Photograph of Geoffrey D. MummeryFlying Offr. Geoffrey D. Mummery KILLED IN RAID OVER HAMBURG 7th March 1945

Large round metal cream can with lid. Two handles on side of can and on handle and clasp on lid. Used in the 1930s & 1940s to transport cream to butter factory.Mummery Bros Ovensrural industry, agriculture

Pages from a scrapbook belonging to Heather Jenkins (nee Cone) who lived as a child in the Police Residence at 728 Main Road, Eltham in the 1910s-1920s. Images featured are 1. A peep on the road, nearing Research. 2. The Main Road at Eltham (opposite Railway Station). 3. A part of the new railway line. 4. The mail coach leaving for Kangaroo Ground.Heather Jenkins was the daughter of Constable John Thomas Cone, Badge #3935 served at Eltham Police Station 1 May 1911 to 9 July 1922.Detail from large newspaper clipping (half page), very aged and fragile with sticky tape holding it together with 4 images of early Elthameltham, railway, railway line, edendale farm, mummery's

A5 size publication of the Gipps-Land Gate, September 2001 featuring an old picture of Dandenong on the cover. An Interesting Character ThaT I Remember -Jim Snell Dandenong Art Club Disbanded 1964-2001 The History Of Credit Unions In Australia Douglas Hebry Raymond Mummery 1916-1998 Dandenong Power Station Vale: Joyce Elaine Oldmeadow 1921-2001 Vale: Jean Spence Searle 1909-2001 Vale: Warren Titcher 1933-2001 Presidents Report 200-2001 Research Requests Harking Back 50 Years Harking Back 100 Years An interesting group of Early Dandenong Personalities, Places and Eventshotel history, early education in dandenong, interesting milestones, family histories

The photograph depicts nine Ruyton Girls' School prefects and probationers in 1952. The four students standing in the back row are probationers, who have been identified from left to right as M. Hartshorn, C. Kent, J. Hodgson, and M. Morrison. The five students seated in the front row are prefects identified from left to right as E. Macdonald, V. Mummery, H. Cole (School Captain), S. Backhouse, and T. Abson. All of the prefects and probationers are dressed in full Ruyton uniform including knee-length check-print skirts, brown lace-up shoes, dark jumper, white collared button blouse with a tie, and wool blazer. The students are all looking straight at the camera and smiling. The image is an official school photograph taken by Clive Stuart Tompkins. The same photograph appears in the 1952 Ruytonian.The record holds strong historic significance as it provides insight into the history of student leadership at Ruyton Girls' School. Student leadership commenced in 1906 with the introduction of the prefect system. Prefects had numerous responsibilities—gate duty, grounds duty, classroom marking, assembly door watch, uniform monitoring, and even supervising student detention. In 1947, a dedicated Prefects Room was erected on the east side of the Ruyton Girls' School Assembly Room in Henty House. The prefects system was revised in 1968 with a new leadership structure: there would be a permanent School Captain, Vice Captain and School Sports Captain; six permanent prefects would be elected, and the rest of the Matriculation class would form committees. These included Library, Social Services, S.C.M., Editorial, and Music. In this way, it was thought "that each Matric girl would have a certain amount of responsibility." With this revised structure came a brand new Prefects' Study, located in a former classroom next to the Domestic Science building. Each prefect was allocated one book locker, one clothing locker, "a small share in the heater", plus a new shared lounge. The prefect system was updated again in 1974. All sixth formers would become prefects, or "school officials." This saw the sixth form divided into two halves: one group would be prefects for the first half of the year, then the second group would take the reigns in the latter half of the year. In October 2023, Ruyton announced a new collaborative leadership structure for captains, prefects and house leaders, which would see two students in each leadership role. The record's significance is further enhanced by its strong provenance, having been produced by Ruyton Girls' School and donated to the Archives by a familial connection.Black and white rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper.Obverse: C STUART TOMPKINS / CAMBERWELL / Reverse: Ruyton / Rawcey Ware (?) / Add to order / no 5488 / & make a / others / Ruyton / [illegible] /ruyton girls' school, ruyton, students, school, senior school, girls school, kew, melbourne, school uniform, prefects, photograph

