The Lodge operating today as the Mt Franklin-St George Lodge No 12 (UGLV) was founded on 10 September 1857 as Mt Franklin Lodge of Hiram and Lodge of St. George on 29 April 1889. Lodge No12 continues to meet at the Daylesford Masonic Centre. These two Lodges merged in 1943. The Lodge celebrates a history of being one of the oldest Lodges in Victoria daylesford masonic lodge, mt franklin-st george lodge, mt franklin lodge of hiram, lodge of st. george

The wallet is inscribed Bro J.C. Reynolds who was Initiated into freemasonry on 8 July 1880, passed to the Second Degree 5 August 1880 and Raised to the Third Degree 2nd. September 1880. Annotated ' Mount Franklin Lodge of Hiram. 716. E.C.. In 1889 this Lodge became No. 12 Victorian Const.' (E.C. denotes English Constitution.) Mt Franklin Lodge of Hiram amalgamated with St George Lodge no. 119 to be Mt Franklin St George Lodge No 12.Masonic regalia was often carried in these wallets to lodge meetings. Mt Franklin Lodge of Hiram amalgamated with St George Lodge no. 119 to be Mt Franklin St George Lodge No 12. The wallet was donated by the Hon. Thomas Carter Reynolds who is a now a retired member of the Victorian Parliament.Brown regalia wallet Bro J.C. Reynolds/ Square and compass/ Romsey Lodge No 97 all in gold. masonic j.c.reynolds. masonic wallet romsey lodge mt franklin st george lodge no 12 romsey lodge

Taken at a Debutante Ball 1957 St Kilda Town Hall. David Canolly was a lay reader and Marjorie Stafford, the daughter of George Stafford, a policeman who was involved in the Mission helping during the 1950s. (Conolly interview in 2016)Subjects LHLG member MS and Lay Reader DC had a long standing connection with the Mission Black and White Gloss print photograph of a couple in evening dress, both are standing.Hand written in black texta; l Circa 1957 Marjorie Stafford daughter of George Stafford, & D C at Debutante Ball for Robert Burns Lodge at Stkilda TRown Hall lay reader, david conolly, marjorie stafford, lhlg, st kilda town hall, george stafford

