This extraordinary record of the student cohort in 1908 reveals many aspects of school life in the early 1900's. The fashions, hair coiffure and accessories and added costuming are fascinating. The sport detail from the basketball hoop is significant. This photograph has social significance because of its detail regarding female school activities in the early 1900s. Black and white photograph mounted on grey card of Clarendon Ladies College student cohort in 1908. The students are arranged in five tiered rows. The photograph is taken against wall of a timber building. There is a basketball net fixed to the wall above the last row. Many of the girls are wearing fancy hats, some decorated with birds. Two young girls in the front row wear poster boards over their clothing advertising an event not to be missed; something to do with a menagerie. All the students are dressed in white, some in dresses, some n skirts and blouses and many have aprons over their skirts. The photograph is accompanied with a typed list of namesPrinted on front righthand bottom corner of mount: 'Richards & Co/Ballarat'1908, uniform, richardson, clarendon ladies college, costume, menagerie, hilda farmer, avenel halls, sylvia eyres, ella morrow, florence sides, gertie owen, laela williams, lorna dowler, emma buchanan, phyllis doepel, daisy llewellyn, adeline purser, sophie anderson, helen mathieson, d brophy, lily wright, margaret dowler, dulce deardon, gladys small, marjory howe, jessie kelsall, erica mckay, pearl eyres, iris llewellyn, edith bishop, marjorie walker, violet howard, hazel wlls, effie white, mimi murphy, carrie miners, edith murphy, irene palamountain, miss allan, marjorie salmon, dollie snow, naomi franklin, elsie powell, rachael kennedy, rose paull, sylvia barnett, esther, lilah emblling, trixie kliender, chrissie anderson, agnes wheen, kitty dawbarn, hazel clements, m serjeant, dolly gill, beryl bach, dorothy nicholas, frances gill, meg moore, jessie eyres, blanche murphy, merle booth, melba mcconnel, edna clark, betty lester, bessie hoad, madge dearden, kate cameron, olive mathews, grace nicholas, mollie souter, isabel mctaggart, madge llewellyn, mollie mary buley, alice ralph, ruth tyler, rebecca abraham, joyce eyres, nellie salmon

"Gladys Clayton (smaller) and sister Daisy Clayton. Daughters of Amy and Fred Clayton." - Vicki Wilson. Daisy Clayton (1907-1997) and Gladys Winnifred Clayton (1910-1995)Digital copy of black and white photographclayton family, daisy clayton, gladys winnifred clayton

Doris Vivienne (Dossie) (Clegg) Mooney attended CPLC 1928 - 1932; daughter of Gladys Irene McCleave. A keen athlete Dossie competed in a variety of events at the annual Sports Day competitions. This cup was awarded for her overall championship for the junior grades in 1932. Dossie left CPLC in 1935. She was a member of the Running and Basketball teams in her final year. Small silver cup with double handles and brown melamine standEngraved on face of cup: C.P.L.C. / Sports / Junior Champion 1932 / D. CLEGGd clegg, clarendon-presbyterian-ladies-college, d-mooney, junior-sports-champion

See https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21030033-scarlet-poppiesSmall paperback bookworld war one, margaret anderson, gladys bennett, olive lee-brown, daisie llewellyn, jessie mathews, mary mcgregor, annie serjeant, muriel slater, florence vines

An apron is an outer protective garment worn over clothes to cover the front of the body. In Victorian and Edwardian times, women were using aprons for both utility (they were easier to wash than dresses) and fashion and women's magazines and pattern companies were offering patterns to allow women to be to sew their own aprons at home. There are different styles of aprons including bib aprons, waist or half aprons, pinafores, tabards and pinner aprons. The word "apron" comes from the old French word "naperon" which means a napkin or small tablecloth. This apron is one of two similar aprons that were donated from the estate of Susan Henry nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). It is in very good condition and appears to be more decorative (and possibly used only on special occasions) rather than everyday wear. Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up in 2010 to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community.This item is an example of clothing worn by working women in the late 19th and early 20th centuryShort white cotton apron featuring gathering along the waist band and a gathered frill with scalloped edging along the bottom. The scalloped trim is repeated on the edge of a single pocket on the right hand side. It has ties attached to both ends of the waist band and the main body of the apron is made of of three rectangular pieces of cotton joined with french seams.warrnambool, great ocean road, textiles, lady's garment, apron, parlour apron, waitress apron, half apron, waist apron, handmade, domestic clothing, domestic work, vedmore foundation, susan henry oam

