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Have a question? Contact Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Gathering of seafarers and MTS clergy and LHLG members, at Heidelberg property, 1906.
On the left standing are Reverend Gurney Goldsmith and in front of him Ethel Godfrey.
Small monchrome photograph
dora simpson nee walker, retirement, 1971, hlg, lhlg
"A meeting for the purpose of considering the best means of estabishing an Institution of this kind, at the above place was held at the Ship Inn on Monday evening. Charles Ferguson, Esq, being voted to the Chair, briefly stated the intention of the present meeting, and that all must concur as to the necessity of founding same Institution for the relief of the numerous cases daily occuring in this port, amongst so great a number of ships, large at present but small in comparison to what may be expected in a short time. For the last five months ending May 31st, five hundred and eleven vessels en-tered Hobson's Bay, amounting to a tonnage of ninety-five thousand three hundred and seventy-two tons, which, in tho same proportion for twelve months, would give two hundred thousand tons annually and, calculating four men for each one hundred tons, shows that eight thou-sand sailors arrive at this port in the space of a year, for whom, at present, there is no provision made for either sickness or accidents. A lengthened conversation ensued, in th» course of which several instances were pointed out of he great benefit conferred upon the ship ping interest, by the establishment of an hospital at various ports named, and all agreed that such would be a great boon here. After some further discussion as to the wording of the re solution, the following was proposed by Captain Beaseley, and seconded by Captain Goss, «That this meeting is convinced of the necessity exist ing for a Seaman's Hospital, at Williams Town; and that a committee be appointed to draw up a menorial to His Excellency the Lieutenant Governor, respectfully praying, that a sum of money be placed on the Estimate for the en suing year, fur this purposoe ; and that the memorial be given to William Westgarth, Esq. M.L.C. in order to its presentation, -and that the committee accompany Mr Westgarth at the presenting of the said memorial. This proposi tion was carried unanimously, and the following gentlemen were appointed a committee to draw up the memorial: Captain Berzeley (Clifton), Captain Ross (Kashemy), Captain Baker (City of Manchester), Captain Goss (Candahar), Capt Luke (Diana), Captain Nicholson (Calphurnia), Captain Hammach (Cambodia); and for carrying out the above, a meeting is appointed to take place on board the Clifton, this day, at four p.m. A vote of thanks to the Chairman being proposed by Thomas Hunt, Esq, and seconded by A. A. Broadfoot, Esq. the meeting adjourned."
With the increase of commercial and migrant shipping, it was made obvious that seamen needed specific attention. The hospital in Williamstown was the first attempt to provide such service.
argus, seaman's hospital, williamstown, the ship inn, welfare, captain charles ferguson (1813-1868)
Speech made by the Governor of Victoria, Margaret Elaine Gardner, at the Opening of the Maritime Art Prize exhibition on 19 October 2023
governor of victoria, margaret elaine gardner, maritime art prize
255 pages with colour and black and white illustrations; notes, bibliography, index.
non-fiction
Almost hidden within religious buildings, hospitals, school chapels and civic buildings, stained-glass windows tell of Australians at war. Bronwyn Hughes focuses on commemorative stained glass—an overlooked art form—describing its rich artistic and architectural heritage and the artists and firms who created it. Memorial stained glass serves to depict and illuminate the men and women who fought and died for their faith and their country. It has a tragic beauty.
australian history, ww1, ww2, boer war, vietnam war, stained glass windows, bronwyn hughes
396 pages with colour and black and white illustrations; notes, bibliography, index.
non-fiction
australian history, ships, shipping, clippers
201 pages with black and white illustrations; notes, bibliography, index.
non-fiction
yachties, dominion yachtsmen scheme, royal navy, ww2
In 2000, the Mission to Seamen became the Mission to Seafarers. The Flying Angel flag also evolved and the Bible was removed.
The article on the evolution of the flag salong with the name is historically important.
Magazine
mission to seamen, mission to seafarers, flying angel flag
Charles Emerson Blunt built the motor boat, the Souther Cross for the Mission in 1906 when the workshop was in Geelong.
The Blunt workshop is heritage listed and has Links with the Mission; they visited the Mission in 2019 and depictions of the workshop are often entered at the Maritime Art Prize.
Series of 4 digital photographs depicting the Blunt Boatbuilders workshop in Williamstown, its interior and a portrait of Charles Emerson Blunt.
blunt boatbuilders, williamstown, motor boat, southern cross
On 20 May 2022, Phillip Cornish, Acting CEO of the Mission, was interviewed by 3aw about the theft of the windvane and the reward. A $10,000 reward is on offer for the safe return of a historic weather vane. The 104-year-old weather vane was taken from the top of the Mission to Seafarers building in the Docklands in March. One generous patron is putting up the reward. CEO of Mission to Seafarers, Philip Cornish, is desperate for the weather vane to be returned. “It’s a wonderful piece of Victorian heritage,” he told Ross and Russel. “The person who returns it potentially gets $10,000, no questions asked. “We think its probably someone looking for scrap metal which would be an absolute disgrace if that’s the case.”
mission to seafarers, radio interview, podcast, weathervane, phillip cornish, windvane, theft, 3aw, community radio, reward
The table is used in the St Peter chapel to sign registers.
