On 8th August 2002, 19 large banners each 18 metres long, each made from hundreds of square pieces of fabric with images and messages, were attached to the side of McKillops Bridge at Deddick, Victoria. This bridge spans the Snowy River and is a significant crossing point in an isolated location. This ceremony was the culmination of a large multi-community project titled 'Banners of Hope', initiated as a focus on the 'year of the outback'. Many people, community groups, and schools contributed to this project, each coming from different locations associated with East Gippsland and with the Snowy River in particular. This video compilation is significant because it is a record of a significant community project called 'Banners of Hope' staged at McKillops Bridge during the Year of the Outback, 2002.A video inside a plastic case. The front cover of the case has a compiled image of a large bridge and also a large multi-coloured banner of many squares beside it. The words Unveiling Hope are printed in gold/cream above the image. Unveiling Hope on McKillops Bridge Year of the Outback 2002banners of hope, year of the outback, snowy river, mckillops bridge, orbost, deddick

As part of the Crelebration of the Year of the Outback, McKillop's Bridge in the Deddick Valley was hung with nineteen banners made by individuals and groups of East Gippsland. Banners containing thousands of messages of hope and optimism for the future of rural communities were suspended from he bridge in the Snowy River National Park, in front of a three hundred strong crowd that had assembled. Sister Helen Barnes from the Sisters of St Joseph Order, founded by Mary McKillop, initiated the project. This event was a significant event in local history and this item is a contemporary recording of it.A D.V.D. titled, Unveiling Hope. On the front is a coloured photograph of McKillop's Bridge in the Deddick Valley.mckillop's-bridge banners-of-hope

This certificate was presented at the East Gippsland Shire Council Australia Day celebrations on 26.1.2003. The veiling of McKillops bridge was a 'Year of the Outback' event. The event was organised by Orbost resident, Sr Helen Barnes RSJ. to show solidarity with rural people. The local community transformed the bridge into "a symbol of communal love and hope", when its sides were draped with hundreds of personal messages. McKillop's Bridge, located high in the Snowy Mountains, is named after George McKillop, a pioneering explorer of the area. The bridge is a vital link for isolated farming communities living beyond the Bonang highway. The Veiling of McKillops Bridge was a significant community event.A large framed certificate. An Australia Day Community Event certificate for January 2003. The frame is silver The certificate has white, green and blue print on a blue background.presented to "Veiling of McKillops Bridge on frame corner AMS by East Gippsland Shie Council signed by Cr P. Bommer (mayor)mckillops-bridge-veiling east-gippsland-shire-council-australia-day

This album was donated to the Orbost & District Historical Society after the death of Judy Walcott, a long-time member. The veiling of McKillops bridge was a 'Year of the Outback' event. The event was organised by Orbost resident, Sr Helen Barnes RSJ. to show solidarity with rural people. The local community transformed the bridge into "a symbol of communal love and hope", when its sides were draped with hundreds of personal messages. McKillop's Bridge, located high in the Snowy Mountains, is named after George McKillop, a pioneering explorer of the area. The bridge is a vital link for isolated farming communities living beyond the Bonang highway.This album is a useful reference tool.A large photo album with a bright yellow cover and 19 plastic sleeves. It contains photographs, newspaper clippings, brochures , maps and an invitation to the veiling of McKillops Bridge on 8th August 2002. It also contains the history of McKillops Bridge.On inside cover - left hand side - "To Marie with Best Wishes from Judy Walcott 8/8/2005"mckillops-bridge album

The Brown Falcon is a small to medium bird of prey which can be found all throughout Australia. These birds are raptors and typically feed on mammals, birds, snakes, insects and rabbits. The Brown Falcon are located in all but the densest forests. They typically prefer to reside in locations of open grassland and agricultural areas which have scattered trees or telephone poles which the bird can perch on. When frequenting towns located in the Australian Outback, these birds are reportedly quite tame and can be approached by humans. They may stay in the same location throughout the year or chose to move around locally in response to any changes in weather conditions. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th centuryThis specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.The Brown Falcon specimen has plumage which is mostly brown and intermixed with white. This provides the appearance of having spotted colouring on the birds back. The head is also mostly brown with white under the beak area and a characteristic brown streak under the eye area. The eye is made from dark coloured glass.3 / Brown Hawk / See Catalogue, page 2 / taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, brown falcon, falconidae

