Mary Pitt Withers was the fourth child and third daughter of artist Walter Herbert Withers and Fanny (nee Flinn), born December 4, 1895 at Heidelberg, Victoria. Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, heidelberg, 1898, mary pitt withers

Present day Google Street View https://goo.gl/maps/PZZMoEdJYUXbgf4a8 Tyrrell George Granville Evans was born on 17th August 1892 Enlisted (No. 789) 7 July 1915 as a Private and was assigned to the 31st Battalion. Promoted to Sergeant 1 Nov 1915. Disembarked Suez 7 Feb 1916 Admitted to 32nd Stat. Hospital in France 21 July 1916 with a gunshot wound to the left arm. According to daughter-in-law, Janet Evans, on 19 July 1916, in the battle near Pozieres on the Somme, he was hit by a German high explosive shell and was unconscious and badly wounded. His left arm was shattered, and he had a bullet wound on his leg. Embarked at Boulogne on H.S. Cambria for Middlesex War Hospital, England 24 July 1916. Evans returned to Australia and was discharged medically unfit, 7 April 1917. After months in the Caulfield Hospital his arm could not be saved, and it was amputated 18 July 1917. On July 6, 1918, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Mary Pitt Withers at Eltham, daughter of artist Walter Herbert Withers (deceased) and wife Fanny (nee Flinn). They had three children, Mary Roberta Evans born February 8, 1921, at Balwyn and twins Shirley and Joyce born June 10, 1922. Mary died 17 days later, June 27, 1922, at Balwyn. Tyrrell had to cope with three children under three years old and a missing left arm. He had been lefthanded before his war injuries. He had help from the family, especially his sister. On August 1, 1924, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Marian Frances Wilcox and they had two children: Barbara Marian, born 27 July 1925 and Tyrrell Granville, born 3 July 1928. The children were all brought up together in Glen Iris. Tyrrell became renowned as a one-armed golfer and tennis player. He was Senior Vice-President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria and was on the committee of the Metropolitan Golf Club. At the time of his retirement, he was General Manager of the Colonial Meat Company. Tyrrell died September 3, 1962 and was succeeded by sixteen grandchildren. Contributed to by Janet Evans (daughter-in-law), 27 May 2024Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, tyrrell george granville evans, mary pitt withers, 1917, bolton steet, scan - 620 format 6x9 negative, southernwood

Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, southernwood, orchard, mary pitt withers, nancy josephine pitt withers

British Reader series used in education. At one stage this booked belonged to childre of artist Walter Withers.Various names handwritten in ink: Inside Cover (Crossed out) Mary Withers Tuesday 10th March 1908 Mary Withers (Crossed out) Edith, Elizabeth Edith, Elizabeth, Inez Goods Edeith, Elizabeth Inez Goods Plumbfield Ledbury W. McDonald Montmorency Facing Page W. McDonald Montmorency (Crossed out) Margery Withers Eltham October 24th (Crossed out) Edith Goodsedith goods, elizabeth inez goods, w. mcdonald, mary withers, margery withers, literary reader

Mary Pitt and Nancy Josephine Withers were daughters of artist Walter Herbert Withers and Fanny (nee Flinn) Mary Pitt Withers was born December 4, 1895 at Heidelberg. Nancy Josephine Pitt Withers was born 17 May 1897 at Heidelberg, Victoria. Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, 1898, nancy josephine pitt withers, heidelberg, mary pitt withers

Mary Pitt and Nancy Josephine Withers were daughters of artist Walter Herbert Withers and Fanny (nee Flinn) Mary Pitt Withers was born December 4, 1895 at Heidelberg. Nancy Josephine Pitt Withers was born 17 May 1897 at Heidelberg, Victoria.Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, 1898, nancy josephine pitt withers, heidelberg, mary pitt withers

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques

Newspaper clipping about recognition for women artists by Walter Withers' granddaughter Mary Owen; An article on Walter Withers downloaded from Wikipedia; the Australian Dictionary of Biography entry for Walter Withers; and the entry on Walter Withers from the Artist's Footsteps website.8 page Article with text and black and white and coloured images, also information from Wikipedia and Australian Dictionary of Biographyaustralian artists, walter withers, mary owen