This file contains 10 items about the Regent Lodge Extension Appeal: 1/Three promotional pamphlets, all called ‘Regent Lodge: A special kind of care’, stating that a building appeal will be launched early next year. The pamphlets also list office bearers. 2/A letter from Rodney Horsfield, Chairperson of the Project Working group, to Betty Freeland of the Elsternwick-Caulfield South Parish, dated 25/03/1992, asking for her to consider becoming a member of the Appeal Team. The letter also contains information on the history of Regent Lodge, the plans for development and progress on raising funds to date. 3/A letter from Ian Clark, Chairman of the Regent Lodge Extension Appeal, to Betty Freeland, dated 18/05/1992, inviting her to the official launch of the Regent Lodge Extension Appeal at Caulfield Grammar School, 217 Glen Eira Road Caulfield on 31/05/1992. The letter gives brief details on the launch, saying it will be attended by the appeal’s patron, the Honourable Joan Child, AO, and the Playback Theatre company. 4/A letter, recipient and sender unknown, dated 26/05/1992, giving details of the appeal launch and a brief history of Regent Lodge. 5/Two newspaper articles from the Southern Cross, Caulfield, dated 16/06/1992. The first, ‘Grant boost for dementia sufferers’, discusses a federal government grant of $8 million to dementia services, and $9 million to disability services. Heathlands, Camden Court, Lovell House, Clarence Court, Regent Lodge and St. Kilda House all received funds. The second, ‘Lodge building appeal launched’, describes the Regent Lodge Extension Appeal and its launch, and includes brief comment by appeal patron Joan Child. The article describes the plans for the appeal and extension, and outlines how readers can make donations. Included is a black-and-white photograph of Joan Child with members of the Playback Theatre Group at the Appeal Launch. 6/The original of the photograph used in the newspaper article in item 5, showing Joan Child with members of the Playback Theatre Group at the launch of the Regent Lodge Extension Appeal. 7/A letter from Rod Horsfield, Convenor of the Project Working Group, to Betty Freeland, dated 22/06/1992, discussing the launch and asking for the opportunity to meet with her Parish council or Finance Committee. 8/The plans for the extension of Regent Lodge, as well as a colour drawing of what the front of the extension will look like. 9/Preliminary photographs taken for the appeal brochure ‘Regent Lodge: Committed to Caring’. Twelve black-and-white photographs of two elderly residents at tea. Also, one black-and-white photographs of an elderly resident being assisted by another person, likely a staff member. 10/Three copies of the appeal brochure ‘Regent Lodge: Committed to Caring’. The brochure contains information about the lodge, the plans for the development, including a floorplan for a typical six bedroom unit, the costs of the extension and breakdown of how the appeal target amount would be spent, and messages from patron Joan Child, Appeal Committee Chairman Ian Clark, and Convenor of the Project Working Group Reverend Rod Horsfield. Also included is a list of the members of the Appeal Committee and Project Working Group. Black-and-white photographs of residents and workers at the Lodge are included in the brochure.regent lodge, regent street, elsternwick, emma street, caulfield south, heathlands, camden court, lovell house, st. kilda house, balaclava, caulfield grammar school, glen eira road, st. georges road, caulfield, uniting church, uniting church lodge program, regent lodge alzeimer appeal, regent lodge extension appeal, tansley hunt and partners, nepean presbytery, child joan the honourable, horsefield rod rev., horsfield rod rev., horsfield rodney rev., lukies noela mrs., campbell jack, cardell bob, davies gail mrs., greensmith duncan, tansley vern, merrick ruth ms., seccull barbara ms., freeland betty miss, clark ian, wilcox rosemary mrs., coleman julie, playback theatre company, martens veronica mayor, brown george, terrell tom, diseases, disabled people, nursing homes, fundraising events, aged people

