The Effects of Recreation on the Whipstick Forest Park a Social Science III B research paper Bachelor of Arts (Social Science) Bendigo College of Advanced Education. 51 pages with maps.Anne Butlerbook, bendigo, whipstick, whipstick forest, land conservation, flora & fauna.

Royal Historical Society State Conference - 12 October 1986 A & B Ravenswood Estate C & D Whipstick Forest

The Old Tom mine site in the Whipstick forest, near Eaglehawk, can still be seen. The shaft has a ringlock fence surrounding it. In 1897, William E. Sheehan, was a mining investor. He applied for a lease "South Loesers Gold Mining Company' in the Whipstick, adjoining the F.G. Loesers lease. His address given as Bath Lane, Bendigo. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/183752133?searchTerm=old%20tom%20wm%20sheehan1. Two page photocopy of handwritten information, signed by Wm. E. Sheehan, on the Old Tom lease in the Whipstick forest. Content describes the condition of the site; the shaft; timbering of shaft; on ground conditions and the extent of the lease. 'In offering the lease I can confidently say that it is without doubt one of the best and safest ventures for small capital that has been placed before the public for many years.' 2. One page sepia photocopy of a 'mud map' of the Old Tom mine site. Map shows water race, dam, reef lines and the boundaries of the lease. Handwritten on bottom of map : Old Tom Lease, Parish of Huntly, County of Bendigo, Mining District of Sandhurst. old tom lease, whipstick forest, eaglehawk, goldmining, william sheehan

Twenty eight black and white negatives of eucalyptus distilleries in the Whipstick forest, North of Bendigophotos, bendigo, eucalyptus, peter ellis collection

When the numerous gold mines declined in production, the eucalyptus oil industry became an important source of work. The first eucalyptus oil producer in Bendigo was a chemist called Richard Sandner who operated a plant and refinery in Bridge Street from 1876. By 1900, many other distillers operated on the northern edge of Bendigo and in the Whipstick. In 1926, the Forest Commision established a eucalyptus distillery at Gunyah in Wellsford State Forest. See the Wellsford Forest Note for more information. Today, there are just two eucalypt distilleries operating in Bendigo. Most of the world’s eucalyptus oil is now produced overseas. Peter Ellis Collection: eight slides of his Holden FJ and a friend's car in the Whipstick Forest. Peter Ellis was a chemistry lecturer at the Bendigo Institute of Technolgyhistory, bendigo, peter ellis collection, bendigo institute of technology, b.i.t., whipstick bendigo, bendigo state forests, eucalyptus oil

When the numerous gold mines declined in production, the eucalyptus oil industry became an important source of work. The first eucalyptus oil producer in Bendigo was a chemist called Richard Sandner who operated a plant and refinery in Bridge Street from 1876. By 1900, many other distillers operated on the northern edge of Bendigo and in the Whipstick. In 1926, the Forest Commision established a eucalyptus distillery at Gunyah in Wellsford State Forest. See the Wellsford Forest Note for more information. Today, there are just two eucalypt distilleries operating in Bendigo. Most of the world’s eucalyptus oil is now produced overseas.Peter Ellis Collection: sixteen slides of the Eucalyptus History museum, Whipstick Forest, and a deputation ready to meet R J Hamer, the Premier of Victoria. Peter was a chemistry lecturer at the Bendigo Institute of technology.history, bendigo, peter ellis collection, bendigo institute of technology, b.i.t., whipstick bendigo, bendigo state forests, eucalyptus oil, whirrakee wattle, r j hamer

''Bendigo and District in Colour'' Possible full title - see first page. (by Ken and Esther Stepenell). Seven paged very broad coverage of Bendigo's history and attractions. Includes mention of Dai Gum San Village (and proposed site??)Ken and Esther Stepenellbendigo, history, gold mining, bendigo creek, eaglehawk, peg leg, the garden gully, new chum railway, great extended hustlers, white death, chinese, joss house, sun loong dragon, victoria hill, whipstick forest, talking trams, dia gum san village.