Tyrrell George Granville Evans was born on 17th August 1892 Enlisted (No. 789) 7 July 1915 as a Private and was assigned to the 31st Battalion. Promoted to Sergeant 1 Nov 1915. Disembarked Suez 7 Feb 1916 Admitted to 32nd Stat. Hospital in France 21 July 1916 with a gunshot wound to the left arm. According to daughter-in-law, Janet Evans, on 19 July 1916, in the battle near Pozieres on the Somme, he was hit by a German high explosive shell and was unconscious and badly wounded. His left arm was shattered, and he had a bullet wound on his leg. Embarked at Boulogne on H.S. Cambria for Middlesex War Hospital, England 24 July 1916. Evans returned to Australia and was discharged medically unfit, 7 April 1917. After months in the Caulfield Hospital his arm could not be saved, and it was amputated 18 July 1917. On July 6, 1918, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Mary Pitt Withers at Eltham, daughter of artist Walter Herbert Withers (deceased) and wife Fanny (nee Flinn). They had three children, Mary Roberta Evans born February 8, 1921, at Balwyn and twins Shirley and Joyce born June 10, 1922. Mary died 17 days later, June 27, 1922, at Balwyn. Tyrrell had to cope with three children under three years old and a missing left arm. He had been lefthanded before his war injuries. He had help from the family, especially his sister. On August 1, 1924, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Marian Frances Wilcox and they had two children: Barbara Marian, born 27 July 1925 and Tyrrell Granville, born 3 July 1928. The children were all brought up together in Glen Iris. Tyrrell became renowned as a one-armed golfer and tennis player. He was Senior Vice-President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria and was on the committee of the Metropolitan Golf Club. At the time of his retirement, he was General Manager of the Colonial Meat Company. Tyrrell died September 3, 1962 and was succeeded by sixteen grandchildren. Contributed to by Janet Evans (daughter-in-law), 27 May 2024Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, 1916, tyrrell george granville evans, x-ray, mary pitt withers

No. 11 AGH X-Ray Department photo of a gun shot wound to left arm suffered July 1916 in France by C.S.M. Tyrrell George Evans, Sern. 789, 31st Battalion, AIF Tyrrell George Granville Evans was born on 17th August 1892 Enlisted (No. 789) 7 July 1915 as a Private and was assigned to the 31st Battalion. Promoted to Sergeant 1 Nov 1915. Disembarked Suez 7 Feb 1916 Admitted to 32nd Stat. Hospital in France 21 July 1916 with a gunshot wound to the left arm. According to daughter-in-law, Janet Evans, on 19 July 1916, in the battle near Pozieres on the Somme, he was hit by a German high explosive shell and was unconscious and badly wounded. His left arm was shattered, and he had a bullet wound on his leg. Embarked at Boulogne on H.S. Cambria for Middlesex War Hospital, England 24 July 1916. Evans returned to Australia and was discharged medically unfit, 7 April 1917. After months in the Caulfield Hospital his arm could not be saved, and it was amputated 18 July 1917. On July 6, 1918, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Mary Pitt Withers at Eltham, daughter of artist Walter Herbert Withers (deceased) and wife Fanny (nee Flinn). They had three children, Mary Roberta Evans born February 8, 1921, at Balwyn and twins Shirley and Joyce born June 10, 1922. Mary died 17 days later, June 27, 1922, at Balwyn. Tyrrell had to cope with three children under three years old and a missing left arm. He had been lefthanded before his war injuries. He had help from the family, especially his sister. On August 1, 1924, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Marian Frances Wilcox and they had two children: Barbara Marian, born 27 July 1925 and Tyrrell Granville, born 3 July 1928. The children were all brought up together in Glen Iris. Tyrrell became renowned as a one-armed golfer and tennis player. He was Senior Vice-President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria and was on the committee of the Metropolitan Golf Club. At the time of his retirement, he was General Manager of the Colonial Meat Company. Tyrrell died September 3, 1962 and was succeeded by sixteen grandchildren. Contributed to by Janet Evans (daughter-in-law), 27 May 2024Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, 1916, gun shot wound, tyrrell george granville evans, x-ray, mary pitt withers

