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Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Education Gazette, 1940s
... forest week... needlework harold herbert obituary drawing school plantations forest ...Victorian Education Gazettes were sent to each Victorian school for the use of teachers. 10 black bound books with red spine. They are bound education gazettes from the 1940seducation gazette, teaching, drawing for secondary school, first aid, king's birthday, pre-nursing, gallipoli legion of anzacs, scholarships, creswick school of forestry, swimming, swimming and life-saving return, accomodation for teachers, ballarat teachers' college, chemistry experiments, war relief appeal, needlework, harold herbert obituary, drawing, school plantations, forest week, gould league, heavy colds - exclusion, pioneer's day, school gardens, scrap rubber, bogong, high school histories, melbourne teachers' college art collections, deaf children, physical education, education -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Article, Finding solutions to complex social woes, 1993
... violence in shopping centres, held at Forest hill Chase last week... in shopping centres, held at Forest hill Chase last week. A conference ...A conference, convened after growing problem of youth violence in shopping centres, held at Forest hill Chase last week.A conference, convened after growing problem of youth violence in shopping centres, held at Forest hill Chase last week. Forest Hill Chase has worked with local police and Nunawading Council to find innovative ways to overcome problems in the municipality.A conference, convened after growing problem of youth violence in shopping centres, held at Forest hill Chase last week. businesses, forde, elaine, forest hill chase, youth -
Orbost & District Historical Society
black and white photograph, 1939
Buldah School was No. 4555. Mrs L. Petterson made application for a school at Buldah during 1936. It was opened on 8th of August 1937 by Herbert H. Eynstone acting as Head Teacher. He held this position for only about two weeks. The school closed during 1941. The Petterson brothers were early settlers in Cann River - late 19th century. This is a pictorial record of a school route in the first half of the 20th century. The Buldah School no longer exists.A black / white photograph of a bush track in a forest. There is water running across the track.on back - Don. by Mrs D. Petterson, only track to Buldah School in winter 1939...."buldah-east-gippsland -
Bendigo Military Museum
Postcard - POSTCARD, VARIOUS, cWW1
Each postcard features handwritten anecdotes and letters to various people in R.H. Baron's family. Baron was a band member. Part of the "Robert H. Baron" (No. 3596) and Cooper Collections. See Catalogue No. 1981P for details of Baron's service.1. Coloured drawing of a Stately house with motor car, people and a horse in foreground. 2. Coloured drawing of a couple walking through an avenue of trees. 3. Black and white photograph of a church with square tower. 4. Coloured photograph of a mill building and adjacent body of water. 5. Black and white photograph of a row of buildings fronting an unsealed road. 6. Sepia toned photograph of a large stately three storey house.1. Handwritten in black ink on back: 'Letter to Doris written by R.H. Baron - dated 14 July 1918'. Picturesque, Wiltshire, Charlton House, near Malmsbury. 2. Picturesque Wiltshire Avenue, Savernake Forest. Handwritten in black ink on back: 'Letter to R.H. Baron's sisters and brothers.' 3. St. Mary's Church, Motcombe, Dorset. Handwritten in black ink on back: 'We played at a service at this church last Sunday night (1/12/18), Bob xxx' 4. Worplesdan, Rickford Mill, Handwritten in black ink on back: ' Letter to Alf from R.H. Baron.' 5. Crown Inn, etc. Hartley Row. Handwritten in black ink on back. 'Anecdote signed by Bob (R.H. Baron)'. 6. Longleat House. Handwritten in black ink on back; 'We were playing at a dance at this place a few weeks ago. We had a splendid time. It is near Bath, Bob'.robert h. baron, cooper collection, postcards, ww1 -
Port of Echuca
Coloured Photograph, 04/03/1984
The P.S Adelaide was launched on 21st July 1866. It was owned by J.G.Grassie from Poon Boon Station and the Officer Family of Murray Downs Station Swan Hill. The Adelaide was named after the niece of the Officer Bros, Adelaide Blackwood. The shipwright who built her was George Linklater. The Adelaide brought wool and passengers from the wool stations on the Murray and Darling Rivers down to the Echuca Wharf. In 1872 she was sold to David Blair & Sons. She was used to bring timber from the Barmah Forest to the Echuca Wharf. She did this work for the next 80 years. In 1953 she was tied up near the Mill and left. In 1958 she went to Paringa South Australia to work in the sawmill industry again. In 1960 the Echuca Apex Club and The Echuca Historical Society raised enough funds to buy the P.S. Adelaide and return her to Echuca. In November 1963 she was lifted out of the water and placed in Hopwood Gardens as this was thought to be a way of preserving her. In 1984 it was decided to return her to the water to resume work as a passenger vessel. In that time the Port of Echuca and the Echuca Wharf had been restored as a Tourist Precinct. This photograph shows the beginning of the task to return her to the river. It took several weeks in March 1984.The P.S Adelaide is extremely significant as it it the oldest known wooden hulled paddle steamers in the world. She was built in Echuca in 1866 and still operates on the Murray River today. She has worked in the Wool Industry, the Timber Industry and the Tourist Industry.This is a coloured square photograph of an orange front end loader clearing a track from Hopwood Gardens down to the river. The track was used to bring the P.S Adelaide from the gardens back into the river. The P.S Adelaide is in the background. The paddle steamer appears to be up on a trailer of some sort and is surrounded but plastic orange temporary fencing. There are small mounds of soil in the foreground.On the orange front end loader are the numbers "5900" and the word "case." p.s. adelaide, grassie, j.g, port of echuca, linklater, george, poon boon station, blair, david, murray river, darling river, logging industry, officer brothers., barmah forest, fulton & shaw, hutchinson, kevin, murray downs station, blackwood, adelaide -
Port of Echuca
Photograph, 1984
The P.S Adelaide was launched on 21st July 1866. It was owned by J.G.Grassie from Poon Boon Station and the Officer Family of Murray Downs Station Swan Hill. The Adelaide was named after the niece of the Officer Bros, Adelaide Blackwood. The shipwright who built her was George Linklater. The Adelaide brought wool and passengers from the wool stations on the Murray and Darling Rivers down to the Echuca Wharf. In 1872 she was sold to David Blair & Sons. She was used to bring timber from the Barmah Forest to the Echuca Wharf. She did this work for the next 80 years. In 1953 she was tied up near the Mill and left. In 1958 she went to Paringa South Australia to work in the sawmill industry again. In 1960 the Echuca Apex Club and The Echuca Historical Society raised enough funds to buy the P.S. Adelaide and return her to Echuca. In November 1963 she was lifted out of the water and placed in Hopwood Gardens as this was thought to be a way of preserving her. In 1984 it was decided to return her to the water to resume work as a passenger vessel. In that time the Port of Echuca and the Echuca Wharf had been restored as a Tourist Precinct. This photograph shows the beginning of the task to return her to the river. It took several weeks in March and April 1984.The P.S Adelaide is extremely significant as it it the oldest known wooden hulled paddle steamers in the world. She was built in Echuca in 1866 and still operates on the Murray River today. She has worked in the Wool Industry, the Timber Industry and the Tourist Industry.Colour photograph of the P.S Adelaide, having been hauled out and dry-docked. The P.S Adelaide is resting on a log platform with a winch attached to the front.p.s. adelaide, grassie, j.g, port of echuca, linklater, george, poon boon station, blair, david, murray river, darling river, logging industry, officer brothers., barmah forest, fulton & shaw, hutchinson, kevin, murray downs station, blackwood, adelaide, 1866, 1984 -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper - News Clipping, Herald, The big Eltham clean-up gets under way, Herald, 4 March, p3, 1965
