Belonged to a Scottish migrant, Mrs Liz Milton-Undy, who with her family migrated to Northern Queensland after W W 1. Given to Mrs Pat Coverdale by Mrs Liz Milton-Undy's son Milton, after her death in 1995A cream coloured woven woollen blanket.weaving

Scottish migrant George Duncan Guthrie established Bendigo Pottery in the 1850's with Bendigo Langley ware becoming popular in the 1930's. Bendigo Pottery is Australia’s oldest working pottery. Langley ware was launched in 1915 and continued well into the 1930s. The signature pottery won bronze at the 1925 British Empire Exhibition in Wembley. 10934.36a: acknowledgment of payment and receipt. A short rectangular sheet of white paper with two clean punch holes on the left side. The paper is header is printed in black ink. The business name and details: Bendigo Pottery Pty. Ltd. Leading manufacturers in Australia of the famous Bendigo Brown Langley ware. Telephone Bendigo 11 Epsom Vic. Typed on a typewriter in black ink. Dated 2nd May 1952. 10934.36b: Receipt 62 A rectangular sheet of white paper with two clean punch holes on the left side. The paper is header is printed in black ink. The body is printed in red ink. The business name and details: Bendigo Pottery Pty. Ltd. Leading manufacturers in Australia of the famous Bendigo Brown Langley ware. Telephone Bendigo 11 Epsom Vic. written in grey lead pencil. Dated 19th Nov 1945. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 23 pounds 2 pence. 10934.36c: Receipt 63 A rectangular sheet of white paper with two clean punch holes on the left side. The paper is header is printed in black ink. The body is printed in red ink. The business name and details: Bendigo Pottery Pty. Ltd. Leading manufacturers in Australia of the famous Bendigo Brown Langley ware. Telephone Bendigo 11 Epsom Vic. written in grey lead pencil. Dated 19th Nov 1945. Payment listed in British Pounds, totaling 14 pounds 17 shillings and 8 pence.ac morton, bendigo pottery, bendigo brown langley ware

Bendigo Pottery was established in the 1850s, when Scottish migrant George Duncan Guthrie stumbled upon a local clay deposit and created a successful pottery business. Soon, it would rival the great Staffordshire potteries of 19th century England. It opened to tourists in 1971. Alex Gill began working at the Bendigo Pottery inn 1935 at the age of 13. Six months later he began an apprenticeship at the pottery and retired in 1986 as a Master Potter.Alex Gill works his potter's magic in Bendigo, Woman's Day Magazine Article by Heather Waby. The article is on Alex Gill about the 50 years that he began when he was 13 years old. It contains photos of Alex working at the pottery and some of his speciality products.history, bendigo, merle lummis collection, alex gill bendigo pottery

This cruet set was owned by the Ure family. Scottish migrants, John and Jane Ure settled on acreage north of Gembrook in 1874. They called their property 'Silver Wells' because of finding a pure and plentiful water source when digging their initial well. Silver Wells became the commercial centre of the early Gembrook settlement with shops, post office etc. When the train came through in 1900 the Gembrook commercial centre shifted to its present location, near the railway station. The Ure family continued to play a significant role in the Gembrook community. Items were donated by Jean WorrellThe Ure family of 'Silver Wells' was significant in the early history of Gembrook.Ceramic cruet set consisting of a stand with a handle and containing a pepper container and salt container which are removable. Red floral decoration with some green on a white background. Gold rim.1889, silver wells

This book, Uncle Tom's Cabin was the best selling novel in the 19th century in the USA. It was given to Alexander Ure in 1889, the son of Scottish migrants, John and Jane Ure who settled on acreage north of Gembrook in 1874. They called their property 'Silver Wells' because of finding a pure and plentiful water source when digging their initial well. Silver Wells became the commercial centre of the early Gembrook settlement with shops, post office etc. When the train came through in 1900 the Gembrook commercial centre shifted to its present location, near the railway station. The Ure family continued to play a significant role in the Gembrook community.The Ure family of 'Silver Wells' was significant in the early history of Gembrook.Moss green hard cover book with title embossed on gold panel. 326 pages.On front cover printed: 'UNCLE TOM'S CABIN' On page i handwritten: 'Alexander Ure / A Present / from Mr & Mrs Wood / Cot 3rd 1889'alexander ure, uncle tom's cabin, 1889, silver wells