An apron is an outer protective garment worn over clothes to cover the front of the body. In Victorian and Edwardian times, women were using aprons for both utility (they were easier to wash than dresses) and fashion and women's magazines and pattern companies were offering patterns to allow women to be to sew their own aprons at home. There are different styles of aprons including bib aprons, waist or half aprons, pinafores, tabards and pinner aprons. The word "apron" comes from the old French word "naperon" which means a napkin or small tablecloth. This apron is one of two similar aprons that were donated from the estate of Susan Henry nee Vedmore (1944 - 2021). It is in very good condition and appears to be more decorative (and possibly used only on special occasions) rather than everyday wear. Susan's family (Harold and Gladys Vedmore) immigrated to Australia from Wales in 1955 and settled in Warrnambool. Susan was well known in the Warrnambool community for her work supporting children and families across the district - particular those with disabilities, or those who were homeless, unemployed or isolated. Susan was the founding trustee of the "Vedmore Foundation" - a Warrnambool philanthropic trust set up in 2010 to support a range of charitable and not-for-profit causes by providing grant assistance. In 2021, she was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the community.This item is an example of clothing worn by working women in the late 19th and early 20th century Long white cotton apron featuring gathering along the waist band and a gathered frill with scalloped edging along the bottom. The scalloped trim is repeated on the edge of a single pocket on the right hand side. It has ties attached to both ends of the waist band and the main body of the apron is made of of three rectangular pieces of cotton joined with french seams.warrnambool, great ocean road, ladies' garment, apron, half apron, waist apron, domestic clothing, domestic work, parlour apron, waitress apron, handmade, sewing, vedmore foundation, susan henry oam

20th C and probably earlier families could make this simple 'knitting machine' by using a piece of round, hollow wood and knocking 4 nails into one end of the cylinder leaving a protrusion of 2cm. An empty cotton reel was commonly used with left over knitting wool. Children were taught to wind the wool around the nails in loops, figure of 8 and other patterns so that a chain was made which gradually protruded through the base of the cylinder as a knitted chain. The chains could be made to any length and then sewn together to make a usable object eg face washer.Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals the City of Moorabbin and she was skilled in hand knitting, crochet and dressmakingGladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. who performed plays and musicals in the City of Moorabbin and this Doll was made and used by her family.c1950A small piece of painted, carved wood with central hollow and 4 nails on top used for making/ knitting a woollen chain.Painted doll featuresknitting, clothing, haberdashery, crochet, doilies, brighton, moorabbin, pioneers, dressmaking, market gardeners, early settlers, craftwork , bentleigh, lacework, moorabbin shire, reed gladys, dairy farms, fruit orchards

Mulga, is an Acacia shrub or small tree native to arid outback areas of Australia. It is light, easy to carve and has strength and durability It is commonly used for turned objects or small decorative items. The wood is dark brown with yellow bands and polishes well. Traditional uses included spears, clubs and boomerangs. George Reed was a draftsman who lived in Bentleigh , City of Moorabbin in mid 20th CGeorge Reed was a draftsman who lived in Bentleigh , City of Moorabbin in mid 20th C and used this Mulga wood bowl in his officeA souvenir Mulga wood bowl with metal aeroplane on the lidearly settlers, market gardeners, wood carvers, souvenirs, mulga wood, acacia trees, boomerangs, vases, post world war 2 estates, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,south australia, victoria,reed george, reed gladys, clark judy,

