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Leaving for the Front

Leaving for the Front circa 1918 by Australian artist Dora Meeson (Coates) (1869-1955) Oil on canvas, 162.0 x 122.6 cm Collection: Art Gallery of Ballarat. Purchased with funds from the Lawrence Clark Bequest, 1921

South Street Committee 1911

South Street Executive Committee, Competition 1911
From top L to R: F J WILLIAMS, W D HILL (General Secretary), F BESEMERES, L BLACKMAN (Assistant Secretary), S W J PEARSON (President), W F COLTMAN (Treasurer), R J COOKE (Vic President), W H CHANDLER, W D THOMAS, J T MORRIS, L PRICHARD, W H RICHARDS, F J MARTELL (Vice President), Col R E WILLIAMS, R MADDERN [Ballarat An Historic Cameo by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2010, p 202 South Street Committee 1911 portraits]

BAIRD FAMILY

The family of Robert (1837-1883) and Agnes BAIRD of Learmonth Back L-R: Matthew (1879-1930), James (1864-1947), George (1877-, William (1863-1938), John (1860-1935), Hugh (1867-1942) Front L-R: Jane (1874-1930), Robert Jnr (1870-1957, Agnes (McKERROW) (1838-1918), Andrew (1872-, David (1881-1960) [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2010 p 10]

LOADING BRICKS 1920

The Lucas girls loading Selkirk bricks onto a double horse-drawn lorry for the construction of the Arch of Victory 1920 [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 37]

Children's Flower Day Certificate 1918

Children's Flower Day certificate awarded to Laura Parker for Freehand Drawing, State School No 863 Lal Lal, A Jamieson, Head Teacher [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 135]

Brigadier General Robert Ernest WILLIAMS

Brigadier Robert Ernest WILLIAMS (1855-1943) Ballarat City Clerk and Soldier [Federation University Australia Historical Collection, Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre, Mount Helen]

First Lucas Factory

Eleanor PRICE (HARGREAVES), widowed at 30 with four young children, began making garments in this small factory in James Street. [Permission from B Price]

E Lucas & Co factory interior

After the death of her second husband, William LUCAS, in a mining accident, Eleanor, supported by her daughters, expanded into the old Phoenix Foundry premises in Doveton Street and by 1938 employed 500 whiteworkers in Ballarat and 75 in the Melbourne Office. [Permission from B Price]

Lucas Making Room

The Making Room at the E Lucas and Co factory [Permission from B Price]

The Serenaders

The Lucas Girls took an active part in welcoming returning WW1 soldiers, visiting a large number of homes and singing welcome home songs [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 171]

'Tilly' THOMPSON, Sunways

Photo from the Order of Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving for M L Thompson held at Jubilee Methodist Church, Anzac Sunday 26 April 1959. [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 232]

Garden Party Homeleigh

Garden Party at Homeleigh, the home of Mrs W D Thompson, 510-512 Wendouree Parade, Ballarat, a fundraiser for the Lucas Girls. [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 232]

'Tilly' Thompson Motor Car

'Tilly' Matilda Louisa THOMPSON in her motor car from the Australian Woman's Weekly Pictorial 22 April 1939. "Mrs Thompson was the first woman car-driver in Ballarat, Australia's first woman commercial traveller and a company director when ladies were not supposed to know anything outside the home." [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003. p 233]

Mrs W D THOMPSON portrait

Portrait of Mrs 'Tilly Matilda Louisa THOMPSON, wife of William Daniel THOMPSON [Permission from B Price]
After a marriage of only thirteen years and no offspring, Tilly became a widow and was known as Mrs W D Thompson until her death on the 7 April 1959 at the age of 87 years. Her employment at lingerie manufacturer E Lucas and Co P/L began in 1905 and made history as Australia's first female commercial traveller, representing the company interstate and to the big department stores. After a trip overseas in the latter part 1914 to the "Home Markets" she became a shareholder and director of company, which from the commencement of 1915 began to trade under the name E Lucas & Co Pty Ltd. With more than 500 girl employees to do her bidding. As the local 'generalissimo' of this willing army and the citizens of Ballarat in general, she rallied the community into action in support of the war effort. She organised cheery homecomings for returned soldiers and is famous for her part in instigating the Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory. For her philanthropic work Tilly was presented with a gold medal and a Certificate of Appreciation from the Returned Services League Federal executive of Australia, an annual award to one woman chosen in the Commonwealth. [J Burrell in Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, pp 232-3]

Tree Guards for the Avenue of Honour

Timber for tree guards to protect the trees lining the Avenue of Honour. A total of around 4000 trees was planted for every Ballarat man and woman who served overseas in the First World War. [Ballarat Golden City : A Pictorial History by John Reid and John Chisholm, Photography by Max Harris, Joval Publications, 1989, p 133]

Tyler Picnic Ballarat Gardens 1907

Presented to James Tyler Esquire as a memento of picnic held at Ballarat Botanical Gardens 11 January 1907 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat City Libraries]

T A WILLIAMS Champion Bowler

'Tom' Arthur John WILLIAMS (1869-1926) Ballarat's best-known bowler, was the 1922 Australian Champion and toured overseas. He won the Ballarat Bowls Association trophy which now bears his name seven times, and was the Association Secretary for 32 years. Formed in 1864, the Ballarat Bowling Club is the second oldest in Australia. Bowling Club members were involved with commemmorative tree planting. [Ballarat Golden City : A Pictorial History by John Reid and John Chisholm, Photography by Max Harris, Joval Publications, 1989, p 104]

Arch of Victory 1920

Building the Arch of Victory 1920. Scaffolding supported the 'mudlarks' who smoothed concrete over the bricks and created the decorative rising sun hat badge emblem at the top. The lettering on the finished arch will read 'The Avenue of Honour, 1914 Victory 1918 [Max Harris photo]

ARCH OF VICTORY 1921

Newly completed Arch of Victory Sturt Street, Ballarat c1921 [Ballarat An Historic Cameo by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2010 p 146]

Cr Richard PEARSE

Cr Richard PEARSE (1836-1927) Mayor of City of Ballaarat 1903-04, 1908-09, 1914-15 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat City Libraries]

Jeanie JOBSON (1865-1925)

Miss Jeanie Jobson (1866-1925) Senior Mistress at Ballarat Agricultural High School from 1910 and founder of the Australian Soldiers' Correspondence League 1915. [The History of Ballarat High School 1907-1982 by Phil Roberts 1982, Ballarat High School Council p 47]

Miss Jeannie Jobson Letter 1915

A CHEERING LETTER TO THE AUSTRALIAN TROOPS AT THE FRONT "Verona" 120 Lyons St, Ballarat, 12 May 1915 DEAR AUSTRALIAN BOYS, I don't know which of you will read this letter; I don't care, for you are all alike, dear and precious to every Australian at home. Every Australian woman's heart this week is thrilling with pride, with exultation, and while her eyes fill with tears, she springs up, as I did when the story was finished, and says:- "Thank God I am an Australian!" Boys, you have honoured our land; you, the novices, the untrained, the untaught in war's grim school, have done the deeds of veterans! O, how we honor you! How we glory in your matchless bravery, in your yet more wonderful fortitude, which the war correspondent says was evinced so marvellously as your boatloads of wounded … (see full transcription in AUSTRALIA SOLDIERS' CORRESPONDENCE LEAGUE in ABOUT - ORGANISATIONS.) Good-night boys. God have you, living or dying, in His keeping. If any one of you would like to send me a penciled note or card, I'll answer it to time by return. – Your countrywoman. JEANIE JOBSON. [Source Museums Victoria ST 41210 Leaflet – 'A Cheering Letter to the Australian Troops At The Front', Jeannie Jobson, Ballarat, 12 May 1915]

Jeannie JOBSON 1910

Staff of Ballarat High School 1910. Teacher Jeannie Jobson is seated second from left. She started the Australian Soldiers' Correspondence League.Centre is Headmaster John Henry Refshauge. His wife and daughter have entries in HFBWW1 database. [Ballarat High School - a hundred years, thousands of footsteps by Phil Roberts, 2007, p 41]

Red Cross Button 1918

Children's Red Cross Appeal Button [G Reynolds]

Sunnyside Woollen Mill 1921

Sunnyside Ballarat Woollen and Worsted Mill Co, Hill St, Ballarat East, 1921 [Ballarat An Historic Cameo by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2010 p 146]

City Oval Bowling Club 1901

The City Oval Bowling Club. [Chuck Photo, Ballarat and District in 1901, Plate 32]

Ballarat Bowling Club Members 1901

Some prominent members of the Ballarat Bowling Club. Bowling Club members were involved with commemorative tree planting. [Chuck Photo, Ballarat and District in 1901, Plate 33]

Cymrodorion Society Ballarat Letter

Cymrodorion Society letter dated 5 April 1919 from Secretary J T Morris [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1918-1927 J-J, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

James Tyler & Co letterhead

James Tyler & Co letterhead 19 Jun 1919. James Tyler (1855-1918) owner of this drapery firm, was among the tree planters of the Avenue of Honour. He had a son who served and has an entry in the HFBWW1 database. [PROV VPRS 2500 Unit 117, Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

E H PRICE letter 17 Mar 1919

E H PRICE letter dated 1 Dec 1919, in regard to planting a tree for the son of Mrs Lisson of Riversdale Road, Hawthorn. [PROV VPRS 2500 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Avenue of Honour, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

