4 x sympathy cards with various art work (1940's)

Standard sympathy cards sent by family acknowledging the loss of their sons killed during World War OneStandard sympathy cards sent by parents acknowledging letters of sympathy sent to them on the loss of their sons.2 Cards and one envelope stuck to white a4 paperEnvelope Addressed to Mrs J MC Intyre Elcho Lara Australia, includes a one penny stamp. Two standard printed Cards " Thanking you for your kind Sympathy ........." . One card from Mr. and Mrs. Lodge for the loss of their son Corporal James A lodge ( France March 26 1917) Little River and the other from Mr. and Mrs. J Duggan Lara on the loss of their son Private Horace James Duggan. (France 27th March 1918) For God, King and Country with the Australian and English flag.

Sympathy cards for the death of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" KIA on 15/11/41 on the sinking of HMAS SYDNEY by HSK Kormoran. Refer No. 2313P for Townsends service.Small white folded sympathy cards. 1. Double folded sheet with message inside in black writing and "Sympathy" on front. 2. 4 page card tied with black ribbon with flag and wreath on front and "In Remembrance" . 3. Double folded sheet with message on front "With Sympathy and deep regret". 4. Four page card with black ribbon. On front "Kindest Sympathy" over top some flowers. 5. Double folded sheet with "Sympathy". 1. From Mr. & Mrs. C.L. Stewart, East Melbourne. 2. From Rosemary Graham, Wedderburn. 3. From Veda Ashford. 4. From Mr. & Mrs Cowling, Bendigo. 5. From C. M. Crum, Bendigo.hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Sympathy cards for " Mervyn Clive Townsend" who was KIA on HMAS SYDNEY sunk by HSK Kormoran on 15/11/41. Refer 2313P for Townsends service.White Sympathy cards with black edges. 1. 4 page card. Australian emblem in silver on front and tied with a red, white and blue ribbon. 2. Folded cardboard sheet with message in middle and "Condolence" written on front. 3. Black edge card of 4 pages. Sympathy on front and tied with black string. 4. Four page card tied with black string with message on front within 2 circles. "Sent in True Sympathy". 5. Four page card tied with black and white ribbon and silver Australian emblem.1. From Phoebe McPherson, Bairnsdale. 2. From Arthur Austin. 3. From Mr. & Mrs. Perrara, Bendigo. 4. From Mr. & Mrs. A. Emerson, Bendigo. 5. From Mr. & Mrs. R.V. Skeely.hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Both brothers were KIA on the same day but in different battalions. Refer Reg No. 52.6 for their service details. A third brother Walter is KIA also, refer Cat No 51..1) Sympathy card, off white cardboard with purple script, purple insert coloured photo of R. G. SMITH, script on both sides. .2) As above for H.E. SMITH.sympathy cards, ww2

Letters and sympathy cards relating to the death of Mrs. S. A. (Nina) Bush. Approx 70 letters or cards.person, family, bush collection (family

Eighteen sympathy cards.To S. A. Bush on the death of his wife.person, individual, bush collection - personal

Sympathy cards to parents of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" KIA on sinking of HMAS SYDNEY by HSK Kormoran on 15/11/1941. Refer Cat 2313P for Townsends service.1. Folded Sympathy card with no message inside, only name and "With Sincere Sympathy" on front. 2. Cross, Flag and Flowers image on front. Four pages tied with black and white ribbon.1. From Russell Horie, written on back F.W. 2181. 2. From Mr. & Mrs E.J. Claridge, Ararat.hmas sydney, mervyn clive townsend, ww2, hsk kormoran