Full page newspaper clipping featuring the March 1965 Victorian bushfires. Items include: Photograph - TWO-WOMAN BUCKET BRIGADE, Mrs Henry Marsden (left) and Mrs Moureen Ellis, whose fire-fighting efforts yesterday were highly praised today by their Eltham neighbours, carry out mopping-up operations Photograph - DOGS MADE HOMELESS by the fire in North Eltham yesterday are being cared for at First-Constable Doug. Mummery's kennels at Eltham and here is kennel maid Helen Oliver, 17, with some of them today. The two basset hounds are owned by Mr Bill Guy who lost about 100 daschund and basset hound puppies and dogs in the fire. Photograph - He died at Eltham [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 Other news stories of the day: Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight. IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue, doug mummery, helen oliver, mrs henry marsden, mrs moureen ellis -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Newspaper - News Clipping, Herald, He died at Eltham. Herald, March 4, p3, 4 Mar 1965
John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 He died at Eltham (Herald, 4 March 1965, p3) [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. * * * Frank Martin was a volunteer with the Eltham rural fire brigade at the time of the 1965 bushfires which burnt Eltham North and Research. Frank was asked to assist with the removal of three bodies from the back gully (now Orchard Avenue). They were badly burnt and one was found stuck under a fence as though trying to escape. Volunteers John Coleman Jnr, William Elwers and George Crowe were killed trying to protect Eltham from bushfire – they were local heroes. At the time, John Coleman Jnr was survived by his wife Margaret and two young children – John 11 and Vicky 2. Margaret Coleman lived in the family home until 1992 when she sold it and moved to Tasmania to be close to her son. She died in 1997 aged 65 years. 75 yr old Ken Gaston grew up on Edendale farm, which was originally a poultry farm but is now owned and run by the Shire of Nillumbik as an educational farm for schools and visitors. He was Captain of the Eltham rural fire brigade in 1965 when John Coleman Jnr was burnt to death in the Eltham North bushfires serving as an unofficial volunteer. He was able to draw where the original Wattletree Road was and at the time was verified with the location of some remaining bitumen and a post from the original bridge over the Diamond Creek located near the junction of the Diamond Creek and another small creek which is further down from Research or Christmas Creek as locals refer to it. The original Main Road ran behind Colemans before the railway line was built beyond Eltham in 1912. (Information recorded by Harry Gilham, President EDHS c.2011) * * * Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight. IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue -
Marysville & District Historical Society
Postcard (item) - Black and white postcard, Nicholas John Caire, Township of Marysville, 1858-1918
One of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds.One of a series of postcards of photographs taken by socialite photographer Nicholas John Caire. N.J. Caire had a great love for the area in and surrounding Marysville and in the late 1800's took many photographs of Marysville and its surrounds. N.J. Caire was born in 1837 in Guernsey. He arrived in Adelaide about 1860 along with his parents who encouraged his early interest in photography. He opened a studio in Adelaide in 1867 after traveling extensively throughout the Gippsland taking photographs. After marrying in 1870 he moved to Talbot in Victoria until 1876 when he opened a studio in the Royal Arcade in Melbourne. After 1885 N.J. Caire gave up his city work and made his home in South Yarra and devoted the rest of his life to outdoor photography, specializing in the bush, the gullies and the mountains of south-eastern Victoria. POST CARD The Address to be written on this side This space may be used for Correspondence/ within the Commonwealth at 1d. rate./ Foreign, charged ordinary letter rate. St. Fillans/ Narbethong This is the/ little village we/ visited last week/ E.L. Mrs R.D. Cole/ Mozart Villa/ Bethanga One penny Victorian postage stamp Date Stamp/ Illegible Date Stamp/ JA 16/ 6/ VICTORIA/ Illegiblemarysville, victoria, nicholas john caire, postcard, souvenir -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training Navigation Exercise, 1985
This is a set of 16 photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking a non-tactical navigation exercise, part of the field phase of regimental training in the Wellsford Forest, Bendigo 1985. This was one of the six regimental training objectives outlined in the administrative instruction – Exercise “City Soldier” accompanying these photos. The other objectives were SLR rifle and M30 grenade handling revision, and first aid at Fortuna; RATEL at Wellsford Forest and rifle shooting at Wellsford Rifle Range. Personnel from Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons were reallocated to four training platoons for one week from 7th to 11th October 1985.This is a set of 16 photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking a navigation exercise in the Wellford Forest, Bendigo 1985. Black & white photos .1P to .10P are printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photos .11P to .16P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Mick Minchin, SGT Alan Staley, CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds SPR Wendy (Leitinger) McCarthy. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified, SPR Wendy (Leitinger) McCarthy, CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, unidentified, SGT Alan Staley, SPR Dave Lawler. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Greg Honan, CPL Grant McGuinness, SPR Leah (Hoffman) Peppler, CPL Ken Peters, SSGT Ian ‘Rock’ Thistleton, SSGT Kevin ‘Spook’ Kennedy. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Peter ‘Spoon’ Lefel, unidentified, CPL Mick ‘Buddha’ Ellis. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SSGT Harald Mai, unidentified. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1985, WO1 Dick Manley. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: LT Brenton MacDonald, LT Kathie Ryan, WO1 Brian Mead. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: LT Carol Dunstan, unidentified, CPL John Reid. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: WO1 Dick Manley, unidentified, LT Carol Dunstan. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified (x2), WO1 Dick Manley. .14) - Photo, black & white, 1985, LT Brenton McDonald. .15) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, SPR Wendy (Leitinger) McCarthy, CPL Mick Minchin. .16) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SPR Wendy (Leitinger) McCarthy, CPL Mick Minchin..1P to .16P – No personnel are identified.royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training at Wellsford Rifle Range, Bendigo, 1985
