This medallion was produced at the Royal Australia Mint in Canberra in 1988 to commemorate the Bicentenary of European settlement in Australia. The obverse design was by Michael Meszaros and the Bicentenary logo was designed by Michael Tracy. This medallion was given to Elizabeth Douglas in 1988 in recognition of her work as Secretary of the Shire of Hampden Bicentennial Community Committee. At the time Miss Douglas was Principal of Derrinallum High School, a position she held from 1984 to 1991. In retirement Elizabeth O'Callaghan (nee Douglas) spent many years as an active member of the Warrnambool and District Historical SocietyThis item is of historic interest as an example of a Bicentennial medal awarded to a local individualThis is a medallion of circular shape and bronze colouring (gold-plated). On the obverse side it has a raised gold pattern representing masses of people with a flag and gold lettering. On the reverse side it has a stylised map of Australia with gold lettering and sprays of flowers. The medal rests on a round plastic container inserted into a rectangular green box with felt trimming. The box is contained in another green cardboard box Australian Bicentenary 1788-1988 Celebration of a Nation Australia 1788-1988 The Official Bicentenary Commemorative Medallionaustralian bicentenary, bicentennial medallion, elizabeth douglas derrinallum

HISTORY OF THE LOCH ARD The LOCH ARD belonged to the famous Loch Line which sailed many ships from England to Australia. Built in Glasgow by Barclay, Curdle and Co. in 1873, the LOCH ARD was a three-masted square rigged iron sailing ship. The ship measured 262ft 7" (79.87m) in length, 38ft (11.58m) in width, 23ft (7m) in depth and had a gross tonnage of 1693 tons. The LOCH ARD's main mast measured a massive 150ft (45.7m) in height. LOCH ARD made three trips to Australia and one trip to Calcutta before its final voyage. LOCH ARD left England on March 2, 1878, under the command of Captain Gibbs, a newly married, 29 year old. She was bound for Melbourne with a crew of 37, plus 17 passengers and a load of cargo. The general cargo reflected the affluence of Melbourne at the time. On board were straw hats, umbrella, perfumes, clay pipes, pianos, clocks, confectionary, linen and candles, as well as a heavier load of railway irons, cement, lead and copper. There were items included that intended for display in the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. The voyage to Port Phillip was long but uneventful. At 3am on June 1, 1878, Captain Gibbs was expecting to see land and the passengers were becoming excited as they prepared to view their new homeland in the early morning. But LOCH ARD was running into a fog which greatly reduced visibility. Captain Gibbs was becoming anxious as there was no sign of land or the Cape Otway lighthouse. At 4am the fog lifted. A man aloft announced that he could see breakers. The sheer cliffs of Victoria's west coast came into view, and Captain Gibbs realised that the ship was much closer to them than expected. He ordered as much sail to be set as time would permit and then attempted to steer the vessel out to sea. On coming head on into the wind, the ship lost momentum, the sails fell limp and LOCH ARD's bow swung back. Gibbs then ordered the anchors to be released in an attempt to hold its position. The anchors sank some 50 fathoms - but did not hold. By this time LOCH ARD was among the breakers and the tall cliffs of Mutton Bird Island rose behind the ship. Just half a mile from the coast, the ship's bow was suddenly pulled around by the anchor. The captain tried to tack out to sea, but the ship struck a reef at the base of Mutton Bird Island, near Port Campbell. Waves broke over the ship and the top deck was loosened from the hull. The masts and rigging came crashing down knocking passengers and crew overboard. When a lifeboat was finally launched, it crashed into the side of LOCH ARD and capsized. Tom Pearce, who had launched the boat, managed to cling to its overturned hull and shelter beneath it. He drifted out to sea and then on the flood tide came into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. He swam to shore, bruised and dazed, and found a cave in which to shelter. Some of the crew stayed below