Craftwork, Crochet, Knitting and Sewing were all popular in post World War 11 Moorabbin as the new settlers established their homes on the previous market garden estates. Gladys Reed was and accomplished dressmaker and was involved in local community activities like the Ormond Choral Society Craftwork, Crochet, Knitting and Sewing were all popular in post World War 11 Moorabbin as the new settlers established their homes on the previous market garden estates.A ball of silk thread and 2 steel crochet hooks, 1 completed cotton handkerchief, 2 squares of fine cotton and a small length of lacework 2 Crochet Hooks ; a) Made in England / 4 / CROSS FOX b) ARGOBY / 6 / ; packet MILWARD Silk Cotton ; J & P COATES / MERCER CROCHET / 80

Gladys Reed was a member of the Ormond Choral Society c 1950. and these clothing props were used in the plays and musicals when performed in the City of Moorabbin c1950 Drama, Musical and Choral Societies were founded by local residents in the City of Moorabbin c1950 to provide social, artistic and musical entertainment and development in their communities A theatrical prop for the Ormond Choral Society c1950 that simulates a 1920's flapper beaded evening wear cloche hat. White lace is over sewn with small pearl beads and 3 rows of shiny beading with large pearls and beading around edge of hat. Loops of small pearls hang from each side . Shown with beaded waistband MAV 00297 early settlers, moorabbin shire, mechanics institute cheltenham, ormond choral society, postworld war 11 settlers, housing estates moorabbin 1950, bentleigh, ormond, moorabbin, cheltenham, drama societies, musical society cheltenham, clark judy, reed gladys, reed george

Richardson Sheffield is a major supplier of kitchen knives and scissors to the United Kingdom market. Established in 1839, the company is headquartered in Sheffield, England but the products are imported from China. It is now owned by the Dutch Amefa group A penknife is a small pocketknife consisting of a small knife with a blade which folds into the hand and often incorporates other tools such as corkscrews, tweezers These penknives c 1930 were used by George Reed who was a draftsman who lived in Bentleigh , City of Moorabbin in mid 20th C These penknives are typical of the type used by residents of City of Moorabbin c19304 x Penknives and 1 hooka) MADE / RICHARDS / SHEFFIELD / ENGLANDpenknives, cuttlery, knives, camping gear, city of moorabbin, bentleigh, highett, ormond, moorabbin, cheltenham, post world war 2 estates, reed george, reed gladys,

(.1) Item issued to Capt Gladys Mole VX17199 A.A.N.S. Refer Cat No 1901.4 for her service details. (.2) Victorian Bowling Club Ladies Association badge given to Gladys.(.1) Badge, Rising Sun collar, depicts Rising Sun, crown centre and scroll under, has pin on rear, silver colour. (.2) Badge, silver and blue, consists of top with pin and circular bottom on a small link with scroll.(.1) “Australian Commonwealth Military Forces” (.2) “ Super veteran-LBA-Victoria”badges, military, rising sun, bowls

This bag could be used for carrying sheet music or similar documents. The item was owned by Gethla Forsyth who graduated as a nurse from the Alfred Hospital Melbourne in 1936. Gethla served in the Australian Nursing Corps in WW2. Gethla was a sister to Gladys who was married to Dr Angus , a long serving doctor in Warrnambool. her family had earlier connections to the district in the 1900's in the Koroit area.A common object but an interesting social connection.Brown leather bag with metal catches and handle. It has a small gusset in each side. Long rectangular in shape."Gethla Forsyth" written inside on right hand side.warrnambool, gethla forsyth, leather music satchel