Typed notes titled 'Bendigo and its Historical Associations. Mentioned are the buildings that were erected between the 1870's and the turn of the century, the buildings and churches, the meeting of diggers and the formation of the Red Ribbon League,the early gold miners, the purchase of the Central Deborah Mine, the Bendigo Easter Fair , the Chinese, and Eaglehawk.document, bendigo and its historical associations, lake eppalock, the beehive, beehive chambers, post office, law courts, shamrock hotel, town hall, home and hospital for the aged, bendigo base hospital, hospital hill, forest street wesley, congregational, st johns presbyterian, all saints pro-cathedral, red ribbon league, sacred heart cathedral, a n z bank, atkinson's building, holland bros, a h q survey regiment headquarters, george lansell, fortuna, pioneer, j b lazarus, theodore ballerstedt, victoria quartz mine, wm rae, witscheibes 'jewellers shop', gold mines hotel, david sterry, the bendigo and district tourist association, city council, central deborah gold mine, victoria hill, sun loong, loong, bendigo easter fair, chinese joss house, white hills cemetery, st killian's church, log lock-up, whipstick forest, a richardson, bendigo branch royal historical society of victoria

Typed letter from W. M. Flentje to Miss J. Parry, Secretary, Bendigo Historical Society referring to the preservation of land to preserve mining relics. Part of the land may extend into private property and some crown Land. He says, 'If the Land Conservation Council should decide to add the Crown land part of the area to the Forest Park, then preservation of the area will become our responsibility.' Letter written Forests Commission Victoria letterhead. It has a green logo on the top of two trees, one eucalypt type and the other, a pine. Letter dated 10th December 1976.document, memo, mining in bendigo, mining in bendigo, letter to miss j parry, forests commission victoria, whipstick forest park advisory committee, w m flentje

Bendigo Advertiser ''The way we were'' from 1999. Oil anyone?: workers operate a eucy still in the Whipstick forest at the turn of the century.newspaper, bendigo advertiser, the way we were

BHS Collection'Tales of the Whipstick'. A history of mining and other activities in the Whipstick forest. This book contains stories from surrounding areas including Neilborough, Sebastian, Raywood, and the Myers Creek Gold Rushes, Victoria Australia. 250 pages. B&W photographs Signed by the Author.William Perrybook, bendigo, whipstick

'Tales of the Whipstick'. A history of mining and other activities in the Whipstick forest. This book contains stories from surrounding areas including Neilborough, Sebastian, Raywood, and the Myers Creek Gold Rushes, Victoria Australia. 250 pages. B&W photographs. With Index compiled by Ralph Birrell. Signed by the Author.William Perrybook, bendigo, whipstick

A map of Bungal in the 1920's showing the allotments, and the size, with the names of the residents. It shows the roads and the Western and Eastern Moorarbool River, and the Whipstick State Forest.Cream coloured map of Bungal in the County of Grant, bounded by the the East Moorarbool River on the East, and the State Forest on the South. It is marked with the scale of chains and the number L.358. Lithographed at the Department of Lands and Survey. Melbourne by W. J. Butson on 9.9.1926. It shows the land allotments with names of owners.Coloured pen marks and circled numbers on various areas. Price 2 shillings marked on bottom right hand edge.bungal, kerrit bareet, egerton, lal lal, borhoneyghurk, bungeeltap, ballark, yaloak, gorong, moorarbool west

Two-page document, one typed, one handwritten. Extract from the Bendigo Advertiser, Monday 3 August 1931. The Roberts' nugget was found in the Whipstick Forest a short distance from the Crystal Reef, Neilborough by Leslie John Roberts. It was found 30 cm down in clay and weighed 70 ounces. Leslie and his father were unable to find work and were presumably prospecting in the Whipstick.bendigo, mining, roberts' nugget

Metal sign with embossed lettering, the corners have been folded over with mounting holes put through the thicker sections. The embossing reads: 'This Land is Auriferous and Subject to Mining Conditions.' The sign is very rusted and there is no trace of the original paintwork. A handwritten note with the sign reads: 'This sign was found covered by grass and eucalyptus leaves etc., at the side of the road leading past the Eucy. Factory in the vicinity of the Whipstick forest. Found in 1977 by Jean and Ross Miller, Wireless Street, Kangaroo Flat. At the time of scanning the lead article. The second item, a ladle, is being held in another location.gold mining, miners' safety cage, signage, gold mining, land use, signs