Cards in relation to the death of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" on the sinking of HMAS SYDNEY by the HSK Kormoran on 15/11/1941. Refer Cat 2313P for Townsends service.White Sympathy cards. 1. Double folded card with message inside "With Deepest Sympathy" over a picture of curtain in silver. 2. Decorated white card with religious image on front and tied with white ribbon. 3. Folded white card with black edges with picture on front of flowers and "Sincere Condolences" over top. 4. Folded double sheet also tied with black ribbon. Small poem handwritten inside.1. From W & S. Condon & family, Bairnsdale. 2. From Valda Rees. 3. From Mr & Mrs D. W. Streader, Bendigo. 4. From Mr & Mrs Schilling.hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Messages in relation to the death of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" KIA on sinking of the HMAS SYDNEY by the HSK Kormoran on 15 Nov 1941. Refer Cat No. 2313P for Townsends service.Folded white Sympathy cards for Mervyn Townsend. Sizes ranging from 13 x 8 to 10 x 8 cm. 1. Folded three sheets with message in middle. Cover says sent in Heartfelt Sympathy. 2. Folded 3 sheets with message in middle and cover saying "With Deepest Sympathy". 3. Folded 2 sheets with message in middle and cover sheet saying "With Sincere Sympathy". 4. Folded 2 pieces with inside message and cover sheet saying "With Sincerest Sympathy". 5. Double folded sheet with message "Peace, perfect peace and dove flying over a sun and picture of Lilies all in black." 1. From Mr. & Mrs. John Owen, East Melbourne. 2. From Norma D. Young, Bendigo. 3. From Mr. & Mrs. J. L. Horne. 4. From E. Casey & sisters, Murrumbeena. 5. From Mr. & Mrs D.J. Treage, Balwyn. hmas sydney, hsk kormoran, ww2, mervyn clive townsend

Photo No 1 details written, “Arthur Jefferson Lane Private, Croix de Guerre Belgium and Mentioned in Dispatches Killed in France April 25th 1918 age 21 years, beloved eldest son of Mr T.J Lane and the late Mrs Bertha Lane”. Photo No 2 details written, “And their second eldest son, William Gladstone Lane Private - Killed in Action France April 27th 1918 age 20 years - United in life and death”Card, Sympathy, folding, the front has a central wreath in black with crossed flags in colour, at the top “In Loving Memory”, inside has two pages with a photo each page, each with their military details, on the rear a note from the “Lane Family”.sympathy cards, croix de guerre

William BOLITHO No 3252 enlisted on 2.7.1915 age 18 years, embarked for Egypt 11.10.1915 then to France in 1916, No Known grave.Card, folding, colour, front has crossed flags, inside photo in circle inset with small note of thanks from the BOLITHO family, opposite page details re W BOLITHO and 4 lines.“In Memoriam - Pte William BOLITHO 6th Battn A.I.F - killed in France September 20th 1917 aged 20 years”sympathy cards, in memoriam

Items in the collection relating to George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his service details, award and death Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4136P..1) four page folding card, front cover has a map of Australia, crossed rifles, wreath, Corolla, inside has a short poem headed “He hath fought the good fight”. Next page a brief sympathy message with hand written entry in ink, a small black ribbon holds the pages together. .2) Yellowish envelope with two circular stamp marks, red 1 penny stamp and addressed in black pen. Envelope is stamped “20 NOV 2017.1) front cover,” A world of Sympathy”. Inside in ink from “Hilda C Stephens” .2) on front in black pen, “Mrs J Pierce Sebastian Post Office Via Bendigo”sympathy, cards, military

W.J.C.Harder, No 2096 enlisted 27.6.1916 age 19 years in the 3rd reinforcements 38th Bn AIF, embarked for England 25.8.1916, embark for France 20.12.1916, WIA 14.4.1917 GSW to back, rejoin unit 24.4.1917, transfer to 10th L.T.Mortar Battery 15.6.1917, hospital 3 days with diarrhoea then later 4 days with Debility, transfer back to 38th Bn 29.8.1917 and a month later detached to 10 L.T.M.Battery again, killed accidentally 24.2.1918. A report stated that on 24.2.1918 at 2 pm he was No 3 on a gun in the Warneton sector when a premature explosion in the barrel on the 26th shell killed him instantly. The letter/card to Mr J Pierce is the Father of George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his service details, award and death. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4236P for more items..1) Single one sided card with black edge. On the front are two flags at the top in colour. .2) Envelope with black edging, postage stamped and a red one penny stamp, address hand written in black..1) No 2096, Gunner William James Carl Harder accidentally killed in Action France February 24th 1918. .2) On the front in ink “Mr Pierce Sebastion”sympathy, cards, military.

