This piece of equipment was used to predict the flight path of an aircraft in order for anti-aircraft artillery to fire accurately at an approaching enemy airborne target. A crew of six operated the machine with information ready to be relayed to a gun within 50 seconds. The predictor was manufactured at the Commonwealth Government Ordnance Factory, Maribyrnong.The item is made primarily from metal, is square shaped and bolted to a wooden base. Numerous hand operated wheel dials attached to gauges which input information related to wind speed, bearings and elevation are visible. Each of the four sides has a specific task with three sides being labelled - Elevation Unit, Wind Calculator, Bearing Unit. The item is housed in a glass and wood display case. Attached to the front of the display case: 'VICKERS A.A. PREDICTOR No1 MK III MANUFACTURED BY ORDNANCE FACTORY MARIBYRNONG'pedictor, military equipment, ordnance, anti-aircraft guns

By referring to Cat No 7237.2 will bring all items associated with Thompsons.1. Single sheet of paper. From Thompson's Engineering & Pipe Co Ltd to Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong. A/c Ministry of Munitions. Titled - mechanical tests - Test on 25 PDR Breech rings. Rings NR (1790-1793). Dated 26 March 1943. 2. Tensile tests on material for 95 (loose) Barrel forgings for 25 PDR Gun Howitzers. From Thompson's to Commonwealth of Australia - Ministry of Munitions. Barrel 14236/1 (Y2) - Barrel 635/3 - Dated 18 Feb 1942.1. Top has name "Mr. Johnson" written. In the middle is an unidentifiable signature dated 26-3-1943. Bottom has (??) Martin. 2. At bottom signed off by (??) Martin.25 pdr, thompson's castlemaine, ordnance factory maribyrnong.

O.F.M. was the ORDNANCE FACTORY MARIBYRNONG. Up to the end of June 1943 and at a time when the wages were about £5 ($10) to £6 ($12) per week Australia had spent £1,106,000,000 (£156 per head) on the war effort. A lot of the money was spent at home in making war necessities such as armaments, munitions, boots, clothing, and in providing special training. Significant increases in numbers occurred in the personnel employed in the fighting services, and also in the work force involved in the war effort. During the financial year 1942-1943 the war cost Australia £561,743,000 (over a billion dollars), while the Income Tax raised from individuals totalled only 16.5% of this amount. To finance the war the Australian government had previously borrowed money from the public, and from institutions such as the savings banks, friendly societies, and life assurance societies, by running three successfully subscribed Liberty Loans. The institutions had contributed considerably more money to these Liberty Loans than the public, however it can be argued that the public members of these institutions had also contributed some money indirectly. The 4th Liberty Loan which opened on 5 October 1943 and closed on 9 November 1943 was intended to raise £125,000,000, with the government aiming for 750,000 subscribers. Bonds costing £10 each could be bought on a time payment scheme. A total of £126,408,000 was raised at two different interest rates and maturity dates, however the number of subscribers had only reached 567,533. Some newspaper reports of the time indicate that the low number of subscribers was a partial failure of the loan, because spare money in the community could lead to inflation at a time when goods were in short supply. The government set target quotas on how much money should ideally be raised in a particular district, and how many subscribers should ideally take part. Often these quotas proved to be excessive. The Special Red Pennant Award as given to the No 1 FORGE O.F.M. was normally for achieving the highest per capita contribution within each particular group. What is unknown at this stage is what other entities were in the same group, or how large the group was. There were other variations of the awards such as those given to country districts, where a star was placed on the left hand corner of the pennant if the money quota was reached, while two or three stars indicated that the quota was doubled or tripled. A bar was also included on the pennant if the quota of subscribers was achieved, while two bars indicated double the quota of subscribers. The above information was sourced from Trove newspaper articles at: (1) http://nla.gov.au.nla.news-article70439716, (2) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141292541, (3) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11797265, (4) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11788072, and from (5) http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070158--1-.PDF (see page 580).This framed award has significance in that it serves as a historic reminder that the No 1 Forge O.F.M. and the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong once existed within the Shire of Braybrook, and later the City of Sunshine, and that it was involved in the manufacture of ordnance for World War 2. It also serves as a historic reminder that it costs a huge amount of money for a country to be involved in a major war, and that a big contribution is required from the public to raise money and to produce goods for the war effort.Permanently sealed brown stained wood frame with a glass face. Enclosed behind the glossy glass is a triangular shaped pennant made of red felt material. The red colour appears to be somewhat faded. The inscriptions and markings on the pennant are in blue, gold, and white coloured inks.The AUSTRALIAN COAT OF ARMS diagram plus the following writing: SPECIAL AWARD / 4th LIBERTY LOAN / Oct.-Nov. 1943 / No 1 FORGE O.F.M.4th liberty loan, special award, ordnance factory maribyrnong, no 1 forge o.f.m., oct - nov 1943, red pennant

