From Police Camp to Pedagogue: Camp Hill Primary School No. 1976 Centenary 1878 - 1978. (1978). Wesley C. Harry and Edward C. Thompson. 42 pages. Includes b/w photographs. Turn to page 21 for information on the Camp Hill ghost. With IndexWesley Harry and Edward Thompsonbendigo, education, camp hill primary school, bendigo, gravel hill primary school no. 1976. education, schools.

Small white card with celluloid fron sewn onto the back. Narrow raised border around the edge. Blue & red flowers in an M shaped pattern. In the cnetre is an oval with 'Thoughts' embossed in gold. Underneath is printed in red & gold: 'Sweet Memory turns her pages old and pleasant. Card & insert held together with pale blue cord.British Manufactureperson, greeting cards, malone collection, malone collection, greeting cards

Three school boys standing at a table in the backroom of the library, where braille volumes and folders sit on shelves and a trolley rests behind them. On the work table rest some print Braille volumes. One boy smiles as he looks down at the open volume, which another boy is about to turn the page of. An illustration in the book sits opposite a Braille page. The third boy is looking downward at the clear Braille sheet which sits over a large image.1 black and white photograph of three boys looking at print braille booksbraille and talking book library, braille

Typed notes titled 'Let us Turn Back the Pages'. Notes tell the story of the Abriginal inhabitants, the Jajawerong Tribe, the effect the white settlers had on them and Mt. Alexander Sheep Run.document, names of bendigo pioneers, jajawerong, let us turn back the pages, john hattam, jajawerong tribe, goulburn tribes, loddon tribes, campaspe plains massacre, mr grice, latrobe library, mr charles sherratt, dr william barker, heape & grice, commissioner powlett, stewart & robert ogilvy gibson, frederick fenton, robert moffatt, dr hugh atkinson

Page turners were used in churches and synagogues to read Holy books, to turn pages in huge manuscripts and books (and later newspapers) as well as open double pages without a sharp knife (letter openers). This was from the home of W.J. Sebire in Wandin.A highly polished cream coloured long vintage celluloid page turner used for reading. It has a curved round ended long smooth blade which is paler than the darker short round pointed handle. Both sections have small dark brown fine floral designs on one side. There is a 3mm crack all round near where the handle meets the blade. On one side only are small dark brown floral patterns on the handle and one on the blade.page turners, holy books, celluloid

The Bendigo Municipal Library opened May 3rd 1950 in the Shamrock Hotel Buildings.Bendigo Municipal Library Calendar Book Mark: 2 x orange card with black print inside a scroll border is * Calendar Book Mark from Bendigo Municipal free Library. Hours of opening. Advertising as follows: Chemist Jack L. Lyons. Marie Salon Ladies hairdresser. Flowers by Lorraine. Reliant Watch Repair Service C.R. Harris. On the back again within the scroll border is * Calendar Book mark. Please handle books carefully. Do not turn down pages - Use This Book Mark. * Peter Cohn Shoe Repairer. Allen's Pets' Supplies.* Under the advertising is the Calendar for 1966/1967. Box 625Brochure Publishing Co.bendigo, council, libruary, bendigo library