Two handwritten copies of the same document titled 'The Bendigo Goldfield, the City Built on Gold' Many amendments made to the text with pen. Extract: 'Bendigo the City Built on Gold, more than 22 million ounces of it. In only two years and three months, after gold was first found in the spring of 1851 at a spot called 'The Rocks' in Golden Square, over one million ounces oif gold had been won, nearly 662,000 oz of it in 1853. Thousands of diggers' holes and mounds scarred the surface from Golden Gully to White Hills; at Ironbark, Long, California and Sailor's Gullies, and through Eaglehawk to the Whipstick Forest'.bendigo, mining, the city built on gold

PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: Submission by The Bendigo Field Naturalist Club for the Preservation of the Whipstick Bendigo 1971 The submission was sent to the Minister for Forests. 'On behalf of the Bendigo Field Naturalist's Club, we, the President and Honorary Secretary, make application to the Forests Commission to have two areas, as approximately shown in green on the maps submitted (under separate cover), and being in the parishes of Huntly Nerring and Whirakee, Edgerton declared as Forest Parks under the Appropriate Act.' The Submission has the following contents: Bendigo's Claim for a Forest Park or National Park The Proposed Foiorest Parks Near Bendigo The Flora of The Proposed Whipstick Forest Park Species of Native Plants Bendigo Whipstick Area 1971 Species of Birds Bendigo Whipstick Area 1971 Mammals of the Whipstick Historical Bendigo Whipstick Statisticsperson, individual, peter ellis oam

Four pages of typed notes mentioning the Whipstick Region, Mandurang Forest, Jackass Flat, Diamond Hill Area, One Tree Hill, and the Coliban/Sandhurst Water Supply Reserve. Mentioned are the Birds, Mammals, Geology, Flora, Ground Flora, Orchids,Lilies, Mistletoe, Ferns and Grasses of some of the areas.bendigo, parks and gardens, public reserves, peter ellis collection, north/central l.c.c. region bendigo block, bendigo field naturalists club, shipstick scrub, mandurang forest, one tree hill public park, redvers j eddy, coliban/sandhurst water supply reserve

When the numerous gold mines declined in production, the eucalyptus oil industry became an important source of work. The first eucalyptus oil producer in Bendigo was a chemist called Richard Sandner who operated a plant and refinery in Bridge Street from 1876. By 1900, many other distillers operated on the northern edge of Bendigo and in the Whipstick. In 1926, the Forest Commision established a eucalyptus distillery at Gunyah in Wellsford State Forest. See the Wellsford Forest Note for more information. Today, there are just two eucalypt distilleries operating in Bendigo. Most of the world’s eucalyptus oil is now produced overseas. Peter Ellis Collection: eight slides of Whirrakee Wattle regeneration near Bagshot, Eucalyptus History museum, Ruedin's Steam Traction engine, Eucalyptus oil condensor and a Mallee roller to rip out the eucalytpus trees. Peter was a chemistry lecturer at the Bendigo Institute of technology.history, bendigo, peter ellis collection, bendigo institute of technology, b.i.t., whipstick bendigo, bendigo state forests, eucalyptus oil, malle roller, whirrakee wattle, bagshot, steam traction engine, eucalyptus oil condensor

Copy of a typewritten report on Castlemaine, Maldon, and other areas of the main Bendigo District by H.W. Gepp Consultant on Development to the Commonwealth Government. W. Baragwanath Director of the Geological Survey of Victoria and F.L. Stillwell D.Sc. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research. Mentions Castlemaine, Fryertown, Maldon, South German Mine, Mt. Tarrengower Tunnel, Raywood, Sebastian, Wedderburn, Inglewood, Whipstick, Lightning Hill, Black Forest Mine, Old Tom Mine. Trentham. Dated 17th September 1931. Consists of 19 Foolscap PagesH.W. Gepp, W. Baragwanath, F.L. Stillwell.gold, mining, report, gold mining, bendigo, castlemaine, maldon