By referring to Cat No 7237.2 will bring up all items associated with Thompsons. Two sheets of paper from Thompson Engineering & Pipe Co. Ltd. To Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong Dated 18/8/43. Signed off by (??) Martin. 1. Results for tests on roller paths for 3.7 AA Guns (Batch 15). 2. Results for tests on roller paths for 3.7AA guns (Batch 9). Signed off by (??) Martin.3.7"aa guns, ord factory maribyrnong, thompsons castlemaine

By referring to Cat No 7237.2 will bring up all items associated with Thompsons.Single sheet of paper. Tests on material for 150 Breech blocks for QF 17 PDR Guns. From: Thompson's Engineering & Pipe Co. Ltd. dated 19/10/1942. To: Ministry of Munitions A/C Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong. The tests cover Breech Blocks. (1508 - 1513) (1542 - 1547) (1554 - 1559) (1560 - 1565) (1571 - 1575) (1582 - 1587) Signed off at bottom by (??) Martin.17 pdr a/tn gun, steel testing, ww2

By referring to Cat No 7237.2 will bring up all items associated with Thompsons.Two sheets of test results. They are from Thompsons Engineering & Pipe Co to Ordnance Factory, Maribyrnong. They are signed off by (??) Martin. 1. Test sheet for Breech blocks 17 PDR Block Nos 1560-1565, Dated 21/9/43. 2. Test sheet for Breech blocks 17 PDR Block No's 1554 - 1559. Dated 21/9/43.gun barrels, 17 pdr, mechanical testing, thompsons castlemaine, ord factory maribyrning.

1. B&W negative of tram 468 in Ballarat Rd Footscray. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. Driver stepping down from cab and passenger walking from tram to kerb. 2. B&W negative of tram 468 in Ballarat Rd at Gordon St Footscray. Tram has destination Railway Station. Tram shelter shown in front of Powell Hotel. 3. B&W negative of tram 468 in Gordon St Footscray. Tram has destination Railway Station. Tram is shown at corner of River St on wrong side of road, so appears to be ready for shunting. 4. B&W negative of tram 468 at Ordnance Factory West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Ordnance Factory. W2 454 is in background. 5. B&W negative of tram 468 in River St Footscray. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. 6. B&W negative of tram 468 in Raleighs Rd West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. Tram is shunting. 7. B&W negative of tram 468 in Somerville Rd Footscray. Tram has destination Russell St. Tram is shown with driver and female conductor posing for photographer. 8. B&W negative of tram 468 at Ordnance Factory West Maribyrnong. Tram has destination Explosives Factory. 2nd unidentified Tram is shown in background. Female conductor walking the trolley pole around. NOTE: - dates are not as marked on some photo envelopes recorded below as the Footscray closed March 1961.1. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR30A" written in red ink, "F9" written in pencil, "20A" written in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 (twice). 2. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR36A" written in red ink, "F8" in pencil, "26A" in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 3. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR47A" written in red ink, "F10" in pencil, "37A" in blue ink, and date stamped 23 Sep 1961. 4. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR32A" written in red ink, "F14" in pencil, "22A" in blue ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 5. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR54A" written in red ink, "F15" written in pencil, "44A" written in blue ink, and date stamped 28 Sep 1961. On rear, dates stamped 26 Sep 1962 and 6 Oct 1962. 6. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR56A" written in red ink, "F13" in pencil, "46A" in blue ink, and date stamped 28 Sep 1961.2. 7. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR64A" and "NR105A" written in red ink, "F11" in pencil, "64A" in green ink, and date stamped 1 Jan 1963. On rear, date stamped 26 Sep 1962. 8. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR62A" written in red ink, "F12" in pencil, "52A" in blue ink, "damaged" in purple ink, and date stamped 11 Jun 1960.trams, tramways, x1 class, footscray, ballarat rd, gordon st, ordnance factory, somerville rd, trolley poles, crews, drivers, conductors, tram 468, tram 454