M L THOMPSON letter 20 Oct 1919

M L Thompson letter 20 Oct 1919, requesting the loan of a water cart. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Avenue of Honour, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

E H PRICE letter 1 Dec 1919

Edward Hargreaves PRICE letter dated 1 Dec 1919 to the Mayor Cr Crocker expressing thanks for the use of the water cart for the Arch Entrance [PROV VPRS 2500 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Avenue of Honour, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Red Cross Letter 1919

Letter dated 12 July 1919 to Brigadier General Williams, City Clerk, signed by Hon Sec Beccie McDonald, Central Workroom and Depot, City Hall, Ballarat, regarding the Ballarat Red Cross kitchen which supplied 3500 meals during the influenza epidemic [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Belgian Relief Fund 1919

Belgian Relief Fund final meeting 24 July 1919 at Ballarat City Hall with Mayor T T HOLLWAY, Cr W D HILL and Hon Treasurer Mr Charles J KING. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919 J-D]

BODYCOMB letter 1919

Bereavement letter of thanks from the family of Thomas Bodycomb, Rurua 30 Doveton St Sth, Ballarat. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1918-1927 J-J, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

A E DAVIS letter, North Lodge, 1919

Alfred Ernest Davis, a gardener, living in the North Lodge, Ballarat Botanical Gardens wrote this thank you letter to the Mayor in response to expressions of sympathy following the 1919 death of his youngest son, Frank, one of four brothers who enlisted, namely Alfred Ernest Jnr, Robert Arthur, Edward Henry Frederick and Frank Gordon. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1918-1927 J-J, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Queen of the East Committee

Mrs Margaret Hoare photo on a letter written 19 Dec 1916 to the Mayor of the Town of Ballarat East by President Mr Henry B George and Secretary Mr William Elsworth on behalf of the Queen of the East Committee, based in the Public Library, Ballarat East. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 121 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1915-1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Button Fund 1919

Commonwealth Button Fund 1915-1919. [VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Cakes for Schools Peace Celebrations 1919

List of 23 schools requiring cakes for Peace Celebrations 19 July 1919 [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence Peace Celebrations, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Citizens' Service Program Cover 1918

The Empire and the War! Citizens' Service of Thanksgiving, Eastern Oval, 13 Oct 1918, program cover. [VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence Peace Celebrations, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Citizens' Service Program 1918 (back)

The Empire and the War! Citizens' Service of Thanksgiving, Eastern Oval, 13 Oct 1918, program (back). This page was designed to be sent to the troops with the message, "I am sending you this in affectionate remembrance" [VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence Peace Celebrations, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

CURWEN-WALKER letter 1919

Letter dated 23 July 1919 from J Curwen-Walker and A C Fraser, Ballarat High School Ex-Students Association, to City Clerk Ballarat, re fund raising for an Honor Tablet. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Cr William Duguid HILL

Cr William Duguid HILL, Mayor of Ballarat 1909-1910, 1916-1917, 1920-1921 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat City Libraries]

MORTON-WILLIAMS letter 1919

Letter dated 14 July 1919 from George F Morton to the Mayor and Councillors of Ballaarat about Brigadier General R E Williams resuming his office of City Clerk. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Correspondence Peace Celebrations, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Pleasant St SS 1919

Letter dated 1 Sep 1919 from J W MUIR Pleasant Street State School to Col G F MORTON, City Clerk Ballarat, extending an invitation to the Unveiling of the Honor Board on 13 Sep 1919. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Urquhart St SS 1919

Letter dated 13 Oct 1919 by John DAVID, Head Teacher, Urquhart Street State School to Ballarat City Council in regard to Children's Flower Day to be held on 7 Nov 1919. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

R BRITNELL letter, Eureka Stockade Reserve

Letter of thanks dated 24 May 1916 from R BRITNELL Hon Sec of the Eureka Stockade Reserve, to J GENT, Town Clerk, Ballarat East for loan of equipment for the Easter Carnival in aid of Red Cross Society and Charities. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 121 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1915-1919, Ballarat East, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

EDDY letter, Queen Carnival Bazaar 1916

Letter dated 23 Nov 1916 by Ass Sec John Lovell EDDY to the Mayor of Ballarat East regarding the Ballarat District Queen Carnival Bazaar to be held Wednesday 29 November 1916. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 121 Ballarat Council Correspondence 1915-1919, Ballarat East, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Red poppy

Commemorative red poppy. For the Centenary of the 1915 landing at Gallipoli hand knitted red poppies proliferated at memorials in Ballarat and around Australia. [BDGS]

St John's Presbyterian Church

Invitation from Rev William ROWLAND of St John's Manse to attend a special Patriotic service at St John's Presbyterian Church, Ballarat East, on 30th July 1916, the Sunday preceding the Anniversary of the Declaration of War. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 121 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1915-1919, Ballarat East, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Ballarat Jam Factory 1914

Austin's Ballarat Jam Company produced Welcome Nugget jam at their Sebastopol factory. [Life After Gold Twentieth-Century Ballarat, Weston Bate, Melbourne University Press, 1993, p 60]

LAWRIE A 1919

(Rhoderick) Allan/Alan LAWRIE (1894-1934) standing next to his memorial tree No 492, 1919. Life After Gold Twentieth-Century Ballarat, Weston Bate, Melbourne University Press, 1993, p 78.

Two Charity Queens 1916

Two fundraising queens and their attendants at the final Queen Carnival ceremony, 4 Dec 1916. Half of the total of £8279 was donated to the Mayoress's Patriotic League. [Richards & Co photo, Museum of Victoria, Public Domain]

Weaver, Factory Day Ballarat, 1916

A female weaver from the Woollen Mills on Factory Day in Ballarat, 20 October 1916. This was claimed to be Australia's first Factory Day when 48 factories were opened to the public and exhibits were set up in Sturt Street from Dawson to Grenville Streets. "Schools within 35 miles were closed for the day." [Museum of Victoria, Public Domain, Life After Gold Twentieth-Century Ballarat, Weston Bate, Melbourne University Press, 1993, p 59]

Welcome Home Ballarat 1919

Welcome Home party for returned soldier Michael Francis James CUMMINS in Havelock Street, Ballarat, 1919. [Museum of Victoria, Public Domain]

WILES Cooker Factory 1915

J F Wiles, Engineering Blacksmith, inventor of 'Wiles' Cooker, first demonstrated at the Ballarat showgrounds camp, and essential equipment for all Victorian army camps from 1915. Based in the old Phoenix Foundry this factory fulfilled defence contracts to manufacture hundreds of field kitchens of cookers and wagons for overseas service during the war. [McCallum's Ballarat District Citizens and Sports, M M McCallum, 1916]

Funds Letter 8 May 1916

Letter dated 8 May 1916 from George Morton, Acting City Clerk, Ballarat City, to State War Council listing eight Patriotic and War Funds with names and addresses of secretaries. [PROV VPRS 8118/P1 Unit 15 Ballarat Council Outward Correspondence, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

GLOVER Letter 6 Sep 1916

Bereavement letter to Mrs L H Glover 405 Raglan St Sth, Ballarat, for her son Pte A W Glover who DOW in France. [PROV VPRS 8118/P1 Unit 15 Ballarat Council Outward Correspondence, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Grace Wells LMPL 27 Jul 1916

Letter dated 27 July 1916 from Mrs Grace V Wells Hon Sec District Entertainment Committee, Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League, City Hall, Ballarat, thanking the Mayor in regard to the Juvenile Fancy Dress Ball and trusting that the event would return a large amount of money to buy necessaries for our men in the Trenches in France. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 110 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Military, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Grace V Wells 31 Jul 1916

Letter dated 31 July 1916 from Mrs Grace Victoria Wells, Hon Sec District Entertainment Committee, Ballarat Branch, Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League, City Hall, Ballarat, for permission to use the Recruiting Room (Day & Night) for a Juvenile Ball at City Hall 10 Aug 2016. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 110 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Military, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Cr Frederick BRAWN MLC

Cr Frederick BRAWN MLC, Mayor City of Ballaarat 1907-08, 1915-16 [The History of Ballarat High School 1907-1982 by Phil Roberts 1982, Ballarat High School Council p 69]

Major Matthew BAIRD

Major Matthew Baird (1879-1930) from Learmonth [The History of Ballarat High School 1907-1982 by Phil Roberts 1982, Ballarat High School Council p 69]

Robert McGREGOR MLA

Robert McGregor MLA Ballarat East 1894-1922 [The History of Ballarat High School 1907-1982 by Phil Roberts 1982, Ballarat High School Council p 15]

Mrs Margaret HOARE 1916

Mrs Margaret Hoare (1867-1936), The Queen of the East Committee, wife of Cr William James Hoare, Mayor of Ballarat East 1915-1918. Image from a 1916 letterhead. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 121 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1915-1919]

Cr Thomas Tuke HOLLWAY

Thomas Tuke HOLLWAY Mayor Ballaarat 1910-11, 1918-19 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat City Libraries]

Tobacco Letter 1916

Letter dated 1 Sep 1916 from The Over-Seas Club regarding The Southern Cross Tobacco Fund to patriotic bodies in Ballarat, pg 1. [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 110 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Military, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Ballarat Choral Society 1911