This cheese plate and cover which is probably Edwardian was owned by the Ure family. Scottish migrants, John and Jane Ure settled on acreage north of Gembrook in 1874. They called their property 'Silver Wells' because of finding a pure and plentiful water source when digging their initial well. Silver Wells became the commercial centre of the early Gembrook settlement with shops, post office etc. When the train came through in 1900 the Gembrook commercial centre shifted to its present location, near the railway station. The Ure family continued to play a significant role in the Gembrook community. Items were donated by Jean WorrellThe Ure family of 'Silver Wells' was significant in the early history of Gembrook. This ornate cheese cover is indicative of their prosperity.Ornate rectangular ceramic cheese cover with handle on top and floral design on all four sides.silver wells, ure, 1900s

This ornate ceramic cheese plate and cover which is probably early 20th century was owned by the Ure family. Scottish migrants, John and Jane Ure. They settled on acreage north of Gembrook in 1874 which they called 'Silver Wells' because of finding a pure and plentiful water source when digging their initial well. Silver Wells became the commercial centre of the early Gembrook settlement with shops, post office etc. When the train came through in 1900 the Gembrook commercial centre shifted to its present location, near the railway station. The Ure family continued to play a significant role in the Gembrook community. Items were donated by Jean WorrellThe Ure family of 'Silver Wells' was significant in the early history of Gembrook. This ornate ceramic piece is indicative of their prosperity.Ceramic cheese cover and plate. Ornate design in green and white with floral design around all sides. Gold edging. Handle.silver wells, 1900s, ure

This plate which is part of an ornate cheese cover and plate appears to be Edwardian. It was owned by the Ure family. Scottish migrants, John and Jane Ure, who settled on acreage north of Gembrook in 1874. They called their property 'Silver Wells' because of finding a pure and plentiful water source when digging their initial well. Silver Wells became the commercial centre of the early Gembrook settlement with shops, post office etc. When the train came through in 1900 the Gembrook commercial centre shifted to its present location, near the railway station. The Ure family continued to play a significant role in the Gembrook community. Items were donated by Jean WorrellThe Ure family of 'Silver Wells' was significant in the early history of Gembrook and this ornate ceramic piece is indicative of their prosperity.Green & White coloured ceramic plate which is part of a matching set comprising a cheese cover and plate.silver wells, ure, 1900s

The Hannah family were an early Buninyong family, migrants from Scotland.The Hannah family are of historic and social significance to the Buninyong communityB/W photograph of the Hannah family boys, Bill and Ted, c1900, from "Hannah Family History" by Louie Lee-Archer, 2004buninyong, hannah family

This jacket was bought in England for Elsie Law (nee Russell) by her husband James Lindsay Gordon "Lin" Law in 1930. Elsie used it as a bridge jacket. Lin was born in Ballarat 1881, the eighth child of Scottish migrants James Nicol Law and Margaret Law (nee Bartholomew). BHS holds an evening dress belonging to Margaret Law in its collection (see T0006.1). After leaving school at the age of 11, Lin began working as a salesman. In 1906, he and business partner James Kerr Pearson (also a Brighton local, who lived at 12 Moule Avenue) established the shirt manufacturing company Pelaco. In 1922 the company established its factory at 23 Goodwood Street on the top of Richmond Hill; the 4.3 metre high neon 'Pelaco' sign, erected in 1939, is today heritage listed. The company was known for its innovative approach to efficiency and labour relations, discontinuing Saturday morning work in 1908 and appointing an industrial relations officer in 1928. Lin married Elsie Russell on 12 January 1915 at St Mary's Catholic Cathedral in Sydney and they lived most of their life in Brighton. In 1920 they moved into 'Blairgowrie', 306 St Kilda Street, The eldest their four children, Pauline Margaret Law (born 15 December 1915) ultimately purchased the house with her husband Hugh McLean in 1956 and lived there until 1965 when the house was demolished.Cream silk jacket block-printed with art deco style pattern in red, blue, black and mustard colours. Lined with soft apricot-coloured satin. Wide stand collar. Front fastens low on hip with four silk covered buttons. Label, woven brown on cream silk, centre back: Eileen / Mulholland / Ltd. / 43, Wigmore St., / LONDON. W1.elsie russell, james lindsay gordon law, brighton, pelaco, bridge jacket, 1930s fashion, eileen mulholland, art deco

