The lives and service of a pair of Great War nurses have inspired a collaboration that has led to a special Anzac centennial exhibition. 'Red capes and suitcases', at Beechworth's Burke Museum, features stories and memorabilia of nineteen nurses associated with Indigo Shire. Included are Rose Carter and Elizabeth Duncan. Both trained at Wangaratta hospital before volunteering to nurse in the Great War. Wangaratta family history researcher, Heather Lane felt an important story remained untold in the nurses' home communities and encouraged the museum to apply for a Veterans' Affairs grant to fund research. Colonel Jan McCarthy, who opened the exhibition, said that seven Australian nurses in the Great War were awarded the Military Medal rather that the Military Cross, as they were volunteers and served in a honorary capacity. Questions remained at the time about srving rank, gender and value. The matron-in-chief was accorded the rank of major but paid as a captain, while nurses ranked as lieutenant were paid as soldiers.A large newspaper clipping consisting of a title, five columns of text and four colour photos. The first and largest photo, directly under the title, is of two older women, both wearing red. The second photo is a small headshot of a smiling woman. The third and fourth photo are both at the bottom of the page and show smiling women, three and two of, respectively.ww1, wwi, world war one, wangaratta district hospital, chiltern, australian army, vietnam war, anne hanson, skillshare, the australian, peter rees, the other anzacs, north east, linda peacock, associate of the royal red cross, arrc, the queen, ali rowe, helen mcintyre, elisabeth modlia, agnes o'neill, julia smith, lesley browne

Inscribed Staff Nurse Rose Eleanor Carter A.A.N.S. of Chiltern, b.1886 Wangaratta, d.1951 Worn in 1918, also worn by younger sister Hester. Trained at Wangaratta District Hospital, served in India during WW1 On loan from Susan HeatherTwo pieces - undergarments worn by 2nd Hall nurse. One with bib and straps and button hole on waist. The other one with waist opening and five hooks, two rows of pleating above hem. Cotton. Stained."H Carter" and "Carter T" witten in ink on inside of waistbands. "CARTER" external waistband of bib garment.susan heather, rose eleanor carter, suitcase, shoes, hester carter, world war 1 nurse

The establishment of Kiewa Valley House, was a significant victory for residents and senior citizens in the Kiewa Valley district. Plans were laid in the mid 1970’s and a proposal was formulated for a 12 bed unit nursing home to be attached to the Tawonga District General Hospital. The need for an aged care facility in Mount Beauty was prompted by recognition of the high ratio of senior citizens residing in the area. At the time residents had to travel to Beechworth, Wangaratta or Wodonga for care. On June 6th, 1980, an appeal to finance a 12 bed nursing wing was launched at a public meeting in Mount Beauty The Hospital and Charities Commission’s development board finally approved the application for government funds to build the 12 bed nursing home in early 1981. The official opening of the nursing home was on March 6th, 1985. Opening of the lounge extensions occurred in May, 1993 Many local residents have taken advantage of facilities at Kiewa Valley House when they became unable to manage independently in their own homes. This has meant they did not have to face the stress of leaving the area and being separated from their local family and friends. Many SEC workers and their families have been residents of Kiewa Valley House over the years.Set of 6 colour photographs of Kiewa Valley House and original Tawonga District General Hospital in Mt Beauty 1 Kiewa Valley House, before extensions, with old weatherboard hospital in background 2 & 3 Official opening of Kiewa Valley House. 4 & 5 Gardens between Kiewa Valley House and Hospital 5. Kiewa Valley lounge extension 1. The original Kiewa Valley House, before extensions 2. No markings 3. No markings 4. View of the gardens between the weatherboard hospital and Kiewa Valley House 5. Walkway between Hospital & Kiewa Valley House 6. Kiewa Valley House Lounge Room extension tawonga district hospital, kiewa valley house, mt beauty district hospital

In the early stages of the Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme the State Electricity Commission took over the financial and construction responsibility of the Tawonga District General Hospital building at a cost of 27,000 pounds. This included the removal and re-erection of the ex-military Bonegilla ward from Wodonga while in addition they carried out all the necessary building works that allowed the hospital to operate as a functional unit. The work was completed and handed over to the Hospital Committee of Management on September 1, 1949. Local residents raised 3,400 pounds through fund raising. The balance was met by the SEC and the Hospital and Charities Commission. The initial project was to provide for a basic temporary hospital which was later to include an Operating Theatre, Offices, Store, Mortuary and a Nurse’s Home, until the establishment of a permanent medical premises. Following the opening, 455 patients were admitted to the Tawonga District General Hospital and 254 operations were performed in the first year. The hospital relocated to Mount Beauty in the former SEC administration offices located in the town centre. Official opening of the 18 bed Tawonga District General Hospital on April 29 in 1961. Kiewa Valley House nursing home was officially opened on March 6th, 1985, with a new lounge extension opening in May, 1993. Prior to this, residents had to travel to Beechworth, Wangaratta or Wodonga for care. The old weatherboard building was demolished around the late 1900’s to early 2000’s and replaced with a new modern brick building. Alpine Health CEO Mr Lyndon Seys oversaw the opening of the new Mount Beauty Hospital in November 2001 alongside Board of Management President Mr Andrew Randell, other board members and politicians.The Kiewa Hydro-Electric Scheme the State Electricity Commission played a pivotal part in the planning and initial funding of the Tawonga District General Hospital, with a view to providing medical support for its many workers on the Hydro scheme. Later, spouse and family members of workers were also able to access medical assistance. Many SEC workers and their families have received high medical care at Tawonga District General Hospital and Alpine Health and/or as residents of Kiewa Valley House over the years. A number of family members of SECV workers as well as other dedicated staff have provided high quality medical attention and support in all three facilities as nursing staff, support staff and volunteers. Many past staff members and their families still remain living in the Kiewa Valley area Set of 13 colour photographs of past nursing staff and support staff from Tawonga District General Hospital, Kiewa Valley House & Alpine Health 1. Marg Hickey, Barbara Clark & Margaret Ranton 2. Cheryl Clutterbuck & Rosemary Forrest 3. Margaret Ranton 4. Margaret Ranton holding unknown infant 5. Gwen Goss 6. Barbara Clark & Margaret Ranton 7. Margaret Ranton, Sue Zeinert & Jenny Piera 8. Margaret Ranton, Gloria Ryder & Jenny Piera 9. Sue Wesley, Ruth Barton, Margaret Ranton, Rosemary Forrest & Nola Henry 10. F Bogaski & H Sigmund 11. Maintenance Supervisor H Sigmund 12. Gardener Fred Keat & Handyman Joe Trezise (1977) 13. Nursing staff in new hospital 1-9 No markings 10 F Bogaski & H Sigmund 11. Maintenance Supervisor H Sigmund 12. Gardener Fred Keat & Handyman Joe Trezise (1977) 13. Nursing staff in new hospital tawonga district general hospital, kiewa valley house, alpine health

