Bound report of approximately 95-100 pages comprising introduction, demographic analysis, assessment of housing and accommodation conditions for older residents, maps, statistical data, findings, recommendations, bibliography, and supporting research relating to the City of Broadmeadows.non-fictionResearch report investigating the housing and accommodation needs of elderly residents within the City of Broadmeadows. The publication analyses demographic characteristics, housing circumstances, service provision, and future accommodation requirements of older people, providing recommendations to assist local government planning and community welfare initiatives. The report contains statistical data, maps, analysis, and references relating to ageing and housing policy in Broadmeadows during the mid-1980s.broadmeadows (victoria), city of broadmeadows, older people, ageing population, housing, housing needs, accommodation, aged accommodation, aged care, retirement housing, community welfare, social services, municipal planning, local government, urban development, demographic studies, social policy, community development, public housing, independent living, senior citizens, population ageing, human services, victoria (australia), social research

Booklet with 22 pages and olive green soft-cover outlining benefits paid to National Servicemen for such matters as reinstatement in civilian employment, post-discharge vocational training, retirement, housing, and protection of financial commitments.national service - australia, re-establishment, repatriation, payments, swainston collection

Millions of dollars have been pumped into the expansion of the Leith Park retirement village in a bid to ease the housing demand for older VictoriansNews article 1 pages, black text.old colonists, leith park

Community information booklet issued by City of Ringwood for 1989 - covering the facilities and activities of the Ringwood Council and other local organisations and associations. Cover photographs: Front - Fern Gully at Ringwood Lake, Poppett Head at rear of Lake, Athletics Track. Back - Highland Carnival, Wombalano Park, Miners Cottage at Ringwood Lake, Bike Path, Water Cascade at rear of Lake.CONTENTS: (page no.) 1. COUNCIL SERVICES After School Activities Programme 29 Aged Services 31, 32 & 33 Aquatic Centre 20 & 21 Budget 14 Building Information 16 By-Laws 26 Chief Executive's Message 9 Children's Services 29 Civic Centre 4 Committees of Council 5 Common Questions 36 Community Plan 10 & 11 Council Meeting Dates 4 Council Representatives 8 Councillors 6 & 7 Dogs 26 Dual Occupancy 12 Emergency Telephone Numbers 63 Family Day Care 29 Fire Hazards 27 Garbage 34 & 35 Golf Course 24 Home Handyman Services 31 Home Help 31 Incinerators 26 Knaith Road Child Care Centre 29 Library 23 Maternal and Child Health 28 Mayoral Message – Cr. R. Gardini 3 Meals on Wheels 31 Members of Parliament 62 Parks and Gardens 18 Rates 25 Residential Development Provisions 12 & 13 Ringwood Bypass Road 13 Ringwood Convention Centre & Performing Arts Centre 22 Ringwood District Centre 14 Staff 10 Town Planning 17 Works Depot 30 Youth Outreach Worker 33 2. LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES Accommodation 37 Alcoholism 37 Birthright 38 Blind 38 Care Force 39 Catholic Family Welfare Bureau 39 Central Ringwood Community Centre 39 Childbirth and Parenting Association 39 & 40 Churches 40 & 41 Community Services Victoria 42 Day Centres and Drop In Centres 43 Do Care 43 Drugs 43 Elderly Day Care 44 Emergency Housing 45 Family Planning Services 45 Financial Counselling 46 Hearing Aid Service 47 Hospitals 47 Housing 48 Information 48 Legal 49 Literacy 50 Lone Parents 50 Marriage Celebrants 50 Maroondah Social Health Centre 51 Neighbourhood Mediation Centre - Outer East 51 North Ringwood Community House 52 Nursing 52 Optometric Services 52 Playgroups 53 Podiatry 53 Pre-Schools 54 Red Cross 55 Retirement 55 Ringwood Croydon Advisory Service 55 Schools 56 & 57 Senior Citizens' Centres 58 Transport 59 Twins 59 Unemployment 60 Volunteering 60 Youth Accommodation Project (Maroondah). 60 Youth Emergency Accommodation Services... 60 rinx