Students Name on back 6975-15 Stawell State School 502 Grade 3A March 19th 1965 Teacher Mr Neumann Top Row, Gilbert Whelan, Ian Cameron. James Bell, Mark Lever, Steven Stewart, Norman Mummery. Colin ?, Robert Scott, Second Row, Mr Neumann, Helen Heffernan, Susan Sinclair, Debbie Oliver, Kerryn Way, Janet Matfin, Carol Smith, Margaret Mortan, Lynn Roder, Joyce Matfin, Third Row, Peter Tangey, Peter Whitehead, Steven Whitehead, Craig Dawson, Peter Johnston, Craig Robson, Gary Honeyman, Geoff Coward, Greg Dryburgh, Bill Scurry, Fourth Row, Julie Devlin, Michelle Gross, Leanne Rickard, Wendy ?, Denise Gross, Betty Mitchell, Janine Ralph, Lynette Hallam, Jennifer Guy. Stawell State School Students and Teacher at Back Left. Mr NeumannStawell State School March 10 Grade 3A education

BHS CollectionBendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 2003. Flag-bearers: the Sandhurst Football Club reserves premiership side of 1952. From left back are: L. Laity, K. Carr, J. O'Brien, R. Lee, T. Owens, M. Mummery, E. Sanders, J. Hunt, R. Slattery, K. Slattery, V. Hussey, J. Pollock. Centre: G. Roberts, G. Leonard, H. Mathers, J. Hartney (coach), H. Winfield (captain), k. Clohesy, P. Houston, D. Bartram, S. Yorston. Front: G. Arthur, W. Roberts, m. Rayner, D. Nuttall, J. Shephard, D. Casley, g. Mathews, M. Molloy, G. Bridgland. The team scored 5.8 (38) to defeat Eaglehawk 2.10 (22). The clip is in a folder.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Edendale Farm is Nillumbik Shire Council's environment centre situated in Gastons Road, Eltham between the railway and the Diamond Creek. The homestead on the property was built in 1896 and is of historical significance, being the subject of a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The Edendale property was originally part of an extensive land purchase in 1852 from the Crown by pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke. He initially purchased 51 acres and later expanded his holdings by purchasing another three adjacent Crown allotments extending northerly from Josiah Holloway's Little Eltham subdivision. Despite clearing the land, Stooke did not build on this property, choosing to live on his property "Rosehill" at Lower Plenty. In 1896 Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne purchased 7 acres of the original Stooke land and built the house now known as Edendale. Cool did not farm the land, instead using it as a gentleman’s residence, retiring to Eltham at weekends. In 1918 he purchased an additional 7 acres but in 1919 he sold the property. Later owners included J.W. Cox, the Gaston family and D. Mummery. In the 1980s the Eltham Shire Council purchased the site for use as a Council depot, but this use did not proceed. Subsequently, it was used as the Council pound. The Edendale Farm Pet Education and Retention Centre was established in the summer of 1988/1989 and was set up to replace the existing dog kennels with a high standard pet retention centre. The design style of the building was established to compliment the features of the existing house. It was equipped with 10 retention pens, a veterinary room and a pet education area where school children and other interested parties learnt about pet care procedures. It was later developed into a community farm and was run by an advisory committee and in 2000 it became an Environment Centre. In early 2006 an advisory committee was established for the development of a master plan for future development at Edendale Farm. The committee included Russell Yeoman, a former long-time shire planner and founding member of the Eltham District Historical Society. At the time of filming the Master Plan and future for Edendale was about continuing to develop Edendale as a centre of environment learning and looking at expanding displays and school program, running a lot more of life-long learning and workshops around sustainable living. Covered under Heritage Overlay, Nillumbik Planning Scheme. Published: Nillumbik Now and Then /​ Marguerite Marshall 2008; photographs Alan King with Marguerite Marshall.; p101 A sharp turn from busy Wattletree Road by the railway line, brings a surprise. Only 1.4 km from Eltham’s centre, sheep feed, blissfully unaware of the hectic suburban activity so close by. At the entrance to the 5.6ha Edendale Farm is another surprise. A work of art that looks like huge tree trunks transformed into bowler and top-hatted men. The Fences Act 1968 by Tony Trembath with Mark Cain and John Doyle, 1996, is classified by the National Trust of Australia as having Regional Significance. The title refers to a government act on disputes between neighbors over the placement of fences and boundaries. This takes a ‘wry swipe’ at a community divided by trivial squabbles. It also celebrates making do with limited resources.1 Further along on the left, the office wall is decorated with a massive Eltham Copper Butterfly, designed by Robert Tickner and made by school children with used plastic bottles and other waste material. Nillumbik Council runs Edendale as an Environmental Education Centre, to help preserve and enhance the local environment. As early as 1988 the former Eltham Shire Council realised Edendale’s importance in meeting people’s needs, particularly of children, to enjoy farmland. The centre, with the Eltham North Reserve to the north - including remnant bushland and open parkland - makes up the major part of the public open space for this area. The council considers this area will become increasingly important to the local community for recreational use.2 Educational programs aim to encourage community involvement to ensure the long-term rehabilitation and protection of natural bushland areas. Edendale is used by people of all ages - from school children to adults - for environmental programs and workshops, as well as for recreation, to enjoy the domestic animals and to picnic. Edendale is also home to the Environmental Works staff who manage reserves and roadsides and support Nillumbik Friends environmental groups. The Friends propagate plants at the nursery, which grows indigenous plants and sells these to the public.3 The centre demonstrates the sustainable living the farm teaches, with features like solar hot water and drive lighting and for the fireplace, logs of recycled cardboard. Edendale has had a varied history as a dog pound and even as a retreat for Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne. His single-storey weatherboard house built in 1896, which still stands, was grander than most homes in Eltham. Although such buildings were common in many other parts of Melbourne, Eltham’s poverty and remoteness did not encourage such construction. The Victorian rectangular-shaped house, with a corrugated iron roof and veranda, has elegant large rooms, leadlight windows, ceiling roses, two bay windows and ornately carved wooden fireplace surrounds. Cool bought seven acres (2.8ha) from pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke’s 200 acre (81ha) farm, which he had bought from the Crown in 1852. In 1918 Cool bought an extra seven acres (2.8ha) but in 1919 sold the estate to farmer John Cox. In 1933 Cox sold Edendale to Mrs Elizabeth Gaston, after whom the road leading to the centre was named. The property was owned by several Gaston family members, who called it Edendale, then by a police constable, Douglas Mummery, until the Shire of Eltham bought it in 1970. Oddly Edendale was known as Mummery’s for almost 20 years, although Mummery owned it only for a short time.4 The shire used Edendale as a dog pound until amalgamation with other municipalities in 1996. The pound then moved to the Yan Yean Road, Plenty site, which had been used by the former Diamond Valley Shire Council. To the west and north the centre is bounded by Diamond Creek and on the east by the Melbourne-Hurstbridge railway line. Part of the Research creek forms the centre’s southern boundary.This collection of almost 130 photos about places and people within the Shire of Nillumbik, an urban and rural municipality in Melbourne's north, contributes to an understanding of the history of the Shire. Published in 2008 immediately prior to the Black Saturday bushfires of February 7, 2009, it documents sites that were impacted, and in some cases destroyed by the fires. It includes photographs taken especially for the publication, creating a unique time capsule representing the Shire in the early 21st century. It remains the most recent comprehenesive publication devoted to the Shire's history connecting local residents to the past. nillumbik now and then (marshall-king) collection, edendale farm