Colour photocopy of article from Bendigo Advertiser. Dated Saturday, May 23, 2015. FAREWELL, MA.. When Peter received his Order of Australia Medal it was one of his proudest moments. He couldn’t resist wearing it on every occasion. FROM - PREVIOUS PAGE The Emu Creek Bush Band has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and numerous times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for most of its history as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter wrote and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include: Three volumes of 'Collector's Choice' which is musical notations for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts, are 'Two Hundred Dancing Years- How to run a Colonial Ball' (Co-authored with Shirley Andrews (AM), 'Music Makes Me Smile- The Music of the Nariel Valley' (Co-authored with Harry Gardner), and his last completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' with over 300 pages.. .. .. Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter taught old time musicianship, accomplished as he was on the concertina and button accordion, tin whistle, and harmonica, as well as the Swanee whistle, piano and ukulele. In demand for workshops in music and dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National Folk Festivals, he was a hit at festivals across the country. As a trained ballroom dancer, with many gold medals to his name, Peter passed on his knowledge every time he trained debutante sets in the Bendigo region. As an early environmentalist, he was a life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, secretary in the 1970's and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagated many Australian plants. Peter took regular guided tours through the Whipstick each spring, on wildflower educational tours. He was a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. When Peter received his Order of Australia Medal it was one of his proudest moments. He couldn’t resist wearing it on every occasion. Funeral details. Family, friends and his supporters will farewell Peter.. .. .. ..person, individual, peter ellis oam

Nicholas John Bolle was born in Dorstadt, Germany in 1836 to parents Heinrich (Johannes Heinrich Wilhelm) and Friederike Hartmann (Anne Marie Friedericke). Around the age of 20 he immigrated to Australia and made his way, most likely on foot, 150km in a northerly direction to the Bendigo goldfields. In March 1863 Nicholas registered his first mining claim, naming it Bolle’s Reef. Having worked this reef until it no longer paid, he went on a prospecting tour of the area and found another gold reef towards Elysian Flat, staked a claim and registered it under the name of his beloved wife ‘Rosanna’. Sadly, as was often the case, the cost of hiring men to get the gold out of the ground, and removing it from the clay and quartz, outweighed the amount of profit he was making from his discoveries. In November 1863 while living and working at Old Tom Gully, Nicholas appeared in the Government Gazette as insolvent. Nicholas continued to struggle on, scoping out the surrounding area in the Whipstick Forest, and having some little success and by 1869 he was given a government reward of 25 pounds for discovering a new area of gold in the Whipstick. The Government Gazette records this reward – 'for the discovery of the Whipstick, 25 pounds' (Government Gazette 1869) By 1872 Nicholas had established a quartz crushing plant at his mine in Old Tom Gully, (the Old Tom mine) a remote place in the middle of the Whipstick. Mining was a dangerous business, and in 1875 Nicholas was called as a witness in a coroner’s inquest into the death of a John Bashton who was accidentally killed in a mining accident at nearby Easter Claim in December. In 1881, he was again called to give evidence when one of his employees Mr Thomas Garrett was killed while working at his claim at Old Tom Reef. So we are fortunate to have Nicholas describing his day’s work in his own words. Reference: Michelle Dennis Family History http://www.michelledennis.com.au/?page_id=1067) The Old Tom Mine site is situated between Old Tom Road, Scotsman Road, Eaglehawk-Neilborough Road and an unnamed road, Whipstick VIC 3556. The Marong Heritage Study, Mining Sites ( City of Greater Bendigo) describes the former mine site as follows: '40 metre-long mullock heap with one dumping line running north from a filled shaft. The heap has been partially quarried. 20 metres south is a scatter of red hand-made bricks and rough concrete rubble. Further south there are smaller mullock dumps and a line of shallow reef workings Surface workings 30 metres west of the mullock dump, running north, is a line of small mullock paddocks, terminating in a shallow open cut. On the same line to the south, in an area north and west of the most southerly section of reef workings there is an area of hydraulic sluicing. West of the cyanide works and along Scotchman Gully there are patches of shallow alluvial workings. Battery site On the eastern side of the open-cut is a small mullock paddock, below which is a spread of hand-made red bricks and fire bricks. Near this rubble is a dry dam, with traces of battery sand nearby. Puddling machine site 10 metres north of the water race is the outline of a 20 foot diameter puddling machine. The central mound retains its wooden post and fragments of timber side-boarding are still present in the puddling trench. Water was fed to the puddling machine from the race by a pipe, now largely buried. The dumps are weathered and partially quarried, but the puddling machine is in good con 40 metre-long mullock heap with one dumping line running north from a filled shaft. The heap has been partially quarried. 20 metres south is a scatter of red hand-made bricks and rough concrete rubble. Further south there are smaller mullock dumps and a line of shallow reef workings Surface workings 30 metres west of the mullock dump, running north, is a line of small mullock paddocks, terminating in a shallow open cut. On the same line to the south, in an area north and west of the most southerly section of reef workings there is an area of hydraulic sluicing. West of the cyanide works and along Scotchman Gully there are patches of shallow alluvial workings'. Reference: https://www.goldfieldsguide.com.au/explore-location/553/old-tom-mine/ Document. Gold Sale notes for Nicholas Bolle. Papers pinned together covering the years 1868 - 1887 being statement of gold melted and assayed for Nicholas Bolle from the Eaglehawk branch of the Bank of Victoria. A few of the papers are from the Bank of New South Wales - Eaglehawk Branch, Bank of Australasia, Bank of Australasia Gold Office. The earliest statement dated 3 Jul 1868 is for Messrs Harrison & Bashton. Other early ones are for Derbyshire Reef. The Bank of Victoria cards mention R. H. Andrews, Agent on the back. The Bank of Australasia Gold Office statement contains an ink picture of the building on the back.gold sale notes for nicholas bolle, bank of victoria - eaglehawk branch, bank of new south wales, bank of australasia, bank of australasia gold office, messrs harrison & bashton, derbyshire reef, r. h. andrews

