Red plastic bound book detailing the Pollard Family Tree

Stan and Mary Parker commenced the Plant Farm in Smythe Street Wodonga in February 1949. The nursery consisted of two blocks, on one of which their house was built. They started off with approximately £70 and a 1939 Singer mini-Ute. In the early days most customers came from the farming community. In late 1951 the Parkers purchased to a new site on the corner of High and Osburne Streets. Business went well and in 1957 they purchased the adjoining block. They later demolished the old house on the corner of High Street and Osburne Street, building a new home lower on the same block. As the nursery prospered Stan and Mary built a shop and showrooms with glassed-in portion for the indoor plants and a large shaded area for the display of shrubs. In 1978 they sold the nursery to Mr. & Mrs. John Gale. In 1981 the Wodonga Plant farm was purchased Geoff and Kay Pollard and they moved to its current location at the corner of Beechworth Road and Huon Creek Road. Initially they brought it as an investment but it soon got into their blood and chose to not only continue but expand the nursery and its offerings. This included a large showroom, a water shop which specialises in pool equipment, chemicals and water testing, a children's playground and an outdoor blind centre. Further expansions led to the addition of a Tuscan-style cafe on the site which has become a meeting place. The business was nominated the Yates Victorian Best Garden Centre in Australia for many years and won the award in 1997. In 2024, the Wodonga Plant Farm is still a vibrant and popular business being operated by the Pollard Family.These items are significant because they document the story of respected Wodonga Business which has served the community for over 60 years.A selection of photographs and article documenting the story of the Wodonga Plant Farmearly wodonga businesses, wodonga plant farm, pollard family, geoff and kay pollard

The Pollard Archway was named for Charles Pollard, who was the son of an early settler at Bonegilla. Charles Pollard was awarded the MBE for his involvement in community service, he was Secretary of the Murray Valley Shows Association, Shire President in 1926-27, 1945-46 and 1946-47. He was Foundation President of the Wodonga Show Society, and North-Eastern representative of the Dairymen’s Association of Victoria. The arch is 29 metres wide and 15 metres high and consists of two boomerangs coming together to form an archway. Originally spanning across a single carriageway of the Lincoln Causeway, the arch was opened by Princess Alexandra of Kent in 1959 and was built for £1230. When the Country Roads Board said the causeway would have to be duplicated in 1973, a new home was required for the arch. The arch was moved in 1975 to allow for widening of the Lincoln Causeway and spent some time in storage. It was re- erected in Hamilton Smith Drive in 1982 after restoration by the Rotary Club of Belvoir-Wodonga. At the request of the Wodonga Show Society, the arch was moved to the entrance of the showgrounds in 1982. After development of the precinct in 2015, the Pollard Arch was erected on Hamilton Smith Drive Wodonga.These images represent the construction and then subsequent of structure acknowledging the contribution of Councillor Pollard to the community of Wodonga.A series of black and white images documenting the construction and opening of the Pollard arch on the Lincoln Causeway in Wodonga in 1959. A coloured photo from 1965 is also included.wodonga pioneers, pollard family, pollard archway

Black and white photograph of a presentation of 25 year plates to crews at Malvern Depot c1994. Left to right - , Ron Winters, Jack Pollard (family of donor), Russell Nathan - PTC, Phillip Guidice, Warren Peart, Ray Namour See Reg Item 204 for the plate. People in photo identified by Ron Scholten Jan. 2011. Copy print of original by David Pollard. See correspondence (pdf files) for further details of Jack.On rear of photo in ink "Jack Pollard (second person from the left), date of presentation would be around 1994. Jack retired in 1998, passed away 27 May 2010.trams, tramways, personnel, presentations, malvern depot, 25th anniversary, ptc

These eight girls all grew up in Rutherglen. From L to R: Sarah (mother of the donor Nelsa N Atkinson), Eliza (commonly called Tom), Kate, Alice, Florence, Jean, Vida, Grace Alice. They all went to the Rutherglen School where Sarah became a 'pupil teacher'. Their father was John Henry Pollard.Black and white group photograph of eight girls, two seated, six standingpollard family, sarah pollard, eliza pollard, kate pollard, alice pollard, florence pollard, jean pollard, vida pollard, grace alice pollard, ruitherglen school, john henry pollard