The inscription in the book indicates that it once belonged to Edwin J Dale, who may have received it May 13th 1901, the date on the inscription. The album was made in Germany and has English, German, French and Spanish language on the fly page. It has 2000 pockets for holding stamps and is illustrated. The printer, Spottiswoode and Co., was established in 1738 by William Strahan, with premises in New Street Square, London. The growing firm advertised as Printers, Lithographers, Stationers, Electrotypers, Publishers, and Booksellers and by 1914 there were 1,000 employees.The stamp album is of Victorian vintage and shows that at the end of the 19th century people collected stamps. It represents the hobbies and past times of the people of that era.Illustrated Postage Stamp Album. Publisher: Lalso by CF Lucke, Leipzig, Germany Printer: Spottiswoode & Co Ltd, London Date: 1908 Red hardcover, illustrated with a robed figure image and text in English, German, French and Spanish. Book has information, advertising and pages divided into blank squares for attaching stamps. Some pages have cutouts where squares would have been, perhaps holding stamps. An inscription with the name Edwin J Dale, 13 May 1901 is on the first turned page..Inscription: Edwin J Dale, May 13th 1901" Cover: "Illustrated POSTAGE STAMP ALBUM" Inage on cover: "within a floral border, a robed figure wearing a winged helmet, holding a staff with two snakes in one hand, and a sealed letter in the other." Fly: "Registered" "Schaubeks Postage Stamp Album" "Victoria" "Briefmarken"[German - stamps] "Pour Timbres-poste" [French - for postage Stamps] "Para Selloyde Correo" [Spanish - for postage stamps] "With 1070 reduced illustrations, 2200 blank cases for stamps" (also in German, French and Spanish) "Made in Germany"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, illustrated postage stamp album, postage stamp album, stamp album, book, postage stamp, stamp, edwin j dale, may 13th 1901, stamp collecting, german stamp album, spottiswoode & co ltd, germany, cf lucke leipzig, cf lucke, leipzig

The pamphlet is about the history of the Anglican Church in Dederang.Historical: Dederang is a small community in the Kiewa Valley. Good interpretation for religion and community in Dederang and the Kiewa Valley.A foolscap sized sheet of white paper folded in half length-wise and turned side ways. Front page has title written in biro at top, a free hand sketch in biro of a church and words below. (biro may have been used over poor photocopy). Inside: A history of the church typed in black Back of book is blank.The Anglican church of Saint Andrew / Dederang / church sketch / Dedicated Septuagesima 1973 - all in biro In pencil hand written: one copy given to Wilma Oct. 1989anglican church. dederang. st andrew. religion. community

Walkabout magazine special annual issue December 1966. Price 50 cents. On the cover a view of the Olgas and at bottom presenting: "this Australia" big colour section. The magazine has 84 pages. Contents: Mail bag - Publisher's column - 1966 and all that - The small world of Jamesy rice - modern miners dig foundations of new Australia - Christmas Day - This Australia - Holiday, Australian style - Pages turned by children - Charlie delta tango - On the move - book reviews.book, magazine, travel

Malone Collection. Greeting card. Smll white card with a spray of small blue flowers on the left. The top right corner is blue and is like a page turned back with a dark blue ribbon holding it down. With all Good Wishes this Xmas is printed in blue except the 2 W's, G and X which are printed in gold. There are little scrolls on the letters. The card has a dark blue border on the top, bottom and right sides. The card and insert are held together with a pale blue bow. Given to Miss Malone.person, greeting cards, malone collection, malone collection, greeting card

