Reverend Edwin Iredale Watkin, D.D. (1839-1916) was born in Sydney and spent his early life in New Zealand before coming to Australia . He began his Wesleyan ministry in 1859. He was a leading member of the Royal Geographical Society of Victoria. He had a winning personality and was held in high regard and affection by the communities in worked in. The plaque appears to be from the double-seated buggy the Rev E.I.Watkin was presented with together with an inscribed silver teapot, a set of gold studs and a gold pencil case on his leaving the Geelong East Methodist Circuit.Small silver plaque with an inscription and six holes around the edge."Presented TO THE REV. E.I. Watkin. AS A TOKEN OF ESTEEM AND AFFECTION BY HIS FRIENDS ON THE OCCASION OF HIS LEAVING THE Geelong East Circuit April 6th 1875"geelong east methodist circuit, yarra street wesleyan church, rev edwin iredale watkin (1839-1916)

James Bickford (1816-1895), Wesleyan clergyman, was born on 6 May 1816 in Modbury, Devon, England, fifth child of John Bickford, tenant farmer, and his wife Anne, née Whiteway. He received an elementary education and then worked for a commercial house at near-by Kingsbridge in 1830. Although raised in the Church of England, Bickford joined the Wesleyan society at Kingsbridge and was appointed a local preacher in 1835. He decided to become a missionary, and after a short informal training by the Wesleyan Missionary Society was ordained on 29 October 1838. Rev James Bickford became superintendent of the Yarra Street, Geelong, circuit in 1866. He was elected president of the Australasian Conference in 1868. Increased involvement in public affairs followed his appointment to Wesley Church, Melbourne, in 1870 and he was associated with the Society for Promoting Morality and the Sabbath Defence Association. Despite his previous advocacy of a 'mixed system' of education he supported the Victorian Education Act of 1872 as the only solution to sectarianism. [Source: https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/bickford-james-2993]Brown leather with gilt embossing and illuminated borders. The Testimonial contains the signatures of the Circuit Stewards.rev james bickford 1816-1895, wesleyan church geelong circuit

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.Sepia toned head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett, in carte de visite format.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference

Born Grantham, Lincolnshire 9 August 1841. Migrated to Australia in 1849 and settled in Geelong. Entered the ministry in 1866. Posted to Mortlake, Echuca, South Yarra, Lonsdale St. Melbourne, Carlton, Bendigo and Hawthorn. Founding President of Methodist Ladies College, Melbourne, 1882. Elected President of the Wesleyan Conference of 1895 and was the first President following Church Union in 1902. Elected President General in 1904. Married 1870 (1) Jemima Shaw - died 1918; (2) 1920 Edith Skelton nee Wimble, widow of the Rev William Williams. Died 25 May 1928.B & W head and shoulders studio portrait of Rev. William Henry Fitchett mounted on buff card.william henry fitchett, methodist, minister, methodist ladies college, president of conference