Items relate to George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his service details, award and death. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4136P for more items..1) Four page folding card, front has an embossed map of Australia, central in gold a scroll, Rising Sun, crown and a wreath. Inside has a short poem headed by “Greater love hath no man than this”, next page a brief sympathy message, under in ink an entry by hand. A small string holds the pages together. .2) yellowish envelope with black edging, mail stamps and a 1 penny red stamp. Envelope dated 21 Nov ....... .1) On the front “ Duty - Valour - Honour”. Inside in ink from, ”Mr and Mrs F Stevens"sympathy, cards, military

The card relates to the death of George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his service, award and death. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4136P.Four page folding card, front cover has a set of flags with a cross and wreath, inside a short poem headed “he fought the good fight”, next page is a brief sympathy note and under a hand written note in ink, a small black ribbon holds the pages together.Front cover, “A world of sympathy”, in ink “To Mrs and Mr Pierce from Agnes.E.Staples”.sympathy, military, cards

The card relates to George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his AIF service, award and death. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4136P.Four page folding card, B & W, front cover has a peak hat, crossed rifles over a wreath, inside a short poem headed “He hath fought the good fight”. Next page is a brief sympathy note, under is hand written in ink. A black string holds the pages together.Front cover has, “AIF in Remembrance”, inside in ink from “Pte & Mrs J ........... & family, 12 ...........St Bendigo”.sympathy, military, cards

The cards relates to George Frederick Pierce DCM. Refer Cat No 4136P for his AIF service, award and death. Part of the collection of William (Bill) Thomason, refer Cat No 4136P.Four page folding card, front cover has crossed rifles over a town scene, inside a short poem headed “He hath fought the good fight”. Next page a brief sympathy message and under hand written in ink. A grey string holds the pages together.Front cover has, “In Remembrance”, inside in ink from “F.E.Carey, Captain Raywood Rifle Club”sympathy, military, cards

(a) A white sympathy card from Mr. & Mrs. Hobson To Mrs. O'Brien & family. Has a cotton tassel. (b) A white and silver wedding invitation. Mr. James McDonnell is requesting the pleasure of Mr. & Mrs. J. Wilson at the marriage of his youngest daughter Elizabeth to Mr. M.J. O'Halloran at St. Patrick's Church, Marong on Saturday, January 24th, 1925, at 1 pm. Is a stamped invitation. © The front of a sympathy card.Mr. & Mrs. Hobson, Mr. & Mrs. J. Wilsonephemera, mementoes, cards, lydia chancellor, collection, cards, sympathy card, wedding invitation, corrospondence, communication

Cards sent to parents of "Mervyn Clive Townsend" KIA on 15/11/41 on the sinking of HMAS SYDNEY by the German Raider HSK Kormoran. Refer Cat 2313P for Townsends service.Sympathy cards of various sizes and configurations. 1. Folded white card in form of envelope with "Kindest Sympathy" on front. 2. Folded white card "With Deepest Sympathy" on front and was from. 3. Folded green card in form of an envelope with Sympathy on front and message inside. 4. Double folded white card with picture of flowers on front.1. From Walter Rollev. 2. From Mrs Commons & Family. 3. From Mr. & Mrs F. Williams and Glen Wright family. 4. From Mr. & Mrs. John McLeod, Castlemaine.hmas sydney, ww2, melvyn clive townsend, hsk kormoran

These items came from the estates of Dorothy Ardlie (1910-1993) and her sister Agnes Ardlie (1915-1993). They are poignant mementoes of their sister Olive who died in 1912 of gangrenous appendicitis at the age of 6. The three sisters were the daughters of Arthur and Ethel Ardlie of Warrnambool, the granddaughters of the prominent Warrnambool lawyer, William Ardlie and his wife Mary and the great granddaughters of John and Mary Ardlie, pioneer Warrnambool settlers. These mementoes were kept by family members for over 100 years These items are of considerable interest as mementoes of a small child who died early in the 20th century and of the type of bereavement cards used at that time. .1 A black and white photograph produced as a post card. The subject is a young girl on a swing and holding a doll. The photograph has a hole at the top. .2 A bereavement card with black edging, black printing and handwriting in black ink. .3 A bereavement card with black edging and black printing. .4 A small envelope, much stained. This contains a small amount of a child’s hair. .1 Foyle’s Photo Card Liebig St. Warrnambool For Ethel in memory of her little playmate Olive Ardlie .2 In Affectionate Remembrance of Olive Mary Josephine Ardlie who departed this life 24th February 1912 Aged 6 Years .3 Mr & Mrs Arthur Ardlie return sincere thanks for kind sympathy in their great sorrow ‘Aroona’ Warrnambool .4 Olive’s hair, March 31st 09 3 yrs ardlie family, history of warrnambool