This scrap book has been divided into 4 parts with different Cat No's to give better coverage of the articles & photos. There are 3 photos in the book that were loose in other material as well and are covered in Cat No's 8094, 8148.2P, 8149P. some pages have been cropped to give a better view. Page 1. The article covers the award of a Life Membership to Samuel John Ryan for his years and work in Committee, Executive, Welfare and State Council. Sam as known served on the Committee of the Bendigo RSL from 1963 - 1968, 1970 - 1973, President 1964 - 1967, Snr Vice President 1973. He was made a Life member in 1968, awarded the BEM (British Empire medal) in 1973 for his untiring RSL Volunteer work. Page 2a. Shows people in attendance at a Remembrance Day Service 11th hour, 11th day, 11th month in Bendigo, year unknown. The man on own with the Cross is Sam Ryan President Bendigo RSL Page 2b. Shows two unknown men with and ANZAC Appeal poster. Page 3a. The Winston Churchill Memorial Appeal from the Bendigo angle, from the left Sam Ryan Bendigo RSL President, The Mayor Cr N.J. Oliver and Mr R.. Shelmerdine National Deputy President and Victorian Chairman of the Appeal. Page 3b. On the left is Mrs H. Morey President of the Bendigo RSL Ladies Auxiliary, centre is Mrs W. Waters being presented with a Life Membership of the Auxiliary by the President of the Bendigo RSL Jack Plant. the year was 1969. Page 4a. Poppy Appeal shows Mr H. McDougall Committee Bendigo RSL selling Poppies pre Remembrance Day to Mrs S. Reilly and Mrs J. Johnson. Mr Ernie Jackman Appeals Officer states he is very happy with the results. Mr McDougall served on Committee Bendigo RSL from 1964 - 1969. For Ernie Jackman refer Cat No 8133.2P. Page 4b. A brief service "Battle of Britain" service held at the Soldiers memorial Institute, Mr Ray Rood (Foreground) read a message from Lord Tedder Marshall of the RAF. The men left to right are: Mr R.R. Anderson, Mr F Wright, Mr R.V. Brock, Mr A. Ramage and Mr G. Baker. Page 5a. Article re Bendigo RSL Appeals re nearly 500 collectors set to start tomorrow morning. On the right Mr Sam Ryan President Bendigo RSL handing out Authorisation sheets and Receipts to area captains. From the left, Messrs E.J. Bass (Air Force Association), R Patterson (Bendigo Jaycees) Aenior Constable A Booth (Police)and Mr J. Hall (YM Vikings) Page 5b. Presentation of two "Easy Chairs" to the Repatriation Centre Bendigo Base Hospital, From the left E. Jackman (Appeals Officer) J.T. Sullivan Snr Vice President, A.l. Nelson (Welfare Officer) J.K. Barnes (Secretary) S.J. Ryan (President) and Cr Alec Craig (President of the Hospital Management Committee). Patients trying out the new Easy Chairs are Mr V. Steinhauser and Mr R. Pearson. Page 6a. Presentation of Life Membership to H.A.W. Morey (Bert) by the State President of the RSL Brigadier W.H. Hall at the Bendigo RSL Annual Dinner in 1967, to the left of Bert Morey is Sam Ryan President of Bendigo RSL. Bert Morey joined the RSL back in 1921, became a member of Bendigo RSL in 1923, served on the Committee from 1938 - 1960, Snr Vice President 1958 - 1960. Page 6b. Bendigo RSL Annual Dinner 6.7.1968. The New President Mr W.B. Nicholls was unable to attend, the Snr Vice President C.J. Plant deputised for him. From the left front row, J.K. Barnes Secretary, S.J. Ryan Immediate Past President, C.J. Plant, The Mayor Cr R.W. Cambridge, D.J. Osborn Jnr Vice President. Back Row, J. King Treasurer, John Osborne & D. Mattiske representing the State President and Mr T.M. Stephens Deputy Commissioner Repatriation Department.Spiroflex sketch book with blank white pages used as a scrapbook with newspaper cuttings and photos relating to the Bendigo RSL, all are pasted in except one with stick tape, all photos are B & W, newspaper cuttings have turned a brownish colour. Page 1 inside cover, article re the award of a Life membership. Page 2. Article with two pictures and text re Remembrance Day, picture re poster for the Anzac Appeal. Page 3. Two articles with pictures re the Churchill Appeal and a Life Membership. Page 4. Articles with pictures re Anzac Appeal and Battle of Britain. Page 5. Two articles with pictures re Appeals and Welfare. Page 6. Two articles with pictures re Life Membership and RSL Annual Dinner.On Page 6 top article in blue pen, "67", on bottom article in red pen, "6.7.68"brsl, smirsl, scrap book