Mary Owen was the granddaughter of Walter WithersA4 cream copy paper, typed, 5 pagesdedication, mary owen (walter withers granddaughter), walter withers rock

From left to right: Bill (Charles Meynell Pitt Withers), Kit (neighbour), Marge (Margery Pitt Withers), Dall (Emily Gladys Withers), Mods (Mary Pitt Withers) and Nan (Nancy Josephine Withers) Note Bill is proudly holding a copy of "The Boys Own Annual" [Nicknames and identification provided by Charles Witherers's son, John Withers, Sep 2024]On back of photo: "From left to right Bill, Kit, Marge, Dall?, Mods? and Nan About 1917" Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, 1917, kit, margery pitt withers, nancy josephine pitt withers, the boys own annual, charles meynell pitt withers, emily gladys withers

Charles Meynell Pitt Withers (aka Bill) was the youngest son of artist Walter Withers and Fanny (nee Flinn). He was born at Eltham 5 February 1902. Tyrrell George Granville Evans was born on 17th August 1892 Enlisted (No. 789) 7 July 1915 as a Private and was assigned to the 31st Battalion. Promoted to Sergeant 1 Nov 1915. Disembarked Suez 7 Feb 1916 Admitted to 32nd Stat. Hospital in France 21 July 1916 with a gunshot wound to the left arm. According to daughter-in-law, Janet Evans, on 19 July 1916, in the battle near Pozieres on the Somme, he was hit by a German high explosive shell and was unconscious and badly wounded. His left arm was shattered, and he had a bullet wound on his leg. Embarked at Boulogne on H.S. Cambria for Middlesex War Hospital, England 24 July 1916. Evans returned to Australia and was discharged medically unfit, 7 April 1917. After months in the Caulfield Hospital his arm could not be saved, and it was amputated 18 July 1917. On July 6, 1918, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Mary Pitt Withers at Eltham, daughter of artist Walter Herbert Withers (deceased) and wife Fanny (nee Flinn). They had three children, Mary Roberta Evans born February 8, 1921, at Balwyn and twins Shirley and Joyce born June 10, 1922. Mary died 17 days later, June 27, 1922, at Balwyn. Tyrrell had to cope with three children under three years old and a missing left arm. He had been lefthanded before his war injuries. He had help from the family, especially his sister. On August 1, 1924, Tyrrell George Granville Evans married Marian Frances Wilcox and they had two children: Barbara Marian, born 27 July 1925 and Tyrrell Granville, born 3 July 1928. The children were all brought up together in Glen Iris. Tyrrell became renowned as a one-armed golfer and tennis player. He was Senior Vice-President of the Lawn Tennis Association of Victoria and was on the committee of the Metropolitan Golf Club. At the time of his retirement, he was General Manager of the Colonial Meat Company. Tyrrell died September 3, 1962 and was succeeded by sixteen grandchildren. Contributed to by Janet Evans (daughter-in-law), 27 May 2024Many items in this collection have suffered from significant water damage and black mouldjohn withers collection, eltham, tyrrell george granville evans, 1917, bolton steet, scan - 620 format 6x9 negative, southernwood, charles meynell pitt withers

Born at Soho Hill in the District of Handsworth in the County of Stafford, England True copy of Entry 473/1858 issued 17 April 1888.birth certificate, 1858, fanny flinn, fanny withers (nee flinn), george frederick flinn, mary whitehead flinn (nee mcclare), john withers collection