This book was part of the Frank Wright Collection. His early tutor, Percy Code, is mentioned in the book. Percy Code was senior conductor of the ABC, and commenced his musical career as a violinist but transferred his musical talent to the trumpet.Red hard covered book of 197 pages, and a number of black and white images. The book contains the following chapters: - 1. A Century and a Half of Music 2. Music of the Australian Aborigine 3. Personally Speaking 4. Biographical sketches (Amy Sherwin, Ada Crossley, Nellie Stewart, Melba, W.A. Laver, Alberto Zelman, Amy Castles, Peter Dawson, Percy Grainger, Hohn Lemmone, John Amadio, Horace Stevens, Evelyn Scotney (born Ballarat), Una Bourne, Browning Mummery, Daisy Kennedy, Essie Ackland, Dorothy Helmrich, Florence Austral, Bernard heinze, Harold Williams, Arnold Matters, Lauri kennedy, Gladys Moncrief, John Brownlee, John Dudley (born Ballarat), Marjorie Lawrence, Alan Eddy, Eileen Joyce, Joan Hammond, Nancy Weir, Noel Mewton-Wood, Raymond O'connell) 5. Australian Composers (May Brahe, Margaret Sutherland, Roy Agnew, Horace Gleeson, William G. James, Alfred Hill, Frank Hutchins, Lindley Evans, Horace Keats) 6. The Men with the Baton (G. Marhsall-Hall, Henri Verbruggen, Slapoffski, Fritz Hart, , Arundel Orchard, Edgar Bainton, Alberto Zelman, Bernard Heinze, Percy Code (Ballarat), William Cade, Joseph Post, John Farnsworth Hall) 7. Broadcasting in Australia 8. Violin Makers in Australia 9. Life in a Symphony Orchestra Appendices a. Choral Societies of Australia b. Doctors of Music c. A Selection of Records of Australian Composition. frank wright, percy code, music, bernard heinze, zelman, alberto zelman, joseph north, j.w. dawson, louis hattenbach, didgeridoo, nellie stewart, harold williams, lauri kennedy, tarczynski, nelson oliver, william dolphin, radio, new number

