Two blue cards for the 12th Annual Dinki Di Old Time Ball Saturday 15th September 2007 at the Eaglehawk Town Hall Bendigo7pm 'til late. Emu Creek bush Band, Wedderburn Old Timers, Gay Charmers. Cost $20 or $15 prepaid, Mary Smith (03) 5442 1153entertainment, dance, dinki di old time ball

Green card to 8th Annual Dinki Di Old time Ball to be held Saturday 20 September 2003 at the Eaglehawk Town Hall 7pm till late. Emu Creek bush Band, Wedderburn Old Timers, Gay Charmers. Cost $15 or $12 prepaid Mary Smith (o3) 5442 1153.entertainment, dance, dinki di old time ball

Three copies of the Non Stop Old-Time Ball Programme held on April 21st 1978. Front page has a sketch of a poppet legs and building with a flower in the bottom right corner. Music by two bands: Ross Pritchard and McQueen's. Inside are the names of 51 dances and the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Peter Ellis and and Mr. Ron McNally and the Callers, Mr. Ron McNally and Mr. Ian Huxley. Printed on white card.entertainment, dance, fund raiser, peter ellis collection, non stop old-time ball programme, ross pritchard, mcqueen's, bendigo field naturalists club, fred richter, ron mcnally, ian huxley

Four copies of the Non Stop Old-Time Ball Programme held on July 15th 1977. Front page has a sketch of a couple dancing. Music by two bands: Ross Pritchard and New Notes. Inside are the names of 52 dances and the Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Peter Ellis and Callers, Mr. Alf Carey, Mr. Les Rankin, and Mr. Tom Brereton. On the back is a short account of the work of Mr. Cliff Beauglehole who studied Victorian native plants.Peter N. Ellis, Hon., Secretary W.V.F.N.C.A.entertainment, dance, fund raiser, peter ellis collection, non stop old-time ball programme, ross pritchard, new notes, a c beauglehole, lcc, western victoria field naturalists clubs assn, bendigo fnc, 'the distrubution and conservation of native plants in victoria', mr peter ellis, mr alf carey, mr les rankin, mr tom brereton

Photocopied and Printed ticket to Old Time Ball. South Lockwood Progress Association Old Time Ball South Lockwood Friday, 25th October, 1968 Gaytones Orchestra Prize for Best Set Alberts Poultry Supper Admission---$1.20 Gents.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Shire of Korong Presidential Old-Time Ball Programme with the Shire emblem on the front. Cr. W. Hunter, Shire President 1983/84. Ball held at the Wedderburn Mechanics Institute Hall on Friday, August 10, 1984. Wedderburn 'Old-timers' Orchestra. On the inside is the names of 17 dances with space to write partners names. Master of Ceremonies were Mr. Peter Ellis & Mr. Trevor Holt. Printed on yellow paper.entertainment, dance, dance cards, peter ellis collection, shire of korong, cr w hunter, wedderburn mechanics institute hall, wedderburn 'old-timers' orchestra, peter ellis, trevor holt

Blue card. Gold scalloped edges. Ticket . Old Time Ball will be held in Lockwood South & Dist. Progress Hall Friday, October 13th, 1967 Dancing 8p.m.- 2a.m. McQueen's Old Time Band. Waltzing Competition Best Period Costume Quest. Poultry Supper Gents $1.20 C.A. Holland, Pres. E.C. Rowan, Secretary. C.A. Holland & Co. Agents for all Amoco Products General Carrying Phones 53261-53262person, individual, peter ellis oam

Pink card. Gold scalloped edges. Ticket . Old Time Ball will be held in Lockwood South & Dist. Progress Hall Friday, October 13th, 1967 Dancing 8p.m.- 2a.m. McQueen's Old Time Band. Waltzing Competition Best Period Costume Quest. Poultry Supper Ladies $1.00 C.A. Holland, Pres. E.C. Rowan, Secretary. C.A. Holland & Co. Agents for all Amoco Products General Carrying Phones 53261-53262person, individual, peter ellis oam

