 9 - Options and Feasibility study of Additional W class trams in Melbourne.trams, tramways, melbourne, routes, strategic reviews, tramway systems

COLOUR PHOTO, MOUNTED ON THICK CARDBOARD, OF AN ARMY TRUCK. The truck has its canvas cover removed. Only a driver can be seen in the truck cabin. Truck Regn 38-533. it has a 3 Div Tac sign. It has a blue and red TAC sign with NR72 stencilled on it. It appears to be a box or ironbark forest.passchendaele barracks trust, unimog truck, army reserve

F.A. Roberts' 1920s motor service transported a small number of passengers from Emerald to Melbourne and back daily. The weekday service left Emerald at 8am and left Melbourne at 5:30pm - this might have served the role of an early commuter service for a small number of Emerald residents with work in Melbourne, but more likely allowed Emerald residents to travel into the city occasionally, conduct business there, and return. The weekend service leaves Melbourne earlier than normal on a Saturday and returns (whether to Emerald or to Melbourne) late on a Sunday. This timetable would have been constructed to allow for Melbourners to visit Emerald on the weekend as tourists, or for Emerald residents to spend a weekend in the city whether on tourism or business. This service appears to have cost significantly more than a train journey; however, taking a direct route may have significantly cut down the travel time allowing for a more reasonable commute. This item provides information and an image of Emerald's first regular motor service.This item is a photograph and paper cutout pasted together on a card backing. A handwritten caption is also written directly onto the card backing. The photograph is a black and white image of a 1920s Paige 'Larchmont Sport' 6-55 automobile, a seven-passenger touring car. It sits on a road, with only the driver - likely F.A. Roberts - within. Behind it is a wooden fence and a forest in the background.Handwritten on Card: "Emerald's 1st motor service / operated by F.A. Roberts 1920's" Printed on Pasted Cutout: "EMERALD TO MELBOURNE / MOTOR SERVICE / Leaves Emerald 8 a.m. Daily / Leaves Melbourne 5.30 p.m. / Flinders Street (Cathedral) / Saturday.—Emerald 8 a.m., / Melbourne, 1.30 p.m. / Sunday.—Emerald, 6.15 p.m., / Melbourne, 8.30 p.m. / Fare 5/- Each Way. / ROUND TRIPS CAN BE ARRANGED / F. Roberts."emerald, 1920s, transport, tourism

Series of Black & White Photos Total 4 depicting post war life for the Hill Family & Friends. The Hayes' Family Buick, 4 occupants and two men standing on offside of vehicle, two men in front seat are wearing dark suits and hats, two ladies in rear seat wear dark clothing, one has a hat, man standing beside the car in dark suit white shirt and black tie, other man nearer the back is wearing a grey suit, wooden cross in background near rear of vehicle, trellis fence left background, short white picket fence right background, 'Durvol'. This photo has two men in the front seat, both wearing grey suits white shirts and black ties, driver only wears a hat, in the rear seat are two ladies wearing dark clothing, one wears a hat, and a male wearing a dark suit white shirt and dark tie, Note anti kick guards below each door. At Hanging Rock family group, three gentlemen one lady and two young girls, standing next to a road bridge with wooden railings, two males are dressed in dark suits white shirts and dark ties, one wears a hat, man sitting on bridge rail wears a grey suit white shirt and dark tie, the two young girls are wearing light coloured clothing. Martin, Jack, Tom & Dolly the Horse, three boys wearing dark clothing, two boys are wearing white shirts and dark ties, Dolly is dark coloured, background shows gable roofed house with one chimney, end of veranda , large tree left background, wooden paling fence, 'Durvol' property Kyneton 1923.Hilda Hill Pesdonal Collectionaustralia, history, post war life