Ballarat Choral Society, Grand Champion Winners, South Street Competitions, 1911. Several of these people have entries in HFBWW1 database [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003]

Ballarat Choral Society, Winners the the Grand Champion Choral Contest, South Street Competitions 1911

Back row L-R: Mr B Foster, Mr A Edmunds (bass), Mr W Greenwood (bass), Mr B Edmunds, Mr N Wellington, Mr P C Thornton (bass), Mr W Graham (tenor), Mr F Wilmot (bass), Mr Todd, Mr T Mackie/Mackey (bass)

5th row L-R: Mr B Burrett, Mr J Fullerton, Mr H Edmunds, Miss May Uren (soprano), Miss Lena Allen (contralto), Miss Nellie Dillon (contralto), Miss Ethel Trethowan (contralto), Miss Millie McConachie/McConnachie (soprano), Miss Elsie Williton/Willaton (soprano), Mr W Doig (tenor), Mr S Hobson (bass), Mr J Bray (tenor)

4th row L-R: Mr E (Assistant Secretary), Mr S Eva (tenor), Miss L Ritchie, Miss Queenie Keys (soprano, Miss Ida Blackman (contralto), Miss Mina Scott (contralto), Miss Violet Litchfield (soprano), Miss Daisy O'Brien (soprano), Miss Stella Jones (soprano), Miss Maggie Farmer (soprano), Mr H Dunstan (tenor), Mr J C Russell (tenor)

3rd row L-R: Mr J or I R Jones (bass), T Jones, Miss Alice or Annie Williams (soprano), Mrs Marshall (soprano), Miss Mathews/Matthews, Miss Mollie Hill (soprano), Miss Effie McGoldrick (contralto), Miss Blanche Farrell (soprano), Miss Nellie or Janet Watkins (soprano/contralto), Miss Ada or Annie Knox (soprano/contralto), Miss Vera McDonald (soprano, Mr E Powell (tenor), Mr F Bilney (tenor)

2nd row L-R: Mr Hobson, Mrs Sandberg (soprano), Miss Florrie Grant (soprano, Miss Gladys Jones (contralto), Miss Hilda Woolcock (soprano, Mrs Bradbury/Bradby (soprano), Miss Mathews/Matthews, Miss Tonkin, Miss Nellie or Janet Watkins (soprano/contralto), Miss Ada or Annie Knox (soprano/contralto), Miss Law, Miss R Anderson, Mr H Cherry (bass)

Front row L-R: Miss Ollie Benaim (contralto/soprano), Miss Annie Connelly/Connolly (soprano), Miss Winnie Hoskin (contralto), Miss Carrie White (contralto), Miss Florrie Roberts (soprano), Miss Alice or Annie Williams (soprano), Mr Hayden West (Conductor), Miss B Uren (Pianist), Mr Arthur Adair (Secretary), Miss Ethel Giles (contralto), Miss Lily Rowe (soprano), Miss Ruby Powell (soprano), Miss Marge Benaim (contralto)

Names supplemented from an article entitled Music and Musicians, The Brisbane Courier, 1 November 1911 (Courier Home Circle). [Web. 3 Apr 2016 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article19754516]

Red Cross Float Ballarat 1914

Wartime procession in Ballarat featuring a Model T Ford car decorated with a Red Cross, post 1914. [C M Chisholm, Museum of Victoria, Public Domain]

Doveton Woollen Mills

Doveton Woollen Mills in Doveton St Nth, Ballarat [Chuck Photo, Ballarat 1901, Plate 361]

Mrs A H MOORE letter 1919

Bereavement letter of thanks from Mrs A H MOORE (Evelyn McDonald DOWNIE), Scot's Manse, Ballarat following the death of her husband, the Reverend Alexander Henderson MOORE who died 12 March 1919 [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous War Correspondence 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

ACF Desert

Carrying ACF Comforts across the Desert [Australian Comforts Fund booklet 1918, [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

ACF Stall France

First ACF Stall in France [Australian Comforts Fund booklet 1918, [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

ACF booklet cover

Booklet cover, ACF-Mayoress's Patriotic League [Australian Comforts Fund booklet 1918, [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Avenue of Honor 8 Aug 1917

Letter dated 8 Aug 1917 by W Coulthard, Secretary, The Avenue of Honor Committee, to Ballarat City Clerk, regarding members of a permanent executive committee [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Comforts Anzac Beach

ACF Comforts on Anzac Beach [Australian Comforts Fund booklet 1918, [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Mill Planting List 1918

Woollen Mill Employees' Avenue of Honor, Program of Planting for 14 trees with names of soldiers honored, their battalions and planters (at Hill St, Ballarat East, 1918) [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 114 Council Correspondence Avenue of Honour 1919, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Specifications of Guards 31 Jul 1918

Letter dated 31 Jul 1918 by A / Assistant City Clerk to Arthur Besant Esq, Hon Sec, Cressy Honor Avenue, Cressy, with specifications of tree guards made by Mr Leo Charles, Talbot St Nth, Ballarat. [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918 reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

YMCA Appeal 28 Nov 1918

Letter dated 28 Nov 1918 by Theo Saunders, Hon Secretary, Citizens Committee, to the Mayor of the City, regarding a procession and badge sales for YMCA Appeal [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Day of Prayer Ballarat 6 Jan 1918

Day of Prayer (cover) for Special Intercessory Service held Sunday 6 January 1918 in the Alfred Hall, Ballarat [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Children's Flower Day 1918

Memo for the City Clerk listing Children's Flower Day Returns totaling £151.1.0 from Ballarat schools, Macarthur St 2022, Urquhart St 2103, Dana St 33, Pleasant St 695, Alfredton 1091 and Wendouree 1813 [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Parcel from home

A member of the 39th Battalion near Curlu on the Somme, opening a parcel received from home, 1 Sep 1918 [Australian War Memorial E03207, Public Domain]

Ballarat Drivers WW1

Men who received comforts from home in Egypt, about March 1916. Written on the back, "Just after grooming parade a few of the Ballarat Drivers." Photo from a small album belonging to Sergeant Herbert Charles Ludbrook (3197) 6th Field Ambulance now belonging to Susan Meyer [contributed by Susan Meyer]

Billies given out

"A snap taken when the billies were given out to soldiers," is written on the back. Photo from a small album belonging to Sergeant Herbert Charles Ludbrook (3197) 6th Field Ambulance now belonging to Susan Meyer [Ludbrook Family Album, courtesy of Susan Meyer]

Brave Men booklet cover

Lucas's Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men booklet, Final Edition, June 1919, Price 2/-. [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Alma Elizabeth MATTHEWS Obituary

Obituary for Alma Elizabeth Matthews, The Courier (Ballarat) Friday 29 Nov 1940 Page 6 [Contributed by Rosemary Gay]

Snapshots From Home

Snapshots-from-Home League of Australia. YMCA Send Them All Snapshots from Home. YMCA will supply free of cost. This is an Australian version of the British poster designed by Fred Pegram showing soldiers in a French village with photos from home.[Australian War Memorial ARTV05498, Public Domain]

Sunnyside Mills 1875

The Ballarat Woollen Company (Limited), Sunnyside Mills, Warehouse & Offices, 15 Sturt St, Ballarat [1875 Ballarat Directory, F W Niven]

MATTHEWS Instrumentalists

Instrumentalists for charity performances billed as Juvenile Vaudeville Entertainment. Alma Elizabeth MATTHEWS with daughters: Rose, Gwen, Nancy, Queen and Queen's son Jack. [Contributed by Rosemary Gay]

Bertha BOWMAN (HAM)

Bertha BOWMAN (HAM) (1905-2008) At the age of 15 employed by E Lucas & Co. [Recollections : 20th Century Ballarat by Max Harris and Peter Butters, Harris House of Photography, 2003, p 36]

Alma Elizabeth MATTHEWS (1873-1940)

Alma Elizabeth MATTHEWS (1873-1940) Musician, Entertainer, Fund-raiser. [Contributed by Rosemary Gay]

Alexander James PEACOCK

The Hon Sir Alexander James Peacock MLA (1861-1933) three times Premier of Victoria. [A History of The School of Mines and Industries Ballarat – a history of its first one hundred and twelve years, 1870-1882, by Warren Perry, SMB, 1984, p 153]

Cr J J BROKENSHIRE

Cr James Job BROKENSHIRE (1852-1939), Mayor of Ballaarat 1901-1902, 1906-1907, 1913-1914 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Miss Zillah LEVY 1925

Miss Zillah LEVY (1900-1977) Mayoress of Ballaarat 1924-25 for the Mayoral term of her father Abraham Levy [1925 Mayoral Report, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Eleanor LUCAS

Cr A J PITTARD

Cr Alfred James PITTARD (1868-1950) , Mayor of Ballaarat 1926-27 [1927 Mayoral Report, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Alice Mary PITTARD

Mrs Alice Mary PITTARD (CROCKER) (known as Mary) (1873-1956) Mayoress of Ballaarat 1926-27 and actively involved in community improvements. Founder of the National Council of Women in Ballarat. Elected to the Ballarat Hospital Committee of Management in 1928 with Helen Eva GARDINER. The Ballarat Hospital Mary-Helen Auxilary was named in their honour. This group supported the hospital with fund raising for the additional comfort of patients. [1927 Mayoral Report, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Edward Hargreaves PRICE