St Katherine’s Anglican Church was built in 1858, by Anthony Beale as a memorial to his late wife Katherine. The cemetery is a rare example in Victoria of a traditional English parish church with its private graveyard and is of State Significance. Rose Chapel with its stained-glass windows of local historical significance, commemorates casualties of the Beale family in World War One.fay bridge collection, annie janet beale (nee mclennan), anthony beale, gravestones, james harold beale, james young beale, jane hewitt, katherine rose beale, margaret lindsay beale, mark hewitt, mary joyce pitt evans (nee withers), st. helena, st. katherine's church, walter withers

L-R: Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose

L-R: Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Mary Grant, Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. Bob Manuell (hidden), Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

L-R: Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. David Essex. Not visible - Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

L-R: Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Bill Penrose, Cr. Mary Grant, Rodney Roschellor (CEO), Cr. Bob Manuell (hidden), Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essex, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, batch 212, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, rodney roschellor

L-R: Cr. Robert Marshall, Cr. David Essexz, Cr. Jim Connor, Cr. Mary Grant, Cr. John Graves (Shire president), Cr. Bob Manuell, Cr. Pamela Sladden, Cr. Bil Penrose, Cr. Peter Graham The Shire of Eltham was formed in 1871. As a result of the Kennett Government drive for Council amlagamation, the Shire of Eltham ceased to exist on 15 December 1994 and the new Shire of Nillumbik was established. At a function held in the Eltham Community Centre Walter Withers Room, Councillors and Council Officers were presented with a framed Acknowledgement of Service to the Shire and local community.celebrations, council amalgamation, eltham community centre, shire of eltham, 1994-10, cr. john graves, cr. bob manuell, cr. david essex, cr. jim connor, cr. mary grant, cr. pamela sladden, cr. peter graham, cr. robert marshall, cr. bill penrose, batch 275

The Grave of Mary Joyce Pitt Evans, daughter of Walter Withers (died 1922), St Helena Cemetery.St Helena Cemetery was originally the burial place of the Beale family and friends. The first burials took place in the 1850s. There are now over 200 burials.Digital copy of colour photograph (grave)st helena cemetery, walter withers, withers family

Grave of Mary England (died 1951) in Plot# P1 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph taken by Noel Withers 30/07/2009.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried thereDigital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.mary england, greensborough cemetery

Grave of William Haylock Poulter (died 30/3/1934), Mary Alice Poulter (died 28/6/1936, Ruby Olive Poulter (died 31/5/1917) and James William Poulter (killed in action France 4/10/1918) in Plot# A5/A6 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph taken by Noel Withers 2009.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district. The cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites with 350 people buried there. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.william haylock poulter, mary alice poulter, ruby poulter, james william poulter, greensborough cemetery

Local Cemetery Excursion Sunday 27 May 1990 departed Eltham Shire Office at 9.30am and finish mid afternoon. Visits to Eltham , Kangaroo Ground, Queenstown (Smiths Gully), Nillumbik (Diamond Creek), St Katherines (St Helena) Hurst family graves at Hurstbridge and a little known early cemetery at Grteensborough. Attended by 20 members. In each case we were introduced to the cemetery with a brief talk. At Eltham, Frank Burgoyne gave us the benefit of his knowledge as a member of the cemetery trust and at Kangaroo Ground, Bruce Ness spoke in a similar capacity. The lunch stop was at Hurstbridge where we visited the Hurst family graves. The President of Nillumbik Historical Society, Jock Ryan, joined us at the Nillumbik (Diamond Creek) cemetery. He travelled on to St Katherines, St Helena, where he talked on the history of the church and cemetery.35mm colour positive transparency (1 of 23) Mount - Agfachrome Agfa CS System black 8 dotsshire of eltham historical society, cemetery excursion, graves, activities, cemeteries, st katherine's church cemetery, st katherine's church, mary (molly) joyce pitt evans (nee withers), walter withers

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Three colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