This magnetic compass is a good size to fit easily into a person's pocket or personal luggage and is protected from knocks by its wooden case. It could have been used for reference when travelling on land or sea. There is no visible manufacturer's mark, which may mean that it was not of high monetary value. Leith is a district of Edinburgh in the country of Scotland, the U.K. It was once the Port of Edinburgh and many migrant ships departed from here bound for the Australian colony. It had a busy shipbuilding industry, with wet and dry docks. It appears from the inscription on the case "Chas Gray, LEITH, 1839" that this pocket compass once belonged to Charles M. Gray (Chas is a common abbreviation for the name Charles). The inscription coincides with the name, place and date that the Western Victorian pioneer Charles M. Gray left Scotland and arrived in Australia. Charles Gray was born in Anstruther, Scotland, in 1818. His family was connected with the Royal Marines, which may have created his nautical instruments such as this pocket compass. Charles Gray arrived in Hobson's Bay on 15 June 1839 on the ship “Midlothian”. That same ship had departed from Leith, Scotland on February 15th 1839. Did Charles Gray acquire the pocket compass in Leith, perhaps as a gift or a souvenir of his motherland? Charles Gray was an early squatter and went on to become a very successful settler as a sheep pastoralist in the Western District of what is now Victoria (originally the colony of New South Wales). He and his wife had a large property called “Nareeb Nareeb”, Green Hill Creek District (now Glenthompson), Victoria, from 1840-1886. He was also a local Councillor and Justice of the Peace, and had an interest in the local indigenous people; he named his property after their tribe. Charles returned to England in 1890 and died there in 1905. Charles Gray had written an account in 1890 of his life at Nareeb Nareeb, called Western Victoria in the Forties: "REMINISCENCES OF A PIONEER The Western District in the 1840's By Charles Gray" , a valuable historical reference to colonial Victoria. His book was published by the Hamilton Spectator in 1932. Charles Gray's photograph is one of 713 historical photographs of early Victorian settlers, created as a montage by Thomas Foster Chuck in 1872. The State Library of Victoria holds the framed montage titled “The Explorers and Early Colonists of Victoria”. To qualify for inclusion on this montage the Settlers must have arrived in Victoria before 1843. Charles Gray's photograph is number 349! The pocket compass is associated with Charles Gray, one of the early squatters and settlers in Western Victoria, possibly given to him as a parting gift on his emigration to Van Diemans land in 1839. The item is very significant as it's connection with one of Victoria's early pioneers is well provenanced by the inscriptions on the wooden case. Pocket compass, brass, set into a square wooden case with hinged lid and small hook catch. Compass is marked with 360 degrees and compass points and has two pointers; one to show magnetic north and one to set the direction of travel. Hinges are triangular and inset into the wood. The lid has an attached brass plaque with the inscription "Chas Gray, Leith, 1839" (It likely belonged to Charles Gray, Leith, UK, who migrated to Port Philip Australia in 1839 and became a successful pastoralist.) “Chas Gray / LEITH / 1839” engraved on brass plaque on lid.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, magnetic compass, pocket compass, charles m. gray, chas gray, migrrant from leith 1839, charles gray anstruther, scottland, ship midlothian 1839, squatter western victoria, settler western victoria, hobson's bay port phillip australia, charles gray nareeb nareeb - green hill creek district, western victoria in the forties: reminiscences of a pioneer by charles m. gray 1890, leith edinburgh u.k., western victoria in the forties: reminiscences of a pioneer - montage by thomas foster chuck 1872, charles gray, reminiscences of a pioneer, the western district in the 1840's, compass, scientific instrument, nautical instrument, direction, directional compass, navigation