Edward Hargreaves PRICE (1878-1954)aged 35 [Edward H Price, A Memoir, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Miss Jessie SHAW

Miss Jessie Mackenzie SHAW (NICHOLLS) (1906-1992) Acting Mayoress City of Ballaarat 1928 for her mother's brother, Alexander MACKENZIE [1928 Mayoral Report, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Cr Abraham LEVY

Cr Abraham LEVY (1866-1929) Mayor Town of Ballarat East 1916-1917, City of Ballaarat 1924-25 [1925 Mayoral Report, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Cr Isaiah PEARCE

Cr Isaiah PEARCE (1844-1919) Mayor Town of Ballarat East 1892–1893, 1900–1901, 1907–1908, 1914–1915 [Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

Cr John BAIRD

Cr John BAIRD (1860-1935) [Learmonth Historical Society]

Robert McGREGOR MLA

Robert McGREGOR (1853-1931) Member Legislative Assembly Victoria Ballarat East 1894-1922 [The History of Ballarat High School 1907-1982 by Phil Roberts 1982, Ballarat High School Council, p 15, with permission from Phil Roberts April 2016]

Waterloo SS Honor Roll

Roll of Honor, Waterloo State School No 717, Old Boys who served in the Great War, now placed in the Beaufort RSL Hall.
Column 1: NEWEY CC, SMITH G, GUYATT C, VALE A, KAY H, SMITH W L, PETT H, ALLISON G A, WOODFINE A, VOWLES A T, SADDLER R, GRAY G H, FIRTH R, BREDIN G, BOYD P J, NEWEY C H, NEWEY L P, CARLAND F J, FIRTH Roy, ADAMTHWAITE G, LYONS Samuel, TURNER A, SMITH N, STEVENS T, DE GRAAFF H, CRICK G, SMITH R.
Column 2: CLELAND W G, DE GRAAFF T, FRUSHER R, SKENE W, NEWEY E J, LEWIS R G, PETT J, LEADBEATER A, GILLIGAN J, KAY W J, STEVENS L, NEWEY N C, KITCHEN R, ROBINSON R N, LYONS S, GUYATT A, STEVENS E, LYTTLE T R, SMITH F G P, STEVENS A, DAVIES G, MILLIGAN Dr C, WOODFINE C, CLELAND A, NIXON J E, NEWEY J H, VOWLES W E.
Column 3: MARTIN A, GILLIGAN W, McNAUGHTON W A, SMITH C, MARTIN J D, SMITH S, JUDD G, SMITH L, MOORE J C, COCHRANE J, DROMLY N P, FRUSHER V P, HALEY W, LOXTON G, PROVIS W, THEODORE E C, ROBERTSON W C, STEVENS F, WOODFINE W, TRAINOR L, MARTIN F J, MARTIN T W, KAY J A.

Victoria St Baptist Roll of Honor

Victoria Street Baptist Church, For God, King & Empire, Roll of Honor. Donated to the Gold Museum when the church was deconsecrated in 1999.

Column 1

AINSWORTH S J, ALLEN W, ALLEN T, BENNETT C, *CAMPBELL W, CAREY LJ, *EADY J A, *EWART H, EWART R, EVERY E, FOX J, FRICKE F Jnr, GEDDES S, GEDDES R, HARRIS H, HARRIS J, HARRIS T, HAWKER G, HAWKER W, HILLIER A, HOOK N, HUGHES A, HUGHES G.

Column 2

JOHNSON H, KEAST P V, LUNNEN C, *McLEOD M, MOLYNEAUX R, NEWMAN G, OPIE F, REID J, ROWE A, RUSS H, SAMPSON J, SNADWITH S, TYERS C W, TONKIN A, *TRETHOWAN H, WHITEFIELD R J, WHITEFIELD H N, WHITEFIELD H, WHITELY R, WILLIAMS C H, JEFFS H, LLOYD F.

ANZAC Centenary

Shire Ballarat Council Minutes 1915

VPRS 13492/P1 Unit 1 Shire of Ballarat Council Minutes, transcription of war-related extracts 1914-1915 [reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Helen Eva GARDINER

Helen Eva GARDINER (1885-1975) Double-certificated nurse, wife of a doctor, Ballarat Hospital Committee of Management 1928-1940, a founder of Ballarat Hospital Mary-Helen Auxiliary (with Alice Mary PITTARD) named in their honour, and co-founder of National Council of Women in Ballarat. [Ballarat Hospital Mary-Helen Auxiliary 1928-1988 by H W Menadue]

Robert Ernest WILLIAMS

Robert Ernest WILLIAMS (1855-1943) [Ballarat & Vicinity, W B Kimberley, 1895]

Ballarat Base Hospital Nurses Honour Board

Ballarat Base Hospital Nurses WW1 Honour Board

ERECTED IN HONOUR OF OUR SISTERS WHO SERVED KING & COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR 1914-1918

Column 1: Matron QUARTERMAN, M ANDERSON, J BONWICK, G BENNETT, L CANNON, T DUNN, R DOUGLAS, E DAVIDSON, D FURNESS, L HOWARTH, R JUST

Column 1a: A BROWN, S BELL, M BOLTON, M BUTLER, A BRAWN

Column 1b: I CHERRY, B FOWLER, S GRIBBLE, E HEPWORTH, D KILLEAN

Column 2: E KEANE, G LARKAN, R MEDWELL, M MORROW, M MATTHEWS, G MUNRO, L McKENZIE, E POPPLEWELL, R PRATT, D LLEWELLYN, L McDONALD, E McLEOD

Column 3: L ROGERS, A ROBERTS, S SEMMENS, A SERJEANT, M SLATER, B THOMPSON, F VINES, V WOINARSKI, L WHIDBURN, P WARDELL, B WILLIAMS, L McGREGOR, S MORRIS, L POULTNEY, I PEADY, B PEADY

Column 4: J REEVES, R TYERS, J THOMAS, A M WESTCOTT, B WALLACE

[Courtesy of Ballarat Base Hospital Trained Nurses' League]

Ballarat Junior Technical School War Effort 1916

Ballarat Junior Technical School War Effort, c1916 Shows the School of Mines Ballarat carpentry workshop where the Junior Technical students made stools, foot warmers, tables and seats to send to the Front during WW1. Teacher Albert Steane, V Maddison and F N Ling are known to be in this photo. [Federation University Australia Historical Collection, Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre, Mount Helen]

Ballarat Junior Technical School staff c1919

Ballarat Junior Technical School staff c1919, Dana Street Primary School Back L-R: F N KING, H G WAKELING, S MAYO, H V MADDISON Front L-R: H W MALIN, Albert W STEANE (Headmaster), W J PATERSON, R L CUTTER [Federation University Australia Historical Collection, Geoffrey Blainey Research Centre, Mount Helen]

Jessie BELL letter 17 Jun 1918

Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League, Ballarat City Branch. Australian Comforts Fund, Victoria Division George Glenny Treasurer, 215 Wendouree Parade City Hall Ballarat 11th July 1918 To the City Councillors Dear Sirs On behalf of the Committee of the Comforts Fund I thank you for your generous donation Yours Sincerely Jessie Bell Official Receipt Attached [PROV VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Jessie BELL letter 11 Jul 1918

Major General Charles Henry BRAND

Portrait of Major-General Charles Henry Brand (1873-1961) by Shier, Spencer, (1884-1950) National Library of Australia, nla.pic-an23243254 (permission pending 1 Jun 2016)

Lt Col William Kinsey BOLTON

Lieutenant Colonel William Kinsey BOLTON (1861-1941) Founding President of the Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League 1916. [Portrait by Richards & Co c1916, National Library of Australia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

George BOLSTER

George BOLSTER (1877-1948) Mayor of Ballarat 1929-1930 [Silver Club photo, courtesy of Max Harris]

Lt Col George Frederick MORTON

Lieutenant Colonel George Frederick MORTON (1881-1972) Town Clerk City of Ballaarat [Portrait c1915, Public Domain, Australian War Memorial DA08815]

George Frederick MORTON 1924

George Frederick MORTON (1881-1972) Town Clerk City of Ballaarat [portrait 1924, Australiana Collection, City of Ballarat Libraries]

John Lovell EDDY 1909

Silk Pyjama Suit

Silk Pyjama Suit Presented to HRH Edward Prince of Wales by Employees of Lucas & Co Ballarat on the occasion of the opening of the Arch of Victory, 3 June 1920 [Postcard, Ballarat Historical Society 83-15923]

Individual Tree Avenue of Honour

Individual Tree Avenue of Honour 1917. Plaque reads ALEX WHITE, Lt Colonel 8th Light Horse, 505  Gallipoli [Booklet Lucas's Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men, Ballarat Historical Society 05.0630.4]

Tennis Club Committee c1920

Tennis Club Committee c1920, unidentified but on back is Mr G REID and Mr Gordon HARRIS. Lapel badges worn by four of the men are WW1 AIF Returned from Active Service. Gentleman in back row 2nd from right is wearing a WW1 silver war wounded lapel badge. Quite an array of fashions which would fit with immediate post WW1. Collars from winged to stiff and soft points with a tiepin. One is dapper in a double breasted suit and spats. Back right is wearing a hand knitted vest. Front and centre is most likely the president. He has a fob watch chain with a medallion. [Richards & Co, Ballarat, photo donated to BDGS]