This is a set of seven photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking live fire SLR rifle qualification training at Wellsford Rifle Range, Bendigo 1985. This was the last of six regimental training objectives outlined in the administrative instruction – Exercise “City Soldier” accompanying these photos. The other objectives were SLR rifle and M30 grenade handling revision, and first aid at Fortuna; and navigation and RATEL at Wellsford Forest. Personnel from Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons were reallocated to four training platoons for one week from 7th to 11th October 1985. Rifle shooting at Wellsford Rifle Range occurred for two days at the end of the week.This is a set of seven photographs of the Army Survey Regiment undertaking live fire rifle qualification training at Wellsford Rifle Range, Bendigo, 1985. Black & white photos .1P to .5P are printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photos .6P to .7P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985, MAJ Terry Edward. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified US Army Exchange officer. .6) & .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified rifle range safety officer..1P to .7P – No personnel are identifiedroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training Military Skills Revision, 1985
This is a set of 35 photographs of the Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking military skills revision, at the Army Survey Regiment, Fortuna, Bendigo, 1985. They participated in lessons on the handling of the M30 Grenade and SLR Rifle. These lessons were part of the six objectives of regimental training outlined in the administrative instruction – Exercise “City Soldier” accompanying these photos. The other objectives were first aid at Fortuna, RATEL and navigation at Wellsford Forest; and rifle shooting at Wellsford Rifle Range. Personnel from Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons were reallocated to four training platoons for one week from 7th to 11th October 1985.This is a set of 35 photographs of the Army Survey Regiment undertaking military skills revision, part of Regimental Training at Fortuna Villa 1985. Black & white photos .1P to .17P are printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photos .18P to .35P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Brian Fauth, unidentified (x2), SGT Dennis Learmonth - instructor, unidentified (x2). .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel, SGT Dennis Learmonth – instructor. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel, SGT Dennis Learmonth – instructor. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel, SGT Dennis Learmonth - instructor. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SGT Dennis Learmonth – instructor, CPL Brian Fauth, SPR Viv (Hawkins) Doherty, CPL Ken Peters, CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, CPL Mick ‘Buddha’ Ellis, unidentified, SPR Wally Twidale, unidentified personnel. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, LT Ossie Slade. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, CPL Greg Honan, SGT Don Williams, LCPL Bob Sheppard, unidentified personnel. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, SPR Bloxham, SPR Jason Wells, unidentified personnel, CPL Gillham, CPL Peter Imeson, unidentified. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SPR Terry Winzar, unidentified, WO1 Noel ‘Nesty’ Coulthard, unidentified personnel. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SSGT Tony Harder – UK Exchange Instructor, unidentified personnel, CPL Bob Thrower, unidentified, SPR Jim Humphrey, LCPL Bob Sheppard. .14) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, CPL Mark Casey, SSGT Tony Harder – UK Exchange Instructor. .15) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified, CPL Paul Richards, SPR John Keely, CPL Peter Johnson, unidentified, SSGT Tony Harder – UK Exchange Instructor, SPR Dave Wright, unidentified personnel. .16) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified, WO2 Brian Partridge – Instructor, unidentified personnel. .17) - Photo, black & white, 1985, WO2 Brian Partridge – Instructor, unidentified personnel. Unidentified. .18) - Photo, black & white, 1985, CPL Lea-anne (Smallshaw) Shirley, CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, SGT Dennis Learmonth – instructor. .19) - Photo, black & white, 1985, SSGT Steve Hansen – Instructor, from background tree L to R: SPR Dave Lawler, CPL Ken Peters, CPL Steve Burke, SPR Wally Twidale, CPL Dave Murphy, SPR Jim Walker. .20) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified (x3), CPL Ian Nelson, CPL Eddy Jacobs, SPR Tracy (Parker) Ash, remainder unidentified. .21) - Photo, black & white, 1985, CPL Eddy Jacobs piggybacking SPR Jason Wells, remainder unidentified. .22) - Photo, black & white, 1985, CAPT Dave McLachlan piggybacking unidentified soldier. .23) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified soldiers competing in leapfrog race. .24) - Photo, black & white, 1985, SPR Leah (Hoffman) Peppler throwing dummy hand grenade, SSGT Ian ‘Rock’ Thistleton – Instructor. .25) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified soldiers’ basic pouches cleared by instructor at end of hand grenade lesson. .26) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified soldier throwing dummy hand grenade. .27) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel with dummy hand grenades, SGT Dennis Learmonth – instructor. .28) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified soldier throwing dummy hand grenade. .29) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel with dummy hand grenades, unidentified instructor. .30) - Photo, black & white, 1985, adjusting SLR rifle gas plugs L to R: unidentified, SPR John Keely, CPL Paul Richards, unidentified, CPL Peter Johnson, remaining personnel unidentified, unidentified instructor. .31) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified (x6), SPR Dave Wright, unidentified, SPR Barry Hogan, CPL Lyall Camp, SSGT Tony Harder – UK Exchange Instructor, SPR Steve Coulson, CPL Mark Lander. .32) - Photo, black & white, 1985, SLR rifle lesson L to R: unidentified, CPL Gary Drummond, SSGT Steve Hansen – Instructor in background, CPL Peter Breukel, SPR Steve Burke, CPL Brian Fauth, remaining personnel unidentified. .33) to .35) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified personnel during SLR rifle lesson..1P to .35P No personnel are identifiedroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training First Aid, 1985
