Donald MacMillan (widower) with his six children eft Inverness, Scotland, in 1849, and worked as a shepherd on Plenty River property of Captain Aneas McPerson, under the manager Thomas Walker. MacMillan married again and son Hugh was born 1860, first of another six children. They lived at Morang but, in 1866, selected land at Arthurs Creek. Hugh and his sister Ann attended the Hazel Glen School. Later Hugh carried mail from South Yan Year (now Mernda) to Arthurs Creek School (also the post office); he was Sunday School teacher at the Arthurs Creek Methodist Church. Hugh married Helena Heatley from New Zealand who managed the farm after Hugh died, growing fruit and vegetables, carted by wagon to the Victoria Market. Their firstborn was Ken. Contents Newspaper article: "Donald MacMillan - a romantic", Diamond Valley News, 29 October 1985, pp30-31; history of MacMillan family. Newspaper article: "An alternative road to happiness", Diamond Valley News, 29 October 1985, p29; Mic Webb's travels and philosophy, now living at Hurstbridge.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcdonald macmillan, plenty river victoria, captain aneas mcpherson, thomas walker, morang victoria, arthurs creek victoria, ann macmillan, hazel glen school victoria, south yan yean victoria, mernda victoria, arthurs creek school victoria, arthurs creek methodist church, malcolm macmillan, helena macmillan nee heatley, ken macmillan, mic webb, hurstbridge learning co-op, hurstbridge victoria, cottlesbridge victoria, st andrews victoria

Lex de Man, manager of Country Fire Association region 14, became Mayor of Nillumbik in 2002, four years after he and fellow councillors were sacked by the Kennett government. In the 2009 Black Saturday fires, he led eastern metropolitan CFA volunteers and was awarded an Australian Fire Service Medal as part of the 2011 Australia Day Awards. He was a CFA volunteer for more than 30 years, a CFA employee for 15 years, and had served with Victoria Police for 18 years. He is a member of the Yarrambat Historical Society, Yarrambat CFA and the Greensborough Hockey Club. He lives at Yarrambat. Contents Newspaper article: "Voters wield axe on greens", Diamond Valley Leader, 27 March 2002, Report of Nillumbik Council election 16 March, which Diamond Creek solicitor Tony Raunic survived (beating Margaret Jennings) but all five pro-Green Wedge councillors lost. Others elected included Greg Johnson, Natalie Woodley, Belinda Clarkson, Mike Irwin, Lionel Draper, Bob Stubbings, Michael Hall and Lex de Man. Those beaten included Bill Penrose, Sigmund Jorgensen, Di Bullen and Penny Mullinar. Newspaper article: "The Man for the job", diamond Valley Leader, 3 April 2002, Report of Nillumbik Council swearing-in, details about Lex de Man, and Nillumbik Council meeting including Greg Johnson's speech. Newspaper artivle: "Blazing recovery trail", Diamond Valley Leader, 26 January 2011, Lex de Man awarded an Australian fire Service Medal in the 2011 Australia Day Awards; details of. his career and his comments on CFA volunteers.Newspaper clippings, A4 photocopies, etcmernda victoria, black saturday fires 2009, les de man, country fire authority victoria, victoria police, tony raunic, margaret jennings, green wedge nillumbik, greg johnson, natalie woodley, belinda clarkson, mike irwin, lionel draper, bob stubbings, michael hall, bill penrose, sigmuynd jorgensen, di bullen, penny mullinar

The Willis Diary by GHS member Anne Paul is based on A Pioneer Squatter's Life (Item158). The Willis family were early settlers at Lower Plenty, just near where the hotel and old bridge are today. Anne has reviewed and analysed this chapter from Historical Records of Victoria, Vol. 6. The Crown, the land, and the squatter, 1835-1840. She includes further information on the Willis family and photographs of the archaeological dig at the Bridge Inn Hotel Mernda in 2017.Diary of James L Willis from 1837, portraying hardships suffered in the young colony of Victoria.15 page, text and colour illustrations. Digital copy.willis family, plenty river, lower plenty, james willis, bridge inn hotel mernda

The Willis Diary by GHS member Anne Paul is based on A Pioneer Squatter's Life (Item158). The Willis family were early settlers at Lower Plenty, just near where the hotel and old bridge are today. Anne has reviewed and analysed this chapter from Historical Records of Victoria, Vol. 6. The Crown, the land, and the squatter, 1835-1840. She includes further information on the Willis family and photographs of the archaeological dig at the Bridge Inn Hotel Mernda in 2017.Diary of James L Willis from 1837, portraying hardships suffered in the young colony of Victoria.10 pages, text and colour illustrations. Abridged hard copy of item 4491.willis family, plenty river, lower plenty, james willis, bridge inn hotel mernda