KEVIN ‘BOOFA’ INNES By Lucy McCormick Kevin was a member of the celebrated Innes clan from Inglewood, in Central Victoria. “I think the first Innes’ came to Inglewood in 1851. My daughter used to say she can’t marry anyone from Inglewood, because she’s related to them all,” says Kevin. ‘Boofa’ is enjoying some well-earned relaxation on the couch after breaking a kneecap six or seven months ago in a track work incident. Not that it seems to be bothering him too much; he’s got plenty of time to keep up with the trots on television. “I do follow them,” Kevin says. “I don’t miss many, and I do have a bet. I like to sit in the chair and drive a race as much as anyone.” With an illustrious career both as a trainer and in the sulky, it’s a safe bet that Kevin Innes is a more than handy ‘grandstand driver’. His name is associated as a trainer/driver with many handy horses, including Lea Sands, Imatoff and Stormy Morn to name a few. Kevin is typically circumspect about his bigger triumphs, however that doesn’t seem to be what interests him the most. “I’ll tell you something,” he declares, doing just that, “I like winning with the horses that were no good. Some people never get a good horse. Imagine that. Luck is a very, very important thing. You have to have luck to buy a good horse at the sales, to get it going, keep it sound, find a race for it, find and owner and get a draw. And they still make a liar of you.” Funny, interesting or quirky stories seem to be of greater interest to Kevin, such as the time he had a strong chance in a standing start race – the favourite in the race being his only worry. “I told the owner it only had a 20-metre handicap – I couldn’t beat it off that,” he remembers. “So I was leading, waiting for the favourite to run past me. Toward the finish, I heard it coming, and it ran straight past all right – minus the driver. He’d fallen out of the cart and I won the race. Just lucky.” The Innes family have always been heavily involved in one sporting pursuit or another – Kevin himself being a champion bike rider of his time. “My Uncle Roy was a good bike rider, so he dared me to have a go. It turned out I was quite good at it as well.” So good, in fact that for many years Kevin was able to make a living from bike riding, riding the ‘board track’ for many years. “We trained hard. Bike riding was very big back then, we’d train and ride three or four times a week.” Kevin’s riding career spanned four Herald Sun Tours, a Warrnambool to Melbourne and a Sydney to Melbourne race, to name a few. “It definitely gets you in – it was long hours,” he muses. “But like anything, horse racing included, you only get back what you put in. We trained hard. I never drank, and I still don’t. I’ve seen that many athletes, great ones too, brought down by alcohol.” Lucky with injury too, Kevin can only remember a sore ankle – as well as the requisite scrapes and abrasions from tumbles on the wooden boards of the velodromes. He still enjoys watching all the big bike races when he can. “You can watch them race all over the world – France, Sweden, Germany. “To be honest I sit up and watch them with my son and we get just as much of a kick looking at the countryside than anything else. It’s so different to when I was racing.” Betting on the bike racing was big in Kevin’s day as well, and some of the bookies Kevin saw betting on the bike racing, he saw at the Showgrounds betting on the trots on a Friday or Saturday night. “Racing was different back then. There would be twelve thousand people at the showgrounds – they don’t have to come anymore, it’s just as easy to watch it on the TV.” Kevin remembers in those days that drivers had to ‘weigh in’ as well – everyone who drove needed to weigh ten stone (just under 65 kilograms). It’s something he remembers fondly. “I know not everyone will.” Kevin won’t be drawn on the subject of favourite drivers, either. “Look. Driving is different now. No disrespect to current drivers, but you had to think a lot more on a three furlong track than they do now on the bigger tracks. You had to drive with brains. And I really believe that good horses make good drivers. The horses are very good these days. Today’s drivers – your Gavin Langs, Chris Alfords – they’re thinkers, and brains will beat brawn every time. The girls are just as good now too. You only have to look at Kerryn Manning.” A garrulous and popular character, Kevin has trained horses for the likes of legendary Richmond player Jack Dyer, and also spent his fair share of time hosting sportsman’s nights, holding his own with the likes of Ron Barassi. On one such night, they had flown in a light aircraft to their destination. During their show, Kevin noticed their pilot, sitting in the front row, laughing appreciatively. There