This is a photograph of Nathan Spielvogel.. Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria. as well as his stories he published a number of Books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel taught at Orbost for at least a year and this book reflects that time. Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost.A black / white portrait photograph, head and shoulders, of a man with a goatee beard and moustache and wearing a large hat. he is wearing a buttoned waistcoat, jacket and bow tie.spielvogel-nathan author-spielvogel

Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria. as well as his stories he published a number of Books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel taught at Orbost for at least a year and this book reflects that time. Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost. The book also has an association with J.W. Bird an early auctioneer and estate agent in Orbost.A small 124 pp book with a pink, white and red cover with an illustration of a fisherman at a river. It is titled "The Gumsucker at Home" by N. F. Spielvogel.inside cover - J. W. Birdspielvogel-nathan the-gumsucker-at-home australian-literature

This is the second edition. The letters were written by Nathan Spielvogel, a country school teacher for the 'Dimboola Banner'. It cost one shilling. Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria. As well as his stories he published a number of books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost.A small brown soft covered booklet of 108 pages, titled "A Gumsucker on the Tramp" in black print. On the front cover is an illustration of It contains an Australian's impression during a lengthy trip to Europe.literature spielvogel-nathan gumsucker-on-the-tramp

From L-R : Nathan Spielvogel, Hector Young, Percy Watt and George Holden. . Taken on the front porch at Illfracombe in 1908 after the four men had enjoyed a weekend fishing There appears to be a photo hanging on the wall in the background which looks like it could be of a young Marion Watt and the family's dog, a golden retriever In "The Gum Sucker at Home: Bound for Croajingolong 1908" by Nathan Spielvogel, published in Mary Gilbert's Personalities and Stories of the Early Orbost District, 3rd edition, p. 107-116, Spielvogel talks of his trip to Orbost, and fishing with Watt, Bruce and Young aboard Percy Watt's boat, the Maris Stella. Spielvogel's story says Young was the secretary at James & Birds auctioneers and "was one of the builders of the first foot bridge over the Backwater". It says George Holden was a Bank Manager at the Bank of Victoria. (info. from Campbell Watt) This photograph shows Mr Nathan Spielvogel on the left. He was a school teacher at the Orbost State School following Mr Rowe. Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874-1956), teacher, writer and historian, was born on 10 May 1874 at Ballarat, Victoria, son of Newman Frederick Spielvogel, pawnbroker, and his wife Hannah, née Cohen. As well as his stories he published a number of books about the history of Ballarat. Spielvogel taught at Orbost for at least a year Nathan Frederick Spielvogel (1874–1956) was a teacher, writer and historian. As a country schoolteacher, he traveled widely in the eastern Australian outback and also made a journey to London. Spielvogel gained distinction as one of the only Australian Jewish writers of his time. Many of his early books were best-sellers. He has an association with the history of Orbost having spent a year as a teacher at Orbost. The Watt family were early Marlo settlers.A black / white photograph / postcard of four men sitting around a small table playing cards. Two of the men have pillows behind their heads. Three are smoking pipes.on back - "On R - N. Spielvogel"spielvogel-nathan-orbost

The Ruyton Reporter (formerly known as Ruyton Reports) captures the essential Ruyton Girls' School experience for the broader school community. It has been produced since 1986.The record has strong historic significance as it pertains to one of the oldest girls' school in Victoria, Australia. Ruyton was founded in 1878 in the Bulleen Road, Kew, home of newly widowed Mrs Charlotte Anderson (now High Street South). Thus, the record can be used as a reference example for research into Victorian school history. It also gives insight into the types of activities and events undertaken at Ruyton Girls' School during the period of its production. The record's significance is further enhanced by its exceptionally well-documented provenance, having remained the property of Ruyton Girls' School since its production.Colour publication printed on paper with staple binding. 24 pages.Front Page: 2/14/8 / PRINT POST APPROVED PP 341999 000226 / R / RECTE ET FIDE LITER / THE RUYTON REPORTER / SUMMER 2003 / outback and beyond / STOP PRESS: / a year to celebrate / Ruyton makes / sporting history / the ties that bind / authors at Ruyton / Year 10's Inaugural Dreamtime Culture Tour /ruyton girls' school, ruyton, school, students, newsletter, ruyton reports, ruyton news, kew, victoria, melbourne, girls school