Jeanette Perkins was born in 1927 at Ballarat. She attended Alfredton State School and Pleasant Street State School before completing her secondary schooling at Ballarat High School (BHS). During her later years at BHS Perkins decided that she wanted to become a geologist, but was ineligible for university when she failed Leaving Certificate maths. She attended an interview with the principal (Heseltine) at the Ballarat School of Mines (SMB) and announced that she wanted to be a geologist. Heseltine was, according to Perkins, aghast: he informed her that there had never been a female geologist at SMB and they didn't want one. But Perkins persisted. Only then did Heseltine reluctantly enrol her in the School's Applied Chemistry Course which offered the most geological subjects, moreover, it was the only one he considered available to a 'mere' female. After graduating Perkins was employed as a metallurgical chemist with M.B. Johns Valves, Ballarat. In 1949 she married Alfred Watson. In 1951 Jeanette and Alf Watson moved to Melbourne where she commenced work as a metallurgical chemist at the Maribyrnong Ordnance Factory while studying geology part time: Alf returned to study at the University of Melbourne. Once again, Watson set a precedent by becoming the first female student to study geology part-time at the Melbourne Technical College. Increasing demands brought about by her growing family, she turned to part-time lecturing second and third year stratigraphy and palaeontology at RMIT. In 1957 the Watsons moved to the Mary Kathleen Uranium Mine in NW Queensland where he was appointed electrical design engineer. After their return to Melbourne in 1960, Jeanette taught herself to SCUBA dive and quickly developed a passion for the sport and the marine environment. She taught senior science to secondary students for 10 years whilst working towards a Masters degree. In 1991 Jeanette Watson was awarded a Doctorate from Deakin University.women of note, ballarat school of mines, alfredton state school, pleasant street state school, ballarat high school, leaving certificate maths, interview with principal, heseltine, geologist, applied chemistry course, no female geologists, metallurgical chemist, married 1949, melbourne, ordinance factory, part time study, melbourne technical college, rmit, part time lecturer, scuba diving, science teacher for ten years, masters degree, doctorate, deakin university

This item is on display in the gardens of the Bendigo District RSL Sub Branch Havilah Road. Refer photo .1) for details re manufacture, history and use..1) Plaque metal black on a stand with white text re details of the item. .2) Naval AN 40/60 Bofor Gun Mount Model MKV11 painted blueish colour, barrel black, sits on its traversing base.brsl, smirsl, bdrslinc, bofor, 40 mm, naval

Printed copies of a digital copies of Instructions issued by the MMTB regarding World War 2 notices to crews. .1 - Notice C4608 - Destination Signs on Munitions Factory Extras - dated 24/2/1942 to Essendon, Footscray and Central Bus Garage crews - when the various signs and route number letters were to be used on Explosives Factory, Ordnance Factory and Ammunition Factory to be shown on trams. .2 - Notice C4551 - "Running to and from Explosives and Ordinance factories - Instructions regarding destination signs to be shown for trams from Brunswick, Malvern, Glenhuntly and Hanna St depots.trams, tramways, world war 2, footscray, destination roll, maribyrnong, west maribyrnong, explosives factory, ordnance factory, ammunition factory