This medal was donated by past student Cyril Brown in 2012. He received the award at Speech Night 1928 for attending school for three years without missing a day. This award was not given lightly. In 1926 Mabel Molland said in her Speech Night report, ‘Lorna Banks would have gained the gold medal for three years in succession had she not become ill one week before the school closed’. This medal has historic significance as a medal awarded to a past student and kept for 84 years. It is a rare example of the 3 Years Medal, without which we would not know the physical form of the award, mentioned in a number of Speech Night reports. The Westbourne Grammar Heritage Collection also contains an oral history interview with Mr. Brown which adds to the comparative significance of this item.Small gold medal featuring a shield inside a circle with a small ring at the top which attaches to the ring bail. The front of the shield has decorative engraving of letters 'WGS'. The reverse has engraved words, '3 Years/1928/C. Brown'. There are three hallmarks stamped below the engraved words on the reverse.

Newspaper article from the Bendigo Advertiser stuck on A4 printer paper. Article is dated Friday, May 22, 2015. Article is accompanied by a picture of Peter Ellis and is captioned as such. Article is written by Jason Walls and is titled Loss for folk music history. Article reads: Celebrated Bendigo Music identity, historian and naturalist Peter Ellis OAM died suddenly this week after a brief illness. He was 69. Mr Ellis was highly regarded as a collector and preserver of traditional bush music, with his collection of dance related material the largest in the National Library Archives in Canberra. He was award an Order of Australia Medal in 2012 for services to the arts through the collection and preservation of Australian folk history and heritage. Mr Ellis was a founding member of the Emu Creek Bush Band and achieved two platinum and several gold records in his more than 30 years with the Wedderburn Old Timers Band. Fellow Emu Creek Bush Band member and close friend John Williams said Mr Ellis had made an invaluable contribution to the preservation of Australia's musical and dance heritage, travelling extensively across the country recording and notating folk music. 'In 500 year's time, as long as they can find the technology, people will be able to resurrect our bush dancing history,' he said. 'Probably his biggest legacy is the number of young people who have been made aware of bush music and are continuing to play it today and will play it in the future.' As a life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Mr Ellis was also involved in campaigns to establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks and the Saloman's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves, and lobbied for the inclusion of One Tree Hill in the Greater Bendigo National Park. A public funeral service will beheld at the Mulqueen Family Chapel on Bridge Street on Monday, May 25, at 11am, followed by a private cremation. An extensive obituary will be published in Saturday's Bendigo Advertiser.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Newspaper article attached to A4 printer paper. Article is from the Bendigo Advertiser. Photo shows coffin bearers loading casket into back of the hearse and is captioned : VALE: Family members and friends escort Peter Ellis' coffin from the chapel. Article reads: Tribute to a 'national treasure'. More than 450 people packed the Mulqueen Family Chapel yesterday to pay their respects to celebrated Bendigo music identity, historian and naturalist Peter Ellis OAM. He was described by family and friends as a teacher, mentor, band member, conservationist, philanthropist, historian, author, storyteller and national treasure. Rob Moors spoke of the work which earned Mr Ellis the Order of Australia Medal in 2012. 'Peter's dedication to the bush and his love for bush music means he will live on through his work and the legacy that he's left us, a legacy that allows others to learn and to benefit from his work and to follow his lead,' he said. Mr Ellis was awarded the OAM for services to the arts through the collection and preservation of Australian folk history and heritage. He died suddenly last week after a brief illness at the age of 69.Bendigo Advertiserperson, individual, peter ellis oam