Methodist Church (Uniting Church) 18 colour photographs of Plaque unveiling at church site.3238-3; - A Plaque to mark the site of the former Stawell Methodist Chruch, was unveiled by Mrs. win Schwartz and Mr Allan Coward, former Methodist Parishioners. The Last Minister of the Methodist Church was Rev. Max Spry, who was also Present. Teh Stone for the Plaque was donated by Waites-Robson, Oct 1999. 3238-3a: Crowd watching the Unveiling of the plaque. 3238-2b: Allan Coward & Mrs Winifred Schwartz in front of the plaque 3238-3c: Allan Coward 3238-3d: Dawn Scott holding the microphone for Mrs. Winifred Schwartz nee Langsford 3238-3e: Rev. Max Spry 3238-3f: Mrs Dorothy King (Historical Society) 3238-3g: Cr Brian Small 3238-3h: Alan Kingston 3238-3i: L to R, Max Spry, Win Schwartz, Allan Coward. 3228-3j: Crowd scene before the unveiling. 3238-3k: L To R, Albert & Marg Phillips, Edith Cox, Lil Wilson, Elsie Moulden 3238-3i: L to R, Betty Newson, Jean Mummery, Ann Williamson. 3238-3m, L to R, Geoff Harmer, Dawn Scott 3238-3n L/R Avis Grant, Phillys Milne, Jean Perry (Mrs Wal), Norma McPherson 3238-3o, L/R Margaret Edwards, Joyce Matheson, Gladys Holmes, Alvie Brehaut 3238-3p L/r Joe Edwards, Noel Clarke. Enjoying afternoon tea. 3238-3q L/R Rita Pyke, June Clarke. After the Methodist Church site Plaque unveiling.3238-3d Reverse: Max Sprystawell, church

Edendale Farm is Nillumbik Shire Council's environment centre situated in Gastons Road, Eltham between the railway and the Diamond Creek. The homestead on the property was built in 1896 and is of historical significance, being the subject of a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The Edendale property was originally part of an extensive land purchase in 1852 from the Crown by pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke. He initially purchased 51 acres and later expanded his holdings by purchasing another three adjacent Crown allotments extending northerly from Josiah Holloway's Little Eltham subdivision. Despite clearing the land, Stooke did not build on this property, choosing to live on his property "Rosehill" at Lower Plenty. In 1896 Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne purchased 7 acres of the original Stooke land and built the house now known as Edendale. Cool did not farm the land, instead using it as a gentleman’s residence, retiring to Eltham at weekends. In 1918 he purchased an additional 7 acres but in 1919 he sold the property. Later owners included J.W. Cox, the Gaston family and D. Mummery. In the 1980s the Eltham Shire Council purchased the site for use as a Council depot, but this use did not proceed. Subsequently, it was used as the Council pound. The Edendale Farm Pet Education and Retention Centre was established in the summer of 1988/1989 and was set up to replace the existing dog kennels with a high standard pet retention centre. The design style of the building was established to compliment the features of the existing house. It was equipped with 10 retention pens, a veterinary room and a pet education area where school children and other interested parties learnt about pet care procedures. It was later developed into a community farm and was run by an advisory committee and in 2000 it became an Environment Centre. In early 2006 an advisory committee was established for the development of a master plan for future development at Edendale Farm. The committee included Russell Yeoman, a former long-time shire planner and founding member of the Eltham District Historical Society. At the time of filming the Master Plan and future for Edendale was about continuing to develop Edendale as a centre of environment learning and looking at expanding displays and school program, running a lot more of life-long learning and workshops around sustainable living.jim connor collection, edendale community farm, edendale farm, eltham, gastons road

