Contents: • The Value of History by Jim Connor • Next Meeting – Annual General Meeting - 2.00pm Saturday 13th April 2024 • May Excursion - Saturday 4th May – Stokes Orchard and beyond • Tourism to Eltham in the Early Days by Michael Aitken • Main Road Bridge by Peter Pidgeon • Where is Platy? By Jim Connor • Montsalvat People by Richard Pinn o Helen Skipper (1914-2000) o John Busst (1909-1971) • Harris – A Name for Three Wars by Terry Beaton • Notice: Annual General Meeting – Saturday 13th April 2024 • Eltham Cemetery Stories by Liz Pidgeon o Grace Mitchell, nee Wheildon, 1916-2011, Baker and Artist • Bendigo Bank, Community Bank The Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society

Rare postcard showing view looking down Bridge Street with the Eltham Obelisk in situ in its original location. The Obelisk War Memorial was unveiled 3 August 1919. Subsequent to the unveiling provision was made of a stone retaining wall topped with a chain link and granite stone boundary. Along with the use of the name Obelisk Corner, the Bridge Street bridge was also known as Obelisk Bridge. The Obelisk was relocated to the fornt garden of the Eltham RSL sub-branch in the mid 1950s as a result of road widening and corner improvements. The Bridge Street Bridge was replaced with a new concrete bridge in 1956-1957. This is a view looking west down Bridge Street across Main Road. The date was around 1925 and Bridge Street was known as the Greeenborough Road and Main Road was Maria Street. There are substantial cuttings on all four corners. The most obvious feature is the Eltham Obelisk which was unveiled 3 August 1919 by Sir William Irvine, Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria on 3 August 1919, honouring those Eltham residents who fell in the First World War. His wife, Agnes, was instrumental in the establishment of the Avenue of Honour. The Irvines were also Eltham residents, their property was Killeavey on the Yarra River near Laughing Waters. In 1947 the Eltham War Memorial Trust intended for the Obelisk to be relocated from Bridge Street and Main Road to the Garden of Remembrance which was planned as part of the Baby Health Centre which was to be the first of three buildings of the Eltham War Memorial to be built in 1951. For various reasons that did not happen. In July 1956, the original wooden Bridge Street Bridge was replaced with a new concreete bridge, which is the structure we know today. At the same time, Eltham Council upgraded and widenened Bridge Street and realigned the intersection at Main Road. A substantial amount of the cutting on the north west corner had to go along with the Eltham Obelisk. The Obelisk was temporarily relocated to the front garden of the Eltham RSL sub-branch which was situated mid-way between Pitt Street and John Street. That temporary relocation was one of convenience for all and it remained there for several decades. In 2010 following the financial collapse and sale of the Eltham RSL Sub-Branch property and amalgamation with the Montmorency Eltham RSL sub-branch, the location of the obelisk was again in immediate jepoardy and in conjunction with Nillumbik Shire Council, the obelisk was relocated in front of the Eltham War Memorial buildings in preparation for the Dawn Service on Anzac Day 2012. - Research by Peter Pidgeon, EDHS, June 2026 Digital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 2 Sep. 2022michael aitken collection, eltham, postcards, bridge street, bridge street bridge, obelisk, obelisk corner, eltham cenotaph, eltham obelisk, war memorial, main road