This is a set of 14 photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking the First Aid phase of regimental training held at Fortuna, Bendigo c1985. This was one of six objectives outlined in the administrative instruction – Exercise “City Soldier” accompanying these photos. The other objectives were weapons skills revision for SLR Rifle and M30 Grenade at Fortuna; RATEL and navigation at Wellsford Forest; and rifle shooting at Wellsford Rifle Range. Personnel from Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons were reallocated to four training platoons for one week from 7th to 11th October 1985.This is a set of 14 photographs of the Army Survey Regiment undertaking first aid training, part of Regimental Training at Fortuna Villa, Bendigo. 1985. .1P to .8P are printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photos .9P to .14P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: WO1 Dick Manley – instructor, CPL Paul Davis. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Paul Davis, WO1 Dick Manley – instructor. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: WO2 Bill Kemp, – instructor, unidentified personnel. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985, WO2 Bill Kemp, – instructor. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Dave Murphy, LT Carol Dunstan – instructor. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SPR Wally Twidale, unidentified personnel. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: LT Carol Dunstan – instructor, SPR Viv (Hawkins) Doherty. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified WO2. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: WO1 Dick Manley – instructor, unidentified, LT Carol Dunstan – instructor. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Ken Peters, unidentified, SPR Viv (Hawkins) Doherty, unidentified (x3), LT Carol Dunstan – instructor in foreground, CPL Mick Minchin. .11) & .12) - Photo, black & white, 1985, WO2 Dave Miles with fake injured leg. .13) & .14) - Photo, black & white, 1985, unidentified officer– instructor, SPR Lorraine (Daly) Talbot-Smith..1P to .14P No personnel are identifiedroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training BBQ, 1985
This is a set of 14 photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel attending a BBQ lunch during regimental training, at the basketball/tennis court area of Fortuna Villa, Bendigo, 1985. There were six regimental training objectives outlined in the administrative instruction – Exercise “City Soldier” accompanying these photos. They were SLR rifle and M30 grenade revision, and first aid at Fortuna; RATEL and navigation at Wellsford Forest; and rifle shooting at Wellsford Rifle Range. Personnel from Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons were reallocated to four training platoons for one week from 7th to 11th October 1985. Personnel were warned in for lunch on 10th and 11th of October 1985. This is a set of 14 photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel attending a regimental training BBQ lunch at Fortuna Villa, Bendigo, 1985. .1P to .10P are printed on photographic paper and scanned at 300 dpi. Photos .11P to .14P are on 35mm negative film and scanned at 96 dpi. They are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, PTE Evans, LCPL Brown - cooks, CAPT Laurie Newton, WO2 Brian Partridge, CAPT Danny Galbraith. MAJ Daryl Hockings CSM, unidentified personnel. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, PTE Evans, LCPL Brown - cooks, MAJ Mick Byrne, CAPT Bob Williams, unidentified, LT Doug Maxwell, WO2 Brian Partridge, CAPT Danny Galbraith. .3) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, PTE Evans, LCPL Brown - cooks, CAPT Bob Williams, unidentified, LT Doug Maxwell, unidentified personnel. .4) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, PTE Evans, LCPL Brown - cooks, LT Doug Maxwell, unidentified, CAPT John South, unidentified personnel. .5) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, MAJ Terry Edwards - background, SGT Morris – cook. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified, CPL Gary Tremain, unidentified, MAJ Terry Edwards, 2LT Kathie Ryan – background. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: SGT Charlie Creedy, SGT Wally Chilcott, LT Carol Dunstan, 2LT Kathie Ryan, LT Ossie Slade. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: CPL Terry ‘TJ’ Wicker, unidentified personnel, SPR Roy Hicks, SPR Dave Wright, unidentified personnel. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: unidentified personnel, SGT Jeff Willey, SGT Wally Chilcott, CPL Gary Tremain. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: foreground - CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, LCPL Bob Sheppard, CPL Bob Thrower, background - CPL Peter Breukel, WO1 Doug Arman, CPL Brian Johnson. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: RSM WO1 Bob Mason, PTE Evans, LCPL Brown - cooks, CAPT Danny Galbraith. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R foreground: unidentified (x2), CPL Roy Hicks, CPL Megan (McBurney) Reynolds, unidentified (x2), CPL Peter Breukel, unidentified (x2), LT Ozzy Slade. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R: LCPL Brown – cook, WO2 Brian Partridge, unidentified, WO2 John Hook, WO1 Bill Griggs, unidentified, CAPT Danny Galbraith, unidentified. .14) - Photo, black & white, 1985, L to R foreground: MAJ Kim Weston, CAPT Bob Williams, CAPT Danny Galbraith, unidentified, unidentified US Army Exchange officer..1P to .14P No personnel are identifiedroyal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Bendigo Military Museum
Photograph - Army Survey Regiment - Regimental Training Field Phase, c1986
This is a set of eight photographs of Army Survey Regiment personnel undertaking regimental training in the Wellsford Forest, Bendigo, c1986. The aim of the training was to provide personnel a practical knowledge of infantry and minor tactics at the section level, navigation and map reading, RATEL and Survival in the Field. According to administrative instructions accompanying these photos, Air Survey, Cartographic, Lithographic and Headquarters Squadrons trained separately for one week from April to June 1986. Annotations on the back of photos .1P to .8P indicate Headquarters Squadron’s 4 Section in the ‘Axedale’ Forest. *Note - The forest was incorrectly named – It was most likely the training was in the Wellsford Forest. Sections were established for the period of regimental training only. This is a set of eight photographs of the Army Survey Regiment undertaking regimental training in the Wellsford Forest, Bendigo. c1986. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 300 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, c1986, SGT Bruce Wetzig. .2) - Photo, black & white, c1986, PTE Tony Seely. .3) - Photo, black & white, c1986, SGT Bill Claydon. .4) - Photo, black & white, c1986, SGT Bill Claydon. .5) - Photo, black & white, c1986, SGT Gregory Smith. .6) - Photo, black & white, c1986, unidentified personnel. .7) - Photo, black & white, c1986, unidentified personnel. .8) - Photo, black & white, c1986, Mack water tanker..1P to .5P – Personnel are identified .6 to .8P – No personnel are identified Annotated ‘4 Section, Headquarters Squadron Axedale Forest’royal australian survey corps, rasvy, army survey regiment, army svy regt, fortuna, asr -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Photograph, Members of the Committee of Management of the Kinglake National Park who spent the week-end inspecting the improvements in this beautiful forest reserve
L-R: Prof. J. Neill Greenwood, Messrs. H. Hewitt and A.B. Blair (Sec.), Prof. W.A. Laver (Chairman) and Mr. W. Thorn. Source: Dr. Edith J. Hewitt from The Argus, 11 Jan 1930This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital imagesepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, kinglake, committee of management, a.b. blair, h. hewitt, kinglake national park, prof. j. neil greenwood, prof. w.a. laver, w. thorn -
Eltham District Historical Society Inc
Magazine, Sun News-Pictorial, Bush Fires: A pictorial survey of Victoria's most tragic week, January 8-15, 1939