12 photocopied pages. Page four has acknowledgements, Page five mentions Pen-Portraist by Raly Wallace and Kevin Vallence, Page 14 mentions some rich areas: White Hills, Red Hill (now Virginia Hill), Eaglehawk, Golden Gully, New Chum Gully, Long Gully, Spring Gully, Derwent Gully, California Gully, Sailors Gully and Peg Leg Gully. There are two sketches on the page: Windless, by W. Ralston, Australasian Sketcher 20/12/1879 (D O'Hoy Collection) and a sketch of some miners in a tent with some mining equipment in front of it. There are two men in front of a fire at the front of the tent. Page 16 has a sketch of an old brick house with iron lace on the veranda and a picket fence at the front. Page 17 mentions the school and some Friendly Societies and Church. Page 22 mentions Quartz Mining. There is a Lithograph of a Quartz outcrop, New Chum Gully 1852 by George Rowe and a View of Surface Workings 1861, a Batchelder Photo. Page 23 mentions Edward Nucella Emmett, a pioneer gold digger who became involved in many important public issues. Page 25 mentions Company Mining and Crushing. It has a sketch of a Primitive Quart Crusher. Page 37 Mentions Richard Pope, a Miner who tramped from job to job in Bendigo and eventually followed the rush to Broken Hill. Page 38 mentions the Eaglehawk Brass Band and Friendly Societies in Eaglehawk. Page 39 is headed Miner's Cottage. It mentions stone miners' cottages. Page 40 has a sketch of a Georgian Style Sandstone Cottage Harvey Town. Page 41 mentions men sweeping the road to get gold, Bull Family grocery shop and a blacksmith. Page 42 is headed St. Augustine's. Page 43 has a sketch of St. Augustine's Church. Page 59 is headed Bendigo Amalgamated Goldfields (B.A.G.) Edward Clarence Dyason was largely behind a new company set up in 1917 to work the Bendigo field in an entirely new way. (B.A.G.) wished to take over all existing mining companies, and place them under a single management structure.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - some historical information, mr l hooley, mr l bennetts, mr w watson, mr w heraud, mr d m davies, mr w perry, mr h harvey, mr a llewellyn, mr e oates, chook temple by mr alan llewellyn, mr f cusack, tracey ipsen, ray wallace, bendigo field naturalists' club, eaglehawk tree lovers' society, bendigo historical society, university of melbourne, kevin vallence, monash university, bendigo technical college, south australian writer's fellowship, windlass, w ralston, australasian sketcher 20.12.1879, d o'hoy, mechanics institute, california gully school, bell topper hill, i.o.r. (rechabites), cobden tent, refuge tent, sutton tent, m.u.i.o.o.f.'s loyal darling, bible christian church, california hill wesleyan methodist church, saint jude's anglican church, quartz mining, e n emmett, jonathan harris, haris' claim, j hustler, george rowe, batchelder, la trobe library, cave, amos, new chum line of reef, edward nucella emmett, bendigo city council, all saints, william westgarth, latham and watson, hustler's line of reef, bell and irons, ballerstedt and son, young and company, nicholas and bassit, ensor, thomas carpenter, quartz crusher, goldfields and mineral districts of victoria, richard pope, daniel webster mine, isaac dyason, old chum mine, north old chum mine, young chum mine, george lansell, lazarus, silicosis of the lungs, eaglehawk brass band, victoria hotel, mr williams, eaglehawk branch of the australian natives association, loyal catherine lodge, mr james, odd fellows in the loyal catherine lodge branch no 4935, richard harvey, thomas harvey, moonta copper mines, harvey town, national trust of australia, eaglehawk tree lovers society, saint mungo's methodist church, clark's beehive battery, world war 1, kee-young, lady barkly hotel, prankhurst, bull family, cousin jack, st augustine's, myers, nicholls, john o'brien, around the boree log, the rev dean hayes, st kilian's, bendigo amalgamated goldfields (b.a.g.), edward clarence dyason, r h s abbott, hercules and energetic, south new moon, new chum goldfields, central red white and blue consolidated, brown john, the life and times of long gully, bendigo press, val white, megan snoop

Document: Lined exercise book in poor condition. Entries handwritten in ink and pencil, listed by date and name. Measurements for Masonic Clothing?Geo Meakin, tailor, High St, Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Document : Part of a lined exercise book in poor condition. Entries hand written in pencil by date and name. Measurements for Masonic clothing? Geo. Meakin, tailor.Geo. Meakin, tailor, High St Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Document : Lined exercise book in poor condition. Handwritten, in pencil, clothing measurements listed by name and date. Measurements for Masonic clothing?Geo. Meakin, High St, Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, tailor, geo. meakin, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Document: 136 page lined exercise book. Clothing measurements of various people handwritten in pencil. A measurement chart inside front cover indicates that perhaps the first name of the tailor is 'George'. Measurements for Masonic clothing?Geo. Meakin, tailor, High St Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Document :Lined exercise book, approx. 126 pages. Handwritten entries in ink and pencil listed by date and name. Some entries contain clothing measurements and some indicate the profession of the person. 'Order Book 1904' on front and back covers. For Masonic clothing?Geo. Meakin, tailor, High St Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, clothing measurements, masonic lodge

Document: exercise book, marbled cover with red spine. On front 'Order Book 1904' Handwritten in ink and pencil, entries by date and name for clothing measurements. Perhaps for Masons ?Geo. Meakin, tailor, High St. Bendigoorganization, retail, tailor, geo. meakin, tailor, masonic lodge, clothing measurements

