Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Relief during the great depression This item includes the following documents: 8672.79a This document is a handwritten letter dated 26 June 1934 from Mr. Jas Peterson of 165 Victoria Street, Bendigo, addressed to Mr. T. Tilner. In the margin, there is a note indicating that it is another example of a Good Samaritan, with Peterson writing on behalf of Walter Legg. Peterson writes to recommend Mr. Walter Legg for a pair of boots being distributed to unemployed people. He explains that Legg lives at 117 Arnold Street, Bendigo, where he rents a room, and states that he has known him for approximately 38 years, dating back to their time working around the Bendigo mines. The letter describes Legg as being unable to work because he is suffering from miners' phthisis (a lung disease associated with mining). Peterson emphasises that Legg is a hardworking and respectable man whose difficult circumstances are not the result of any fault of his own. He notes that Legg had recently applied for assistance but, after attending the local asylum, was told he had little chance of receiving support because of his poor health. Peterson concludes by asking that, if possible, Mr. Tilner arrange for Legg to receive a pair of boots and send him a note at his address. The letter closes with a respectful signature from Peterson, reflecting a personal appeal on behalf of a long-time acquaintance in need.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

Dr Michele Matthews has been a local and social historian for nearly three decades since she first used correspondence held by the then Bendigo City Council for her Honours thesis. She is an ardent advocate for the use of local history records to tell Victorian and Australian history from a grassroots perspective. Michele’s MA thesis, ‘A forgotten “Father” of Federation: Sir John Quick 1852‑1911’ (2003), and her PhD thesis, ‘Survivors, schemes, Samaritans and shareholders: the impact of the Great Depression on Bendigo and District 1925‑1935’ (2007), both drew heavily on Bendigo and district records. Michele Matthews Collection: PHD Research - Relief during the great depression This item includes the following documents: 8672.49a The document consists of two handwritten historical records relating to public assistance in Bendigo during the early 1930s. The first page is an official letter from the City of Bendigo, Town Hall, Sustenance Office (Public Buildings) addressed to the Town Clerk. The writer advises that Mrs. Ethel Odgers is eligible for sustenance assistance based on her age. However, rather than recommending ongoing financial aid, the official suggests providing her with a load of firewood. The letter notes that Mrs. Odgers is expected to become eligible for other forms of assistance shortly, and therefore recommends against granting additional relief before she has the opportunity to apply through the appropriate channels. A handwritten annotation indicates that Mrs. Odgers later received one order of wood per week, dated 14 September 1933. The second page is a personal letter, dated 14 September 1933, from a widow living on Delany Street in Long Gully, addressed to Mr. Bennett. She explains that her husband died from miners' phthisis (a lung disease common among miners), leaving her to support her family alone. She describes her severe financial hardship, stating that she has two sons who are unemployed, one of whom has been out of work for two years, while the family survives largely on the small wages earned by her daughter. She appeals for help in finding employment for her sons, stressing that they are willing to undertake any kind of work but have been unable to secure jobs. The writer expresses her distress at the family's struggle to obtain enough food and explains that she has unsuccessfully attempted to meet with Mr. Bennett on two or three occasions. She ends by asking to be informed if any work becomes available for her sons.bendigo, michele matthews collection, letters seeking support in bendigo during the great depression 1932 to 1934

Table of contents: Editorial, A motor problem, Electricity in mining, The wet assay of tin, Sintering slimes at the Broken Hill Pty Works, Smokeless cities, An unusual process for the treatment of concentrates, Diamond drilling, E. M. Weston, Recent advancements in the treatment of slimes from the reduction of gold bearing ores, Norman Stuckey, W. T. Cronow, The gold miner and the prospector, Cornish mining, A trip to the North-East, New Zealand coal, Rich mine water, Making standard solution of alkalies, Notes on the refining of base bullion, Pipe lines for corrosive liquors, Electro-galvanising, Ankylostomiasis or earth eating disease, News and notes, Method of preparing blue paper, Past students, Correspondence, Answers to correspondents, Magazine balance sheet, Editorial notices.Peach coloured booklet of 28 pages.Signed on front cover by Les? M. Deaneballarat school of mines, students' magazine, oliver wendell holmes, a. e. c. kerr, t. w. gronow, norman stuckey, e, m. weston, j. h. collins, s. b. vial,, t. w. hood, o. e. jager, hubert krause, s. j. lindsay, fred nettle, a. w. parramore, e. prendergast, basil a. reid, g. m. roberts, h. c. valentine, r. vaughan,, w. j. lakeland, d. scott, dave thomas, a. d. turner, tom williams, w. b. tucker, percy millar, o. c. witherden, john adam, h. f. denny, g. a. denny,, w. a. gosman, hilary dowling, d. m. deane, cecil eeles, j. o'farrell, t. f. fleetwood, miles a. gabriel, a. a. gibson, t. j. andrews, t. brennan, j. a. reid.

A large lot of papers, including this and many other birth and death registration forms, were apparently found in the ceiling cavity of the Sandy Creek/Tarnagulla Post and Telegraph Office in the later 20th Century, during building works. Donald Clark Collection. Registration of Death form Name of deceased: Signor Piori Rank or Occupation: Miner Age: section missing Cause of Death: Deceased of Hart (as spelled), noted elsewhere on form 'Inquest 18th Sept' and 'Of valvular disease of the heart'. Duration of illness: Sudden death Date of Death: 17th September 1872 Place of Death: Jones Creek Place of burial: Jones Creek Father's name: not known Mother's name: not known Spouse: not known Deceased place of birth: Switzerland Lived in the Colony: 18 years