Three horses with cart decorated with passengers for Gala Day. Mr. W. Smith & horse float, passengers include Beatrice and Ruby Cracknell, Lily Harris and Rose Smith. The Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record reported on April 28, 1916 on the Red Cross Carnival at Panton Hill. “The Red Cross Carnival in aid of local Patriotic Funds' held on the Panton Hill Recreation Reserve on Easter Saturday, sand instant, proved a gratifying success, so much so that £70 was netted on the occasion…. The fancy dress procession, although not as lengthy as the previous one for the Belgium Carnival, lost nothing of its effectiveness, and those who helped In this part of the entertainment de: serve the very best thanks. The prize for the best decorated vehicle (which was kindly provided by Mr. Wm. Smith) was awarded to Miss Goldman's bevy of young ladies representing the "Allies." Arbor Day was once a big celebration, especially celebrated in schools usually acknowledged on the last Friday of April. Wikipedia reports that the first Gala Day was held on November 3, 1916, to raise money for the Red Cross Society at the height of World War I in Geelong. Reference: RED CROSS CARNIVAL AT PANTON HILL. (1916, April 28). Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 - 1917), , p. 3 (MORNING.). Retrieved April 3, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60664371 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gala_Day This 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 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, panton hill, beatrice cracknell, lily harris, rose smith, ruby cracknell, w. smith, carnival, float, red cross, easter, decorated vehicle, ww1, world war 1914-1918, parade float

bill srn. crosbie, bill goodie, goodies field, horse racing, robert james colin crosbie

'Goatie' was William STUART first horse. William's parents owned the Gladysdale Diary on the corner of Bridge street and Williamstown Road. The newsagent and Milk Bar on the corner of Ross & Bridge Street is still in operation (2024). The Photo was printed from a 620 box Brownie-size negative which was found in a box of negatives taken by the late Mrs M F StuartPhoto of William Raeburn STUART on his two wheeled milk float with horse 'Goatie' standing in Bridge Street near Ross Street, late 1930s-early 40s. In background is the newsagent/milk barbusiness and traders - dairies, transport - horse, william raeburn stuart, gladysdale dairy, business and traders - milkbars, bridge street, ross street, mrs m f stuart

ballarat, woolen, worsted, horse, float

Churchill Island Heritage Farm has a large collection of photographs. Photograph taken in a paddock showing two tan horses tethered to a white horse float, with two people visible on each side of the frame.[catalogue number written on reverse in pencil]churchill island, photograph

Photograph shows a house with horse float and erosion on a poorly maintained driveway, Gorge Road South Morang. Part of the John Ramsdale collection of slides and audio visual material.Colour photograph scanned from slide.No maker's marks. No caption on slide.gorge road south morang, erosion

PHOTOGRAPH OF GROUP OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN IN COSTUME IN HORSE DRAWN FLOAT, TAKING PART IN HOSPITAL FETE PROCESSION ABOUT 1907HOSPITAL FETE PROCESSION ABOUT 1907 A. GAFFNEY, LIL ROBERTSON, ALMA CHAMPION, CLARA BAWDEN, HEDLEY CHAMPION. BAWDEN PHOTOGRAPHER CLUNESevents and celebrations, hospital, hospital fete

Photograph of horse drawn milk float outside Coram’s Hughesdale dairy with “Bluey” the horsecaulfield, hughesdale, milk carts, carts and wagons, coram’s, dairies, bluey, horses

Black and white photograph on outside. Buildings L and back. At centre, horse-drawn float carrying approximately twelve people, dressed mainly in white, with heads covered. Driver at centre wearing hat. Flat decorated with foliage. Two horses pulling float. At L, horse and rider. Large trees in back, two standing figures at R. Inscriptions: on board written in ink 'Easter Fair, 1919'. On back - 'Druid's Easter Fair, 1919, in pencil.person, group, easter procession

Slide. Bendigo Easter Parade. A 'Princess' in a white pumpkin which is pulled along by two white horses, on a float.slide, bendigo, bendigo easter parade., bendigo easter parade.