The late Mrs. Pollard was the wife of Frank Pollard of the Pollard Family who were early orchardists in Ringwood. Newspaper cutting dated 24 August 1944

Pollard Photographs:; 1. Back of postcard of the Pollard home in Wonga Road (also called Anderson Creek Road Road, and now Warrandyte Road).; 2. One bushel net apples, J Pollard, Victoria, Australia.; 3. Joseph and Emma Pollard and Family. Emma is nursing baby Ethyl.; 4. Ringwood PS photograph. Jack Pollard is second from the RHS in the back row.; 5. Woods Point with arrow indicating mine manager's house: that of Joseph Pollard. Circa 1900. The Pollard family had a 20 acre orcharding property between Mullum Mullum Road and Wonga Road. Given on 4th September 2010 by Arthur Lunt from his cousin. The Pollard family. School photo at Ringwood State School. Jack�s father was Joseph � land (orchard) between Mullum and Wonga Roads +Additional Keywords: Pollard

Photographs from Pollards (Lauriston), Warrandyte Road, Fishers (Greenhill) Mullum Mullum Road, Edna Lunt (nee Fisher).5-page printout and photocopied images compiled by Arthur Lunt, RDHS Archivist, Ringwood, Victoria, including Fisher and Pollard Family Trees. Photograph of house - Lauriston, with Joseph Pollard, wife - Emma Eliza Luscombe Pollard, and daughter - Ethel May Pollard. Photograph of picnic party with Alice Maud Mary Fisher "Mum" and Hugh Arthur Fisher "Dad". Title "Picnic in Victoria" (probably Warrandyte). NOTE: "Dad" and "Mum" were grandparents of Arthur Lunt (member of Ringwood Historical Society). +Additional Keywords: Pollard, Joseph / Pollard, Emma / Fisher / Luscombe / Gaskell.

1923 trophy for Athletics presented by Emeritus Professor Pollard. During his first year at Mentone, in 1923, six-year-old Alfred Hurlstone Pollard won the 75 yards race and despite such a minor event, received this expensive silver cup. From very humble beginnings Alf would later become one of Australia’s most outstanding actuaries, having made particularly important contributions in the field of actuarial education. The hallmarked silver trophy was inscribed by the Pollard family and donated back to the School 80 years after it was awarded.

The PS Success was built in Moama in June 1977 by GB Air for Westwood & Air. It was built to tow barges of cargo along the Darling and Murray rivers, as well as running as a passenger boat from Swan Hill to Mildura during 1915-16. The Success was the last paddlesteamer actively working on the river when she performed several rescue voyages to flood bound properties along on the Darling River, rescuing sheep and a large cargo of wool. The vessel ended her working life in 1957 and was put up on the bank at Ned's corner, 80km west of Mildura. In 1996, the Pollard family donated the vessel to the Riverboat Historical and Preservation Society of Mildura with plans to restore her to her former glory. This project became increasingly difficult for the dedicated volunteers to handle and the Port of Echuca took ownership in 2009 in the hopes that further restoration work can be done at the Port. The Succes is currently on static display at the northern end of the Port of Echuca. The PS Success had a long, colourful history towing barges on the Murray River and in particular in the Mildura, Wentworth and Ned's Corner regions. She was the last paddlesteamer to be working on the river system right up until the 1956 floods towing the barge Vega, where at one point both boat and barge smashed into trees on a wild, uncontrolled journey downstream where she was damaged and later lay stranded on Ned's Corner.Composite timber hull, 3-inch red gum planks on angle iron frames. Carvel built with counter stern and straight stem. Originally had a round keel and a pair of 35hp engines. Success paddle steamers, echuca boat builders, westwood & air

Grace Partington worked on the farm at Willis Vale and delivered milk from her father’s dairy. She married Les Pollard in 1935, aged 30. They had 3 children and lived in Drouin.A pioneer Greensborough family.Digital copy of black and white studio photograph.grace isobel partington, grace pollard

St Paul's Sunday School Ringwood awarded to Chrissie Maggs Fourth class Fifth Prize Marks 285. April 14th. 1910 Hard cover book with brown, gold and blue coloured picture on front. Stories printed and pen drawn pictures in black and white.Ruth A Bible Heroine and Other Stories by Josephine Pollard. Insert - St Pauls Sunday School Ringwood, Awarded to Chrissie Maggs, Fourth Class, Fifth Prize, Marks 285, April 14th, 1910.

