Photograph 1 shows 5 men (linesmen) on lunch break. (L-R) Stan Hassett, unknown, possibly Charlie Barnett, Jock Petrie, unknown. Photos 2 and 3 show the crew erecting power poles.These photos are significant as they show some Greensborough men at work, and the method of erecting power poles before heavy machinery was used.3 black and white photographs. Subject is electrical linesmen and the erection of electricity poles.sec, linesmen, power poles, state electricity commission, stan hassett, charlie barnett, jock petrie

Linesmen worked on the SEC power towers erecting the towers and supplying lines. They were also responsible for the maintenance of the lines. The article has photos of the men undergoing training with an emphasis on safety.The SEC constructed the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme and were resposible for the erection of the power towers and lines enabling the electricity to be distributed throughout the state of Victoria and beyond.Pages 6 and 7, S.E.C. News, April 28, 1966 Article 'Safe Working Paramount' with 9 photos including names of the men working.linesmen, power towers, electric power lines, sec training

This van was used in Western Australia by linesmen and for mail pickup between 1972 and 1991. When transferred to the collection, it was the very last surviving vehicle of its type owned by the company. Despite its age, the van is in excellent condition having been reconditioned in 1987.This Volkswagen Transporter, 2nd generation, is commonly known as a kombi van; named as such after the German word Kombinationskraftwagen, meaning multi-purpose vehicle. This van is believed to have been used by linesmen and for mail collection from 1972 to 1991 in Western Australia, before being donated to the, then, Telstra Collection. Conflicting accounts from John Moynihan, PMG Engineer and author, suggest the van was used by cable jointers from the 1960s. Owing to this unclear use, the van’s historical significance is low though provenance from the Postmaster General’s Department to Telecom, then Telstra, is established. In 1987, the vehicle was extensively reconditioned and some original parts were presumably replaced. It is not, however, in working order or in good condition; the body carries several areas of rust, rubber seals have suffered plasticiser migration, a mirror is missing and there are marks from use. The hand lettered “P.M.G.” inscription is indicative of a Postmaster General fleet vehicle, as is the red colour of the vehicle paint. Though it is in poor condition, the van’s aesthetic style is of some significance. The van is representative of the type of Volkswagen vehicle used by the Postmaster General’s Department and other private businesses and government branches of the era. The vehicle may, therefore, carry social significance for those that lived in this era, where their communication service provider travelled in a Volkswagen van. Indeed, Volkswagen vans were used into the Telecom era, as evidenced by an image (6681153) in the National Archives of Australia collection. While many of these vehicles may exist today, there are few to no examples which survive in museum collections. In 1966, the Post Office (Postmaster General’s Department) had the largest fleet in Australia, totalling nearly 11,000 vehicles (The Canberra Times, 29 September 1966, p. 34). Though in the late 1960s Volkswagen vehicles accounted for just over 500 of these vehicles, with the remainder represented by Ford, General Motors, Chrysler, and others, the multi-purpose nature of the van is significant as a metaphor for the multi-directional services of the Postmaster General’s Department. Archival images show a variety of models and adaptations including roof racks, bull bar and door configurations. Its conflicted history of use may in fact attest to the vehicles variety of application in the duties of the Postmaster General‘s Department.Red Volkswagen Kombi van with stencilled gold lettering on doors. Scratches on bumpers indicate duck-egg blue undercoat. Single sliding door on left side of vehicle body with secondary opening at rear with horizontally divided doors. Mirror missing on right front. Western Australia registration sticker in front windscreen..1: "PMG" .2: "ROYAL" .3-.4 "PMG" .5-.6: "MAIL" .7,.8: "ER" .9: "C OF A / ZEH 622"transport, kombi van, linesman van, postal van, postmaster general’s department