This is a card sent by the Fulton family in1922 thanking the Warrnambool Club members for their sympathy following a recent bereavement. The Warrnambool Club was established in 1873 as a gentlemen’s club and the Warrnambool Club building which still stands was erected in 1877. Percival Fulton, who lived at 54 Ryot Street Warrnambool, was aged 62 when he died. He was the son of General John Fulton and Ellen Fulton nee Wroughton and the husband of Charlotte Fulton nee Trollope and is buried in the Warrnambool Cemetery. This card is of interest as it has a social history showing the type of bereavement card used in the early 1900s – a plain card with a black edging. These cards could be purchased in bulk with a blank sheet for inserting the relevant details. The connection to the Fulton family and the Warrnambool Club is also of interest. This is a cream-coloured card with black edging and printed and handwritten material. It has a small slit in the top left hand corner indicating it has been pinned to a noticeboard or wall. ‘To the President and Members of the Warrnambool Club’ ‘Mrs Fulton and Family desire to thank you for your kind sympathy in their recent bereavement’ ‘Ryot Street, Warrnambool, November 1922’ fulton family, warrnambool club

This is a card sent by Mrs Whitehead in 1922 thanking the Warrnambool Club members for their sympathy following the death of Robert Whitehead. The Warrnambool Club was established in 1873 as a gentlemen’s club and the Warrnambool Club building which still stands today in Kepler Street was erected in 1877. The deceased Robert Whitehead was born in 1848 at Goodwood, Caramut and was a pastoralist. His second wife was Myrtle McFarland. Robert Whitehead is buried in the Tower Hill Cemetery.This card is of interest as it has a social history showing the type of bereavement card used in the 1920s – a plain card with a black edging. These cards could be purchased in bulk with a blank sheet for inserting the relevant details. The connection with the Warrnambool Club and Robert Whitehead is also of interest.This is a cream-coloured card with a black edge at the top left hand corner. It has handwritten and printed material. It has a small slit on the left hand corner indicating it has been pinned to a wall or noticeboard.‘To President & Members’ ‘Mrs Robert Whitehead desires to return sincere thanks for sympathy in her recent bereavement’ ‘Lami Lami, Liebig Street, Warrnambool, November 1922’ robert whitehead, warrnambool club, warrnambool, goodwood caramut

This is a card sent by Mr and Miss Robertson thanking the Warrnambool Club members for their sympathy following a recent bereavement. The Warrnambool Club was established in 1873 as a gentlemen’s club and the Warrnambool Club building in Kepler Street, still standing today, was erected in 1877. No information is available on the Robertson family except that they lived in Penshurst but it is presumed that Mr Robertson was a member of the Warrnambool Club.This card is of interest as it has a social history showing the type of bereavement card used in the early 1900s – a plain card with a black edging. These cards could be purchased in bulk with a blank sheet for inserting the relevant details. The connection with the Warrnambool Club and the Robertson family is also of interest.This is a small cream-coloured card with black edging. It has handwritten material on it written in black ink. It has a small slit in the left hand corner indicating that it has been pinned to a notice board or wall. ‘Sincere Thanks, President & members Warrnambool Club for deepest sympathy, Mr and Miss Robertson, and beautiful wreath in our sad trouble, Coolabah, Penshurst’warrnambool club, robertson family

This is a card sent by the family of Samuel McDonald in 1922 thanking the Warrnambool Club members for their sympathy following a recent bereavement. The Warrnambool Club was established in 1873 as a gentlemen’s club and the Warrnambool Club building in Kepler Street which still stands today was erected in 1877. Samuel McDonald, a Justice of the Peace, died in Malvern, Melbourne, at the age of 78. His wife was Eliza Spiers McDonald. Samuel McDonald was buried in the Warrnambool Cemetery so it is presumed he was a resident of the city at one stage.This card is of interest as it has a social history showing the type of bereavement card used in the 1920s. – a plain card with a black edging. These cards could be purchased in bulk with a blank sheet for inserting the relevant details. The connection to Samuel McDonald and the Warrnambool Club is also interesting.This is a small cream-coloured card with black edging. The card has printed material and a small slit in the top left hand corner indicating that it has been pinned to a notice board or wall. ‘The family of the late Mr Samuel McDonald return(s) sincere thanks for kind sympathy in their recent bereavement. December 1922’samuel mcdonald, warrnambool club