[from EDHS Newsletter No. 75, November 1990:] WALTER WITHERS PLAQUE At long last we have unveiled our plaque in the Walter Withers Reserve. The function was attended by a number of members and friends of the Society and descendants of the Withers family. Following the unveiling, the group proceeded to the Eltham Shire Office for afternoon tea and a small exhibition of Withers' paintings arranged by Andrew Mackenzie. The unveiling was performed by Mary Owen, a grand-daughter of Walter Withers. Her speech provided an interesting personal perspective on Withers and is repeated in full here: I feel somewhat overwhelmed by the responsibility of paying tribute to the man you have all come to honour today. I have the feeling that most of you probably know more about him and his work than I do. Walter Withers died nearly seven years before I was born and so I never knew him. Sadly, although other members of his family inherited some of his talent, I was not among them and I know very little about art. This is doubly hard to bear because my husband had some ability to draw and my second daughter also has some talent in this direction. My children are all artistic - mostly in the field of music inherited partly from their father - a Welshman who sang like a Welshman - and partly from my grandmother, Fanny Withers who, I believe was no mean pianist. However all this talent gave me a miss and for many years I felt a complete ignoramus in the fields of the arts. It was not until I was nearly fifty years old that I walked into a gallery in Brisbane and, as I wandered around the room, suddenly one picture leapt at me and I knew instantly that it had been painted by my grandfather. I had never seen the picture before and it gave me quite a shock to find that I had recognized the style of painting. I realized then that I had absorbed more than I realized simply by living with pictures and with people who painted them and talked about their painting and the painting of others. When I was a child I sometimes spent school holidays with my Aunt Margery Withers and her husband, Richard McCann. Aunt Marge painted me several times but I'm afraid I was a restless subject and used to sit reading a book and look up grudgingly when she wanted to paint my eyes. During the September holidays my aunt and uncle were busy preparing paintings far the annual exhibition of the Melbourne Twenty Painters, to which they both belonged. I remember how important I used to feel when they took me along to the Athenaeum Gallery on the Friday night before the opening to help hang their pictures. There were many artists there but the two I remember are perhaps surprisingly both women: Miss Bale and Miss Tweddle. I remember how cold it used to be up in that gallery at night. They used to heat water on a gas ring to make tea and Aunt Marge used to bring sandwiches and fruit for our evening meal. Everyone seemed to be poor in those days and no-one dreamed of going out for a meal. It was a case of make-do - even to cutting down frames to fit pictures or cutting pictures to fit the frames. They had to use the same frames from year to year if the pictures didn't sell. The opening was an exciting event for me. I felt I was privileged to meet important people - people who knew a lot more than I - and Uncle Dick would get quite merry after a couple of the tiny sweet sherries which were always distributed. I realise now that quite a lot of "art talk" rubbed off on me during my visits to the Athenaeum and during my stays with my aunt and uncle. I suspect that much of our most useful learning comes this way and those of us who have had the privilege of associating with artists, writers, philosophers and other thinkers have a richness in our lives of which we may be unaware. Walter Withers was a prolific painter and, although he painted for love of it, I suspect that the need to provide for his family drove him, like Mozart, to greater efforts than he might otherwise have achieved. Reading old letters and articles about the Heidelberg artists, I have come to realize something of the constant strain placed on many of them - particularly Withers and McCubbin - by poverty and the need to make ends meet. Withers was ever conscious of the need to provide for his wife and his five children and there are touching letters to his wife, regretting that he was not able to earn more for them. In addition to his painting, he worked hard at teaching and illustrating and, as he grew older, the strain began to tell and his health deteriorated. He seems never to have had a very strong constitution and suffered from rheumatism, which must have made painting quite painful at times. His eldest daughter, Gladys, was eventually confined to a wheelchair with rheumatoid arthritis and I have a tendency to arthritis myself, so I am particularly aware of what this could have meant to him. Recently I found a short letter written by my mother to her mother, Fanny Withers on the anniversary of her father's birthday in 1919, in which she said: "Poor old Dad, I often think now what a lot he must have suffered. His life was too hard and too strenuous for him. He had too many chick-a-biddies, I think. He wasn't equal to so much town life and train journeys with so many delicacies as he had. Since I have been ill, I have realised what he must have felt like.” He certainly drove himself to produce. He travelled all over Victoria by train, buggy, bicycle and on foot and for a time he travelled from Eltham to Melbourne every day by train, although later he lived in Melbourne during the week and only returned to Eltham for the weekends. My mother died seven years after her father's death, when my twin sisters were 10 days old and I was 16 months. So I never knew my mother or my grandfather. But my two aunts, Gladys and Margery, sometimes took me to stay with Gan Withers at Southernwood in Bolton Street . No cars in those days and it seemed a very long hot and dusty walk from the Station. Three memories remain with me of Southernwood. One is the well at the back which I found quite terrifying; the second is Gan killing a snake - even more terrifying. She was a formidable woman, my grandmother and a great ally and support to her husband. I think she was the business end of the partnership. The third memory of Southernwood is my grandfather's studio – down what seemed like a toy staircase inside the room. This and the big walk-in fireplace stayed in my mind from the age of about six until I saw them again about forty years later when the house was being used as a Sunday School. I just wish that money could be found to purchase this old house for the City of Eltham so that a permanent museum could be established in memory of a man who did so much to put Eltham on the map of art history. Recently I have become interested in family history and spent some time in England, Ireland and Wales looking for traces of my ancestors. I realized then how important it is to have records of people who have contributed to our society. We forget so soon and it is amazing how often, within two generations, names, dates and many details are forgotten. We are fortunate that so many of Walter Withers' works have been bought by galleries and that people like Andrew Mackenzie have taken the trouble to search out people who knew him and to write about him and his work. And I am very grateful to the Historical Society of Eltham for recognizing the importance of having a permanent tribute in Eltham to the contribution made by Walter Withers, who loved Eltham so much and who has assured this lovely district a place in the annals of history. I am indebted to Kathleen Mangan; the daughter of another famous Australian painter , Fred McCubbin, - featured in The Age this morning (thanks again to Andrew Mackenzie) for the most apt tribute to Walter Withers. Kathleen is not well and she rang me a couple of days ago, regretting that she could not be present today “to pay tribute” as she said, “to Walter Withers for I always think Walter Withers is the spirit of Eltham.” Thank you, Kathleen. And now I have much pleasure in unveiling the plaque commissioned by the Eltham Historical Society from Bob McLellan of Charmac Industries to commemorate the life and work of Walter Withers, the spirit of Eltham. Mary Owen, 13 October 1990.Two colour photographswalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, mary owen

