Part of the Zakrzewski Collection of spinning wheels donated to the National Wool Museum by Mr Wlodzimierz Zakrzewski. For many years, Mr Zakrzewski collected, researched and repaired spinning wheels from all over the world. This spinning wheel was the first to be acquired by Mr Zakrzewski for his collection and was bought from Aingers Auctions in Richmond in the early 1970s. It is a Finnish wheel dating from the early 20th century.Part of the Zakrzewski Spinning Wheel collection.handicrafts - history, spinning wheels, highlights of the national wool museum: the zakrzewski spinning wheel collection - exhibition (28/07/2001 - 02/12/2001), zakrzewski, mr wlodzimierz

Mr George Awburn Jr. arrived in Wodonga West with his parents by bullock dray when he was aged six years old. As a young man he went to Melbourne where he worked with the Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company. He drove the first through tram from Abbotsford to Balaclava. On he return to Wodonga, Mr. Awburn opened a bakery and grocery business in Sydney St., Wodonga which he conducted up till the time of his death in 1946. He was active in community affairs in roles including being a foundation member of the Library Committee, a committeeman of the Town Band and football club, a member of the Hibernian Lodge and an ardent worker for the Roman Catholic Church. Johnson Bros. was founded by two brothers named Alfred and Frederick who purchased a pottery factory in Hanley, England, in 1883. They were grandsons of a renowned English potter, Alfred Meakin. They were later joined in the business by their brothers Henry and Robert. Their business grew rapidly, as they were one of the world's largest pottery factories by the turn of the 20th century. By 1970, Johnson Bros. obtained the Royal Charter to become the official provider of china for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. More than 1,300 patterns have been created throughout Johnson Brothers' history. Due to their growing success, manufacturing plants were established overseas including the establishment of a tableware factory, Johnson Brothers Australia in 1957 in Croydon, Victoria operated through a company known as Sovereign Pottery Ltd. Due to rising competition, Johnson Brothers became part of the Wedgewood Group in 1968. In 2015, following the acquisition of Wedgewood by Finnish company Fiskars, the Johnson Brothers branding was discontinued. The trademark on this bowl was used by Johnson Brothers between 1913 and 1942.This item originates from a well-known and respected Wodonga business.A round china plate imprinted with business name of G. Awburn Wodonga and Johnson Brothers on the back of the plate.On front: G. Awburn Caterer Wodonga On back: Hotelware / Johnson Bros/ Englandawburn family, wodonga businesses

Johnson Bros. was founded by two brothers named Alfred and Frederick who purchased a pottery factory in Hanley, England, in 1883. They were grandsons of a renowned English potter, Alfred Meakin. They were later joined in the business by their brothers Henry and Robert. Their business grew rapidly, as they were one of the world's largest pottery factories by the turn of the 20th century. By 1970, Johnson Bros. obtained the Royal Charter to become the official provider of china for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. More than 1,300 patterns have been created throughout Johnson Brothers' history. Due to their growing success, manufacturing plants were established overseas including the establishment of a tableware factory, Johnson Brothers Australia in 1957 in Croydon, Victoria operated through a company known as Sovereign Pottery Ltd. Due to rising competition, Johnson Brothers became part of the Wedgewood Group in 1968. In 2015, following the acquisition of Wedgewood by Finnish company Fiskars, the Johnson Brothers branding was discontinued. The trademark on this bowl was used by Johnson Brothers between 1913 and 1942. An item which reflects the changing market for tableware that was reasonably priced and serviceable. Their innovation of the pottery line called semi-porcelain changed the industry. This development allowed potteries to produce fashionable pottery items that were affordable to all social classes of the time. Their use became widespread in Australia, especially following their establishment of a tableware factory in Melbourne, Victoria. A shallow white bowl with gold trim, probably used for serving vegetables at the table. The underside of the bowl bears the mark of Johnson Bros England. The mark is composed of a green crown above the words "Johnson Bros England" also in green.On under side of bowl, beneath a green crown "Johnson Bros/England"johnson brothers ceramics, domestic utensils, kitchenware