5842.01 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 7A.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Peter Kieryczuk, Bruno Zovko, Ricardo "Richard" Soldaini, Peter Kirko, Daniel Duffy, Michael Manariti, Mark Bucsko, Ivan Horvatic, Neil Hereford 2nd Row (L-R) - Lilian Boudolah, Rose Camilleri, Rebecca Soldo, Mrs. Leahy (Teacher), Mr. Enright (Teacher), Tracy Watton, Wendy Lilley, Mary Saladino Front Row (L-R) - Tarryn Smith, Kerryn Wilby, Lynette Thiele, Louise Refalo, Rebecca stark, Annette Thompson, Rebecca Soldo, Lourdes Galea, Carmen Agius, Maria Staffieri, Mai Tran 5842.02 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 7B.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Alan Cook, Tony Rullo, Arpad, Fejes, Stephen Jones, Agazio Fiorenza, Andrew Clarke, Ian Mavric, Curt Hendricks, Patrick Neicho, Tony Diblasio 2nd Row (L-R) - Caroline Hrovcit, Lisa Bending, Karen Aitchinson, Helen Kotopoulos, Ms, S, Aldons (Teacher), Maria Kladas, Jenny Bryant, Kylie Taylor, Doreen Camilleri Front Row (L-R) - Kim Amato, Josephine Gauci, Elizabeth Marecki, Laura Marsh, Wendy Gardner, Christina Prisc, Lisa Bywaters 5842.03 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 7C.jpg 4th Row (L-R) - Sergio Sinforosa, Andew De Weerd, Jamie Parsons 3rd Row (L-R) - Vincent Straniero, Chris Christoforou, Craig Routledge, Michael Sampson, Antre Makonjic, Emmanuel Kopsaftis, Jeremy Boase, Stuart McKenzie 2nd Row (L-R) - Ms. J. Simonson (Teacher), Karen Lee, Ann Petzieridis, Lucy Smith, Yolanda Wilson, Danni Taleski, Kelly Nolan, Sue Psaila, Bill Wringe (Teacher) Front Row (L-R) - Michelle Mifsud, Doreen Mercieca, Michelle Spiteri, Christine Plant, Susan Micallef, Mama Prodanis, Debbie Brown, Sonia Lorenzini 5842.04 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 7D.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Brian Azzopardi, Mark Agius, Giuselle Scalise, Ban Luu, Tin Dieu Huynh, Domenic Digiglio, Michael Okley, John Troiano, Pietro Georgiou 2nd Row (L-R) - NicMole Blair, Naomi Pattern, Maryana Filip, Katerina Nicolaou, Michael Metcalfe (Teacher), Lidia Acanski, Tracey Clark, Christine Anagnostou, Michelle Bernard Front Row (L-R) - Leanne Row, Michelle Azzopardi, Krystyna Bochenek, Anna Cioffi, Kathryn Aquilina, Imperia Gauci, Jady Allen, Cynthia Rowe 5842.05 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 8A.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Stephen Turn, Brian Patterson, Maryan Marinkovic, Muhamed Bekirovski, Richard Gusman, Rodney Elliot, Peter Sharpe, Scott Treweek 2nd Row (L-R) - Karen Dedman, Julie Edwards, Karen Briggs, Jane Bajada, Ms. Annita Ware (Teacher), Annette Hartmann, Janine Humphries, Mary Spiteri, Brenda Sultana Front Row (L-R) - Sharon Bailey, Kim Warburton, Lisa McNamara, Rosemary Galea 5842.06 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 8B.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Keith Mills, John Ramos, A. Hagliassis, Christopher Eleftheriou, Paul Gerace, Tom Mills, Peter Koliampas, Richard Calleja 2nd Row (L-R) - Yiota Anganostou, Karen Fry, Lee Causen, Ms. Helen Yantos (Teacher), Monica Nilsen, Tracey Leogh, Mandy Kyriaszikidis Front Row (L-R) - Nina Musienko, Ann Portelli, Antonia Giacca Absent - Alfred Galea, Josie Marlyn, Nancy Cioffi 5842.07 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 8C.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Simon Scerri, Peter Spiteri, Richard Vassallo, Michael Reissis, Mark Halliwell, Orfeo Pannaccio, Darren Williams 2nd Row (L-R) - Rose Osman, Linda Neroondinski, Katherine Peircy, Marlene Boudolah, Ms Cassell (Teacher), Jeanette Kieruj, Keran Raif, Svetlana Matovski, Michelle Azzopardi Front Row (L-R) - Vicky Stavrianakis, Michelle Galea, Jaliha Jones, Jennifer Zammit 5842.08 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 8D.jpg 4th Row (L-R) - Brian Thiele, Tommy Giordmaina, Damir Grudic, John Horvatic 3rd Row (L-R) - Vinh tan, Dervis Nazim, Frank Stranieri, Glenn Campbell, Darren Balboni, Nader Shenuda, Charlie Dingli, Paul Dimetriou 2nd Row (L-R) - Claudine Scott, Christina Mainella, Sonia Konanenko, Mr, Winge (Teacher), Katherine Hocking, Leanne Dixon, Melissa Vernon Front Row (L-R) - ? Tran, Yvonne Doyle, Sandra Aitken Absent - Heather Brown, Josephine Pace 5842.09 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 8E.