This item is from the ‘Pattison Collection’, a collection of books and records that was originally owned by the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute, which was founded in Warrnambool in 1853. By 1886 the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute (WMI) had grown to have a Library, Museum and Fine Arts Gallery, with a collection of “… choice productions of art, and valuable specimens in almost every branch and many wonderful national curiosities are now to be seen there, including historic relics of the town and district.” It later included a School of Design. Although it was very well patronised, the lack of financial support led the WMI in 1911 to ask the City Council to take it over. In 1935 Ralph Pattison was appointed as City Librarian to establish and organise the Warrnambool Library as it was then called. When the WMI building was pulled down in 1963 a new civic building was erected on the site and the new Warrnambool Library, on behalf of the City Council, took over all the holdings of the WMI. At this time some of the items were separated and identified as the ‘Pattison Collection’, named after Ralph Pattison. Eventually the components of the WMI were distributed from the Warrnambool Library to various places, including the Art Gallery, Historical Society and Flagstaff Hill. Later some were even distributed to other regional branches of Corangamite Regional Library and passed to and fro. It is difficult now to trace just where all of the items have ended up. The books at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village generally display stamps and markings from Pattison as well as a variety of other institutions including the Mechanics’ Institute itself. RALPH ERIC PATTISON Ralph Eric Pattison was born in Rockhampton, Queensland, in 1891. He married Maude Swan from Warrnambool in 1920 and they set up home in Warrnambool. In 1935 Pattison accepted a position as City Librarian for the Warrnambool City Council. His huge challenge was to make a functional library within two rooms of the Mechanics’ Institute. He tirelessly cleaned, cleared and sorted a disarrayed collection of old books, jars of preserved specimens and other items reserved for exhibition in the city’s museum. He developed and updated the library with a wide variety of books for all tastes, including reference books for students; a difficult task to fulfil during the years following the Depression. He converted all of the lower area of the building into a library, reference room and reading room for members and the public. The books were sorted and stored using a cataloguing and card index system that he had developed himself. He also prepared the upper floor of the building and established the Art Gallery and later the Museum, a place to exhibit the many old relics that had been stored for years for this purpose. One of the treasures he found was a beautiful ancient clock, which he repaired, restored and enjoyed using in his office during the years of his service there. Ralph Pattison was described as “a meticulous gentleman whose punctuality, floorless courtesy and distinctive neat dress were hallmarks of his character, and ‘his’ clock controlled his daily routine, and his opening and closing of the library’s large heavy doors to the minute.” Pattison took leave during 1942 to 1945 to serve in the Royal Australian Navy, Volunteer Reserve as Lieutenant. A few years later he converted one of the Museum’s rooms into a Children’s Library, stocking it with suitable books for the younger generation. This was an instant success. In the 1950’s he had the honour of being appointed to the Victorian Library Board and received more inspiration from the monthly conferences in Melbourne. He was sadly retired in 1959 after over 23 years of service, due to the fact that he had gone over the working age of council officers. However he continued to take a very keen interest in the continual development of the Library until his death in 1969. WARRNAMBOOL MECHANICS’ INSTITUTE Warrnambool's Mechanics' Institute (or Institution as it was sometimes called) was one of the earliest in Victoria. On 17th October 1853 a meeting was held where it was resolved to request the Lieutenant Governor of the Colony to grant land for the erection of a Mechanics' Institutes building. A committee was formed at the meeting and Richard Osburne chaired the first meeting of this committee. The land on the North West corner of Banyan and