The sisters were born in New Zealand. They travelled not only around Australia and New Zealand but around Europe, the British Isles and Canada in a caravan performing songs, dances and tales they collected. Often there was little scenery. They established a Theatre of Youth (T.O.Y.) near Circular Quay in Sydney and later founded the Australian Children's Theatre. Mavis Thorpe Clark (1909-1999) began her writing career as a schoolgirl. She was educated at Methodist Ladies College in Hawthorn. Her first story for children was published as a serial in The Australasian newspaper when she was 14 years old. Her first book was written when she was 18 and published in 1930. She was a prolific writer. She wrote mainly for children and teenagers, but also authored several biographies, a number of non-fiction titles, and many articles, short stories and scripts for newspaper, magazine and radio. During the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s she travelled extensively in South Australia and Western Australia gathering material for her stories. In 1967 she won the Children's Book Council of the Year award for The Min-Min which was set in outback South Australia.164p illus. This history details the careers of the New Zealand born sisters, Joan and Betty Rayner.(ms) joan rayner, (ms) betty rayner, australian children's theatre, children's play, (ms) mavis thorpe clark, theatre of youth (t.o.y.)

Piers Bateman was a local artist, held in very high esteem by his peers and community. He was born in Perth in 1947, moving to Eltham in 1955 as a young child with his family. In 1966 Bateman moved to London for eighteen months to develop his craft. In 1969 he settled in St Andrews, where he built a studio. The St Andrews locale is said to have been a strong influence on his work. Bateman’s talent was such that he was promoted and mentored by such ilk as Charles Blackman, Clifton Pugh and Arthur Boyd, among others. Bateman’s work is an intimate dialogue with the environment, renowned for his paintings of the outback, wilderness frontiers and the sea. He spent a year in the mid-seventies sailing the Greek Islands and the French canals to Amsterdam. In 1980 Bateman and Marcus Skipper embarked on a trans-Australian venture to the red centre and across northern Australia from Cairns to Broome. In the mid-eighties Bateman returned to the Mediterranean, before returning to the Australian outback in the late-eighties. His international career continued on an upwards trajectory between the Australian outback and European seas, providing a unique contrast throughout the course of his career. Bateman's work questions our relationship with the natural world, and in particular, reconciling our colonial heritage with our indigenous past. This line of questioning and his genuine response to place is the key to Piers Bateman’s work, for which he is lauded and celebrated. On September 4th 2015, Piers Bateman died in a boating accident on the NSW coast line. Piers Bateman was an instinctive painter whose inspiration came from nature. He reworked and scraped off the paint, moving it around until forms and colours of the landscape took shape. Although Bateman lived in Spain and Italy, his time in Europe made him aware of the contrast between the two continents and the bright clear light that defined the Australian landscape. At the time of this work, Bateman was living in St. Andrews, but travelled regularly to New South Wales and South Australia on painting trips. The ‘Grass Tree’ Xanthorrhoea johnsonii (commonly known as ‘blackboy’) is indigenous to these areas. It is a uniquely Australian, slow growing plant with twenty-eight species growing within Australia. Old examples of this tree are survivors of many wild fires, which can cause their blackened trunk, of one to two metres, branch into two or more heads. These heads consist of thick, rough corky bark, surrounded by long, wiry leaves and flowers that produce seed capsules with hard black seeds. The tree’s ability to be one of the first to flower after a wild fire ensures a food source for many insects and birds.Oil on canvas painting. Detail of three grass trees resting on the side of a mountain/hill. Green and gold palette throughout depicting the colours and light of the Australian landscape. Hand written, low right in capitals: 'BATEMAN'bateman, grass trees, xanthorrhoea johnsonii, landscape