Community information booklet issued by City of Ringwood for 1990 - covering the facilities and activities of the Ringwood Council and other local organisations and associations.CONTENTS: (page no.) 1. COUNCIL SERVICES After School Programme 33 Aged Services 33, 34,35 Aquatic Centre 15,16,17 Aquatic Centre Bonus Vouchers 17 Biological Wasp Control 24 Budget 13,14 Building information 26 By-Laws 29 Chief Executive's Message 9 Children's Services 44 Citizenship 35 Civic Centre 4 Committees of Council 5 Common Questions 39 Council Meeting Dates 4 Council Representatives 8 Councillors 6,7 Dogs 29 Emergency Telephone Numbers 67 Family Day Care 32 Fire Hazards 29 Garbage 37 Golf Course 19 Health and Environmental Services 24 Home Handyman Services 54 Home Help 33 Immunisation 25 incinerators 29 Knaith Road Child Care Centre 32 Library 22 Library Service Senior Citizens 34 Maternal and Child Health 31 Mayoral Message - Cr. Lillian Rosewarne 3 Meals on Wheels 33 Members of Parliament 40 Parks and Gardens 22,23 Rates 28 Residential Development Provisions 12 Ringwood Bypass Road 11 Ringwood Convention Centre & Performing Arts Centre 20 Ringwood District Centre 13 Ringwood Festival 21 Shopping Bus 34 Staff 10 Town Planning 26 Works Depot 36 Youth Outreach Worker 36 2. LOCAL COMMUNITY SERVICES Accommodation 42 Aged Accommodation 42 Alcoholism 42 Arthritis Foundation 43 Arts and Crafts 43 Blind 43 Care Force 43 Catholic Family Welfare Bureau 43 Central Ringwood Community Centre 43 Childbirth and Parenting Association 44 Churches 45 Community Services Victoria 47 Day Centres and Drop-in Centres 48 Disabled Facilities 49 Do Care 50 Drugs 50 Elderly Day Care 50 Emergency Housing 51 Family Planning Services 51 Financial Counselling 52 Hearing Aid Service 53 Hospitals 54 Housing 54 Information 55 Legal 55 Literacy 55 Lone Parents 57 Marriage Celebrants 57 Maroondah Social Health Centre 57 Neighbourhood Mediation Centre - Outer East 57 North Ringwood Community House 53 Nursing 59 Optometric Services 59 Playgroups 60 Pre-Schools 60 Red Cross 61 Retirement 62 Ringwood Croydon Advisory Service 62 Schools 63 Senior Citizens' Centres 65 Transport 66 Twins 66 Unemployment 66 Volunteering 66 Youth Accommodation Project (Maroondah) 67 Youth Emergency Services 67 rinx

In 2016 the Welcome to Eltham community project started to welcome Syrian refugees into the community and made Welcome Butterflies to say welcome to them. In addition to the physical book, EDHS also holds several hundred digital images pertaining to the development of the Welcome to Eltham campaign, photographs, artworks and graphic designs, which resulted in the publication of this book. EDHS also holds further material from the period 2016 to 2017 associated with the Welcome to Eltham campaign group. Contents: 1. Welcome Book Welcome Book includes selected page extracts and images as published December 2016 Contents: • Greetings to our Country P2 • Offering P8 • Your neighbours P10 • Rotary P39 • Eltham Baptist Church P44 • Eltham Farmers Market stall holders P48 • The Eltham community P54 • Surrounding communities P60 • Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School P64 • Nillumbik Greens P66 • Our Lady Help of Christians Church Eltham P68 • Catholic Care Eltham P70 • St Vincent’s P71 • Montmorency South Primary School P72 • Victoria Police P73 • Catholic Ladies College P74 • Warrandyte P76 • Eltham Toy Library P78 • Eltham-Montmorency Uniting Church P82 • Gingerbread P84 • Scouts P86 • Eltham businesses P89 • Surrounding communities P96 • The Seed P101 2. Administration 1. Welcome to Eltham Infant Plan, Purpose and Scope (Aug. 2016) 2. Circle of Friends; A draft proposal from Welcome to Eltham, 26 August 2016 3. Welcome to Eltham; a resident support group for refugees settling in Eltham (Sep. 2016) 4. Welcome to Eltham; Purpose and Scope (Sep. 2016) 5. Welcome to Eltham Plan (Sep. 2016); 10 pages typed of tasks broken into four categories, 10 pages 6. Welcome to Eltham Team/Volunteer organisation structure, volunteers’ skills assessment and role assignments, strategies, 11 pages 7. Briefing Document: Refugees being welcomed in Eltham, 2 Oct. 2016; 5 pages 8. Public Engagement Plan, 2 Oct. 2016; 2 pages 9. Welcome to Eltham 2016 Review, Values and Structure, 2017 10. Welcome to Eltham Incorporated Financial Report July 2016 – June 2017; 3 pages 11. Letter: Nina Kelabora and Welcome to Eltham Team to Bolton Street