Thomas Hamilton Tracey Osborne was born at Belfast 4/9/1851, the son of Thomas Hamilton Trail Osborne and his second wife Eliza nee Treacey. The young Thomas spent many hours among seamen and ships at Port Fairy. He moved to Warrnambool and commenced work as secretary to the Western Steam Navigation Company becoming manager in 1883. After the company failed he joined with Mark Saltau and they traded as Saltau and Osborne. His other main interest was writing some of which he did under the nom de plume of Sliding Gunter. These articles appeared in The Warrnambool Standard and the Belfast Gazette. He was knowlegable and maintained an interest in shipping and the sea. He died in 11th December 1902 and his body was taken on board the Julia Percy and was buried at sea out from the Breakwater. He was well liked in the district and people lined the Cannon Hill area and the foreshore to farewell him. As an avid writer he corresponded with many people and this letter is one such letter. It relates to recollections of the wreck of the Maria in 1840 out of Adelaide and the loss of life which followed. Unfortunately the letter is incomplete.This letter is of interest as it is addressed to one of Warrnambool's interesting people at the turn of the 20th century. Thomas Hamilton Tracey Osborne has left a legacy of much written work which records aspects of Warrnambool's history as well as his interest in ships and seafaring. This letter shows he drew his information from various sources.One lined page of a letter written in black pen. A wide margin on the left side of the page . The back is blank.The letter is addressed to Mr T H Osborne. Date November 30th 1901.thomas hamilton tracey osborne, western steam navigation company, saltau and osborne, 1901 letter, wreck of the maria 1840

This volume belonged to Warrnambool lawyer, Con O'Mahoney, who lived in Warrnambool at the turn of the 20th century. He won the Bowen prize for essay writing in 1883. O’Mahony had a legal practice in Warrnambool in the Royal Chambers in Kepler Street at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. He was initially in a partnership with Messrs E.W. Klingender and Murray, then ,when this partnership was dissolved, he continued the business under the name of O’Mahony and later O’Mahony and Murray. He was actively involved in the management of the Warrnambool Mechanics’ Institute and was a member of the Warrnambool Hospital committee.This volume belonged to Warrnambool Lawyer, Con O'Mahoney, who was a prominent citizen of Warrnambool at the turn of the 20th century.This is a green hard covered volume of 220 pages. There is gold writing on the spine.Con O'Mahoney Sandhurst 15 Nov 1882con o'mahony, warrnambool lawyers

Augustus Bostock was the 9th child of Robert & Rachael Bostock of Vaucluse Epping Forest, Van Diemen’s Land. He was only 4 years old when his mother died. He was inspired by his father to seek his fortune in the Western District of Victoria. He arrived around 1850. He married Margaret Aitkin in July 1865. Augustus owned several properties in the district and leased others. He sat on the court of Warrnambool, Mortlake or Hexham as required. He resided at Marramook in Hawkesdale and later moved to Vaucluse in Hopetoun Road Warrnambool, where he died in 1920 at the age of 87. He was involved in many aspects of life in the Western District, racing, cricket, and social activities to name a few. Augustus Bostock worked as sheep classer for the Delatite station at the turn of the century. This is one of a number of documents which relate to the Bostock family who were one of the most important pioneering families of the Western District. They owned and leased various properties around Warrnambool and were involved in many aspects of social and business life.Small sheet of paper handwritten in black ink. “Delatite Mansfield,” printed at top of page. Signed E H Macartney. Dated 23.10.1902.augustus bostock, delatite station, warrnambool

This is a school reader used in the 1890s by Maggie Glasgow at Wangoom State School. This school opened in 1865 on the Warrnambool/ Wangoom Road as a Common School but it is now closed. Maggie Glasgow is probably Margaret Glasgow (1880-1954), the daughter of John and Esther Glasgow who were dairy farmers and cheese makers at Blackwood Hill, Wangoom. Jean Glasgow was the daughter of William and Isabella Glasgow who lived in the same area. The Warrnambool and District Historical Society has in its collection examples of the Glasgow butter moulds. This book is of interest as an early school reader for Victorian children. Used in the 1890s this book has some Australian content. The Glasgow children that used this book are members of the Glasgow families important at the turn of the 19th century as cheese makers in the Warrnambool district. This is a hard cover book of 400 pages. Several pages are missing. The cover is dark blue with ornamental patterning on the front and embossed lettering. The text contains many black and white illustrations, some of which have been coloured in by hand. The inscriptions and other written material have been handwritten in black ink and pencil. The pages are partly detached from the binding. ‘Maggie Glasgow, State School No. 645 Wangoom, 31/5/95’ (written twice) ‘Jean Glasgow’ ‘Dear old Mag’ ‘Isie wants a half holiday because L.W. got 20 for English’ maggie glasgow, jean glasgow, history of warrnambool