THE WEEK REVIEWED (Article; Bush Fires: A pictorial survey of Victoria's most tragic week, January 8-15, 1939. Published in aid of the Bush Fire Relief Fund by the Sun News-Pictorial in co-operation with its newsagents, pp2-3) THE fiercest bush fires Australia has known since its discovery are quiescent at the moment, and Victoria, in the comparative coolness of the change which came with rain on Sunday night, has begun·to count its losses. In the fiery eight days, from Sunday to Sunday, at least sixty-six men, women and children have lost their lives in forest fires, or have succumbed to burns and shock; many others have died from heat; and several serious cases of burns are being treated in hospitals. Two babies in Narrandera district have died, and ten others are in hospital, because of milk soured by the record temperatures of those eight days. Forest damage totals at least a million pounds, and incalculable damage has been done to the seedlings which were to have been the forests of the future. Water conservation will be seriously affected by the silting-up of reservoirs and streams from which protective timber has been taken by the all-engulfing flames. More than a thousand houses have been destroyed, and these, with 40 mills, and schools, post-offices, churches, and other buildings, represent a loss of at least half a million. At least 1500 are homeless. For their aid, money raised in appeals has now passed the £50,000 mark, and the biggest relief organisation ever set up in peace time has swung into operation. The First Hint Victoria's first hint of what was to come appeared on Sunday, January 8, when most parts of the State awoke to find a blistering day awaiting. At 12.20 p.m., when the thermometer reached its highest for the day, 109.6 degrees, the first fire victims were at that moment going to their death on a bush track five feet wide off the main road to Narbethong. They were the forestry officers Charles Isaac Demby and John Hartley Barling, who went to warn Demby of his danger when he parted from his companions, and was himself surrounded by the treacherous fire. It was not until 8 o'clock next morning that the tragic news was flashed throughout the State. Searchers found the two charred bodies close together, one seeking protection in the nook of two logs. Barling's watch had stopped at 1.20. In the meantime, tragedy was spreading its cloak. By Monday, big fires were raging at Toolangi, Erica, Yallourn, Monbulk, Frankston, Dromana, Drouin South, Glenburn, and Blackwood, with smaller outbreaks at many other centres. In the ensuing week, while women and children were evacuated as fast as the flames would permit, Erica-scene of the 1926 fire disaster-thrice escaped doom by a change of wind. Indeed, those who have been in the fire country these past days say that the numbers of times a change of wind has saved towns from destruction is amazing. In the towns they speak of miracles. Monday's Miracles The escapes from Monett's Mill at Erica and from the Hardwood Company's Mill at Murrindindi, near where Demby and Barling went to their death, were Monday's miracles. Twenty came out alive from each mill. At the first a 60ft. dugout provided an oven-like refuge; at the second, 12 women and children survived in the smoke-filled gloom of a three-roomed cottage while their eight men, their clothes sometimes afire, poured water on the wooden walls. Three houses out of ten remained when the fire had passed. Record Temperatures Sunday had been the hottest Melbourne day for 33 years; Monday dropped to a 76.1 degree maximum; but Tuesday dawned hotter than ever, the mercury reaching 112.5. By now rumor was racing ahead of fact; whole towns were being reported lost; the alarm was raised for scores of missing persons. But fact soon overtook rumor, and within a few days the staggering toll began to mount to a figure beyond the wildest imaginings of the panic-stricken. Six died from heat on this torrid Tuesday, and the fires spread in a wide swathe from south-west to north-east across the State. Fish died in shallow streams. A curtain of smoke hid the sky from all Victoria, and hung far out to sea. It alarmed passengers on ships. On the Ormonde, on the voyage to Sydney from Burnie, women ran on deck, believing fire had broken out in the hold. Days later the smoke reached New Zealand. In Melbourne thousands of fire-volunteers were leaving in cars: vans, motor-buses-anything reliable on wheels-to aid the country in its grim fight. In the fires at Rubicon and. Narbethong, seventeen were facing death this day. But not till Wednesday, when Melbourne breathed again in a cool change, while the country still sweltered in temperatures up to 117 degrees, did the news come through the tree blocked roads. A woman and her little daughter, trapped on the road, were among those who died. Their bodies, and those of menfolk with them, were found strewn out at intervals along the road, where the furnace of the surrounding fire had dropped them in their tracks as they ran. Twelve died at a Rubicon mill, five on the road at Narbethong. At Alexandra, not far distant, a baby was born while the fires raged, and stretcher-bearers brought in the injured. On Thursday the State Government voted £5000 for the relief of fire victims. The Governor (Lord Huntingfield) and the Lord Mayor (Cr. Coles) visited some of the stricken areas, and dipped into their pockets personally. Later, the City Council, too, voted £5000. Friday, The 13th Friday, the Thirteenth, justified its evil name. A blistering northerly came early in the morning, presaging destruction, and forcing the mercury to a new record of 114 degrees. Racing fires killed at least ten in those terrible 12 hours. Four children were engulfed in the furnace at Colac. Panic drove them, uncontrollable, into the smoke-filled road when the fire raced down behind their home. They choked to death. In other parts fires were joining to make fronts of scores of miles. Kinglake was being menaced on two fronts, £60,000 worth of timber was going up in smoke in Ballarat district. Warburton was surrounded. Residents at Lorne, favoured resort, were being driven to the sea-front by a fire which destroyed at least 20 homes. Healewille. with flames visible from the town at one stage, was in a trough between two fires which burned four guest-houses, seven homes and left its surrounding beauty-spots wastes of bowed-over, blackened tree-fern fronds; with its famous Sanctuary, however, intact. Most of Omeo was destroyed this black day: Noojee. while 200 residents crouched in the river, was being reduced to a waste of buckled iron and smoking timber; Erica was once again saved by a change of wind. Beneath a pall of smoke, the Rubicon victims were buried at Alexandra. Friday night and the early hours of Saturday saw the streets of beleagured towns strewn with exhausted fire-fighters. Their flails beside them, ready for the next call, they lay where exhaustion overtook them-on footpaths, beside lamp-posts, in gutters, in cars, under trucks. Saturday's dawn brought clear skies and lower temperatures in many parts, and from the burnt-out areas came a great rush of tragic reports. The death-roll rushed past the fifty mark with incredible speed. Some had been trapped on roads, others at mills; some, after burying their treasures, had clung too long to the places they had made their homes for many years. Four men lost their lives because one went back for his dog. By Sunday, when the first of the saving rain came, nearly another score of names had been added to the list.Newspaper magazine, 48 pages (incl. covers). Fully digitised and searchable PDFPublished in aid of the Bush Fire Relief Fund by the Sun News-Pictorial in co-operation with its newsagents.bushfires, 1939 bushfires, black friday, warrandyte -
Federation University Historical Collection
Handbook, The School Paper Grades V and VI Victoria Education Department, 1964-1966