was one problem. He had a beer in his hand, and was consuming it with some enthusiasm. As the night wore on, the pilot became more and more inebriated, and Kevin became more and more disturbed, knowing that this was the same pilot who was to fly them home when they finished. Unbeknownst to Kevin, however, the flight had been cancelled and the pilot hadn’t told anyone, instead deciding to take full advantage of his client’s hospitality. For now, Kevin is happy living in Inglewood with partner Barbara. Son Grant and daughter Carla aren’t far away (both work at the Bendigo Harness track, and Carla has held both a trainer and driver’s licence). His granddaughter, Barclay Sands, was born on the same day of the demise of their star performer, Lea Sands, and may give the biggest hint yet just how important the world of harness racing is to Kevin ‘Boofa’ Innes. Blue with white yolkKevin Innes embroidered on left side chestkevin innes, k innes, bendigo harness racing club, bhrc, bendigo, horses, race colours, trotting, pacing, harness racing

This is part of a collection belonging to Sgt, William E. CarrollThis is a copy of a letter written by 815 Cpl William Carroll to his Aunt while he was hospitalised in Cairo. It is written on YMCA letterhead.Top Left hand Corner: Patron/ YMCA National Council/ H.M. The King/ Patron /Military Camp Dept./ H.R.H. Duke of Connaught. Centre top: For God, For King & For Country/ YMCA Logo/ with the/ Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. (written through the logo)/ Right hand top corner: Committee/ for Egypt/and/the Near East./ Chairman/ H.E. Sir Henry McMahon Lower down page: Reply to No. 815 Coy D Bat 21st/ Dec 31st '16/ Stationed at/ Dear Aunt,/ I am at present a patient in the (??)/ General Hospital, Egypt, back again at Cairo. I/have a slight abcess on my lip and my neck was a/ bit swollen, but both are almost right now./ It's quite a relief to be away from the shot &/ shell, for a spell & to enjoy comfort and sunshine/ again after four months hardships in the trenches./ During the latter part of my stay at ANZAC, it/ was intensely cold, snow & ice galore & freezing/ cold winds. It's five days since I left the pen/insular; we were taken off in a small steamer/ to Lemnos & put aboard a fine hospital ship./ We arrived at Alexandria yesterday morning/ & came on here last night. My lip has been/ lanced & the swelling is disappearing fast./ I had many miraculuous escapes in the trench./ Once whilst observing over the sandbags a barage/ ventilated my hat. On another occasion when/ I was stiring the porridge a piece of shrapnel/ knocked over our breakfast into the fire. So I have/ a lot to be thankful for to be sure./Many of my comrades have gone and are buried in the/ churchyard in Shrapnell gully & more are away sick/ and wounded. I intended to cable to you for some money but I think I'll be able to make do/ of it, & we have all our wants attended to here./ Do you remembr Willy O'Leary of Mansfield?- He/ was killed near us in an attack some time ago./ Young Sgt. Roberts, my chum of Dookie & Broadmeadows/ was also sniped a few days before I left./ The war doesn't appear to be going too well, but/ I am sure time will tell, & we will eventually/ give the Germans a good belting. Just address/ my letters as usual, as I don't think I'll be here/ for long & if I am my mates will send them/ on. I gave them permission to keep any parcel/ you might forward on whilst I am away. It was/ awfully good of you to send the other thing along./ Hoping all are quite well./ I am/ Your Affectionate Nephew/ William E. Carroll. Cpl/ww1, battalion, aif, 815, sgt, carroll, e, 21st, 6th, brigade, 1st, dcm, wiiliam

A postcard of Egypt from John Basil McLean, who signs himself Basil to his family. This item was with other World War 1 memorabilia that has come from Private John Basil McLean, 2nd Reinforcements, 37th Battalion, A.I.F. Possibly these were with him during his time in the First World War and kept them as a mementos. J.B. McLean (Service No. 13824) was from near Maffra, Victoria and enlisted on 22 January 1916. He embarked on 16 December 1916 for Europe. He spent time with the Australian Field Artillery (Pack Section). At the end of the war he worked for a year at the A.I.F. Headquarters in London before returning to Australia on the 'Ceramic', arriving in Portsea in 1920. His full war record is available from the National Archives of Australia (B2455, MCLEAN JBM).An example of correspondence between soldiers and their home during World War 1. It shows that Australian soldiers took the opportunity to see parts of the world when they were serving overseas.Standard size postcard with image of a Pharoh statue (Roi Khephern) in Cairo Museum.Front - “CAIRE / Le Musee - Statue du Roi Khephern” Back - “UNION POSTALE UNIVERSELLE / EGYPTE / CARTE POSTALE / Ephtimios Freres, Port Said / Cai 190 / 54917 / N14 / At Sea / 31.12.16 / My dearest Mater / Just a few lines for the close / of the old year. We had our first wet day today. It was too wet for / church parade. The sunset this evening / was simply lovely. I wish you could / have seen it. With all good wishes / for 1917 to all from your loving Son / Basil.war correspondence, souvenir, world war one, mclean