This ledger is unused but has been produced to be used as a financial ledger for an Australian business probably in the early 20th Century. This item has no known local provenance but is retained as a very fine example of a vintage business ledger. It will be useful for display.This book has a cover of wood which in turn is covered with brown suede and burgundy leather .There is an inset of the burgundy leather with gold printing and border in the centre of the front cover. The labels on the spine have been worn away. Insides of the covers are pages mottled with a burgundy pattern. The pages have black printing and are ruled with pink lines. The edges of the pages form a marbled pattern. 28,001 to 30,000warrnambool, ledger

This book covers all areas of Arithmetic for senior students. It has a lot of detail and is well set out. A variety of books would have been comparatively limited at the turn of the century when this book was published. H. L. Tonkin may have been a student or teacher from the Kiewa Valley circa 1918.Hard covered stained, faded greyish / blue book. Title embossed (in gold) on spine only and difficult to read.H. L. Tonkin (and more - too hard to read) - in pencil on first page. Pencil lines inside back cover.education, mathematics, arithmetic, school, h. l. tonkin

The introduction: "Skiing has been a sport in Victoria since the turn of the century. It has only been popular since the 1950s however, when the Alpine areas were opened up to commercial development."Employees of the SECV skied on the High Plains during the construction of the KHES. In 1946 the first lodge was approved by the SEC at Falls Creek. See Falls Creek pages 6-11 for details of amenities in 198048 pages held by 2 staples. 1980 Issue. Front Cover "Victoria has mountains of snow". In color - skier in front of trees laden with snow.Front cover in pen and underlined "J. Watson"falls creek ski resort, snow sport

Formerly KV113. The blacksmith's vice firmly holds hot iron while it is hammered, chiseled or twisted. It is the only vice that is designed to take this kind of use day in and day out.Used by blacksmiths in the Kiewa Valley.Formerly KV 113. Large 4 inch and heavy steel blacksmith's vice missing the handle bit that turns around making the jaws go in and out. Ref. Page 74 Tools for all Trades Catalogue.blacksmith's tool, vice, blacksmith's vice

Very old. Ref. Pages 6 and 7 Tools for all Trades Catalogue. The braces vary in quality (strength) depending on what materials are used to make them.The brace is a hand operated tool for boring holes in wood, consisting of a crank-shaped turning device. The brace that grips and rotates the hole-cutting tool, the bit.Used by woodworkers in the Kiewa Valley.Vintage hand drill braces. All different and not all complete. Made of cast iron, steel with wooden handles. The drills fit into one end of the brace which is turned to make a drilling motion. A brace is a hand tool used with a bit (drill bit or auger) to drill holes, usually in wood. Pressure is applied to the top while the handle is rotated.brace and bit, woodwork, hand drilling

Original owner: William John GARLAND, 5th Army Troop. Milne Bay 1942 - The Story of Milne - Force. From book cover: The 1942 battle for Milne Bay was a turning point in the Pacific War, when a garrison of predominantly Australian Infantry and RAAF Fighter Squadrons turned back a Japanese invasion force.Hard cover, cardboard, glossy finish, colour background blue to green with yellow layer. Blue / orange print front, white print spine, black print back. Front cover has black / white photo of bogged Japanese tanks. 496 cut, plain, white, pages. Black & white illustrations, photos, maps.book, milne bay, 1942