deck to shelter from the falling rigging but drowned when the ship slipped off the reef into deeper water. Eva Carmichael had raced onto deck to find out what was happening only to be confronted by towering cliffs looming above the stricken ship. In all the chaos, Captain Gibbs grabbed Eva and said, "If you are saved Eva, let my dear wife know that I died like a sailor". That was the last Eva Carmichael saw of the captain. She was swept off the ship by a huge wave. Eva saw Tom Pearce on a small rocky beach and yelled to attract his attention. He dived in and swam to the exhausted woman and dragged her to shore. He took her to the cave and broke open case of brandy which had washed up on the beach. He opened a bottle to revive the unconscious woman. A few hours later Tom scaled a cliff in search of help. He followed hoof prints and came by chance upon two men from nearby Glenample Station three and a half miles away. In a state of exhaustion, he told the men of the tragedy. Tom returned to the gorge while the two men rode back to the station to get help. By the time they reached LOCH ARD Gorge, it was cold and dark. The two shipwreck survivors were taken to Glenample Station to recover. Eva stayed at the station for six weeks before returning to Ireland, this time by steamship. In Melbourne, Tom Pearce received a hero's welcome. He was presented with the first gold medal of the Royal Humane Society of Victoria and a £1000 cheque from the Victorian Government. Concerts were performed to honour the young man's bravery and to raise money for those who lost family in the LOCH ARD disaster. Of the 54 crew members and passengers on board, only two survived: the apprentice, Tom Pearce and the young woman passenger, Eva Carmichael, who lost all of her family in the tragedy. Ten days after the LOCH ARD tragedy, salvage rights to the wreck were sold at auction for £2,120. Cargo valued at £3,000 was salvaged and placed on the beach, but most washed back into the sea when another storm developed. The wreck of LOCH ARD still lies at the base of Mutton Bird Island. Much of the cargo has now been salvaged and some was washed up into what is now known as LOCH ARD Gorge. Cargo and artefacts have also been illegally salvaged over many years before protective legislation was introduced. One of the most unlikely pieces of cargo to have survived the shipwreck was a Minton porcelain peacock - one of only nine in the world. The peacock was destined for the Melbourne International Exhibition in 1880. It had been well packed, which gave it adequate protection during the violent storm. Today, the Minton peacock can be seen at the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum in Warrnambool. From Australia's most dramatic shipwreck it has now become Australia's most valuable shipwreck artefact and is one of very few 'objects' on the Victorian State Heritage Register. Flagstaff Hill’s collection of artefacts from LOCH ARD is significant for being one of the largest collections of artefacts from this shipwreck in Victoria. It is significant for its association with the shipwreck, which is on the Victorian Heritage Register (VHR S417). The collection is significant because of the relationship between the objects, as together they have a high potential to interpret the story of the LOCH ARD. The LOCH ARD collection is archaeologically significant as the remains of a large international passenger and cargo ship. The LOCH ARD collection is historically significant for representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping history and its potential to interpret sub-theme 1.5 of Victoria’s Framework of Historical Themes (living with natural processes). The collection is also historically significant for its association with the LOCH ARD, which was one of the worst and best known shipwrecks in Victoria’s history. Plaque to commemorate the centenary of the wreck of the Loch Ard. Circular piece of bronze depicting a scene of the wreck set in a rectangular piece of varnished wood. Plaque is 9/50. Artist Michael Meszarosflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, loch line, loch ard, captain gibbs, eva carmichael, tom pearce, glenample station, mutton bird island, loch ard gorge, plaque, loch ard, michael meszaros

