Shows wheat from the field bin being transferred into the back of the truck for cartage. Markings: Wheat from field bin into truck. Used as a teaching aid.Agfacoloragriculture, farm, crop, wimmera, wheat truck, mouat crawford collection

Filling the truck with wheat from the field bin. Name on door of truck is D W L V Hewitt, Warracknabeal. A man in the back of the truck and one standing on the ground at the controls of the field bin. Markings: Wheat - farm bulk field bin to truck. Used as a teaching aid.Agfacoloragriculture, farm, crop, warracknabeal, wimmera, truck wheat, hewitt, mouat crawford collection

BHS CollectionMouat Collection - Farming in the Wimmera. Markings; Bulk wheat trucks waiting to be weighed. 6 SEP 64M. Used as a teaching aid.Kodakagriculture, farm, crop transport

2 Black and White copies of photographs of Lewis Lewis Motor Tourist Service vehicles from the 1930's, Under glass in 2 blonde wood frames with gilt edging, markings read 'Lewis Lewis REO 1930', 'REO 1932', 'Lewis Lewis Motor tourist service Boort 1920 to 1940 and owned Weighbridge for weighing wheat trucks - Lewis Lewis Bus Bean'organization, business, lewis motor service, lewis lewis, lewis motor service

black and white photos ( copies ) of newspaper photos and article. 2 photos of wheat carting with wagons, darught horses, railway sheds, bags of wheat, railway trucks, men. Handwritten across top or original paper : Bendigo Views - 1908' Printed in image ' at Prarie in 1908'topic, farming, prarie

James Wills of "Fintry" Lake Bolac carting bags of wheat with his International truck which was purchased for Goodall's, Mortlake. The truck was able to carry 35 bags of wheat.lake bolac, fintry, wills, internation truck, goodall, mortlake

From the Victorian Heritage Register statement of significance H0791 The Marmalake/Murtoa Grain Store, originally the No.1 Murtoa Shed, is located within the Murtoa Grain Terminal, adjacent to the grain elevator tower and railway line. The shed is 280m long, 60m wide and 19m high at the ridge with a capacity of 3.4 million bushels. The hipped corrugated iron roof of the shed is supported on approximately 600 unmilled hardwood poles set in a concrete slab floor and braced with iron tie rods. These poles are the reason for use of the term "stick shed". With its vast gabled interior and the long rows of poles the space has been likened to the nave of a cathedral. An elevator at one end took wheat from railway trucks to ridge level where it was distributed by conveyor along the length of the shed, creating a huge single mound of grain. Braced internal timber bulkheads on either side took the lateral thrust of the wheat, and conveyors at ground level outside the bulkheads took wheat back to the elevator for transport elsewhere. Wheat had been handled in jute bags from the start of the Victorian wheat industry in the mid nineteenth century. Bulk storage had been developed in North America from the early 1900s. NSW began building substantial concrete silos from 1920-21. In Western Australia, farmers' co-operatives, who had to supply their own bulk storage from 1934-5, pioneered the use of low-cost horizontal sheds of timber and corrugated iron for bulk storage. Following its establishment in 1935 the Victorian Grain Elevators Board (GEB) planned a network of 160 concrete silos in country locations, connected by rail to the shipping terminal at Geelong. By the outbreak of the Second World War there was a worldwide glut of wheat, and Australia soon had a massive surplus which it was unable to export. Only 48 silos had been established under the Victorian Silo Scheme so far, and wartime material and labour restrictions prevented progress with this scheme. The storage deficit had become an emergency by 1941 as Britain obtained its imports from North America, rather than over the lengthy and difficult shipping route from Australia. In 1941 the GEB, under chairman and general manager Harold Glowrey, proposed large temporary versions of the horizontal bulk storage sheds already in use in Western Australia. The proposal was approved by the Victorian Wheat and Woolgrowers Association, who considered the use of shed storages as a longer term proposition. After initial resistance from the Australian Wheat Board, some of whose members represented wheat bagging interests, the Commonwealth and Victorian governments agreed to split the costs, and Murtoa was chosen as a suitable site for the first emergency storage. The main contractor, Green Bros, commenced work on the No.1 Murtoa Shed in September 1941, deliveries of bulk wheat began in January 1942, and the store was full by June of the same year. In the following years the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (later CSIRO) conducted valuable research and experiment on the impacts and control of insect pests at the Murtoa No.1 shed. With these discoveries, and the development of more effective pesticides, use of the No.1 shed and the larger No.2 shed, erected in 1942/43, continued for many years. The No.2 shed was demolished in 1975. By the 1990s, pest resistance to pesticides and requirements for both pest free and insecticide free grain rendered open storage of this type unviable. The No. 1 store was also becoming increasingly expensive to maintain, and its use was phased out from 1989.Image of the Marmalake/Murtoa Grain Store which is of historical, architectural, scientific (technical) and social significance to the State of VictoriaDigital colour image of the interior of the Marmaduke . Murtoa grain storage facility better known as the Stick Shed. The shed was constructed in World War Two to store grain. The supporting columns are trees.marmalake, murtoa grain store, wheat store, stick shed, murtoa

Celebrating 125 years of Railway in WycheproofThe 28-09-1883 was a memorable date for Wycheproof for on that day the long-awaited official opening of the railway took place. It has been serving the district since then. In this booklet individual rail workers are acknowledged in a listing.Booklet of 14 pages - size A5. Sepia front cover photo depicts steam train hauling rail trucks up Broadway, Wycheproof, with early buildings and horse- drawn carriages showing. Back cover: Wycheproof Railway Station in its early beginnings - undated. Booklet celebrates the renovation of the historic Wycheproof Railway Station and 125 Years of Rail in Wycheproof. Chapters include: The Early Days, The Arrival of Rail, The New Century, Bulk Wheat and Million Bushell Silos, Railway Families and Workers, The Last Chapter , A new Era Begins. rail-wycheproof, bulk-wheat, railway-workers, station-renovation, steam-train

Tractor pulling a Massey Ferguson header, field bin, truck and station wagon in background, also a lady. Markings:White tape on bottom of slide reads; Wheat header working. Used as a teaching aid.Agfacoloragriculture, farm, wheat crop, tractor, header, harvester, wimmera, mouat crawford collelction

Filling bag with grain in the truck. Used as a teaching aid.PERUTZwimmera, wheat bag filling, mouat crawford collection

Cropping the grain being fed into truck carrying a grain bin. Header is a Massy Ferguson with registration JBV 437, truck registration is GDB 681. Used as a teaching aid.PERUTZcropping, wimmera, massey ferguson harvester, wheat