WW1 Returned From Active Service AIF lapel badge

WW1 Returned From Active Service lapel badge, Australian Infantry Force, issued by Department of Defence. [BDGS photo]

WW1 Wounded silver lapel badge

WW1 Wounded silver lapel badge, inscribed For King & Empire, For Services Rendered. [BDGS photo]

Memoranda Planting 3rd Edition

Memoranda for First Planting, 4th June 1917, and subsequent Plantings. [Souvenir of the Avenue of Honor Third Edition, Ballarat Historical Society 70.3961]

Arch of Victory Valentine Postcard

Arch of Victory, Valentine Real Photo Series No 1664, Valentine Publishing Co, Melbourne & Sydney. [Ballarat Historical Society 83-17922]

Arch of Victory Nucolorvue Postcard

Arch of Victory and Avenue of Honour Ballarat. Nucolorvue Productions, Victoria – No 9 Post Card [Ballarat Historical Society 82-24553]

Allan Francis CAMERON MLA

Allan Francis CAMERON (1868-1923) [Re-Member photo]

George Foster PEARCE

George Foster PEARCE (1870-1952) First Federal Minister of Defence and during WW1 1914-1921 [Swiss Studios 1910s National Library of Australia, nla pic-an23378971]

Arch of Victory Opening Ballarat 1920

Arch of Victory opening by HRH the Prince of Wales 2 June 1920 [Panoramas of Ballaarat, M Harris, and J Burrell, Harris House of Photography, 1998, p 115]

Ballarat Shire Minutes F-M 1916

VPRS 13492/P1 Unit 1 Ballarat Shire Council Minutes - extracts Feb-May 1916 transcribed at Ballarat Archives Centre, Public Record Office Victoria, 16 May 2016 by J Burrell. [Reproduced with permission from Ballarat City Council]

Red Cross Convalescent Home Ballarat

Red Cross Convalescent Home Ballarat, Fernery and Corner of Garden WW1 [Ballarat Historical Society Postcard 82-24537]

RED CROSS HOMES 27 Jun 1919

RED CROSS HOMES FOR SOLDIERS [The Argus (Melbourne) Fri 27 Jun 1919 Page 4, article from Trove]

Sunnyside Woollen Mills postcard

Sunnyside Woollen Mills, Ballarat (colour) [Ballarat Historical Society Postcard 83-1217]

Woollen Mill Myer 1960s

Doveton Woollen Mill Company established in 1877 by Mr Wilson, became known as The Myer Woollen Mills from 1918. [Max Harris photo]

Yapeen Red Cross 1918

Bendigonian (Bendigo) Thursday 10 January 1918 Page 11 OUR COUNTRY SERVICE The Yapeen Red Cross branch held a sports gathering at Beut Park on New Year's Day, which resulted in £15 being realised. The Muckleford Brass Band supplied good music during the day, and also at a concert in Smith's Hall in the evening. Last year the Yapeen Red Cross branch sent away 10 flannels, 6 pairs socks, 3 mufflers, 10 washers, and a quantity of old linen. [Retrieved June 9, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89087755]

Sunnyside Mill 1917

SUNNYSIDE WOOLLEN MILL, The Ballarat Courier, Thursday 18 Oct 1917 Page 2 (summary)

Poem Souvenir Avenue of Honour

Souvenir of the Avenue of Honour poem. He writes in characters too grand For our short sight to understand; We catch but broken strokes, and try To fathom all the mystery Of withered hopes, of death, of life, The endless war, the useless strife – But there, with larger, clearer sight, We shall see this – His way was right. [Lucas's Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men booklet, Ballarat Historical Society 05.0630.4] Avenue of Honour 1919 [Lucas's Staffs Appreciation of Brave Men booklet, Ballarat Historical Society 05.0630.4]

Hilda SMITH 1916

Hilda SMITH (1895-1968) with Clarence William Jnr and Hillary, 1916. Mrs Hilda SMITH planted trees in the Avenue of Honour. Her husband Clarence William SMITH Snr served with the 7th Battalion at Gallipoli and the 59th in Egypt and on the Somme. He was repatriated to Australia with 'defective vision', disembarking at Melbourne on the 15th of February 1919. [J Burrell photo]

Avenue of Honour Souvenir 18 Aug 1917

Souvenir of the Avenue of Honour (Second Edition) 18th August 1917. Price 1 shilling. Cover [Ballarat Historical Society 05.0630.4]

Avenue of Honour booklet 1919

The Avenue of Honour Ballarat A LIVING MONUMENT to all Loyal Citizens of Ballarat who Volunteered for Active Service Abroad. The enclosed list of Three Thousand Seven Hundred names of Soldiers from the Beautiful City of Ballarat, who offered their services to the Empire for Active Service Abroad, and in whose Honour the Employees of E Lucas and Co have planted the "Avenue," has been compiled, and a tree planted for each Soldier in the order of their enlistment, as near as it has been possible to obtain this information. The Name of each Soldier who has made the Supreme Sacrifice is marked with an asterisk. [Ballarat Historical Society 05.0630.4]

Avenue of Honour 1937 poem

The Avenue of Honour, 1937 [Dedicated to the patriotic young ladies of Lucas & Co's, 1917] For this thou shalt from all things seek Marrow of mirth and laughter, And wheresoe'er thou move good luck Shall throw her old shoes after. - Tennyson. * * * One evening as I wandered forth With weary steps and slow, Methought I saw the Lucas girls Of twenty years ago. I pictured them in happy homes Where love and truth abide; Two virtues that will smooth our path Across the Great Divide. The magpies caroled forth their lays, A skylark specked the blue, While summer birds came skimming down The long green Avenue. I sat me down beneath a tree, And thought with honest pride: These grow for Austral's fighting men Who for their freedom died. Two blackbirds whistled overhead, Their notes of music true; I blessed the tender, loyal hearts That planned the Avenue. More fitting than a monument In sculptured figures dres't; These trees are live memorials Of those we love the best. The men who placed their country first, And gave what gold can't buy, While human pangs and passions last, Their names shall never die. The sword is rusted in its sheath, Farms dot the battle plain, And Peace triumphant sits enthroned Above the noble slain. Warmed by the breath of blue-eyed spring, The trees in beauty grow, A credit to the Lucas girls Of twenty years ago. - JAMES BARBOUR. Melrose Estate, Victoria [Ballarat Historical Society 70.3961]

Faithful Unto Death

FIDELIS USQUE AD MORTEM Translation: Faithful Unto Death Brass motif made by F W Commons WW1 Memorial Neil St Methodist Church Ballarat [J Burrell photo]

Italian Red Cross button

Italian Red Cross Button [BDGS] This group was active in Ballarat East during the years of the Great War.

Neil St Methodist Church WW1 Memorial

Honour Roll Neil St Wesleyan Methodist Church Transcription: FIDELIS USQUE AD MORTEM (Faithful Unto Death) To the Glory of God IN Honour OF THE MEN OF THIS Church WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE GREAT WAR. 1914-19. Duty nobly done. Brass tablets set in marble outside the main entrance. Maker: F W COMMONS. "Neil Street church commemorated its diamond jubilee by unveiling a memorial to 32 congregation members who had not survived their war service (including Les Blick, a 7th Battalion officer killed at the Gallipoli landing)." [Ross McMullin in Pompey Elliott biography p 573] Names:

Column 1:

BROWN H J, BELL C, BLICK L C, BRIANT A, BROOKES C, COCKS R, CONSTABLE C W, CORNELL H G, GENT W, D'ANGRI N, FINLYSON T C.

Column 2:

GATES A, JAMES G E, LLEWELLYN E, MALIN L, MARSHALL R, McADAM S, PEADY A, PEVERILL J, POWELL H, RASHLEIGH W.

Column 3:

SEMMENS H J, TOMKINS A, TRETHOWAN H L, WASLEY M R, WATERHOUSE C, WEIR S, WEIR A, WILSON A, WILSON J H, WRIGHT F C, WHITE E.
[J Burrell photo]

Chaplain Frederick Percy WILLIAMS

WILLIAMS Chaplain Frederick Percy (1879-1944) [Provided by the Williams Family]

Ballarat Charity Queen Coronation c1916

Ballarat Charity Queen coronation with attendants c1916 The girl kneeling between the two reclining figures is Stella PERRIMAN, born 1906. Her younger sister May is at the Charity Queen's left shoulder. In 1916 the Charity Queen Carnival raised £8279 which was divided equally between the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League and the Ballarat Hospital. An elaborate coronation ceremony full of pageantry and fanfares was held in the Coliseum for the ten queens. [Provided by Neva Dunstan]

Perriman Family 1918

PERRIMAN Family Photo 1918 Back L-R: David Charles (1909-1997), William John 'Jack' (1904-1983), Stella (1906-1989). Front: May (1912-1990) and baby Gwendoline (1918-2006). Stella and May participated in the cornonation of a Charity Queen as her attendants. These Carnivals raised money for the War Effort. [Provided by Neva Dunstan]