This police manual is bound as a binder, connecting upwards of 420 pages with metal rods inserted through the loose-leaf paper to form the spine. The outer hardcover, enclosing the book, its inner covers, and the metal binder mechanism, is brown board with leatherette spine binding. The inner cover is card with a bluje and yellow pattern decorating it; the inside of the outer cover also has a decorative pattern, in pink, blue, and white, which is peeling slightly on the front cover.non-fictionThis copy of the 1957 Police Manual was purchased from collectibles shop in Olinda by a previous manager of the Fernlea Shop of Opportunities. Fernlea was on the site of the original Emerald Police Station, so this police manual was acquired as a relevant tie to that history. It was in turn donated to the Emerald and District Museum when the Fernlea Shop of Opportunities closed in 2025. The manual was designed as a binder such that new pages could be added if regulations were updated or amended after publication - for example, one page was inserted with greater detail on radioactive materials. The book has five sections, labelled with tabs protruding from the fore-edge: 'Regulations', 'Determinations', 'Standing Orders', 'Index', and 'List of Amendments'. The index is a short section near the end using a different paper to the rest of the book, and the List of Amendments is an unmarked table, intended to catalogue amendments to the manual. The Regulations and Determinations sections are both sizeable, containing a significant number of various guidelines, but by far the largest section is 'Standing Orders'.1950s, policing

This booklet was in a box of items donated to the Orbost Op Shop by Orbost House. Orbost House, believed to have been established by the Macalister family around the turn of the 20th century was a boarding house in Lochiel Street, Orbost. A stapled paper handbook of knitting patterns for defence force knitwear. All Services Knitwear for the Navy, Army, Air Force, Mercantile Marine and Home Guard. Contains 27 pages in paper covers and states that it gives clear instructions for knitting all comforts required by Service men. . Contents include instructions for knitting mittens for the Navy, steering gloves for the Army, other gloves, socks, knee caps, wristlets, helmet with cape pieces for all services, ribbed helmet for the Navy, hospital stockings, scarf, service jacket and pullover and fisherman's sea-boot stockings. It is Illustrated with black/white photographs. knitting-patterns booklet handcraft

The first sod at Mt Helen Campus was turned in 1967, and the campus opened to students in 1970..1) One page of information relating to the turning of the sod for the Mount Helen campus, and a one page diagram of the seating and car parking arrangements. .2) Suggestions for the ceremony of "Turning the First Sod" at Mt Helen Campus by the Governor Generalballarat institute of advanced education, university establishment, e.j. barker, jack barker, turning the sod, mt helen campus, phil law, a.e. stohr, m.g. beanland, e.j. tippett, j. goodall, j.v. robertson, murray bryne, w.f. stephen, m.b john, winsome barker

In green cloth with a pasted-on colour lithograph illustration. Black and red titles with a black and white frontispiece. 304 pages. Book is in fair the boards show some use and shelf-wear. The front and back covers are worn with some staining and foxing. Corners are worn and holes in spine. Binding tight and text unmarked. Internally there is some light soiling. No Jacket. fiction"The story of the boy chums hunting the blue herons and the pink and white egrets for their plumes in the forests of Florida is full of danger and excitement. In this story is fully told how the chums encountered the Indians; their battles with the escaped convicts; their fight with the wild boars and alligators; and many exciting encounters and escapes. This is the third story of the boy chums' adventures." -- 1910. A.L. Burt. https://c.web.umkc.edu/crossonm/boychums.htmadventures, boys

This religious tract gives context in what was contained in Victorian mental asylum libraries at the turn of the 20th century. Reprint. Hardback. Blue cloth-covered boards. Gilt lettering on spine. Spine ends worn. Book title is worn away on spine. White flowers and green leaves stencilled on front paste down. 190 pages. Foxing and some finger-marks to page edges. D3 written in ink on the cover page. Some tears and fraying from use. religious text, religion

