Cornelius Westh was presented with this award for attempting to rescue John James who was buried by a fall of earth in the Imperial Mine Hiscocks on 23 June 1891Record of an attempted mine rescue in the late 19th century by a prominent local citizenColoured, framed copy of an award presented to Cornelius Westh by the Royal Humane Society of AustralasiaGift of Christine Westh to Buninyong and District Historical Society February 1995mining, hiscocks, rescue, award, westh

Cornelius Westh was presented with this award for attempting to rescue John James who was buried by a fall of earth in the Imperial Mine Hiscocks on 23 June 1891Record of an attempted mine rescue in the late 19th century by a prominent local citizenFramed colour photograph of Royal Humane Society medal awarded to Cornelius Westh by the Royal Humane Society of AustralasiaGift from Westh family to Buninyong and District Historical Society February 1995mining, hiscocks, rescue, award, westh

Annual report of the Braille & Talking Book Library including Minutes of the AGM, Board of Director's Report, President's report and financial statements. Items also included are: the name change from the Braille Library of Victoria, the passing of Neil Westh and Mary Mitchell, the retirement of Miss Anderson and funds raised by the Sixty Niners, Reservoir and Altona auxiliaries.braille and talking book library, annual report, neil westh, mary mitchell

Articles in the annual report include: Burwood School acquiring a caravan to use as a mobile science lab, a Seminar on Rehabilitation for Employment was held, a profile of retiring President Charles Bennett who first joined a panel of doctors providing free services to blind people in 1931, became Honorary Medical Officer for the Institute in 1941 and President in 1951. Also included are articles on the Optacon, Carols by Candlelight and a small profile on Neil Westh.1 printed volume with photographsroyal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports

Articles include Life Governorship bestowed upon Alice McClelland for her 41 years of service, David Palmer Music Library given to library with terms of agreement signed by Hugh Jeffrey and Neil Westh (David Palmer Trust) and Captain Semmens and Dr Orr (BLV), sound system installed in and outside storage shed added to Hall, still operating at a deficit and with no reply from Free Library Service Board of Victoria on assistance, and decision to close of Ballarat branch of Braille Library and make it an Auxiliary for the Aged Blind with next year to be the final one.32 pages of text with drawingsbraille library of victoria, alice mcclelland, hugh jeffrey, neil westh, annual report

RVIB Auxiliaries raised monies for the organisation at a grassroots level, via a variety of meetings, fundraisers and events. To keep them in touch with head office and to let branches what other branches were doing across the state, regular newsletters were sent out. The conclusion of Rochester, Quambatook and Berwick groups, 70th anniversary celebrations for Donald, Portland, Traralgon and Winchelsea, celebrations at the RVIB Annual day, staff changes at RVIB, awarding of bursaries to tertiary students with a summary of each recipient, profile of Jean Hedington at Kyneton, the changing face of collection boxes and tins and Trudi Westh, and an overview of Carols.29 pages of text and imagesroyal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries

RVIB Auxiliaries raised monies for the organisation at a grassroots level, via a variety of meetings, fundraisers and events. To keep them in touch with head office and to let branches what other branches were doing across the state, regular newsletters were sent out. The final meeting of the Central Council of Auxiliaries at the home of Trudi Westh, and the winding down of the Leongatha, Essendon, Korumburra, Greensborough, Wodonga and Koo Wee Rup branches, the launch of the RVIB history book 'Lighthouse on the Boulevard' and an interview with RVIB client Karen Nelson about her upcoming book on her life story.20 pages of text and imagesroyal victorian institute for the blind, auxiliaries

From it's beginning in 1867, the Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind grew in size and its number of employees and benefactors. These bound volumes of annual reports contain the information sent to subscribers of the Institute and outline the notable events and difficulties facing the blind and the RVIB. This includes the increase of blind babies due to medical care of premature infants, interest free loans to help workers purchase homes, praise for Council of Auxiliaries chairwoman Augusta Tutton, establishment of the Blind Workers Retirement Fund, foundation of the Victorian Guild of Professional Blind, Headmaster Green offers insight into the routines and education of children in the nursery and school, listing of staff including portraits of George Findlay, Donald Forbes, Hugh Jeffrey, Neil Westh and Dorothy Nuske - first blind woman to receive a Bachelor of Music.1 volume bound with illustrations.royal victorian institute for the blind, annual reports, george findlay, donald forbes, hugh jeffrey, neil westh, dorothy hamilton

Black and white photograph (2 originals mounted on lightly embossed cardboard, 1 copy)Printed below photograph: "Back Row (from Left) - C. Ratten (First Aid), E. Connell, G. Kleehammer, L. Skurrie, G. Carmichael, A.V. McArthur (Hon. Coach), H. Pearce, K. Carmichael, W. Dooley, V. Rowe, L. Jones (Head Trainer). Centre - R. Clark, J. Rowe, G. McPhee, K. Pratt, C. Burns (Capt.), J. Miller (President), G. Lindsay, C. Treverton (Vice-Capt.), F. McArthur. Front - L. Jones, F. Westh, W. Weist, B. Rimmer." Image taken at rear of Fire Station- some firemen on the team.

