On Tuesday 28th September 1937, to the applause and cheering of a crowd of more than 300 people, a ceremonial ribbon was cut with a ‘beautiful pair of silver scissors’ by Mrs W H Everard, wife of local MP William Everard. The ribbon cutting ceremony was to officially turn on the mains electricity supply to Whittlesea and district. The moment the ribbon was cut there was a ‘blaze of light’. There were initially 78 customers, including the Shire of Whittlesea which had contracted the SEC to supply street lighting in Whittlesea, Yan Yean, Mernda and South Morang (Advertiser, Friday 1st October 1937, page 1). This ribbon is possibly a fragment of the official opening ribbon that was stamped with the date and details of the switching on of electricity in Whittlesea and given to patrons. Commemorative Ribbons. Silk ribbon, white, stamped with details commemorating the switching on of electricity in Whittlesea on 28 September 1937.Whittlesea / 28 Sep 1937 / Electric Light / Official Switching on / Ceremony electricy supply, w h everard, whittlesea district

Typed below photograph, 'Mrs. H. Pump cutting ribbon at opening of Heathmont Railway Station, 1926. Written on back of one of the smaller copies, 'Mrs. H. Pump, cutting ribbon at opening of Heathmont Railway Station. Mr. W. H. Everard M.L.A.'

The new Central Park was opened on Monday, 21 April 1930 by Mr. W.H. Everard, M.L.A. followed by a sports carnival. The Advertiser reported on Friday, April 25, 1930 that – “Perfect weather prevailed on Monday for the sports gathering in aid of the recently-acquired park near the railway station, and from every point of view the day was a success. The Central Park contains 9½ acres, and has the Diamond Creek on one side and the railway line on the other. It cost £760, of which the council contributed £500, and the citizens, are finding the balance. Already about £80 has been spent in levelling, and a pavilion has been erected by the footballers, who will use the ground for training until it is sufficiently, improved for matches. There is ample shade along the banks of the creek, where there were numerous picnic parties. The committee has already done some planting on the railway side of the park, and where the trees grow on the higher side, overlooking the arena, the natural stand will have shade, command a view of the events, and have the trees on the banks of the creek in the distance. There were between 600 and 700 people present, many in motor cars having a little difficulty in, finding their way under the aqueduct to the ground, but the council is at present effecting improvements to the road. A merry-go round was a source of pleasure to the children, and the Northcote Soldiers and Citizens Band under Bandmaster Gore, de-lighted everyone with their varied selections of good music.” “Cr. E. J. Andrew, president of the Park Committee, said it was the first function held in the park, and although the citizens have guaranteed £420 towards it, there is still some-thing owing. Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A., who can always be relied upon to attend any gathering which draws the people together, said that he and Mrs. Everard had great pleasure in being present to declare the park open. He congratulated the Eltham people upon their public spirit, and the new park would be more appreciated in years to come. The other park is a splendid one, but it is far away, and one is required close to the station, so that young people can have a day's enjoyment, without having to go far from the station. The trouble in Victoria is not having enough parks. The early settlers did a lot in getting park lands, but the present generation is not doing enough. Eltham people are entitled to the highest commendation for their action, and Cr. Andrew and the council are to be thanked for what they have done. What is wanted is ingress and egress so that people can get in comfortably. When he was motoring in his wife said, "Surely you are not going down that precipice," and he replied that he would go anywhere where the people were. In the future it will be the big centre of Eltham.” Reproduced on page 96 of 'Pioneers & Painters'This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg 9 x12.5 cm printsepp, shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, eltham, eltham central park, automobile, central park, cricket match, pioneers and painters

Reproduced on p31 of 'Pioneers & Painters' Was destroyed in 1962 bushfire. Now Peter Franks Reserve, St Andrews On Friday 29th (August 1919) …, the Hon. S. Barnes, M. L. A., Minister of Mines, accompanied by Mr W. Everard, M.L.A., Mr. V. Dickson, secretary for Mines, and Mr. Merrin, Chief Mining Inspector, visited Smith's Gully for the purpose of opening, the new Government battery which has recently been erected. The party arrived punctually at 12.30, and was received by an assemblage of about 200 residents, including, those representing local prospecting and mining interests. At the mill house the Minister wished prosperity to mining on the old Queenstown field, and, in a few appropriate remarks, gave the battery the name of St. Andrew's. Then, as the stamps began to fall, three hearty cheers were given by the gathering. ….. The Queenstown field, dating back to the early sixties, might be regarded as a link that took them back to the Augustine age of gold mining in Victoria…From 1868 to 1918 the total yield of gold from the field was 274,606 fine oz. It might be that here, as elsewhere, deeper prospecting would give new life to the Queenstown goldfield. The miners of Queenstown, who through long year's had never lost faith in the possibilities of the field, felt that the purpose for which they were that day marked the beginning of a new era in the history of local reefing. …. The new mill is situated on the bank of the creek opposite the Queenstown Cemetery, and consists of a five head battery (Berdan pan) and 12 h.p. portable steam engine housed in a spacious structure of wood and iron. A concrete weir across the creek provides a good water supply, and all the necessary pumps, settling dams, etc., have been installed. Later on, should circumstances warrant it, it is pro-posed to erect Wilfley tables for concentrates. Eltham and Whittlesea Shires Advertiser and Diamond Creek Valley Advocate, Friday 5 September 1919, page 3This photo forms part of a collection of photographs gathered by the Shire of Eltham for their centenary project book,"Pioneers and Painters: 100 years of the Shire of Eltham" by Alan Marshall (1971). The collection of over 500 images is held in partnership between Eltham District Historical Society and Yarra Plenty Regional Library (Eltham Library) and is now formally known as the 'The Shire of Eltham Pioneers Photograph Collection.' It is significant in being the first community sourced collection representing the places and people of the Shire's first one hundred years.Digital image 4 x 5 inch B&W Neg Print 20 x 25 (2)shire of eltham pioneers photograph collection, queenstown, st andrews, st. andrews battery, gold mining, s. barnes, merrin, st andrews battery, v. dickson, william h. everard, peter franks reserve

Black and white photographs- 2 large, 2 smaller copies. Photograph taken outside Mechanics Hall, later Ringwood Town Hall, 1919.Back Row (L to R) T Hamilton, - , Claude Howship, F Wright, Alf Bloom, - , Harry Brewer Middle Row Herman Pump, J Aird, AT Clarke JP, H Pratt, A Milner, Bessie Mackinlay, Tilley, Stuart C Wallace, P Laurie, Nick Madden Front Row W Everard MLA, PT Young, - , A Kennedy, L Burghard, F Pollard Photographer was Darge, The Soldier's Photographer, 176 Collins Street, Melbourne

Black and white photographs (5 copies)Written on back of photograph: Names of Show Committee members- Front Row- L to R: A.W.M. Chalmers, J.B. McAlpin, T. Hamilton, W. Everard, Jack Hann. Middle Row- L to R: Tilley, Cr H. Hughes, Taylor, J. Aird, Charlie Lang, H. Brewer, H. Wilkins, D. Broben (Head Teacher), F. Wright, F. Rowlinson, H. Pump. Back Row- L to R: White, Bessie McKinley, W. McKinley, ?, ?. Show Committee about 1919. Front lower right corner states, "Sutcliffe, Pty. Ltd. Cromwell Bldgs. 366A Bourke St. Melbourne." Back of image states the photo was taken "At Mech. Institute, RWD."