Merri Streets was granted but there were no funds to erect the building. The Formal Rights of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute's encompassed its aims and these were officially adopted in1859; "This Institution has for its object the diffusion of literary, scientific, and other useful knowledge amongst its members, excluding all controversial subjects, religious or political. These objects are sought to be obtained by means of a circulating library, a reading room, the establishment of classes, debates, and the occasional delivery of lectures on natural and experimental philosophy, mechanics, astronomy, chemistry, natural history, literature, and the useful and ornamental arts, particularly those which have a more immediate reference to the colony." The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute opened its first reading room in November1884 in the National School building at the corner of Banyan and Timor Streets. The Institute was funded by member subscription, payable on a quarterly, half yearly or yearly basis. Samuel Hannaford, the Manager of the Warrnambool Bank of Australasia, was the first Honorary Secretary of the Mechanics' Institutes, and an early President and Vice-President. He also gave several of the early lectures in the Reading Room. Another early Secretary, Librarian and lecturer was Marmaduke Fisher, the teacher at the National School. Lecture topics included The Poets and Poetry of Ireland', 'The Birth and Development of the Earth', 'The Vertebrae - with Remarks on the pleasures resulting from the study of Natural History' and 'Architecture'. In 1856 the Reading Room was moved to James Hider's shop in Timor Street, and by 1864 it was located in the bookshop of Davies and Read. In the 1860's the Mechanics' Institute struggled as membership waned but in 1866, after a series of fund raising efforts, the committee was able to purchase land in Liebig Street, on a site then called Market Square, between the weighbridge and the fire station. A Mechanics' Institute building was opened at this site in August 1871. The following year four more rooms were added to the main Reading Room and in 1873 the Artisan School of Design was incorporated into the Institute. The same year Joseph Archibald established a Museum; however it deteriorated when he was transferred to Bendigo in 1877. In 1880, with Archibald's return to Warrnambool, the Museum was re-established, and in 1885 a new building was built at the back of the Institute to accommodate the re-created School of Design, the Art Gallery and the Museum. In 1887 the Museum section was moved to the former court house in Timor Street (for some time the walls of the building formed part of the TAFE cafeteria but all is now demolished)). In 1911 the Museum was transferred back to the original building and the management of the Mechanics' Institute was handed over to the Warrnambool City Council. The Museum and Art Gallery became one and housed many fine works of art, and the Library continued to grow. The building was well patronised, with records showing that at the beginning of the 20th century there were between 500 and 800 visitors. During World War One the monthly figures were in the thousands, with 3,400 people visiting in January 1915. The Museum was a much loved Institution in Warrnambool until the contents of the Museum and Art Gallery were removed to make room for the Warrnambool City Council Engineers' Department. The contents were stored but many of the items were scattered or lost. When the original building was demolished the site became occupied by the Civic Centre, which included the new City Library. (The library was temporarily located in the old Palais building in Koroit Street.) In the process of reorganisation the Collection was distributed amongst the community groups: -The new City Library took some of the historic books and some important documents, historic photographs and newspapers. -The Art Gallery kept the 19th Century art collection and some of the artefacts from the museum. -The Historic Society has some items -The State Museum has some items -Some items were destroyed -Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village has old newspapers, Government Gazettes, most of the Mechanics' Institute Library, ledgers and documents connected to the Mechanics' Institute Library, some framed and unframed art works and some photographs. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute Library book collection is deemed to be of great importance because it is one of the few collections in an almost intact state, and many of the books are now very rare and of great value. The Pattison Collection, along with other items at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village, was originally part of the Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s collection. The Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute Collection is primarily significant in its totality, rather than for the individual objects it contains. Its contents are highly representative of the development of Mechanics' Institute libraries across Australia, particularly Victoria. A diversity of publications and themes has been amassed, and these provide clues to our understanding of the nature of and changes in the reading habits of Victorians from the 1850s to the middle of the 20th century. The collection also highlights the Warrnambool community’s commitment to the Mechanics’ Institute, reading, literacy and learning in the regions, and proves that access to knowledge was not impeded by distance. These items help to provide a more complete picture of our community’s ideals and aspirations. The Warrnambool Mechanics Institute book collection has historical and social significance for its strong association with the Mechanics Institute movement and the important role it played in the intellectual, cultural and social development of people throughout the latter part of the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The collection of books is a rare example of an early lending library and its significance is enhanced by the survival of an original collection of many volumes. The Warrnambool Mechanics' Institute’s publication collection is of both local and state significance. The Story of The Violin Author: Paul Stoeving Publisher: The Walter Scott Publishing Co Date: 1904Label on spine cover with typed text PAT 787.1 STO Pastedown front endpaper has sticker from Warrnambool Mechanics Institute and Free Library covered by a sticker from Corangamite Regional Library Service Front loose endpaper has a stamp from Corangamite Regional Library Servicewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, book, pattison collection, warrnambool library, warrnambool mechanics’ institute, ralph eric pattison, corangamite regional library service, warrnambool city librarian, mechanics’ institute library, victorian library board, warrnambool books and records, warrnambool children’s library, great ocean road, the story of the violin, paul stoeving

My Fair Lady, Capital Theatre, View Street, Bendigo. Commencing Wednesday, 14th November, 1973 for an eight night season. Souvenir Program for 50th Production. Bendigo Operatic Society, President: Mr J M Cannon, Vice President: Mr F Trewarne, Honn. Secretary: Miss A Ball, Hon. Treasurer: Mr L Spencely, Hon. Subscription Secretary: Mrs P Lyon. Committee: Mesdames I Brown, J Cannon, Misses P Speedy, M Welch, Messrs. J Beamont, J Boquest, G Daws. Photographs of Mr J Cannon, Max Collins, Carol McKenzie, John Beamont, Kathie Farn, Ralph Watkins, Patricia Lyon, Peter Pritchard, John Boquest, Russell Baxter, Max Rule, David Daenke, Gwen Grose, Diana Chon. Article on: Max Collins, Carol Mckenzie, John Beaumont. Synopsis of Scenes. Bendigo Operatic Society presents by arrangement with J C Williamson Theatre, Ltd., and Tams-Witmark Music Library of New York ' My Fair Lady.' Adapted from George Bernard Shaw's Play and Gabrial Pascal's Motion Picture 'Pygmalion'. Music by Frederick Loewe. Book and Lyrics by Alan J Lerner. Musical Director: Gwen Rose, Stage Manager Malcom Cannon, Wardrobe Miss M Welch, Choeography Miss M Welch & Mrs A Ball. Cast: Carol McKenzie, Max Rule, Kathie Farn, Ralph Watkins, John Beamont, Gary Burns, John Boquest, Russell Barter, Peter Pritchard, Patricia Lyon, Pauline Speedy, Jull James, David Daenke. Synopsis of Story. Bendigo Concert Orchestra from the following:- Violins: Mrs R Wheldon, Mrs A Boulton, Mrs M Robbins, Mrs C Messer, Mr C Gill, Mr P Phillips, Mr J Jordan. Violas: Mr E Jarratt, Mr J Werry. Cellos: Mrs C Bubb, Miss D Nankivell. Bass: Mr Chester White, Mr Tom French. Flute: Mr C Bubb. Clarinets: Mr R Holyoake, Mr G Ellul. Trombones: Mr W Neuman. Bassoon & French Horn: Mr Stuart Anderson. Trumpets: Mr D Aitken. Pianoforte: Miss Diana Cohn. Female Chorus: Marion Alcock, Wilma Baldwin, Mary Barbour, Valerie Barter, Gwen Cox, Shirley Dawson, Jo-anne