This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. Napoleon In Exile: Elba from 31st March 1814 to 1st March 1815 Author: Norwood Young Publisher: Stanley Paul & Co Date: 1914Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 920 NAP Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library Front loose endpaper has a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Service warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, napoleon in exile: elba, napoleon in exile, norwood young

Prefects elected were:— Girls — Pam Northausen (senior prefect), Ann Coche, Norma Leslie. Beverley Rimmer, Merlyn Robertson and Diane Whitehead. Boys — Arno Haemmerle (senior prefect), Brian Fitzgerald, John Kerr, Ian Weist and Brian Young.

Third form students from Norwood High School drew up their own agenda and resolutions after attending a Ringwood City Council meeting. Young council officials included Martin Brennan (Junior Mayor), Donald Hare. Peter Silver, Peter Marjason, John Jeavons, Ann Fletcher, Judy Brown, Sue Malcolm, Robert Bryant, Andrew Peters, Ted Jennings, Martin Toone, Jennifer Hall, Jim Badger, Janet Brown, Bill Barton, Lynette Woodhouse, and Robert Dewar.

Newspaper report February 1987 including photograph with caption: Building works at Norwood High School are inspected by (from left) Jacqui Gysberts, Sarah Robinson, Mr lan Cathie (Education Minister), school council president Mr Max Williams, David Orbach, Inga Young, principal Mr Lou Toscano and Mrs Kay Setches (Member for Ringwood).

Local newspaper - The Mail, September 7, 1988 - reporting selection of Norwood High School Student, Jeremy Palmer, to join the crew of the "Young Endeavour" as part of Australia's Bicentennial celebrations.

This bag belonged to by Mrs Alice "May" Moss CBE (1869-1948), Australian suffragist, social welfare campaigner and longtime resident of 59 North Road, Brighton. Born Alice Frances Mabel Wilson in Ballarat, in 1887 May married Isidore Moss, the son of Norwood's builder Mark Moss. While her children were young, she began to campaign for the rights of women and served as vice-president of the Australian Women's National League in 1906-14, during which time she actively campaigned in Victoria for women's suffrage. She was an Australian delegate at the League of Nations Assembly at Geneva in 1927, where she was the first woman to sit on a finance committee. She attended the International Council of Women in Geneva in the same year and in 1928 was elected as vice president of the ICW, a position she held until her death. She was the first president of the National Council of Women of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. May was active in many other community organisations and causes, including the Royal Women's Hospital, the Collingwood Crèche and the Free Kindergarten movement. She served on the board of management of the City Newsboys' Society in 1906-48 and was the first woman lay-member of the National Health and Medical Research Council in 1936-45. She was also member of the International and Lyceum clubs, with an interest in the theatre, painting and woodcarving.French petit point tapestry bag featuring seven people in a bucolic scene, with trees and buildings in the background. Black border. Gold metal hinged opening with ornamental clasp and gold chain.may moss, petit point, 1930s

The house was built in 1927. It was the home of Mrs Fanny Harcourt (nee Horsfield), 1874-1949, who was the mother of Muriel Joy Harcourt. She married Alfred Leonard Gordon Noack in 1942. It later became their home. Alfred was a teacher and came to Surrey Hills from Echuca. Alfred Noack took a number of photos of the Surrey Hills area which he donated to the collection. Fanny Adelaide Harcourt Horsfield died in 1949 in Echuca. OBITUARY - MRS. F. A. HARCOURT-HORSFIELD The late Fanny Adelaide Harcourt-Horsfield, who passed away at her daughter's Mrs A. Noack's residence on July 26, was a member of the well-known Smythe family of Ballina, N.S.Wales, and the wife of the late Joseph Victor Harcourt-Horsfield executive member of the Nestle Anglo-Swiss Milk Coy. Deceased had been an invalid for some 15 years, but in spite of her disabilities was always of a bright and cheerful disposition, which endeared her to her many friends. Her remains were interred privately in the family grave at Heidelberg. The Rev. H. W. R. Norwood officiated at the graveside. REF: Trove - The Riverina Herald, 28 July 1949. Black and white photo of 14 Albany Crescent, Surrey Hills. It is a Californian bungalow with a tiled roof and wood and lattice fence. The road and footpath appear to be unmade. There is a man standing behind the fence and a young girl is sitting on the fence on the RHS. Parts of the houses to the left and behind are visible. There is a mature tree growing in the unmown nature strip. californian bungalows, albany crescent, (mrs) fanny harcourt, (mrs) fanny harcourt-horsfield, muriel joy harcourt, muriel joy noack, muriel noack, alfred noack, alfred leonard gordon noack