Margaret O’Loughlin was born in Beechworth at the old hospital in 1937. Her father was born in Greta West and Mother is from Timboon. Margaret spent her life in the Beechworth area where she was educated and worked at the post office in the telephone exchange. Working at the exchange gave Margaret a behind the scenes understanding of the community from working the switch board and connecting vital services such as the fire brigade, the doctor and mental hospital in Beechworth. This oral history recording was part of a project conducted by Jennifer Williams in the year 2000 to capture the everyday life and struggles in Beechworth during the twentieth century. This project involved recording seventy oral histories on cassette tapes of local Beechworth residents which were then published in a book titled: Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth century Beechworth. These cassette tapes were digitised in July 2021 with funds made available by the Friends of the Burke.Margaret O’Loughlin’s life story is significant to the Burke Museum as she was born and raised educated and worked in the district her whole life. She married and had three children. She was community minded and worked in the Post Office while her husband worked in the local mental hospital. As a family they then lived next to the Fire Station in the fire house and their knowledge of the township spans the 1900s. Margaret saw changes in the town from a communications perspective, working in the telephone exchange sending messages via Wangaratta and until a time that the exchange became automated. After that she continued working in a face to face roll at the Post Office and had an intimate knowledge of the town. Her husband worked for 31 years at the mental hospital, Mayday and the couple saw changes to the town and community brought about be World War II. This oral history account is socially and historically significant as it is a part of a broader collection of interviews conducted by Jennifer Williams which were published in the book 'Listen to what they say: voices of twentieth-century Beechworth.' While the township of Beechworth is known for its history as a gold rush town, these accounts provide a unique insight into the day-to-day life of the town's residents during the 20th century, many of which will have now been lost if they had not been preserved.This is a digital copy of a recording that was originally captured on a cassette tape. The cassette tape is black with a horizontal white strip and is currently stored in a cleat flat plastic rectangular container. It holds up to 40 minutes of recordings on each side. Mrs Margaret O'Loughlin /listen to what they say, beechworth, oral history, burke museum, post office, margaret o'loughlin, mayday, mental hospital, communications, fire house, telephone exchange

The Wangaratta Tin Kan Band, a significant part of local folklore, was formed mainly for the purpose of raining funds for the district hospital. The original drum was a discarded carbine tin, hence the band's name Tin Kan Band. The band was formed in 1914 by Syn Emery and was active until 1935. Music was important in this era for public and social functions. The instruments played were tin whistles, mouth organs, accordions, banjos, violins, guitars, drums, wash boards and anything that would make a musical sound; they often made their own instruments such as one string fiddles. Each band member had their own distinctive costume. The band members were mostly business men and shop owners who used their talents to entertain at public functions. They organized sports meetings, dances, concerts and anything that would help the hospital financially and in the depression of the 1930's; they were the mainstay that helped keep the hospital going. Very significant in local public and social functions and a part of local folk lore.The Wangaratta Tin Kan Band, a significant part of local folklore, was formed mainly for the purpose of raising funds for the district hospital. The original drum was a discarded carbine tin, hence the band's name Tin Kan Band. The band was formed in 1914 and was active until 1935. Music was important in this era for public and social functions. The instruments played were tin whistles, mouth organs, accordions, banjos, violins, guitars, drums, wash boards and anything that would make a musical sound; they often made their own instruments such as one string fiddles. Each band member had their own distinctive costume. The band members were mostly business men and shop owners who used their talents to entertain at public functions. They organized sports meetings, dances, concerts and anything that would help the hospital financially and in the depression of the 1930's; they were the mainstay that helped keep the hospital going. tin kan band syn emery music

Tribute of honor from the Carboor Welcome Home Committee and surrounding district, to Mr and Mrs John Nolan in appreciation of the service rendered to the Empire by their son Pte Evan Nolan who made the supreme sacrifice.- dated 1st February 1921. Service number 3436 Pte Evan Nolan aged 21 years died of wounds on September 20th 1918 in hospital at Rouen France. He served with the 59th Battalion and is buried at St Sever Cemetery in Rouen. Black leather bound folder with gold coloured writing in centre front of border. Folder contains a tribute document and photograph of soldier.To Mr & Mrs John Nolan Carboor 1st February 1921.pte evan nolan, carboor, wwi, 59th battalion