Souvenir Football Optus Oval Farewell Game May 21 2005The Football was issued to commemorate Carlton Football Club's last game at Optus Oval/Princes Park in 2005. Farewell Princes Park Damn football! It’s just a game and it’s just an oval; dirt, grass and a few bumbling stands. Oh and there is the ghost of dad standing under the clock, smiling, dancing his jig, God love him, he loved his Bluebaggers. Oh and Pop's over there too, his scissors in his hand; he's rushed across from Lygon Street again to see the boys play. Both, like the ground now, gone for good - never to be seen again though their memories shine still. And then there's me as a lad, surrounded by men, the cans wobbling beneath my feet, my neck stretched up; I can see, I can see Ragsy!!!!!! and brave Gary Crane and Quirky on the wing and…. and it’s just a ground, just dirt and grass and the distant sound of trams. And there I am as a young man standing with my brothers, all of us singing wildly this GF evening as another flag is brought home! And there I am with Keith standing, always beer in hand, and watching Kouta and SOS and dear beloved Motley flying. But it’s only a ground just dirt and grass and late afternoon sun. There I am now, older, sitting beside me is my son, he holds the record and marks the goals, though these come far fewer nowadays. But it is only a ground and dirt and grass and memories that linger and the taste of shared drinks and the voices cheering in the outer. But it is only a ground, a ground whose moment has passed, who’s time in the sun is now time in shadow and no more balls to be bounced on that dirt nor football boots running across that grass, for there will be no more games played at Princes Park. Never again the tram down Royal Parade, never again a beer at The Rising Sun or the sound of the fans cheering madly in front of the Heatley Stand. But it is only a ground only dirt and grass and the memories, the sum total of all of us. I feel like a friend has passed...... Farewell Princes Park, time makes memories out all of us. Contributed by DannyboyNavy Blue & White Leather FootballOptus Farewell Game May 21 2005, Carlton Emblem,

Yarra Valley Hyundai presentation to Carlton B&F winner 1997A perpetual Trophy presented by a major sponsor Hyundai in the guise of "TOM ALVIN PERPETUAL TROPHY". In 1997 it was presented to Craig Bradley Carlton Best & Fairest winner 1997. Career : 1986 - 2002 Debut : Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 22 years, 159 days Carlton Player No. 931 Games : 375 Goals : 247 Last Game : Round 19, 2002 vs Port Adelaide, aged 38 years, 291 days Guernsey No. 21 Height : 182 cm (5 ft. 11 in.) Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 11 lbs.) DOB : 23 October, 1963 Premiership Player 1987, 1995 Carlton Legend Carlton Hall of Fame (1995) Best and Fairest 1986, 1988, 1993 All Australian 1986, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997 Captain 1998-2002 Team of the Century: Wing International Rules Series vs Ireland : 2000, 2001 (captain), 2002 Off the field, Craig Bradley was a somewhat quiet, unassuming character who never hungered for the spotlight. But when the umpire’s whistle blew for a game of Australian football, he became a consummate professional whose outstanding ball-winning ability, accurate disposal, punishing non-stop running and longevity in the game made him one of the all-time greats. “Braddles” captained the Blues for three years, won two AFL Premierships, and picked up almost every possible honour in a stellar career that spanned 17 seasons and a record 375 games for the Carlton Football Club. He began his football journey at Pooraka in outer-suburban Adelaide, where his father was coach of the Under-19 team. Craig was a stand-out junior footballer, and in 1981 he was recruited by SANFL club Port Adelaide. At the same time, Essendon also made a big pitch for his signature. The Bombers were very intent on getting him to Windy Hill, but Bradley wasn’t then ready to make the big move interstate. Essendon redoubled their efforts after Bradley’s sensational debut year for Port Adelaide, which culminated in the Magpies’ 51-point demolition of Glenelg in the Grand Final. Playing on a wing, but roaming the length of the ground, 17 year-old Bradley was one of his team’s