Betty Sale (1905-1976) won the Tasmanian State Championship in 1934, 1935 and 1936. She also worked as a car saleswoman in Hobart. In 1939, London reported: “Betty Sale, pretty Tasmanian brunette, will soon leave England for Finland, where she will drive an ambulance behind the Mannerheim Line. With twenty-three English society girls, she volunteered for the job because she wanted to do something for the brave Finns.” Betty volunteered for First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Service (F.A.N.Y.), conveying refugees and casualties to hospitals by ambulance in Finland’s harsh weather. Back in England, as a corporal, she worked during bombings in Plymouth, writing to her brother: “Bombs were dropping all around us, fires are raging, debris everywhere and huge holes around us. When we had got all the live ones, we went and collected dead bodies.” Betty was awarded an MBE and the Winter War Medal for Civilians from Finland Government 1939-40. MCK142 Published The Age 29 August 1935 Featured in "Newsworthy: Melbourne in photographs 1933-1936" exhibition at East Melbourne Library, October to December 2023. Exhibition caption by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer. Photographer notations on slide: "Vic. Women's Golf Ch'ship 1935 B98" Published: The Age 29 August 1935 p. 11 Published title: SIX STATE CHAMPIONS IN NATIONAL GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP. Published caption: Six State champions for the first time in the history of women’s golf are competing in the matches for the Australian title. — 1. Miss B. Sale (Tas.). 2. Miss J. Hood-Hammond (N.S.W.). 3. Miss J. Gardiner (Qld,) 4. Miss K. Rymill (S.A.). 5. Mrs. O. J. Negus (W.A.). 6. Mrs. S. Morpeth (Vic.) RESEARCHER'S NOTE: The Age listed Golfer 1 as Miss B. Sale and Golfer 4 as Miss K. Rymill. We verified that these should in fact be the other way around: 1 is Miss K. Rymill, 4 is Miss B. Sale. Description: Action shot of woman driving golf ball Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: MISS BETTY SALE Mrs Margaret Elizabeth Scott Rigg (1905-1976) MBE Betty Sale grew up in Hobart and attended St Michael’s Collegiate School. She was a champion Tasmania golfer and won the State Championship in 1934, 1935, 1936. Betty competed in the Australian Women’s Golf Championship at Royal Melbourne against the British Women’s Team in 1935. Betty worked as a car saleswoman at Robert Nettleford Pty Ltd at 113 Macquarie Street, Hobart. They were the agent for Austin, Buick, Chevrolet and Vauxhall. In April 1939, Betty sailed on the RMS Orford to London where she worked in sales for Henley’s, an exclusive motor sales firm. In November 1939 she volunteered for the Woman’s Transport Arm of the First Aid Nursing Yeomanry Service (F.A.N.Y.) and was part of the team delivering 10 ambulances to Finland, which had been invaded by the Soviet Union. Betty worked conveying refugees and military casualties to military hospitals, often over tracks with only sleigh marks to guide them. Despite contracting measles she continued to work tirelessly, often for 22-hour shifts. She was awarded the Finland Winter War medal 1939-1940 for civilians by Field-Marshall Mannerheim (later President of Finland). Betty was quoted in the Australian Women’s Weekly 17/1/1940: “I joined the ambulance corp for Finland because I was filled with admiration for the courage and determination of the Finns. I don’t think that there has ever been anything so dramatic in history as the manner in which Finland, a land of 4,000,000 people has resisted the aggression of the teeming millions of Russians.” After six months working in Finland, the FANYs found themselves held up unable to get aid from Britain to escape and they felt a burden on the Finns. Eventually money was sent privately from a neutral country and the 17 FANYs determined to get away. They set off from Helsinki with only the civilian clothes they were wearing and travelled by train and bus to a northern port where they boarded a cargo vessel. For a fortnight they did not change their clothes and slept under tarpaulins in the hatchway. The only choice of food was porridge or pea soup. After two weeks aboard the cargo vessel, a palatial liner approached the ship and in mid-ocean the FANYs were transhipped by rope ladders. The women enjoyed three course meals and other luxuries for three days before arriving back in England. Betty, now a corporal, worked for two years transporting civilian and military casualties during bombings in Plymouth. In