We invite people to share with us family photos of their mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers from the WW1 era, 1914 to approximately 1920. Of course there were many women who remained single during this period and we would welcome photos of them as well as information of the part they played in the war effort. Please submit photos electronically to
Please tell us what you know about the Ballarat women in your family on the Home Front. The stories we uncover will help our understanding of what life was like in a regional city during that difficult time.
Contributed Photos
Contributed by Susan Meyer:
Charles Thomas Henderson Service No 6041 while with the 39th Battalion in France sent this hand embroidered violets postcard dated 29 Jan 1917 to his mother Violet Spence Fraser Henderson for her birthday on 1 Apr 1917. She was on the family property ‘Thackwoodnook’ at Windermere with her husband Cr Charles Thomas Henderson Snr and their two teenage daughters Catherine Fraser and Violet Spence.
His Avenue of Honour tree - 1204. His brother John William Henderson Service No 420 served with the 4th Light Horse and 19th/49th Battalion at Gallipoli and the Western Front. Tree - 204
Contributed by Jennifer Burrell:
Hilda Smith raised her two children alone for the duration of The Great War. When her husband returned in January 1919 from service at Gallipoli and on the Western Front, he saw his 3 yr old baby son for the first time.
Contributed by Faye Reid Leary:
My Grandmother shown with the ‘lady from Lucas’ planting her husband’s tree in the Avenue of Honour, Ballarat. Reginald Reid 14th Battalion Private 4757. His memorial tree is number 3675. Being an odd number this would be on the south side of Western Highway as you travel from the Arch of Victory.