In September, we commemorated special events and experiences with quite a collection of items discussed.

There was a picture from 1995 of a winning horse at the Corowa Races.  This was the first time that the horse had been raced but unfortunately the last as it later suffered an injury and was then used for breeding purposes.  The owner was also a keen poultry breeder and had numerous ribbons from showing the breed “Silver Spaniel Hamburg”; such handsome birds.  And finally, a number of prize certificates won at the Benalla and Wangaratta Shows for crafts/handwork and cooking scones and cakes.

One attendee had a croquet trophy from 2003 awarded as the runner up at a tournament held in Euroa.  The same person won first prize in 2006 at the Joan Rowan Croquet Day; this tournament is still being held annually at the Benalla Croquet Club.

A proud Grandmother showed a photo of her granddaughter and the Australian Police Force medal she was recently awarded for her work with the AFP.

There were three books received as prizes; two for achievements in Grade 6 in 1958 and a later Sunday School prize. 

​Several commemorative china plates were also displayed.  A plate from 1985-1986 from the appearance of Hailey’s Comet (next due about 2061); a blue and white Spode plate in the form of a calendar for the year 2000 celebrating the new millennium and, a plate featuring the University of New South Wales which was attended by the owner.

There were two china mugs.  The first, celebrating the 60th birthday of HRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales.  The other, celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

​How quickly things can change.  We met on 5th September and three days later, Her Majesty passed away, HRH Prince Charles became King Charles III and Prince William is to become the next Prince of Wales.

For our next meeting on Monday 3rd October at 10am the topic is Books, whether they be very old, of special interest or a favourite.  All welcome.
                                                                                                                                                Janet Gourley

At our meeting on 5th September, let’s commemorate!  Have you won a sports trophy?  Maybe you have celebrated a school or church anniversary or some other personal or public event of significance!  New members welcome.
​
Janet Gourley

Although the number attending was small, a pleasant time was had discussing the history of the drinking vessels presented.
 
There were samples of crystal glasses with one collection being built up from a set of wine glasses received as an engagement present.  A similar set of crystal glasses were collected “just because”.  A lovely wine glass with etched decorations was much admired.
 
A number of mugs were shown including two depicting the Richmond Football Club (and an insulated mug).  One the two was a souvenir from a wedding reception that involved a trip on Puffing Billy to the packing shed at Nobelious where the reception was held
 
There were three commemorative mugs: one issued by Legacy to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953; a miniature double-handled love cup issued for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee in 2012; and a mug to celebrate the coronation of King Edward VIII on 12th May 1937.  However the coronation never took place!  Although he ascended to the throne on 20th January 1936 and coronation preparations were well under way, he abdicated on 11th December 1936 to marry divorcee Mrs Wallis Simpson.
 
There was a mug from the “old” Benalla East Primary school No. 2256 and, a cup and saucer hand painted years ago by an elderly lady at the Benalla Hospital Day Care Centre.  A lovely shaped hand painted coffee mug was also admired.

The theme for our June gathering was salt and pepper shakers and cruet sets; a variety of interesting items were shown and discussed. 

A cat lover had four salt and pepper sets featuring cats – all were gifts received at a work Kris Kringle.  There was a set of salt and pepper shakers in the shape of baby deer that were won on the spinning wheel at the Benalla show many, many years ago.

Many will remember the traditional cut glass cruet sets from years ago.  One set had salt and pepper shakers and a mustard pot; there was another similar set that also included two small bottles for vinegar.  Silver salt and pepper shakers were shown along with a salt cellar with a tiny spoon.

At our meeting on the Monday 4th July, we will be looking for “drinking vessels”; maybe glasses, mugs, tankards, steins etc.  We look forward to you joining our group on that date at 10.00am.

Janet Gourley

​There was a wonderful collection of embroidered items on show at the May meeting of Collectors.  Items ranged from Grade 3 & 4 needlework to articles stitched by much older ladies.  There were needle cases, pin cushions, doileys, tray mats, dressing table sets, supper cloths, table cloths, an item of Hardanger, beaded work; and, embroidered pictures.  Do you remember that padded tea cosies that had an embroidered outer cover?  There were even several of those.
 