When the numerous gold mines declined in production, the eucalyptus oil industry became an important source of work. The first eucalyptus oil producer in Bendigo was a chemist called Richard Sandner who operated a plant and refinery in Bridge Street from 1876. By 1900, many other distillers operated on the northern edge of Bendigo and in the Whipstick. In 1926, the Forest Commision established a eucalyptus distillery at Gunyah in Wellsford State Forest. See the Wellsford Forest Note for more information. Today, there are just two eucalypt distilleries operating in Bendigo. Most of the world’s eucalyptus oil is now produced overseas. SOLOMON GULLY CIRCUIT WALK - Solomon Gully Nature Conservation Reserve. Rangers say this is a great place to see heaps of Bendigo Waxflowers. A 1.5km, unsurfaced track. It is rough and steep in places, but suitable for families. Closed shoes with a good drip are recommend. The track is popular with families and runners. There is parking available off Burnside St (opposite Quarry Hill / Bendigo Lawn Cemetery).Peter Ellis Collection, t16 slides of the Whipstick and Eucalyptus Oil Production, Solomon Gully Reserve Quarry Hill, Quarry Hill Golf Course Extensions Some history of the Whipstick.history, bendigo, peter ellis collection, whipstick bendigo, bendigo state forests, eucalyptus oil, solomon gully reserve quarry hill bendigo, whipstick hotel shamrock, magetti's wallace reef wine hall, whipstick, frederick the great mine sebastian, quarry hill golf course

PETER ELLIS COLLECTION: SUBMISSION BY THE BENDIGO FIELD NATURALIST CLUB FOR THE PRESERVATION OF THE WHIPSTICK 1974 The submission was sent to: the Minister for Local Government and the Town and Country Planning Board The Minisry for Conservation and its agency, the Forests Commission and Lands Department Federal Government Ministeries for Environment, Concervastion and Science, and the National Estate. Opening Paragraphs: This re-submission was compiled to bring to the attention of the authorities many aspects relating to the preservation of the Bendigo Whipstick which were not so apparent at the time of the earlier submission. In fact the 19721 submissions was mainly aimed at having reserved forest (which lie a opposite extremities to the Whipstick scrub) declared Forest Park. It is the central belt of Whipstick scrub that is of scientific interest and considered unipue and which we were primarily concerned in preserving and retaining as one viable ecological unit. The Submission consists of: INTRODUCTION Opening Explanation Whipstick Eucalyptus Cutting for Oil Distallation (Photographs) Agricultural Intrusions into the Whipstick (Photographs) CONTENTS Illustrations The Significance of the Bendigo Whipstick Diary of Whipstick Conservation Events Socialogical Implications Conservation policies and reccomendations Agricultural Aspects Eucalyptus Oil Situation Alternatives for the Eucalyptus Oil Industry Future Conservation of the Whipstick Reccomendation for Acquisition Programperson, individual, peter ellis oam