Full page newspaper clipping featuring the March 1965 Victorian bushfires. Items include: Photograph - TWO-WOMAN BUCKET BRIGADE, Mrs Henry Marsden (left) and Mrs Moureen Ellis, whose fire-fighting efforts yesterday were highly praised today by their Eltham neighbours, carry out mopping-up operations Photograph - DOGS MADE HOMELESS by the fire in North Eltham yesterday are being cared for at First-Constable Doug. Mummery's kennels at Eltham and here is kennel maid Helen Oliver, 17, with some of them today. The two basset hounds are owned by Mr Bill Guy who lost about 100 daschund and basset hound puppies and dogs in the fire. Photograph - He died at Eltham [Picture of John Lawrence Coleman] Builder Mr John Lawrence Coleman, 31, of Main Rd., Eltham, one of three men burnt to death yesterday in the fire at North Eltham. The other two were XXXXX, 33 who lives opposite the Colemans and Mr William Elwers, 64 of Batman Rd., Eltham. John Lawrence Coleman (1934-1965) born January 10, was the son of Raymond John Coleman and Hanna May (Gillet) Coleman. He married Margaret Frances Dare in 1955 and was the father of two children. He died whilst attempting to rescue an older man trapped in the bushfire at North Eltham on March 3, 1965 Other news stories of the day:  Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead (1965, March 4). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 1. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131758981 Includes two photos of the fire in North Eltham “Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham, Victoria. The smoke hides a house.” and “A house explodes into flames at North Eltham, Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up.” Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Thursday 4 March 1965, page 1 ________________________________________ Firemen make for safety as fire rages in Upper Glen Park Road. North Eltham. Victoria. The smoke hides a house. A house explodes into flames at North Eltham. Victoria. Firemen said bottled gas went up. Bushfires rage in Victoria, Snowy: Three dead MELBOURNE, Wednesday.—Three people died today in a bush» fire which raged through North Eltham, about 15 miles from Melbourne. The victims were three men. A fourth man is feared to be dead. Another bushfire. sparked off by the heatwave sizzling over south-eastern Australia, is burning out of control in the Kosciusko State Park, in the Snowy Mountains. Firefighters fear that if it reaches pine forests up the Yarrangobilly River, they will be powerless to stop it. The three victims of the North Eltbam fire were trapped by flames in a valley. Their bodies were found only a few yards apart. They were named by police tonight as Mr. George Crowe, 78, of North Eltham, William John Ewers, 64, and John Laurence Coleman, 31, both of Eltham. The other two have not been identified. They are believed to be a man aged about 40 and an 18-year-old youth. At least 12 homes were destroyed by the fire, the worst in Victoria since 1962, when eight lives were lost and hundreds of homes burnt down at Warrandyte. At one time the township of Eltham was threatened, but a cool change swept in from the south and held back the wall of flames. More than 100 dogs, worth about £4,000, died when the fire raced through two kennels in Short Street, Eltham. and Upper Glen Park Road, North Eltham. A trickle of water Residents ran into the streets as the blaze raced towards their houses. Others frantically dug firebreaks around their homes. Mrs. Sue Recourt wept when firemen arrived while she was vainly trying to stop the flames with a trickle of water from the garden hose. A stack of firewood was blazing, but the firemen managed to save the house and rescue four goats. Many homes in Eltham were saved after flames had crept to within feet of their fences. Students at North Eltham State School had to be evacuated when the blaze threatened the building. Fire fighters were severely hampered by lack of water and narrow roads. The blaze, which began in above century heat, turned toward Wattle Glen, where two houses were gutted. Then the flames raced towards Hurstbridge to the north. Firemen battling desperately, controlled the fire late this afternoon. Five forest fires were still burning in Victoria tonight.   IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority (1965, March 9). The Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), p. 2. Retrieved May 19, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131759928 Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 9 March 1965, page 2 ________________________________________ IN VICTORIA THIS WEEK Tragic lack of central fire authority From Rohan Rivett It was the worst week for Victorian fire fighters since Black Friday 27 years ago. On that day one pilot up in a spotter plane said afterwards: "It seemed at times that half the State was on fire." This time, for three days on end, Gippsland men, women and children had moments of conviction that their towns would have blackened into anonymity before the weekend was out. The week began with horror at Eltham on the North-eastern edge of Melbourne. Eltham today is something of an artists' colony. Oil painters, water colourists, potters and sculptors proliferate. A number of