"Photocopy of original owned by Lesley Martin. L-R: Matcham Skipper, Lesley Martin, Margot Knox with with Hamish" Protest against the depradations of the State Electricty Commission 1956 - Alistair Knox (1980), We are what we stand on, pp48-49 “The fact that the number of trees in central Eltham has more than doubled since 1945 is an indication of how universal and powerful the movement has been. Eltham was fighting the S.E.C. and other government authorities in the 40's and 50's over the retention of indigenous trees. In the Christmas season of 1956 our conflict with them came to a dramatic confrontation that made headline news in all the daily papers for a week. It started in the Herald, was repeated in the Sun and taken up by the Age two days later. After four days, it was appearing in the New York Times. Some S.E.C. workers cut down two 100-year-old oak trees in Franklin Street. The inner Eltham community launched a frontal attack on bureaucratic bungling and arrogance that they have never forgotten. When the chairman of the Commission delivered his New Year's speech some weeks later, he emphasised that the commission's first responsibility was to protect trees. This was the antithesis of their previous attitude. For many years to come, tree-lopping Commission workers always pretended they were not there when our small explosive group passed by. With Council assistance, we also carried out free native tree plantings on the nature strips of most roads in the Central Riding in the l 950's, when the rhododendron and the gladioli flanked by pampas grass and flowering fruit trees were still being introduced into the most 'desirable' eastern suburbs.”Photocopy of original owned by Lesley Martin. L-R: woman?, Matcham Skipper, Lesley Martin, Margot Knox with baby Hamishevents, matcham skipper, leslie martin, margot knox, hamish knox, trees, lesly martin

Contents: • 25th Anniversary 1967-1992 • Twenty Fifth Anniversary Meeting Panel: Images of Eltham with David Armfield, Piers Bateman, Wendi Henderson, Hilary Jackman and Lesly Martin • Andrew Ross School House Museum Project • Lots of Other News • Eltham Heritage Mural • 50 Year Residents’ Lunch • Eltham Cultural Heritage Tour The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 photocopied newsletter distributed to membersnewsletter, eltham district historical society, shire of eltham historical society