Fruit Market re offer to provide fresh fruit, 30 Jun. 2017 12. Welcome to Eltham Incorporated Annual Report 2016–2017; Oct. 2017; 4 pages 13. Certificate: Jagajaga Community Australia Day Award 2018 to Nina Kelabora, signed Jenny Macklin MP, Federal Member for Jagajaga 14. Certificate: Jagajaga Community Australia Day Award 2018 to Welcome to Eltham, signed Jenny Macklin MP, Federal Member for Jagajaga 15. Letter: Simon Le Plastrier, Principal, Eltham College to Nina Kelabora, 20 April 2018 offering congratulations for the work achieved by Welcome to Eltham group 16. Photo: River pebble covered in spray paint of multiple colours. The rock was used to hold down templates for painting butterflies on the footpaths near Andrew park as a counter to protesters assembling for the ‘Battle for Eltham’ demonstration on 5 November 2016 17. Photo: Welcome to Eltham team member, Gillian Essex 18. Photo: Welcome to Eltham team member, Kirsten Bate 19. Photo: Welcome to Eltham team member, Lara McKinley 20. Photo: Welcome to Eltham team member, Nina Kelabora 21. Photo: Welcome to Eltham team member, Sarah Hooten 22. Incorporation • AGM-minutes-2017 • Certificate of Incorporation • Mission and Values • Ordinary Business of the AGM 2017 • Welcome to Eltham Rules 23. Advocacy • Eltham Butterfly Effect Corflute panel design 5 November 2016 Rally • MemeFest PowerPoint presentation 23 November 2016 • Oxfam PowerPoint presentation 16 June 2017 • Eltham Rotary PowerPoint presentation 1 June 2017 • Welcome to Eltham Gift Card artwork 3. Artwork • Logo: Welcome to Eltham • 12 artworks by children of the Eltham Child Care Co-Operative (ECCC) o Me at the Immigration Museum by Ethan B. o Immigration Museum by Edie o Me with my family and lots of hearts by Charlotte o My suitcase like the refugees we learnt about with Bec by Jarvis o Me at the football with my friends by Harley o My suitcase if I had to leave the country by Ellen o Me at the park near the library by Chloe o Books at the library by Addison o Ethan’s grandfather who died in the war and this is him in his grave by Ethan o A nursery by Annabel o The age care home we visit by Ari o This is my mum the Ranger by Mia • Butterfly Effect, Ona Henderson 2016, inscribed “Dedicated to Nina, in appreciation of your butterfly effect for ‘Welcome to Eltham’; reproduced p1 • Ona and Sid gifting her artwork for use by the campaign; reproduced p1 • Duat and Iuk, Mandy Nicholson, Wurundjeri woman; reproduced p3 • These hands welcome you to Australia, Mungo, Warrandyte resident; reproduced p9 • The Library by Rose; reproduced p15 • Welcome to Eltham from Maia; reproduced p19 • Billy, Warrandyte resident; reproduced p20 • Through my window, Janet Boddy; reproduced p23 • Eryn and Lachie, Eltham residents; reproduced p25 • Eva, Eltham resident; reproduced p29 • This is the community hall across from my house by Cinta; reproduced p30 • Welcome, Brenda, Eltham resident; reproduced p34 • Flying over Kerry Crescent, Kerry, Eltham resident; reproduced p38 • A dragon called 'fat' from Joe, 6; reproduced p42 • A rainbow-heart-welcome from Trixie, 8; reproduced p42 • A lovely message from Sarah; reproduced p53 • Monique; reproduced p56 • Tom; reproduced p56 • Josh; reproduced p56 • Chloe; reproduced p56 • Jack; reproduced p57 • Mia; reproduced p57 • Ann Curry, Montmorency resident; reproduced p60 • From Mia: "Keep your head up high and be confident. I'm sure that you will soon find that Eltham is a very nice place and I hope you can have a happy life."; reproduced p77 • Amy; reproduced p79 • Ben; reproduced p80 • Welcome, Kayla, Warrandyte resident; reproduced p94 • Lucas; reproduced p98 • Ale; reproduced p98 • Grace; reproduced p99 • Hugo; reproduced p99 4. Australian-Syrian Charity • ASC – Certificate of Appreciation; Awarded from Australian-Syrian Charity presented to Welcome to Eltham Group by Rev. Fr. Samir Haddad, ASC president, 30 Sep. 2016 including two images of Father Samir and WTE organiser, Nina Kelabora 5. Butterflies • 148 images of handcrafted butterflies and artwork of butterflies edited for reproduction throughout the Welcome to Eltham book and for use on other placards, gift cards and promotional materials including the original source photographs (232 total) • 128 other images of butterflies submitted or photographed installed at various locations around Eltham • 11 images of metal butterfly artworks created by Linda MacAulay and Tim Read showing the works during creation at Bend of Isles and at initial install at the roundabout on Main Road at Luck Street then at the final install to greet the new arrivals and residents alike at St Vincents Aged Care Services (since demolished). 