Black and white photo copied and enlarged from small photo which was part of a set produced in c.1948. Chris Clarke with his 1934 Dodge semi trailer and W Spicer in his 1930 International truck line up to unload wheat at Noske's mill. Noskes flour mill built in 1927 with extra silos added in 1940's.Photo enlarged by Vic Williams of Bendigo nephew of Chris Clarke transport driver. Noske's Flour Mill, with its commanding presence and towering silos, has long **dominated the Charlton skyline** and remains a significant landmark, even though it no longer mills flour. The mill's history is deeply intertwined with the development of Charlton and the grain industry of the surrounding district. The foundation for the mill's presence was laid in 1919 when Messrs Noske Bros. Pty. Ltd., already owning mills in Horsham, Nhill, and Murray Bridge, acquired G. H. Foreman’s Mill located by the Avoca River. The founder, **T. J. Noske**, was an early pioneer of flour exporting, expanding his milling business after unexpectedly acquiring the Horsham mill. ### A State-of-the-Art Operation The original mill by the river operated until August 1926 before being closed and dismantled. Plans were well underway for a **new, state-of-the-art mill** to be located at the former Cobb and Co site. In 1927, the new mill began operation. It was one of the largest in the state, boasting a capacity of three tons of flour per hour, a 250 h.p. diesel engine, and three initial silos. The mill quickly gained a reputation for **excellence** for both its design and its flour, which was sold successfully in local and overseas markets. ### Periods of Expansion and Trial The mill continued to grow, reflecting the importance of the local agricultural industry. Between 1940 and 1941, **nine new silos** were built, adding bulk receival points. In the record-breaking 1968 season, the mill received a colossal wheat intake of **695,000 bushels**. However, the mill also faced setbacks. On January 21, 1949, disaster struck when a **large fire** erupted in the storage shed, which contained 500 tons of bagged flour ready for export and new flour bags. The blaze was so intense that smoke was visible as far away as Wycheproof, and it threatened to destroy the entire mill. Thanks to the monumental efforts of the Charlton, St. Arnaud, Wycheproof, and Wedderburn Brigades, who ran the main pump almost continuously for 26 hours, the damage was contained, though the estimated loss was a substantial £60,000. ### Transformation of the Site At its peak, the mill was a major employer, providing work for approximately 65–70 men. But after over 45 years of operation, flour production at the mill ceased on October 25, 1973. Noske Industries Ltd. sought to adapt, converting the operation to a less successful stock feed production centre. In 1977, the **Grain Elevators Board** took over the site as a grain receival depot, building a large elevator tower that surpassed the height of the original buildings. The site eventually returned to private hands and, since 2000, has been owned and operated as a primary grain receival site for **GrainCorp**, cementing its continued, vital role in Charlton's agricultural life.Black and white photo copied and enlarged from small photo.charlton, flour mill, noske's, noske bros

Black and white photo copied and enlarged from small photo which was part of a set produced in c.1948. Chris Clarke with his 1934 Dodge semi trailer and W Spicer in his 1930 International truck line up to unload wheat at Noske's mill. Noskes flour mill built in 1927 with extra silos added in 1940's. Photo enlarged by Vic Williams of Bendigo nephew of Chris Clarke transport driver. Noske's Flour Mill, with its commanding presence and towering silos, has long **dominated the Charlton skyline** and remains a significant landmark, even though it no longer mills flour. The mill's history is deeply intertwined with the development of Charlton and the grain industry of the surrounding district. The foundation for the mill's presence was laid in 1919 when Messrs Noske Bros. Pty. Ltd., already owning mills in Horsham, Nhill, and Murray Bridge, acquired G. H. Foreman’s Mill located by the Avoca River. The founder, **T. J. Noske**, was an early pioneer of flour exporting, expanding his milling business after unexpectedly acquiring the Horsham mill. ### A State-of-the-Art Operation The original mill by the river operated until August 1926 before being closed and dismantled. Plans were well underway for a **new, state-of-the-art mill** to be located at the former Cobb and Co site. In 1927, the new mill began operation. It was one of the largest in the state, boasting a capacity of three tons of flour per hour, a 250 h.p. diesel engine, and three initial silos. The mill quickly gained a reputation for **excellence** for both its design and its flour, which was sold successfully in local and overseas markets. ### Periods of Expansion and Trial The mill continued to grow, reflecting the importance of the local agricultural industry. Between 1940 and 1941, **nine new silos** were built, adding bulk receival points. In the record-breaking 1968 season, the mill received a colossal wheat intake of **695,000 bushels**. However, the mill also faced setbacks. On January 21, 1949, disaster struck when a **large fire** erupted in the storage shed, which contained 500 tons of bagged flour ready for export and new flour bags. The blaze was so intense that smoke was visible as far away as Wycheproof, and it threatened to destroy the entire mill. Thanks to the monumental efforts of the Charlton, St. Arnaud, Wycheproof, and Wedderburn Brigades, who ran the main pump almost continuously for 26 hours, the damage was contained, though the estimated loss was a substantial £60,000. ### Transformation of the Site At its peak, the mill was a major employer, providing work for approximately 65–70 men. But after over 45 years of operation, flour production at the mill ceased on October 25, 1973. Noske Industries Ltd. sought to adapt, converting the operation to a less successful stock feed production centre. In 1977, the **Grain Elevators Board** took over the site as a grain receival depot, building a large elevator tower that surpassed the height of the original buildings. The site eventually returned to private hands and, since 2000, has been owned and operated as a primary grain receival site for **GrainCorp**, cementing its continued, vital role in Charlton's agricultural life.Black and white photocharton, business, noske bros, flour mill

Bendigo Advertiser "The way we were" from Monday, May 24, 2004. Long haul: Tom Steel's truck used for carting wheat on his Raywood farm.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Preliminary earthworks, wheat storage site/ June 4th (pencil, upper left)port of portland archives, wheat storage, portland harbour, construction

Port of Portland Authority archivesFront: (no inscriptions) Back: Wheat storage site, June 8th (pencil, upper left)port of portland archives, construction, wheat storage

BHS CollectionCutting the grass and loading into truck ready for ensilage.farming, wimmera, wheat, grass cutting, mouat crawford collection