.1 - Provides the Victorian Regulations and requirements for electric wiring, switch boards for all buildings and installations in 1950. .2 - as above for 1960, has a detailed list of contents, tables and index at the rear. Applicable for 1960 .3 - provides the training program and procedures for the training of SECV Linesmen in the 1950's.1 - Yields information on the electrical requirements that Victorian Electricians and others parties were required to follow in electrical wiring. .2 - as above .3 - Demonstrates the procedures that SEC Linesmen were required to follow in their work..1 - Book - 10 sewn sections, orange cloth covers, 200 pages titled "SEC Wiring Regulations 1950". Cover price 3s .2 - Book - 15 sections, with end papers, 300 pages, red hard back cover "SEC Wiring Regulations 1961". Cover price 7/6 .3 - Book - 43 pages bound with metal binder into a manila card cover, titled "SEC Lineman's School Notes" - dated 9/12/1955.2 - has pencil notes on the inside of the rear cover. .3 - has the name "Bill ?" on the rear cover.secv, state electricity commission, rules, wiring, electrical, regulations, tramways

Spurs were attached with leather straps which held them to the climbers legs. The straps are missing on this pair They have a contoured shank with offset stirrup for the climbers boots Buckingham manufacturing dates back in America to 1896. Climbing spurs were made in their blacksmith shop and were popular with linesmen, loggers and tree arborists. Buckingham steel climbing spurs

These leather soled shoes were used by railway workers undertaking work on overhead electrical cables and HV boxes. Known as "slippers" they were provided just inside explosives vans and worn to stop metal protectors on shoes scraping across metal floor and possibly causing a spark and a explosion. info from Syd Coles : on Explosives Slippers Beaufort station used to get a explosive wagon with drums of gelignite regularly slipper type shoes were in a little box built into the inside wall of the wagon....A Special powdervan key was sent from H/OFFICE as a VALUE which each person handling it had to sign for it.....It would arrive on the early down Passenger Train ex Melbourne...then the "P" wagon was unloaded....Prior to the wagon leaving a Railway Internal telegram was sent to the SM @Beaufort giving the wagon number...consignee (owners of dynamite) contents and the KEY number which would be sent....When all unloaded the KEY sent back as a VALUE...a Internal telegram sent as to KEY number and train it was despatched on....fair bit of security.but couldn't afford to lose a KEY as they fitted all the LOCKS used on the EXPLOSIVE "P" wagons whatever Stations they went to.Historic - Victorian Railways - leather soled shoesLeather soled slip-on shoes, with single strap across bridge of foot and featuring stitchwork along edges.VR & arrow symbolpuffing billy, victorian railways, leather soled shoes, railway slippers, explosives, worker safety, linesmen

On the 20th November 1952 SEC linesmen Stewart Aicken, Donald Odames and Desmond Veraker were working on the corner of Gisborne Road and Masons Lane in Bacchus Marsh. Veraker was in the air in a harness working on power lines when he was electrocuted. Aicken and Odames were on the ground and attempted to rescue him and revive him. Sadly Vereker died from his injuries. Aicken and Odames were later given bravery awards by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia for their actions.Royal Humane Society of Australasia certificate presented to Stewart Aicken to recognise the bravery of his actions on the 20th November 1952 in attempting to rescue fellow linesman Desmond Vereker from electrocution. It was awarded to him to accompany a bronze medal also awarded to Aicken for this act of bravery. The certificate and bronze medal are housed in a frame. Underneath the bronze medal is a black and white photograph of Aicken receiving the award from the Governor of Victoria Sir Dallas Brooks in 1953. Also in the photograph is an unidentified man and woman. The unidentified man is probably Donald Odames who was with Aicken on the 20th November 1952 and was also recognised for his bravery by the Royal Humane Society of Australasia.awards, accidents

Postmaster-General's Department telegraph linesman, Chris Byrnes, received a British Empire Medal for bravery and devotion to duty for his response to the flooding at Darlington Point, New South Wales, in June 1952. As E Henderson, then Acting Director of Posts and Telegraphs recalled, the town's "communication lines were menaced by floodwaters" when the nearby Murrumbidgee River flooded. In order to retain communication to the town, Chris Byrnes, a Postmaster-General's Department employee of over 13 years, acted in the "best traditions of the service" (E Henderson). An eye witness, recorded in the Murrumbidgee Irrigator newspaper on June 27 1952, described Byrne’s efforts: "An interesting incident was witnessed when a Leeton post office linesman swam through flood waters to reach a telegraph post which had been washed out by the flood…With a rope tied around his waist, one end of which was held by other members of the linesmen's gang, Chris Byrne swam through the flood water…to release the trunk lines from the post." An eye witness, recorded in the Murrumbidgee Irrigator newspaper on June 27 1952, described Byrne’s efforts: "An interesting incident was witnessed when a Leeton post office linesman swam through flood waters to reach a telegraph post which had been washed out by the flood…With a rope tied around his waist, one end of which was held by other members of the linesmen's gang, Chris Byrne swam through the flood water…to release the trunk lines from the post."darlington point, murrumbidgee river, pmg, postmaster-general, linesman, flooding, natural disaster, emergency

