These ledgers are administrative records of the Warrnambool Friendly Societies Park Trust. One contains Minutes of meetings from 1931 to 1947 and the other is an Accounts Book with records of payments for salaries, insurance, rentals, ground improvements etc. from 1908 to 1947. Some inserts in the ledgers date back to the early days of the Trust. In 1871 the Friendly Societies of Warrnambool (benefit societies which mainly offered members heath cover, including the Oddfellows, Foresters, Hibernians,, Rechabites, Sons of Temperance, Druids and Protestant Alliance) established a sports ground in Warrnambool. This included facilities for cricket, football and Athletics Carnivals and other public demonstrations and meetings and was administered by a Trust with members representing each of the Friendly Societies. Today the area is a major sports facility and still has the name Friendly Societies Park but it is now administered by the Warrnambool City Council. These items are of considerable historical interest as they contain much detail about the early history of the Friendly Societies Park Trust and give researchers valuable information on the work of benefit societies in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in Warrnambool and also on a major sports facility still existing in Warrnambool. .1 Ledger of 380 pages with a black cover and beige leather spine and corners. The edges of the pages are marbled and the pages have printed red and blue lines. The handwritten entries are in ink. There are some loose inserts in this ledger. .2 Ledger of 510 pages with a black cover and beige leather spine and corners. The pages have an alphabetical index at the front and have red and blue printed lines. The handwritten entries are in ink. friendly societies park warrnambool, friendly societies in warrnambool

Three pages of research by Rita Hull on Friendly Societies. Includes name of Society, when established, the number of Members, and the years 1865,1875, 1881,1891, 1895 and 1907 (an asterisk if they were still operating). Listed are the Society names and the different Court, Lodge, etc. under the name. They are: Manchester Unity Independent Order of Odd Fellows M.U.I.O.O.F. - Loyal Bendigo Loyal Gold Miners' Pride, Loyal James Roe, Loyal Strangers' Refuge, Loyal Heart of Friendship, Loyal Albert, Loyal Sir Henry Barkly, Loyal Catherine, Loyal Darling and Earl of Hopetoun. Ancient Order of Foresters A.O.F. - Court Royal Oak, Court Queen of the Forest, Court Pride of the Forest, Court Happy Valley, Court Bendigo, Court Banner of Hope, Court Sherwood, Court King of the Forest, Court Alexandra, Court Victoria and Court Star of Bendigo (Women). Independent Order of Oddfellows I.O.O. - Loyal Sandhurst Lodge, Court Weeroona and Golden Star Rebekah. Independent Order of Rechabites I.O.R. - Tent Star of Bendigo, Tent Refuge, Tent Cobden, Tent Olive Branch, Tent Laurel, Tent Sutton and Tent Herald of Peace. Sons and Daughters of Temperance - Royal Diadem Division, Ark of Safety, Royal Septre, Hope of Sandhurst (Ladies), Princess Beatrice (Ladies), Lady Loch (Ladies) and Laurel (Ladies). Grand United Order of Oddfellows G.U.O.O.F. - Lodge Star of Eaglehawk, Lodge Sandhurst, Lodge Pride of Bendigo, Lodge Olive Branch and Lodge Belvidere. United Ancient Order of Druids U.A.O.D. - Lodge Quartzopolis, Lodge Eldorado, Lodge Caractacus, Lodge Bendigo and Lodge Sandhurst. Order of St Andrew (Scottish Constitution) - Bendigo Lodge No 1. Order of St Andrew (All Nations) - Lodge Sandhurst and Lodge Unity. Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes R.A.O.B. - Provincial Grand Lodge No 1, Prairie Lodge, Forest Lodge and Southern Cross Lodge. The Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society H.A.C.B.S. - St Kilian's No 4 and Eaglehawk Branch. Independent Order of Good Templars - Lodge Bendigo, Lodge Guiding Star, and Lodge Hope of Golden Square. Loyal Orange Institution of Victoria - Lodge William Lodge and Loyal Governor Bowen (Pride of Eaglehawksocieties, order of .., list, list of friendly societies, rita hull, manchester unity independent order of odd fellows m.u.i.o.o.f., ancient order of foresters a.o.f., independent order of oddfellows i.o.o., independent order of rechabites i.o.r., sons and daughters of temperance, grand united order of oddfellows g.u.o.o.f., united ancient order of druids u.a.o.d., order of st andrew (scottish constitution), order of st andrew (all nations), royal antediluvian order of buffaloes r.a.o.b., the hibernian australasian catholic benefit society h.a.c.b.s., independent order of good templars, loyal orange institution of victoria, australian natives association a.n.a.

This lithographic illuminated address issued to E J Swift for his services to the lodge by the United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) Grand Lodge of Australia. E. J. Swift served as the Grand Secretary during a significant era when the UAOD (Melbourne) was one of Victoria's most influential friendly societies. Swift was a key figure in the development and opening of Druids House at 407–409 Swanston Street, Melbourne. He was present when the building was officially opened on 4 April 1927 by the Lord Mayor of Melbourne.The UAOD was founded in Melbourne in 1851 as an offshoot from it's English Order. The UAOD functioned as a friendly society, providing medical, funeral, and sickness benefits to its members. The illuminated address is produced by the prominent Melbourne firm Troedel & Co. (leading lithographer).An illuminated address from the United Ancient Order of Druids Grand Lodge of Australia presented to E. J. Swift. "This is to certify that brother E J Swift has faithfully discharged the office of District President in No. 10 district and is therefore entitled to rank District Past President". Signed by two members of the Grand Lodge (Chambers President and Grand sec.) Printed on card with a hand painted image showing a group of Bendigo men in ancient costume at top, Stonehenge on bottom and bordered with leaves and acorns. Markings - Troedel & Co Lith Melb. Dated 5th March 1909person, individual, e j swift

Samuel Bolton of 244 Union Road, Surrey Hills in his 'Druid's Collar' in 1950. Samuel and his son-in-law Patrick Burns were staunch Druids. The Lodge met monthly in the Rechabite Hall in Canterbury Road. The United Ancient Order of Druids (UAOD) was founded in Victoria around 1862. An account is included in Ken James' book 'Surrey Hills Friendly Societies'. This is based on Box Hill Reporter articles and material in relevant files at PROV. Summary: The Surrey Hills Lodge was established in 1890. The trustees were Ernest W Opperman (newsagent), James H Corstorphan (grocer) and Thomas White (plasterer). Opening night was 27 November 1890 and early meetings were held in Br Corstorphan's home in Canterbury Road on Tuesday evenings. By 1891 the ledge had 80 members. Samuel (1978-1951) was a butcher who came to Surrey Hills from Euroa some time between 1926-1931. His shop was at the Mon Albert terminus. After he sold it, it became part of the supermarket on the north side of Whitehorse Road. He was married in 1879 to Elizabeth Beatrice Maker (1881-1963).A black and white photograph of a man with regalia collar around his neck.(mr) samuel bolton, union road, surrey hills, druids, rechabite hall, clothing and dress, united ancient order of druids, druid's regalia, regalia, friendly societies

The plaque in the photograph commemorates the planting of a Druids Oak in 1870.In 2009, doubt surrounds the planting of the Druids Oak tree. Was this the first Druids Oak to be planted in Ballarat? These trees make up an interesting aspect of Ballarat history.1 coloured gloss photograph of the Druids Oak plaque.Back lefthand corner of the photo written in blue biro on a white label, "Druid's Oak, 27Dec.1870, 1Dec. 2009."druids oak, druids friendly society, john garner, doctor, john garner collection, ballarat botanical gardens, friends of ballarat botanical gardens, plaque, gardens, ballarat