Published: unknown, however, on 26 June 1935 a similar, but not the exact photo in the McKenzie Collection, was published in The Age: Published title: Shipping Victorian Flour to the East Published Caption: Flour and wheat figure prominently in all cargoes carried by ships trading to Chinese, Japanese and Eastern ports. Victorian millers are eager to extend lids outlet for their produce, and every opportunity is grasped. The pictures show Australian labourers unloading from railway trucks some of the 2300 tons of flour which will go into the hold of the Burns, Philp motor ship Neptuna for shipment to Hong Kong, while Chinese seamen are busy cleaning and painting the rudder post of the ship. Hard by the Neptuna, other ships are taking on flour for the East. Research by Project Volunteer, Louise McKenzie: The image was described by Hugh Bull on the rear of the glass plate as – “Lascars cleaning ships rudder 1933”. Basically, a “lascar” is a seaman. Image No. 032 in the McKenzie Collection shows two lascars perched on the rudder of a ship, with two others standing in a rowboat along side. They are dressed in baggy trousers and jackets and wearing caps. Across a very calm dock area is a single funnel ship with on-deck derricks. The rudder of the ship being cleaned is white, with large black roman numbering denoting the depth at which the ship is sitting, depending on whether it is loaded or empty. Whilst the exact photo in the McKenzie Collection has yet to be located in The Age in 1933, the date when it was taken, there is a photo published in The Age on 25 June 1935 which appears to be one of a series of photos taken on the same day, featuring lascars cleaning a ship’s rudder. It bears a striking resemblance to MCK 032, but it is taken from a slightly different angle. The 1935 published photo is a close up of a ship’s rudder being cleaned, with same style of roman numerals in black on the white of the rudder. One lascar is standing on the rudder, one is standing in a small clinker style rowboat, with its characteristic wooden overlapping hull planks, holding a broom; two more lascars are sitting in the bow and stern of the rowboat. The ship being cleaned is in a dock, as a wharf and warehouses can be seen in the background, the water is very calm, and there are two other ships moored nearby – one across the other side of the dock with a black and white hull and derricks on its deck, and one adjacent, with its mooring lines clearly visible. The lascars are wearing caps, baggy trousers and jackets. Compelling similarities therefore exist between the two images. Whilst it is difficult to positively identify the cultural background of these particular lascars in either photo, the newspaper article dated June 1935 advises they are “Chinese”. This is possibly because the ship they are associated with, the Neptuna, is reported to have sailed from Melbourne on this date, bound for Hong Kong. However, the men are probably from South East Asia. Wikipedia describes the term “Southeast Asia” as covering ” … the people of Southeast Asia from prehistory to the present in two distinct sub-regions: Mainland Southeast Asia (or Indochina) and Maritime Southeast Asia (or Insular Southeast Asia). Mainland Southeast Asia comprises Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar (or Burma), Peninsular Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam whereas Maritime Southeast Asia comprises Brunei, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, Christmas Island, East Malaysia, East Timor, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore. Additionally, Wikipedia “Lascars” states that “Lascars were sailors from the Indian subcontinent, South East Asia, the Arab world, British Somaliland and lands east of the Cape of Good Hope, who were employed to work on colonial merchant ships. The practice ran from the 16th century to the mid 20th century”. Indian seamen were used as early as the 16th century by Portuguese explorer Vasgo da Gama in his successful voyage to India, and subsequently by Portuguese ships in the 16th and 17th centuries. “Through the Portuguese and Spanish maritime world empires, some Indian lascars found their way onto English merchant ships, and were among the sailors on the first English East India Company (EIC) ships to sail to India.” In the 17th Century “When the English adopted the term "lascar", they initially used it for all Asian sailors on English-flagged ships, but after 1661 and the Portuguese ceded Bombay to England, the term was used mainly to describe Indian sailors specifically. The term "topaze" was used to describe Indo-Portuguese personnel, especially those from Bombay, Thana, Diu, Dammam and Cochin. The term "sepoy" was used to describe Indian soldiers in European service. The number of lascars employed on EIC East Indiamen was so great that the Parliament of England restricted their employment via the Navigation Acts (in force from 1660 onwards) which required that 75% of the crew onboard English-flagged ships importing goods from Asia be English subjects. The restriction arose due to the high rates of illnesses and death among European sailors on East Indiamen, and their frequent desertions in Asia, which left such ships short of crew for the return voyage. Another reason was the frequent impressment of European sailors from EIC East Indiamen by the Royal Navy in times of war“. The term “impressment” colloquially refers to “the “press gang” …”a type of conscription of people into a military force, especially a naval force, via intimidation and physical coercion, conducted by an organized group (hence “gang”). .. The large size of the British Royal Navy in the Age of Sail meant impressment was most commonly associated with Great Britain.”. (Wikipedia – Impressment). By the 20th century these sailors served on British ships under "lascar agreements", which allowed shipowners more control than was the case in ordinary articles of agreement. The sailors could be transferred from one ship to another and retained in service for up to three years at one time. “Lascars served all over the world in the period leading up to the First World War. Lascars were barred from landing at some ports, such as in British Columbia. At the beginning of World War I, there were 51,616 lascars working on British merchant ships in and around the British Empire. In World War II thousands of lascars served in the war and died on vessels throughout the world, especially those of the British India Steam Navigation Company, P&O and other British shipping companies. The lack of Canadian naval manpower led to the employment of a total of 121 Catholic Goans and 530 Muslim British Indians on the Empress vessels of the Canadian Pacific Railway, such as the Empress of Asia and Empress of Japan. These ships served in the Indian Ocean both as ANZAC convoy ships and in actions at Aden. The ships were placed under the British Admiralty as part of Canada's contribution to the war effort and all of the Indian men were awarded medals by the Admiralty, though none of them were delivered. In the 1950s the use of the term "lascar" declined with the ending of the British Empire. The Indian “Lascar Act” of 1832 was finally repealed in 1963. However, "traditional" Indian deck and Pakistani engine crews continued to be used in Australia until 1986 when the last crew was discharged from the P&O and replaced by a general-purpose crew of Pakistanis. The term lascar has been widely used to engender an element of exoticism in literature eg “Sir Arthur Conan Doyle created a Lascar foil to Sherlock Holmes in "The Man with the Twisted Lip" in 1891. Lascars aboard the ship Patna figure prominently in the early chapters of Joseph Conrad's novel Lord Jim. Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel A Little Princess features a lascar named Ram Dass. Also, Caleb Carr portrays two lascars as bodyguards for a Spanish diplomat near the end of The Angel of Darkness. In Wuthering Heights, it is speculated that Heathcliff, the main character, may be of lascar origin." (Wikipedia – Lascar) And what has become of these “forgotten heroes of the World Wars”? The South Asian Heritage Trust, which seeks to commemorate, mark and celebrate South Asian cultures, stories, and communities, published an article in July 2025 entitled – The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain. It particularly honours the role of the 80,000 lascars who served Britain in WWI, and the over 100,000 who served in the British Merchant Navy in WWII, and concludes: “The hardships faced by Lascars were profound. They were often assigned the most dangerous tasks, lived in substandard conditions aboard ships and, even after their immense contributions to the war efforts, many veterans found it difficult to secure the recognition, pensions and rights afforded to other veterans. Many were employed under ‘Asiatic Articles’, which offered less protection and lower pay than their European counterparts. Yet, their legacy endures. The multicultural fabric of areas like East London owes much to these early seafarers and settlers. The East London Mosque, established in 1910, became an important spiritual and community hub. Today, efforts to bring their stories out of the shadows are growing. The Museum of London Docklands features exhibits on their history. Memorials, such as the P&O headstone in Dover for the 22 Lascar crew members of the SS Maloja sunk in 1916 and the careful restoration of the Lascar War Memorial in Kolkata, serve as important reminders of the sacrifices. The journey of the Lascars – from their homelands, along dangerous wartime shipping routes, to the docklands of Britain – is a story of personal courage and of a rich contribution to Britain’s history and identity.” The ship MV Neptuna, mentioned in the 1935 article, had that year been purchased from a German company by Australian-owned Burns Philp, with Australian Government assistance, and it was instrumental in ensuring the shipment of rice from Vietnam to Papua New Guinea. Rice is still a household staple in PNG. Despite it being introduced into PNG more than 100 years ago, the crop has not been sufficiently integrated into the country’s traditional agricultural production system, and today PNG imports still account for nearly 98% of rice. (Spotlight Magazine Sept. 2016) The 1935 newspaper article states that the Neptuna is involved in moving flour for the East. Australian wheat exports began in 1845, but were not regular until the 1870s. New land clearing methods in Australia allowed large tracts of land to be cleared more efficiently – this included the invention of the iconic ‘stump jump’ plough. With the success of the wheat harvests, flour mills began to spring up around the country. By the 1870s, many large country towns had their own mills, with around 500 mills producing flour across the country. Flour exports were an important part of the wheat industry until around the 1930s. After the Second World War, many of Australia’s export partners (which were mainly in the developing nations of Asia) began setting up their own flour industries and the Australian product was no longer in demand. In 1942 MV Neptuna was being utilised for the war effort, and carrying depth charges and other armaments for Australia, when on 19 February it was sunk in a bombing raid on Darwin, and where part of her hull still lies. References: SHIPPING VICTORIAN FLOUR TO THE EAST. (1935, June 25). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204357218 Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), Tuesday 25 June 1935, page 11 Wikipedia, Clinker (boat building), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinker_(boat_building) Wikipedia, Lascar, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lascar Wikipedia, History of Southeast Asia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Southeast_Asia Wikipedia, Impressment, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impressment NEPTUNA LEAVES FOR CHINA WITH TOURISTS (1935, June 25). The Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 - 1954), p. 5. Retrieved July 23, 2025, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article244841163 National Research Institute SPOTLIGHT paper Vol 9, Issue 7, https://pngnri.org/images/Publications/Spotlight_No_9_Vol_7_-_201609_-_Sofe__Odhuno_-_Rice_Import_Quota1.pdf South Asian Heritage Trust, The Lascars: Seafaring Roots of Modern Britain, July 11,2025 : Royal British Legion. https://southasianheritage.org.uk/royal-british-legion/the-lascars-seafaring-roots-of-modern-britain/ Photographer notations on slide: "Lascars cleaning ships rudder 1933".lascars, ships, 1930-1939, employment, ethnic communities