Details of Occasion Unknown, But Appears to be a Group of Stawell People Going by names.Sepia Photograph of a Large Group of people with gum trees in background c1910 Mounted on cardBack Row Left to Right: Mr. Quine?, Geo Sprague, Geo Greenwood, Alf? Phillips, Jack Sprague Jnr, Harry ?, Mrs Williams, Mr Frenchham, John Sprague Snr. M? Whitehead, Bret, Knott, M ?, M Kewish. Second Row From Left To Right: Ms Goldsworthy, Mrs, Freeman, Mrs Morgan, Mrs Quine?, Mrs Harris, ?, Miss Beaglehole, Miss Walton, Edda Withers,, Mr Uren, Mr Viant. Third Row From Left To Right: Mrs Viant, Miss E Lavero?, Miss Florie Pollard, Mrs Akins, Mres Heal, (Don't Know), Mrs Akins, Mrs McGil, Mrs Bugge?, Miss Goldsworthy, Miss Freeman, Nellie Harris. Bottom Row Mr Giles, Mary Williams, Mary Northy?, Mr Membry, Mr Egglestone, Mis Sexton, (Don't Know), Mrs McManus, Fanny Viand, Mrs Goldsworthy, Lena Freeland, Mr Smart

Donor believes works were completed by her great aunt: Lydie, Rosa and Olivia Pollard when sisters were young girls. They were completed in Country Durham England. Works have been passed down through family.Two embroidered laundry bags with scalloped edges one with red flowers and the other with gold flowers. Each has a fold over cover, envelope style with embroidered flowers on a cream background. Scalloped edges are outlined with green and gold stitching with a further row of stitches outlining the pattern of the scalloped edging.P W E embroidered top LH corner Gold Bag- A L 4 embroidered inside top LH corner of red bag late victorian needlework, handmade embroidery, lingerie bag

Donor believes items were completed by her great aunts Lydia, Rosa, Olivia and Isabelle Pollard when the sisters were young girls. They were completed in Country Durham, England. The items have been passed down through the family by the girls mother or aunt.Two handmade embroidered laundry bags. 6575.1 Red flowers with green leaves and white foliage embroidered on a cream cotton front, back of bag is undecorated. Hand and machine stitching evident. 6575.2 Gold flowers, green leaves and some white foliage. Four rings attached with gold and cream stitching on top of bag for hanging.A L 4 embroidered in top left hand corner of 6575.1 in yellow thread. A L embroidered at top L H corner of 6575.2 in red thread.late victorian needlework, handmade embroidery, lingerie bag, garment bags, cleary

Donor believes items were completed by her great aunts - Lydia, Rosa and Olivia Pollard when the sisters were young girls. They were completed in Country Durham England. The items have been passed down through the family.Handmade brown embroidered lingerie/garment bag with gold and green embroidered border with four insect type patterns surrounding a decorative central pattern. The fold over front is lined with a light fabric with a pattern of flowers and butterflies predominately in gold, blue and green tones reflecting the patterns of the embroidered front cover.late victorian needlework, handmade embroidery, lingerie bag, garment bags

The parade was held in celebration of King Edward VII's birthday on 4 July 1902. This was the first public appearance of the German Band formed on 30 May 1902. The leading horseman is Mr Rowland Coe. He is followed by Mr George Robinson, a butcher of Canterbury Road. The man in the white hat is Mr Sam Kellett, businessman of Erasmus Street. Behind him on foot and partly obscured is Mr Alexander McNeill of the Surrey Family Hotel. Band master is Harry Pollard, painter and paper-hanger, and next to him is Constable Hill. The small boy in the sailor suit is Perc Venman of Essex Road and in the buggy near the footpath is Mr and Mrs William Maling. Information came from David Staig senior. Further research: William Saunders Maling, a son of John Butler Maling, was a builder who lived at 17 Balwyn Road, Canterbury. Rowland Coe, a butcher and son of James and Elizabeth Coe of Sunbury Crescent enlisted in AIF in WW1. He later lived at 233 Elgar Road, Box Hill. William Percival Reginald (Perc) Venman was born in Surrey Hills in 1894; he died in Surrey Hills in 1951 and lived at 27 Essex Street for much of his life. He and his wife are buried in Box Hill Cemetery. The identity of Sam Kellett of Erasmus Street is questioned. Edward Kellett built 'Yielma' in Erasmus Street but was deceased by 1902. He had 3 sons: Edward Allan (1854-1932); George Henry (1858-1921) and William John (1865-1945).Black and white photo of a number of men on horses leading a parade down Station Street (Windsor Crescent) to Union Road. Street trees on the RHS are mature whilst the ones on the LHS look to be newly planted. They have wooden guards around them. The area to the left is blurry but would be the railway line and station surrounds. Roads are well formed with bluestone channels.parades and processions, bands, german band, windsor crescent, william saunders maling, mrs hannah maling, miss hannah miller, constable hill, perc venman, george robinson, sam kellett, alexander mcneill, rowland coe, harry pollard, william percival reginald venman