Lake Bolac School Sock Knitters 1918

Lake Bolac State School Knitters Group 1918 Sign reads: Lake Bolac State School No 854 Knitters, 500 pairs in 5 months, 1918. Group of 25, seven women and 18 girls who knitted socks for soldiers in the trenches. Back L-R: Molly GREEN, Maisie McMASTER, Mary HELME, 'Doll' PETERS 4th Row L-R: Mrs CAMERON (Teacher), Mary PITKETHLY, May PETERS, Gladys KNIGHT, Eva GRAHAM 3rd Row L-R: Sheila MURRAY, May DEAR, Leila MURRAY, Betty CALDER, Rosy KING, Nell ORORKE 2nd Row L-R: Lori PARK, Gertie FRY, Doreen HELME, Maisie LYNDON, Eileen GRAHAM Front Row L-R: June WILEMAN, Maisie SCOTT, Beryl PETERS, Ina WILLS, Emily WILEMAN [Lake Bolac & District Historical Society] [Provided by Lake Bolac History Group]

Lake Bolac Men's Section Woodwork

Lake Bolac Men's Section wood working products c1917. Items to be sent overseas include crutches, folding seats and deck chairs. They are displayed in the Lake Bolac School room along with patriotic flags. [Provided by Lake Bolac History Group]

Ballarat Red Cross Convalescent Home 1918

Red Cross Convalescent Home c1918. Situated in Webster St, Ballarat [Red Cross Victoria Division Annual Report 1918]

Red Cross Leaving Melbourne c1918

Leaving Melbourne 1918. [Red Cross Victoria Division Annual Report 1918]

MATTHEWS Alma Elizabeth (1873-1940)

Headstone transcription: In Loving Memory/ Of/ Alma Elizabeth Matthews/ Died 22nd November 1940/ Aged 67 Years/ Loved Wife and Mother/ Also Arthur Bertrand Chesterman Matthews/ Died 25th June 1951/ Aged 75 Years/ Loved Father. [Ballarat New Cemetery Private F 6 40R2] [J Burrell photo]

Roy HOLLOWAY, Shire of Lexton Certificate 1919

War Service Certificate from the Shire of Lexton presented to returned soldier Roy HOLLOWAY in 1919. FOR LIBERTY, EMPIRE, FOR JUSTICE. The President, Councillors, and Ratepayers of the Shire of Lexton Hereby place on record their Admiration and Appreciation of and Thanks for the gallant conduct of Roy Holloway Who served his King and Country in the Great War, which commenced 4th August, 1914 and terminated with Victory 11th November, 1918. Dated 19th July 1919. In Witness Whereof the Corporate Seal of the Municipality is hereto attached in the presence of Councillors: Robert NEIL, F PARKER, Walter HOBSON, William H HEDGE, James T LEYS, R W LAIDLAW, John G ROBERTSON, John H QUAYLE. Secretary and Engineer F A JENKINS, President D W EDMONSTON [Provided by Les Holloway]

YMCA Lettergram 1914

Cover of YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) lettergram sent 3 Dec 1914 by Hugh John Norman McWilliam from Broadmeadows Training Camp to his family in West Brunswick. Norman McWilliam returned to Australia from overseas service in 1916. With his younger brother, Alistair he would cycle from Melbourne to Ballarat and while staying at Lester House in Sturt Street, they would provide musical entertainment from the balcony. This led to the formation of the Ballarat Returned Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Memorial Band which became very popular at post-war events. Norman married and settled in Ballarat where he died in 1955. [Image reproduced from The Courier (Ballarat), 31 May 2016, with permission from Caleb Cluff, Fairfax Media and the McWilliam family.]

Miners Rest Memorial Opening 1920

Opening of Miners Rest WW1 Memorial to Fallen Soldiers, Sunday 23 May 1920, Creswick Street. Eight Ballarat Shire Councillors are standing on the dais at the back. Cr Charles Thomas Henderson, Shire President 1920-1921, is in the centre 4th from left. Present are two returned soldier sons, Charles Thomas Henderson Jnr (1897-1931) SN 6041, Tree 1204, and John William Henderson (1895-1929) SN 420, Tree 204, standing in front 3rd from right. In his lapel he is wearing a gold medallion which the Shire presented to all those from the Shire who served. [Provided by Susan Meyer, gr grand daughter of Cr C T Henderson] There is a report of the opening ceremony in the Ballarat Star, Monday 24 May 1920, page 4, under the headline, MEMORIAL FOR FALLEN SOLDIERS. UNVELLING CEREMONY. MINERS' REST MEN HONORED. INTERESTING ADDRESSES.

Invitation to Welcome Home Dinner 28 June 1919

Invitation to returned soldier, Roy Holloway, to attend a Welcome Home Dinner, 28 June 1919 Ballarat. Welcome Home to an Australian Hero. Victory! Peace Proclaimed 3.15 pm 28 June 1919. [Provided by Les Holloway]

Tins from home, Wareham, Dorset, England, 1916

Australian Soldiers holding tins from home, Wareham, Dorset, England, Christmas 1916. Roy Holloway standing on right. [Provided by his son, Les Holloway]

King George V 1914

His Majesty King George V, Patron of the Grand National Eisteddfod of Australasia (South Street Competitions, Ballarat) held in the Coliseum during the month of October. Many a loyal toast was raised to King and Country during WW1 [Royal South Street Guide Book 1914 p 6]

Frederick Juan Cobian MARTELL

Frederick Juan Cobian MARTELL (1853-1938) had a long association with the School of Mines Ballarat as Director, Council Member, Registrar and Business Manager; a leader among Ballarat's pioneer renaissance men and a man of many interests; scientist, Fellow of the Royal Horticultural Society of England, a founder of the Art Gallery of Ballarat, Headmaster of Ballarat East Art School, sketching enthusiast and drawing master, President of the Teachers' Union of Victoria, Freemason, Justice of the Peace, President of the South Street Society 1914, President of the Ballarat Amateur Photographic Association, a President of Ballarat Progress Association, Vice-President of Ballarat Poultry and Dog Society and instrumental in the establishment of Adam Lindsay Gordon's Cottage in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens. During World War 1, as a leading figure in the community he was invited to participate in tree planting in the Avenue of Honour. He and his SMB staff were responsible for many aspects of the Home Front War Effort, producing goods from the woodwork workshop to be sent overseas as well as designing and making the numerous beautifully fashioned Honour Boards seen throughout the district. As the pre-eminent educational institution it was inevitable that many ex-students would volunteer for active service including his own son, Dr Harold Henry Lawrence Martell who enlisted in Sydney and served in New Guinea as a medical officer and later at the Seymour Camp in Victoria. [Portrait from South Street Society Guide Book 1914, p 11]

Norman McWILLIAM

Private Hugh John Norman McWILLIAM (1899-1954) was a drummer in the 5th Battalion AIF. He was wounded at Gallipoli, hospitalised at Heliopolis and London and repatriated home to Australia in 1916. Within a few years he founded the Ballarat Soldiers', Sailors' and Airmen's Memorial Band, later renamed the Ballarat Memorial Concert Band. [Photo provided by his daughter, Margaret McWILLIAM]

RSL Letterhead 1918

Letterhead of The Returned Sailors' and Soldiers' Imperial League of Australia, Returned Soldiers' Institute, Sturt Street, Ballarat, 14 Aug 1918. President Major Julius Samuel LAZARUS, Secretary Norman Austin DALTON. [Collection of Margaret McWilliam]

Ballarat Shire WW1 Medallion

The Ballarat Shire WW1 gold medallion featuring a soldier standing with a rifle on the shield, topped by a boomerang with a kangaroo and an emu on either side, resting on sprigs of rosemary for remembrance. This was presented to all those from the Shire who served in recognition of their WW1 service and to say thank you. This medallion belonged to John William Henderson who served in the 4th Light Horse Regiment at Gallipoli and with 1st Anzac Mounted Division (France), then 12th Field Artillery Brigade in France (Service No 420, Tree 204). [Provided by Susan Meyer]

Henderson Violets Postcard 1917

French postcard embroidered with violets, To my dear Mother. Sent 29 Jan 1917 by Charles Thomas HENDERSON Jnr to his mother Violet Spence HENDERSON (FRASER) at Learmonth for her birthday. Back inscribed, To mother wishing you good luck & many happy returns of the day 1st April 1917 from your loving son Charlie xxxx [Contributed by Susan Meyer]

Mrs Florence Mary Ann MARTELL

Florence Mary Ann MARTELL (CUTTER) (1857-1941) – a leading figure in the Ballarat community. Her war work included Belgian Poor Relief and the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League. [Sketch from The Ballarat Courier, 26 Oct 1900, Opening of the Queen Victoria Women's Ward]

W S DENT bereavement letter 1919

Bereavement letter of thanks from the family of Walter Stanley DENT, 'Emohruo' 25 Howard Street, Ballarat, to Ballarat City Council. Their son died 22 February 1919 on overseas service and is buried Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England. [VPRS 2500/P0 Unit 117 Ballarat Council Miscellaneous Correspondence 1918-1927 J-J]

Avenue of Honour 4 June 1917

Souvenir of the Avenue of Honour, First Edition, 4 June 1917, Price 1/-. The programme began at 3 pm with the sound of the bugle to commence planting trees. At 3.30 pm the bugle sounded to commence attaching name plates. At 3.45 pm Boy Scouts were to march through the Avenue from the further end and formed a square where the Hon. Sir Alexander Peacock, Premier of Victoria would deliver an Address. The proceeds of the sale of booklets were devoted to defraying the cost of tree-guards and name plates. [From the collection of Marjorie Adele Farrow (Wilkinson) (1928-2011). Donated to BDGS by Chris and Ken Farrow]