The photograph was taken when railway land on either side of the tracks was used for recreational purposes and agricultural related activities. The local sports ground is on the RHS of the photograph and was used to stage a number of the town's events.A black and white photograph of a section of the two railway platforms and three sets of rail tracks with a stone bridge in the distance. Four rail carriages and eight goods trucks are on a railway siding near a wheat silo. There is open land on either side of the rail tracks.sunbury railway station, wheat silos, railways, macedon street rail bridge., george evans collection

Photos of horse drawn wagons loaded with wheat in front of Wimmera Flour Mill. Railway trucks in front of mill. William Frayne built and owned the mill (181-01). This photograph was taken near the railway station. Rail trucks indicate late 1870's, railway opened 1876.Two black and white photos of horses with loaded wagons. In the first photo there are 4 men and many loaded wagons in front of the wooden three-story mill. In the second photo there are six horses pulling a loaded wagon with bagged grain and driver seated on the load. stawell business industry farming

The wheat silo was erected on railway land on the west side of the railway line at Sunbury from approx 1970s - 1980s. It served as a grain storage provision for the local cereal farmers. With the expansion of the shopping centre the silo was dismantled to provide commercial development on the west side of the railway line.The wheat silo is a reminder of past agricultural industries that were carried out in Sunbury.A non-digital photograph of two trucks and a crane dismantling a metal wheat silo, which has been standing in an open area. A CFA pavilion is visible in the distance.wheat storage, silos, sunbury railway station, evans street

SUMMARY - Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Profile Melton Mechanics Institute Member 1935 - 1982i Trustee 1952 - 1982 Life Member 1968 Years of service – 47 years He constructed and provided a public address system which was used at Melton and district halls and sports grounds for a wide variety of community events including school sports, gymkhanas, theatrical productions and processions. Fire Brigade Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Melton State School, no 430 Committee – School Correspondent (secretarial and financial role) 34 years of Service Provided his Amplifier Equipment for events and the annual district School Sports from 1939-1973. Donated the House Athletic Shield Melton and District Historical Society 1968 – 1985 President and foundation member Willows Historical Park – supported the establishment of the park and contributed many volunteers hours in the construction and landscaping of the precinct Member, Western Metropolitan Groups of Historical Societies, 1980s Shire of Melton Councillor South Riding, 1969-1971 Member of the Water Trust Melton Uniting Church Melton Uniting Church (and its predecessors the Methodist, Methodist-Presbyterian churches). A lifetime association which extended from childhood when he attended Sunday school until his death in 1985. Member of the Presbyterian Board of Management for more than 25 years in which he held positions of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Board member of the Parish Council and Member of the Committee of Management. He was a Sunday school teacher 1933. Community development With Mr RC Butler met with Shire Council in 1937 to canvass residents to ascertain prospective Electric consumers in the district. Electricity was subsequently turned on at dusk on 20th December 1939. Melton Progress Association, including Melton Musical, Elocutionary and Vocal Competitions, Vice President 1939 1940 Melton Development Association, 1960s Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC)ii Carried out plane spotting at Shire Office and spotting tower in Melton and later from home until 1944/45. Agriculture and farming Progress and Better Farming Association, Melton. Honorary Secretary, 1935 Member, Agricultural Engineering Society Australia c1960-1985 A successful grower of wheat, oats and barley, he planted experiment plots and held Field Days on the “Darlingsford” property. He later diversified into other grains and sheep (wool and meat). He took a enthusiastic interest in agricultural engineering and was keen to introduce innovative ideas that improved the productivity of farms and farming practices. In the mid 1950 he conducted trials during harvest on the family property of the original mechanical hay fork built on a British Bedford truck by Bill Gillespie. This design was further refined in collaboration with the Gillespie brothers and resulted in the construction the hydraulically operated tractor mounted hay fork. The innovative design of the hay fork created interest from far and wide and was quickly taken up by farmers because it significantly reduced hand labouring of loading sheaves of hay with a pitch fork. His father established chaff mills in Melton, Rockbank, Parwan, Diggers Rest in the first decade of 1900 and in 1915 went into partnership with JR Schutt to establish the Schutt & Barrie Pty. Ltd. Chaff Cutting and Flour Mill in West Footscray. When it ceased trading in 1968 the directors were: Ernest W Barrie and Thomas L Barrie, R, A, and M Schutt. Awards Queens Medal, 1979 Rotary Award for Community Service, 1980 Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebrations contributions, 1985 Photographs of Bon Barrielocal identities, pioneer families