A 'Sailors & Soldiers Christmas Fund' created by Princess Mary had overwhelming response and so it was decided to give every person 'wearing the King's uniform on Christmas Day 1914' the brass tin along with a Christmas card and a picture of the princess, and items such as pipe, lighter, tobacco, and 20 cigarettes. Non-smokers and boys received a bullet pencil and a packet of sweets. Indian troops often received sweets and spices, and nurses received chocolates. Many of the items were sent separately from the boxes because of lack of space. Not all the tins could be sent out by Christmas and so those sent in January 1915 contained a New Year card. Shortage of brass meant that many did not received their tins until summer 1916, however by January 1919 some still did not receive them. After using up the contents many service people then used the tins to store small items. The brass tin, bullet pencil, and medals belonged to Pte George Nutting of the 2nd London regiment, and regimental number 2080/230442. After World War 1 George Nutting sailed for Melbourne on June 1, 1922 aboard the S.S. Borda. He then lived at several addresses in the Sunshine/Albion area including Dawson St, 32 King Edward Ave, and 15 Kamarooka St. At one stage he was involved in a window cleaning and gardening business, and both he and his wife Janet were very good dancers. George Nutting was also involved in the loyal Sunshine Lodge and was presented with a Past Grand's Collar in 1943. He lived at 15 Kamarooka St until he passed away on March 20th 1979 at the age of 85. The above information was sourced from http://www.kinnethmont.co.uk/1914-1918_files/xmas-box-1914.htm (accessed 1/3/2014), and from http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/1329146/tin-princess-mary-s-Christmas-gift-1914 (accessed 1/3/2014), and from research work done by Eva and Marie of S&DHS.The Tin and Medals provide a visible historical record of the Christmas gift, and the awards that the average WW1 British service person received about 100 years ago. The bullet pencil may indicate that Pte G. Nutting was probably a non-smoker, at least around circa 1914.Brass rectangular box with an embossed and hinged lid. The lid features the profile of Princess Mary with an 'M' on each side, and the names of Britain's allies in 1914. The pencil fits into the brass bullet casing to give the appearance of a bullet. The WW1 British medals are: 1. 1914 - 1915 Star, 2. British War Medal 1914 - 1918 (Silver), 3. Allied Victory Medal.TIN: Imperium Brittanicum, Christmas 1914, Belgium, France, Servia, Japan, Russia, Monte Negro. MEDALS: 2080 Pte G. Nutting 2 - Lond.R g. nutting, princess mary tin, christmas 1914, bullet pencil, british ww1 medals, 1914 - 1915 star, british war medal 1914 - 1918, allied victory medal

Set of ten colour photos with title photo of Begonias, in a strip suitable for posting in an envelope of views of the Ballarat Botanic Gardens and Lake Wendouree. Made by Colorscans of 123 Dover St. Richmond. Folded so that they form a group that could be posted in a standard envelope. Has a note on the area on a small folding strip at the top. On the inside of the strip: 1. Statue Pomona and Begonia House in the Botanic Gardens 2. The Sarah George Ferry on Lake Wendouree 3. Lake Lodge at dusk 4. Adam Lindsay Gordon's Cottage, Botanic Gardens 5. The Prime Ministers Avenue, Botanic Gardens On the rear 1. Title photo set with Begonias in the Botanic Gardens 2. Vintage tram on the Botanic Gardens Tourist Tramway (No. 27 - in SEC colour scheme with Tram Rides sign). 3. Benzonis 'Flight from Pompeii' 4. Wishing Well in the Botanic Gardens 5. Black swans on the Lake 6. The Mosaic crown at the Shell House (By C.A. Pickford) Photographs by George Hurdes. See Tram 27 repainted by Museum to a different colour scheme in 1983/84. trams, tramways, lake wendouree, wendouree parade, botanical gardens