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Joe Agius, Emmanouil Vogiagis, Fredie Mamo, George Tonkovic, Tommy Dalipis, Michael Obic, Joseph Kovko, Joe Vella, Anthony Peronace 2nd Row (L-R) - Ms. Copping (Teacher), Carmen Haber, Eva Cvetanocski, Donna Vlaovic, Ann Ahemed, Heidi Alley, Lidia Markovska, ? (Teacher) Front Row (L-R) - Maria Vouris, Loretta Velic, Kym Davey, Beverley Carrington, Davurko Soldo, Frances Abela 5842.10 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 9A.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Eddie Arfaoui, Frank Falvkozi, Wayne James, Shane Hill, Tony Stojanovski, Jim Kirko, Robert Damcevski, Peter Todorovski, Christopher Gregoriou 2nd Row (L-R) - Maria Stranier, Ozlem Hasan, Sharon Hudson, Emine Huseyin, Ms. Reed (Teacher), Donna Heinjus, Susan Mitchell, Dearne lambert, Jillian Hill Front Row (L-R) - Josephine Pace, Rosie Buttigieg, Veronica Popek, Klaudia Katarjn, Josephine Cassar, Adelina Pamintuan, Maryanne Munnteanu, Absent - Adam Szpotko 5842.11 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 9B.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Nello Ragusa, Sam Sorgiovanni, Robert Aquilina, David Camilleri, Andrew Rigo, Clinton Hill, Steven Grimley, Tony Petrarca 2nd Row (L-R) - Tracey Nelson, Jenny Piscopo, Rhonda Allen, Susanne Phillips, Mr. Smillie (Teacher), Samanth Zammitt, Karen Condon, Bebra Bryant, Marlene Velle Front Row (L-R) - Tanya Berry, Annette Borg, Carmen Mamo, Tracey Grima, Andrea Wright, Diane Gusman, Anne Borg, Dianne Rampertshammer Absent - Mr. Bassios (Teacher), Dominic Vlaovic, Jenny Miller 5842.12 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 9C.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Jamie Clarke, Shane Boyd, Camillo Crognale, Alex Jensensek, Luka Mrkonjic, Craig Fry, Nick Kourtessis, Warren Nason, Tony Cauchi, Robert Napoli 2nd Row (L-R) - Katy Santic, Sandra Soldaini, Mary Buttigieg, Raechel McDonad, Mr. Cocking (Teacher), Lisa Talbot, Michelle Ciavarella, Helen Zenonos, Julie Stefanofska Front Row (L-R) - Thanh Lam, Rosina Digglio, Eva Servanis, Tina Todorovski, Joanne Cassar Absent - Rikatiemes, Maryanne Axiak, Rita Haslam, Kate Clarke, Tracy Martyr 5842.13 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 9D.jpg Standing - Ray Benger, Daryl Cook 3rd Row (L-R) - Scott Hills, Garry Leggett, Frank Tamburro, Danny Sharpe, Andrew Okely, Roco Tarraborelli, Colin Jardine, Peter Marx 2nd Row (L-R) - Alison Wilson, Claudia Sevas, Daphne Vogiagis, Laura Johnson, Ms. Kingswell (Teacher), Jeanette Spiteri, Donna Vassallo, Sharon McPherson, Sebra Bristow Front Row (L-R) - Julie Clelland, Roulla Kladas, Tracey Martin Absent - Corrie Attard, Gordon Rae, Betty Sujecki, Carole Andrew, Julie-Ann Bending 5842.14 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 10A.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Benny Caruana, Joseph Previtt, Simon Welsh, Andrew Howlet, Joseph Tabone, Joseph Attard 2nd Row (L-R) - Tessie Galea, Tonella Sachse, Sandra Haber, Theresa Zammit, Mr. C. Esteban (Teacher), Diane Stradella, Rosa Cozzolind, Kristene Kelly, Jean Bajada Front Row (L-R) - Rita Mizzi, Josephine Galea, Julienne Tanti, Jacqueline Davy 5842.15 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 10B.