best. He followed up by winning Port’s Best and Fairest in 1982, before departing for England later that year, as a member of the Australian Under-19 cricket team. Cricket was Braddles’ other great sporting passion, and he would eventually play two Sheffield Shield games each for South Australia and Victoria, before giving the game away to further his football ambitions. Because of his cricketing commitments, Bradley missed most of the 1983 pre-season with Port, but it made little difference, because he had another dominant season for the Magpies and was named All Australian for the first time. Two more Port Adelaide Best and Fairests followed in 1984 and '85 – with the latter complemented by All Australian honours again. In that year of 1985, four South Australians were named as All Australians; Bradley, Stephen Kernahan, Peter Motley and John Platten – and to the chagrin and envy of every other VFL club (especially Essendon) the first three all signed to play with Carlton. In the following year that trio of stars took to VFL football like they were born to it, and a time of bubbling confidence began for the Old Dark Navy Blues. Braddles wasted little time in announcing his arrival into the upper echelons of our national game by playing in the 1986 Grand Final in his debut season at Princes Park; the same year he won his first Carlton Best and Fairest award in a tie with Wayne Johnston. The Blues lost heavily to Hawthorn on Grand Final day, but twelve months later bounced back to snatch the 1987 flag from the Hawks in Bradley’s 47th senior match. By then, he was already a budding champion whose amazing stamina was too much for almost every opponent. He simply ran his taggers into the ground, and he was as effective in the last minutes of a game as he was at the start. He won two more Carlton Best and Fairest awards in 1988 and 1993, and by the end of his superb career had been an All Australian six times. Aged 32, he picked up his second Premiership winner’s medallion in 1995 when the unstoppable Kernahan-led Blues demolished Geelong in a one-sided Grand Final, but those who thought he might retire after that triumph were right off the mark. He still had his zip, his footy smarts and his brilliant foot skills, and he had transformed himself from a purely attacking weapon into an equally-effective sweeper across half-back. And to cap off a memorable season, he became one of only a handful of players to be inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame while still playing out their career. In 1997, at the age of 34, Bradley won the Sunday Age Footballer of the Year award. ”It’s not the end of the world when you reach 30,” he said in a blunt response to those who kept asking how long he intended going on – to his considerable annoyance. After being named All Australian yet again that year, he answered all those sorts of questions when he was appointed captain of his beloved Blues in 1998 – after the retirement of his great mate ‘Sticks’ Kernahan. Braddles led the Blues into another Grand Final in 1999, but the Wayne Carey-inspired Kangaroos proved just too good. Further indication of Craig Bradley’s enduring ability was his record in the often controversial and passionately-contested International Rules Series against Ireland. He first played for his country in 1984, and was recalled again in 2000. He was appointed captain of Australia in 2001, and played a fourth round of matches in 2002 at the age of 38 – a truly amazing achievement. In the millennium year of 2000, the honours kept rolling in for Braddles when he was included in both Carlton and Port Adelaide’s Team of the Century. In turn this raised the usual debate over why he had never won the game’s most prestigious individual award, the Brownlow Medal. The answer was apparently found when former field umpire Peter Cameron was interviewed, and he revealed that during most games, Bradley regularly back-chatted the men with the whistle. “He’s in the umpire’s ear all the time,’ said Cameron. By circumstance, Braddles wore his iconic number 21 guernsey for the last time against Port Adelaide at Princes Park in round 19, 2002. Carlton lost the match by 9 points, and Bradley suffered broken ribs and a punctured lung in a heavy collision. Even so, he was an almost unanimous choice as Best on Ground and was given three Brownlow Medal votes by the umpires. A few weeks later, Bradley’s farewell was typical of his nature. There was no big press conference, no stage-managed extravaganza. Instead, he issued a written statement through the AFL that caught everyone – including the Carlton Football Club by complete surprise. It read (in part); I have many people to thank and will do so in the coming weeks. I would however like to thank the Carlton