The main theme of the work was floral but there were crinoline ladies of old and two identical table cloths stitched in the blue Willow pattern; similarly, a tea towel with fine Willow pattern and a drawn thread edge.

U3A Benalla's Collectors' group provides a wonderful opportunity to reminisce.  It would have been wonderful to hear the stories attached to these items from Collectors' class members when they shared their memories of them in March.  If you have enjoyed collecting items over time, have inherited family treasures, or find that somehow you have a store of treasured items, why not join Collectors?   First Monday - 10 to 12 midday - next session Monday 4th April!  Check the newsletter for details of what to bring in April!

The first session of Collectors was postponed until Monday 7 March at 10am, when members are invited to bring along something they treasure and something very old. 

Collectors provides a supportive space in which to reminisce and share stories about the past while presenting treasured items to the class. 

​New and returning members welcome!
​
Janet Gourlay, for Dorothy Webber

Collectors provides a wonderful chance to reminisce and share stories about the past while presenting treasured items to the class.  Some of our group members are 'Collectors extraordinaire' - other members simply enjoy delving into their cupboards, shelves and sheds to find an interesting item or two to capture the theme of the month. 

Bring along both a treasured item and the oldest item in your collection on Monday 7 February from 10 am.

Dorothy 

Our Sixth Christmas together!

While numbers attending have been affected by Covid, the group thoroughly enjoyed spending time together in early December reflecting on Christmas, past and present. 
​
Dorothy Webber

The topic of our November meeting was ‘Serviettes and serviette rings’.  There was a nice display of these rarely used items featuring silver serviette rings, one with a kookaburra on top; others plain but functional and equally pleasing.  

For the December meeting the topic is ‘Christmas’.

Judith Borthwick

Photographs:  Dorothy Webber

​A small and enthusiastic group met in August with a colourful display of Scarves. As we all know you can’t have enough scarves! 

When we meet again (???), the theme is Sugar Bowls. See you on 6th September or 4th October. 

​Dorothy

At the July meeting we showed and told the story of our Jug collections.   Robyn’s Toby Jugs with their wonderful faces.   Janet with a green Depression Glass jug she uses most days in her kitchen.   Heather has a fun collection of animal jugs.  Marjorie a great Bendigo Pottery and lovely spotted jugs.  Judith showed some of her loved Depression jugs.   My highlight is a blue jug - the last surviving one of a set of three, it was a wedding present.

​​When we meet again, hopefully on Monday 2 August, our theme is Scarves. 

Dorothy Webber

I have been surprised how many Jugs I have!  Looking forward to seeing you and your Jugs on Monday 5th July. 

​Dorothy

​May saw a wonderful array of TEA POTS ranging from 200 years old to the new, with lots of great stories as how they came to us.
 
June we are sharing our JUGS large and small. Once again, they will all have a history. 
 
We look forward to seeing you on Monday 7th at 10am.
 
Dorothy Webber

At ​our first meeting for almost a year we showed a few of our favourite things. It is always wonderful to hear the stories attached to the items we bring and to notice the love we all have of the treasures we show.

As our next meeting will fall on Easter Monday we won’t meet till May  3rd at 10 am.

Teapots will be on show!

Dorothy 0412263071

Do you enjoy The Collectors and Bargain Hunt on TV? Have you a collection or the beginnings of one? Collectors is for people who enjoy collecting and seeing the collections of others. Sessions take the form of show and tell with participants bringing along an item or a collection to share with others in the group.   

The first session will be held on Monday 1st March from 10am to 12 midday.  The brief – bring along something you will never give away. 

Dorothy Webber 0412 263 071

​Jacquie Schwind

Carlton Ware is very popular among members of our Collectors group.  

Carlton Ware's earliest range was Blush Ware, transfer printed or hand-painted floral designs on pastel backgrounds. Throughout the decades, Carlton Ware has been inspired by many themes, including blue and white, museum artefacts, coats of arms, military vehicles, suffragettes, Asian and Egyptian scenes, hollyhocks, foxgloves and violets, the colors of rouge, vert, noir and bleu, advertising for companies such as Guinness and, the more modern 'walking ware' featuring little feet.

Lesser known facts in Carlton Ware history are the two tragedies which befell the Wiltshire family which owned the company.