Tolls were used on the Great Ocean Road from 192 until 19. . Toll gates were at Eastern View and Lorne. Money collected was used to help pay for the construction and maintenance of the road.The Great Ocean Road was built largely by returned serviceman from the First World . The road was built to link the coastal towns, provide better access, to foster tourism and employ the returned servicemen. Fewer private vehicles travelled the road then, most tourists came on coaches and buses. Tourists stayed in guesthouses and hotels. A laminated rectangular , beige , cardboard Great Ocean Road Passenger Service Annual Pass for 1936. Printing is in red lettering with black ink handwritingGreat Ocean Road Passenger Service/Annual Pass/For the year ending November 30th 1936 No 2/Issued to K Quicks Sedan Motors/Subject to compliance with Government Trust Regulations/For Passenger Vehicle Registered No 220529/For the Great Ocean Road Trust PTY LTD/ Date of Issued 3/12/35/ signature unclear/ Secretary/ This pass, which is for Driver and Vehicle only, must be carried by/ Driver, and produced to Toll Gate- keeper on demand, otherwise ordinary / Toll Fees are chargeable.great ocean road, great ocean road tolls

Raymond Island Ferry Driver's Cap issued by Shire of Bairnsdale with new ferry in March 1969 Issued to Ferry Driver George BouldOnly cap in existenceOfficer peak cap White plastic with black leather peak and band Gold cord insignia Gold and Black embroidered Lifebuoy and anchor badgeManufacturer's plate 1 Underside of cap MELBOURNE 361218 EMERCO Oval Trademark with kangaroos each side REG TRADEMARK THIS IS YOUR GUARANTEE FOR QUALITY MADE IN AUSTRALIA Manufacturer's plate 2 Front inner brim SWEAT ABSORBER TEXTILE 100% SWEATPROOF raymond island ferry, ferry driver, ferryman, ferryman s cap, 1969

Made of leather and placed on either side of a horse's eyes and attached either to a bridle or an independent hood. Used by farmers, carters, bullock drivers etc specially when the horse is in a team of horses.Used by farmers in the Kiewa Valley.Drag Blinkers, also known as binders or winkers. Used beside the horse's eyes so that the horse can only look forward and not be distracted by other horses in the team. Straps are leather with steel buckles.horse blinkers, horse equipment

Holden divisional van at Russell Street with blue light on roof and siren affixed to bonnet. There is an unidentified person in the driver's seat. The car is parked in front of an entrance way that is signed as 'Cars Only'. Circa 1965police vehicles; motor transport branch; motor transport section; holden divisional van; russell street

This type of kit was used by the Regiment for vehicular cross country navigation. The crew commander would stand in front of the vehicle with a prismatic compass and guide the driver to align the vehicle on the back bearing of the required direction of travel. The discs were set for time of day and the required bearing and the driver would watch the compass and steer so that the shadow of the gnome was on the arrow. The compass would be re-set about every half hour to adjust for rotation of the Earth. In featureless country navigation was by dead reckoning by direction travelled by compass and distance travelled from the vehicle odometer. Armoured vehicles are now equipped with GPS navigation aids rendering the sun compass obsolete Type of equipment used by the Regiment on exercisesMetal construction. One fixed and one rotatable aluminium disc with a vertical steel gnome at the centre. The lower disc is marked with bearings in mils, the upper with time of day. There is a rotatable aluminium arrow under the 2 discs. A 33 mm dia spirit level is fixed to the top disc.On spirit level "GENERAL #847"daytime use only, navigation aid

Licences were for Murray Stanley Metherall (born Glenhuntly) No 35455. Serving in the Australian Army Educational Corps Murray was the only such person to serve in the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam. As a Capt age 44 years he served in Vietnam as Adjutant with AATTV/HQ AFV (Army) from 29.1.68 to 21.1.69. He would catch rides by Jeep, truck, aeroplane, with Americans, by any means to all the outposts in Vietnam where the “Team” served delivering mail and pay. .1) Army cinematograph operator's license made of brown printed fabric. .2) Army drivers license made of brown printed fabric..1) & .2) “Australian Military Forces”documents, licenses, drivers, cinema, aattv

Paper certificate: (copy) Board of examiners for engine-drivers, first class. Certificate of Competency as Engine-Driver. Issued to Mr. John Henry Moorhead on 29th. April 1900. Handwritten along side ' in winding, available for link motion winding engines only.' Associated with items 1235 - 1240 which were displayed together.topic, mining, engine drivers certificate

Len Parker's Bedford truck is featured in one of the public art mosaics in Were Street, Montmorency. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker, panton hill, tosch property