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Collins - Mary M &DHS - March 29th 1992 Ladies oral history day at Dunvegan, Willows Park Melton. Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transferred to CD 2011 Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 Mary Collins nee Nixon born in Terang 1907 down in the Western District and we shifted to Melton when I was 5 and a half then I started school here in Melton, and spent all my school life at Melton State School, next to the Church of England, it’s called the Primary School now. I got my Qualifying and Merit Certificate then I left School because there wasn’t a High School. When I was 16 I got and job in the Melton Post Office and I worked there, I was the first girl in Melton to deliver the mail, and worked on the telephone and the Bank business. Mrs Ross and myself behind the counter, there were about 500 – 600 people in the Shire at that time and now when I go into the new Post Office there is 36,000 here there’s still 2 people behind the counter [laughter from the audience] and wait in a queue right out to the door. Times haven’t changed much have they! There was a manual telephone and you had to ring the handle, and there were eight subscribers when I went there and when I left there were 46 I had coaxed that number to join the telephone, even the police station didn’t have the phone on. The two Hotels and the two Chaff mills and Mr Ernie Barrie, Parkers the butcher, the Shire Office was No 8, and the Police house was next to the Courthouse on the corner. They were number 9. I can remember a lot of the numbers still. The Post Office was the Agency for the Commonwealth Bank [comment from audience member] I used to do the Bank business too, I left after four years there, mother wasn’t very well. The Inspector who used to come up to the Post Office asked me if I would take up casual Post Mistress and to go around the different districts but I refused and when Mrs Ross’s holidays were due I was the replacement. I wasn’t 21. I loved my work meeting everybody and most people had horse and jinkers and when the elderly would come in there would be Mr Tom Morrow, he only had one arm and Mrs Dunn came from Bulman’s road in their horse and jinker. They were elderly I would see them pull up out the front and quickly get their mail and run out to them because they didn’t have to get out of the jinker to tie up their horse. If someone had a baby in arms I would tear out and hold the baby while they got down. Mrs Ross was very very strict. I had to sweep the Post Office, she had a couple of mats and there would be a threepence or a sixpence under the mats show she knew whether I lifted the mat, I was whether I was honest or not. Graham: How much were your wages? I got 27/7 pence a week for a 52 hour week. I had to work every holiday except Good Friday and Christmas Day and even when it was Monday holiday I always had to go to work from 9am - !0 am, the Post Office was always open. In the winter I had to wait until twenty past six in case there were any telegrams to deliver. I delivered them on a push bike. One time Tom Barrie told me this years afterwards. I used to go home for lunch. We lived on the Keilor road and I used to ride my bike home. On the hot days the boys used to go and swim in the swimming pool down near a turn in the creek there was a hole where the boys would swim in the nude, they didn’t have any bathers and they didn’t have any watches in those days. Tom Barrie said they always used to watched for me as I was always about 3 minutes past 1, my lunch hour was from 1-2. One particular day they missed seeing me and swam on, and of course they were all late for school when they got back and were all kept in a night. I did get a fortnight holiday. I loved my work and I knew everyone in the district right from Toolern Vale to the Marsh and everybody at Melton South. Did you listen into conversations on the Switchboard? Oh no. [laughter] Melton did not have electricity then. I had to fill the lamps everyday with kerosene. The Staughton Memorial was outside the Post Office. It had four posts with the chain looped around it, and that’s where the people used to tie up their horses. Marjorie nee Myers Butler comments about sitting and swinging on the chains. Mr Fred Coburn lit the acetylene gas light in the Memorial. It was the only streetlight in Melton. There was no electricity until 1939. Ray Radford comments about another gas street light which was on the corner of Station road. [later] Mary passes around her school photos. Mary mentions the names of those who have passed away, Maisie McDonald, ,Marian Wraith, Hilda McCreey, and Valda McDonald. I have written the names on the back. Marjorie comments about Marie Jongebloed and Greta are the only two girls left out of big family of ten I think there were [hesitates] 4 or 5 girls and the rest were boys. Mary. Flora Woodley, Dorrie Flynn and Margaret McDonald are still alive. They are my age we were all born about 1907. Marjorie points out herself in a later photo [1921 and 1922 School ] Mary mentions the name Walsh and identyfies following names, the Parker boys, Ken Beaty, Malc and Linda Cameron, Maisie Mc Donald, Ted Radford, George Nixon, Norman Minns, he was later the Shire Secretary of Werribee. One of the Woodley girls. [Maisie Arthur] Marjorie: Rosie Shearwood, June Whiting Mary. Lily Mc Donald, she has passed away. Isabel Harrison nee Tinkler, she lives at Werribee, Doreen Rogers, Marjorie Walker, Jess McIntosh, Mary Gillespie. Mr Malone was the Junior teacher Mr Roe and Miss Cooke. Fred Myers, my sister [Elizabeth] and the year was 1921. Myers (Barrie) School Photo Collection. Many of the names were identified at the 1970 Centenary of Melton State School No. 430. Edna Barrie organised, compiled and typed the lists to accompany these photos for the year 1921. The 1922 photo shows the higher grades. Ladies Oral History Day event held by Melton and District Historical Society, article featured in the Telegraphlocal identities, local special interest groups