FRANK FLOWERS No 3512 enlistd in the AIF in 8th reinforcements 21st Batt on 12.7.1915 age 29 years 4 months. Embarked for Egypt 29.12.1915, transfer to the 60th Batt 26.2.1916 and allowed Regt No 3512A, hospital 14.3.1916 with Influenza and then Diarrehoea, embark for France 18.6.1916, reported missing 19.7.1916 then reported KIA same day. No known grave.A4 sheet with 3 x photographs & sympathy card inserted re the death of F Flowers 19.7.16.documents - cards, military history

According to the Australian War Memorial, "The Red Cross maintained a policy of ensuring that comfort and entertainment for the wounded in hospital was onging and stated in its Gazette of December 1917 'Wherever they are, our boys will have a reminder on Christmas Day that the thoughts and sympathy of their people in far-off Australia are with them.' The boxes were usually packed in Australia and contained 'a pipe, tobacco, cigarettes, chocolate, playing cards, match-box, handkerchief and an attractive card, Australian in nature, conveying greetings from the Society.' (Gazette no 7, January 1918)." This particular example dates to 1921, after the war had ended. It is apparent that the efforts of the Red Cross extended beyond wartime years, possibly to those still stationed overseas or returned servicemen and women.This box is an example of charitable gift boxes which were delivered to Australian troops during the war by the Australian Red Cross Society.Wood imitation printed card box in two parts, rectangular in shape fashioned from two pieces of card folded and stapled on shorter sides. Larger box (lid) fits on top of smaller box (base). Top of box has adhesive label with printed inscriptions, gold on light coloured label."GREETINGS/from/The/Australian/Red Cross/Society" a map of Australia with the states identified and capital cities "Perth", "Darwin", "Brisbane", "Sydney", "Melbourne", "Hobart", "Adelaide". To right of the map "Xmas/1921"christmas, holiday, gift giving, red cross, red cross society, returned servicemen, veterans, post war, world war i, first world war, the great war

Cards and notes received for different occasions - Get Well, Easter, Mothers' Day, Sympathymary elizabeth chatham, sympathy, get well, easter, chatham-holmes collection, greeting cards