Eleanor Hinde (1842-1902) was born in Lancashire England. In 1858, Eleanor married Richard Reynold in the Forest St Wesleyn Methodist Church in Sandhurst. They both gave their address as Sailors Gully Goldfields. They had seven children together. Richard was a skilled tradesman and after he died in 1872 from lung disease, Eleanor married Arculus Opie. Eleanor owned a property on the corner of Gladstone and Stanley Streets which later became an electrical substation. She sold poultry and eggs and preserves. One of Eleanor's sons, William John, married Anna (Annie) Jorgensen, and one of her daughters. Amelia, married Anna's brother Thomas Joynes Jorgensen. The Jorgensens founded and managed Jorgensen and Sons foundry and engineering works. Peter Jorgensen (1849-1914), was a mining contractor, he lived at, "Bro," Russell street, Quarry Hill. His firm was Jorgensen and Sons, mining contractors. He was a native of the Island of Alsen, Denmark. He left Denmark in the year 1861, embarking at Hamburg in a small sailing Ship. The four folders contain family history documents and photos of the descendants of Eleanor Hinde. This item contains the following documents: Black and white photo Hector Baden Reynolds who was married to Galdys Mary Sicker on June 23, 1923 at our Lady's Roman Catholic church in Camberwell, Vic. Hector was the son of Charles Albon Reynolds and Ellen Kemp. For family history sheet please contact the society.bendigo, sandhurst, peter jorgensen, eleanor hinde, eleanor reynolds, eleanor opie, reynolds collection, hector baden reynolds, gladys mary sicker

Handwritten reference from Mr. Sidney Myer for Miss. Gladys Stevenson dated 19/1/11Photocopy of a reference for Gladys Stevenson leaving the employ of Mr. Sidney Myer dated 19/01/11 reading: The bearer Mrs. Stevenson has been in my employ for the last four years. She has always given me utter satisfaction, as splendid letter writer, intelligent and has always written my huge business correspondence. Honest and straightforward, and leaving ....... to become ....... to the Meteorology. I can consciously recommend her to anybody requiring her services. Sidney Myer Bendigo 19/1/11 includes a small B&W photo of Mrs Stevenson dated 14/6/1910social history

Printed black and white photographic postcard. Image is of a rocky gorge with a suspension bridge across the river below. A small wooden gatehouse is at one end and people are walking or standing at various points across the bridge and on the path in the distance. A white blank space is in the upper left hand corner of the image. A symbol of a diamond shape with the letters S C entwined, followed by the words No 76 Photoprint A Flood The Alexandra bridge. Cataract Gorge Launceston Tas are printed in white across the bottom edge. The numbers A10659 in white are printed in the lower left hand corner. The reverse is blank.Diamond shape with SC entwined No 76 Photoprint A 10659 The 'Wynphotoprint' Series published by Selwyn Cox Launceston Taspostcard

Photographic postcard with a sepia photograph of Albert Park Lake adhered to a backing card. Photograph has been placed slightly off centre and has a border varying from 1.5cm to 2.5cm. The photograph depicts a small yacht sailing on the lake with four men onboard with their backs to camera. In the background, the opposite shore can be seen with trees and a white railing fence. The words Albert Park Lake are printed across the bottom edge of the photograph. A laminated cover has been placed across the photo and backing card. On the reverse is writing and it is addressed to Mrs Dean Golden Square. A one penny stamp has been affixed to the top right hand corner and extended partly onto the front of the card.postcard

Printed coloured postcard. Image is of The Eddystone Lighthouse and depicts a lighthouse on rocks with a smaller brick structure nearby in stormy seas and gulls in the sky. The words The Eddystone Lighthouse with a small symbol in white appear along the bottom left hand edge. Reverse is addressed to Miss Dean 'Esmond' Golden Square Bendigo and has a one penny stamp affixed postmarked Kerang. The words Raphael Tuck and Sons "Oilette" (Regd) postcard 7062 "Rough Seas" Art Publishers to Their Majesties the King and Queen after the black and white originals by Elmer Keene are printed in red along the left hand edge.Raphael Tuck and Sons 'Oilette' Regd Postcard 7062 'Rough Seas'postcard

Gilbert Rule Collection: black and white small oval photo in folder. Young girl, head shot only, with hair parted on side, with dark hair band and ribbons visible on side of head.Bartlett Bros., Bendigo. On the back in pencil, Gladys Rule Bendigoperson, individual, gilbert rule