Football Club and the Port Adelaide Football Club for many wonderful times and for their influence in helping to shape my life. To leave the game with a bit left in the tank and in good personal form makes me feel good. Since the foundation of the VFL in 1897, only three men (Michael Tuck, Kevin Bartlett and Simon Madden) have played more senior games than Craig Edwin Bradley of Carlton. A true Blue champion, he is one of only ten official Carlton Legends, and in 2006 was Carlton’s 17th inductee into the AFL Hall of Fame. In October 2006, it was announced that Bradley would return to the club for season 2007 as an assistant to senior coach Brett Ratten – a role he filled with the same intensity as he showed on the field. Bradley holds the club record for most career disposals, kicks, handballs, & Brownlow votes with totals of 8776, 5876, 2900 & 144 respectively.Pewter MugTOM ALVIN PERPETUAL TROPHY Presented Latrobe Valley Hyundai Best & Donated 1997 Craig Bradley

Letters sent to Martha (Mattie) dated from 1907 to 1920. Each letter is an edited version of the original pertaining to aspects of Fred Myers life as a shearer. Cobran Stn via Deniliquin Thursday Sept 1st 1910 …I got a reply from Eynesbury and a favourable reply, it starts on the 13th Oct so I will have plenty of time to get there, in fact far to much as we will finish here in a month full time so that will leave a fortnight to spare. We got rain here at last and it has put us back considerably as we only worked Monday. I have been idle ever since. We will probably start again Saturday. The weather has taken up nice and fine again…. I hope it will keep up to the cut out now I have 800 sheep shorn up to date and am fifth among thirty men so I’m doing well I think. Did you get the pound I sent? I’m sending two more this time, which I drew on Saturday. I don’t like sending too much as there is a chance of it going astray. Postcard Cobran Sept 18 1910 Just a note to let you know I am all right. I was disappointed not getting a letter yesterday, Saturday…I won’t get it now till next Saturday. We have three weeks here yet. I am sending 2 and tell me if you got the other 1. Cobran Stn via Deniliquin NSW Sunday 21st August (1911) ..I’m having a good time here, a good cook and the best of everything, no fires to lights or kettles to boil just get up and wire in but plenty of hard work. The sheep here a pretty rough but much better than Wandook. I am well among them here we had a little rain on Friday but not enough to stop us so we have got one full week in and the weather is now lovely I have been basking in the sunshine all morning and feel strong and fit as a fiddle. They are all a grand lot of men here I only knew one out of the lot but now them all pretty well now. We have a bit of a concert here every night almost. There are a few good singers here and we also had a phonograph up from the station with all the latest records. We have has two dances amongst ourselves, very boisterous affairs indeed they do make the dust fly. I have not ventured to take part in them yet and don’ think I will either. I get enough dancing all day long and besides I have to furnish the music. You ought to see them going when I rattle up the concertina they do make the dust fly. Sample of letters written by Fred Myers to his wife Mattie Myerslocal identities

This journal provides the reader with glimpses of the adventures and hardships of a seaman's life. Many of the stories are of sailing ships.Contributes to our knowledge of the importance of shipping and places on record those stories of the sea which would otherwise be lost.Contents Foreword - 5 Editorial - 7 'Sunbeam' and 'Sunbeam 2' - 11 Queer Convoy of the Pacific - 19 Port Phillip Mutinies of the 1850s - 24 Boiler-Room Bedlam - 26 The Nautical Chart - 30 The Challenge of the Sea - 32 Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village - 33 A Wonderful Gift - 34 The Dhow Sailors - 35 My Second Ship - 45 We Star our Voyage - 53 Peril in Ice - 58 L ' Avenir Apprentice - 61 Of Sharks and Such - 71 Submarine Duty 1918 - 75 The 'Samuel Plimosll' - 84 The 'Marco Polo's' Voyage - 85 Tarry Barry -- Keep-Water Man - 95 The Albatross - 99 At Quiet Moorings I Recall - 100 "Oh, But I'm Longing for me Ain Folk" - 104 Remedy for Stowaways - 105 The Little Ship - 106 Comments on 'My First Ship' - 109 Not a Soft Answer - 110 Just a Little Too Much of a Good Thing - 111 Early History of the 'Regina Maris' - 113 The Development of Lakes Entrance - 115 Book Reviews - 119sailing ships, steamships, shipping, seafaring life, shiplovers' society of victoria, dog watch