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Wayne Body, Dietmar Schulz, Jimmi Konstantinidos, Allan Pearce, Dean Whitmore, Mark Trainor, Alan Gardiner, Robert Juers, Troy Williams 2nd Row (L-R) - Christine Pisono, Vilma Ruzic, Susan Kilpotric, Kim Funston, Ms, Hana Karas (Teacher), Kristine Patten, Geraldine Cooper, Veronica Stachlewski, Kerrie Grace Front Row (L-R) - Silvana Musumeci, Mary Viscovich 5842.16 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 10C.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - K. Vouris, J. Kourtessis, S. Bailey 2nd Row (L-R) - M. Loschiavo, S. Camilleri, J. Doyle, K. Alley, Mr. J. Oakes (Teacher), D. Condom, L. Boyd, B. Doyle, J. Refalo Front Row (L-R) - T. White, L. McNab, Z. Berkirovski, B. Taleski, D. Stracham, L. Fabretto Absent - L. Brennan, V, Cvetamouski, Z. Javanoski, T. McAliney, M. Nicolau 5842.17 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 10D.jpg Note: The order of the students may be incorrect 4th Row (L-R) - M. Lewis, M. Hacryluk, P. Knezevic 3rd Row (L-R) - J. Mount, S. Pengelly, A. Sampson, G. Christou, P. Maurogenis, R. Vlpiano, C. Zerbinos, P. Sammut 2nd Row (L-R) - S. Hallatsch, K. Van Adnel, T. Jones, M. Camilleri, Ms. C. Russo (Teacher), D. Bajada, N. Camilleri, C. Attard, S. Ormston, Front Row (L-R) - N. Lanham, S. Sacco, M. Grech, Y. Cleland 5842.18 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 10E.jpg Note: The order of the students may be incorrect 3rd Row (L-R) - Mark McCorquodale, Derek Smith, Amro Ahmed, Ivan Krizman, Radomir Acanski, Hasan Nazim 2nd Row (L-R) - Laura Rovetto, Elena Vuk, Sylvia Meilak, Sophie Shenouda, Elisa Notaristefano, Tracy Cox, Lisette Savage, Michelle Thompson Front Row (L-R) - Dianna Mavric, Julie Cini, Sandra Sultana, Carmen Giordmaina, Heather Duckett, Marix Marinaccio, Bilna Hedji, Leanne Agius, Svetland Klaljin, Janet Kearoy, Sue Welsh Mr. Jones (Teacher) 5842.19 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 11A.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Carmello Cugliari, Peter Georgiou, Tino Scicca, Geoff Brown, Tony Cascun, Paul Luschiavo 2nd Row (L-R) - Michelle Sivies, Stacey Tippett, Lorraine Atkinson, Visnja Matasic, Ms. Helen Yankos (Teacher), Christine Bernacki, Joanne Lamont, Julie Sjaro, Carmello Troniano Front Row (L-R) - Rosa Muia, Maria Digiglio, Tijen Mehmet, Patricia Todarello, Laila Arfaqui, Colleen Sammut, Gordana Risteska, Marina Diblasio 5842.20 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 11B.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Arthur Debicki, Warren Vernon, Stephen Kingsbury, Darrin Dickinson, Walleed Raghdo, Alberto Pamintuan 2nd Row (L-R) - Geraldine Parisella, Kim James, Katherine Kashuba, Helen Tsobanis, Ms. Hana Kavas (Teacher), Jenny Boudoloh, Tulin Osman, Ceclia Walsh, Tracy Collis Front Row (L-R) - Sharon Bernard, Lisa Harper 5842.21 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 11C.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Loucas Koutsiofis, Peter Chudiakow, Frank Testa, Peter Siussius, Jeff Schmidt, Frank Favorito Raymond Mano 2nd Row (L-R) - Mary Skordis, Esther Barat, Sharon Cooper, Ana Marias, Mr. Michael Metcalfe (Teacher), Olivera Ivancevic, Leeann Zannich, Andriana Panayi, Julie Alley Front Row (L-R) - Evetka Krizman, Vicky Merceica, Maria Klinko, Anna Petrarca, Joan Barbara 5842.22 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 11D.jpg 3rd Row (L-R) - Greg Jefford, Peter Lester, Michael Georgeallis, John Causon, Peter Taylor, Nick Granata, Frank Coschiavo 2nd Row (L-R) - Narelle Trainor, Dianne Vassallo, Derindo Wallace, Annita Ware (Teacher), Kare Hartmann, Rosanna Care, Linda Edwards Front Row (L-R) - Sharon Bristow, Maria Giacca, Vivian Boor, Lora Licul, Vera Jarema, Gabrielle Fagan, Christine Cabrera 5842.23 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 12 H.S.C..jpg Note: The order of