Newspaper clipping Bendigo Advertiser Saturday August 2 2014.Articles of friends who enlisted for WWI together. Private George Every, son of W. H. Every enlisted in July 1915, and sailed for Egypt in January 1916, and his imminent return home wounded. Private S. H. R. Elliott No. 782, K.I.A. April 25 1915, aged 28 years. Son of the late Mr. & Mrs George Elliott of Peg leg Road Eaglehawk, enlisted in August 1914 and embarked from Melbourne. N. S. Draper enlisted at the same time. Sydney Elliott was a member of the Eaglehawk Fire Brigade, Rifle club and was chosen to do sniping duty. G. Of the Loyal Catherine lodge, M.U., Odd fellows band , Comrade's class connected with the Eaglehawk West Methodist Sunday School, Church Choir ,Lawn party , and the swastika club, esteem of the Eaglehawk mechanics institute, Foundry man at the Austral Drill foundry at Eaglehawk. He had one sister, Mrs W. Graham, of Peg leg Road and five brothers - Messrs George & Abe, Bootmakers of Eaglehawk, Fred of Vine Street Bendigo, William of Farnsworth Street Eaglehawk,Stanley of Eaglehawk, and well know in musical circles and as choirmaster at St. Pauls Church Bendigo.military, world war 1, bendigo soldiers

The Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works (MMBW) plans were produced from the 1890s to the 1950s. They were crucial to the design and development of Melbourne's sewerage and drainage system. The plans, at a scale of 40 feet to 1 inch (1:480), provide a detailed historical record of Melbourne streetscapes and environmental features. Each plan covers one or two street blocks (roughly six streets), showing details of buildings, including garden layouts and ownership boundaries, and features such as laneways, drains, bridges, parks, municipal boundaries and other prominent landmarks as they existed at the time each plan was produced. (Source: State Library of Victoria)This plan forms part of a large group of MMBW plans and maps that was donated to the Society by the Mr Poulter, City Engineer of the City of Kew in 1989. Within this collection, thirty-five hand-coloured plans, backed with linen, are of statewide significance as they include annotations that provide details of construction materials used in buildings in the first decade of the 20th century as well as additional information about land ownership and usage. The copies in the Public Record Office Victoria and the State Library of Victoria are monochrome versions which do not denote building materials so that the maps in this collection are invaluable and unique tools for researchers and heritage consultants. A number of the plans are not held in the collection of the State Library of Victoria so they have the additional attribute of rarity.Original survey plan, issued by the MMBW to a contractor with responsibility for constructing sewers in the area identified on the plan within the Borough of Kew. The plan was at some stage hand-coloured, possibly by the contractor, but more likely by officers working in the Engineering Department of the Borough and later Town, then City of Kew. The hand-coloured sections of buildings on the plan were used to denote masonry or brick constructions (pink), weatherboard constructions (yellow), and public buildings (grey). Development in the 20th century has irreparably altered that part of Kew represented in this plan. In the block bounded by Cotham Road, Charles Street, Wellington Street and Gellibrand; just one house standing in 1903 remains. This block included two of the most historic houses in Kew: ‘Ordsall’ (later ‘Southesk’) and ‘Madford’ (previously ‘Elm Lodge’). Ordsall was the home of the second chairman of Kew, John Halfey. It contained some of the most significant interior murals in Kew, created for Halfey by artists working for Cullen & Co. It was demolished in 1960 to make way for the Kew Civic Centre. Elm Lodge had been built for William Siddeley in ca. 1864. Arthur Septimus King purchased it in 1874. The lower paddocks of Madford were sold in 1905 by his wife to the Borough of Kew and, after landscaping by George and Thomas Pockett, opened as the Alexandra Gardens in 1908. Elm Lodge/Madford was in 1922 to become St. Anthony’s Home for Little Children before its subsequent demolition in the 1980s.melbourne and metropolitan board of works, detail plans, maps - borough of kew, mmbw 1576, cartography