St Patrick's Day is celebrated on 17 March. A St Patrick's Day March was held in Ballarat. According to the Ballarat Courier of 03 February 1916 a festival was organised in Ballarat to celebrate St Patrick's Day: "ST PATRICK'S DAY FESTIVAL - There was an excellent attendance last night at St. Patrick's Hall to make a rangments for the annual celebration of St. Patrick's Day Festival. Mr A. W. Hager occupied the chair. The date allotted by the V.R.C. committee, Friday, 24th March, was accepted, and the festival will take place on that date, with the usual race meeting on the Miners' Racecourse, and entertainment at Her Majesty's Theatre in the evening. The secretary was instructed to appeal for the hearty co-operation of the different societies, and to ask for a holiday on 24th March. The amount of stakes and the racing programme were left in the hands of racing committee, whose report will be dealt with at the next meeting. The following officials were appointed to carry out the celebrations:--Chairman, Very Rev. Father Kennelly; vice-chairmen, Rev. Father Henneberry, T. J. O'Loughlin, and A. W. Hager; general manager, Mr M. Newton; Secretary; Mr F. T. Kierce; treasurer, Mr William White; collecting secretaries, Revs. Fathers Kennelly and Henneberry; entertainment. Mesers D. J.Ward, J. Morrisey, Fraser Hussy, Chris Hager, Shelly, Dr Spring, Dr Kelly, J.J. Coglan, P. Thornton, Jasper Coghlan, Jas Early; finance committee, Revs. Kennelly, Henneberry, Messrs White, T. Foley, Dr Spring, Brophy, Shelley. All present with power to add wore appointed a general committee. A vote of thanks to the chair concluded the meeting."Black and white photographic reproduction of the 1916 St Patrick's Day March in Sturt Street, Ballarat. A band leads the parade, a horse drawn float carries a banner "Unity of Peace & War" with hundreds following as part of the parade. ballarat irish, st patrick's day, st patrick's day march, ballarat, hager, kennelly, henneberry, o'loughlin, kierce, white, ward, morrisey, fraser, hussy, shelly, kelly, spring, coglan, foley, brophy

Yields information about the operation of the horse tram by the BTM during the Ballarat Heritage Weekend 2011Set of four digital images of the Horse tram No 1 operation in Wendouree Parade on Mother's Day, 8/5/2011, Photos by Warren Doubleday. .1 - Southbound .2 - in some light rain, with no one on the upper decks. .3 - through the parklands .4 - details of the horse owners caravan / float, Horse Drawn Cab Co.trams, tramways, horse tram, btm, wendouree parade, heritage, tram 1

Sepia photograph. Horse drawn float with barrels with four males and one child outside Cohn's Brewery. Inscriptions: on front - 'GP30', 'Bros. Limited'. 'Pageant at Easter Fair Procession, 1893'. 'W.H. Robinson Photo Bendigo'. On reverse - RHSV stamp, BHS.W.H. Robinson, Bendigoperson, group, cohn's brewery

A regular event for the widows was a concert in Fitzroy gardens performed by the Police Band. Usually held in March each year. The police horse Gendarme was a regular favourite and his horse float can be seen in the background. These photos show the widows enjoying the music and performers. President of the Melbourne Widows Club Irene Noll is seen in the first photo in floral top and black skirt. Legatees Geoff Swan and Charles Munnerley are standing by the microphone as Legatee Eddie Jowett reads something. Legatee Jowett regularly hosted and sang at monthly concerts at Legacy House. An article in the Answer in June 1994 shows Irene Noll at the concert in the same clothes so the date is assumed to be 1994. (Though it could also be 1992 which was when Legatee Geoff Swan was president).A record of regular events for widows to attend and enjoy together.Colour photo x 7 of widows at a concert in Fitzroy Gardens and an article in The Answer.widows, concert, answer, police band, fitzroy gardens

The 2024 Kosdown calendar celebrates Port Melbourne and pays tribute to Pat GRAINGER and her contribution to the community and the Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society. Historic photographs include Swallow & Ariell's factory, motor racing at Fishermans Bend, and Mitchell's London Family Hotel.Spiral bound 2024 calendar on a stiff white cardboard stand. The cover has a photo of William STUART on his milk float and horse 'Goatie'..business & traders - dairies, kosdown press, pat grainger, business and traders - hotels, business & traders - manufacturing, mitchell's london family hotel, sport - motor racing, william raeburn stuart, goatie, swallow & ariell ltd, london family hotel