Mary Tolhurst M&DHS - March 29th Dunvegan Willows Park Melton 1992 Ladies Oral History Day Graham Minns President Ray Radford MC Sound recording transfer to CD 2011 by Tom Wood Edited typescript by Wendy Barrie 2013 I was born in Rockbank, and when I was five years old moved to Toolern Vale and started and finished school there. Toolern Vale only consisted of the Store, Post Office and shop, where you could buy your fodder, and pollard supplies, the Hall, the little Church and the bluestone School. The School changed shape three times from the 1800s[1869] til the time I went there. There was four generations of my family that went there and it was destroyed by fire in 1965. Marjorie nee Myers Butler. Yes, I remember along with it your lovely Ronisch piano. Mary, quite true! Marj what you say about the Ronisch piano. When I came the age to learn music my mum and dad couldn’t really afford it, but still what parents do for their children. They had Marj go along with them and pick this lovely Ronisch piano. It was known round the district. Everyone commented about the loss that lovely piano. After leaving school it was war time, 1939, then it was work, When I was 7 year old I was put out into the cow yard. In 1940 when the soldiers were going away our milk was confiscated it had to go to Bacchus Marsh. It used to go the Sunbury to be brine cooled and then go to Melbourne. Then they took it then to the Lifeguard Milk Factory at Bacchus Marsh. It had to go as condensed milk to the soldiers. This year is 50 years of the Land Army. I was an unofficial Land Army but they still kept check on me. I went onto married life and I followed the cows right through [howls of laughter] and we went on until the 1965 fire. That’s when we got out of the cows. Marjorie asks, was Granny Watts your grandmother or great grandmother? Mary: She was my great grandmother, the midwife of Melton. The 1965 fire started ¾ of a mile above our place, Frank Ryan’s sheds were burnt and his house was saved, then it wiped the School out, the Hall, the Church the Post Office and Store and little house that was Charlie Charlton’s in the early days. Mrs Wilson’s place was saved by the Fire Brigade by pulling boards off the side, and from there it went over the hill and it was stopped at the Rockbank Railway Station. If it had of got over the railway they said it would have gone into Werribee. A lot was burnt out in that strip. Mary nee Nixon Collins: 18 houses burnt that day. Audience question, did Melton get burnt that day? Ray: No. It came down through the Toolern Vale road and cut across about a mile and a half from the cross roads at Toolern Vale from north westerly to the south east and cut through over the Keilor road. Mary: It came in across the creek at Funstons in Toolern, then through Jim Minns. Dorothy was it your place then [nee Knox Beaty] to Ken Beatty’s and from there it went through to Doug McIntosh’s and to Cockbills and the wind changed and it came across to the railway line, and that is where they stopped it. [the cause of the fire was controversial, they had been burning off the night before and there was some talk of someone starting it. It was very hot and very strong wind, it was a terrible day] Ray: When the fire went through McIntosh’s they had a haystack on the north side of their house and the haystack got caught and the fire burnt a hole through the side of the house and the boys pyjamas on the bed. The house was saved. It came through like and express train roaring at you, I was at McIntosh’s when it went roaring past. You couldn’t see, dust and ash and tremendous heat. The fire started about 12 o’clock Jack [husband] said to me, fire, I said where, where? Just up the road, what have I got to do? and he went out and he had gone to the fire and left me. I tried to get the animals and I put out buckets of water, putting the buckets of water out saved my life. Chas Jones and another friend of his came in and they picked up the buckets of water, I thought I had better get out because the fire was on the haystack up the paddock and when I went to go out through the north side of the house and couldn’t get out, I’ll go through the front gate so I went around the other side of the house. I got caught there and Chassy Jones and his friend came round carrying the bucket of water and I panicked. He threw the bucket of water over me. Well that is what saved my life because I was damp, whenever we tried to leave the ball of fire came over me and over my shoulder and my hair was scorched. Chassy Jones lost his truck and Keith Watt his big truck because he had the water tank on it and they couldn’t get out of the yard. Granny Watt’s house, the first private hospital had condemned and Jack and I pulled it down and had it moved up to Toolern and had it in the yard a fortnight and it was all burnt and we didn’t get the shed we wanted. Every 13 years right up until Ash Wednesday fires, there has always been fire close at hand. The 1952 fire went down the back of the house, the 1965 fire took the house, and the house that I live in now, it is the third house that has been on that spot. When the Hunters owned it, Mrs Hunter was nearly burnt in her bed. They had a 13 roomed house. In 1924 the house burnt down, and there was another house was built there and that was the one that burnt down. Edna: So Mary built a brick veneer house. Marjorie: like the three little pigs [laughter] Mary Tolhurst member of the Melton & District Historical Society in the Melton and Moorabool Leader local identities, local special interest groups