Gilbert Rule Collection: black and white photo on postcard. Small girl, dressed in short dress with long black socks. Leaning on chair and holding a soft toy in her left hand. Hair is parted on side with large soft bow on right hand side of head.Vincent Kelly, Bendigoperson, individual, gilbert rule

Original documents, envelopes, diet sheet,letters and photograph sent from abroad from William Thomas harper to Gladys Holmes, Byaduk 7358 Pte William Thomas Harper b. 1896, Byaduk, 8th Battalion - 24th Reinforcements, embarked on 19th February 1917 on HMAT A70 Ballarat. Killed in France on 3rd May 1918. Buried Outtersteene Communal Cemetery Extension, Bailleul France. Cousin to twin AV Harper and RS Harper. one of eight correspondents to Gladys Holmes, ByadukOriginal documents, part of 14 sets of correspondence to Gladys Holmes and local Byaduk residents from local servicemen during WW 1..001803.1: Envelope 001803.2 -.6R: Buff coloured paper, 6 sheets with YMCA logo on map of Australia and red triangle. 001803.7 - 7R: Envelope has a red 1d stamp with 20 SEP 17 black ink postmark and blue ink handwritten address with sender's details. 001803.8 - 8R: note and Diet sheet Week Aug 26 - Sep 2 1917 001803.9 - 9R: Small sepia photograph of physical training soldier, and reverse has handwritten notes001803.1: Envelope, addressed to Miss Gladys Holmes/Byaduk/Hamilton/Victoria/Australia. Postmark ...CAMP B.O. SALISBURY 10 UY 17 001803.2-.6R: Leeter: 24th Reinforcement/2nd Battn/Aust Imp Forces/Abroad/Sunday July 29.17 to Dear Gladys 001803.7- 7R: Envelope: Red id stamp with black postmark 11.45AM, 20 SEP 17, Address-Miss Gladys Holmes/Byaduk/Hamilton/Victoria/Australia. Sender: 7538 8th Batt. Reverse: Received 24th Nov 1917. 18.8.17/Use old/address/still/ 24.8 A.I.F. etc 001803.8- 8R: Note andDIET SHEET Week Aug 26 to Sep 2, Breakfast Dinner & Tea 1001803.9 - 9R: Photograph of physical trainer and reverse has 11 lines of informationwilliam thomas harper, gladys holmes, byaduk ww1, letter, photograph, envelope, a.i.f., warrnambool, byaduk, william thomas harper, gladys holmes

Original correspondence from SO Miller to Gladys Holmes, Bakery, Byaduk written from abroad in July 1917. 3117 Pte Stanley Owen Miller was born in London, England. He worked at the McGillivray farm, Byaduk. Enlisted 8th January 1917 and served with the 38th Battio - 7th Reinforcements and embarked on the HMAT A70 Ballarat. Killed on 7th June 1917 at Villiers Bretonneux, France, aged 20. Original correspondence envelope and two page letter written by an Englishman to Gladys Holmes of the Bakery, Byaduk. When working on the McGillivray farm at Byaduk in 1917 he enlisted in the A.I.F. One of fourteen items of documents gifted, all correspondence from abroad to Byaduk residents. 001804.1 - 001804.1R: Envelope- Y.M.C.A. branded issue, black ink postmark and 1d red stamp 001804.2-001804.3R Two sheets of Y.M.C.A. paper, buff with central black YMCA logo, 'For God, For King & For Country' with "HM FORCES ON ACTIVE SERVICE' superimposed on reversed machine guns and two red and blue Y.M.C.A. logos written in blue ink on both sides. 001804.9.-.001804.9R: small black and white photograph of a soldier with 11 lines of handwritten descriptive text on the reverse. 001804.1 -1R: Y.M.C.A. envelope handwritten 'On active service abroad' addressed to Miss G. Holmes/Byaduk (Bakery)/Via Hamilton/Victoria/Australia. Red 1d pRE Reverse- Byaduk/Byaduk/M Miss G.I. Holmes 001804.2- 001804.3R: Three pages of blue ink handwriting on Y.M.C.A. letter paper. Abroad/ Dear Gladys....I remain yours S.O.Miller.gladys holmes, so miller, 3117, hmat a70 ballarat, villiers bretonneoux, byaduk memorial hall, honour board, ww 1, letter, y.m.c.a., photograph, diet sheet, villers bretonneux, byaduk memorial hall honour board, england

