Trevor Cottee Collection

Wartime journal of Ellis Murphy, written after he returned from active service as a medical officer with the 2/2nd Casualty Clearing Station, during the Second World War.

The narrative begins on 27 November 1940 as they depart from Fremantle, WA, enroute to Egypt via Ceylon, arriving in the Gulf of Suez two weeks later. Murphy describes the conditions and hazards of operating a mobile medical unit during dust storms and enemy air raids. He provides detailed accounts of treating wounded and sick patients and maintaining equipment and supplies for their care. 

Murphy served with the 2/2nd CCS at Derna, Tobruk, Benghazi, Palaestrino, Cairo and Eritrea. He also mentions many notable officers who served with him including: Major 'Weary' Dunlop who later became well-known for his medical work with Australian prisoners of the Japanese, and his subsequent welfare work on their behalf after the war.

The diary entries end 10 August 1941, Kantara, Egypt.

Colour home movie footage showing a family party, Miles aged about 19, Jane aged about three, the male relations with 'short back and sides' haircuts, Mrs E. Douglas, John Campbell and Rob aged about one. 

also included is footage on a ship possibly sailing through Panama, local people in Fiji, and images of Honolulu and New York.

Home movie film, black and white. Scenes of family members and surrounds on board a ship, in Sydney, in Tasmania and on board ships in Melbourne and Colombo.

The film is home movie footage (colour, silent) showing a wedding and includes guests arriving at the church, the bride and bridesmaids arriving, the bride and groom emerging from the church and posing for photographs and the well-dressed guests gathered around the church. Later footage shows what appears to be the same couple with a young baby as well as other children playing on a beach and a family gathered for an outdoor meal. 

Home movie footage (colour, silent) showing the external view and garden of a family home, a woman and baby, the baby as a toddler, the family at the beach and at home with a young puppy.

Home movie footage of family at home including: children and baby playing in backyard; family gathering and eating ice cream; children riding tricycles in yard and playing with pets; children and toddlers playing with hula-hoop and ring throw. 

Home movie footage (colour, silent) showing children playing on bicycles and having running races in a front yard.

Home movie footage (colour, silent) showing family members in the back yard and at the beach. 

Home movie footage (colour, silent) showing sailing, the home 'Windemere' in 1936, sailing 'Nara', sailing boats on the Brisbane River, sailing 'Blue Nose' in 1950, 'Kurray', the Balonne River in flood at St George, sailing on the Hamilton reach of the Brisbane River, further footage of 'Windemere' and St George. 

Home movie footage (colour, silent) showing: a Sunday picnic, footage of Samford, a cricket game, Christmas 1953, Jay and Janice at about 6 years old, a yellow canoe, a Christmas celebration [Papa caroles], turkey, Bluenose on bus [rw], Nanna on board, the Queen arrives in Brisbane on Brittannia in 1963? (possibly 1970?), footage from a boat showing crowds lining the Brisbane River and children in a swimming pool. (Descriptive notes supplied by film donor.)

Home movie (colour, silent) showing Linda as a baby at home at Jolimont Avenue, Sherwood; Judy and a merry-go-round; Rob's birthday party at Adelaide Street; John Cottee; Peter Macrossan; James' birthday; Nana and Pappa. (Descriptive notes supplied by film donor.) 

Home movie (colour, silent, approximately 11 minutes) showing Hunter Horderns in Sydney; Linda at age about two years; James at his birthday party in Adelaide Street home and other family footage. (Descriptive notes supplied by film donor.)

Home movie (colour, silent, approximately 13 minutes) showing the sailing boat 'Blue Nose', the start of the Brisbane to Gladstone yacht race, the home 'Windemere' showing a red roof and green blinds and shutters, sailing Hamilton. (Descriptive notes supplied by film donor.)

Home movie footage (colour, silent, approximately 11 minutes) showing Rob in 1954, Garrell's Farm at Tamborine, Judy as a baby, beach at Northcliffe, O'Connors at Toowoomba, Oasis swimming pools, a party at Jolimont Avenue, Sherwood. (Descriptive notes supplied by film donor.)

Home movie (colour, silent, approximately 16 minutes) showing footage of: smartly dressed children, a Queenslander house, departing cars, children playing with Christmas toys at home, playing with Christmas decorations, family eating and drinking Christmas foods and family at a swimming pool. Details include: 

• Cottee family, Jane, Rob, Judy, Linda, Jamie, and mother Barbara on their way to church, coming down the back stairs of the family home, 140 Adelaide Street East, Clayfield. Cousin Shana Garrett is also included.
• Christmas at the Gold Coast 1961, at their grandparents house (Sir Ellis and Lady (May) Murphy), 8 Albury Street, Northcliffe. Barbara (Murphy) and Trevor Cottee family,  Paula (Murphy), Colin Chandler and Miles and Ruth Murphy. (1:05)
• Neville Brough’s swimming lessons at his Miami motel pool, Gold Coast. Rob, Judy and Linda are having lessons while Jane (12) Jamie (4) and their mother look on. (5:25)
• Interstate cousins visit: Beryl (Cottee) and Tom Meldrum, and their four children - Marilyn, Rod ,Greg and Rosemary Meldrum. And the Macrossan family, John and Maxine(Cottee) with children - Peter, Michael, Tim, Paula and Pam. (7:35)
• Judy 7 yrs and Linda Cottee 5 yrs dressed for church. (10:00)
• Cottee children playing in the garden at “Kalangan” Garfield Terrace,  Northcliffe on the Gold Coast (10:15)
• Linda Cottee’s first communion. Barbara Cottee and 5 children, Jane, Rob Judy, Linda dressed to go to St Agatha’s Church, Oriel Road, Clayfield. (12:05)
• Sunday BBQ at their 'Hiltop' farm at Samford, with the Macrossan and Chandler families, with their pet kangaroo called Joey, which they raised from a baby and then released to the farm. (14:00)

