Alan Marshall AM, (2 May 1902 – 21 January 1984) was an Australian writer, story teller, humanist and social documenter. Personal correspondence between Gwenda Sanderson and Alan Marshall, dated between 1979 and 1983. There are 21 letters in all, the last 3 of which were dictated from the Hurlingham Nursing Home in Brighton. Background information for the letters (daugher Merrilyn Sanderson 10 October 2025): My mother, Gwenda Sanderson ( nee White ) grew up in the western district and knew Alan Marshall's sister. Gwenda was an aspiring author, and reached out to Alan for support and advice regarding her writing. Alan proved to be a generous and inspiring mentor and as you will see, they established a rapport. In 1966 Gwenda moved from Mortlake to Montmorency (quite a culture shock!) and around 1983 she and her husband, Stan moved to Diamond Creek. Letters: 1. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 August 1979 2. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1979 3. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 28 August 1979 4. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 7 September 1979 5. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 19 September 1979 6. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 October 1979 7. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 18 October 1979 8. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 1 November 1979 9. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 10 January 1980 10. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 24 January 1980 11. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 15 February 1980 12. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 May 1980 13. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 17 June 1980 14. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 29 July 1980 15. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 4 August 1980 16. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 22 August 1980 17. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 February 1981 18. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 5 August 1981 19. Gwen Hardisty on behalf of Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 11 May 1982 20. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 27 Octopber 1982 21. Alan Marshall to Gwenda Sanderson, 21 February 1983 alan marshall, gwenda sanderson, gurrawilla, elsie louise mcconnell, black rock (vic.), korny kenna, folk tales, australian folk tales, davie carson, tommy stratton, neil black, black emily, noorat, purnim encampment, pompey austin, aboriginal characters, john manifold, john hooker, collins publishers, eltham history, alan marshall (pioneers and painters), james bonwick, mount shadwell, mount noorat, john smith, blacksmith, mary turner-shaw, on mount emu creek (book), wooiwyrite, western district victoria, merrilyn sanderson, mortlake, the land (poem), collected verse (book), austin family, hammers over the anvil (book), eeyeuk, dennis family, peg dennis, noorat church, jim smith, miss dennis, mrs polly, mrs angus gillies, mental health, frank smith, country life (english paper), field (english paper), peter mcleod, bill beechey, angus gillies, mag dennis, east driscoll, camperdown, bill white, alec irvine, jack irvine, staughton's stable, cumming family, jallalabad, miss baird, private catholic school, jack peoples, shaw's, weatherley, miss ann gordon, ballangeich, writer, author, sun (newspaper), william collins (aust.) ltd, chatsworth homestead, russia, i can jump puddles (book), nat gould, race horses, ethell dell, gertrude page, geoffrey farnell, east driscoll (story), shamrock smith, the catholic ball (story), lance skuthorpe, the blood of johnny meagher (story), winter-irving, sarah midgeley, richard skilbeck, miss edith (story), sun competition, mandeville hall, hampden council, alan marshall commemorative plaque noorat, russian theatrical troupe, noorat show, eliza sturgess, sam johnson the baker, elsie johnson, crupper, martingale, a.j. black, shaw women, miss laura, squatter, duke of edinburgh, royal family, 'texas' green, member for kalgoorlie, duke of gloucestor, the girl in pink, prince of wales, may creedie (story), mrs scott of mortlake, smouldering fires (book), lindsay russell, mary murray of our valley (book), the fellowship of australian writers, jim hamilton, journey to aboriginal victoria (book), mary gilmore, peter mcallum institute, may creedie (book), gwen hardisty, heart attack, bulletin (magazine), stephenson, gloria swanson, jennifer marshall, daniel (grandson), cathy (daughter), sandringham hospithal, east brighton nursing home, alan marshall writes alone (review)

This is a photograph of students at Orbost State School in 1915. Included in the photograph, as identified by Mary Gilbert' are Brian Harrison; ?; ? Whillance; Rupert Perry; ; Dolly Nixxon; Dot Stagg; Ella Cowell; Annie Macalaster; ? ?; ? Winchester; Rupert Bird; Mac Kerr; :; Clarrie Reynolds; D. Daly; Marion Watt; Audrey Cameron; Teen Dixon; Ethel Morris; ?; Toby Nixon; Charlie Winchester Miss Marie Haynes; Doris Smith; Alison Cameron; Ruby Morgan; Thida(?) Guy; Elsa Wehner; Gladys Boucher; Gloria Swanson; ? Lay; ? Rodwell Wally Simpson; ? Morgan; Reece Harrison; P. Summers; ?; Les Morgan; W. Lawless; ? Craker; A. Nish; P. Hocking Zenie Irvine; Essie Nixxon; Violet Gibbs; Adelaide Hardy; Verna Perry; Mary Gilbert; Margaret Irvine; Marge Henderson; Nellie Draffin; Roy Cameron The 19th of March 1886 proved an important day in the lives of many early settlers in the Orbost area, because on this day the Orbost State School opened. The fact that the school had first operated tem­porarily in a leased building, and on a half-time basis with SS2745 Jarrahmond, did not dampen the enthusiasm of the local inhabitants as they saw their offspring commence their education under the guidance of HT Campbell Mackay. However he remained in charge only until 12th of May 1886. The second HT, John Rowe, served until 1908. On 30th of June 1887, a portable room was provided; it being brought to the area by schooner. The school now had accommodation for 30 pupils; the teacher's welfare was considered because quarters of two rooms were attached. As the population increased so did the needs of the school. This was reflected in the provision of a larger classroom in 1898.This photograph is associated with the history of education in Orbost.A black / white photograph of a group of children and one female teacher in front of an open doorway of a wooden school building. agirl seated in the front row is holding a board with "Grades V V1 Orbost" hand-written in what appears to be white chalk on a blackboard. .A list of those in photograph is attached.on back - "Grades V V1 Teacher Miss Merle Haynes who is now married, graduated at Monash, Maisie Ross holding board. Mary Gilbert on her right in picture"education-orbost-state-school