Peeps Into The Past 5 to 11 February 2023
Presented by Mildura & District Historical SocietyCompiled by Judi Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Libraries
100 YEARS AGO
LOCAL NEWS: A “Jumble” entertainment to augment the Merbein Rowing Club’s funds will be held at the Residence of the President of the club, Cr A. Foster, “The Cedars”, Merbein.
There has been a steady increase in business transactions through the Birdwoodton Post Office.
Mr Gelly remains in charge of the recently raised office. Tuckers Creek Bridge is in a state of disrepair, several planks are worn through, on Friday one of the planks broke.
If a horse trotted over them, it would cause a nasty accident.
KITCHEN: The saving of 20,000 pounds per annum in the expenses of the British Royal household, without impairment of its efficiency or the limitation of any court functions has been made possible by the Queen’s practical co-operation.
Queen Mary is a most efficient house-wife, brought up in a family of not too well-endowed, her knowledge has been an incalculable service to her husband for the King is by no means a rich man.
Queen Mary was one of the first to introduce vacuum cleaners, electric cooking, cleaning and washing devices in her home.
She is also an excellent cook, a shrewd bargainer and keen buyer, a strict disciplinarian, and a kind and sympathetic employer who does not tolerate waste or extravagance. She is house-proud and proud of it.
75 YEARS AGO
LOCAL NEWS: The first home in the Housing Commission’s second estate of 16 houses at Merbein will be occupied on February 11 by Mr and Mrs Driscoll, he is a returned WWII veteran.
About 30 applications are already held for Housing commission homes in Mildura.
At Red Cliffs, Housing Commission homes started a year ago could be finished if sufficient plaster sheeting were available.
Shire Council has applied to the Public Works dept. for 3000 pounds to make improvements to the Merbein baths including a filtration and chlorination plant.
At the corner of 8th St and Madden Ave, Mildura 45 bags of chaff fell off a truck when the holding rope broke.
WORLD NEWS: The Ferguson Tractor inventor, Mr H. Ferguson, is suing the U.S. Ford company for 62,750,000 pounds for damages for allegedly copying his inventions.
General Blaskowitz, the former German C-in-C of Holland, jumped to his death from the upper gallery of the Nuremburg Gaol.
In his captivity he helped American Army historians write the history of the battles he fought in.
Police investigations at Poona uncovered the main outlines of a plot to kill Gandhi.
It is estimated that 3000 raiding tribesmen have been killed in a two-day battle raging around Naoshera. Armed troops are guarding all Ministers residences in Delhi.
BEER: For the past four plus years it has been noted that a man has been seen daily sitting at the same corner of a bar at a Melbourne hostelry.
He has apparently been occupying that seat daily from 12 to 2pm since the end of World War II.
Sometimes there are as many as a dozen in his party.
He always shouts and never spends less than 10/- every lunch hour, so over the last 30 years it is estimated that it has cost him 3900 pounds in lunch hour beer.
A truck driven from Kalgoorlie to West Brunswick, Melbourne, had its load of 4000 bottles of beer seized by police, the biggest seizure of beer in Victorian history.
50 YEARS AGO
FIRE: Last night, fire caused thousands of dollars worth of damage to Fishers Stores in Merbein, the biggest fire in Merbein since the Roxy theatre burned down.
Almost the entire Merbein population jammed Commercial St. Mr Ray Slater said there was a noise like thunder shortly before 11pm and suddenly the whole building was ablaze – the three stores, Grocery, Clothing and Hardware – a large bulk store at the rear was saved.
The glow could be seen all over Merbein, people ran out of their houses in pyjamas and dressing gowns – the drinkers in the Merbein Citizen’s Club had to evacuate their premises.
The Merbein Brigade had 3 hoses operating at the buildings’ rear.
WEATHER: Drenching rains eased Victoria’s months-old drought. At the same time, the rain isolated towns, cut transport, blocked roads, flooded big areas of countryside and caused rivers to overflow.
Down at Ouyen they’re laughing like Cheshire Cats.
They had four inches on Monday, trees sent crashing and roofs torn off sheds, while graziers who were having to sell off stock had a change of heart.
Rain in Sunraysia caused cancellation of a searching their blocks for mould due to high humidity.
The 70mph wind, rain and dust lashed Sunraysia for four hours, sending people running for cover, trees were blown over and power cut, cars needed their lights on for drivers to see – visibility was down to 20 yards.
ITEMS: Amazing success has been made in Robinvale over six months in constructing a trotting track and cricket ovals on the old recreation reserve.
Two teams of scientists will be in Sunraysia for the duck shooting season, examining the sex organs of bagged birds to find out if the birds have bred, are about to breed or are breeding.
25 YEARS AGO
PEOPLE: Mildura man Mick Chopping, who served on the aircraft carrier HMAS Melbourne, said when the Melbourne collided with the HMAS Voyager, cutting it in half killing 82 officers and crewmen, that there was little compensation and lack of recognition for the disaster.
In 1963, Jennifer Hanlon left Mildura for an 18 month trip to Europe, 35 years later she has finally made it back home for a reunion.
In 1958, the Mildura Marching Girls Assoc. was formed by Mr Chas Powell.
Jennifer marched for the Royal belles (Rowing Club) team which won several competitions including the State Championships.
Nichols point Primary School’s preps of 1998 have made history this year with 59 enrolments, surpassing all other years, said Principal Win Easterbrook.
NEWS: Merbein firemen and the Mildura Hazardous Materials unit turned out to a chemical spillage at Merbein South opposite the Merbein South Primary School.
The driver of the 20-tonne semi heading west stopped when he noticed a fire on the trailer.
A forklift borrowed from the Merbein mushroom Co nearby and removed the pallets containing affected drums.
The Curlwaa Fresh Orange Juice Co, previously owned by the Curlwaa Co-operative Fruit Co will remain in local ownership following a consortium of growers, packers and a processor.
Instead of spending $200,000 to install an SBS transmitter at the Yatpool tower, Sunraysia should link Mildura and Ouyen via Neighbourhood optic fibre.
One of Mildura’s original pioneer homes in Chaffey Ave was sold for $134,000.
Built in 1892, the 34-square brick residence has had a colourful history from Ben Chaffey to the Peglar family.
For the last 25 years, known as “Miralee House” it was used as a shelter for disadvantaged children.
THE PAST:
Part of the memories of Mrs Gwyneth Cleary’s book on her life growing up in Red Cliffs was that Anzac Day was a very special day for the ex-servicemen blockers.
Many gathered in town, others travelled afield to renew old friendships.
A WWII veteran, Eric Krake, of Merbein, believes he has a clue to the identity of the unknown soldier buried on Christmas Island.
A Carley life raft drifted by there with the body of a young sailor, never identified, locals buried him in the cemetery.
Mr Krake was serving on the Queen Elizabeth as a Gunner en route to the Middle East with sister ship the Queen Mary, both packed with soldiers when a man fell overboard between the Cocos and Christmas Islands.
