Certificate of membership of the Victorian Optical Association for C W Kett

Historical Significance: HH Baker FSMC was the first President of the VOA (1911-1914) and CW Kett FSMC FIO was a foundation member and later a President (1930-1935). Both became honorary life members of the Association, Baker in 1922 and Kett in 1954. Baker is credited with founding the Association. He had discussed with a number of his colleagues the possibility of forming an optical association as result of which a meeting was called to discuss the project. and the Victorian Optical Association was formed on the 23rd of May 1911. HH Baker was elected the first president. There were 26 Foundation members: Messrs HH Baker, FC Needham, W Aird, CW Kett, WP Wood, JPhillips, HS Bell, EJH McFarlane, GW Robbins, A Phillips, N Seward, W Donahay, FK Brent, HJ Donahay, C Thomas, G Gillespie, H Blashki, JV Needham, EJ Baker, M Treichel, A Williams, L Miller, W Nott, AWJones, O Foster and Miss H Moodie. Note that a woman was a foundation member. Kett was later in 1939 to be a founding member of the Australian College of Optometry and a foundation councillor of that body.