PEEPS INTO THE PAST
December 11 to 17, 2022
Presented by Mildura & District Historical SocietyCompiled by Judi Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Libraries
100 YEARS AGO:
1922HOSPITAL: In March Red Cliffs’ Druids drew attention to the fact that in the rapidly expanding settlement there was a serious lack of proper nursing and medical facilities.
There was one resident doctor although Dr Zimmer made visits to the town strip, it was time that in cases of an emergency the services of a nurse, and medical attention was urgently required.
Sister Cameron, of the Bush Nursing Association, addressed those present on the aims and working of the organisation she represented.(12.12.1922).
OPEN: Commercial House Merbein, the two-storey house of accommodation erected opposite the railway station in Yelta Road is to open by the end of the week.
It has been leased by Mrs E. Delahoy, who for a number of years has been associated with houses of a like nature in the Wimmera and later in Mildura.
She hopes to welcome old and new patrons. (12.12.1922).
DOLLS: During the years of the Great War, the world’s production of the best dolls discontinued.
From France, England and Germany the dolls came and then the factories closed down or were used for wartime purposes.
Australia then looked to Japan for the supply of dolls.
Small pieces of silk, satin, cretonne or coloured fabric, fur or teddy bear cloth may be turned to good account.
Parts of old silk, woollen or cotton stockings also make excellent home-made dolls filled and sown.
Very desirable dolls can also be made from the long arm parts of evening suede gloves.
The hair could be white wool stitched in long-pieces then cut and teased.
Clothe some in cotton pyjamas and the babies will be delighted. (15.12.1922).
75 YEARS AGO:
1947 EVENTS: A comprehensive programme was submitted by scholars of the Merbein Elementary State School at the school’s annual Speech Night in the theatre Royal, Merbein.
There is a long list of names and prizes in 16th Sept 1947 Sunraysia Daily.
Tenders are also being called for planned extensions.
A Gala night to benefit the Mildura Base Hospital was held in the Ozone Theatre.
A large crowd enjoyed the non-stop humour, singing, music and novelty items. An A.N.A.
Skyliner Kanana is shown resting on its right wing in furrowed ground after landing at Mildura Airport.
It overshot the runway, ripped through a fence, crossed a roadway, smashed through another fence stopping within six feet of a clump of trees lining an irrigation channel.
At Johnson’s Bend, Max O’Brien, 18, upset calculations to win all 20 laps of the All Powers Championship, the feature event of the T.T. Scramble, from West Australian Champion A.
Pike on his twin speed Triumph. Some 2000 people watched.(11/13.12.1947).
GIFTS: For Christmas, lovely Genoa velvet high spring-backed rocking chairs are 7 Pounds, 14 shillings and 6 pence.
Standard Lamps with Walnut or Chromium bases are 80 shillings and 6 pence, Smoker’s Stands 52 shillings and 6 pence.
A mahogany Secretaire is 38 pounds, 12 shillings and 3 pence, well sprung Perambulators from 9 pounds, 14 shillings, Brass Fire Screens with stamped designs from 4 shillings and 6 pence, 47 piece English Cutlery Canteen 13 pounds 5 shillings, English Tea Sets ninety two shillings and 6 pence, Australian Oak Writing Desk 3 ft by 2 ft 77 shillings to 5 ft x3 ft for 21 pounds 15 shillings and 10 pence.
Many more at Maples Store. (16/12/1947)
.ITEMS: City Council will raise no objection to the playing of recorded chimes and hymns through an amplifying set to be installed in the Mildura Church of England’s new Memorial Tower.
Permission to moor a floating restaurant and cabaret on the riverfront near the Rowing Club lawns was asked by Mr G. Winton, at a meeting of the Urban Water Trust.
Trunk lines between Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs will be investigated by Mr Winton Turnbull, M.H.R. at the request of City Council. Mr Amar Gaga Singh, an Indian reputed to be 114 years old, told an Adelaide Government Astrologer two weeks ago a strange comet would appear as an early morning spectacle at two minutes after midnight on Christmas Eve.
It was named after the first person who observed it in South Africa.
The Commonwealth Immigration Advisory Commission will consider the question of resuming immigration from six European countries to secure urgently needed workers, particularly in the building trades and rural industries. (11/16/12/1947).
50 YEARS AGO:
1972 TIPS: Thinking of giving the kid a bike for Christmas?
That’s nice.
You’ll be placing him or her in a very special category of road users.
A group that under law, requires no vehicle registration or certificate of road worthiness, no driving licence, compulsory training period or test of road rules and no protective clothing or equipment.