Diary covers the period from 9 March 1917 to 10 February 1918 on the Western Front. Lowe was later (Aug 1918) to be awarded the Military Medal for his actions on the Somme. Military Medal 'On the 11th/12th August, 1918, during operations on the SOMME, near PROYART, this man, just previous to the attack showed great devotion to duty in laying and maintaining alternative routes up to the front line, and after the attack had commenced he acted as linesmen, and throughout the operation, during which the lines were cut on several occasions, he went out under heavy shell and machine gun fire and repair the lines thereby enabling communication to be maintained and valuable information reaching Headquarters without delay. His splendid example inspired his comrades to volunteer to continue this most important work should he become a casualty.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 61 Date: 23 May 1919Black, softcovered notebook. WW1 diary of Herbert Lowe (3rd Divisional Signal Company, Reinforcement 1 Wireless Section).ww1, western front, diaries, herbert newton lowe, 3 divisional signal company

This linesman belt was used under the 1947 Electricity Regulations and before tighter Occupation and Health regulations (late 1990's early 2000's) were introduced that mechanical lifting platforms(wherever possible) replaced the belt up the pole method.The safety concern was that it required that tools needed by the linesman had to be placed in a large canvas bag and attached to the belt (extra weight) then the linesman had to climb the ladder. Ladders had to be at the correct angle and not able to "slip" from their initial footings. A full harness and a secondary fall belt is now mandatory for pole linesmen. The safety of fellow workers could be compromised if they were required to assist or recover the first linesman if needed. In 2006 an additional 269 registered lineworkers were employed. Please note that the terminology of linesman has become unisex. The linesman's belt enabled the linesman to place his feet against the pole adjust the belt (if needed) and lean back securely allowing both hands to be free to work with. This linesman belt is very significant to the Kiewa Valley due to the numerous poles and high voltage overhead power structures that needed maintenance for the extensive "mushroom" installation of electrical power polls(wood and metal). On high poles (steel) climbing pegs were welded on, however in the Alpine areas snow in winter caused an OH&S problem which were hard to overcome. The safety of a linesman when maintenance of electricity line on poles can be highlighted by the New Zealand linesman who survived an 11,000 volt shock when carrying out maintenance. For the record 11,000 volts is four times more powerful than execution by "the electric chair". The maintenance of the linesman's belt was his responsibility (keeping it clean and in "good" condition). Labour laws change this initial responsibility, from the linesman, to the employer. Climbing pegs were installed on higher poles that extended beyond the reach of ladders.This thick leather linesman belt is made from two lengths of heavy lengths of leather straps sewn together to make up 80% of the belt. The remaining 20% is "the belt tonge" which has eleven holes for three (solid steel tang) buckle connections.kiewa hydro electricity scheme, victorian state electricity commission, relays, generators, electrical pole maintenance

Little has been written previously about this technical group of men and women and that their duties were under insurmountable difficulties which they faced and overcome in conditions that were encountered in the desert and jungle warfare. Without their constant and never ending services, the task of the force in bringing to a close this fight for freedom would have been greatly handicapped.An outline of the Australian Signals Corps over the years from the campaign in the Middle East to the present day of the victories in New Guinea. A tribute to the corps that stayed on duty every hour of every day providing and maintaining vital communication channels.Signals - Story of the Australian Corps of Signals. Green front and back hardcover with black text and insignia. Photographs, cartoons, illustrations and poems. The inside front and back covers have a photograph montage in green sepia.signal corps, wwii, c.h.simpson, motorcycle couriers, signals 7 australian division, lt.commander b.t.r chadd, palestine, spark plug, semiphore, morse code, field radio, a.i.f, british signals corps, pieter mersk, breconshire corp signals, new guinea, malaysa, singapore, switchboard, carrier pigeons, linesmen, gaza signal office