Two colour photos: visit of Subzero, winner of Melbourne Cup, visited the Golden Square School in November 2006. Horse was 18 years of age at the time. (a) shows photo of horse emerging from float, wearing red rug, blue headstall. (b) shows view from classroom, full of students dressed in yellow/navy school uniforms, waiting for horse to emerge from float, float is visible in the background through window.bendigo, education, golden square primary school

Black and white photograph, on cream board. Outside view of a weatherboard building with high windows. Group of eleven people in front of four in a horse-drawn float advertising 'MUIOOF over £4,000 (pounds) per day paid in sick pay'. People within float dressed in white with white caps. In front, seven men in three piece suits. Six of these wear decorated shawls. Two horses' hindquarters visible on L.WH Robinson, Bendigoperson, group, easter fair

Black and white photograph of horse-drawn float. Approximately 12 men (in street clothes) plus approx 6 in dress for float. Theme of float - ice, polar bears, sled?. Dog in foreground and building, chimney in background. Mounted on fawn card. Inscriptions: on front - 'Cohn Bros Limited, GP 34, 'Pageant at Easter Fair Procession, 1898''WH Robinson Photo, Bendigo', on back - RHSV stamp circular blue 'Royal Historical Society of Victoria, Bendigo Branch'. History: Previous Acc. No. GP34'WH Robinson, Bendigoperson, group, easter procession, bendigo, easter procession, bendigo easter procession, clubs and associations, entertainment, event, organisation, cohn bros. limited, fashion, costume, clothing

Black and White photograph. The photo shows large procession heading north up Pall Mall. On RH side of image: Law Courts, Union Jack flag flying overhead. Conservatory Gardens just visible, picket fence along footpath. In centre of image: procession with horse drawn floats; float in front of image has large ball above an ornate supporting structure. Written on side of ball ' Gold .tained…' (gold contained?) On LH side of image, 'Harry Davey’ and 'F. Davey' written on shop fronts. All shops along Pall Mall have verandahs. Many people are sitting on balconies and rooftops watching the parade.bendigo, streetscape, pall mall

The Eaglehawk community enjoys a successful annual festival comprising of numerous separate activities to enjoy over a 5 day period. These include: Street Procession, Gala Fair, Art Exhibition, Flower Show, Folk Art, Literary Competition, Heritage displays, Sunday family Day to name a few.Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival Procession - Bendigo Historical Society boarding their tram Tram and assistant getting ready Eaglehawk Traders' tram Tram on the way Tram crossing Victoria Street Steam Engine Mens Highland Band Ladies Highland Band Old Cars Wedderburn Eucalyptus Float Horse and Donkey Drawn Vehicles Float Brass Band VIP's Highland Band Walkers and Tram Public Gardens and flowershistory, bendigo, eaglehawk dahlia and arts festival, processions, parades, highland bands, bendigo historical society, eaglehawk gardens, eaglehawk

Photo album, cover has blue cover, maroon spine, spine disconnected from pages. 'Album' on front. Sepia photograph stuck inside front cover of album. Image shows large procession heading north up Pall Mall. On RH side of image: Law Courts, Union Jack flag flying overhead. Conservatory Gardens just visible, palm trees not evident, picket fence along footpath. In centre of image: procession with horse drawn floats; float in front of image has large gold coloured ball above an ornate supporting structure. Written on side of ball ' Gold .tained…' (gold contained?) On LH side of image, 'Harry Davey’ and 'F. Davey' written on shop fronts. All shops along Pall Mall have verandahs. Many people are sitting on balconies and rooftops watching the parade. Appears to be approx. 1890’s?bendigo, streetscape, pall mall, bendigo, sandhurst, procession, gold, post office, pall mall

