This is a small collection of note books once belonging to Sara Yatala Ovenden (1894-1962).
Yatala’s mother, Sara Grace Bruce, was an early member of the Victorian Socialist Party and as a consequence Yatala attended the Socialist Sunday School. The Bruce family’s earliest years were spent in Richmond but about 1919 they moved to 5 Palmer Street, Jolimont. After leaving school Yatala taught for a short time at Yarra Park State School as well as at the Socialist Sunday School.
In 1921 she married George Edward Ovenden (1893-1979). George’s mother, Elizabeth Mary Ovenden, also belonged to the VSP and George had also attended the Socialist Sunday School. After their marriage George and Yatala moved into 94 George Street, East Melbourne, and lived there for the rest of their lives.
The two retained their connection with the VSP with Yatala becoming secretary of the Socialist Women’s League. They made many friends who later became major figures in the Australian Labor Party. John Curtin, in particular, was a life-long friend, often visiting them at 94 George Street.
1.An exercise book with the name Yatala Bruce and date 1908 on cover. Inside, in the same handwriting, are essays on Socialism. The Socialist newspaper recorded some of Yatala’s essays. The exercise book also contains writing in another hand which consists of English Literature notes, mostly about Tennyson. This section is dated 1909.
2.A small note book awarded to Yatala Bruce for drawing, Christmas 1904. Inside some pages have been torn out. Remaining contents includes random notes and quotes. Starts with notes on a biography of Marcus Clarke.
3.A small notebook. One page is headed 1924. Some pages are devoted to what appear to be figures for a household budget. Other pages contain names alongside sums of money. One recurring name is Ovenden. The figures could possibly relate to VSP subscriptions or fund-raising.
4.A small notebook dated 1941-1942. It contains handwritten ARP (Air Raid Protection) lecture notes, first of which is dated 16 April. The lectures were given to prepare volunteers to act as air raid wardens. The volunteers were given instructions on how to organise everything required to protect the people in time of attack. There are notes on how to build a shelter, how to arrange trenches, along with notes on the properties of various types of bombs and gases, hints on fire-fighting and much more.
A warden’s post was established at Bishopscourt, East Melbourne.
5.Six Tea and Butter Ration Cards contained in a cover and dated 1949, very few coupons remain unspent. Each card bears the initials and surname of the holder and their address. For each the address is 94 George Street. The names are:
GE (George Edward) Ovenden; SY (Sara Yatala) Ovenden; son, TB (Thomas Brough) Ovenden; son, GV (George Vans) Ovenden; GV’s wife, SL (Stella Lavinia) Ovenden; their daughter, SR (Stella Rosemary) Ovenden, a child under 7.
The file also contains a lock of Yatala Ovenden’s hair.