the students may be incorrect 4th Row (L-R) - Stephen Jeffries, Paul Mala, Martin Mount, Paul Camilleri, Peter Wolf, Dan Havrycul, Geoff Elwood 3rd Row (L-R) - Paul Greig (Teacher), Joe Calleja, Len Ciaverelia, Michael Camilleri, Domenic Arvery, Paul Troiano, David MacDonald, Nick Hagiliassis, Emil Ruzic, Chris Demetriou, Frank Giacca, Candio Esteban (Teacher) 2nd Row (L-R) - Sofie Michaelidis, Debra Borg, Ann Nilsen, Seval Latif, Barbara Bernacki, Jolander Beker, Sandra Petrovic, Sue Dorgan, Tania Ivancevic Front Row (L-R) - Lucy Kacinnskas, Kathy Zerbinos, Mirand Kariotis, Rosa Gregorale, Pauline Camilleri, Dianne Stanciewicz, Fofi Christou, Linda Franic, Gallina Zielinski, tania Lachner, Meral Latif 5842.24 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Year 12 S.T.C..jpg 5th Row (L-R) - Fabic Ciprian, Luciano Notaristefano, Ron Mark, Wally Chijnowski, Lennie Martino, Allan Warburton, Vince Restovic, Peter Pavlovic 4th Row (L-R) - Darren Hobbs, Terry Dimitriadis, Sandy Jesensek, David Petronio, Peter Mifsud, Shayne Davey, John Argetti, Stuart Mitchell 3rd Row (L-R) - Terry Kennedy (Teacher), Kim ?, Anna Crnac, Elizabeth Momirovska, Paul Schodde, Frank Pangalides, Alison Hagri, Maryanna Zerafa, Ivana Lucchesi, Karen McCathy (Teacher) 2nd Row (L-R) - Robyn Xuereb, Angela Kennedy, Linda Simmonds, Sharon Ormston, Leanne overall, Coral Brady, Robyn Scott, Kylie Patten, Christine Caruana Front Row (L-R) - Sylvia Meilak, Katherine Mallia, Lillian Tavollia, Zina Musumeci, Miryam Gimenz, Ruth Azzopardi, Elileen Gatt, Lillie Aleksic, Louise Stenta, Marlene Cassar, Georgina Kladas 5842.25 - Sunshine High School Student Photos 1983 Staff.jpg Note: The order of the staff may be incorrect 4th & 5th Rows (L-R) - Michael Williams, BillWringe, Paul Greig, Adrian Alexander, Brian Gunn, Terry Kennedy, David Smillie, Robert Schmode, David Jones, Jim Williamson, Fiona Kingswell 3rd Row (L-R) - Hana Karas, James Oakes, Con Tassigiannakis, Donald Webster, Peter Harrison, C. Russo, Robyn Barr, N. Horwood, Fiona Reed, Karen McCarthy, Nandita Palit, Gillian Simonson, Sandra Bott, Anna Kubicki, Helen Yankos, Trevor Willaims 2nd Row (L-R) - Annita Ware, Peter Starford, Malcolm Cocking, Ann McGeown, Debra. Paine, L. Raymond, Martin Enright, Denyse Strantzen, Christine Sandars Front Row (L-R) - A. De Amilis, Sonia Aldons, K. Allen, Sofie Michaelidis, Rhonda Johnson, Nirmala Kilgariffsunshine high school, sunshine north, student photograph

Contents: • Voting changes by Jim Connor • Next meeting – 2:00pm Saturday 17th October 2026 • Heritage Excursion – 2:00pm Saturday 7th November – Eltham Cemetery Remembrance Tour • October 2026 is Local History Month • 55 years of Pioneers and Painters by Liz Pidgeon with Russell Yeoman • A memory from John Withers’ Auto by Brendan Joseph Evans • Eltham South Pre School – 80th Anniversary by Jim Connor • History of Taraganda by Michael Aitken • Yarra Plenty Heritage Group Network by Liz Pidgeon • Eltham – 1926 • Committee Member Profile: Russell YeomanThe Shire of Eltham Historical Society was formed in October 1967. The first newsletter of the Society was issued May 1978 and has been published continuously ever since on a bi-monthly basis. With the cessation of the Shire of Eltham in late 1994, the Society's name was revised to Eltham District Historical Society and this name first appeared with issue No. 103, July 1995. The collection of the Society's newsletters provides a valuable resource on the history of the Society's activities, office bearers and committee members, guest speakers and subjects of historical interest pertinent to the former Shire of Eltham and the Eltham District.A4 newsletter distributed to members (Digital and A4 photocopy)newsletter, eltham district historical society