2 A4 sheets. Handwritten pencil note at top of first page reads: Eulogy published in Trad & Now Magazine. Vale Peter Ellis OAM. By John Williams. The folk community lost a giant on May 18th when Peter Ellis passed away after a short illness. Peter had been a collector, author and musician for nearly forty years and his work has been prodigious to say the least. Peter has the largest collection of dance related material in the National Library and had travelled Australia on his collection trips. He produced twenty CDs of dance music and historical music with his Bendigo based band the Celebrated Emu Creek Bush Band which he founded and led for thirty four years. His final project was the double CD 'Cooee, Songs of the ANZACS' which he organised in conjunction with the Bendigo Historical Society. It was launched on 24th April and was Peter's last performance. Peter has also been a member of the Wedderburn Old Timers for over thirty years and has assisted with many of their recordings including their latest Bush Concert CD which Peter Organised. Peter has contributed to many other CDs over the years and has been thanked on many a CD cover by many folk artists. Peter has also written several books, the three volume 'Collectors' Choice,' 'Two Hundred Dancing Years' co-written with Shirley Andrews OAM, and 'Music Makes Me Smile' the history of the Nariel Valley musicians co-written with Harry Gardner. Peter's recent major work The Merry Country Dance will become the bible for people wishing to learn about our bush music heritage with its matching six CD collection. Peter has also contributed to 'Verandah Music' edited by Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australian Folklore' edited by Graham Seal and is a regular contributor to Trad & Now. He completed his last Trad & Now article the week before he died. Peter was also a life member of the Field Naturalists and was extremely active in campaigns to preserve Lake Pedder, the Whipstick Forest and Kamarooka Forest (now part of Bendigo National Park and preserved forever) One Tree Hill, Jackass Flat Flora Reserve and Saloman's Gully bushlands. Peter has discovered and named plants in the whipstick and enjoyed propagating native plants. He loved his amazing bush block in suburban Bendigo. Peter was also a keen photographer and had photos published in the book 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. Peter taught dancing and music classes with Continuing Education for many years and encouraged many young musicians over the years. Peter was an accomplished ballroom dancer and had achieved gold medal status in that field. He was one of Australia's finest exponents of the button accordion, concertina, harmonica and tin whistle. Peter also played piano, organ and ukulele as well as the Swanee whistle and bones. Peter was the founder of the Annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk as a tribute to the old MC's. Peter was happy playing for fund-raisers for any organisation who asked and also enjoyed plying the big gigs such as for the opening of the Melbourne Museum or for State Parliament. He played in the National Folk Festivals in four states and was a regular at the National in Canberra where he gave regular classes, performed with his bands and was a stalwart of the Aussie section of the session bar. He performed at nearly every Maldon Folk Festival and was MC at Nariel Folk Festival dances for many years. Peter was very proud of his OAM and wore the little medal at all of his performances. That honour was rightly given to one who did so much to preserve Australia's dance history. Peter lived a full life and was a friend to hundreds of people. He was taken far too young and in typical fashion was planning new projects right till the end. His passing is a huge loss for us all but one thing is certain. He will never be forgotten.person, individual, peter ellis oam