The Conder Shield was sponsored by Major Wally Conder, a keen sportsman (amongst other occupations,) who sought to promote wrestling and boxing during his time as president of the Victorian Amateur Wrestling and Boxing Association. Presented to the winning club of the Inter-Club Gymnasium Competition, over a series of matches in individual athleticism. These included skipping, roller cycling and chinning bar, as well as light-weight, middle-weight and welter-weight wrestling. The clubs that vied for this shield were the Trojans (from the RVIB), Bonbeach Surf and Life Saving Club and Beattie's Physical Culture School. In 1934, the Trojans team consisted of Neil Westh, Charlie Bradley, A. McDonald, T. Hanlon, B. Cook and coach/captain V. Blucher. Mr Henry Vincent Blucher was a former police constable to lost his sight in 1931 due to a car accident, and who had previously held the title of Victorian novice middleweight. Metal plates on shield read: V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1933-34 Won by "Trojans" B.P.C.C. V.A.G.A. Inter-club gym contest 1935 Won by V.R.I. Gym Club Won by "Trojans" 1936 Won by "Trojans" 1937 Runners Up Bonbeach 1934 Runners Up Trojans 1935 Runners Up "Achilles" 1936 Runners Up "Achilles" 1937 Achilles Runners Up 1938 Presented by W.T. ConderImage of wooden shield with metal plaques and map of AustraliaInter-Club Gymnasium Competition conducted by Victorian Amateur Gymnasium Associationrecreation, royal victorian institute for the blind, awards

'The Years Between' is an oral history of RVIB 1866 - 1991. It was put together by Allan Nuske and Jamie Kelly and consists of narration and excerpts of oral histories from past staff/students. Through historical data and personal recollections, former students tell the story of how the institution developed under the changing approaches of teachers and other staff, the need to keep fundraising, being shipped to Olinda during the war, 153 MP3 audio recordings comprising a file for each section of the bookMany thanks to Alan Nuske, Betty Vinters, Jon Lock, Ross Johnstone, Simon von Saldern, Leo Hartman, Elaine Leahy, Mary Adams, Ben Quin, Kasia Graphics, Art Attack, June Treadwell, Jamie Kelly, Neville Kerr, Dorothy Hamilton, family and friends of Alan Nuske, Pam McAleese and Julie Brain.royal victorian institute for the blind, allan nuske, jamie kelly, alice mcclelland, john murphy, harry worland, dorothy hamilton, hugh jeffrey, violet arnett, ian cooper, harry finlayson, elaine leahy, joan neich, reuban ryan, neville kerr, e.e. (ted) petersen, neil westh, norman rees, charlie bradley, ethel sutcliffe, esme dunnell, margaret fialides, carol baxter, ben quin, graeme mcgowan, margaret bull, jim smith, dick sutcliffe, ray smart, george findlay, edward (ted) hanlon, david blyth, martin stewart, len stevens, oral history

This selection of images was shortlisted for inclusion in the book 'Lighthouse on the Boulevard' by Judith Buckrich. They include items from the State Library of Victoria collection, as well as those in the archives. The final edition of the book did not include all of them, but those that were have indications in the individual description page for each image. 59 scanned photographs of RVIB, blind people and buildingsroyal victorian institute for the blind, buildings, leal house, employment, tilly aston, aaron solomon, annie rose drummond, j.t. hogarth, neil westh, trudi westh, augusta tutton, jeremy king, robert toseland, mary pipczak, anita sun, maria robinson, george dyer, malcolm brodie, trevor anderson, david blyth, don draffin, bruce allen, kevin murfitt, peter ward, eileen ayre, rosanne cunningham, reverend william moss, david palmer, george findlay, ormond hall, blind soldiers

Oral history interview of Ted Petersen by Judith Buckrich, with Michele Prentice. Recorded as part of 'Lighthouse on the Boulevard'. Former students and staff recall their days at RVIB, the impact of what they learned and experienced there, and how the attitudes to blindness and low vision changed over the years. 2 audio recordings of recollections from former RVIB attendeesroyal victorian institute for the blind, oral history, judith buckrich, michele prentice, e.e. (ted) petersen, frank turley, bill casey, rehabilitation, association for the blind, esme dunnell, rvib burwood school, cathryn mckenzie, neil westh, terry davidson, harold fawell, blind workers union, employment, fundraising, alfred hospital, david blyth, s.w. hedger, dr charles bennett, charles douglas, jamie kelly, peter evans