Postcard from WWI soldier William West (1268) of the 29 Infantry Battalion, 5th Pioneers Battalion while posted in France to his family at home, 1917. Mentioned in postcard George Buse 2208 born Yarraville who enlisted on 10/9/1914 aged 21 years 3 months. He embarked on 20/10/1914 and returned to Australia in 1919. He was a Driver with the 10th ASC,Embroidered silk postcards were first made in 1900 for the Paris Exposition. The popularity of silk postcards peaked during the First World War 1914 - 1918.They were mostly embroidered by French women in their homes and then sent to the factories for cutting and mounting on cards. Many of the cards were illustrated with patriotic symbols, flags, slogans, or sentimental texts. During the First World War, many Allied officers and soldiers based in France sent silk embroidered postcards to their loved ones back homeWhite rectangular postcard with embroidered pink flowers, green foliate and blue winged butterfly decoration on front. Handwritten message on the back.Front: "To my dear Wife" (embroidered) Back: "To Enid from dad xx / xxxxxx / France / Feb 26/2/1917 / My Dear Alice / Just a PC to let you I'm still well and hope are all the same I have not see Joe lately I may see him sometime or the other I hope you enjoyed yourself on your holidays they will do you good. I'm in a rest station I have not been too well I think I will be back with the battalion in a few days you can tell ??[ma]?? I met Pugger Loney he is in the 15 ambulance he looks well and it just as fat as ever I'm goin gover to see youn George Buse tomorrow well I have not much new to tell only all is well so I will now close with best love from loving husband Will xxxxxxxx"wwi, postcard, embroidered postcard, william west 1268, george buse 2208

This photographic postcard of the SS Edina was taken after the 1890’s due to the style and configuration of the vessel. There is a black and white photograph of the same image also in our Collection (RN 3192). It is most likely that both of the photographs were donated by the same person because the people mentioned in the inscription on the black and white photograph’s reverse side connect with two of the people mentioned in the letter on the reverse of the coloured photograph. * RN 3192; Black & White photograph - inscription: - "Donated by Mrs. Nancy Mason, Bay View. Owned by Mac Fordham, Chief Engineer, 'Edina', then given to Mrs. Mason's father-in-law Arnold Mason (both Engineers W.W. I)" The “Arnie” to whom the letter was addressed is likely to be Arnold Mason, Engineer. The author of the letter, “Mac”, is likely to be Mac Fordham, Chief Engineer of SS Edina. The transcribed letter tells of two men who know each other well and have an interest in the Edina. “Mac” mentions that he may be “too old” to be at sea again; this would also support the idea that the older writer would give his photographs to the perhaps younger “Arnie”. * RN 3193 (this photograph) - Transcription of pen and ink script handwriting = = = = = = = = = = = = 19-12-37 No. 1 Flat, “Goodwood Lodge” 196 Lennox Street, Richmond [Victoria] Dear Arnie , Been meaning to write for long time but you know, it’s just the usual routine of the seamen within Bay trades. Had a good trip back from Sydney. Took our time, spent almost a week coming back, rather monotonous in parts in the hill country, too many darn curves, still was a good trip. How are you all keeping? Suppose you’ve moved back to Drummoyne [erettris?], expect you can let the house in Manly easily enough. Noticed they had a strike at Cockatoo [Cockatoo Island NSW]. don’t suppose they pulled the boys out. How is Jack doing? Has [Willie?] commenced training yet, or no! too young, isn’t she? Been a lot of “paper” talk about the “Edina” finishing but nothing official that I’m aware of, but it’s always on the cards I suppose, then I suppose it will be to sea again if I’m not too old. Easy Winter only 3 trips per week, running every day from today until further notice. Trust [Mary?] Is well & all’s well with you too. Best wishes from us both for Xmas & New Year. Cheerio Mac = = = = = = = = = = = = ABOUT THE SS EDINA The three masted iron screw steamer SS Edina was built in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1854 by Barclay and Curle. She was adorned with the figurehead of ‘fair maid of Judea’. The many years of service made SS Edina famous world-wide as the longest serving screw steamer. (The term screw steamer comes from being driven by a single propeller, sometimes called a screw, driven by a steam engine.) SS Edina’s interesting history includes English Chanel runs, serving in the Crimean Ware carrying ammunition, horses and stores to the Black Sea, and further service in the American Civil War and later, serving in the western district of Victoria as well as in Queensland and carried gold, currency and gold prospectors Australia to New Zealand. SS Edina had the privilege of