4 page A4 printed document. Achievements of Peter Ellis (for consideration for the Order of Australia) Peter is regarded as one of the leading collectors and presenters of traditional dance tunes, dances and musical instruments in Australia. At the 2005 National Folk Festival it was announced by Robyn Holmes that he has the largest selection of dance related material collected in the National Library Archives in Canberra. Peter has been collecting for many years and has collected with the late John Meredith (AM), Shirley Andrews (AM), Rob Willis and Dave Di Santi amongst others. Peter has literally travelled Australia collecting over the past thirty years. He has extensive field recordings from Western Australia and Tasmania in addition to his Victorian collection, for example. Most of his recording has been in North Western and Central Victoria. Peter collected a lot of his material from Harry McQueen ( Castlemaine), which led to a double CD of Harry's music. Harry had played in dance bands for over sixty years in Central Victoria. Harry had a number of tunes from Bill McGlashan who had taken Harry under his wing as a young man. Through Peter's efforts much valuable material and knowledge from almost a century ago was saved for posterity. Founder, Charter member and life member of the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo. Life Member of the Victorian Folk Music Club. Recipient of the Graham Squance award (for the person who has done the most to promote folk dance and music in Victoria)) from the Folk Song and Dance Society of Victoria. Member of the famous Wedderburn Old Timers Band for over twenty-eight years (two platinum and several gold recordings in that time). Founder and leader of the Emu Creek Bush Band (twenty-nine years old in 2010) Emu Creek has made many CDs of dance music as listed. Friday Night at the Spring Gully Hop, Three double CDs called 'Quadrille Mania' which contain many rare dances and tunes which have been learnt and recorded, under Peter's guidance, so they would not be lost to posterity. A triple CD called 'Take Me Back To Bendigo' with heritage songs and music from the Gold Rush to Federation (solely organised and financed by Peter) These CDs show the multicultural heritage in Bendigo and include music and groups from the Koorie, Chinese, Cornish, German, Irish, Italian, Scots, English and Welsh communities of Bendigo and district. Upon his recovery of costs Peter has handed over copyright to the Bendigo Community so future profits go back into the community. Three double CDs called 'The Merry Country Dance' with dances and tunes going back to the time of Governor Lachlan Macquarie's Ball in 1804. Most of the tracks are performed by Emu Creek Following much practice under Peter's tutelage. For further authenticity Peter liaised with other musicians to record some tracks which were revived from almost two hundred years ago and have now been recorded using the instruments of the time. A three volume set of Bush Concert recordings (Vol 1 Goornong (launched Australia Day 2006 with any profits going to the Soldier's Memorial Hall Committee), Vol 2 Heywood and Vol 3 Maldon/Sutton Grange, already recorded and to be released as money from other projects becomes available. NOTE: None of these CDs have led to any profit. All money raised is put back into the community and further heritage recordings, books and videos through the Bush Dance and Music Club of Bendigo Inc. In 2009 a full collection of all Peter's book and CDs was donated to the John Gorton Library as part of the recognition of the fifty year career of the Gay Charmers Dance Band from Lake Charm. 'Music of the Diggings' (4 tracks by Peter or Emu Creek). In addition the Emu Creek Band, under Peter's leadership, has appeared on a CD backing Bruce Watson on his song, 'The Old Bush Dance'. Emu Creek has performed at National Folk Festivals in four states and several times at the National Folk Festival in Canberra. They have also been mainstays of the Maldon Folk Festival for over twenty years as well as doing dance programs for the Port Fairy Folk Festival on two occasions. Peter has written and published many books related to traditional music and dance. These include Three volumes of 'Collectors Choice' which is musical notation for bush dances coupled with much dance history which would have been lost without Peter's efforts. 'Two Hundred Dancing Years - How to run a Colonial Ball: (co-authored with Shirley Andrews (A.M.), 'Music Makes Me Smile - The Music of the Nariel Valley' (co-authored with Harry Gardner). The Merry Country Dance' (292 pages) a companion to the three double CDs. He has also been a contributor to Verandah Music' authors Rob Willis and Graham Seal and 'The Oxford Companion to Australia Folklore' Ed Graham Seal. Peter is also a regular contributor to 'Trad and Now' Magazine. His latest completed book is titled 'The Merry Country Dance' and is over three hundred pages of social history, recipes and dance instructions. It was completed with the assistance of a Victorian Government Heritage Grant. The first edition sold out in only a few weeks. Peter has taught many children about