You might be comforted that the cyclist casualty rate is going down – only 820 deaths and injuries against 1100 in 1965. If a car driver, before travelling do check your cooling system’s level, make sure windscreen washers and wipers are effective, carry a spare fan belt and radiator hose, adjust headlights if towing a boat or caravan, check tyres for cuts, splits etc, inspect spare tyre for correct inflation, check brakes, brake fluid and steering and suspension.
Don’t overload your car, don’t forget to clean your windscreen daily, don’t carry extra petrol in plastic containers, don’t drive on under-inflated tyres, check your instruments and headlights if driving at night and don’t wash your car in hot sunshine. (15.12.1972).
ELECTRICAL GOODS: Sunbeam mixers $15.95, Auto Toasters $12.89, Steam Irons $11.49, Verticle Griller $24.49, Sunbeam Fry Pan $17.50, Thorn Refrigerator $108, Thorn 3-piece Radiogram $194.00, Sanyo Stereo $44.40, Phillips Car Radio $59.00, Hecla Kettle $14.80, Vertical Griller $24.49, Whirlpool Refrigerator $228.00, Whirlpool Freezer 11.59 c.f. $225.00, Whirlpool Washer $235.00, Victor Lawn Mower S125.00, 2-speed personal fan $7.89, Portable Evaporative coolers $65.00, Remington Shavers $13.95, Battery Toothbrushes $9.49, Food Mixer on stand $18.80, Salter Scales $8.95, Car Vac Cleaners $4.95 – all at Jack Abell’s.
NEWS: Merbein Rotary Club is tired of Merbein Cemetery looking like a “modern day version of Boot Hill’ and plans to make it into “a place of peaceful rest”.
Sunraysia Marching Girls are making an effort not to disturb people living near the Mansell Reserve with their meetings.
They are importing new plastic whistles, (quieter ones), from England and will try to rearrange their hours which according to residents are 14 hours a week.
Don’t skylark on trains or near railway lines also on or under bridges, warned the chairman of the Victorian Railways Commission.
The temptation is stronger during school holidays.
The pumps were turned on and water began to flow into the new Mildura riverfront lake complex.
The moment of triumph was witnessed by the Mayor, Cr Kay Gambetta and the city council’s design engineer, Mr Alec Pieraccini, who hopes all the area will be green by next Christmas. (13/17.12.1972).
25 YEARS AG0:
1997 TENNIS: A passenger train may be commissioned to bring members of the Australian Davis Cup Tennis Foundation to Mildura for the tournament here in April.
As many as 500 foundation members could be at the Mildura tie.
The former Wimbledon champion, John Newcombe, is here to look at the courts to be used when Zimbabwe plays here in the first round. (11.12.1997).
GROUPS: Chaffey Secondary College is this year’s overall champion after a nail-biting finish in the third annual Mathsfest.
It won on a count-back from Red Cliffs Secondary College.
St Joseph’s Orange was judged best Year 9 team, Chaffey Red best in Year 8 and Merbein White took out the Year 7 section.
Sunraysia has a potential to be an “absolute gold mine” for backpackers.
About 5000 international back packers enter Sydney each week and they spread out across Australia in search of an adventure.
The Salvation Army will this year help as many as 600 needy Sunraysia people over the Christmas period.
The annual Ulysses Motorcycle club run raised 100 tins of food, 50 toys and $700.
Kmart’s Wishing Tree already has about 300 gifts under it.
Gol Gol Primary School teacher, Mrs Diane Rohde, pictured with her adoring charges, and who has taught for 31 years, is one of 45 teachers across the State who is to receive a Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching for 1997.
The photo shows a “family” of 17 ducklings, one mum and one dad that made an appearance at a recent club function and have caused the odd double take from visitors.
Swimming together they form all sorts of wonderful critters – some claiming the take on the image of Nessy himself (or herself). (13/16.12.1997).
NOTED- An unusual weather event early on Sunday morning was the cloud formation known as the “Morning Glory”- a distinctive roll of cloud bank stretched from horizon to horizon, it’s never been seen here before.
Backed by 23 tankers, bulldozers and three fire-bomber aircraft, 70 firefighters fought a 2,000-hectare blaze in the Murray-Sunset National Park, South-West of Mildura.
A joint operation between police along the length of the Murray River to detect drink drivers has shown that Mildura has twice the rate of offenders than the rest of the border region.
One in 170 drivers tested positive twice that of other areas, 1365 random breath tests were conducted in Mildura.
Last Friday’s Ouyen Lights Up Night was a huge success with families walking or driving the streets of Ouyen to experience the magic of Christmas.
In 1922 the era of “electric lighting” officially started in Ouyen with a plant installed by the Walpeup Shire Council. (11/17.12.1997).