Sir Henry de Castres Kellett (1851-1924) the son of a hereditary baronet, was born at Mt Gambier, South Australia in 1851. His English title had been created in Ireland in 1801, but the family was originally Norman with the later branches living in England and Ireland. Sir Henry Kellett assumed the title in 1906. Henry Kellett was a prominent Kew retailer, continuing his father’s newspaper and stationery business in Bulleen Road (now High Street). At various stages, he also acted as an insurance, postal and real estate agent. He lived in Walpole Street and later at Lota Begg (now demolished) in Westbrook Street, East Kew. In 1884, Henry Kellett was elected to the Kew Borough Council and served for 40 years; a remarkable example of public service. He was elected Mayor for a single term in 1888-9. Sir Henry de Castres Kellett died in St George’s Hospital in 1924 following a tragic car accident in Cotham Road, Kew while on Council business. The vehicle, in which he was travelling with fellow councillors and the Town Clerk, collided with a tram. Sir Henry Kellett is commemorated in the naming of Kellett Reserve and Kellett Grove.Printed extract from Lodge's Peerage, Baronetage, Knightage and Companionage listing KELLETT, Sir Henry de Castres Bart.mayors of kew (vic), sir henry de castres kellett

Offset Printed bi-fold card with lodge meetings in Bendigo Districtgolden & corinthian, mount alexander, mount franklin - st. george, mackenzie, st. george, southern cross, zetland, heathcote, aurora, zenith, eaglehawk, st. johns, rochester, trentham, kyneton, sadhurst, corona, wedderburn, gisborne, campaspe, carisbrook, harcourt, bendigo city

Murray Comrie Collection. Information written by Murray Comrie: Dr. Philip H. Donovan took up practice as resident surgeon at Tarnagulla in April 1894 following the death of Dr. Dickson. He took up residence at Joyce's and then moved to opposite the (current) Post Office in Commercial Rd. He later took up residence at 79 Commercial Road, next to Runtings hairdresser and sporting good store.. With Dr. Deravin he successfully operated for appendicitis on S. James. He died suddenly on Tuesday 8th September 1903 from an aneurism. He was unmarried and aged 38 years. He was so highly regarded that the people of Tarnagulla erected a monument over his grave at Tarnagulla Cemetery. On Sunday 11/9/1904 members of St. George Lodge of Freemasons, Dunolly made a pilgrimage to the grave to mark the anniversary of his death. Monochrome photograph depicting Dr. Philip H. Donovan seated with a small dog on his lap. This is a reasonable copy of an older original which appears to have been physically cut/modified. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. tarnagulla, doctors, doctor, surgeon, medicine, health, donovan, dog, animals

Issued to Brother Clyde Warren on his enrollment as a member of the I O R Young Australia Tent No 142 (Harcourt), on the 4th May 1915, signed by Isaac James, Superintendant & Bro R Grant, Secretary of the Junior Rechabite Lodge. A necessary pre requisite to membership was 'signing the pledge' to abstain from liquor.A reminder of the Temperance movement and its important role in developing a moral framework for the youth of the district. Harcourt was a ‘dry’ district for upwards of eighty years due to the influence of the Temperance movement. Pre-printed certificate with gold-leaf heading over a colourful crest, , scenes of safety in the ark, a rowboat leaving a shipwreck & St George slaying the dragon, two heralds (male & female) bearing temperance banners and, at the foot, a tripartite crest bearing the southern cross and resting in wattle. Handwritten names, date and signatures.

