This tuyere (word from French origin) was used by professional blacksmiths and or cattlemen before and during the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme was being constructed. The need to use a furnace or forge in the shaping of metal rods, horse shoes and pipes is both a rural necessity and a construction, on site requirement. The "inventiveness" of cattlemen and construction workers to produce metal objects not available "off the shelf" is one of the inherent traits not only of rural self sufficiency but in the "pioneer" days of rural isolation one of survival.This tuyere is of great significance to the Kiewa Valley and its regions because it highlights one of the greatest strengths of the rural (especially isolated) life and its folk living there, and that is the great human factor of adaptability and survival techniques in sometimes harsh and demanding environmental circumstances. The inventiveness and the attitude, "she'll be right mate", demonstrates life on the land where specialised blacksmith activities can be found in non "professionals" because of the fact that "someone" has to do the job. This is one of the differences between country "rural" life and that found in cities and larger towns.This iron cone shaped tuyere has a small hole (diamenter 25mm) starting within an ever enlarging cone (amplification of the air pressure going through) delivering varying hot or extremely hot air into a furnace or hearth which intensifies the heat to allow the "shaping" of metal objects. The larger "flared" cone extension allows for the directed air to be spread and not concentrated.blacksmith tool, tue, bellows, fashioning metal, forge manufacturing process

This bottle of castor oil was used during the mid to late 1900's when there was a Hospital in the Kiewa Valley, but regarded as only for serious injuries and near death situation. For this reason many households had a "first aid" box full of items such as this bottle of castor oil. Home based remedies for non life threatening injuries and illnesses were a part of life in a semi remote rural region. True and trusted family "health" remedies were passed from generation to generation.This Castor Oil bottle is very significant to the Kiewa Valley as it demonstrates the self reliance of the early farming and grazing pioneer families. Knowledge of "first aid" was uppermost to the survival of families before the late 1900's. Naturopathic remedies such as connected with the castor oil contained in this bottle, although may not be sanctioned by medical research, does not take into account of the positive "self healing" of the human mind (if you think it is doing you good it creates a positive action). Such preservation techniques were handed down through the generations.Medical Reference material was limited to books available and read and not not from "the internet" in the latter part of the 1900's. The availability of General Practitioners increased because of the boost in the population growth (SEC Vic Hydro Electricity Scheme) in the Kiewa Valley from 1940's onward. This small indigo coloured glass bottle has a narrow neck and a screw on lid.It has an embossed manufacturer's name and contents (Castor Oil) on one side and identification marks embossed on the underside base.medicine bottles, home first aid remedies, indigo glass medicine bottles

Ill, p.159.non-fictionThe soldiers experience of trench fighting in the First World war and their techniques for survivalworld war 1914-1918 - campaigns - france, world war 1914-1918 - military history

Robert Lawson Tait (1845-1899) was a Scottish doctor and surgeon instrumental in the development of gynaecology as a field during the 19th century. Tait has been credited "with introducing a number of gynecologic surgeries, or surgeries related to women’s reproductive health. Those included procedures for treating abscesses, removing ovaries, and fallopian tubes, and treatment of the gallbladder." He also "argued for strict cleanliness during surgery as well as a more specific focus on performing surgeries to treat diseases of the female reproductive system. Tait’s surgical techniques and advocacy not only aided in the development of hygiene in surgery, increasing patient survival, but also helped develop the field of gynecology, which contributed to a centralized focus on the health of the female reproductive system." (Arizona State University, Embryo Project Encyclopedia)Black and white reproduction of a portrait photograph. Photograph is of a man in a dark coloured three-piece suit, with a white shirt and striped tie. The man has mutton chop sideburns and long, dark hair, which is parted about his right eye. The man is looking to camera right. The image is in an oval cutout on a white background. Handwritten reproduction of signature beneath the photograph reads 'Lawson Tait/1891'. The photograph is mounted in white card and housed in a black wooden frame. There is an old object label attached to the back of the object. A sticker noting the framer of the image (Jarman the Picture Framer) is attached to the back of the work at upper centre. A wire and two hooks have been attached to the back of the frame for hanging.