University folk have emulated the example of Professor MacMahon Ball who pioneered the way by moving to Eltham and carving a home out of the bush in the thirties. Innermost Eltham is barely 14 miles from the G.P.O. Farthest Eltham stretches miles beyond. It served to illustrate the tragi-ludicrous truncation of Victoria's fire control. Part of Eltham is under the protection of the Melbourne Fire Brigade. But this responsibility ceases at some invisible and incomprehensible line — apparently determined by the meanderings of the water mains. At this point everybody's property throughout the rest of Eltham is dependent on the Country Fire Authority. Half an hour before midday on Wednesday, a fire suddenly started on the West side of Upper Glen road on the edge of Eltham. Before the fire brigade could arrive, it was burning on a widening front through timber and high grass north of Eltham. Two wind changes in rapid succession saw the fire leaping Diamond Creek. With a freshening wind it struck home after home in three streets. More than one of them exploded suddenly as if hit by an incendiary bomb. There is no piped gas in the Eltham area, hence many housewives use bottle gas. The flames outside caused the bottles to explode. Altogether twelve homes were completely incinerated and four more were badly damaged. Thirty prize dogs perished. About three hours after the fire started it raced suddenly down a gully hillside trapping an elderly man. Two other men apparently raced to the rescue. Flames caught the three men within yards of each other, not 200 yards off the Upper Glen Park Road where safety lay. They were burned to death. Next evening an angry and convincing secretary of the Fire Brigade Union, Mr. W. M. Webber, came on television and appealed to the people of Victoria to end the ridiculous and dangerous dualism in fire-fighting control. The Eltham fire, he said, had precisely illustrated the situation. The Metropolitan Fire Brigade area touched Eltham, but where the fire had gutted and killed, was just outside its area. Mr. Webber said his union had constantly urged one authority for the State with a complete reorganisation of fire protection. On Wednesday the union had repeated its call for an inquiry into fire protection in Victoria to the Chief Secretary, Mr Rylah. "No matter how close the liaison between the two organisations, there are always divided sections of thinking," Mr. Webber told viewers. "I don't know how much tragedy the com-munity can take before it demands that it is properly protected." Rumours that differences in gauge between taps and hose nozzles (as between the two authorities) accentuated the damage were denied by fire chiefs who said that all appliances were now carrying adaptors so that hoses could be linked to mains everywhere. But there is grave concern in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's higher councils at the action of several Federal authorities with projects in and around Melbourne. They are installing non-standard equipment without reference to the State authorities or any dovetailing of appliances and equipment. Public alarm was not diminished by the publication on Friday and Saturday of a heart tearing letter from the young widow of John Lawrence Coleman, 31 year old father of two, who had died in the flames apparently trying to rescue the old man trapped in the gully. By that time, a Vast area of Gippsland was in flames and the troops had been sent in to back up the overworked and often helpless fire-fighters. By Saturday, the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Stoneham, who has previously demanded a Royal Commission into fire-fighting arrangements, repeated his demand. To add to the Chief Secretary's worries he was publicly rebuked for allegedly implying on television that lives had been lost at Eltham because people went to the wrong place at the wrong time. In a letter to the Press, Professor MacMahon Ball pointed out that two of the men involved were experienced bushmen who had gone "to help an old man in great danger fully aware of the danger to themselves". As Victoria faced its sixth day of total State-wide fire ban, it looked likely that even official resistance was not going to silence the demand for one central authority to control the fire fiend. At the moment, the 400 square miles where two million Victorians live in Greater Melbourne are divorced from the rest of the State in planning, communications, equipment and control of personnel. No one doubts the whole-hearted co-operation and willingness to back each other up of the M.F.B. and the C.F.A., both at top-level and among the firemen themselves. However, when a city straggles so deeply into the country side, the absence of a single authority, to oversee and analyse the fire threat as a whole, suggests suicidal policy of divide and fuel. Emphasis of the tragic loss of a member of a pioneering family who died whilst helping others in his communitybushfire, cfa, country fire authority, fire brigrade, glen park road, heroes, john lawrence coleman, north eltham, victorian bushfires - 1965, volunteers, william john elwers, fire fighter, frank martin, george john crowe, ken gaston, orchard avenue, doug mummery, helen oliver, mrs henry marsden, mrs moureen ellis