Avenue of Honour Souvenir Booklet 1937 (blue cover)

Souvenir of the Avenue of Honour, Third Edition, 1937, Price 1/- (blue cover) The enclosed list of names of soldiers from the beautiful City of Ballarat who have offered their services to our beloved Empire for active service abroad, and in whose honour we are planting an Avenue of Trees is as near perfect in the order of their enlistment as it has been possible to procure the information. They have been listed in the same order as they appear on the Military Rolls at the Base Records Office on the day of enlistment. … Yours respectfully, Lucas's Staff. [From the collection of Marjorie Adele Farrow (Wilkinson) (1928-2011). Donated to BDGS by Chris and Ken Farrow]

Avenue of Honour Souvenir 1937 (brown cover)

Souvenir of the Avenue of Honour, Third Edition, 1937 (brown cover). This edition contained a list of the kinds of trees which were planted. [From the collection of Marjorie Adele Farrow (Wilkinson) (1928-2011). Donated to BDGS by Chris and Ken Farrow]

Reginald REID treeplanting

Caption: My Grandmother planting her husband's tree at the Avenue of Honour, Ballarat, Victoria. Gwynne REID with the lady from Lucas. Harriet Gwynne REID (WAIN) planting Tree 3295 for her husband Pte Reginald REID b 1890, 14th Battalion Service Number 4757. [Contributed by Faye Reid Leary]

Trench Room Ballarat Town Hall

Trench Room, Ballarat City Hall, so called because during WW1 it was the depot for the parcels of comforts for the soldiers in the trenches. Originally the City Courtroom, this reception room in the east wing has a beautiful ceiling. [Sep 2016 J Burrell photo]

Memorial Wall 20 July 2016

Memorial Wall at the entrance to the Avenue of Honour, Western Highway, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Here are the names for whom the commemmorative trees were planted. [J Burrell photo]

Memorial Plaque 20 July 2016

Memorial Wall Plaque at the entrance to the Avenue of Honour, Western Highway, Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. Each of the 36 plaques show three columns: No. of Tree, Name of Soldier, Battalion. Asterisk denotes died.

Tree numbers listed are 635-686. Fifty-two names on this plaque.

George P WARNER MM 2nd Field Eng

Peter DRUMMOND 26th Batt

William H MURRARY 6th AMC

William H RODGER 6th AMC

Henry LEWIS 6th AMC

HERBERT C LUDBROOK 6th AMC

Herbert REYNOLDS 1st FA

FRANCIS J LUDBROOK 6th AMC

*James A EADY 23rd Batt

Norman BRAYSHAW 2nd Field Eng

Henry G LUSHER 6th AMC

Archie A B WHITE 6th AMC

Harold W TRELOAR Flying Corps

Ernest DARK 1st AGH

Norman TIMMINGS 1st AGH

Norman L TREWEEK Flying Corps

George S SELLS 6th Batt

David R MADDERN 6th AMC

Joseph J SCOTT 6th AMC

Stanley TODD 8th LH

Henry C DeGRAAFF 10th Batt

* William R TODD 23rd Batt

Joseph MOORE 9th Batt

*Eustace H CROCKER SGI 17th Batt

Clarence W SMITH 7th Batt

William ELLIS 6th Batt

Percy G CHALMERS 22nd Batt

Charles E ORME 5th Batt

Walter R MURRAY 6th AMC

James O THOMAS 23rd Batt

Owen T BOUSTEAD 23rd Batt

* Clarence C SHARP 22nd Batt

Cecil D JEFFREY, Corp 1st AGH

Charles W JOHNSTON 23rd Batt

Reginald G REED 7th Batt

Robert W JONES 5th Batt

Stanley J TELLING 5th Batt

Francis R FOSTER 14th Batt

Percival J STEVENS 1st AGH

Ernest L EBSWORTHY 6th AMC

Charles A DAVIS 22nd Batt

Herbert WORMALD 22nd Batt

Norman S SOUTH 7th Batt

Gilbert S HAINING 1st Div Sig Co

Edgar HILHOOLEY 5th Batt

Frank W DICKINSON AMC

James W MEEHAN 7th Batt

Gordon BEITH Lieut 24th Batt

*Leslie L THOMAS 7th Batt

* Peter A JARVIE 21st Batt

Frank DAVIES 24th Batt

J J W WILLIAMS 12th Batt

Daryl LINDSAY (1889-1976) medical artist

Daryl Lindsay (1889-1976) in his studio at the Queen’s Hospital, Sidcup, Kent, England, 1918 [Royal Australasian College of Surgeons id no. Se 310] Registered at birth as Ernest Daryl LINDSAY and known as Daryl, this talented artist was born at Creswick into the famous Lindsay family. He enlisted in the Australian Army Service Corps as a driver and became batman to his brother-in-law, cartoonist Will Dyson, who encouraged him to make drawings of trench life and portraits of diggers. In 1918 he was posted as Honorary Lieutenant and artist to the Australian section for wounds to the face and jaw at Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup, Kent. He created medical diagrams for reconstructive facial surgery for wounded soldiers. [Notes from Australian Dictionary of Biography Online]

Thomas Bethell TOOP (1868-1956) Curator

Mr Thomas Bethell Toop (1868-1956) a gardener at the Ballarat Botanical Gardens from 1890 and curator from 1914 to 1945, played a large part in the planning, planting and maintenance of the Avenue of Honour. He and 'Tilly Thomson were close friends and members of the same congregation at Jubilee Methodist Church on Wendouree Parade. Tom Toop was her closest advisor in the choice of Remembrance Drive and it was he who designed the commemorative cairn at the western end. His son, Arthur Westray Toop, died in 1915 aged 23 while serving with the Australian Infantry in Egypt. Another, Thomas Westray Toop served in the Australian Navy for 40 years from its beginning in 1912. During WW1 he was on active service on HMAS Australia. [Friends of Ballarat Botanical Gardens photo]

T B Toop letter 1925 re son's grave

City of Ballarat Memorandum From Curator Botanical Gardens To: Receiver of public moneys Melbourne 16 July 1925 Dear Sir, Enclosed please find cheque in settlement of ac/ for inscription on the headstone of my Son's grave. Could you advise me as to wether it would be possible to acquire by purchase a good photograph or photographs of the grave & headstone when finished, & to whom I should apply. I am Yours Faithfully T B Toop [National Archives of Australia B2455 – War Service Record of 1964 Arthur Westray Toop Page 30 of 41] In a reply dated 23 July 1925 to Mr T B Toop, Botanical Gardens, Ballarat, Victoria, his remittance was acknowledged and he was given advice about applying for a photo of the grave with the permanent headstone for 2/6 from London. T B Toop received his son's medals. In Ballarat's Avenue of Honour Tree 460 is his memorial. Arthur Westray Toop died 21 Nov 1915 at Euterio Gor Hospital, Egypt and is buried in the British Cemetery at Suez, grave 480.

Mrs Katherine ROONEY letter 17 Feby 1920

Letter dated 17 Feby 1920 from Mrs Katherine ROONEY 18 Raglan St Nth, Ballarat Dear Sir received your memo some days ago re my son's grave. As soon as I found out the star was an emblem of the Jewish faith I wrote you to correct my form (I do not want either cross or star) My letter may have been mislaid. Thank you kindly for sending information. I am yours truly K Rooney late Sgt C T Rooney 3896 46th Battalion [National Archives of Australia B2455 – Service Record of 3896 Sgt Charles Robert Rooney, Page 33 of 61] Katherine Rooney received her son's medals. He had been reported missing for quite some time and was finally deemed to be KIA on 11 April 1917. His memorial is at Villers-Bretonneux and Tree 888 is his memorial in the Avenue of Honour.

1915 Will of Sgt Charles Robert ROONEY

Copy of the Will of 3896 Sgt Charles Robert ROONEY who was killed in Action on 11 April 1917 aged 23 in France and memorialized at Villers-Bretonneux. Recommended for Military Medal [Australian War Memorial] CERTIFIED TRUE COPY K. K. Deceased Soldiers Pay Section THIS IS THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT of me CHARLES ROBERT ROONEY of Botanical Gardens Ballarat in the county of Victoria Australia. I HEREBY REVOKE all Wills and testamentary instruments heretofore by me made I APPOINT Mr Edward Rooney of Albert Park Melbourne Vic. and MR Refshaugie of Ballarat Victoria to be the Executors of this my Will I DIRECT my Executors to pay my just debts and funeral and Testamentary Expenses. I GIVE AND BEQUEATH I give the sum of £100/0/0 and bonuses (one hundred pounds) insurance money to my Mother Katherine Mary Rooney. I give my bicycle to my brother Percy Thomas Rooney. Witness my hand this 22nd day of October 1915. (Testator to sign here) Charles Robert Rooney. Signed by the above-named Testator as his last Will in the presence of us both being present at the same time, who in his presence and in the presence of each other have hereunto subscribed our names as witnesses. Witnesses to sign here with their address & Occupation. Edward Rooney Albert Prk. Melbourne Methodist Home Missioner. John Henry Refshaugie. Principal A. H/School Ballarat. [National Archives of Australia B2455 – War Service Record of 3896 Sgt Charles Robert Rooney Page 38 of 61]

Poppy Red

Red poppy

Cr George CROCKER (1846-1927)

Cr George CROCKER(1846-1927) Mayor of the City of Ballaarat 1912-13, 1919-20. Founder of drapery business. Two sons lost in WW1 are commemorated by stained glass windows in St Peter's Anglican church where he was trustee, church warden and chorister. First president of the Sailors' and Soldiers' Fathers' Association, Ballarat branch. Member of the Ballarat Repatriation Committee which sought to find employment for returning soldiers. School councillor for Ballarat Grammar and Ballarat Agricultural High School. For more information see The Ballarat Star, 4 October 1919, Page 8.