6. Eltham and Surrounds Residents and Local Businesses • 195 photos (157 published in book) submitted by local residents and businesses with people holding Welcome to Eltham placards including: Eltham Farmer’s Market, Eltham Baptist Church, CatholicCare Eltham, Nillumbik Greens, Hurstbridge Wattle Festival, Our Lady Help of Christians Eltham, Our Lady Help of Christians Primary School, Montmorency South Primary School, Warrandyte Primary School, Bronnie Hattam, Mayor, Nillumbik Shire Council, Vicki Ward, MP for Eltham, Jenny Macklin, Member for Jagajaga, Bend of Isles, Eltham Toy Library, Eltham Library, Eltham-Montmorency Uniting Church, Catholic Ladies College (CLC), First Eltham North Scouts, Warrandyte Primary School, Ona Henderson and many individuals and businesses. 7. Events • Alistair Knox Park, 12 August 2016 • Syrian Community Dinner, 30 September 2016 • Pop up Picnic, Eltham North Adventure Playground, 1 October 2016 • Alistair Knox Park, 7 October 2016 • At Our Lady of Help of Christians, 7 October 2016 • Andrew Park Butterfly Effect v Battle for Eltham, 5 November 2016 • City Rally, 5 November 2016 • Eltham Library Children’s Garden, 12 November 2016 • Eltham Festival, 13 November 2016 • Welcome Book Fundraiser, St Margaret’s Church, 11 December 2016 • Nillumbik International Women’s Day Dinner 9 March 2017 • Bush Dance, 17 June 2017 • Eltham Police Morning Tea, 29 July 2017 8. House warmers • Approximately 40 images of gift care items donated (food, drink, blankets, etc) intended as housewarming hampers 9. Media Media Releases • Eltham elders take to social media to welcome refuges, video goes viral; Wednesday 28 October 2016 • Eltham locals use their bodies to say WELCOME to refugees; 1 October 2016 • Community group welcomes Minister’s decision so refugees can call Eltham home; 5 October 2016 • Locals answer far-right “Battle for Eltham” with butterflies: thousand of them; 5 November 2016 Newspaper articles • Group fosters goodwill; organisation works to assist refugees; Brittany Shanahan; Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, August 17, 2016, p3 • Refugees are welcome (Gillian); Care is for the elderly alone (Fred); Plenty of positives in plan (Kirstin); Open your hearts and doors (Alison); Flood of families a worry (Cath), Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, August 17, 2016, p11 • Support refugee housing; Diamond Valley Leader, Pamela Nash via Facebook, Janet R. Body, Eltham, Glenise Michaelson, Montmorency; Letters (online), 5 October 2016 • Refugees find a haven, and, Groups to fundraise for arrivals; Wednesday, October 12, 2016, p5 • Site for resettlement of refugees on a flood plane (Jacquie Bellchambers); Accommodating young families from a foreign culture in an established western culture retirement home will only lead to both parties feeling …. (Margit Alm); Great news for our community … (Nean Tatnal); Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, October 12, 2016, p19 • Refugee scrap looms; daughter of Eltham aged-care resident upset as extreme group hijacks debate; Brittany Shanahan. Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, October 26, 2016, p1 • Many ready to welcome refugees into community (Megan Anne) and others; Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, October 26, 2016, p20 • On a wing and a prayer; Chris Vedelago, Tammy Mills and Mark Hawthorne; Sunday Age, November 6, 2016, p3. – It was billed as the “Battle for Eltham”, but in te end the butterflies carried the day. • Rally hits trade; Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, p1 • Protests bad for business; Brittany Shanahan; Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, p8 • Police earn praise for keeping protest calm; Re: Battle for Eltham rally (Maree Quinlan) and others; Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, November 9, 2016, p14 • Butterflies to counter anti-Muslim