Historical information

The photograph is a record of a historic conference of MTS representatives from Australia and New Zealand. , September 1-3 , 1936:
Revd Wm Hoog (Brisbane)
Revd W.H. Terry (Port Pirie)
Revd H.C Cuthbertson (Adelaide)
Revd W.R. Tyler (Melbourne)
Mr J.W. Neill (Melbourne)
Revd. F. J. Evans (Sydney)
Revd Frank L. Oliver ( Melbourne MTS)
F W Melbourne (Archbishop F W Head 1929- 1942)
Mr J.C. Grahame (Hobart)
Rev B.J. Williams ((Wellington NZ)
Rev J.C. Clift (Fremantle)

From the Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), Saturday 5 September 1936, page 34:
"For three days this week chaplains of missions to seamen in different ports of Australia and New Zealand met in conference in Melbourne. Bishop Stephen, chairman of the executive committee of the mission in Melbourne, presided over the conference, which was opened by Archbishop Head celebrating Holy Communion in the Chapel of St. Peter at the mission. Among the questions considered was the problem of foreign vessels, from which nothing is contributed toward the support of the missions. It was felt that there was great scope for work of an international character, and that every effort should be made by the chaplains to bring men from the ships of different countries together.
The chaplains said that many thousands of men from foreign ships attended the mission institutes.
Efforts will be made for more contact to be made with men on coastal ships, and commendation of men from one port to the next will ensure that the needs of men are cared for as well as possible. An ordained chaplain will be sent from London for a new mission at Geraldton (WA), and a new mission will also be opened at Port Kembla (N.SW.).
The chaplains will endeavour to obtain police cooperation in keeping docks and wharves free from undesirable persons. It is hoped that an effort will be made to seek the co-operation of the port authorities in order to ensure the pos-sibility of ships being allowed to be alongside during week-ends and public holidays without having to face the full port charges. To avoid the heavy charges the ships now anchor in the bay during week-ends and public holidays. Melbourne was chosen as the central port for Australia for supplies for mis-sions to seamen, and it was decided that the conference should be held every three years, in Melbourne. The last was held 11 years ago."

The photograph was published in the 1936 Annual Report

Significance

This photograph is representative of the relationship between the Mission to Seafarers Victoria and the Anglican Church. Reverend Frank Oliver served as Chaplain at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria from 1930 - 1960.

A gift of £20,000 for the rebuilding of the Port Melbourne institute, which was old and dilapidated, was announced at the conference.

Physical description

Black and white photograph mounted on cardboard with border detail on the front. The photograph is of eleven men, five standing behind six seated. Nine of the men are wearing clerical collars and two are in suit and ties. The photograph appears to have been taken in the courtyard of the Mission to Seafarers Victoria, at 717 Flinders St. Each of the people in the photograph appears to have hand inscribed their names/ signatures on the lower edge of the mountboard.

Inscriptions & markings

Top edge of mountboard title of occasion and photo in Black ink all upper case: (see title details this record);
Lwr edge first line corresponding to back row of group: 'REv Wm Hoog (Brisbane); Revd W.H. Terry (Port Pirie); Rev H.C Cuthbertson (Adelaide) ; Rev W.R. Tyler (Melbourne) ; Mr J.W. Neill (Melbourne) : /
Lwr edge second line corresponding to front row seated: "Revd. F. J. Evans (Sydney) ; Revd Frank L. Oliver ( Melbourne MTS); F W Melbourne (Archbishop F W Head 1929- 1942); Mr J.C. Grahame (Hobart); Rev B.J. Williams ((wellington NZ).; Rev J.C. Clift (Fremantle);