non-fictionThe story of the life, family and achievements of Arthur Henman, born in 1861 in Lidlington, Bedfordshire, England and his wife Elizabeth Ann nee Pollard of Bonegilla, Victoria. For a time on arrival in Australia at the age of 17, Arthur had a contract to supply timber to the New South Wales Railway Department. After marrying in 1888, Arthur and Elizabeth became successful dairy farmers in Glen Innes, northern New South Wales, before deciding to come to the Barmedman district. They took up the property, now well known as "Pine Valley." They had a pioneer's task to face for a thick belt of green timber stretched from the back door of their first home to Temora. Undaunted by the task, but with great determination and courage, they fashioned a first class property out of the wild and waste of those days and made valuable contribution to the fledgling communities until retirement from active farming in 1923 when they moved to Sydney.pioneers australia, pioneers nsw, arthur henman, elizabeth ann pollard, barmedman district nsw

These photographs were taken at a GOC Parade at the Army Survey Regiment in 1969. MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE formally presented the Defence Force Service Medal to personnel in recognition of 15 years of efficient remunerated service, or the Clasp for each further 5 year period of service.These 13 black and white photographs were taken at a GOC Parade Medal Presentation in 1969 at the Army Survey Regiment, Bendigo. The photographs were printed on photographic paper and are part of the Army Survey Regiment’s Collection. The photographs were scanned at 600 dpi. .1) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE, unidentified recipient. .2) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE, recipient – SGT Keith Harris. .3) to .5) - Photo, black & white, 1969. MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE, unidentified recipient. .6) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: unidentified recipient, MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE. .7) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE, unidentified recipient. .8) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE, recipient – SGT Ben Williams. .9) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: recipient – ex SGT Alan Pollard, MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE. .10) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R recipient - WO1 Bill Miller, MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE. .11) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: recipient - WO1 Steve McConnachie, MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE. .12) - Photo, black & white, 1969. L to R: recipient – SGT Ben Williams, MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE. .13) - Photo, black & white, 1969. MAJ GEN Robert William Knights CB, CBE and family..9) Photo - SGT Alan Pollard identified on back .10) Photo - WO1 Bill Miller identified on back .11) Photo - WO1 Steve McConnachie identified on back royal australian survey corps, rasvy, fortuna, army survey regiment, army svy regt, asr