“Weekly Times” Old Time Ball at Stawell 1958stawell

Small off white coloured glossy card. Blue writing. Bendigo Gold Panners' Old Time Ball Programme Bendigo Town Hall Friday, April 22 Special Guest Orchestra: Wedderburn Old-Timers. Hand written in blue pen on top of inside: BENDIGO GOLD-PANNERS FRID. APRIL 22 1977. Dance 1 Circular Waltz, 2 Plain Schottische, 3 Pride of Erin, 4 Maxina, 5 Progressive Barn Dance, 6 Alberts, 7 Polka Mazurka, 8 Evening Three Step, 9 Waltz Vienna, 10 Parma Waltz, 11 Lancers, 12 Swing Waltz. Master of Ceremonies: Mr Ted Stephenson. Your Partner: Wedderburn & Inglewood 'Express' Print, Wedderburn, 3518Wedderburn & Inglewood 'Express' Print, Wedderburn. 3518person, individual, peter ellis oam

White Page Huntly Hall - Old Time Ball Friday 15th April, 1977 Master of ceremonies: Mr Barry Clay Ideal Couple: Judged by Miranda - Weekly Times. Dance Your Partner 1 Circular Waltz 2 Pride of Erin 3 Veleta Waltz 4 Polka Mazurka 5 Charmaine 6 Evening Three Step 7 Progressive Barn Dance 8 Highland Schottische and Plain Polka 9 Maxina 10 Alberts 11 Monte Carlo Barn Dance 12 Waltz Cotillions 13 Tangoette 14 St. Bernard Waltz 15 Waltz Vienna 16 Lancers 17 Parma Waltz 18 Swing Waltz 19 Gipsy Tap 20 Pride of Erin 21 Circular Waltzperson, individual, peter ellis oam

Yellow folded card. P.Ellis and 2 in circle hand written at top on front. Circular Emblem. Bendigo Club First Annual Old Time Cabaret Ball Friday, June 1st, 1984 8.30 p.m. - 1.30 a.m. $8.00 per head Band: Armstrongs. Star of Evening Belle of Ball Matron of evening. Sections: Geelong Red Sash Warnambool Blue Sash Warnambool Green Sash. Inside reads: Programme 1 Foxtrot 2 Valeta 3 Maxina 4 Foxtrot 5 Charmaine 6 Waltz Oxford 7 Progressive Barn Dance 8 Foxtrot 9 Tangoette 10 Pride of Erin (Star Dance) 11 Parma Waltz 12 Modern Waltz 13 Quick Step (Monte Carlo) 14 Lucile 15 St. Bernard 16 Foxtrot 17 Swing Waltz 18 Evening Three Step 19 Foxtrot 20 Merrilyn 21 Dorothea 22 Foxtrot 23 Irene 24 Hawaiian 25 Foxtrot Thanks for coming hope you enjoyed the evening. Rear reads: Supper Party Pies, Pasties, Sandwiches, Chicken Salad Platters, Cream Sponge, Small cakes, Pavlova, Fruit Salad, Coffee. Catering by Eric Brookes Catering Service who caters for Weddings and Special Occasions Dinner A La Carte 028 Community Service Groups (Rotary, Lions etc) Telephone (054) 43 1359person, individual, peter ellis oam

Yellow card Black stick figure drawing in circle. 2 in circle handwritten in top right hand corner. Bendigo Club First Annual Old Time Cabaret Ball Friday, June 1st, 1984 8.30 p.m. - 1.30 a.m. $8.00 per Head Band Armstrongs Star of Evening Belle of Ball Matron of Evening Sections: Geelong Red Sash Warnambool Blue Sash Warnambool Green Sash. Programme 1 Foxtrot 2 Valeta 3 Maxina 4 Foxtrot 5 Charmaine 6 Waltz Oxford 7 Progressive Barn Dance 8 Foxtrot 9 Tangoette 10 Pride of Erin (Star Dance) 11 Parma Waltz 12 Modern Waltz 13 Quick Step (Monte Carlo) 14 Lucile 15 St. Bernard 16 Foxtrot 17 Swing Waltz 18 Evening Three Step 19 Foxtrot 20 Merrilyn 21 Dorothea 22 Foxtrot 23 Irene 24 Hawaiian 25 Foxtrot Thanks for coming hope you enjoyed the evening. Supper Party Pies, Pasties, Sandwiches, Chicken Salad Platters, Cream Sponge, Small Cakes, Pavlova, Fruit Salad, Coffee. Catering By Eric Brookes Catering Service Who Caters for Weddings and Special Occasions Dinner A La Carte 038 Community Service Groups (Rotary, Lions etc) Telephone (054) 43 1359. 411510 handwritten on back.person, individual, peter ellis oam