Three handbooks with green patterns on recto and verso. Linen tape is on the spine. Paper is bound by string, connected at the top and bottom. .1)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1964. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors such as "Beside the Road" by Louis H. Clark, information regarding the events of the time such as Air Force Commemoration Week, writings such as piece regarding self-control while using alcohol. and sheet music for various songs, such as "God save the queen". A history of Port Melbourne is included on page 2. A history of Australia's cattle trade is included on pages 11-12. In addition, A biography of Sid Kidman, Australia's "cattle king" is included between pages 36-37. .2)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1965. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors, such as "Pit-Pony" by S.A. Bainbridge, information regarding the events of the time such as the Fig Harvest at El-Flaye, and sheet music for various songs, such as "Old John Braddleum". The short story "The ANZACS at Gallipoli" includes a photograph of James Simpson Kirkpatrick with his donkey, bearing a wounded soldier (Page 33). A piece titled "A good-bye and a welcome" on pages 50-51 details the farewell to Alex McDonell, the director of Education for Victoria from 1960 to 1965, and the welcoming of Frederick H. Brooks as the new Director of Education in Victoria. A supplement is included in regards to "Scholarships and Allowances available for further education" for July 1965. A biography of Rudyard Kipling is on pages 103-105. A monthly series titled "The Seed from which they grew" detailed the history of some of Victoria's historical institutions: Victoria's Government House, The Royal Botanic Gardens, Victorian Railways, School Broadcasts, (Victorian) Public Libraries, The Forests Commission of Victoria, The Correspondence School, The Royal Mint, Her Majesty's Mail, Victoria Police, and Fire brigades. .3)This handbook is a collection of The School Paper for grades V and VI, by the Victorian Education Department for 1966. It's contents are including by not limited to poetry and short stories submitted to the paper from a variety of authors such as "The Emu" by Joan Wise, information regarding the events of the time such as Australian Literature Week, and sheet music for various songs, such as "Potatoes"'. "The Nation Builders" was a monthy series serialised in the paper about explorers who helped to found Australia, such as Matthew Flinders, Baron Sir Ferdinand Von Mueller, Patrick ("Paddy") Hannan, Charles Yelverton O'Connor, John Ridley, Thomas Sutcliffe Mort, Sir Sidney Kidman, Hugh Victor McKay,Robert Hoddle, and Charles Kingsford Smith. A supplement is included in regards to "Scholarships and Allowances available for further education" for July 1966..1) , "Grade 5 Classroom Copy" and "1964" recto. Pages 17, 32, 81, 97,113, 129 features the text "A.J. Mathieson".Page 49 has the text "Grades 5/6 Staff Copy A.J. Mathieson". Page 17 has tick marks on lower right hand corner. Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.1" in pencil. .2)"Grade 5 Classroom Copy" and "1965" recto.Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.2" in pencil. .3)"Classroom Copy", "1966", "5" and a black curved line in the middle of the page recto. Page 1 has "A.J. Mathieson" on the top right hand side in red marker. In the middle of Page 35, there is some text underlined, and the comment "Quote Governor King" in green ink.Registration number written on verso bounding as "11735.3" in pencil.1964, handbook, alex ball, victorian education department, school paper, grade v and vi, hymns, poetry, songs, short story, charles kingsford smith, 1965, 1966, matthew flinders, baron sir ferdinand von mueller, patrick hannan, paddy hannan, charles yelverton o'connor, john ridley, thomas sutcliffe mort, sir sidney kidman, hugh victor mckay, robert hoddle, james simpson kirkpatrick, alex mcdonell, frederick h. brooks, rudyard kipling, victorian government house,, royal botanic gardens, victorian railways, school broadcasts,, victorian public libraries, forests commission of victoria, correspondence school, royal mint, her majesty's mail, victoria police, fire brigades, port melbourne, sid kidman, cattle king, cattle trade -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS NO. 3770 COLLECTION: CORRESPONDENCE
Letter dated 13 Dec 1865 mentioning that W Salter had been paid seven pound and has since been paid £4, and received from contributions and he was still in the Funds, but it was hoped that he could go back to work in a week or ten days. He would like the amount forwarded as their balance takes place on the 27th. Signed Jas Thos Holl. Court King of the Forest seal impression in the top left corner.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, court king of the forest, commercial hotel, w salter, jas thos holl, court foresters home -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS NO. 3770 COLLECTION: CORRESPONDENCE
Letter written on white paper and dated Oct 31 1865 from Richd Goss, CR. Letter gives instructions as to payment and deductions per week for Bro W. Salter untill declared of the funds. Signed Carl Mueller across the letter.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, court foresters home, court king of the forest, richd goss, carl mueller -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS NO. 3770 COLLECTION: CORRESPONDENCE
Letter from Court Tarrangower, Maldon dated 20.1.77. It mentins Wm. Veal was residing in Sandhurst and was now on the Sick Fund, he would like to receive his Sick Pay through Pride of the Forest, Sandhurst. It is requested to take 1/- per week from each payment. Signed by D. Martin, Secy. To Bro. Rowe, Secy, Pride of the Forest, Sandhurst. Letter has Court Tarrangower Maldon A.O.F. No. 3514 impression stamp.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no. 3770 collection - correspondence, court tarrangower maldon, wm veal, d martin, bro rowe, pride of the forest -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS NO 3770 COLLECTION: TO PAY
Blue coupon, dated June 13th 1877 asking Mr. Lewis, Treasurer to pay Mockleman in Germany the sum of £8/-/- for 32 Weeks Sick Pay ending June 13-77. Signed by Wm. Rowe, Secretary. Also signed Recd. Wm. Rowe 13/6/77.societies, aof, correspondence, ancient order of foresters no 3770 collection - to pay, court king of the forest, a.o.f., b.u.d., mr lewis, mockleman in germany, wm rowe -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Book - DIRECTORY OF THE ANCIENT ORDER OF FORESTERS FRIENDLY SOCIETY FOR 1926
Green cover, on front ' Eighty second annual issue The Foresters' Directory 1926', 564 pages. Contains location and names of all Foresters Societies in that year. Bendigo United District (1862) had 5 Courts in 1926 - 136 adult benefit, 4 honorary members, £6984. District secretary Mr. M.H. P Webb; 7 Beehive Chambes, Bendigo. 3549 Bendigo 1861 (year of commencement) Bee Hive Mining Exchange, Pall Mall. Bendigo; fortnightly, Sec, T.A. Considine, Hope S. Bendigo. Treasurer E.B. Newell. 3768 Banner of Hope 1862. Foresters' hall, Kangaroo Flat, fortnighty Sec. C. Yeates, Kangaroo Flat, Treas C.A.F. Taylor. 3770 King of the Forest 1862, Mechanics' institute, Mount Korong Road, Long Gully; every four week. Sec. M.H. P. Webb, Long Guly Bendigo. 5500 Pride of Marong, 1871, Marong; Sec FM. palmer Post office Marong. Court for females only: Star of Bendigo 1894, BUFS Dispensary Hall Bendigo. alternate Tuesdays, Sec Miss Petersen, California Gully, Bendigo Treas Miss M. Baker.bendigo, clubs, foresters -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - THE BENDIGO CHORAL SOCIETY, 17 Sept 1918