being an escort vessel to H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh during his visit to Australia in 1867. In March 1863 SS Edina arrived in Port Phillip Bay, Melbourne and was bought by Stephen Henty, of Portland fame, to work the cargo and passenger run from Melbourne – Warrnambool – Port Fairy - Portland. After a short time of working the run from Australia to New Zealand, with passengers and cargo that included gold and currency, she returned to her Melbourne - Warrnambool – Port Fairy run, with cargo including bales of wool produced in the western district of Victoria. The Warrnambool Steam Packet Company purchased SS Edina in 1867; she was now commanded by Captain John Thompson and Chief Engineer John Davies. She survived several mishaps at sea, had a complete service and overhaul and several changes of commanders. In 1870 SS Edina was in Lady Bay, Warrnambool, when a gale sprung up and caused a collision with the iron screw steamer SS Dandenong. SS Edina’s figurehead was broken into pieces and it was not ever replaced. SS Edina was re-fitted in 1870 then was used as a coastal trader in Queensland for a period. She was then brought to Melbourne to carry cargo and passengers between Melbourne and Geelong and performed this service 1880-1938. During this time (1917) she was again refitted with a new mast, funnel, bridge and promenade deck, altering her appearance. In 1938, after more collisions, SS Edina was taken out of service. However she was later renamed Dinah and used as a ‘lighter’ (a vessel without engine or superstructure) to be towed and carry wool and general cargo between Melbourne and Geelong. In 1957, after 104 years, the SS Edina was broken up at Footscray, Melbourne. Remains of SS Edina’s hull can be found in the Maribyrnong River, Port Phillip Bay. This photographic postcard with the letter on the revers tell about the SS Edina and are significant for its association with the screw steamer SS Edina. The SS Edina is heritage listed on the Victorian Heritage Database VHR S199. She had endeared herself to the people of Port Phillip Bay as a passenger ferry, part of their history and culture. She played a significant role in the Crimean War, the American Civil War and the gold rush in New Zealand. She also served western Victoria for many years in her cargo and passenger runs. The SS Edina is famous for being the longest serving screw steamer in the world. After spending her first nine years overseas she arrived in Melbourne and her work included running the essential service of transporting cargo and passengers between Melbourne and the western Victoria ports of Warrnambool, Port Fairy and Portland. The SS Edina was purchased in the late 1860’s by local Warrnambool business, the Warrnambool Steam Packet Co. and continued trading from there as part of the local business community. The SS Edina’s original ‘fair maid of Judea’ figurehead was broken to pieces in a collision with another vessel (the SS Dandenong) in a gale off Warrnambool, Victoria, in 1870.Coloured (hand coloured) photographic postcard of SS Edina. Letter on reverse, hand written in pen and ink, from Mac to Arnie, dated 19-12-37 [1937]. The photograph shows the SS Edina moving under steam power, many people on both the bow and stern and a few people in the centre of the vessel. There are buildings on the shore in the background. The ship's configuration is dated post 1890.Hand written in pen on base of front “1854-1957” Hand written on back in blue pen and crossed out “REC 409” Hand written on back in pen ‘EDINA,’ “3173,” “086.2” Hand written letter dated 19-12-37, from Mac to Arnie. Script writing in pen and ink letter on reverse of photograph – see “Context” section for transcription. warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, shipwrecked artefact, barclay & curle, figurehead 'fair maid of judea', centenary maritime exhibition 1934, a brief review of steam navigation in victoria, pleasure steamer edina, trade and travel late 19th and early 20th century, trade melbourne to geelong, screw steamer edina, coastal trader edina, lighter dinah, cargo carrying for cremean war, cargo carrying for american civil war, passenger and trade in western district of victoria, export gold and currency and gold diggers to new zealand, export vessel to h r h the duke of edinburgh, melbourne - warrnambool - port fairy - portland cargo run, warrnambool steam packet company, stephen henty, captain john thompson, chief engineer john davies, lady bay warrnambool, lighter edina, shipping victoria, port phillip bay steamers, steamship great britain, edina, vhr s199 victorian heritage database, photographic postcard of ss edina 1854-1957, letter by mac fordham chief engineer ss edina, letter to arnold mason, engineer