One of the founding owners, James Wiltshire was killed in a dreadful railway station accident, leaving Carlton Ware to his son Frederick Cuthbert.

In 1952, Frederick's wife was brutally murdered in their home.  She was beaten to death with a poker during a robbery and the police pinned her murder to Leslie Green, who was subsequently hung.  Leslie was a former chauffeur to the family, sacked two months prior to  the robbery for using a car for his own purposes.

Three thousand pounds worth of jewellery was stolen in the robbery.  Police found Green had given rings to his girlfriend that matched stolen items.  His shoes matched bloody footprints left at the scene of the murder and he had a recently healed cut on the thumb of his left hand which perfectly matched a tear in blood stained gloves also left behind.

The pictured bowl and serving plate are treasured pieces of Carlton  Ware, handed down by my late grandmother.  

Jacquie Schwind

My fondness for kerosene lamps began in 1966 when I took my mother to visit a friend who had dozens of kerosene lamps on display.  I think I sat mesmerised by these beautiful  lamps for the entire visit.

Many years later Mum, knowing my fondness for kerosene lamps, arrived back from a holiday with the beautiful milky blue lamp which took pride of place in our home.  It was not just ornamental, it was kept full of lamp oil with matches beside, and well used because the power often went off, usually at dinner time with dinner half cooked and small boys needing a bath. The problem was eventually fixed but despite the inconvenience it was lovely sitting by lamp light in the lounge room which was heated by a wood heater.  This is the first lamp on the left in the photo.

We were living in Benalla when I purchased by next lamp at a clearing sale in Waller Street.  I stood for hours and it was auctioned quite late in the proceedings.  There was another bidder for the lamp who I think was equally keen but eventually I became the proud owner of the next lamp in the photo.

My sister and I had a holiday in England in 1997 and stopped at a village in England in and had coffee next to an antique shop.  Against my better judgement I had a quick look inside and saw green kerosene lamp I eventually purchased.  I was told it was a 1930’s lamp.  It is a double burner and has an unusual chimney which is flat on two sides.  This was fine while we had our hire car but became a problem when we had to leave our car in Reading and travel back to London by train and then more trains to Archway station.  My sister remembers  wrestling  with two lots of luggage while I sailed along carrying my precious  lamp quite oblivious to her struggles. 

I bought the amber lamp at Camberwell market.  I would often catch a tram down Whitehorse Road and then another down Burke Road to the market during visits to Melbourne.  I saw it on several visits and eventually decided that, if the lamp was still there on my third visit, I would buy it, which it was and so I did.  It also has a double burner which apparently is desirable as it shows a brighter light.

The little pink lamp, although pretty, was probably not a good buy as it’s a bit wobbly.  I think I bought it in Balwyn.  I put it on the floor once when I was dusting in a hurry and kicked it over but it didn’t break.  I thought that was a pretty silly thing to do as I could have broken it, however I put in back on floor continued my dusting, kicked it over again and this time broke the bottom of the chimney.  It is now glued up,  You can’t see the break, but I know it’s there.

None of my lamps are shown in a book I bought on lamps which features much grander lamps.
Mine are far less grand but give me a lot of pleasure.
​

Judith Borthwick
August 2020

​Prior to the COVID-19 shutdown I was lucky enough to visit the Glenrowan Vintage Hall and purchased two Trinket Boxes.

One was a delightful vintage Trinket Box made by Crown China Craft Ltd. with yellow, mauve and pink flowers on the lid of a green pot. It was handmade and painted in England with gold trim around the lid and top of the pot.    This company originated in 1946 in Stoke-on-Trent, England.

The other was a Trinket Box made by Capodimonte porcelain ware, vintage 1950 handmade and painted in Italy with roses on the lid and gold trim.   Capodimonte porcelain originated in Naples in 1743. This delicate porcelain is easily recognizable for its tiny pastel flowers and elegant figurines.  It is still produced today and the vintage items are sought after. 

​​I also obtained from Marketplace on Facebook a piece of Art Deco Carlton Ware.  This plate is called Vert Royale and was manufactured in the 1920's along with Rouge Royale and Bleu Royale.  Carlton Ware was first produced in 1890 in Stoke-on-Trent, England.  

​ We hope that we will soon be able to get together again at Collectors.

​Robyn Desmier