Edgar, Dorothy Field, Valerie Griffith, Lorraine Hatch, Julie Howbert, Faye Hughes, Ruth Iredale, Sue Kemp, Dawn Mackay, Cheryl Marshall, Jull Matthews, Adrenne Nankivell, Fay Olive, Barbara Potter, Lois Semmens, Coral Rivett, Anne Truscott, Kathie Watson, Pamela Wiltshire, Marion Wright. Male Choras: Albert Charlton, David Aaenke, Graeme Dawes, Ken Deutchman, Jim Feteris, Philip Johnston, Hugh Sayle, Bryan Slattery, Len Symons, Fred Trewarne, Ian Unmack,Philip Wilkins. Ballet: Dianne Austin, Annette Bassett, Annette Galvin, Coral Rivett, Pam Sutton, Den Deutschman, Ian Unmack, Brian Slettery, Len Symons, Philip Johnston. Acknowledgements: Bendigo Advertiser, BVC 8, 3BO, 3CV. Publicity Officer: Mrs J Cannon. Scenery Design: Mr Malcom Cannon. Prperties: John Cannon, Jim Moncrieff, Gerard Fullarton, Peter Edgley. Art Work: M Cannon, Geoff Proctor, J Hall, Kerry Noakes, Michael Frayne, Mark Edebone & Pamela Caswell. Prompts: Mrs J Cannon, Mrs H Lindhe. Make-Up: Mrs J Cannon, B Downing, H Coia, Lighting: L Reed, H Bridges & T Vincent. Hairdressing: Ross Coiffure. House Managers: Basil Bennett, Ron Thomas, Bruce Ralph. Advertisments: Powneys Toyland, Golden Hills Motel 'The Inn', Marong Road, Bendigo. Ross Coifure Beauty Salon, Allans Walk, Bendigo. Don Semmens Photographic Studio, Hargreaves Street, Bendigo.program, theatre, bendigo operatic society, my fair lady, capital theatre, view street, bendigo. commencing wednesday, 14th november, 1973 for an eight night season. souvenir program for 50th production. bendigo operatic society, president: mr j m cannon, vice president: mr f trewarne, hon. secretary: miss a ball, hon. treasurer: mr l spencely, hon. subscription secretary: mrs p lyon. committee: mesdames i brown, j cannon, misses p speedy, m welch, messrs. j beamont, j boquest, g daws. photographs of mr j cannon, max collins, carol mckenzie, john beamont, kathie farn, ralph watkins, patricia lyon, peter pritchard, john boquest, russell baxter, max rule, david daenke, gwen grose, diana chon. article on: max collins, carol mckenzie, john beaumont. bendigo operatic society presents by arrangement with j c williamson theatre, ltd., and tams-witmark music library of new york ' my fair lady.' adapted from george bernard shaw's play and gabrial pascal's motion picture 'pygmalion'. music by frederick loewe. book and lyrics by alan j lerner. musical director: gwen rose, stage manager malcom cannon, wardrobe miss m welch, choeography miss m welch & mrs a ball. cast: carol mckenzie, max rule, kathie farn, ralph watkins, john beamont, gary burns, john boquest, russell barter, peter pritchard, patricia lyon, pauline speedy, jull james, david daenke. synopsis of story. bendigo concert orchestra from the following:- violins: mrs r wheldon, mrs a boulton, mrs m robbins, mrs c messer, mr c gill, mr p phillips, mr j jordan. violas: mr e jarratt, mr j werry. cellos: mrs c bubb, miss d nankivell. bass: mr chester white, mr tom french. flute: mr c bubb. clarinets: mr r holyoake, mr g ellul. trombones: mr w neuman. bassoon & french horn: mr stuart anderson. trumpets: mr d aitken. pianoforte: miss diana cohn. female chorus: marion alcock, wilma baldwin, mary barbour, valerie barter, gwen cox, shirley dawson, jo-anne edgar, dorothy field, valerie griffith, lorraine hatch, julie howbert, faye hughes, ruth iredale, sue kemp, dawn mackay, cheryl marshall, jull matthews, adrenne nankivell, fay olive, barbara potter, lois semmens, coral rivett, anne truscott, kathie watson, pamela wiltshire, marion wright. male choras: albert charlton, david aaenke, graeme dawes, ken deutchman, jim feteris, philip johnston, hugh sayle, bryan slattery, len symons, fred trewarne, ian unmack, philip wilkins. ballet: dianne austin, annette bassett, annette galvin, coral rivett, pam sutton, den deutschman, ian unmack, brian slettery, len symons, philip johnston. acknowledgements: bendigo advertiser, bvc 8, 3bo, 3cv. publicity officer: mrs j cannon. scenery design: mr malcom cannon. prperties: john cannon, jim moncrieff, gerard fullarton, peter edgley. art work: m cannon, geoff proctor, j hall, kerry noakes, michael frayne, mark edebone & pamela caswell. prompts: mrs j cannon, mrs h lindhe. make-up: mrs j cannon, b downing, h coia, lighting: l reed, h bridges & t vincent. hairdressing: ross coiffure. house managers: basil bennett, ron thomas, bruce ralph. powneys toyland, golden hills motel 'the inn'. ross coifure beauty salon. don semmens photographic studio.