Gladys Holmes born 1897, Byaduk, eldest daughter of Joseph (Baker) and Agnes Homes. She married Alexander George Henderson in 1924. James Orford Critchlow born 26/08/1896. He enlisted in Casterton, Victoria on 26/08/1916. The Nominal AIF Roll indicates he was a clerk, single, son of James Critchlow and Cof E and a Gunner 33322. in 1924 he married Brice Violet Payne in Victoria. His death is recorded in New South wales on 15/08/1962 with probate granted 06/12/1962.Original documents sent by James Orford Critchlow, Gunner 33322 abroad to Gladys Holmes of Bydauk during WW1, 1917 to 1919. Part of 14 sets of items forming the Gladys Holmes collection.1808.1 Sepia photograph 1808.2 Colour, child holding two pot plants and basket of flowers 1808.3 Embroidered floral envelope in a white mount with small card inside 1808.4 Embroidered 'Forget Me Not' scene in white mount 1808.5 Black and white photograph of Town hall and Gardens, Durban 1808.6 Through the Pines, Kloof Road 1808.7 Embroidered flower, small, in pink mount with gold text 001808.08-001800.8.12; Letter, 5 pages 1808.1 Yours sincerely/Orford/15/2/1919, on reverse note Dear Gladys...Yours sincerely 1808.2 Reverse 'a Fraire/Belgique/Janvier 29th 1919, note Dear Gladys...from yours sincerely Orford 1808.3 Revers: Gladys...from Orford/France/23/10/1918, Insert- Front-Merry/Christmas/from/France; Revers- Gladys/from/Orford/Longpre, France/28/10/1918/Heaps of good luck 1808.4 Front- Forget Me Not, reverse-Gladys/with best wishes/from Orford/France/20/1/1918 1808.5 Reverse- Dear Gladys..Yours sincerely/Orford and address 1808.6 Reverse- 20/5/1917,At Sea/SS Shropshire, Dear Gladys..Yours sincerely Orford 1808.7 Reverse- Dear Gladys..from Orford Critchlow 001800.8-001808.12R: Letter on Y.M.C.A. letterhead paper, written on both sides of 5 pages. Boyton,1/8/1917-1/9/1917/Dear Gladys.... Yours sincerely Orfordgladys holmes, james orford critchlow, letter, photograph, postcards, ww 1, byaduk, casterton, belgium, embroidery, france, 4th battery, australian field artillery, durban, ss shropshire, the valentine & sons publishing co ltd