Plaque commemorating D.L. Palmer, Musician to the Blind, 1882-1955. David Palmer was a music teacher and Director of Music at the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind (R.V.I.B.) for over 40 years and conducted the R.V.I.B. choir and orchestra. The orchestra had about twenty musicians, all of whom were vision impaired, and was popular with the public for dances and events. Mr Palmer and the other music teachers would transcribe over a thousand sheets of music every year for the orchestra into Braille. Created by sculptor Andor Mészáros (1900-1972), this plaque was located in the foyer of Ormond Hall. During an interview with Australian Women's Weekly (28/10/1959, p7), the sculpturor - Andor Meszaros - said that he worked with half-closed eyes to create the memorial. It shows a profile, with wavy lines that sweep across the eye and around the ear to represent how one sense will become more importance when another is lost. His son, Michael Meszaros, was involved in the collaboration.1 bronze plaque with raised lines depicting profileAndor Meszaros 1959awards, sculpture, royal victorian institute for the blind, david palmer, andor meszaros, michael meszaros

Illustrated presentation folder including design and text. Bi-fold four page card. Silver coloured metal medal. Obverse depicts in low relief a large group of students ascending stairs towards the Southern Cross. Titled at foot 'Education". FRONT COVER: "Bicentennial Memento for School Students" / INNER PAGES: "The Australian Bicentennial authority has produced this memento, for distribution to all school students in 1988, to commemorate our Bicentenary ~ "Designers: Medal Obverse: M. Meszaros | Medal Reverse: M. Tracey | Folder: Concept Studios Pty Ltd. / BACK COVER: "During 1988 we commemorate 200 years of Australia's history in the modern world and will be celebrating our Bicentenary in many different ways. But one thing that we should all be doing is thinking about what it is to be an Australian. We should be learning about our past, trying better to understand the present, and thinking of the part we can play in the Australia of the future. You are Australia's future. Keep this medallion as a reminder of this important year in our history".australia -- history -- bicentenary, michael meszaros, australian bicentennial

The Bicentenary Education medal was produced by the Australian Bicentennial Authority as a memento for distribution to all school students in Australia in 1988. One of the many medals struck to commemorate 200 years of European settlement in Australia and distributed to all school students as part of bicentennial celebrations. This package being that of Glen Taffe of Hymettus Cottage.Cupro-nickel medal commissioned by the Commonwealth of Australia to commemorate the Australian Bicentenary in 1988. The medal was designed by Michael Meszaros and M. Tracey and minted by the Royal Australian Mint in Canberra. The obverse was designed by Melbourne artist Michael Meszaros and depicts school children climbing steps with the Southern Cross in the sky and the word 'EDUCATION' below. The reverse, designed by M. Tracey, features the Bicentennial logo, a map of Australia formed by intersecting diagonal lines. The medal was presented to school children in a sealed sleeve with Bicentenary artwork to commemorate the Bicentenary in 1988australian bi-centenary, education, commonwealth of australia

Blue green book, title and authors names in gold lettering embossed on spine. Dust jacket also blue green, title in red print, authors in black print on both front and spine. Photo of Baker Institute Award (sculpture by Michael Meszaros) on front. List of contributors on back.non-fictionMemoirs of Baker Medical Research Institute alumni.alfred hospital, medical research, baker medical research institute, physicians

Round centenary medallion depicting two naked figures. On the reverse side are the markings P.L.C. 1875-1975This medallion has been designed by Michael Meszaros to commemorate The Centenary of The Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne. The design symbolises the centenary by depicting it as a time when one looks both back at the past and forward to the future. This is illustrated in the medallion by a girl picking the fruit of the old gnarled tree - the benefits of the past, and another planting new seedlings - the plans for the future.medallion, centenary, presbyterian, ladies', college

Medal commemorating the Centenary of Government of Victoria and the Discovery of Gold, commissioned by the Victorian Government and gifted to the Shire of Glenlyon. Designed by Andor Mészáros and minted by K.G. Luke, Melbourne, 1951. 1951 marked the centenary of Victoria's separation from the colony of New South Wales. As part of the celebrations, the Victorian Government commissioned this medal from Andor Meszaros. Drawing on his classical background, Mészáros developed the imagery for 'Equality and Justice through Freedom'. The man holding the torch represents equality; the blindfolded woman holding a sword is the symbol of justice, and both are mounted on a horse that has broken its shackles. Features on the reverse a design of a banksia and bottlebrush. There was another version of this medal which depicted a pair of gold prospectors on the reverse.This medal was presented to the Shire of Glenlyon in 1951. For over half a century, sculptors Andor (1900-1973) and Michael (1945- ) Meszaros have created medals that reflect the high points of life in Australia. From major awards and portraits of eminent Australians to artwork celebrating popular culture and the natural world, these objects illuminate our culture and history. Grounded in a centuries-old European art tradition, the medals create connections across disciplines and link such diverse subjects as scientific advances, religious themes, sport, the performing arts and motherhood. Through their public and private commissions and their personal artworks, the Meszaros sculptors have defined the modern Australian medal.Bronze medal with images and text insetObverse Description: Horse bounding left, broken shackles on foreleg, carrying woman holding sword and man holding torch; around, EQUALITY AND JUSTICE THROUGH FREEDOM Artist's name behind horse's tail: A MESZAROS Reverse Description: Stake supporting plant; above, CENTENARY OF GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA 1851 - 1951; inscribed, Presented to / the Shire of / Glenlyon / 1951 Artist's initials to left of stakeglenlyon, hepburn shire, centenary of government, centenary of gold discovery, history of victoria, victorian governement, meszaros, kg luke, commemorative, commemorative plaque, centenary 1951