Len Parker's Bedford truck is featured in one of the public art mosaics in Were Street, Montmorency. The little girl is Grace de Visser's sister. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker

Len's Bedford truk is featured in one of the Montmorency Were Street shopping precinct mosaics. Mr Parker by Grace de Visser (EDHS Newsletter No. 249, December 2019) Len Parker was a regular sight around the district for almost 40 years, selling fruit and veggies from the back of his truck to his regular customers between 1939 and 1978, first in a 1927 Chevy then a 1949 Bedford truck. Len’s connection to the Eltham district started long before he was born. His father Fred first came through the district in the early 1900s. With horse and cart buying and selling what was available at the markets using his mothers’ home in North Melbourne as his base. Fred settled and developed a market garden in the rich soil along the creek at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills in 1903. Ada Watson was almost five years old and one of eight siblings aged two to sixteen, when her Grandfather and Father both named Christopher Watson brought the Eltham Hotel and they moved from Richmond. Ada’s mother was formerly Emily Silk whose parents Martha and John Silk had been farming in Eltham around 1858 and much later a dairy farmer in Fitzroy. In 1917 at St Margaret’s Church Eltham, Fred aged 44 married Ada aged 35 who was still living and working at the Eltham Hotel. Six years later Ada died from cancer leaving Fred with two small children, Rose five and Len three. Len as a young boy, like his father before him worked the land with horses, growing vegetables, mainly potatoes, cabbages, pumpkins, beans, and tomatoes, selling the excess at the market. Len took over from his ageing father Fred, who had established similar rounds selling door to door with a horse and cart. Len preferred mechanical horsepower to the real kind! In 1939 at the age of eighteen Len brought an old 1927 Chevy Truck. He was taught how to drive it and two weeks later got his driver’s Licence. The Chevy truck had an old wagon on the back with no doors, only hessian bags to keep the wind out! Len had paid 75 pounds for it, kept it for ten years and sold it for the same price! Len’s blue 1949 Bedford was brought new in 1950 for 900 pounds with only a tray back on it. Straight away Len had a wooden frame covered with canvas added, with a roll up front and back. In later years, more solid sides replaced the canvas. Benches were added to hold the boxes of fruit and vegetables, with room to move in the middle, a fruit shop on wheels. Len had large scales attached to a box for weighing the fruit and veggies and many a district baby was also weighed on them. Len would stop at customer’s homes, take their orders and with his big cane basket on his arm deliver their order to their door. On his rounds he always wore a big soft back leather apron and a black or navy beret. If it was cold, he wore a ‘bluey’ jacket on his tall slender frame. Len would go to the markets early Thursday morning, only buying what was not grown at home or brought from his brother in law’s orchard. On his way home Len would start his ‘rounds’ in Lower Plenty and then Montmorency and parts of Eltham. Friday’s regulars were in Research, Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill. Saturdays were Panton Hill and Christmas Hills. When Len retired in 1978, due to changing social times, women were working more and supermarkets starting to take over; his ageing truck was retired too. In 1999 his son Jim had the Bedford restored, Len was very happy to see ‘Beddy’ all shiny and new once again with just a tray back, like when it was new. Jim still drives the ‘Beddy’ to Heritage Truck shows twenty years on. Len married, had five children and lived most of his life, (except during World War 2 when he served in New Guinea), at Watsons Creek, Christmas Hills dying there in 2006 and is buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery with his wife of 64 years, Stella nee Tosch 1917 - 2007. Grace de Visser, the author of this article, is the daughter of Len Parker and a descendant of the two former owners of the Eltham Hotel, both named Christopher Watson. bedford truck, len parker

