Type written letter. Paper yellowed with age. Outlines list of requirements to be provided for classes. Blue ink and black penDate written 1900. Signed A James on behalf of the Secretary.albert steane, a james, woodwork training class, queensberry street, bendigo central, classified roll, pension rights

A press release from Melbourne Legacy in 1975 which relates a story of how Legacy works. The information was intended to be used by press and magazines etc. The title 'Give me just one good reason why?' and is about questions raised by the public when approached by a badge seller. The case related in this press release explains how an ex serviceman died leaving a widow and 5 dependent children. Legacy helped with establishing their pension rights, finding new suitable accomodation to replace their condemned dwelling, new clothing and shoes for the children and their educational expenses covered.A record of how Legacy promoted their work in the 1970s.Buff foolscap page x 2 with black type of a press release in 1975.Title 'Give me just one good reason why?'press release, case studies

Framed portrait of Tilly Aston who began the Association for the Advancement of the Blind, a forerunner to the Association for the Blind. It is part of a series of paintings commissioned by the AFB Board to commemorate the work of past presidents of the organisation. Tilly sits with one hand resting against a table, and the other in her lap. She is wearing a black collared dress with a white lace neck ruff held with an opal pin. Two medals (the Jubilee medal and Coronation medal) are pinned to the chest, each consisting of a red and white bowtie with a brass medallion. Tilly Aston was born in Carisbrook, Victoria, in 1873. When she was very young her parents noticed she was having problems with her vision. They took her to a doctor who diagnosed her with no sight in her right eye and the prognosis of loss of vision in the left eye. As a result of this she was totally blind by the age of 7. Despite this her parents endeavoured to give Tilly as many of life’s advantages that their limited means could supply. From an early age she was taught singing, music, poetry, arithmetic, encouraged to read and observe the natural world around her and be independent. At the age of 8 she was sent to the Asylum and School for the Blind (later called the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind). She excelled in a wide range of subjects and matriculated in 1889. With the help of a public fund was able to attend Melbourne University, being the first blind Australian to do so. Unfortunately the lack of Braille text books made it impossible for Tilly to continue her studies and she left in second year. Tilly was determined that other blind people would not have the same negative experience she had had. In 1894 she organised a meeting to form the Victorian Association of Braille Writers with the aim of producing and supplying Braille to blind Victorians. Braille was produced by trained volunteers with ? recruited in the first six month. Other rights and services for blind people remained very limited. In 1895 Tilly organised a meeting, which formed the Association for the Advancement of the Blind (now Vision Australia). The Association was instrumental in obtaining many benefits for blind people including a blind pension, voting rights and transport concessions. It also established the first nursing homes for blind people, at a time when many blind people were homeless and destitute. Tilly went on to be Australia’s first blind teacher. She was also a very talented musician, author of seven books and was very gifted at arts and crafts. She knew Esperanto and corresponded with people all around the world including Helen Keller. Tilly passed away on November 1st 1947. Her legacy continues through the work Vision Australia which provides services for thousands of blind Australians. A memorial bell dedicated to her is also situated in the King Domain Gardens. 1 art original in gold frameThe plaque at the base of the painting reads 'Miss Matilda (Tilly) A. Aston / President 1904, 1910, 1943 to 1947/ Association for Advancement of the Blind'. association for the advancement of the blind, association for the blind, tilly aston