George Bird was born in England in 1845 and arrived in Australia in 1856 as a child of assisted migrants. Soon afterwards he came out to Eltham to live with his uncle George Stebbings, working for him as bricklayer's assistant in building, amongst others, Shillinglaw Cottage and the Anglican and Methodist Churches in Eltham. He later purchased 72 acres at the eastern end of Pitt Street (bounded by Eucalyptus Road, Mount Pleasant Road and present-day Rockliffe Street) and established the property ‘View Hill’, which was worked as a mixed farm and orchard (including berries). In 1878 he married Janet Kilpatrick, who had emigrated from Scotland. They had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The wedding in 1904 of their eldest surviving daughter Sarah (‘Sis’) to Edward Pepper appears to have been quite a society event. George was a staunch Methodist and was a Church Steward and a Sunday School Superintendent in about 1890. Janet died in 1915 and George died in 1920 (though his gravestone says 1921). George's will stated that his property was to be divided between all his children in equal shares. This necessitated subdivision of the View Hill property, which took place progressively between 1922 and 1926. One son, George Hugh Bird, operated a drapery store in Main Road (near Bridge Street) in around 1915. Later, in the 1920s, he ran a greengrocer's shop (also selling confectionery) in Main Road opposite Eltham Station. It was the first shop in Eltham to have plate glass windows. At the same time, his brother Reg had a grocery store on the station side of Main Road. George and Janet are buried together in a family plot in Eltham Cemetery. Several descendants are also buried in the cemetery. In Loving Memory Of George Bird Died 5 December 1921 aged 76 years And his beloved wife Janet Bird Died 5 Sept 1915 aged 57 years Also their children William James Bird Died 25 Feb 1888 aged 8 years Mary Jane Bird Died 8 Oct 1891 aged 7 years Pte Edwin John Bird Killed in action in the Great War 11 Aug 1918 aged 30 years Buried in France And on the base stone George Hugh Bird Died 26 Feb. 1965. Aged 79 years Arthur Andrew Bird Died 25 Mar. 1970 Aged 75 years To the left In Loving Memory of Dr. J. R. (Roger) Bird 1927 2001 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Betty Father of Janet & Alison Grandpa of Evan & Helen Scientist & Gentleman To the right In Loving Memory of Harold Edwin Bird OAM 1922 - 2015 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Yvonne Father of Estell & Russell In our hearts Forever moreeltham cemetery, gravestones, memorials, arthur andrew bird, arthur bird, edwin john bird, george bird, george hugh bird, harold edwin bird, helen bird (nee lyon), j. r. (roger) bird, j.r. (roger) bird, janet bird, janet bird (nee kilpatrick), william james bird, yvonne bird

George Bird was born in England in 1845 and arrived in Australia in 1856 as a child of assisted migrants. Soon afterwards he came out to Eltham to live with his uncle George Stebbings, working for him as bricklayer's assistant in building, amongst others, Shillinglaw Cottage and the Anglican and Methodist Churches in Eltham. He later purchased 72 acres at the eastern end of Pitt Street (bounded by Eucalyptus Road, Mount Pleasant Road and present-day Rockliffe Street) and established the property ‘View Hill’, which was worked as a mixed farm and orchard (including berries). In 1878 he married Janet Kilpatrick, who had emigrated from Scotland. They had ten children, three of whom died in infancy. The wedding in 1904 of their eldest surviving daughter Sarah (‘Sis’) to Edward Pepper appears to have been quite a society event. George was a staunch Methodist and was a Church Steward and a Sunday School Superintendent in about 1890. Janet died in 1915 and George died in 1920 (though his gravestone says 1921). George's will stated that his property was to be divided between all his children in equal shares. This necessitated subdivision of the View Hill property, which took place progressively between 1922 and 1926. One son, George Hugh Bird, operated a drapery store in Main Road (near Bridge Street) in around 1915. Later, in the 1920s, he ran a greengrocer's shop (also selling confectionery) in Main Road opposite Eltham Station. It was the first shop in Eltham to have plate glass windows. At the same time, his brother Reg had a grocery store on the station side of Main Road. George and Janet are buried together in a family plot in Eltham Cemetery. Several descendants are also buried in the cemetery. In Loving Memory Of George Bird Died 5 December 1921 aged 76 years And his beloved wife Janet Bird Died 5 Sept 1915 aged 57 years Also their children William James Bird Died 25 Feb 1888 aged 8 years Mary Jane Bird Died 8 Oct 1891 aged 7 years Pte Edwin John Bird Killed in action in the Great War 11 Aug 1918 aged 30 years Buried in France And on the base stone George Hugh Bird Died 26 Feb. 1965. Aged 79 years Arthur Andrew Bird Died 25 Mar. 1970 Aged 75 years To the left In Loving Memory of Dr. J. R. (Roger) Bird 1927 2001 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Betty Father of Janet & Alison Grandpa of Evan & Helen Scientist & Gentleman To the right In Loving Memory of Harold Edwin Bird OAM 1922 - 2015 Son of Arthur & Helen (nee Lyon) Bird Husband of Yvonne Father of Estell & Russell In our hearts Forever moreBorn Digitaleltham cemetery, gravestones, arthur andrew bird, arthur bird, edwin john bird, george bird, george hugh bird, harold edwin bird, helen bird (nee lyon), j. r. (roger) bird, janet bird (nee kilpatrick), william james bird, yvonne bird