protest; Bianca Hall and Marissa Calligeros, The Age, November 5, 2016 • Rally created challenges but it’s time to move on; Re: Battle for Eltham rally (Local Area Commander Acting Inspector Danielle Leemon) and others; Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, November 16, 2016, p19 • Praise for warm welcome (Linda Jajawi) and others also photo “Officers from Eltham police station welcomed newly arrived refugees to the community”; Conversations, Diamond Valley Leader, Wednesday, August 9, 2017, p15 • Refugees welcomed; Diamond Valley Leader, n.d. 2017, p12 • Refugee plan riles; Retirement centre residents voice concerns; Brittany Shanahan, Diamond Valley Leader; n.d. 2016 Facebook Responses • Responses top frequent Facebook comments regarding the housing of refugees in aged care at Eltham 10. Placards and Promotional Flyers • Selection of placard images and Welcome to Eltham Gift Card artwork 11. St Vincents • Two hand drawn sketches showing plan views of proposed front and rear units at St Vincents to be used by refugees 12. Videos • Feisties; several local seniors read online comments made by objectors and offer their own opinions; 00.02.28 • Tour of unit at St Vincents, 31 July 2016; 00.00.44 • Drone view of people creating Welcome sign at Eltham North Adventure Playground, 14 September 2016; 00.00.14 • Launching of the butterflies (campaign); Nina Kelabora releases the first butterfly into the wild; 00.00.24 • Gillian Essex, Welcome to Eltham, discussing counter strategy to protest demonstration (Battle for Eltham) scheduled for later in the day; 5 November 2016; 00.01.45 • Glenise Michaelson, Eltham local for 69 years discussing counter strategy to protest demonstration (Battle for Eltham) scheduled for later in the day; 5 November 2016; 00.01.30 • The Butterfly Effect, counter strategy to protesters 5 November 2016 Battle for Eltham rally; 00.02.24 with ten associated photos of the seniors involved; 31 October 2016 • Butterfly art ninjas 1 (15 secs), 2 (26 secs) and 3 (14 secs), showing the butterflies remaining in existence on the paths around Andrew Park, 16 November 2016 • Butterfly capture and release with Nina Kelabora– butterflies around Andrew Park relocated to the Children’s garden at Eltham Library, 17 November 2016; 00.00.28eltham (vic.), welcome to eltham (vic.), syrian refugees, refugees, social life and customs, butterflies, welcome butterflies, nina kelabora collection

CityMission Retirement Village, also known as Eltham Retirement Centre, also formerly known as Judge Book Memorial Village, was officially opened on Sunday 28 October 1956. This history documents the first thirty years through to 1986. Founded by the Melbourne City Mission, the significant early history of the "village for the aged" is documented including the various challenges faced including ongoing expansions and building develoment needs and impacts of flooding from the nearby Diamond Creek. It mentions some people associated with the organisation with reference to the Eltham Auxillary which was a group of Eltham residents formed to support the organisation and its residents through activity and fundraising efforts.Softcover; 60p.judge book village, retirement village, melbourne citymission, eltham, aged care, seniors, social service, older people, housing

The Norman Oliver collection. Norman Oliver was three times Mayor of Bendigo - 1950-51, 1964-65, 1970-71. Six typed pages, stapled, undated. Mentions that his successor as Mayor will be Cr Turner. R. F. (Dick) Turner was Mayor 1965-66. Individuals mentioned in this speech : Mr R. R. Anderson (City Engineer), Mr H. A. Moors (Bendigo Sewerage Authority), Mr A. J. Watts (Town Clerk) and wife, Miss B. Liddell (staff), Douglas Anderson (Victorian Promotion Committee), Mr Sidney Morrell (New York), Mr Brian Harrison (MP of London), Sir Norman Martin (Victorian Inland Meat Authority), Mr Evans (Department of Immigration), Lindsay Thompson (MLC and Minister of Housing). Mr Sid Mellis and Mr J. Jeffrey, both retired Hargreaves St businessmen, have been associated with the Mayor's Blanket Appeal.bendigo, council, speech notes, norman joseph oliver , councillor norman oliver. mayor of bendigo. victorian promotion committee. victorian inland meat authority. mayor's blanket appeal.