This is a program of the Centenary Procession that took place in Warrnambool in 1947 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city’s founding in 1847. It was originally intended to celebrate the 100th anniversary in 1940 but these celebrations were postponed because of World War Two. In 1947 centenary celebrations were held but on a less lavish style. 1947 was a more appropriate year as 1847 was the year of the first land sales for Warrnambool and the arrival of the first European settlers in the town. The 1947 celebrations included a Grand Procession which was estimated to have been watched by 20,000 people. A similar number saw the bonfire and fireworks display in Albert Park the same evening. The celebrations lasted a week and included a choral thanksgiving festival in the Botanic Gardens, a massed band display and a ‘Warrnambool Can Make It’ exhibition of local manufactures. The well-known historian and Town Clerk at the time, Henri Worland took a prominent role in the organizing of the celebrations. This little booklet is of considerable importance because it contains a short description of the floats and the names of those connected with the various floats of the Warrnambool Centenary Procession of 1947. It not only gives us a better idea of what and who were in the procession but it now enables us to better label the many photographs we have of this procession and to identify the people in the photographs. The program is a valuable source of information for historians. It also is a good example of the type of celebratory procession that was popular 70 years ago. This is a paper program of the Warrnambool 1947 Centenary procession. It has four pages and a buff-coloured cover. The front cover has a sepia-toned photograph of the first car purchased in Warrnambool (1906) and on the back cover there is an advertisement for Lane’s Bus Services. The inside front cover has an advertisement for Guyett and Sons Furniture Store and there are other advertisements throughout the pages. The printed text on buff-coloured paper gives details of the 29 floats in the ‘Mechanized’ Section and of the 27 floats in the ‘Back to the Horse Pageant’ Section. The pages were stapled but the staples have been removed. There has been some silverfish damage. Front Cover: ‘Grand Centenary Procession, Thursday, March 27, 1947, Souvenir Catalogue, Price Sixpence, Joint Organisers, C.A.Rogers, P.T.Parker, F.E.Utting’. warrnambool centenary, 1947 henri worland