The wreck site identified as the Columbine, a two masted brig built in 1839 in Aberdeen, Scotland and wrecked on the 1st April 1854 at Ocean Grove, Victoria, was formally reported to Heritage Victoria as located on the 15th January 2003 by Peter Ferrier and Don Love. As the site is over 75 years old it is automatically protected under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act 1976. This diary is important as it outlines the eye witness account of the last moments of the Barque Columbine which is primarily of historic, technical, social and archaeological significance internationally and to the State of Victoria. It is a unique original account of that episode in early migrant history of Victoria and of Australia.A small leather bound black diary containing entries by John Clarke from 1843 to 1883, recording aspects of his life in Australia from the wreck of the Colombine as a child [approx 13 y.o.a.] to his experiences working in the gold fields and around the Geelong area. The diary is extensively damaged.john clarke, barque colombine, approaches to port phillip, ship wrecks, south coast

Soft cover booknon-fictionA collection of stories told by retrenched workers about their lives and work at Feltex Carpets in Braybrook, Melbourne braybrook, feltex, scotland street

Everyone seemed to know Frances – it was November 1985 – I met Frances at the Victorian Synod office as she lent me her office to interview staff for St Philip’s which I was taking over in 1986. The interviews completed, she took me to a nearby coffee shop where we had a delightful chat. I came away much the richer, more informed about St Philip’s and feeling I had known Frances forever. And so started our 23 year friendship, with me hearing the first of many stories – for Frances was a wonderfully gifted story teller with a capacity to turn the past into life, and its characters into real people. It seems fitting that a person destined to add to Australia’s history should be born down the beach from Mendonca’s Mahogany ship – Port Fairy on the 28 January 1924. There she went to school – first to primary school then to Camperdown’s Higher Elementary School which went to Year 10. She was the eldest of four children with three brothers, Jock, Norman and Rod. After Year 10, Frances took a job in Camperdown as a dental nurse. She tackled this successfully until deciding to study at Rolland House in Carlton to become a Deaconess. Jock, her brother, recalls asking Frances what made her decide to be a Deaconess. At a Presbyterian Fellowship camp at Warrnambool, Frances and the others were sleeping in the Church Hall on palliases. During the night she awoke and her eye was drawn to a stained glass window, unusually brightly lit. On the window were the words “Follow Me”. Without flinching Frances took the words to heart and decided to serve God as a Deaconess, and during her time with the Australian Inland Mission she became quite a legend. What a patriot Frances was! She loved the stories of pioneers and knew well the history of where she had come from – the Western District. A keen follower of cricket, she would be right up with the last test and the issues of the team. Originally a Melbourne football supporter, she became an avid Geelong supporter and would often score at the annual self destruct St Philip’s vs Flynn Church match. She loved the gladiatorial, albeit often suicidal display. And though an Aussie through and through she loved her Scottish roots. Through her stories, she could easily transport a person in the Centralian landscape onto the heather of the Highlands. In spite of her love for Scotland, the city which was her favourite was New York. Frances – truly a citizen of the world. As a citizen of the world Frances fought for Indigenous and migrant women’s rights and was active in the World Council of Churches, sponsoring local and overseas women to study in Australia and to return to their homes as trained teachers and theologians. Up until recently she was involved in the Spina Bifida and Hydro Cephalis Association of SA. By the time she had taken up with the AIM Frances had a well tuned desire for social justice. To her it was important that the poor and less fortunate were given a go. She felt that the Labor Party provided her best avenue to push her social justice desires. After joining the party in 1956, she quickly became a respected member of the party and worked tirelessly for it, being honoured in the end with life membership. In the party she knew everyone and everyone knew her. She introduced me to Bob Hawke and when I spoke to Gough Whitlam once on a plane, he affirmed to me his friendship with Frances. In her cottage was a picture of her with Kevin Rudd with his arm around her. She is remembered by her party colleagues as someone who had a real compassion for helping people. She believed in the traditional ethic of the Labor Party which is to help those who are less fortunate. Interestingly, she supported St Philip’s moving from solely being a residential college to a school because we had chosen a relatively low fee base to enable maximum access for people and our boarding house continued to, and still does, offer accommodation to any student wishing to attend schools in Alice. Having supported the outback for years from the engine rooms of the mission arm of the church in Victoria, Frances then decided to move to Alice for her retirement. Settling in the little cottage at the far