The Bendigo Choral Society, Season 1918, Second Concert. Sixth Grand Concert, Masonic Hall, September 17th, at 8 p.m. Artists: Miss Dorothy Penfold, A.R.C.M., Miss Myrtle Knight, Mr J Danks, Mr Arthur E Sayer, Mr H Williams. Conductor: Mr W C Frazier, A.R.C.O., Pianist: Miss Muriel Hyett, L.A.B. Admission 1?- and 1d. Tax. Patron: His Worship the Mayor, Cr Ambrose Dunstan. Office Bearers: President-Mr H M Leggo. Vice Presidents-Mr M G Giudice & Cr J H Curnow. Sub-Conductor-Mr E A Miller. Treasurer & Librarian-Mr W H Dolphin. Assistant Librarian-Mr R J G Duguid. Assistant Secretary-Mr F A Wittscheibe. Committee-Office Bearers, with Mesdames Perry & Scott, Misses Colgan, Veale, Gall and Weeks, and Messrs. Duguid, Sleeman, W Brown, F Wittsheibe and F J Walter. Hon. Secretary-J Huspeth, 85 Wills Street, Bendigo. Programme: God Save the King, Come if you dare, Scherzo Capriccio, La Carita, To the Forest, Villanelle,A Spell is on the Woods and Meadows, Scotland Yet, A Love Song, We Wandered, The Brook, Wanderer's Night Song, Eleanore, Young Lochinvar.Bolton Bros. Printers, Bendigoprogram, music, the bendigo choral society, the bendigo choral society, season 1918, second concert. sixth grand concert, masonic hall, september 17th, at 8 p.m. artists: miss dorothy penfold, a.r.c.m., miss myrtle knight, mr j danks, mr arthur e sayer, mr h williams. conductor: mr w c frazier, a.r.c.o., pianist: miss muriel hyett, l.a.b. admission 1?- and 1d. tax. patron: his worship the mayor, cr ambrose dunstan. office bearers: president-mr h m leggo. vice presidents-mr m g giudice & cr j h curnow. sub-conductor-mr e a miller. treasurer & librarian-mr w h dolphin. assistant librarian-mr r j g duguid. assistant secretary-mr f a wittscheibe. committee-office bearers, with mesdames perry & scott, misses colgan, veale, gall and weeks, and messrs. duguid, sleeman, w brown, f wittsheibe and f j walter. hon. secretary-j huspeth, 85 wills street, bendigo. programme: god save the king, come if you dare, scherzo capriccio, la carita, to the forest, villanelle, a spell is on the woods and meadows, scotland yet, a love song, we wandered, the brook, wanderer's night song, eleanore, young lochinvar. -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Map - GUIDE MAP OF BENDIGO & EAGLEHAWK, Late 1920's
Map. Guide map of Bendigo & Eaglehawk. Folded map of Bendigo & Eaglehawk with blue outer cover booklet. Map is compiled by E E Parker, Eaglehawk. Map shows tramways, bus routes and cost one shilling. Map shows Agricultural Showgrounds located between Park Street, Water Street, Barnard Street and Bridge Lane. Also shows Acclimitization Reserve located behind the Botanical Gardens at White Hills. Shows the location of Sailors Gully, Peg-Leg Gully, Jobs Gully, California Gully, Long Gully, Ironbark Gully, Golden Gully, Poverty Gully, Sheepshead Gully, Charcoal Gully, Eaglehawk Creek, Bendigo Creek and Back Creek.Contains interesting facts about Bendigo:- Area - 7,900 acres, Population - 26,000, First Council elected - 1855, Proclaimed a City - 1871. Gold Rush broke out - 1851. For first 10 years gold yield averaged 8,600 ozs. Per week. Total gold yield to 1923 - 572 tons valued at 82,000,000 pounds. Deepest mines - Victoria Quartz 4,614 ft., New Chum Railway 4,318 ft., 13 mines over 3,000ft. deep, 53 mines over 2,000 ft. deep. Sewering of City commenced 1922. All principal buildings now sewered. Map printed by Arnall & Jackson, General Printers, Stationers & Engravers, 476 Collins Street. Outer map blue cover printed in red and blue ink by J B Young, Lithographer. Map displays advertisement for Bendigo Timber Co. Outer blue cover displays advertisement for Campbell Connelly & Co. Pty. Ltd, Ironmongers, Timware Manufacturers, Plumbers, Sewerage Contractors, High and Forest Sts, Bendigo 9outside back cover) and for Hartleys ( J L Shoosmith) Bendigo, displaying Indian Motor Cycles (inside back cover).map, bendigo, township, guide map of bendigo & eaglehawk -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Document - BENDIGO TOTAL ABSTINENCE SOCIETY COLLECTION: VICTORIAN ALLIANCE, 22rd June 1917
Document. Victorian Alliance letter to Mr. W.J.Campbell J.P. from Francis Wilson general secretary, I arrived home safely, after a very good day in your city. Will send you a list of few subscribers whom I could not get, shortly. With regard to ''DEFEAT'', I will have them dispatched next week. With regard to Mr. Francis coming up in September, I would suggest that you bring it before the Methodist Ministers interested as possible. Memo for Mr Drummond, I have seen Mr. Harris in reference to this suggestion but he does not know Mr. Francis, fears that it would not be satisfactory to the Forest Street Congregation to appoint an unknown man for the evening service. I have therefore asked Mr. Wilson not to make any definite arrangements until we have had a further opportunity of considering the matter. Signed Mr. Campbell.organisation, community, abstinence society -
Puffing Billy Railway
TACL - Erica State Sawmill Rail Tractor, 1928
TACL-Tractor Appliance Company Limited TACL rail tractors manufactured by Malcolm Moore of Port Melbourne Located in the Parishes of Moondarra and Telbit, Gippsland, the tramway terminated at Collins Siding on the Moe Walhalla 2'6"gauge branch of the Victorian Railways. Its construction by the Forests Commission of Victoria was to facilitate the extraction of timber from the Southern and Western slopes of Mount Erica and to replace the outlet tramways destroyed during the disastrous forest fires of February 1926. Tyers Valley Tramway The line, following the Eastern arm of the river, passed Ingrams Siding (7m.) to terminate at a forest area, known as "Ten Acre Block", 8m. 60c. from Collins Siding. The western branch of the line followed the Western Tyers Valley to Growlers Creek, 13m. 40c. from Collins Siding. THE T.A.C.L. TRACTORS at Tyers Valley tramway. On the 19th January 1928, T.A.C.L. locomotive, purchased from Tractor Appliance Co. Ltd. (Malcolm Moore), was delivered. This unit had a 20 h.p. Fordson engine coupled by a chain drive to the two axles, providing a tractive effort of approx. 2000lbs. Wheelbase was 5’ and weight was four tons. It was intended that the two tractor locomotives, working with the grade, would deliver timber from the branch lines to Tyers Junction, from which place it would be steam hauled out to the Collins Siding transfer point. Following a breakdown of the steam locomotive, haulage during the early months of 1928 was carried out by the T.A.C.L. unit, supplemented by the Nattrass, which was, by this time, becoming unreliable. During April 1928, after ensuring that no suitable locomotive was available in Australia, an order was placed with the Climax Manufacturing Co., U.S.A. for the supply of a geared locomotive. A second T.A.C.L. engine was purchased during May and, on the 27th, the local mill owners, having obtained running rights on the tramway, commenced haulage with the Harman. The three tractor units worked the branch lines and transported ballast, whilst the Harman hauled the timber to Collins Siding in rakes of eight trucks (56 tons). The weekly loading of the line for the first, second and third weeks were 54, 62 and 71 trucks respectively. info from : http://www.nmra.org.au/tyersvalley/Tyers-Tram.html Historic - Industrial Narrow gauge Railway - Timber working - Rail Tractor used by the the Forests Commission of Victoria on the Tyers Valley TramwayRail Tractor with Fordson engine coupled by a chain drive to the two axles - made of steel and wrought ironerica sawmill, puffing billy, tacl, rail tractor, tractor appliance co. ltd. (malcolm moore), industrial narrow gauge railway, tyers valley tramway, forests commission of victoria -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Branding Hammer issued to FCV overseer Jim Browning at Beechworth