The Sailors and Soldiers Fathers' Association was established in the First World War and appears to have had branches in most states. The group was active (and often outspoken), involving themselves with hospital visits, repatriation issues, employment of returned servicemen and the establishment of returned servicemen’s rights relating to principles such as pensions and housing. There appears to be a close co-operation between this group and the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia in forming a group with strong lobbying abilities. Similarly, they were active in raising funds to build Memorials after the war. The Association remained active after the First World War in pursuing returned soldiers’ rights. They appear under a slightly different name during the Second World War (Sailors, Soldiers and Airmen’s Fathers' Association) but their goals were identical........The Sailors and Soldiers Fathers' Association, established during the First World War, was active in fundraising, establishing memorials and advocacy for issues such as the repatriation and employment of returned servicemen. The group worked closely with the Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia, now known as the RSL.Round bronze and enamel badge badge with blue circular border enclosing a white and red diamond. Crown on top. In white border: "Sailors & soldiers Assoc.n of Vict." In red diamond: "Fathers" On back: "167 / Stokes Melb."badge, sailors and soldiers association of victoria, sailors and soldiers fathers' association

Bernard O'Dowd was an Australian poet and anarchist. He was born in Beaufort in 1866 and worked at different times as a teacher, librarian and parliamentary draftsman. He was dismissed from his position at St Alipius' school in Ballarat for heresy. He had a particular interest in the Federation of Australia and formation of the Constitution, which features in his poem "Australia". O'Dowd co-edited Tocsin with Jack Andrews. Tocsin was a labor newspaper in Melbourne. Others involved with the newspaper include Edward Findley and, for a short time, Norman Lindsay. Tocsin's platform is available in PDF format online http://www.reasoninrevolt.net.au/objects/pdf/a000808.pdf Areas of interest included the constitution, federation and workers' industrial rights (e.g. eight hour day, pensions and arbitration for labour disputes).Biographical interest. Literary interest. Pertinent to Ballarat. Pertinent to constitutional history and industrial relations. Pertinent to labor publications, history and literature.Hardcover - book. Cover dust jacket: black and white photograph of Bernard O'Dowd on front, yellow and white lettering; back is yellow. Cover without dust jacket: green cloth; gold lettering.Cover without dust jacket: authors' names and title on the spine. Cover with dust jacket: authors' names and title on front cover and spine. Inside page: Inscribed in ink, "Happy Birthday Dad from Lorna and John (Sept 17 1960).btlc, ballarat trades and labour council, ballarat trades hall, o'dowd, bernard, writers - poets, newspaper, tocsin, lindsay, norman, andrews, jack, findley, edward, anarchists, biography, palmer, nettie, st alipius school, ballarat, o'dowd, bernard, 1866-1953, industrial relations

Framed portrait of George Maxwell who was President of the Association for the Advancement of the Blind 1920-1935. It is part of a series of paintings commissioned by the AFB Board to commemorate the work of past presidents of the organisation. Mr Maxwell is turned slightly away from the viewer, and wears a blue suit, white high collared shirt and a blue tie. George Maxwell was President of Vision Australia from 1920 to 1935. After an early teaching career he studied law, was admitted to the Bar and became one of Victoria’s great criminal lawyers and later a Federal Member of Parliament. He took an interest the welfare of blind people from his student days. A detached retina in 1920 led to total blindness nine years later, which gave him a great empathy for those with a similar affliction. Through his contacts he was also instrumental in obtaining the first voting rights for blind Australians. Up until 1902 blind people were unable to vote if they couldn’t write with a pen. George Maxwell was working at that time at the legal firm of Strongman and Crouch one of the partners, Mr. Crouch, was elected as a member of Parliament. When the Commonwealth Electoral Bill was being drafted, Mr. Crouch has a clause added enabling blind people to vote in Federal elections, constituting a world first. But perhaps his greatest achievement was obtaining the pension for legally blind people. Until 1910 only those who met the age and means test criteria were eligible. With the help of his legal and political friends a bill was passed which granted the pension to all persons over 16 years of age who were unable to work due to physical disability or blindness. Until this time these people had to be supported by their families or go to a benevolent institution. This was a world first and gave to blind and vision impaired people a measure of independence which increased both their self reliance and self esteem. 1 art original in gold/brown frameThe plaque at the base of the painting reads 'Honourable George A Maxwell Q.C. / President 1920-1935 / Association for Advancement of the Blind'.association for the advancement of the blind, george maxwell