Everyone seemed to know Frances – it was November 1985 – I met Frances at the Victorian Synod office as she lent me her office to interview staff for St Philip’s which I was taking over in 1986. The interviews completed, she took me to a nearby coffee shop where we had a delightful chat. I came away much the richer, more informed about St Philip’s and feeling I had known Frances forever. And so started our 23 year friendship, with me hearing the first of many stories – for Frances was a wonderfully gifted story teller with a capacity to turn the past into life, and its characters into real people. It seems fitting that a person destined to add to Australia’s history should be born down the beach from Mendonca’s Mahogany ship – Port Fairy on the 28 January 1924. There she went to school – first to primary school then to Camperdown’s Higher Elementary School which went to Year 10. She was the eldest of four children with three brothers, Jock, Norman and Rod. After Year 10, Frances took a job in Camperdown as a dental nurse. She tackled this successfully until deciding to study at Rolland House in Carlton to become a Deaconess. Jock, her brother, recalls asking Frances what made her decide to be a Deaconess. At a Presbyterian Fellowship camp at Warrnambool, Frances and the others were sleeping in the Church Hall on palliases. During the night she awoke and her eye was drawn to a stained glass window, unusually brightly lit. On the window were the words “Follow Me”. Without flinching Frances took the words to heart and decided to serve God as a Deaconess, and during her time with the Australian Inland Mission she became quite a legend. What a patriot Frances was! She loved the stories of pioneers and knew well the history of where she had come from – the Western District. A keen follower of cricket, she would be right up with the last test and the issues of the team. Originally a Melbourne football supporter, she became an avid Geelong supporter and would often score at the annual self destruct St Philip’s vs Flynn Church match. She loved the gladiatorial, albeit often suicidal display. And though an Aussie through and through she loved her Scottish roots. Through her stories, she could easily transport a person in the Centralian landscape onto the heather of the Highlands. In spite of her love for Scotland, the city which was her favourite was New York. Frances – truly a citizen of the world. As a citizen of the world Frances fought for Indigenous and migrant women’s rights and was active in the World Council of Churches, sponsoring local and overseas women to study in Australia and to return to their homes as trained teachers and theologians. Up until recently she was involved in the Spina Bifida and Hydro Cephalis Association of SA. By the time she had taken up with the AIM Frances had a well tuned desire for social justice. To her it was important that the poor and less fortunate were given a go. She felt that the Labor Party provided her best avenue to push her social justice desires. After joining the party in 1956, she quickly became a respected member of the party and worked tirelessly for it, being honoured in the end with life membership. In the party she knew everyone and everyone knew her. She introduced me to Bob Hawke and when I spoke to Gough Whitlam once on a plane, he affirmed to me his friendship with Frances. In her cottage was a picture of her with Kevin Rudd with his arm around her. She is remembered by her party colleagues as someone who had a real compassion for helping people. She believed in the traditional ethic of the Labor Party which is to help those who are less fortunate. Interestingly, she supported St Philip’s moving from solely being a residential college to a school because we had chosen a relatively low fee base to enable maximum access for people and our boarding house continued to, and still does, offer accommodation to any student wishing to attend schools in Alice. Having supported the outback for years from the engine rooms of the mission arm of the church in Victoria, Frances then decided to move to Alice for her retirement. Settling in the little cottage at the far south eastern corner of Old Timers, this became to me, my family and I’m sure to plenty of people, Frances’ Cottage. But moving to Alice was hardly moving into retirement. She quickly became Chaplain at St Philip’s where she clearly showed her love for the children and staff and a real belief in St Philip’s role – to provide access to education for isolated children. She became a stalwart of the Adelaide House Museum, a wonderful member of the congregation, a powerful contributor to the Presbytery and the Annual Synod. Frances was strong, never flinched on a point of principle and discussed things face to face so that you truly knew where you stood with her. She had a great feeling for the pastoralists and knew many of them well. As