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river

My Recollections of Eltham Past by Margaret Joy Harding (nee Joy Chapman.) My family of Elizabeth and Alec Chapman moved to Eltham in 1946 into a cottage on the opposite side of the Diamond Creek from where the little train now operates in the Lower Park. At that time Eltham truly was a country town and the Pub was the main meeting place for most inhabitants on a Saturday afternoon in the beer garden. I attended Eltham Primary School where I started as a 4-year-old (my birthday being slightly after the mid-year intake) that happened then. My mother spent a lot of days taking me back to school when I had dismissed myself and walked the one kilomtre home alone. Bremner's Common (now Wingrove Park) was a big attraction with its dam and tad poling which I found much more entertaining than school. (Mrs Bremner ran a Service Station on the site of the current one). Another attraction at this site was the circus that came a couple of times a year. Watching them put up the circus tent was very interesting and even more of an attraction was the feeding of the Lions in cages and the monkeys and elephants among the other animals that are not found in a circus these days. At school then we were provided with hot chocolate at morning recess where the mothers would prepare it in the shelter shed. The only form of classroom heating was an open fire. Worse was the warm milk given in the summer months. By the time I was near finishing at Primary school we used to be able to walk along the Main Road at lunchtime to Mrs. Mitchell's shop to a delicious hot pie. As I recall there was no supervision for this departure from the school grounds. It is interesting that some of the other children I started school with I still have contact with, in fact one is a very good friend although now living in Perth. That is the other thing about Eltham; many who grew up here continue to live in the area. Following primary school, the natural progression was to Eltham High School. There was only the main building at that time and I can remember our first assembly at the front entrance. During the time I was at High School several new class rooms were added and the school hall. I remember the musical plays such as HMS Pinafore and other classical musicals being performed. I also remember countless hours doing marching practice. The main street shops when I was young consisted of the Blue Gum milk bar at the far end, a Grocery store and a shoe maker where Coles currently stands. Opposite there was Lyon's Garage. They also provided a bus service and when we got off the train this little bus would tour the back streets taking each individual to their home, sometimes this could take quite considerable time. There was also a Black Smith next to the Chiropractic Practice opposite Alistair Knox Park, another Milk Bar/General Store on the comer of Bridge Street/Main Road where a shop currently still operates. There was also a Butcher's shop down from the pub opposite Franklin Street. The only doctor was next to the courthouse on the other side of Brougham Street. On Saturday afternoon I was occasionally allowed to go the movies in the Town Hall which also stood on the site of the Coles centre. Often the Fire Alarm would sound and everyone would run outside to watch the fire truck leave with the volunteers clutching on the back. The other attraction during summer of course was the swimming pool which was a small concrete pool filled with water pumped from the Diamond Creek, sometimes it was like a mud puddle so for me the nearer to home Yarra/Diamond Creek junction was a much better option. We swam in the water hole which was quite deep and with fallen trees and sometimes carcasses of cows and kangaroos floating past. As recreation, the churches were another attraction for the Sunday school picnics to Mordialloc in the back of the moving van with benches tied into the back for us to "sit" on. Too bad when we went around a corner! In the early days we had an Ice Man deliver the ice once a week for "refrigeration". The green grocer came around in a horse and cart as did the milkman and the bread was delivered but I constantly got into trouble for eating the middle out on the way from the box it was delivered to in Mt Pleasant road across the paddock. The milkman finally would not come down our street after his horse bolted one morning and took off across the paddock. We also had the "Pan Man" come weekly and whose visit I would avoid. Our nearest shop was where the flower stall is located opposite the Lower Park. It consisted of a Tea Room and Milk Bar. There was a Public Telephone there which was the only contact to anyone else. We were a one car family so my mother’s movements were very limited as the Eltham Station was a couple of kilometres away and a trip to the city was an event. Being an only child growing up was a little lonely however rambling along the creek with my Mum, picking mushrooms and picking cherry plums for jam and the dogs catching rabbits which we ate if we could get them away from the dogs. We also liked to go into the Lower Park during school holidays when the Greek people came to camp and they would sing and dance around the camp fire and it all seemed so different to us as this was early days of immigration. Childhood was relatively simple and carefree and I wish the kids of today had the freedom of my youth and the healthy outdoor lifestyle of the "olden days".   SHOW GIRL COMPETITION In 1965 Eltham was more like a country town than the suburb it has become today. People knew each other, if not personally then certainly of the family name. The big event for the year was a Gymkhana or show at Lower Eltham Park. I can remember marching as a teenager from the town centre to the park in the marching girls with the decorated floats. In 1965, just on a whim on the day, I decided to enter the Miss Eltham Show Girl which was a part of the festivities at the park. I seem to remember that the show mainly consisted of horse events, cattle judging and dog show. As I had not given any serious thought to entering the competition, I wore a suit that I had for work which was brown wool, with a coffee coloured shirt under, black shoes, bag, and gloves but no hat. I duly paraded for the judges and much to my surprise I was announced the winner. I eventually went on to compete at the Miss Victoria Show Girl competition which was held at the Royal Melbourne Show. There I met many country girls who were representing their rural Victoria home. I made it into a final round of judging but I think justice prevailed when someone from a country background was crowned. It was fun to go into the show as I had not really been before and to see the displays of handcraft, cooking and wood chopping events was great as well as the judging of farm animals interesting. It is hard to remember the Eltham I grew up in. The Lyons Garage company bus that actually drove you home (or close to it) when we got off the train at night. The Eltham Hotel on a Saturday afternoon a usual social meeting place where people just sat and chatted. The pictures held in the Town Hall and when the fire alarm sounded all the men just jumped up and ran to help. Suburbia has now swallowed most of that life but thankfully we at least do have the trestle bridge and parkland. Digital file only - Black and white photo print on loan for scanning by EDHSalec chapman, annie bremner, blacksmith, bremner's flat, brougham steet, bus services, circus, diamond creek, dianne bell, doctor bradbury, easter gymkhana, elizabeth chapman, eltham high school, eltham hotel, eltham lower park, eltham public hall, eltham state school, eltham trestle bridge, general store, grace mitchell, ice man, joy chapman, lyons garage, margaret harding, milk bar, miss eltham 1965, miss victoria show girl, mount pleasant road, pan man, rodda parade, shops, show girl competition, swimming pool, water hole, yarra river