EDENDALE FARM Edendale Farm is Nillumbik Shire Council's environment centre situated in Gastons Road, Eltham between the railway and the Diamond Creek. The homestead on the property was built in 1896 and is of historical significance, being the subject of a Heritage Overlay under the Nillumbik Planning Scheme. The Edendale property was originally part of an extensive land purchase in 1852 from the Crown by pioneer Eltham farmer Henry Stooke. He initially purchased 51 acres and later expanded his holdings by purchasing another three adjacent Crown allotments extending northerly from Josiah Holloway's Little Eltham subdivision. Despite clearing the land, Stooke did not build on this property, choosing to live on his property "Rosehill" at Lower Plenty. In 1896 Thomas Cool, Club Manager of the Victoria Coffee Palace in Melbourne purchased 7 acres of the original Stooke land and built the house now known as Edendale. Cool did not farm the land, instead using it as a gentleman’s residence, retiring to Eltham at weekends. In 1918 he purchased an additional 7 acres but in 1919 he sold the property. Later owners included J.W. Cox, the Gaston family and D. Mummery. In the 1980s the Eltham Shire Council purchased the site for use as a Council depot, but this use did not proceed. Subsequently, it was used as the Council pound. The Edendale Farm Pet Education and Retention Centre was established in the summer of 1988/1989 and was set up to replace the existing dog kennels with a high standard pet retention centre. The design style of the building was established to compliment the features of the existing house. It was equipped with 10 retention pens, a veterinary room and a pet education area where school children and other interested parties learnt about pet care procedures. It was later developed into a community farm and was run by an advisory committee and in 2000 it became an Environment Centre. In early 2006 an advisory committee was established for the development of a master plan for future development at Edendale Farm. The committee included Russell Yeoman, a former long-time shire planner and founding member of the Eltham District Historical Society. At the time of filming the Master Plan and future for Edendale was about continuing to develop Edendale as a centre of environment learning and looking at expanding displays and school program, running a lot more of life-long learning and workshops around sustainable living.edendale community farm, eltham, gastons homestead, gastons road, shire of nillumbik, video recording

Large wooden honour board with gold lettering of the names of students who served in the Australian Armed forces in WWIIWangaratta High School Roll Of Honor 1939-1943 IN MEMORIAM K.E. Allen W. Emery A.H. Francis R. Farrelly R. Gayfer R. Jack D.S. Lade G. Mummery E. O'Dwyer N. Reid C. Smith G. Thurling A. Webster C.H. Zschech EX-STUDENTS IN THE ARMED FORCES W.T.R. Aird A.W. Baxter G.R. Barter F.A. Bailey V. Blatch W. Beeby D. Bunn D. Briggs A.E. Binion D. & J. Bayliss R. Barry Sister M. brown C. Ball N. Ball S. Bowker K. Baker D. Christie S.J. Connor K. Crummy J. Clarke E.E. Deverell L. Dalton A. Dick W. Dick M. Dick G. Doherty A.M. Dinsdale H.P. Evens D. Ellis K. Eames M. emery W. Ecuyer B. Ewart G. Furguson J. Ferguson D. Ferguson W. Fullerton R. Fullerton E.M. Gibson J. Gilmour A. Gilmour B. Graham K. Gayfer L. Gorman M. Goulding J. Green J. Gibb R. Graham H. Gowling J. Graham L. Hayward V. Hayward W. Hempel O. Hempel P. Hebard M. Hebard R. Hollow P. Handley D. Hoystead H. Hoystead A. Hobley K. Holyoak R, Holyoak R. Herry F. Hayes K. Hayes A. Ives F. Ives H. Kneebone K. Kronborg W. Kronborg R. Kronborg M. King J. Knight W. Kirwin J. Law K. Law R. Living E. Lindholm J.S. Marsh J.G. Martin R.A. Morrison M.J. Morrison B. Moran J. McDonagh K. McDonagh DFC J. McDonald J. McGregor F. McGrath R. McCormick J. McCormick D.I. McDonald W. Nicholas R.A. Nish I.M. Ockelford T. Osmotherly A. Peake F. Powell A. Powles E.L. Raine G.A. Robbie W.H. Steel G.V. Snowdon V. H. Showdon J.H. Shannon G.W. Shannon A.L. Smyth W.E. Smythe J. Spencer R.J. Scannell L.E. Scannell T. Sheay G. Sinclair A. Sinclair E. Sinclair G. Stone DFC V.H. Sisely D. Sisely G. Sisely R. Short R. Sloan L.W. Vincent A.E. Winnell F.A. Winnell B. Welch R.H. Ward K. Winther C. Winther T. Walpole T.W. Wenham P. Wigley P.O. Youngson H Way Donated by Wangaratta R.S.L. sub branch 1991

Full page newspaper clipping featuring the March 1965 Victorian bushfires. Items include: Photograph - TWO-WOMAN BUCKET BRIGADE, Mrs Henry Marsden (left) and Mrs Moureen Ellis, whose fire-fighting efforts yesterday were highly praised today by their Eltham neighbours, carry out mopping-up operations Photograph - DOGS MADE HOMELESS by the fire in North Eltham yesterday are being cared for at First-Constable Doug. Mummery's kennels at Eltham and here is kennel maid Helen Oliver, 17, with some of them today. The two basset hounds are owned by Mr Bill Guy who lost about 100 daschund and basset hound puppies and dogs in the fire. Photograph - He died at Eltham [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 Other news stories of the day:  Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight.   IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue, doug mummery, helen oliver, mrs henry marsden, mrs moureen ellis