a letter to her brother, Mr J Sale of Gerogery NSW, Betty wrote, “We have had a very lively time here as we have been blitzed for two nights. There is literally nothing of Plymouth left. We were out all the first night with the ambulance collecting casualties and have never seen such injuries. Bombs were dropping all around us, fires were raging, debris everywhere, and huge holes in the roads. When we had got all the live ones, we went and collected dead bodies. The people are marvellous.” “Next night, we had a worse blitz. We were not out so long but it was not a pleasant party. I didn’t know I was so brave but could not stand it too long. Mr Menzies was here for the second night’s blitz. We have adopted a homeless and hurt dog – a raid victim – and the poor fellow is completely exhausted.” In 1942, Betty worked in Algeria in charge of 100 specialists and technicians - the first servicewomen to arrive in North Africa. In 1945, she was awarded an MBE in recognition and on behalf of the work this unit was involved in. In 1945, Betty was promoted to Captain and posted to Australia to establish a Signal Station. In 1946, she married Lt-Col H. Henry O. Rigg of the Royal Artillery in Tasmania. The couple had first met in Algeria in 1943. The Australian press closely followed Betty’s wartime activities praising her courage, capability, driving and mechanical knowledge and of course Australian women’s hardiness. After the war, Betty lived in Sheffield, England with her husband, working as an office manager. She continued to play golf until her death aged 71 in 1976.Photographer notations on slide: "Vic. Women's Golf Ch'ship 1935 B98".golf, women golfers, royal melbourne golf club

These photographs, taken by The Advocate in 1991 are of Finnish Ambassador Charles Murto visiting the Valmet–Boustead Pty Ltd engineering facility in Braybrook, Victoria. The visit recognised the company’s role as part of Finland’s international industrial network, particularly through Valmet’s long‑standing expertise in paper, pulp, and machinery manufacturing. At the time, the Braybrook workshop provided specialised engineering services to paper mills across Australia, including roll maintenance, machinery servicing, and technical support. Ambassador Murto met with management and staff, toured the workshop, and observed the technical processes used in machinery refurbishment. His visit acknowledged the contribution of the Braybrook operation to both the local manufacturing economy and Finland’s global industrial presence. The event also strengthened diplomatic and commercial ties between Finland and Australia during a period of industrial modernisation. Valmet–Boustead Pty Ltd was an engineering and industrial services company operating in Braybrook, Victoria, associated with the global Valmet group’s expansion into Australia’s paper, pulp, and machinery service sector. The company appears in ASIC historical records under several related names, including Valmet Boustead Pty Ltd, Valmet‑Boustead Pty Ltd, and Boustead Engineering Pty Ltd, reflecting corporate restructuring and mergers over time. The company’s lineage is tied to Valmet’s broader industrial heritage, which spans more than 200 years internationally, originating from Finnish state metal works and later expanding through acquisitions in Europe and North America. In Australia, the Braybrook operation became part of Valmet’s service network supporting the paper, board, tissue, pulp, and energy industries. The Melbourne Service Centre, established in 1989, is located at 14–28 South Road, Braybrook VIC 3019, and provides roll services, machinery maintenance, process optimisation, and specialist engineering support.The Ambassador’s visit highlighted the significance of Valmet’s Australian operations within Finland’s global industrial network. It provided an opportunity to meet management and technical staff, inspect engineering capabilities, and acknowledge the contribution of the Braybrook facility to the region’s manufacturing economy. The event also strengthened ties between Finnish industry and Melbourne’s western suburbs, an area with a long history of engineering and industrial production.7457.01 - Valmet - Boustead Pty Ltd 14 - 28 South Road Braybrook 1991 Photographs (Advocate 578.1).JPG 7457.02 - Valmet - Boustead Pty Ltd 14 - 28 South Road Braybrook 1991 Photographs (Advocate 578.1).JPG 7457.03 - Valmet - Boustead Pty Ltd 14 - 28 South Road Braybrook 1991 Photographs (Advocate 578.1).JPG 7457.04 - Valmet - Boustead Pty Ltd 14 - 28 South Road Braybrook 1991 Photographs (Advocate 578.1).JPGvalmet - boustead pty ltd, south road, braybrook