Sir Douglas Ralph Nicholls (1906-1988), footballer, pastor, activist and governor, was born on 9 December 1906 at Cummeragunja Aboriginal mission, New South Wales, fifth child of Herbert Nicholls, seasonal worker, and his wife Florence, née Atkinson. Doug grew up at Cummeragunja, on the Murray River near Barmah, in its golden years of Aboriginal autonomy. Thomas Shadrach James gave him and other Yorta Yorta children a sound primary education, reinforcing the pride and self-assurance gained from their parents. As Doug grew, so too did the powers of the State’s Aboriginal Protection Board. Doug’s elder sister Hilda was removed about 1915. When Doug reached 14, he was moved off under the Aborigines Protection Act (1909) to find work. He took a job with dredging teams constructing levees on the Murray. Like other youths in the region Nicholls played Australian rules football, emulating kinsmen who had won local premierships since the 1890s. Doug and his brother Herbert (‘Dowie’) played with Tongala in the mid-1920s. Melbourne football beckoned, Doug trying out unsuccessfully for Carlton in 1927. He signed with the Northcote Victorian Football Association team, despite his nervousness about his Aboriginality, and was given a job with Northcote City Council. ‘Dowie’ joined him for a season. Doug was short at 5 ft 2 ins (158 cm), but muscular and lightning fast. He competed regularly during a boom in professional running, winning many heat and place prizes. In 1929 he won the Nyah and Warracknabeal gifts, earning a sash and £100 in each, together with a case of cutlery in the latter. Using his speed on the wing for Northcote, he produced great spring and agility from his compact body. The Sporting Globe reported in 1929 that ‘he flashes through packs of big men, whisks around small men . . . and attempts marks at the back of any six-footer’. In front-on clashes he was flattened only to rise again. The sole Aborigine in the VFA, he was known affectionately as the ‘flying Abo’ but called worse by his opponents’ barrackers. He competed for five seasons, being named ‘best and fairest’ twice, appearing in three association grand finals and winning in 1929. Keen to earn more than a seasonal wage, in 1931 Nicholls accepted a three-year contract with Jimmy Sharman’s travelling boxing show. The bouts matched opposites, local against tent boxer, white against black, and sometimes men of different sizes. He faced stiff competition from those who wanted to best the noted Melbourne black footballer, the crowd adding racial abuse. A far better footballer than boxer, he copped some punishment. Fighting in the Melbourne Stadium in December 1931, he was described by Truth as ‘slow and awkward’, but packing a ‘good wallop’. In 1932 Sharman, who treated his boxers fairly, released Nicholls to join the Fitzroy Victorian Football League team, which agreed to employ him as its groundsman. He played fifty-four games for Fitzroy over six seasons until knee trouble forced him out in 1937. Winning cups in 1934 and 1935, he played alongside Haydn Bunton and Wilfred (‘Chicken’) Smallhorn. Grand finals eluded him but he represented Victoria twice. Following his mother’s death, Nicholls revisited the Church of Christ chapel in Northcote, where they had worshipped together. On 17 July 1932 he experienced a conversion. He was soon baptised and witnessed openly, leading his fellow footballers to occasional church parades. Nicholls exhibited leadership qualities. William Cooper, founder of the Australian Aborigines’ League and Nicholls’ Yorta Yorta kinsman and fellow Christian, encouraged the young footballer. In February 1935 Cooper, Nicholls and others lobbied Thomas Paterson, the Commonwealth minister for the interior, over the need for Federal control of Aboriginal affairs. Nicholls attended the Day of Mourning protest for Aborigines held in Sydney on 26 January 1938, declaring: ‘after 150 years our people are still influenced and bossed by white people. I know we can proudly hold our own with others if given the chance’. When Cooper retired in November 1940 Nicholls became secretary of the AAL. On 2 June 1941 Nicholls enlisted in the Citizen Military Forces. He trained at Seymour and Bonegilla before being posted to the 29th Battalion. As Major Frank Corr’s batman, he was popular with other soldiers who tolerated his preaching and Bible reading. His army service was brief, however, and he was discharged in Melbourne on compassionate grounds on 22 January 1942. His biographer claimed that the Fitzroy police requested his return to mediate in the racial tensions developing between servicemen and the mostly respectable Aboriginal families living in crowded and dilapidated Fitzroy housing; Aboriginal people maintain that they requested his release. Nicholls began welfare work and religious services from an Aboriginal home in Gertrude Street, Fitzroy. In April 1942, ‘Dowie’ died of road accident trauma, leaving his wife, Gladys, née Bux, and three children. On 26 December 1942 at Moama Methodist Church, New South Wales, Nicholls married her, a caring gesture which developed into a