Parry CollectionOld Time Dances, Charity Ball Memorabilia and War Savings Stamp Folder a. Eaglehawk Dahlia and Arts Festival Gala Charity Ball, Eaglehawk Town Hall Friday March 19th 1982, judges names and program, small yellow printed folder. b. Bendigo Old Time Dance Club first old time ball program at the Spring Gully Hall 1976 with the Merrymakers Orchestra. Blue folded program. c. Spring Gully Debutante Ball 1978 white and purple coloured program. d. Invitation to the Dedication of the Bendigo Seventh Day Adventist Church. e. Invitation Envelope f. War Saving Stamps folder contains one six pence stamp. history, bendigo, old time dances, war saving stamps, merle lummis collection

Dahlia & Arts Festival, Eaglehawk.16th - 26th March, 1995. Programme. Debutante Ball (1), 'The Festival' Exhibition at the Borough Galleries. Debutant Ball (2). Art Preview and Presentation of Awards. Craft Market. Displays of Cake Decorating. Sidewalk Busking Competition. Gala Fair. Eaglehawk Fire Brigade open day. Porcelain Art and Craft Show. Art Show. Display of Memorabilia-Cornish Assoc. Static Display-Irish Assoc. Children's Multi-Dimensional Art Exhibition. Children's Photographic Display. Flower Show. Photographic Print Competition. Eaglehawk Heritage Society-Display. Bridge to Park, foot race. Street Procession. O'Shea-Ryan Bendigo Irish Dancing School and O'Shea-Ryan Academy of Irish Dance - Melbourne Performance. 2nd Seasons Fashion Show. 13th Annual Dahlia & Arts Half Marathon. Ecumenical Church Service. Picnic Lunch. Free Concert-Guinness Show Band. Cycling Criterium. Mining Heritage Tour of Eaglehawk. Dahlia Diner. Variety Concert. ''High Jinx On The High Seas''. Childrens Fancy Dress Parade. Gala Charity Old Time Ball. Brass Instrument Solo/Party Competition. 'Gardening Through The Drought'-Guided Tour. California Hill Church Open Day Craft & Devonshire Teas. Traditional Cornish Concert. 'A Time to Remember'. Annual Croquet & Bowls Tournaments. Festival Guest of Honor Mr Wayne Gregson - Journalist. Editor - Bendigo Advertiser. Festival President, Mr Noel Thomas. Vice Presidents Alan Bull, Kevin Herdman. Executive Officer Jeanette Moss. Treasurer Lorna Thomas. Acknowledgements and sponsors on back page.event, entertainment, eaglehawk dahlia & arts festival, dahlia & arts festival, eaglehawk.16th - 26th march, 1995. programme. debutante ball (1), 'the festival' exhibition at the borough galleries. debutant ball (2). art preview presentation of awards. craft market. displays of cake decorating. sidewalk busking competition. gala fair. eaglehawk fire brigade open day. porcelain art and craft show. art show. display of memorabilia-cornish assoc. static display-irish assoc. children's multi-dimensional art exhibition. children's photographic display. flower show. photographic print competition. eaglehawk heritage society-display. bridge to park, foot race. street procession. o'shea-ryan bendigo irish dancing school and o'shea-ryan academy of irish dance - melbourne performance. 2nd seasons fashion show. 13th annual dahlia & arts half marathon. ecumenical church service. picnic lunch. free concert-guinness show band. cycling criterium. mining heritage tour of eaglehawk. dahlia diner. variety concert. ''high jinx on the high seas''. childrens fancy dress parade. gala charity old time ball. brass instrument solo/party competition. 'gardening through the drought'-guided tour. california hill church open day craft & devonshire teas. traditional cornish concert. 'a time to remember'. annual croquet & bowls tournaments. festival guest of honor mr wayne gregson - journalist. editor - bendigo advertiser. festival president, mr noel thomas. vice presidents alan bull, kevin herdman. executive officer jeanette moss. treasurer lorna thomas. acknowledgements and sponsors