Ordinary meeting notice including reports from Council's officers Report of the Town Clerk's Department Report of the Town Clerk Schools Agreement Ardeer South Primary School Metropolitan Fire Brigades Board Election of Representative Sealing of Rates Year Ended 30th September 1981 Report of the Co-Ordinator of Welfare Services Housing Commission Lone Person & Darby & Joan Units Senate Select Committee on Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Rotary Preparation for Retirement Seminar Committee of Review into Children's Services Family Day Care Subsidy Arrangements Family life Programme Report of the Chief Health Surveyor Mantoux Testing Health Act 1958 Section 44(1) Nuisance Hortico Pty Ltd (Formerly J.A. Dundas) Little Boundary Road Brooklyn Health Act Registrations Application for Transfer of Proprietorship of Premises Under the Health Act Prosecutions Proceedings Sunshine Magistrates Court Report of the Medical Officer of Health Report of the Superintendent of Traffic and By-Laws Derelict Vehicles Protection of Animals Act Dog Act Report of the Chief Librarian Nil Report of the City Engineer's Department Report of the City Engineer / Planner M.M.B.W. Humes Property Van Ness Avenue Maribyrnong VICRAIL Braybrook Housing Estate Environmental Improvements Disable Persons Telephone Booths City of Sunshine Planning Permit Application Factory & Offices Lot 5 Boundary Road Ardeer Planning Permit Application Warehouse Lots 65 & 66 Cromer Avenue Sunshine North Planning Permit Application Store Lot 2 Hampshire Road Sunshine Planning Permit Application Office & Associated Car Parking 133 McIntyre Road Sunshine North Plan of Subdivision I.C.I. Station Road, Middle Road & Fitzgerald Road Deer Park Proposed Plan of Consolidation 25 Jacksons Street Maidstone Creation of Easement Ralph Street Reserve Sunshine Sewage Reticulation Plan of Subdivision Sunshine Estate Stage 8A & 8D Furlong Road St. Albans Tender of Supply of Locks Closure of Ashley Street Tottenham by Victoria Railways Speed Control Devices Road Humps Report of the Building Surveyor Building on Land Liable to Flooding Lot 5 Scenic Place Maribyrnong Building on Land Liable to Flooding and Over An Easement 77 Wright Street Sunshine Heigh of Fence 4 Daphne Street Ardeer Building Over Easement 23 Gould Street Deer Park Location of Building 7 Gunnedah Street Albion Substandard Allotment lot 24 Benjamin Street Sunshine city of sunshine, alexander "alex" george gillon, ardeer south primary school, murray street, sunshine west, hortico pty ltd, j.a. dundas, little boundary road, brooklyn, hume pipe, van ness avenue, maribyrnong, boundary road, ardeer, cromer avenue, sunshine north, hampshire road, sunshine, mcintyre road, i.c.i., station road, middle road, fitzgerald road, deer park, ralph street, jackson street, maidstone, furlong road, st. albans, scenic place, wright street, daphne street, gould street, gunnedah street, albion, benjamin street

Born in Poland in 1914, Irena Higgins completed her degree in social work at the University of Lwow [Lvov]. Migrating to Australia in 1938, she lived in various places including in Perth, Brisbane and Sydney before moving with her family to Melbourne in 1945. She initially worked at the Victorian Society for Crippled Children. Then in 1952, Irena was employed as a social worker by the Mental Hygiene Division of the Health Commission at Kew Mental Hospital (which included children). She was the first social worker employed by the Victorian Mental Health Authority to work with children with an intellectual disability. She remained at Kew for seventeen years, becoming Senior Social Worker with a staff of three other social workers, a secretary and a number of aides. Two of Irena’s significant innovations at Kew were the establishment of a Parents’ Association, and the development of a network of volunteers trained to work with families in the community. Irena Higgins remained committed to social reform following her retirement in 1984, working actively to establish the first emergency housing in Kew. In 2015, Irena’s daughter Barbara Higgins, and friend Elizabeth Watts, donated a number of her papers to the Kew Historical Society. These documents constitute the Irena Higgins Collection.Black and white photograph of Irena Higgins, donated by her daughter as part of the Irena Higgins Collection.irena higgins, kew mental hospital - willsmere, children's cottages (kew)