A group of five men dressed in hats and overcoats look at caged cockatoos. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: On 25 June 1934, new Victorian Governor, His Excellency Lord Huntingfield and his wife Lady Huntingfield made an official visit to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens in order to grant his patronage to the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society. The zoo director, Mr. Andrew Wilkie, introduced them to the cockatoos in the flight aviary. The Argus newspaper reported the visit in the following morning’s issue: "Birds' Greeting To Governor. Visit to Zoological Gardens. "A Very Important Society." "Cheery shouts of "Hullo!" and requests for drinks greeted His Excellency the Governor (Lord Huntingfield) on one of his official visits yesterday morning. Lady Huntingfield, who accompanied him, was asked loudly for a kiss. They were inspecting the huge cockatoo aviary at the Zoological Gardens after Lord Huntingfield had granted his patronage to the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society. Both obviously enjoyed the democratic experience. It was explained to them that most of the cockatoos had been presented by residents of flats, whose neighbours objected to the noise of the birds, while others were protected birds which had been surrendered. Lord Huntingfield recalled that he had taken two Australian cockatoos to England when he left Australia in his youth. One, a galah, had lived in England for many years." In 1929, the Zoo built a commodious new flight aviary at the cost of several thousand pounds and Zoo director, Mr Andrew Wilkie, sent out an appeal published in newspapers Australia-wide for donations of parrots from all states. Many of the parrot species he wanted were protected and a special permit needed for their capture, however Mr Wilkie guaranteed he would obtain authority from the Fisheries and Game Department and that the cost of transit would be borne by the Zoo. The wanted birds were "Parrots - Black-tailed, Rock Pebbler, King, Superb, Grass (all kinds), Swamp or Ground, Mallee or Ringneck" and "Cockatoo[s] - Black, Pink or Major Mitchell, Gang-Gang". The Zoo asked that the birds be sent in boxes large enough to prevent overcrowding, contain food and water and the Zoo notified on the type and number of birds in transit. All boxes were to be addressed to 'The Zoo, Melbourne'. A letter from a reader appeared in the Weekly Times newspaper's popular "Camp-fire Circle" page for "Young Australians", 11 May 1929: "Dear Pal, I am much interested in your page, especially the nature notes. I have a pet parrot, but I don’t like to see it shut up in a cage, so I am giving it to the Melbourne Zoo. It can whistle 'Pretty Joey' and 'What's the Matter with Father' and is just learning to whistle for the dog... Wishing you and the Camp-fire Circle success." - Murray Holmes (Gorae, Vic.) The fate of this talented parrot is unknown, however in 1932, this young naturist, T Murray Holmes, 1912-1947, collected for the first time a type specimen, blue star sun orchid from Gorae (near Portland, Victoria), and it was named in his honour, Thelymitra holmesii. Murray was described by orchid collector W H Nicholls as "a youthful and energetic orchidologist, who added much to our knowledge of the orchids of south-western Victoria." Murray Holmes enlisted in the army in 1941 and fought in the Middle East before being sent to Java. In 1942 he was captured by the Japanese and became a prisoner of war for three years, working on the notorious Thai-Burma railway. Murray's health was undermined though ill treatment and starvation and he returned to Australia after the war, broken and sick. He died aged 35 in 1947. He was intensely interested in the flora and fauna of the Gorae area to the end. Murray's parents received over 200 tributes of respect for their son - too many to answer personally so they put a notice in the Portland Guardian thanking "all kind friends and relatives for letters, cards, floral tributes and personal expressions of sympathy received in their recent sad bereavement - the lamented death of their loved son, Murray." Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie, 1853-1948, was Director of the Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936 and was associated with the zoo for 70 years. He first worked as a horticultural assistant to Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller at the Botanical Gardens at the age of 13, along with his older brother David. One of Andrew’s jobs was to capture moths for the National Herbarium. In 1857, a group of prominent Melburnians assembled at St. Patrick’s Hall to form the Zoological Society of Victoria, with the aim of introducing animals and plants from overseas. It was conceived, “For the purposes of science and for that of affording the public the advantages of studying the habits of the animal creation in properly arranged zoological gardens.” The Victorian Government granted 32 acres (13 hectares) of land to the Zoological Society at the southern end of Richmond Paddock on the opposite bank to the Botanical Gardens. (This is where AAMI Stadium and Collingwood Football Club now stand.) In 1861, the Zoological Society of Victoria was renamed The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Unfortunately the Yarra River frontage was damp, swampy and subject to flooding, so the animals were briefly housed at the Botanical Gardens until in 1862, the City of Melbourne donated 55 acres (22 hectares) of land at Royal Park for the fledgling zoo. Baron von Mueller secured employment at Royal Park for Andrew and David and they helped to lay out the gardens, plant trees and take care of a collection of deer, pheasants, hares and partridges. Initially the zoo was used for the acclimatisation of animals recovering from the long voyage to Australia and for breeding them for sport. In 1872, the zoo bought two lions, a leopard and a cheetah that had been seized from circus showmen Keith and Phillips when they were unable to pay the bill of butcher Mr T K Bennet of Bourke Street. The first zoo director, Mr. Albert Le Souef, negotiated with captains of ships to buy animals at overseas ports they visited and soon a multitude of exotic species arrived, including a ten-year-old Indian elephant in 1878. In 1923, after being head keeper for some years, Andrew was appointed director of the zoo. By 1933, the zoo had 110 different species of animals, 200 species of birds and 72 species of reptiles under Andrew’s care. He had personally planted all but six trees and laid out the garden beds. As director he lobbied authorities for funds to build more humane enclosures for the animals. In June 1928, Table Talk magazine wrote of Andrew Wilkie: “Up at the Zoo there is a humble gentleman who is a lion among the lions, who knows the proper specific to employ when the boa constrictor has chilblains, and who is a friend and confidant of Queenie the elephant. His fount of zoological lore has never been plumbed. It is bottomless, like his good fellowship and geniality. Every day he may be seen somewhere in the grounds of that growing sanctuary for the strange and arresting fauna and creeping things of the world, and I assure you as one who is privy to his passion that that area and its inhabitants