Eaglehawk Dahlia & Arts Festival 1991, Souvenir Programme, March 14th - 24th. Programme. Debutante Ball x2 Debs presented to Mayor of Eaglehawk Cr. W Carney. Music 'Gaytones'. Gala Fair, Canterbury Park. Organised by Y's Men and Menettes of Eaglehawk. Porcelain Art and Craft Show, Art Show, Stafford Ellison & McKern Awards. Display of Memorabilia, Cornish Association. Children's multi-Dimensional Art Exhibition. Flower Show, sponsored by North West Country Credit. Children's Photographic Display. Photographic Print Competition. Historic California Hill Church, open. Victorian Police Display Unit caravan open to public. Official Opening His Excellency, Dr. Davis McCaughey. A.C. Governor of Victoria. Dahlia and Arts Street Procession. Presentation of Art, Craft Photographic and Literary Awards. 9th Annual Dahlia and Arts Half-Marathon, conducted by Eaglehawk Athletic Club. Ecumenical Church Service, Combined Clergy. Speaker: Rev. Lindsay Faulkner, Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band. Their Excellencies, the Governor of Victoria, Dr. McGaughey and Mrs McGaughey. Picnic Lunch. Free Concert. Cycling Criterium, Featuring the Tony McCaig Memorial Wheelrace. Barry Kenny Country Roundup. Family Mini Fair. Borough Bingo. Indoor Garden Party. Celebrity Concert. Rotary Club Dinner. Children's Fancy Dress Parade, sponsored by Bendigo Advertiser. Gala Charity Old Time Ball, 'Premiers Orchestra'. Traditional Cornish Concert, Eaglehawk Citizens Brass Band, Val Broad, Annette Beckwith, Steven Higgs. Traditional Cornish Service. Genealogy Society, Cornish Association Display, Walk Tours of Eaglehawk, Ray Wallace. Picnic in the Park followed by family reunions and entertainment. Aussie Clean-up Day. Croquet and Bowls Tournaments. Official Guests: His Excellency, Dr. Davis McCaughey A.C. Governor of Victoria, and Mrs McCaughey. Mayor of Eaglehawk: Cr. W Carney J.P. Festival President: Cr Lola Miller B.E.M. Vice Presidents: Alan Bull & Kevin Herdman. Executive Officer: Ruth Claridge. Treasurer: Mary Mills. Committee Members: Alan Pearce, Harold Trahair, Wendy Holland, Trevie Dineen, Wayne Evans, Rebecca Evans, Jean Tebb, Lois Locket, Pam Wright Ron Dineen, Sandie Morris, Wayne Morris, Joyce Shelton, Dot White, Ric Norris, Ron Watts, Noel Thomas, Lorna Thomas, Ted Brown, Heather Bull, Dennis Cock, Edith Mudford, Ron Mudford, Anne Scott. Acknowledgements: Councillors, Officers and Staff of the Eaglehawk Borough Council, and by members of the Rotary Club of Eaglehawk. Lions Club of Eaglehawk. Judges of various awards. Sponsors, donors of procession prizes, voluntary workers, dedicated community of Eaglehawk. Sponsors: Stafford Ellison, Borough of Eaglehawk, Bendigo Bank, KcKern Manufacturing Pty Ltd, Bendigo Advertiser, State Bank of Victoria.event, entertainment, eaglehawk dalia and arts festival, eaglehawk dahlia & arts festival 1991, programme, march 14th - 24th. programme. debutante ball x2 debs. music 'gaytones'. gala fair, canterbury park. organised by y's men and menettes of eaglehawk. porcelain art and craft show, art show, stafford ellison & mckern awards. memorabilia, cornish association. children's multi-dimensional art exhibition. flower show, sponsored by north west country credit. children's photographic display. photographic print competition. historic california hill church, . victorian police display unit caravan open to public. street procession. presentation of art, craft photographic literary awards. 9th annual dahlia and arts half-marathon, conducted by eaglehawk athletic club. ecumenical church service, combined clergy. rev. lindsay faulkner, eaglehawk excellencies, the governor of victoria, dr. mcgaughey and mrs mcgaughey. picnic lunch. free concert. cycling criterium, featuring the tony mccaig memorial wheelrace. barry kenny country roundup. family mini fair. borough bingo. indoor garden party. celebrity concert. rotary club dinner. children's fancy dress parade, sponsored by bendigo advertiser. gala charity old time ball, 'premiers orchestra'. traditional cornish concert, eaglehawk citizens brass band, val broad, annette beckwith, steven higgs. traditional cornish service. genealogy society, cornish association display, walk tours of eaglehawk, ray wallace. picnic in the park family reunions and entertainment. aussie clean-up day. croquet bowls tournaments. official guests: his excellency, dr. davis mccaughey a.c. governor of victoria, and mrs mccaughey. mayor of eaglehawk: cr. w carney j.p. festival president: cr lola miller b.e.m. vice presidents: alan bull & kevin herdman. executive officer: ruth claridge. treasurer: mary mills. committee members: alan pearce, harold trahair, wendy holland, trevie dineen, wayne evans, rebecca evans, jean tebb, lois locket, pam wright ron dineen, sandie morris, wayne morris, joyce shelton, dot white, ric norris, ron watts, noel thomas, lorna thomas, ted brown, heather bull, dennis cock, edith mudford, ron mudford, anne scott. acknowledgements: councillors, officers and staff of the eaglehawk borough council, and by members of the rotary club of eaglehawk. lions club of eaglehawk. judges of various awards. sponsors, donors of procession prizes, voluntary workers, dedicated community of eaglehawk. sponsors: stafford ellison, borough of eaglehawk, bendigo bank, kckern manufacturing pty ltd, bendigo advertiser, state bank of victoria.