[article by Diana Bassett-Smith in EDHS Newsletter No. 117, November 1997:] MONUMENT HUNTING THE HUME AND HOVELL WAY - Sunday October 26 1997 dawned bright and very warm. Some twenty-five members, complete with picnic baskets, met outside the Eltham Library awaiting the Cobb and Co. large coach which would be taking us on the second leg of our travels along the route of the early explorers Hume and Hovell. Stephen West was our very good driver for the day. He would be guided around the circuitous route by Russell Yeoman who had made a detailed study, not only of the intended route, but of the story of these two explorers. During the trip Russell regaled us with poetry, quotations from the Journals and the History of the Shire of Seymour, "The New Crossing Place" by Martindale, 1982, (now Mitchell Shire due to the recent amalgamations). We headed towards the Hume Highway via Greensborough and Cooper Street and proceeded north to our first stop, noting on the way Monument Hill in the distance which is near Kilmore and, according to Russell, well worth the effort to visit as the view across the valley is magnificent. Past Sunday Creek Valley, Mt Piper and Mt Disappointment, all traversed and noted and named by them. We passed through Tallarook, then onto Seymour where we took photos of the monument telling us that Hume and Hovell had passed through on the 28th of October 1824. We also deviated down Hume and Hovell Road viewing deer and emu farming and the Bellbourie property now a sanctuary. Leaving Seymour behind we travelled up the Avenel Road to the Avenel monument, pyramidal in design of four reducing square blocks with a sharply pointed peak, erected in 1924 in memory of the 1824 exploration. The day was warming up and the countryside showing the dryness of the current drought. A parallel note had been made in their journal too of 1824 of the drought appearance of the country they were traversing. At Seven Creeks, Euroa we stopped for some minutes to check the monument placed 20th November 1924 to commemorate their passage on the 29th December 1824. More photos. Russell had pointed out the abrupt termination of the distant ranges which is noted in their journal. The next monument is beside the road at the entrance to Honey Suckle Creek Caravan Park, Violet Town. The squarish shaped monument some eight feet high is topped with a simple steel cross, and was to mark the date of 28th December 1824 and built for the 20th November 1924. By now it was 12.20 and nearly lunchtime as we drove along the Warranbayne Road to Roach's Road, monument hunting without success. Though there is a large, what appears to be an old timber sign which was hard to read, maybe this was the lost monument. In many of the paddocks hay had been cut and baled or was being cut, what a contrast to the rugged country they had passed through which was smoky from the fires of the natives burning off. By 1.00 pm we were at Benalla and pulled up beside the park where abundant beds of roses filled the air with their scent and the smell of barbecued food twitched the nostrils whilst the cheerful sounds of other picnickers could be heard throughout the park. We left the bus and collected up our picnics, dispersed to the various tables and enjoyed the shade from the various European trees. 2.00 pm and we were on the road again driving along the Benalla, Mansfield, Yea road. The Swanpool monument states that they passed four miles south and returned three miles north. Then we stopped at the Barjarg monument which notes that they camped near this spot. It is again a pyramidal monument and this time topped with a steel arrow indicating their route of the 29th November 1824. Half an hour later we came to another monument, again with a steel arrow marker on top and the plaque dated the 2nd of 12th 1824. Erected on the 12th of 12th 1924. "They blazed the way that we might inherit the land." Another square based and needle topped monument appeared at Yarck near Yea and this plaque records the date of 3 December 1824. Near McGuigans Road Russell related that the expedition had lost a dog but it had found them next day, the dog was apparently torn by a kangaroo. A short while later Russell reminded us here of the problems they encountered in crossing the Goulburn River near Molesworth where banks were high, water deep and wide. "Good coat of grass but quite dry due to drought". At Yea we stopped for afternoon tea and raided the last of our picnics and looked at the monument to their journey of 1824, situated at a corner of the gardens near the bowling green. No photo – we were out of film. We returned home via Kinglake West and Whittlesea past the Yan Yean Reservoir, not full. 5.00 pm back at Eltham we emptied out of the bus and everyone, including Joan Cole, collected their things, Joan also had the major souvenir of the day, a large carp she had picked up from the river bank, her cat was in for a great feast. The day was made so interesting by the informed commentary which Russell provided. His background knowledge of the route and nature of the journey could only have come from many hours of reading and driving the area. Thank you to Russell and to everyone who made the day so informative and pleasurable. Colour photographactivities, hume and hovell, monument, seymour