The table was retorde thanks to a grant from the Furniture History Society in 2022.
Inlayed occasionnal wooden table made of Australian woods. The table has four carved spired legs and one drawer.
inlay, st peter chapel
Rectangular brass plaque, on top 3 logos: Merchant Navy, Merchant Navy crown and flag of the SSM (Scottish Ship Management)
Engraved: In Memory of / Graham Stewart Martin / Engineer Cadet / MV Baron Kinnaird / 27th September 1983
graham stewart martin, engineer cadet, m.v. baron kinnaird, scottish ship management, ssm, 1983
This chapter consists of in-depth case studies of two location-based games played in Melbourne: Urban Codemakers (2010–11) and Wayfinder Live (2017), both designed by Troy Innocent. These games were directly funded by government bodies in Melbourne to promote the city’s cultural and artistic life to residents and tourists. But its creator was given a broad remit to fulfil these agendas and used them to reflect on the city’s history, architecture, and future development. Through auto-ethnographic observation and interviews with the designer and several players of the games, I reflect on the broader relationship between location-based games, their players, and the institutions and authorities that fund and enable them.
Three of the mosaics were installed on outside walls of the Mission and were a way for the Mission to be put on the map.
6 photographs depicting the Wayfinders mosaics to be scanned though an application on a phone.
wayfinder, ludea, melbourne, on the map, marketing, application, cultural events
The photograph is an early image of the Port Melbourne Mission after the addition of the first storey and the St Nicholas chapel at the back, both designed by Walter Butler.
port melbourne mission, st nicholas chapel, walter richmond butler (1864–1949)
Ruby Forge (April 15th 1881-April 2nd 1969) was the sister of James Leslie Forge. She donated the fund for one of the memorial stained glass window to her brother after his passing in 1917. Ruby was engaged to a young man who was sent to the front during WWI. Unfortunately he died over there, and she never married. She passed away in April 1969. Sue McPhail, her niece, visited the Mission on Thursday 7 September 2023, bringing this photograph.
Small black and white portrait of Ruby Forge wearing a hat.
ruby forge, sue mcphail
Article by Mark Howard published in the Great Circle Journal, Volume 42, No1, in 2020,
great circle, mark howard, sailors' home
In April 2022, the City of Melbourne partnering Storytown, with launched the "Melbourne Podcast Tour". Storytown, an application created by Jarrod Pickford offering audio guides. This self-guided tour takes you along the Yarra River, from Southbank to Docklands, taking around 1.5 hours to complete by bike or 2 hours by foot. From their website: "Told by locals Discover Australia through the voices of its locals! Storytowns collaborates with communities to craft immersive audio guides, offering authentic travel tales from the heart of each neighborhood. Simply grab your headphones, download our app and explore Melbourne’s suburbs with with our fresh-out-the-oven “Railway Stories” audio guides! And if you’re feeling adventurous this weekend, take a road trip through regional Australia and let us jazz up your adventure, where the local folks are the true stars of the story. Sue Dight was interviewed to add to t
The interview was a to way to put the Mission to Seafarers on the map and increase its visitation. Unfortunately the tour is not avalaible anymore (as from 2023).
Digital copy of a media release
com, city of melbourne, app, storytown, sue dight, on the map, marketing, audioguide, jarrod pickford, audio guides, self-guides tour, podcast, radio interview
The interview of Sue Dight was recorded in the Mission. Episode Description For our final episode pre-Christmas 2021 we visited the Mission to Seafarers, Melbourne. We chatted to Sue Dight the CEO of the Mission to find out about the amazing and varied ways in which they care for visiting seafarers who come into port. We also found out about Sue's own career journey which is an inspiration. It's a nice time of year to be inspired by the story of an organisation that's looks out for a forgotten group. Enjoy, and have a great Christmas.
This episod was recorded after the pandemic, and Sue Dight gives a lot of details about the work done during this period and the conditions the seafarers were subjected to. The épisode is also about Sue Dight, her career, her love for the Mission's architecture.
Interview of Sue Dight recorded in the Mission to Seafarers
sue dight, podcast, radio interview, the r and j yarn, mission to seafarers, pandemic, covid 19, open house, heritage colection
On Saturday 26 June 2022, Phillip Cornish, Acting CEO of the Mission, was interviewed by Radio Marinara. They talked about the role of the Mission, the life conditions of seafarers and the theft of the windvane.
mission to seafarers, radio marinara, triple rrr, radio interview, podcast, weathervane, phillip cornish, windvane, theft
The furnishing of the St Nicholas the Mariner chapel in the Williamstown's mission was donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum. The donor of the photographs added a note to the list of gifts: the chaise and patin were given by Mr and Mrs Percy Taylor in memory of their son Norman. He was 3rd engineering on a ship Testbank which was bombed in Bari Harbor in Italy (2 September 1943) . His family thought he had died but he and another man had managed to jump into the sea, and walked back to England.