Four newspaper cuttings featuring the Wedderburn Old Timers. The first is a photo of people dancing with the band in the background at the Bendigo Psychiatric Centre (no date). The second is a page from the Loddon Times - Wednesday, May 15, 2002 with photos of Kevin and Averyl Fry, Moira Clarkson, Danni Devlin, Andrea Hollier, Don Manypenny. Lyn Lynlsing, Betty Jackel and a photo of four members of the band playing their instruments.The third is a photo in The Mercury 29/1/1981 of the band with their instruments. (The full page of this paper is part of the Collection). One member mentioned was Lindsay Holt and the fourth is a page from The Bendigo Advertiser 27/8/1988 telling the history of the band and an old man named Ted Noonan who taught the violin to a farmers daughter named Daisy in Wehla. There is also a photocopy of this article.Bendigo Advertiserentertainment, dance, barn dance, peter ellis collection, wedderburn old time ball, kevin & averyl fry, maira clarkson, danni devlin, andrea hollier, don manypenny, lyn lynlsing, betty jackel, campbell holmes, the loddon times 15/5/2002, bendigo psychiatric centre, wedderburn old timers, lindsay holt, ted noonan, elma ross, grummy ross, bendigo advertiser 27/8/1988, dr donald topley

Strathfieldsaye Group for 'Mirridong' Home and Hospital for the Blind 60/40 Old Time Ball Programme. Ball held on Friday 30th Nov. Inside is the names of 24 dances. On the back is a star with Star of the Ball Sash written across it.entertainment, dance, ball, peter ellis collection, mirridong home and hospital for the blind, strathfieldsaye group

White Bendigo Old-Time Dance Club Birthday Old-Time Ball Programme held at the Eaglehawk RSL Hall on Friday March 11th 1977. Music by Moores Orchestra. On the inside is the names of 26 dances and spaces to write partner's name. Master of Ceremonies was Mr. Fred Richter.entertainment, dance, dance cards, peter ellis collection, bendigo old-time dance club, eaglehawk rsl hall, moores orchestra, fred richter

Two photographs of the Emu Creek Bush Band performing in the Hargreaves Street Mall in Bendigo. One photograph of the band - location unknown. One ticket for the Dinki Di Old Time Ball. Saturday 19th September 2015. Eaglehawk Town Hall. Bendigo 7pm 'Til Late' Emu Creek Bush Band and The Gay Charmers.