SUMMARY - Ernest W (Bon) Barrie, 1909 – 1985 Profile Melton Mechanics Institute Member 1935 - 1982i Trustee 1952 - 1982 Life Member 1968 Years of service – 47 years He constructed and provided a public address system which was used at Melton and district halls and sports grounds for a wide variety of community events including school sports, gymkhanas, theatrical productions and processions. Fire Brigade Melton Fire Brigade (and predecessor Bush Fire Brigade) Apparatus Officer, 1945 - 1953 Captain, 1951 - 1965 Mt Cotterill Fire Brigades’ Group Elected Group Officer, on the formation of the Group, 1967. As Group Communications Officer he operated the VL3 LY base radio station from home on a 24 hour basis for fire brigades of Melton, Rockbank, Sydenham, Diggers Rest, Toolern Vale, Truganina and Werribee. With his brother Edgar, he built the first Melton Fire Truck. It was housed on the family property until a fire station was constructed in the Melton township. Recipient of the Queens Medal, 1979 Recognised for 44 years of service on the Melton Fire Brigade Memorial Wall Plaque, dedicated May 2013 Melton State School, no 430 Committee – School Correspondent (secretarial and financial role) 34 years of Service Provided his Amplifier Equipment for events and the annual district School Sports from 1939-1973. Donated the House Athletic Shield Melton and District Historical Society 1968 – 1985 President and foundation member Willows Historical Park – supported the establishment of the park and contributed many volunteers hours in the construction and landscaping of the precinct Member, Western Metropolitan Groups of Historical Societies, 1980s Shire of Melton Councillor South Riding, 1969-1971 Member of the Water Trust Melton Uniting Church Melton Uniting Church (and its predecessors the Methodist, Methodist-Presbyterian churches). A lifetime association which extended from childhood when he attended Sunday school until his death in 1985. Member of the Presbyterian Board of Management for more than 25 years in which he held positions of Honorary Secretary and Treasurer, Board member of the Parish Council and Member of the Committee of Management. He was a Sunday school teacher 1933. Community development With Mr RC Butler met with Shire Council in 1937 to canvass residents to ascertain prospective Electric consumers in the district. Electricity was subsequently turned on at dusk on 20th December 1939. Melton Progress Association, including Melton Musical, Elocutionary and Vocal Competitions, Vice President 1939 1940 Melton Development Association, 1960s Volunteer Air Observers Corps (VAOC)ii Carried out plane spotting at Shire Office and spotting tower in Melton and later from home until 1944/45. Agriculture and farming Progress and Better Farming Association, Melton. Honorary Secretary, 1935 Member, Agricultural Engineering Society Australia c1960-1985 A successful grower of wheat, oats and barley, he planted experiment plots and held Field Days on the “Darlingsford” property. He later diversified into other grains and sheep (wool and meat). He took a enthusiastic interest in agricultural engineering and was keen to introduce innovative ideas that improved the productivity of farms and farming practices. In the mid 1950 he conducted trials during harvest on the family property of the original mechanical hay fork built on a British Bedford truck by Bill Gillespie. This design was further refined in collaboration with the Gillespie brothers and resulted in the construction the hydraulically operated tractor mounted hay fork. The innovative design of the hay fork created interest from far and wide and was quickly taken up by farmers because it significantly reduced hand labouring of loading sheaves of hay with a pitch fork. His father established chaff mills in Melton, Rockbank, Parwan, Diggers Rest in the first decade of 1900 and in 1915 went into partnership with JR Schutt to establish the Schutt & Barrie Pty. Ltd. Chaff Cutting and Flour Mill in West Footscray. When it ceased trading in 1968 the directors were: Ernest W Barrie and Thomas L Barrie, R, A, and M Schutt. Awards Queens Medal, 1979 Rotary Award for Community Service, 1980 Victoria 150th Anniversary Celebrations contributions, 1985 Service held at Melton Uniting Church local identities

FROM - R A NORTHFIELD of Noradjuha This horse-drawn wagon was owned and used by R. A. Northfield of Noradjuha, a farming district located south of Horsham in Victoria's Wimmera region. Wagons of this type were essential items of farm equipment during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, before motor trucks became widely available. Used behind teams of horses, wagons transported a wide variety of agricultural products and supplies, including bagged wheat, wool bales, hay, fencing materials, firewood, livestock feed and general farm produce. They also served as the principal means of moving goods between farms, railway sidings and rural townships. The heavy construction of the wagon reflects the demanding conditions of broadacre farming in the Wimmera, where large loads often had to be hauled across unsealed roads and paddocks. Such wagons were frequently used for decades and were often repaired and modified as required throughout their working lives. Significance: This wagon is significant as a representative example of the horse-powered transport technology that supported agricultural development throughout the Wimmera. Before the introduction of tractors and motor vehicles, wagons such as this formed the backbone of rural transport and were indispensable to farming operations. Its association with R. A. Northfield of Noradjuha provides an important local connection to one of the district's farming families and helps document the working methods employed on Wimmera farms during the horse-drawn era. The wagon demonstrates the craftsmanship of traditional wagon building and provides a tangible link to the period when horses supplied the primary motive power for transport and agriculture. As a surviving example of rural transport equipment, it contributes to the understanding of farming, settlement and community life in western Victoria.A substantial horse-drawn farm wagon constructed from timber and iron, mounted on four large wooden-spoked wheels fitted with iron tyres. The wagon features a rectangular timber tray with removable side rails and a robust undercarriage designed to carry heavy agricultural loads. Long timber shafts extend from the front axle assembly for attachment to a horse team. The wagon incorporates a turntable steering mechanism at the front, allowing the front wheels to pivot independently when negotiating corners. Iron braces, fittings and reinforcing straps strengthen the timber construction. The wagon displays considerable wear, weathering and evidence of long service in agricultural use.farm equipment, transport, northfield

Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to Zoo B42" Not published. Description: A group of men and one woman all dressed in hats and overcoats stand by a wire fence while watching an emu. Research by project volunteer, Fiona Collyer: On 25 June 1934, new Victorian Governor, His Excellency Lord Huntingfield and his wife Lady Huntingfield made an official visit to the Melbourne Zoological Gardens in order to grant his patronage to the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society. During the visit, zoo director Mr. Andrew Wilkie introduced them to some of the zoo’s inhabitants, including an emu. After the First World War, many returned soldiers took up the Government’s offer of land in the Soldier Settlement Scheme. Most of the veterans had little or no farming experience and much of the land offered was of poor quality, with blocks often too small to be viable. Many of the settlers had ongoing physical and mental injuries from the war. The Western Australian government allocated land to 5000 former soldiers but by 1929, one quarter of the men had already abandoned their land, unable to make a living. Not only was the world economy struggling with the Great Depression, but the settlers also had to contend with plummeting wheat and wool prices, crippling drought and rabbit infestation. The Scullin Government (Oct 1929-Jan 1932) had promised subsidies to the Western Australian farmers if they increased their wheat crops but were unable to pass the legislation in the Senate. The new Lyons Government (Jan 1932-April 1939) abandoned the legislation and the subsidies were never paid, bringing calls from Western Australia of secession from Australia. In October 1932, a deputation of soldier settlers from the Campion wheatbelt region in Western Australia, petitioned Commonwealth Minister for Defence, Western Australian Senator Sir George Pearce, for assistance. A mob of 20,000 emus were migrating to the coast after breeding and were gathering along the eastern side of the Number 1 Rabbit Proof Fence, attracted to the ripening crops and the dams the farmers had built. They were heading towards Campion, 303 kilometres east of Perth, eating and trampling the wheat, destroying the fences and letting the rabbits in. Having witnessed firsthand the effectiveness of machine guns in killing people in war, the former soldiers thought the guns would be ideal for killing emus. Sir George, wanting to demonstrate that his government was sympathetic to the settlers and hoping to quell Western Australian succession talk, agreed. However, he stipulated that no expense would be incurred by the Commonwealth Government and only active military personnel could use the machine guns. The farmers had to pay for the ammunition, food and accommodation for the military for the length of the operation. The cost for the ammunition was £50 for 10,000 rounds. Sir George also felt the operation would provide excellent target practice for the soldiers! The operation was headed by Major Gwynydd Purves Wynn-Aubrey Meredith, 1887-1975, of the Seventh Heavy Battery of the Royal Australian Artillery, and assisted by Sergeant S. McMurray and Gunner J. O'Halloran. They were equipped with two American-designed Lewis light machine guns and 10,000 rounds. Each magazine held 47 rounds of ammunition and the gun was capable of firing 500 to 600 rounds per minute with effective firing range of 800 metres. A cinematographer from British Movietone News accompanied the soldiers in order to record what was expected to be not only an easy victory but also useful propaganda for both the military and the Lyons Government. Emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae, meaning New Holland Racer) is a species of long-necked flightless bird endemic to Australia. The Tasmanian and the dwarf King and Kangaroo Island subspecies were hunted to extinction after the European settlement of Australia. It is the second largest bird in the world after the ostrich, standing up to 1.9 metres tall and weighing up to 50 kilograms. The Emu has long, powerful legs with three forward facing toes and is the only bird with calf muscles. It is able to jump 2.1 metres into the air and run 50 kilometres per hour. It communicates by drumming and booming through an inflatable neck sac which can be heard up to two kilometres away. Along with its tough hide and a body more feathers than flesh, the emu can be a tricky target. Emus had been a protected native species until 1922, when the government changed their status to “vermin” in response to the emus breaking down fences and destroying crops. Major Meredith told the press that Colonel Oswald V. Hoad of the 1st Cavalry Division NSW had especially requested he send 100 emu skins to replenish the plumage on his Light Horsemen’s hat tops. On the first day of the Emu War, 2 November 1932, Major Meredith spotted a mob of emus out of range of the guns, so he asked the farmers to use their vehicles to drive the emus towards the fence and the guns. The panicked birds split into small groups, kicking up the dust and scattering every which way. Only six were killed, though some were wounded. After that, the emus became very wary of humans. On 4 November, Major Meredith staged a dawn ambush at a dam. As 1000 emus approached to drink, the soldiers opened fire, killing 12 emus. After reloading, the gun jammed and the emus dispersed in all directions, and were not sighted again that day. The West Australian newspaper reported on 4 November 1932 that, “The emus have proved that they are not so stupid as they are usually considered to be. Each mob has its leader, always an enormous black-plumed bird standing fully six-feet high, who keeps watch while his fellows busy themselves with the wheat. At the first suspicious sign, he gives the signal, and dozens of heads stretch up out of the crop. A few birds will take fright, starting a headlong stampede for the scrub, the leader always remaining until his followers have reached safety.” In a later attempt, they mounted a gun onto the bed of a truck in order to chase and mow down the birds. However the truck couldn’t drive fast enough over the rough terrain and it was too bumpy to fire the gun accurately. The birds easily outran the truck except for one hapless emu who faltered while being chased and fell under the truck, its body wedging in the steering gear, causing the driver to crash the truck, and bringing down half a chain of the rabbit proof fence. RSPCA inspector Mr. Arthur Austin arrived with a rifle and knife in order to finish the work of the Lewis guns and dispatch injured emus. He said that while his society was sympathetic to the stricken settlers, he was anxious that wounded birds should not be left to suffer. Major Meredith told the inspector, “What speed can you run? You have to be better than Peter Pan if you want to catch wounded emus that make for the scrub.” (Racehorse “Peter Pan” had won the 1932 Melbourne Cup a few weeks earlier.) The commentator of the British Movietime newsreel uses a jocular tone to optimistically proclaim, “The scouts [emus] of the advancing army have keen eyesight, and in order to get close to the main body, our lads have to do some real stalking, with the enemy watching events through their periscopes raised up over the heads of corn... Instead of the birds ruining the farmers, tables are turned, there will be no more damage down here for many a day to come once the enemy is eliminated.” Emus proved tougher adversaries than expected, barely breaking stride even when badly injured from machine gun bullets, and the suspicious emus soon learnt to stay out of range of the men and their guns. Meanwhile, in the eastern states concern was being expressed about the cruelty of machine-gunning the native birds. Senator James Guthrie UAP of Victoria suggested that there must be “more humane, if less spectacular methods” of coping with the pests. People wrote letters to the newspapers to express their dismay at the inhumane methods used. R.F. Bellchambers from Humbug Scrub, 25 November 1932, lamented that, “At the present rate of extinctions, it will shortly be necessary to go to the Museum to see the remains of our fauna.” The Murchison Times published a letter on 16 November 1932 from “Clay Pan Joe”: “War on Emus. Slaughter of innocent birds