Home movie footage (colour, silent, approximately 17 minutes). Includes: children sitting in back of car; car driving down country road and parked at country house; group of children running up to house and knocking, children playing with kitten, farm animals including a cow and a horse; family swimming at a creek. Also includes footage from a family trip to Sydney showing the Opera House under construction. 

Home move footage, Christmas holidays December 1959-1960.

• The Cottee family: Trevor and Barbara and five of their children: Jane 10 yrs, Robert 7 yrs, Judy 6 yrs, Linda 4 yrs and James 2 yrs at the family beach house Northcliffe, Gold Coast.
• The movie begins with the 6th Birthday of Judy Cottee, 12 December 1959 in the garden with their cousins from the Chandler, Macrossan, Sweeney and Kilvington families.
• Christmas day with grandparents Sir Ellis and Lady (May) Murphy and the Chandler family, Colin and Paula with 3 year old son Jay.
• Family outing at the Oasis pool at Sunnybank, Barbara Cottee and 5 children, Trevor Cottee filming.
• Swimming lessons with Neville Brough at Miami
• Jane Cottee's confirmation day at St Agatha's church, Oriel Road, Clayfield.
• Sunday family BBQ at the Cottee family farm 'Hilltop' at Samford.

Home movie footage (colour, silent, approximately 7 minutes) taken on a family trip to New Guinea. The footage shows an outdoor market, war graves in a cemetery, a military parade and dancers in traditional costumes in what looks to be a show for tourists. 

Home movie film (colour, silent) showing a trip to London. 

Home movie (colour, silent) showing a family holiday in the snow. 

Home movie (black & white, silent).

Home movie (black & white, silent) showing scenes of cities, country side and a dog show on a trip to England. 

Home movie (colour, silent, approximately 8 minutes). Footage includes Jamie (aged about six years) fishing from a small boat; picnic at Long Pocket with the O'Connors; Christmas at Northcliffe; Jay, Jamie and Sarah; sailing at Southport; Southport Broadwater; Peter White; Jim Macrossan; Michael Macrossan. 

Home movie footage (colour, silent, approximately 15 minutes) showing: children playing and making sand castles on a beach; children playing outside and climbing trees in yard; family picnic with BBQ and children playing with a boat in a creek; Christmas toys; a junior rugby game; children in running races at a sports day with parents watching; boats on the Brisbane River. 

Home movie (colour, silent, approximately 4 minutes) of a family Christmas held at Sir Ellis & Lady Murphy’s beach house 'Binnham' 8 Aubrey Street, Northcliffe in 1968. The film shows children unwrapping and playing with Christmas presents, sitting around a table eating and wearing Christmas hats, family members standing outside in front of houses and a family playing at the beach. 

Family members include Trevor and Barbara Cottee and their children, Jane 18yrs, Rob 15 yrs, Judy 14yrs, Linda 12yrs, Jamie 10yrs and Angela 2yrs; with Colin and Paula Chandler and their 2 children, Jay 11yrs and Sarah 7yrs.

Home movie footage (colour, silent, approximately 2 minutes) showing a man and a woman in gardens with a procession of school children; views over mountainous terrain, over a town, and out to sea; a waterfall and mist on mountains in unidentified locations. 

Home movie (colour, silent) showing a Beirne Family reunion, held in August 1968 at Trevor and Barbara Cottee’s home, 'Windermere' 14 Sutherland Avenue, Ascot. Thomas Charles Beirne had 5 daughters and the gathering was attended by the extended families of these daughters. The guests included many family members, all well dressed for the occasion. The men, wearing suits, are seen on the front steps of the home, families entered through the large front garden and refreshments were served. 

Home movie (colour, silent) showing scenes including: women in the backyard garden, toddlers on a homemade see-saw, overseen by an adult male; a child on a home-made spring mounted rocking horse; people at a Waikiki beach with hotels/resorts in the background (assumed to be a holiday in Honolulu).

Home movie footage (black & white, silent, approximately 32 minutes) showing large family groups, including children, toddlers and babies in large gardens (possibly Windemere in Ascot and Glengariff in Hendra), swimming and playing at a beach and gathered around cars in various locations. 

Dr Ellis Murphy served with the 2/2nd Casualty Clearance Station in the Middle East during the Second World War. When allied forces were engaged in the East Africa Campaign, Murphy was temporarily attached to the 2/5th Australian General Hospital located at Asmara, in Eritrea.

View his war diary 1940-1941