are rarely out of his thoughts.” Andrew retired from the zoo in 1936 at the age of 83 and in 1948 died at his home in Brunswick aged 94. He and his wife Josephine had six children. The Victorian Acclimatisation Society was founded in 1861 by Edward Wilson, 1813-1878, then owner and editor of The Argus newspaper. He said that Australian indigenous animals were practically useless, providing only “a little sport and an occasional meal”. The Society believed that Australia’s plants and animals were vastly inferior to those in Europe. They wanted to introduce and acclimatise to Victoria “all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental” for sport and for the table, and to spread indigenous animals and plants from the colony around the world. Their motto was “if it lives, we want it”. The Society was primarily responsible for introducing sparrows, starlings, sambar and hog deer, ostriches, brown trout, blackberries, and carp to the Murray River. They released the European songbirds, thrush and blackbird to quell the homesickness of British settlers. The Society also sent Australian animals like platypus, echidnas, kangaroos and koalas to Europe for scientific and novelty purposes. Thomas Austin, a wealthy sheep farmer of Barwon Park, Winchelsea (property now owned by the National Trust) was a member and in 1859 he introduced hares, blackbirds, thrushes and partridges onto his property. He is probably best known for introducing 24 breeding rabbits onto his estate as game for shooting parties. Thomas quipped, “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting." In 2022, genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population is entirely descended from these rabbits. Biological control has brought the rabbit population down from an estimated high of 10 billion rabbits in the 1920s to approximately 200 million today, inhabiting 70% of Australian landmass (5.3 million square kilometres). In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society was renamed The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and they focused on importing exotic animals for display purposes to the zoo. In 1937, the Royal Acclimatisation Society of Victoria was recreated as the Zoological Board of Victoria with a focus on research of native animals threatened with extinction. In an editorial for The Argus newspaper, 16 March 1856, Edward Wilson lamented: "...this country has been shamelessly stolen from the blacks. Had they been like the New Zealanders or the North American Indians, we should have bought their land, and supplied them with the means of living when we took it... In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosion sublimate in their damper, and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with disease which has rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation. There are but a few of them left, comparatively. This is what we would do for that few. We would feed and clothe every one of them.” [Note: this last sentence is italicized in the original newspaper article text]. Lord Huntingfield, (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck) 1883-1969, Governor of Victoria 1934-1939, was a British Conservative Party politician and the first ever Australian-born Governor of an Australian state (although he was always considered British). He was patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and was acting Governor-General for six months during the absence of Lord Gowie in 1938. Lady Huntingfield (née Margaret Eleanor Crosby) 1884-1943, his American-born wife showed great interest in social welfare and the advancement of women and children. She was president of the City Newsboys Society and Patroness of the Girls Friendly Society. In 1937, rose breeder Alister Clark named a yellow hybrid tea rose for her. In 1940, the City of Melbourne opened the Lady Huntingfield Free Kindergarten in North Melbourne, now the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre. Lady Huntingfield died in London in 1943 after her house was bombed during a German airstrike. The Lady Huntingfield Memorial Scholarship was established after the City of Melbourne raised £1000 in a public appeal conducted in her memory for students undertaking a Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. It is awarded annually to this day. The Queen Victoria Hospital named a bed in her honour. References: Prominent Personalities ANDREW WILKIE (1928, June 7). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146562949 BIRDS' GREETING TO GOVERNOR (1934, June 26). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 6. Retrieved August 19, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10950051 Zoo Appealing For Parrots And Cockatoos To Fill Aviary For Children’s Instruction (1929, April 11). The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954; 1956), p. 31. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article275757361 LETTERS FROM READERS (1929, May 11). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 50. Retrieved October 6, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223183144 Correspondence. (1929, April 18). Corryong Courier (Vic. : 1894 - 1945), p. 6. Retrieved August 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article269039262 'Edward Wilson (journalist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(journalist) 'Thomas Austin (pastoralist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Austin_(pastoralist) 'The Acclimatisation Society was driven by misguided ideals about 'fixing nature' in Australia', ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-04/acclimatisation-society-introduced-species-history-listen/101588262? utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=safari Touching Canine Devotion. (1942, September 21). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), p. 1 (EVENING). Retrieved October 6, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64381989 OBITUARY (1947, August 11). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), p. 2 (EVENING). Retrieved August 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64412155 Family Notices (1947, September 11). Portland Guardian (Vic. : 1876 - 1953), p. 2 (EVENING). Retrieved October 10, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article64412476 'Thelymitra holmesii', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thelymitra_holmesii THE ABORIGINES. (1856, March 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 4. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4833244Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to zoo B42".zoos, governors, 1930-1939, cockatoos

Cards were sent by John Coleman in response to letters of support received after he injured his knee in 1954. He never played again. Thank you card on cream cardboard with rounded corners and message in calligraphy script printed in blue ink; message reads: "Sincere thanks for your kind expressions of Sympathy and Good-will during my recent football injury. I can asssure you it is deeply appreciated. John Coleman." Handwritten message in blue ink on back of card reads: "Thanks, Ray, for your very nice letter. The "Dons" are going along well now, don't you think. (Should make the four). Kind regards, John Coleman. essendon football club, john coleman