The Herald on 10 August described the Festival offerings as: "Varied 10-Day Programme For Kew Arts Festival Opened last night, the Kew Arts Festival in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, provides an interesting and varied programme for the next 10 days. Today at 8.15 p.m. Mr George Bell and Mr Colin Badger will have a public discussion on "What Is Modern Art?" The Vice-chancellor of the Melbourne University of Melbourne (Mr JDG Medley) will preside. Tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. Junior students of the Methodist Ladies College, directed by Dorothy Dwyer. will show how they learn to speak and move on the stage, and will present three short plays. Tomorrow night Elise Steele and Violet Ewart (violin and piano) Beryl Batten (songs) and Edith Parnell (accompanist) will give a concert. Paintings and other works of art will be on show from 2.30 to 5.30 p.m. on Sunday. On Monday night. Mr Colin Badger will speak on "Dead Wood and Green Shoot: Australian Literature Today" and on Tuesday night there will be "Ballet in Story and Action"— the story told by Norman Macgeorge, with Joan Burnett as ballerina and Fred Manners-Sutton at the piano. Wednesday night will have an illustrated lecture "Contemporary Art Education." by John Bechervaise. Remaining nights will be taken up with a performance of Somerset Maugham's "The Circle" presented by the Little Theatre, a youth concert, and another concert with songs and piano. On Saturday morning, August 18, there will be a special concert for young people. The festival will end on Sunday week with a chamber music programme in the afternoon."Important local arts festival initiated during the Second World War and continuing till the early 1950s. The souvenir programmes produced for successive festivals are historically and artistically significant records of visual and performing arts practice in Melbourne during this period.11 page souvenir program for the Kew Arts Festival, held in the Recreation Hall, Wellington Street, Kew from the 9th to the 19th August 1945. The content of the program can be viewed through the image carousel.kew arts festival - 1945, visual arts - kew (vic), performing arts - kew (vic)

A photo of Jack Geoghegan holding the violin that is part of Melbourne Legacy's collection (see 00080) at The Shrine. The photo appeared in an article in The Age in 1989. One photo also appeared in the President's Highlights report in 1989. The caption of that photo says, 'Pensive thoughts for ex-prisoner of Changi Prison, Jack Geohegan when, as a guest of Melbourne Legacy, he was reunited with a very special possession kept in Legacy's care. Jack, whose signature is one of many, had not seen the violin since his days at Changi.' Background: This violin was played by VX30301 Dvr Roy Arnel, as a member of the Australian Imperial Force Concert Party, in the Changi POW camp, Singapore from 1942-1945. It is claimed that the violin, in its case was thrown over the wall by a Chinese civilian. Roy Arnel, a South African by birth enlisted on 7 June 1940 at Royal Park, Melbourne and served with 2 AASC Company as a driver. He was captured by the Japanese Imperial Army at the fall of Singapore in February 1942. There was more than one concert party in Changi as indicated on the rear of the violin. The details of the Dutch, British and American Concert Parties scratched in to the varnish. There are some well-known names scratched into the violin including: The English author and cartoonist, Ronald Searle; Australian entertainer, Frank Rich; and Australian Author, Russell Braddon. Mr Arnel died in 1982 and the violin was presented to Melbourne Legacy for preservation, safe keeping and display by his widow Mrs Florence Arnel in 1983.A record of a poignant reunion, Jack Geoghegan knew the violin while in Changi Prison and posed for photos on the Shrine to tell the story in The Age. Black and white photo x 3 of the Changi Violin at The Shrinechangi violin, pow, jack geohegan

An article in the Sun about the donation of the Changi violin to Legacy in 1982. It mentions that the violin was thrown over the fence at Changi prison and Mr Roy Arnel played it for the 3 and half years he was in Changi. When the war ended he went around the camp getting concert party members and friends to sign it. He died in January 1982 and his wife Netta contacted Legacy who had it restored by Roger Lewis. He said many of the parts were not original but had been made for it in prison. The notation H35 in red pen shows that it was part of the archive project that was trying to capture the history of Legacy. The text of the letter to President E J Larkin says: Dear Ed, I attach a press cutting which is self explanatory except that the violin has been given to me on behalf of Legacy by one of many widows - Mrs Arnel. I have discussed with 'Kem' Kemsley and others what we should do with this interesting relic. Kem has endorsed my fear that if it is sent to Canberra no-one will ever see it. The prospective War Museum in Victoria will not be ready for some years and could not handle it. I suggest that is be displayed 'pro?' at Legacy House until it could be passed to the Victorian War Museum. Both Mrs Arnel and Kem agree with this suggestion. I should be glad to make a display cabinet if Legacy agrees to the above suggestion. I shall be glad if you will return the cutting to me in due course. Yours sincerely Roger Westerback (?) 581.A record of the donation of the Changi violin to Legacy in 1982.White A4 photocopy of an article about the Changi violin published in the Sun in 1982 and a copy of a two page letter.Handwritten H35 in red pen. history, changi violin