The September 1934 Post Office Monthly Circular gave the following information about the issue of the Victorian and Melbourne Centenary ornamental Telegram forms:
"17: Centenary Telegram Forms and Envelopes. Arrangements have been made to obtain supplies of special coloured telegram forms and envelopes for use in connection with the Victorian Centenary Celebrations. It is anticipated that deliveries of the special stationery will commence shortly, and further advice in this connection will be communicated to Postmasters.
The special facility shall be introduced on the 11th October 1934 and shall be available throughout the whole period of the Centenary Celebrations, which conclude on 30th April 1935 and "Centenary" telegrams may be lodged either at the telegraph counter or by phonogram, subject to the following conditions:-
(a) To ensure that the telegram or lettergram will be issued on the special form, the sender should insert before the address the instruction "Centenary", which will be not counted or charged for.
(b) The usual low telegraph rates will apply, there being no additional change for the special form.
(c) A "Centenary" telegram may be lodged at any Telegraph Office (both official and non-official) in the Commonwealth for issue on the special form from any centre in Victoria during the whole period of the Centenary celebrations.
(d) A "Centenary" telegram may be lodged at any telegraph office in Victoria during the whole period of the Centenary celebrations addressed to any telegraph office in Victoria (both official and non-official), or to any official post office in other states for issue on the special form.
(e) "Centenary" telegrams intended for delivery on the special form at non-official post offices beyond the Victorian border may be lodged at any telegraph office in Victoria during the whole period of the celebrations for transmission by telegraph to the nearest official post office, thence onward by post to the non-official post office. Such telegrams must have the supplementary instructions "Post," followed by the name of the nearest official post office. Such supplementary instructions shall be counted and charged for as two words.
The following instructions in regard to the treatment of "Centenary" telegrams should be carefully noted by all concerned, please:-
(i) The special "Centenary" telegram form shall be used only for terminating traffic. Any officer transmitting such telegrams shall indicate to the receiving officer that he is about to commence transmission of a "Centenary" message by signalling the prefix "VCS" if the message is for local delivery, or "VCX" if for onward transmission.
(ii) On multiplex and teleprinter channels, it is undesirable to stop and change from the roll to the sheet form, and therefore, "Centenary" messages should be received on ordinary roll forms and be subsequently copied, the receiving officer underlining the prefix in pencil, and handing the message to the officer-in-charge for copying. On machine routes where manual channels are also available, it would be preferable for "Centenary" messages to be dealt with on manual channels where the volume of tis traffic justifies this being arranged, in order to eliminate the cost and time lag associated with the copying process.
(iii) Any officer receiving a "Centenary" message on an ordinary form for onward transmission should underline the prefix with two horizontal strokes in order to attract the attention of the transmitting officer thereto.
(iv) In order to assist in the preparation of statistical information regarding these messages, officers responsible for recording particulars of originating and terminating telegrams should insert the indication "VC" in the remarks column of the relative statement.
Close observation should be maintained on the stocks of forms and envelopes. If it is seen that supplies are likely to be inadequate, prompt advice and a requisition should be furnished to the Superintendent of Telegraphs in order that arrangements might be made to obtain additional supplies. (G.B. 34/2316).