Chaplain of the College she related well to the children and in addition, knew many of their families. She also felt deeply for the Indigenous people and regularly tackled the issue of how conditions could be improved for them. As we developed the school at St Philip’s, Frances worked with me on so many things. She would visit the College each week for Chapel, run a Sunday school for little kids and the service for all the boarders. When the school was ready to start she wrote the College prayer, said now every week by all students. The prayer says so much about Frances. She pioneered the RE program, teaching RE and in addition to Sunday, visited staff and students every Wednesday. At Presentation Night she presented a homily and provided the blessing – always a strong presence in front of the College community. She was so much part of St Philip’s that when we built the new boarding house in 1990 it seemed so obvious to call it McKechnie House. As a faithful servant of Adelaide House for years and an enthusiastic member of the National Trust, Frances was the first chairperson of the committee, a driving force to redevelop Adelaide House and she worked tirelessly to present John Flynn’s Hospital in the best light. She helped to deliver the stories of Flynn and McKay and the Outback missionaries to so many people and was instrumental in producing meaningful displays. I enjoyed walking around the museum with her intensely, enjoying her detailed stories of the past missionary era and I know many others would have as well. As a loyal and loving member of the Flynn Church, and being such a comrade of Fred McKay’s, Frances understood intricately the symbols which lie within the architecture. Once again, as a story teller, each one had a yarn attached to it. Over her twenty-three years as a member of the Flynn Church she has made a wonderful contribution. As a charismatic personality people were naturally attracted to Frances and were touched and affected by her. Peter Robson, twenty-two years at St Philip’s, remembers her asking him why he had stayed so long at the College. He explained to her that it was her address one day in Chapel in the early times that inspired him to keep going. With great wisdom she had said, “You can’t conquer something, unless you allow it to conquer you.” St Philip’s had conquered him. Wherever she went, whomever she was with, she had a real and lasting impact. Frances brought the reality of the Outback to so many as she addressed congregations around Victoria. She started the Australian Church Women’s Fellowship in the Northern Territory in 1997. She was also involved in setting up the Institute for Aboriginal Development. I believe that Frances should have been recognised nationally for her work with an AM. However, she was the Northern Territory finalist in the Senior Australian of the Year Awards in 2003. In 2004 she was awarded an OBE – not from the Queen but at Old Timers. This is a coveted award which means “Over Bloody Eighty”. Frances was part of it all, in the river, at a bush dance, at a dinner, at a service, at a party, at a meeting, at a footy game, at a cricket game, at Synod, at Presbytery, at Labour meetings, I could go on. Frances McKechnie, what a wonderful Australian. (Eulogy by Chris Tudor) Frances McKechnie died mid-2008. Deaconess Frances McKechnie is seated in front of a map of Australia marked with Australian Inland Mission places identified.At the time the photo was taken, McKechnie was the Victorian Regional Officer for the Australian Inland Mission (Presbyterian). At one stage, she worked for National Mission Frontier Services from 1968 to 1986. See below for the eulogy at her funeral by Chris Tudor. (Frances died May or June 2008.)deaconess frances mckechnie; australian inland mission; presbyterian church

Sister Elizabeth Burchill's latest book on Australian nursing is a revelation of history and anecdotes. 'Australian nurses since Nightingale:1860 -1990' traces the origins of modern nursing to the present time. Sister Burchill, who graduates next year from Monash with a masters degree, was honoured by the university in 1986 with the establishment of the Elizabeth Burchill Room in the Main library at Clayton. Sister Burchill started her caeer in the early 1930's, nursing in outback Australian towns such as Innaminka, served with an ambulance unit during the Spanish civil war in 1937, served in the Second World War in Egypt and Palestine and established the first full-time infant welfare clinic in Darwin since the war. A photocopy of a small newspaper clipping consisting of a title and two columns of text'Monash university / publication / 1992' [ink, photocopied, top right of clipping]wwii, ww2, world war two, world war 2, florence, florence nightingale, the paths i've trod, canada, shepparton, royal flying doctorservice, john flynn memorial address, duchess of york, australian studies centre