would be more appropriate... The birds may be a nuisance and it may be necessary to destroy them, but why cause so much suffering amongst these innocent birds.” E.S. Playford of Norton’s Summit wrote to The Advertiser, 22 November 1932, that “...habitation on the earth would be impossible without bird life. Therefore, it is unwise to say that any bird is useless. Is sentiment dying? Are we so keen on personal gain that our lovely and unique birds have to be ruthlessly slaughtered in thousands and their bodies left rotting in the sun?” In Sydney, picture palace patrons expressed “considerable concern” after viewing the Movietone News newsreel of emus fleeing from the barrage of machine-guns, and wounded emus in the fields in Campion. The press had a field day, dubbing it the “The Emu War” and joking that the “Chicago method” was being used against the feathered foe. The Daily News newspaper published a cartoon depicting the emus outrunning and outsmarting the soldiers. In Parliament NSW Senator James Dunn called Sir George the “Minister for the Emu War”. Labor member Mr. Rosevear, midst great laughter, asked if the minister would consider declaring an armistice and withdrawing his troops from the Western Front. Prime Minister Joe Lyons was asked if medals would be struck for those taking part in the war. Labor parliamentarian Mr. A.E. Green declared any medals should go to the emus who had “won every round so far”. With the embarrassing press coverage and poor results, Sir George ordered a stop to the project on 9 November, and Major Meredith and the soldiers departed for Perth. The WA Premier Sir James Mitchell and the Campion farmers demanded they return, citing the continued destruction of crops and fences by the emus. Major Meredith and his two gunners were allowed to return on 13 November and seemingly having learnt from their previous experiences, had slightly more success this time killing emus. The operation finally finished on 10 December with Major Meredith reporting “definite kills” of 986 emus for 9860 rounds of ammunition, coincidentally and conveniently exactly 10% of the number of rounds used. A further 2500 birds were said to have died from their injuries and although this is a disputed figure, even if accurate, the ratio of rounds expended to emu casualties was thought too high to justify continuing. The operation barely caused a dint in the marauding mob of 20,000 emus. “There’s only one way to kill an emu”, one of the party bitterly remarked: “Shoot him through the back of the head when his mouth is closed or through the front of his mouth when his mouth is open. That’s how hard it is.” Australian ornithologist Dominic L. Serventy noted that “The machine-gunners’ dreams of point blank fire into serried masses of Emus were soon dissipated. The Emu command had evidently ordered guerrilla tactics, and its unwieldy army soon split up into innumerable small units that made use of the military equipment uneconomic. A crestfallen field force therefore withdrew from the combat area after about a month.” Major Meredith expressed the greatest of respect for the enemy. He said, “If we had a military division with the bullet-carrying capacity of these birds, it would face any army in the world. They could face machine guns with the invulnerability of tanks. They are like Zulus, whom even dum dum bullets would not stop." The Major’s official report stated that there were no human casualties in “The Emu War.” Emus are considered the victors of “The Great Emu War.” Western Australian farmers requested military assistance in 1934, 1943 and 1948, including using bombs, but the government refused. The bounty system instigated in 1923 continued, with farmers using rifles against their fleet-footed foe, with 57,034 bounties for dead emus claimed in six months in 1934 in Western Australia alone. 284,704 emus were killed in Western Australia between 1945 and 1960. The other most effective defence against the emus was the construction of a robust, vermin proof fence spanning over a long distance. Emus were formally protected in 1999 by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. It’s estimated there are between 625,000 to 725,000 wild emus in Australia in 2024. An emu and a kangaroo feature on Australia’s coat of arms, holding up a shield illustrated with symbols of the six states. The animals symbolise the nation moving forward as neither animal can walk backwards. Campion is now a ghost town. A book about the operation, “Letters from the Emu War” by J.A. Bryden was published in 2023 by Playtime Books. In 2024, an Australian film called “The Emu War” was released, starring Damian Callinan and Luke McGregor. Andrew Arthur Wellesley Wilkie, 1853-1948, was Director of the Melbourne Zoo from 1923 to 1936 and was associated with the zoo for 70 years. He first worked as a horticultural assistant to Government botanist Baron Ferdinand von Mueller at the Botanical Gardens at the age of 13, along with his older brother David. One of Andrew’s jobs was to capture moths for the National Herbarium. In 1857, a group of prominent Melburnians assembled at St. Patrick’s Hall to form the Zoological Society of Victoria, with the aim of introducing animals and plants from overseas. It was conceived, “For the purposes of science and for that of affording the public the advantages of studying the habits of the animal creation in properly arranged zoological gardens.” The Victorian Government granted 32 acres (13 hectares) of land to the Zoological Society at the southern end of Richmond Paddock on the opposite bank to the Botanical Gardens. (This is where AAMI Stadium and Collingwood Football Club now stand.) In 1861, the Zoological Society of Victoria was renamed The Acclimatisation Society of Victoria. Unfortunately the Yarra River frontage was damp, swampy and subject to flooding, so the animals were briefly housed at the Botanical Gardens until in 1862, the City of Melbourne donated 55 acres (22 hectares) of land at Royal Park for the fledgling zoo. Baron von Mueller secured employment at Royal Park for Andrew and David and they helped to lay out the gardens, plant trees and take care of a collection of deer, pheasants, hares and partridges. Initially the zoo was used for the acclimatisation of animals recovering from the long voyage to Australia and for breeding them for sport. In 1872, the zoo bought two lions, a leopard and a cheetah that had been seized from circus showmen Keith and Phillips when they were unable to pay the bill of butcher Mr T K Bennet of Bourke Street. The first zoo director, Mr. Albert Le Souef, negotiated with captains of ships to buy animals at overseas ports they visited and soon a multitude of exotic species arrived, including a ten-year-old Indian elephant in 1878. In 1923, after being head keeper for some years, Andrew was appointed director of the zoo. By 1933, the zoo had 110 different species of animals, 200 species of birds and 72 species of reptiles under Andrew’s care. He had personally planted all but six trees and laid out the garden beds. As director he lobbied authorities for funds to build more humane enclosures for the animals. In June 1928, Table Talk magazine wrote of Andrew Wilkie: “Up at the Zoo there is a humble gentleman who is a lion among the lions, who knows the proper specific to employ when the boa constrictor has chilblains, and who is a friend and confidant of Queenie the elephant. His fount of zoological lore has never been plumbed. It is bottomless, like his good fellowship and geniality. Every day he may be seen somewhere in the grounds of that growing sanctuary for the strange and arresting fauna and creeping things of the world, and I assure you as one who is privy to his passion that that area and its inhabitants are rarely out of his thoughts.” Andrew retired from the zoo in 1936 at the age of 83 and in 1948 died at his home in Brunswick aged 94. He and his wife Josephine had six children. The Victorian Acclimatisation Society was founded in 1861 by Edward Wilson, 1813-1878, then owner and editor of The Argus newspaper. He said that Australian indigenous animals were practically useless, providing only “a little sport and an occasional meal”. The Society believed that Australia’s plants and animals were vastly inferior to those in Europe. They wanted to