loving partnership. In January 1943 he initiated ‘Aboriginal Sunday’, featuring a gum leaf orchestra and choir. By 1955 this service had moved to July and later evolved into National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) week. Ordained a Churches of Christ pastor in 1945, Nicholls conducted a vigorous ministry from a chapel in Gore Street, Fitzroy. His work survived on donations, a small honorarium, and his employment as team coach (1947) and curator at the Northcote Football Ground. In the 1950s Gladys established grocery and opportunity shops to earn income and provide services. Their house soon overflowed with people in need or visitors to Melbourne. Nicholls also hosted inspiring African American visitors such as the pianist Winifred Attwell and the singer Harry Belafonte. His ministry extended to Aboriginal country communities. Gladys taught Sunday school, undertook endless fund-raising and welfare work beside her husband, and became his greatest supporter and financial manager. They formed an Aboriginal Girls’ Hostel in 1956, for which they acted as house parents, and bought holiday units for Aborigines at Queenscliff. Persistently advocating Aboriginal rights, Nicholls protested about the impact of the Woomera rocket range on the people of the Warburton Ranges, co-ordinated the production of a concert, Out of the Dark, scripted by Jean Campbell, to rectify the omission of Aborigines from Victoria’s Commonwealth jubilee celebrations, and criticised the Victorian Aboriginal Protection Board. In 1957 when the board was transformed into the Aborigines’ Welfare Board, he and Harold Blair were appointed as Aboriginal representatives. Maintaining the stance of a political moderate, he did not bear grudges and sought to build bridges between black and white. He co-operated with any group that aided the cause, including the Council of Aboriginal Rights, whose executive were members of the Communist Party of Australia. This association attracted the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organization, which in 1957 began to keep a file on Nicholls. In May 1957 Nicholls formed the Victorian Aborigines Advancement League with Doris Blackburn and Gordon Bryant, a Federal parliamentarian. As its paid field officer and spokesman, Nicholls contested assimilation policies and used film to raise awareness of issues. When the Welfare Board attempted to close Lake Tyers reserve, Gippsland, he resigned in disgust and led a protest march on parliament in May 1963. The AAL also petitioned the United Nations on land rights in June, perhaps the first indigenous body to do so. He argued for new premises at 58 Cunningham Street, Northcote, opened in 1966 as the ‘Doug Nicholls Centre’. In 1958 Nicholls was a foundation member of the Federal Council for Aboriginal Advancement (Federal Council for the Advancement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders after 1964), which he served as national field officer (1961) and Victorian secretary (1962-63). While an innovator in tactics, he was alarmed by the influence of confrontational ‘black power’ politics in the AAL and resigned as a director amid turmoil on this issue in 1969, claiming the concept was a ‘bitter word’, not needed in Australia. Similar tensions in FCAATSI led him to join with Kath Walker (Oodgeroo Noonuccal) in establishing the short-lived National Tribal Council as an alternative forum. As the AAL leadership moderated their stance, he returned as president (1969-74) of the new all-Aboriginal organisation. He was also a keen patron of the National Aboriginal Sports Foundation, founded in 1969. Many honours were conferred on Nicholls: he was appointed MBE (1957) and OBE (1968) and knighted (1972). In 1962 he was named Victorian ‘Father of the Year’ and the State’s second Aboriginal justice of the peace. Crowned Melbourne’s 1973 King of Moomba, he was declared Bapu Mamus (a Torres Strait term for ‘headman’) by the NTC. On 1 December 1976 Sir Douglas was appointed Governor of South Australia, but his health deteriorated within weeks, making it difficult for him to perform his official duties. In March 1977 he hosted Queen Elizabeth during her royal tour and was appointed KCVO. He relinquished his governorship on 30 April 1977 following a stroke. Ill health continued to dog him during retirement, but he played his Nelson Eddy records, enjoyed his expanding family, and when able, ministered to the Aboriginal Church at the League’s premises. Sir Douglas Nicholls died on 4 June 1988 at Mooroopna, predeceased (1981) by his wife and survived by his five children. He was given a state funeral and buried in tribal ground at Cummeragunja cemetery. Among the many tributes to him are an oval at Northcote, handed to the AAL in 1982, a Canberra suburb gazetted in 1991, and a fellowship for Indigenous leadership established in 2003, all in his name, and a statue of Sir Doug and Lady Nicholls by Louis Laumen, unveiled in 2007 in Parliament Gardens, Melbourne. Sir Douglas Nicholls is shown speaking at a microphone; head and shoulders; dressed in a suit.Pastor Douglas Nicholls