2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley:
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, flagstaff hill maritime museum, percy taylor, norman taylor, bari harbor, testbank
Reunion of members of the Harbour Lights Guild in Williamstown on 31 May 1980.
The photograph providis the names of members of the Guild.
2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley:
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, nelson place, hlg, harbour lights guild, edna malon, marjorie duckett nee maclennan, gwen batson, betsy dingle
Reunion of former members of the Harbour Lights Guild in Williamstown in 1980. From left to high: Edna Malon, Marjorie Duckett (McLellan) [sic. McLennan], Evelyn Van Wyngaarden (Green), Gwen Batson, ? , Betsy Dingle, Margaret ? (Dyball)
The photograph providis the names of members of the Guild.
2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley:
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, nelson place, hlg, harbour lights guild, edna malon, gwen batson, betsy dingle, marjorie duckett nee maclennan
Standing: Barbara Hawdon (nee Taylor) Sitting left to right: Marjorie Duckett (nee McLellan) [sic. McLennan], Carol Busteed., (unknown) All were members of the Harbour Lights Guild in Williamstown with the hosts: Gwen and Joan Baston
The photograph provides the names of members of the Guild.
2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley:
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, gwen batson, joan baston, barbara hawdon, marjorie duckett nee maclennan, carol busteed
Nancy Oakley was a member of the Harbour Lights Guild in Williamstown. The photographs she donated depict picnics with sailors between 1952 and 1954.
2 A4 size paper of 13 black and white photographs photocopied of picnics with inscriptions from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: dates, locations and names
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, picnics, mount evelyn park, harbour lights guild, hlg, padre frank leslie oliver
The former ES&A Bank building was purchased to be used as the new premisces in Williamstown in 1943. The St Nicholas chapel usa added at the back. The place was furnished thanks to funds donated by the High Commissioner of Canada.
The Nelson place building and the chapel are still standing and are heritage listed.
3 colour photographs depicting the former mission in the ES&A Bank in Williamstown, the heritage plaque and the street with an inscription from Nancy Oakley
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley:
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, nelson place
Nancy Oakley and Kathleen Trace were both members of the Harbour Lights Guild in Williamstown.
This is a rare photograph taken inside the Williamstown club located in Nelson Place.
Black and white photograph depicting two young women standing on each side of an older man.
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: 1956-57 / Canteen Williamstown Mission / L-R / Nancy Oakley (Dingle) / Mr Craven / Kathleen trace
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, canteen, kathleen trace, mr craven, hlg, harbour lights guild
Colour photocopy on A4 size paper
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: "The Age" 14 June 1958
nancy oakley, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, williamstown, st nicholas the mariner chapel, randall stewart murray, george craven, opportunity shop, claude james eldridge-doyle, maude breaks, reredos, louise (lulu) amy breaks, hlg, j. wallace, mrs v. paterson, mrs w.j. hockin, mrs v. darvill
The Siddely Street Sailors' Home was built in 1904 to replace the former Spencer Street building. The home closed its doors on 31 January 1963. In 1965 the building was sold and it was later demolished and the site redeveloped. Ernst (Ernest) Waldemar Kaiser (1893-1968) was the last and longest serving superintendent of the home (March 1933 - March 1965). He was employed till 31 March 1965 (year of the article) when he finished up after 32 years in the position. He continued to be employed for a year or so after the home closed, probably serving as caretaker till it was sold. (see Mark Howard paper in the Great Circle (Vol.42, No1).)
The plaque photographed on page 25 is to be incorporated in the Seafarers park located next to the new Seafarers residential building and at the back of the Mission.
3 pages (p21 to 26) of the Port Melbourne Quarterly issue July-September 1965 about the Melbourne Sailors Home located on Spencer Street.
Inscription handwritten in black ink in capital letters by Nancy Oakley: Meetings of Melb. Sailors' Home held at office of Mr Theo H. Swanton Managing Dir. of William Crosby & Co., 464 Collins St. Melb.
nancy oakley, sailors' home, mission to seamen, nancy dingle, mrs v. kaiser, chinese dolls, kakariki, ernest kaiser, theo h. swanton, ernest waldemar kaiser
1 page one sided and handwritten in black ink in capital letters on a creamy colour paper: recollection of Nancy Oakley about the Melbourne Sailors Home located on Siddeley Street.
nancy oakley, betsy dingle, williamstown, sailors' home, mission to seamen, marjorie duckett nee maclennan, nancy dingle, theo h. swanton
Images show the Mission in 2004: furniture, furnishing (carpet, lights, curtains), artworks in the chapel, courtyard, kitchen, club, Celia Little room
54 photographs of various locations in the Mission in 2004: club, kitchen, Celia Little Room, courtyard, chapel
carpet, furnishing, lights, furniture
Small black platic calculator Canon ZX 2200 with sticker from The Australian Maritime College with manual.
nautical instrument, navigation instrument, brian mcmahon, ship master
Victorian Collections acknowledges the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the first inhabitants of the nation and the traditional custodians of the lands where we live, learn and work.