old time musicianship through the junior bands which have functioned over the years with many children joining Emu Creek and then going on to follow their own musical inclinations. He has trained several young concertina and button accordion players over the years. Peter has been a regular tutor with Continuing Education in tin whistle, harmonica and old time dancing for many years. Peter has conducted workshops in music dance at National Folk Festivals in Perth, Alice Springs, Maleny, Melbourne, Adelaide, Kuranda and more recently at several Canberra National folk Festivals. He has also done this at Maldon for many years, Port Fairy, Glen Innes, Jamberoo and Kiama Festivals. For over thirty years Peter has been a guest player and MC for the dances at the Nariel Folk Festival (Australia's oldest continuing Folk Festival) Peter is very well known in the Corryong area as a collector and the co-author of the book, Music Makes Me Smile, about the Klippel/Simpson dynasty in the Nariel Creek Band. This book is currently being revised for re-issue as more material has come to light since the original publication. For many years Peter trained Debutante Sets in the Bendigo District. Peter was an instigator of the annual Dinki Di Ball held each September in Eaglehawk for the past thirteen years. At this ball three bands play for a quarter of the night and then join together for the final part of the evening. The bands are Emu Creek, The Wedderburn Old Timers and the Gay Charmers. Up to four hundred dancers, many in heritage costumes have attended this dance. The ball also pays tribute to, and involves, the old MC's. Through this example their skills have been passed down to a younger generation of MC's. All profits are returned to the Dance Club to foster our musical heritage. Each Ball includes presentations designed to promote social dancing in Australia. Over the years several young musicians have been presented with musical instruments at the Ball, libraries have been given copies of Peter's books and CDs and one year a keen young dancer was presented a pair of dancing shoes. Peter is a trained ballroom dancer and has gained gold medal status in this field. Peter is an accomplished musician and is one of Australia's foremost button accordion players. He is also highly accomplished on the tin whistle, bones and harmonica. He is the only exponent of the Swanee whistle that I have seen. Peter also plays the piano and ukulele. Thirty six years membership of the Bendigo Field Naturalists Club, Secretary in the 1970s and actively involved in campaigns to save Lake Pedder and establish the Whipstick and Kamarooka State Parks (now part of the Bendigo National Park). Peter was also extremely active in the establishment of the Salomon's Gully and Jackass Flat Flora Reserves in Bendigo which have now been saved for posterity. Peter has also been involved in efforts to save One Tree Hill and this area has now been included in the Greater Bendigo National Park. He has discovered and named new plant species in the Whipstick Forest and propagates Australian plants. Peter takes regular guided tours of interested people through the Whipstick each Spring on wild flower educational tours. He is a keen and gifted photographer of local plant species. Life member of the Bendigo Field Naturalists. Peter contributed text and photographs to their publication 'Wildflowers of Bendigo'. When the Victorian State Parliament had its first historical sitting outside Melbourne Emu Creek played during lunch for the guests and public. They have also played at functions such as the Centenaries of Federation, the Bendigo Post Office, the Shamrock Hotel and the opening of the new Melbourne Museum and the Federation Museum in Bendigo. The band regularly plays for Seniors week and at homes for the aged such as Bethlehem, Mirridong, Bignold Park, Bendigo Village and others. Peter has been instrumental in getting the band to play for fundraisers such as schools, scouts and environmental groups. The band plays many charitable 'gigs'. The band supports the Bendigo Easter Fair and the Eaglehawk Fair when able and has appeared in several parades over the years. The above list shows the invaluable contribution that Peter Ellis has made towards the collecting and distributing of Australia's musical and dance heritage. No one has done more than Peter in this area. He has also been active locally and nationally in his endeavours towads saving the natural environment. He has put many years of time and energy into both area's and has many on going projects in mind for the years ahead. The awarding of an honour from Australia would be just reward for a man who has preserved so much of our musical and dance heritage for future generations. Knowing Peter I have no doubt he would treasure such an honour as he has given so much to preserve Australia's music and dance heritage over most of his sixty plus years. Compiled by John Williams. Handwritten notes at bottom of last page reads: Referees Jacinta Allan MLA Steve Gibbons MHR Willie Carney ex Mayor of Bendigo Supporting letter Mary Smith Sec. Bush Dance + Music Club.person, individual, peter ellis oam