[article by Diana Bassett-Smith in EDHS Newsletter No. 117, November 1997:] MONUMENT HUNTING THE HUME AND HOVELL WAY - Sunday October 26 1997 dawned bright and very warm. Some twenty-five members, complete with picnic baskets, met outside the Eltham Library awaiting the Cobb and Co. large coach which would be taking us on the second leg of our travels along the route of the early explorers Hume and Hovell. Stephen West was our very good driver for the day. He would be guided around the circuitous route by Russell Yeoman who had made a detailed study, not only of the intended route, but of the story of these two explorers. During the trip Russell regaled us with poetry, quotations from the Journals and the History of the Shire of Seymour, "The New Crossing Place" by Martindale, 1982, (now Mitchell Shire due to the recent amalgamations). We headed towards the Hume Highway via Greensborough and Cooper Street and proceeded north to our first stop, noting on the way Monument Hill in the distance which is near Kilmore and, according to Russell, well worth the effort to visit as the view across the valley is magnificent. Past Sunday Creek Valley, Mt Piper and Mt Disappointment, all traversed and noted and named by them. We passed through Tallarook, then onto Seymour where we took photos of the monument telling us that Hume and Hovell had passed through on the 28th of October 1824. We also deviated down Hume and Hovell Road viewing deer and emu farming and the Bellbourie property now a sanctuary. Leaving Seymour behind we travelled up the Avenel Road to the Avenel monument, pyramidal in design of four reducing square blocks with a sharply pointed peak, erected in 1924 in memory of the 1824 exploration. The day was warming up and the countryside showing the dryness of the current drought. A parallel note had been made in their journal too of 1824 of the drought appearance of the country they were traversing. At Seven Creeks, Euroa we stopped for some minutes to check the monument placed 20th November 1924 to commemorate their passage on the 29th December 1824. More photos. Russell had pointed out the abrupt termination of the distant ranges which is noted in their journal. The next monument is beside the road at the entrance to Honey Suckle Creek Caravan Park, Violet Town. The squarish shaped monument some eight feet high is topped with a simple steel cross, and was to mark the date of 28th December 1824 and built for the 20th November 1924. By now it was 12.20 and nearly lunchtime as we drove along the Warranbayne Road to Roach's Road, monument hunting without success. Though there is a large, what appears to be an old timber sign which was hard to read, maybe this was the lost monument. In many of the paddocks hay had been cut and baled or was being cut, what a contrast to the rugged country they had passed through which was smoky from the fires of the natives burning off. By 1.00 pm we were at Benalla and pulled up beside the park where abundant beds of roses filled the air with their scent and the smell of barbecued food twitched the nostrils whilst the cheerful sounds of other picnickers could be heard throughout the park. We left the bus and collected up our picnics, dispersed to the various tables and enjoyed the shade from the various European trees. 2.00 pm and we were on the road again driving along the Benalla, Mansfield, Yea road. The Swanpool monument states that they passed four miles south and returned three miles north. Then we stopped at the Barjarg monument which notes that they camped near this spot. It is again a pyramidal monument and this time topped with a steel arrow indicating their route of the 29th November 1824. Half an hour later we came to another monument, again with a steel arrow marker on top and the plaque dated the 2nd of 12th 1824. Erected on the 12th of 12th 1924. "They blazed the way that we might inherit the land." Another square based and needle topped monument appeared at Yarck near Yea and this plaque records the date of 3 December 1824. Near McGuigans Road Russell related that the expedition had lost a dog but it had found them next day, the dog was apparently torn by a kangaroo. A short while later Russell reminded us here of the problems they encountered in crossing the Goulburn River near Molesworth where banks were high, water deep and wide. "Good coat of grass but quite dry due to drought". At Yea we stopped for afternoon tea and raided the last of our picnics and looked at the monument to their journey of 1824, situated at a corner of the gardens near the bowling green. No photo – we were out of film. We returned home via Kinglake West and Whittlesea past the Yan Yean Reservoir, not full. 5.00 pm back at Eltham we emptied out of the bus and everyone, including Joan Cole, collected their things, Joan also had the major souvenir of the day, a large carp she had picked up from the river bank, her cat was in for a great feast. The day was made so interesting by the informed commentary which Russell provided. His background knowledge of the route and nature of the journey could only have come from many hours of reading and driving the area. Thank you to Russell and to everyone who made the day so informative and pleasurable. Colour photographactivities, hume and hovell, bridge