introduce and acclimatise to Victoria “all innoxious animals, birds, fishes, insects and vegetables, whether useful or ornamental” for sport and for the table, and to spread indigenous animals and plants from the colony around the world. Their motto was “if it lives, we want it”. The Society was primarily responsible for introducing sparrows, starlings, sambar and hog deer, ostriches, brown trout, blackberries, and carp to the Murray River. They released the European songbirds, thrush and blackbird to quell the homesickness of British settlers. The Society also sent Australian animals like platypus, echidnas, kangaroos and koalas to Europe for scientific and novelty purposes. Thomas Austin, a wealthy sheep farmer of Barwon Park, Winchelsea (property now owned by the National Trust) was a member and in 1859 he introduced hares, blackbirds, thrushes and partridges onto his property. He is probably best known for introducing 24 breeding rabbits onto his estate as game for shooting parties. Thomas quipped, “The introduction of a few rabbits could do little harm and might provide a touch of home, in addition to a spot of hunting." In 2022, genomic data confirmed that Australia’s feral rabbit population is entirely descended from these rabbits. Biological control has brought the rabbit population down from an estimated high of 10 billion rabbits in the 1920s to approximately 200 million today, inhabiting 70% of Australian landmass (5.3 million square kilometres). In 1872, the Acclimatisation Society was renamed The Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and they focused on importing exotic animals for display purposes to the zoo. In 1937, the Royal Acclimatisation Society of Victoria was recreated as the Zoological Board of Victoria with a focus on research of native animals threatened with extinction. In an editorial for The Argus newspaper, 16 March 1856, Edward Wilson lamented: "...this country has been shamelessly stolen from the blacks. Had they been like the New Zealanders or the North American Indians, we should have bought their land, and supplied them with the means of living when we took it... In less than twenty years we have nearly swept them off the face of the earth. We have shot them down like dogs. In the guise of friendship we have issued corrosion sublimate in their damper, and consigned whole tribes to the agonies of an excruciating death. We have made them drunkards, and infected them with disease which has rotted the bones of their adults, and made such few children as are born amongst them a sorrow and a torture from the very instant of their birth. We have made them outcasts on their own land, and are rapidly consigning them to entire annihilation. There are but a few of them left, comparatively. This is what we would do for that few. We would feed and clothe every one of them.” [Note: this last sentence is italicized in the original newspaper article text]. Lord Huntingfield, (William Charles Arcedeckne Vanneck) 1883-1969, Governor of Victoria 1934-1939, was a British Conservative Party politician and the first ever Australian-born Governor of an Australian state (although he was always considered British). He was patron of the Royal Zoological and Acclimatisation Society of Victoria and was acting Governor-General for six months during the absence of Lord Gowie in 1938. Lady Huntingfield (née Margaret Eleanor Crosby) 1884-1943, his American-born wife showed great interest in social welfare and the advancement of women and children. She was president of the City Newsboys Society and Patroness of the Girls Friendly Society. In 1937, rose breeder Alister Clark named a yellow hybrid tea rose for her. In 1940, the City of Melbourne opened the Lady Huntingfield Free Kindergarten in North Melbourne, now the Lady Huntingfield Early Learning and Family Services Centre. Lady Huntingfield died in London in 1943 after her house was bombed during a German airstrike. The Lady Huntingfield Memorial Scholarship was established after the City of Melbourne raised £1000 in a public appeal conducted in her memory for students undertaking a Social Work degree at the University of Melbourne. It is awarded annually to this day. The Queen Victoria Hospital named a bed in her honour. References: VICE-ROYALTY GREETS THE KING OF BEASTS AT THE ZOO. (1934, June 26). The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), p. 11. Retrieved August 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204818472 Prominent Personalities ANDREW WILKIE (1928, June 7). Table Talk (Melbourne, Vic. : 1885 - 1939), p. 15. Retrieved August 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article146562949 'Edward Wilson (journalist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Wilson_(journalist) 'Thomas Austin (pastoralist)', Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Austin_(pastoralist) 'The Acclimatisation Society was driven by misguided ideals about 'fixing nature' in Australia', ABC News, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-04/acclimatisation-society-introduced-species-history-listen/101588262?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web THE ABORIGINES. (1856, March 16). The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), p. 5. Retrieved September 28, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4833244 WAR ON EMUS. (1932, November 4). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 12. Retrieved September 29, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32588972 'The Great Emu War: how it started and who won', ABC Australia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1wA0PKeJqc Advertising (1932, November 25). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 2. Retrieved October 26, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article32584578 Emu Chasers Must Outstrip Peter Pan (1932, November 9). The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), p. 5. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237042749 WAR ON EMUS (1932, November 22). The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved October 15, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73997254 WAR ON EMUS. (1932, October 28). The Labor Daily (Sydney, NSW : 1924 - 1938), p. 6. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article237046601 EMU WAR (1932, December 3). Mirror (Perth, WA : 1921 - 1956), p. 7. Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75626301 Machine Gun Offensive Against Emus. (1932, November 10). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 3 (PICTORIAL SECTION). Retrieved October 24, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37766670 A THOUSAND BIRDS IN LUCK. (1932, November 10). Western Mail (Perth, WA : 1885 - 1954), p. 28. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37766849 New Strategy In A War On The Emu (1953, July 5). The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), p. 13. Retrieved October 11, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18516559 This is a nice emu-that was! (1932, November 5). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), p. 9 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved September 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article82878309 LOCAL AND GENERAL (1932, November 16). The Murchison Times (Cue, WA : 1924 - 1937), p. 2. Retrieved October 14, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257500260 Taking Him for a Ride! (1932, October 13). The Daily News (Perth, WA : 1882 - 1955), p. 6 (HOME EDITION). Retrieved September 30, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83717338 'The Emu War', History Nuggets, https://historynuggets.squarespace.com/nuggets/2018/4/21/the-emu-war New Strategy In A War On The Emu (1953, July 5). The Sunday Herald (Sydney, NSW : 1949 - 1953), p. 13. Retrieved October 23, 2024, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18516559 'This is the story of how Australia went to war with emus and lost', First Dog on the Moon, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/jul/26/this-is-the-story-of-how-australia-went-to-war-with-emus-and-lost Photographer notations on slide: "Vice Regal visit to Zoo B42"emu wars, governors, melbourne zoo, city of melbourne, 1930-1939, hunting, lord huntingfield, lady huntingfield, royal park, animals, wildlife