Metal branding hammers were the most common way to control the sale and movement of hardwood timber produce like logs, railway sleepers, fence posts, and poles from Victorian State forests. Royalty was also paid on this basis. The hammer has a crown stamp on one end with a unique number in the middle (453) which identified its owner, and a crows foot or broad arrow on the other. The broad arrow was a symbol traditionally used in Britain and its colonies to mark government property. Forest regulations state that an authorised officer may use the crown mark to identify produce which has been sold and may be removed from the forest, whereas the broad arrow can be used to brand and mark trees which are not to be felled, or to indicate forest produce which has been seized. Hammers were traditionally only ever issued to forest officers and were an important, and closely guarded tool-of-trade. They were not transferred between staff and lending hammers was not permitted. But it was an onerous task for staff to hammer and tally hundreds of logs, or thousands of fence posts each week, so in about 1990 a system was introduced whereby hammers were allocated to logging contractors to grade logs and tally them instead. But there was still spot checking by authorised officers. A register was kept, and contractors paid a substantial deposit to make sure they didn't lose them, but they occasionally turn up by fossickers with metal detectors. While branding hammers are still used in some smaller locations, plastic tags and barcodes are now more common.Metal log branding hammer with a crown stamp on one end with a unique number (453) in the middle which identified its owner, and a crows foot or broad arrow on the other. The unusual bent metal handle was designed to protect user from banging their fingers on the log. It was also fitted with a rubber hand grip. Most FCV branding hammers were issued with wooden handles. The branding hammer 453 was initially issued to Wally Cowell at Beechworth. It was reissued to Jim Browning upon Wally’s retirement The hammer still had a wooden handle, but the it broke and became loose inside hammer head. Russel Pritchard from the Beechworth Depot replaced the handle with a new metal one and put a dog leg in it It mainly branded forest produce cut in Mt. Pilot and Reedy Creek areas. The main logging contractors were Gordon Habeck from Chiltern and Steven Goldsworthy from BeechworthCrown mark one end (453) and Crows foot other endforest harvesting -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Rakehoe, McLeod Tool
Bushfire perimeter rather than bushfire area is the main control problem for firefighters on the ground. A conundrum rapidly compounded by spot fires. A small 5 ha fire can be nearly 1 km around the perimeter. That's a long way to build a control line by hand in rough bush. Dry firefighting techniques by hand were mostly confined to “knocking down” or “beating out” the flames, as well as "digging out". Digging or raking a “mineral earth” trail down to bare dirt proved most effective in forest fuels which, unlike grass, tend to retain heat and smoulder. Early tools were whatever happened to be close at hand. They were simple and primitive and included shovels, slashers, axes, hoes, beaters and rakes. A cut branch to beat the flames was often the only thing available. Farming and logging tools, developed over centuries of manual labour, and readily available at local hardware stores came into use, but little thought was given to size, weight, and balance. For years foresters experimented with combination tools. In about 1952 fire beaters and other implements were being replaced with Rakuts. However, its believed the now common Rakehoe is an Australian variation of the American McLeod Tool which was developed in 1905 by forest ranger Malcolm McLeod of the Sierra National Forest. The late Athol Hodgson advised that predecessors, Reg Torbet who had been the Chief Fire Officer for the Forests Commission from 1948-1956, along with his QLD counterpart Clive Price, went in late 1951 as Australian delegates on a 10 week fire study tour of Nth America organised by the United Nations. They came back with a couple of McLeod tools from Canada. Cam MacLeod (different spelling) had been the Head of Fire Research for the Canadian Forest Service at the time and had supplied them. The tools were ideal for deciduous forests in the eastern provinces and Clive arranged to have them manufactured in QLD. The Rakho, as it was then spelled, was first issued to FCV crews 65 years ago in 1955-56. The American Pulaski had been trialled, but never found favour with Australian firefighters.First used in 1955Rakehoebushfire -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Bushfire awareness sign, Camp Fires, 1962
Bushfire Prevention Week was initiated by the Forests Commission in 1930. Victoria’s State Governor, Lord Somers, the Lord Mayor of Melbourne, Sir Harold Luxton and the newly appointed Minister for Forests, William Beckett launched the innovative campaign with great flourish to 250 invited guests at Melbourne’s opulent Town Hall on Monday 13 January 1930. Special church sermons had been held previously on Sunday. The packed program of gala events included lavish luncheon talks at city clubs, scholarly lectures broadcast on the wireless, together with daily articles in the Melbourne and country press about the pressing need for fire prevention. The slogan for the ground-breaking campaign was… Prevent Bush Fires – It Pays… The Shell Petrol Company of Australia supplied 15000 windshield stickers, the British Australasian Tobacco Company donated a large supply of stamp stickers, while many other companies drew attention to the campaign in their newspaper advertisements. The Victorian Railways and many city firms displayed special fire posters, while Bryant and May posted messages on their limited-edition matchbox covers which are now highly prized by phillumenists (i.e. matchbox collectors). The Postmaster General's Department franked postage stamps and letters with special bushfire slogans. While plainclothes police were secretly deployed to the bush to arrest potential arsonists. Canvas and enamel fire prevention signs were erected on most roads leading to forest areas. Letters to the Editor later appeared in many city and country newspapers extolling the virtues of Bushfire Prevention Week and urging for its continuation as an annual event. Although a new idea for Australia, the Canadian Forest Service had been running a similar program for a few years. The Forests Commission in its 1929-30 Annual Report, under the title of "Propaganda", noted with some glee… "One of the most gratifying features of the ''Week" was its low cost to the Government, the major part of the publicity material being donated by private firms." And so for the next 50 years until the 1980s, Bushfire Prevention Week continued unabated with the Forests Commission producing a series of coloured “Magic Lantern” slides which were manufactured by Alex Gunn and Sons in Collins Street Melbourne for screening at Val Morgan cinemas. The slides famously introduced the menacing character, Willy Wildfire, warning motorists to be careful with matches. Now known as Fire Action Week, it remains a key event in the annual calendar for both DEECA and the CFA and is still going strong... These canvas fire awareness signs were used right throughout the period of the Forests Commission until the mid 1980sBushfire awareness signbushfire