Concept sketch for the placement of a commemorative plaque on a rock in the Walter Wither Reserve at the corner of Arthur and Bible Streets, Eltham. The rock was installed 17 May 1990. Russell Yeoman advised (14 Jun 2017 society meeting) that the Shire of Eltham had been given a plaque to commemorate Walter Withers and that the rock was sourced from west of Melbourne with funds from a local government grant. The initial crane to lift the rock in place was too small and another crane was arranged. This also proved too small to lift it until a third and larger crane was arranged. Mary Owen, granddaughter of Walter Withers unveiled the commemorative plaque at a ceremony held at Walter Withers Reserve at the corner of Bible and Arthur Streets, Eltham, 13 Oct 1990.Colour pencil and wash on paper mounted on card and sealed at edges with masking tape. Protective facing sheet also attached with masking tape."Rock and Plaque design" on facing sheet On back: "John Ebeli 63 Batman Rd Eltham"eltham, walter withers reserve, walter withers rock, shire of eltham, arthur street, bible street, joh ebeli, design, plaques

Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 1 stripFuji 100 Nwalter withers rock, walter withers reserve, bible street, arthur street, eltham, plaques

Grave of Victor Bonsak (died 1891) and Mary Bonsak (died 1938) in Plot# N3 Greensborough Cemetery. Photograph taken by Noel Withers 2009.Greensborough Cemetery was created when land was given for the cemetery by Mr William Poulter, a local settler, about 1864. The cemetery holds the graves of many of the early settlers in the district and an early set of records note that the cemetery holds approximately 250 grave sites and 350 people buried there. Digital copy of colour photograph of grave/headstone.victor bonsak, mary bonsak, greensborough cemetery