Photograph from 1930 newspaper cutting taken of residents Celebrating Stawell Diamond Jubilee in Stawell Town Hall. The photograph taken of the interior in the town Hall showing the painting at the one end of the hall. Note the wooden door head decoration. The newspaper is dated October 18, 1930. The large crowd fills the scene taken of residents in the hall spilling over to the stage area. Black and white newspaper photograph of a large crowd inside a hall taken in 1930. There are 2 photographs of newspaper cuttings from The Weekly Times of the crowd scene.The WEEKLY TIMES Magazine section 6, October 18, 1930, Stawell Celebrates Diamond Jubilee by Entertainment of Old Residents. Happy Party at the Old Time Ball in Stawell Town Hall. Handwritten - X Grace where cross is near Stage on one newspaper cutting. On the second newspaper cutting is Belle Mcleod marked with an X.stawell

Bendigo Old Time Dance Club Inc. President F. Richter, Hon Secretary Mrs L.L. Taylor. Printed on yellow paper with green letters. Top right hand side: ticket No. 340. Under the heading on the left: thank you for attending this, our endorsed Bicentennial Old Time Ball held at Strathdale Community Centre, Bendigo Saturday, June 11th, 1988. Continuous dancing to music by Premiers Orchestra and Organist Leon McGlashen. Dancing 8 pm to 1.30 am. Sashes: four sections of Bicentennial Sashes, Matron, Junior Matron, Star and Belle. Best Lady - Best Gent. Prize for the Beau of the Ball. On the right hand side the Programme from: Foxtrot, Swing Waltz, Progressive Barn Dance, Lucille Waltz, Merrylin, Tracy Leigh, Tangoette, Le Gaye Waltz, Foxtrot M.C., Alpha, Gypsy Tap, Melba Blues, Twilight Waltz, Joyette, Dorothea, Carousel.entertainment, dance, bendigo old time dance club

Seven advertising notices for dances and balls featuring the Wedderburn Old Timers. The light blue one was held at the Box Hill Town Hall on 14/4/1978 and was sponsored by the Doncaster Lions Club in aid of ONEMDA Home for Mentally Retarded Children and organised by W Whitten-Jones. The bright green on was held at the Northcote Town Hall on 26/11/1994. The two yellow and the white one was held at the Northcote Town Hall on 24/6/1995 and the two darker green ones were for the St Patrick's Eve Old Time-Colonial Ball held at St Ambrose's Hall, Brunswick on 16/3/1996 and was presented by Talk, Song & Dance Society Victoria Inc.entertainment, dance, ball, peter ellis collection, wedderburn old timers, box hill town hall, doncaster lions club, onemda home for mentally retarded children, o whitten-jones, northcote town hall, sir roger de coverley, government house nsw, the graphic - february 1880, st ambrose's hall brunswick, talk song & dance society victoria inc

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

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 He died at Eltham (Herald, 4 March 1965, p3) [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. * * * Frank Martin was a volunteer with the Eltham rural fire brigade at the time of the 1965 bushfires which burnt Eltham North and Research. Frank was asked to assist with the removal of three bodies from the back gully (now Orchard Avenue). They were badly burnt and one was found stuck under a fence as though trying to escape. Volunteers John Coleman Jnr, William Elwers and George Crowe were killed trying to protect Eltham from bushfire – they were local heroes. At the time, John Coleman Jnr was survived by his wife Margaret and two young children – John 11 and Vicky 2. Margaret Coleman lived in the family home until 1992 when she sold it and moved to Tasmania to be close to her son. She died in 1997 aged 65 years. 75 yr old Ken Gaston grew up on Edendale farm, which was originally a poultry farm but is now owned and run by the Shire of Nillumbik as an educational farm for schools and visitors. He was Captain of the Eltham rural fire brigade in 1965 when John Coleman Jnr was burnt to death in the Eltham North bushfires serving as an unofficial volunteer. He was able to draw where the original Wattletree Road was and at the time was verified with the location of some remaining bitumen and a post from the original bridge over the Diamond Creek located near the junction of the Diamond Creek and another small creek which is further down from Research or Christmas Creek as locals refer to it. The original Main Road ran behind Colemans before the railway line was built beyond Eltham in 1912. (Information recorded by Harry Gilham, President EDHS c.2011) * * * 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