south eastern corner of Old Timers, this became to me, my family and I’m sure to plenty of people, Frances’ Cottage. But moving to Alice was hardly moving into retirement. She quickly became Chaplain at St Philip’s where she clearly showed her love for the children and staff and a real belief in St Philip’s role – to provide access to education for isolated children. She became a stalwart of the Adelaide House Museum, a wonderful member of the congregation, a powerful contributor to the Presbytery and the Annual Synod. Frances was strong, never flinched on a point of principle and discussed things face to face so that you truly knew where you stood with her. She had a great feeling for the pastoralists and knew many of them well. As Chaplain of the College she related well to the children and in addition, knew many of their families. She also felt deeply for the Indigenous people and regularly tackled the issue of how conditions could be improved for them. As we developed the school at St Philip’s, Frances worked with me on so many things. She would visit the College each week for Chapel, run a Sunday school for little kids and the service for all the boarders. When the school was ready to start she wrote the College prayer, said now every week by all students. The prayer says so much about Frances. She pioneered the RE program, teaching RE and in addition to Sunday, visited staff and students every Wednesday. At Presentation Night she presented a homily and provided the blessing – always a strong presence in front of the College community. She was so much part of St Philip’s that when we built the new boarding house in 1990 it seemed so obvious to call it McKechnie House. As a faithful servant of Adelaide House for years and an enthusiastic member of the National Trust, Frances was the first chairperson of the committee, a driving force to redevelop Adelaide House and she worked tirelessly to present John Flynn’s Hospital in the best light. She helped to deliver the stories of Flynn and McKay and the Outback missionaries to so many people and was instrumental in producing meaningful displays. I enjoyed walking around the museum with her intensely, enjoying her detailed stories of the past missionary era and I know many others would have as well. As a loyal and loving member of the Flynn Church, and being such a comrade of Fred McKay’s, Frances understood intricately the symbols which lie within the architecture. Once again, as a story teller, each one had a yarn attached to it. Over her twenty-three years as a member of the Flynn Church she has made a wonderful contribution. As a charismatic personality people were naturally attracted to Frances and were touched and affected by her. Peter Robson, twenty-two years at St Philip’s, remembers her asking him why he had stayed so long at the College. He explained to her that it was her address one day in Chapel in the early times that inspired him to keep going. With great wisdom she had said, “You can’t conquer something, unless you allow it to conquer you.” St Philip’s had conquered him. Wherever she went, whomever she was with, she had a real and lasting impact. Frances brought the reality of the Outback to so many as she addressed congregations around Victoria. She started the Australian Church Women’s Fellowship in the Northern Territory in 1997. She was also involved in setting up the Institute for Aboriginal Development. I believe that Frances should have been recognised nationally for her work with an AM. However, she was the Northern Territory finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year Awards in 2003. In 2004 she was awarded an OBE – not from the Queen but at Old Timers. This is a coveted award which means “Over Bloody Eighty”. Frances was part of it all, in the river, at a bush dance, at a dinner, at a service, at a party, at a meeting, at a footy game, at a cricket game, at Synod, at Presbytery, at Labour meetings, I could go on. Frances McKechnie, what a wonderful Australian. (Eulogy by Chris Tudor) Frances McKechnie died mid-2008. Deaconess Frances McKechnie is seated in front of a map of Australia marked with Australian Inland Mission places identified.At the time the photo was taken, McKechnie was the Victorian Regional Officer for the Australian Inland Mission (Presbyterian). At one stage, she worked for National Mission Frontier Services from 1968 to 1986. See below for the eulogy at her funeral by Chris Tudor. (Frances died May or June 2008.)deaconess frances mckechnie; australian inland mission; presbyterian church

Thousands of families have lived in the Brimbank area over thousands of years Aboriginal families were here for over 40000 years The first migrant families came from England Ireland and Scotland in the 1830s to 1840s Many came in the gold rushes of the 1850s when the main tracks to the gold fields went through the Brimbank area New families arrived when the first industries developed in the 1870s to 1890s After World Ware Two there was a huge influx of new families to the Brimbank area especially St Albans and Sunshine Like the earlier migrants they often built their own homes and contributed to new schools churches local business and industry Why is the City of Brimbank called Brimbank? The name comes from Brimbank Park, the largest park in the area Opened in 1973 Before that the central part was Brimbank Farm owned by the Goudie Family in the 1870s to 1890s and later John Dodd and his family