Magazine, published by the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Victoria "Met Lines" (Metlines) - A4, printed on white gloss paper, with the MTA logo or symbol. Issued under the name of Kevin Shea as Chairman. References to Minister Tom Roper. Continues from Reg Item 1059 "Met Lines" - printed in an A4 version. Major tram and bus items listed. Tramway and bus names only listed, not railway. .1 - Vol 2 No. 1 - Feb. 1986 - front cover - Flagstaff station, St Kilda/Port Melbourne light rail system announced, police at Hawthorn learning about trams, Chinese delegation looking at Melbourne's trams, Elwood depot article with photos by Lloyd Rogers at time of Elwood depot coming part of The Met, promotional posters for tramcars, Tram cards, tram power supply upgraded (photo of Z129) - Brown Boveri equipment to Kew and Ascot Vale, memoirs of a tram conductress Nancy Scutt, item with photo of Conductor Jeff Harvey, employment notes, Preston Workshops Christmas party and presentation to Essendon depot tramway soccer champs by Norm Maddock. .2 - Vol 2, No. 2 - March 1986 - Jolimont workshops, modal interchange at Bundoora, Transport Information Centre, memoirs of a tram conductress continued, tram cricket matches, tramway bowls - photos and players listed, Harris trains to be phased out. .3 - Vol 2, No. 3 - April 1986 - front cover of a Met Tram overhead maintenance, linesmen training, new super scheme (old gratuity scheme), visit from ATMOEA NSW visit, Elwood bus depot 12 months with The Met, flying flags on trams, tramway bowls, cricket. .4 - Vol 2, No. 4, May 1986 - 20 pages - Met Information Centre - "Dreams of trams become a reality - driver Peter Gamble", tram tour for American visitors to the zoo, Harris trains, article and photos on Camberwell depot, pantographs on trams, face lift for trams (758) and new buses (182). .5 - Vol 2, No. 5, June/July 1986 - 40 pages - Clock shop, materials testing, lost property, chemical analysis - Preston Workshops, Bus Driving School, Munitions bus 301 at Hawthorn, AVM on trams (223), tram track repairs, relaying Preston workshops entrance for LRV's, new type of safety zones (967 and 871), Preston Workshops redevelopment for LRV's, tram shelters, transporting arts - new series, Michael Leunig, mentions Clifton Pugh tram 504, federal funding for trams, fitting air conditioners to trams. .6 - Vol 2, No. 6, August 1986 - 20 pages - front cover - rotary converter at Carlton, Doncaster bus depot celebrates 25 years, the day the rains came - Ray Marsh - 1972 floods, substations power tram network, Carlton, tram art of a different kind, launch of Leunig's tram. Doncaster party. .7 - Vol 2, No. 7, October 1986, 20 pages, artic buses start rolling (articulated), vandals, Robert Jacks tram launched, Peace tram 829,. .8 - Vol 2, No. 8, November 1986, 20 pages, MTA Annual report, Debbie Bateman Conductor thanked by passengers, Papal tour planning, MTA Ball, Frankston Neighbourhood launched, Essendon depot Soccer report. .9 - Vol. 2, No. 9, December 1986, 20 pages, Christmas issue, (has a $1.50 sticker on it), Met Lines year in review, Federal funding for more A class trams, Bundoora - La Trobe Uni bus interchanged opened, Domain Interchange opened, For next year 1987 - see Reg Item 1141 - Announced in December issue, Met Lines quarterly next year.trams, tramways, mta, the met, elwood depot, light rail, posters, power supply, kew, ascot vale, conductresses, sports, essendon depot, bundoora, jolimont workshops, tower truck, overhead, superannuation, flags, camberwell depot, drivers, trolley poles, pantographs, clocks, buses, avm, automatic vehicle monitoring, shelters, flooding, substation, carlton, transporting art, federal funding, a class, domain interchange, tram 2001, tram 129, tram 234, tram 50, tram 504, tram 871, tram 967, tram 223, tram 758