Timber board showing Worshipful Masters of St George Lodge, Daylesford.mt franklin and st george lodge, daylesford, freemasons, f.w. verey, dr harper, j. harper, a.f. ogden

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It depicts skiers using the Nissen Rope Tow in August 1954. The tow was operated from the early 1950s by Skippy and Tony St. Elmo. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it is an early image of the Nissen Rope Tow at Falls Creek.A photograph of the Nissen Rope Tow taken in August 1954. It includes several skiers either on the rope tow or descending the slopes. The sign explaining the image in the collection at Red Onion, Falls Creek is also included.george shirling, red onion, nissen rope tow, toni and skippy st. elmo

BHS CollectionCopy of a newspaper article titled Family saga continues at Long Gully George to the fore. A photo of George is included and printed under it it mentions that George Ellis is the new secretary of the Cornish Association of Bendigo and District. George's father, George A., is the associations long-serving president, while his mother Edna served as treasurer for many years. Sir John Quick is also mentioned. He was born in Cornwall.bendigo, history, long gully history group, the long gully history group - george to the fore, the cornish association of bendigo and district, george ellis, george a ellis, leanne lloyd, edna ellis, ted hocking, rob lloyd, peter mundy, cornish association of victoria, eaglehawk fire station, william trahair, st matthew's anglican church, bendigo city masonic lodge, cornish choir, corowa historical society, dr john quick, sir john quick, white hill cemetry, peter and catherine moyle

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. It accompanied a copy of Ernest Forras' autobiography "Earnest Escapades" given to George Shirling - two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry. Ernest Forras died on Sunday 31st October 2010 at Mt Buller. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. He also graduated in sport psychology in 1981 and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George credited the success of Koki to “Baldy” Blackwell. “Baldy” and Phil Nowell started the Trackers Mountain Lodge in partnership during the 1980s. In 1971 George sold Koki Lodge to Sigi Doerr. In 2024 the renamed Koki Alpine resort remains a highly popular destination in Falls Creek. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it links two pioneers of the Australian Ski Industry.A message from Ernest Forras to George Shirling in a wooden frame. An explanatory sign explains Ernie Forras' background. The autograph says: "To My dear Friend George Koki's Creator From Hungary with Love!! Ernie F." ITEM No.4 Ernest Forras "Earnest Escapades" The autobiography of a pioneer of the Australian snowfields First published in 1994. Ernest, later the owner of Kooroora, Mt. Buller, on his first visit to Falls Creek in June 1951 writes about the lodges at Falls Creek... Albury, Bogong, St. Arnauds, Wangaratta, Skyline (Ski Club of Victoria), and Myrtleford ski club, St. Elmo's hut, Bob Hyman's small chalet, and Tom Mitchell's (then, State Attorney General) private hut. When learning that the State Electricity Commission controlled Falls Creek in the early days, Ernest wondered why the Egg Board and the Potato Board had missed out! Ernest acknowledged the impressive development in the Australian snowfields but remained concerned about a "head in the snow" attitude which argued against privatisation of our snowfields, park entry fees, and the compulsory carrying of snow chains. Is anybody listening?george shirling, ernest forras, "earnest escapades"

This item is from the private collection of George Shirling of Red Onion, Falls Creek. The first nutcracker tow at Falls Creek was the Nissen Tow. Operated by Toni and Skippy St. Elmo, it had a capacity of five people at one time and cost 6/- day in 1951. The Nissen Tow was powered by a Buick engine and operated from 1951 until 1960. George Shirling arrived in Falls Creek in 1962. He engaged Phil Nowell to build the original Koki Alpine Lodge which opened in 1965 with 14 beds. George operated the lodge with Michael “Baldy” Blackwell as manager. In 1981 he graduated in sport psychology and was invited to become team psychologist for the Australian Winter Olympic team which went to Albertville, France, in 1992. He later owned the Red Onion Chalet. George Shirling passed away on 27th February 2023. He had remained actively involved in Falls Creek and was generous with his time and knowledge, always an amazing supporter of The Falls Creek Museum and Falls Creek Village.This item is significant because it is connected to one of the early ski tows established in Falls Creek.A woven hessian belt with leather and metal buckle. The metal fork enabled the skier to attach to the rope tow. A display card is included. On card: Item No. 115 Nutcracker - Nissen Rope Tow - 1950sgeorge shirling, nissen lodge