Welcome Home Invitation 28 June 1919

The Trumpet Calls - 1918 recruitment poster

The Trumpet Calls - 1918 recruitment poster drawn by Norman LINDSAY (1879-1969), one of several commissioned by the Australian government. Norman was an artist, sculptor, author and political cartoonist for the Bulletin during the war years. He is a member of the famously talented LINDSAY family from Creswick.

Avenue of Honour cairn

At the opposite end of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, 22 km west of the Arch of Victory, there is another WW1 monument, rather less grand, but just as heartfelt. This cairn of volcanic scoria is topped with LEST WE FORGET and a tall white cross. From that high point, the view across peaceful farm land is to Lake Learmonth. The bronze plaque reads: OUR FALLEN Erected by Ballarat & District Fathers Association They buckled their belts about them They crossed in ships the sea They fought and found six feet of ground And died for you and me. Thomas Bethel Toop (1866-1956), Curator of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens, was the designer of this significant WW1 landmark in Avenue Road in the locality known as Weatherboard, in the then Shire of Ballarat. His sons, Arthur Westray and Thomas Westray served in the AIF and the Australian Navy. The inaugural President of Ballarat & District Fathers Association (originally called the Soldiers' and Sailors' Fathers' Association) was the Mayor the of City of Ballaarat 1912-13, 1919-20, Cr George Crocker (1846-1927). His two soldier sons, Gordon and Frederick Eustace, are memorialised by stained glass windows in St Peter's Anglican Church, Sturt Street, Ballarat.

Avenue of Honour Fathers Association Plaque

TO OUR FALLEN Erected by Ballarat & District Fathers Association They buckled their belts about them They crossed in ships the sea They fought and found six feet of ground And died for you and me. Bronze plaque at the cairn at the western end of the Ballarat Avenue of Honour.

Join The Red Cross - poster

JOIN THE RED CROSS - WW1 poster [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Some Lucas Employees 1915

In 1906 on a large portion of the former Phoenix Locomotive Works, with a frontage Doveton Street South, new buildings with a main floorage of 11,000 square feet, plus an upper floor above the front portion, were erected for the Lucas factory which was soon equipped with the most modern electric machinery. In 1910 an additional 5,000 sq ft building was erected alongside for the finishing and pressing plant. By 1915, 300 machines were used for the manufacture of women's and children's garments. These included an automated cutting table and an electric cutting machine as well as high-speed single needle machines and those fitted with up to ten needles for embroidery and every variety of fancy work as well as those used to make button holes and to sew on buttons. With a workforce of around 500 women Lucas was one of the largest employers in Ballarat. Not only did the pay deductions of the 'Lucas Girls' finance the construction of the Avenue of Honour and the Arch of Victory, the women used their time and skills to donate 400 shirts per month to send to The War Front and of course they formed the bulk of the tree planters, as well as loading bricks to build the Arch. Other voluntary tasks willingly undertaken included arranging functions to send off and welcome home enlisted personnel. [Photo: E Lucas & Co. Pty Ltd, company prospectus for a prosperous New Year 1915, Marjory Wilkinson Collection BDGS]

Nurse Vogue Cover 1918

The cover of Vogue magazine, late May 1918 by Porter Woodruff. This poster acknowledged the enduring trauma of the Great War by featuring a nurse with a background of soldiers in the trenches below smoke and shreds of material, so typical of the Western Front. At the end of 1918 the Vogue cover reflected "a burst of understandable patriotic relief," depicted by the red, white and blue flags of Britain, France and the USA, billowing from a balcony. [The Art of Vogue Covers 1909-1940, William Packer, 1985 Peerage Books, p 61]

Mrs W D THOMPSON MBE Memorial Garden

Mrs W D THOMPSON MBE "This pleasant garden setting is dedicated to the respected memory of a life devoted to deep Christian, Patriotic and Public Service, so freely given by a citizen now affectionately remembered, our well beloved, Matilda L Thompson Obit 7th April 1959." This is the wording on a bronze plaque in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens on the shores of Lake Wendouree. The plaque is situated in a circular garden bordered by a box hedge in the Wellingtonia Avenue. In the centre is Flora Farnese, one of the 12 Stoddart statues which have adorned the gardens since 1887. Surrounding the garden are memorial seats presented by the 'Lucas Girls' and other groups active on the Ballarat Home Front who wished to honour the memory of 'Tilly' Thompson who so inspired them. The curator of the Ballarat Botanical Gardens during the Great War was Thomas Toop. 'Tom' and 'Tilly' were close friends and in the congregation of the Jubilee Methodist Church, as were many of the gardeners. This association of skilled tree growers for the Avenue of Honour and the mobilisation of the Lucas workforce to finance and plant the trees resulted in the first and longest memorial avenue in Australia. Another honour bestowed upon Mrs Thompson was the planting of a memorial tree in the Avenue of Honour upon her passing in 1959. This is the only tree in the Avenue for a non-enlisted person. Almost 50 years after her death the Ballarat Historical Society had a bronze memorial plaque placed on her previously unmarked grave in the Ballarat Old Cemetery. 'Tilly' had no children of her own and her husband was buried with his first wife in an adjoining grave. Mrs Thompson was awarded the gold medal for 1939 by the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League (now known as the RSL). This was a national award and only one was presented each year. In 1941 she received further recognition upon her appointment as a Member of the British Empire. [For more information see the entry for Matilda L Thompson (1871-1959) in the Australian Dictionary of Biography written by Peter Mansfield in 1990] {J Burrell photo April 2017}

Mrs W D THOMPSON plaque 1959

Mrs W D THOMPSON (CLENNELL) MBE This pleasant garden setting is dedicated to the respected memory of a life devoted to deep Christian, Patriotic and Public Service, so freely given by a citizen now affectionately remembered, our well beloved, Matilda L Thompson Obit 7th April 1959. This memorial plaque to Matilda Louisa THOMPSON (CLENNELL) (1871-1959) is the circular garden in the Wellingtonia Avenue in the Ballarat Botanical Gardens.

Lady Mille Gertrude PEACOCK (HOLDEN) (1870-1948)

Lady Millie Gertrude PEACOCK (HOLDEN) (1870-1948) Foundation President of the Australian Red Cross Society, Creswick Branch 1915. Wife of the Premier of Victoria 1914-1917. During the Great War she was a prominent leader of many activities devoted to supporting the war effort. Became Victoria's first female Member of Parliament when elected to her late husband's seat, MLA Allendale 1933-1935. [Early Creswick : The First Century, John A Graham, Facsimile Edition, 1987, Creswick Historical Museum, Plate 42]

Lady Helen Munro Ferguson (1865-1941) WW1

Lady Hermione Catherine Helen MUNRO FERGUSON (1865-1941) (known as Helen) [photo taken during WW1 Public Domain] Founder and president of the British Red Cross Society in Australia formed 13 Aug 1914, just days after the declaration of war on the 4 Aug 1914. Her place of residence was Government House in Melbourne and the ballroom became the workroom and depot for assembling parcels for the War Front. In 1918, made Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for her sterling organisation of patriotic work. Patron and mentor to Ballarat women working on the Home Front under the umbrella body of the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic Fund, especially Miss Beccie McDonald founder and secretary of the of the Red Cross Society, Ballarat & District Branch. This branch was 'head and shoulders' above all others in the State of Victoria and Miss Beccie McDonald was awarded an MBE in 1920 for her outstanding leadership of the war effort. Lady Helen became Countess of Novar, after whom the Red Cross Soldiers' Convalescent Home, Webster St, Ballarat, was named when privatised in 1920.

First Australian Comforts' Fund Stall in France

The First Australian Comforts' Fund Stall in France. In Victoria this organisation operated as the Lady Mayoress's Patriotic League. Image from ACF-Mayoress's Patriotic League Australian Comforts Fund booklet 1918, [PROV VPRS 2500/P1 Unit 116 Ballarat Council Correspondence, Patriotic Funds & Services 1918, reproduced with permission City of Ballarat]

Armistice Celebrations in Ballarat 1918

Armistice Day 11 November 1918. Celebrations in Sturt Street, Ballarat looking north to Camp Street. Dignitaries are in the Titanic Bandstand. Various flags are flying, see the Union Jack on the right. The women are wearing full length dresses and large hats. Emotions were heightened during the war. There was sorrow but also passion, pride, joy, and relief. There would have been a great deal of satisfaction that they had all helped to get the job done and that peace had come at long last. [Photograph from Ballarat City Council Mayoral Report]