Peeps in the Past, October 24-30.
Presented by Mildura & District Historical Society.
Compiled by Ann Ziguras and Sue Kelly for Mildura Rural City Council Service.
100 YEARS AGO
EVENTS: Public indignation in Mildura caused by the words and acts of Grant Hervey reached a crisis on Tuesday morning when a citizens’ group tarred and feathered him.
The first contingent of Barnardo boys arrived in Sydney today.
The wintry weather rather dampened their arrival. Officials of the Returned Sailors and Soldiers League are determined to sell Flanders poppies in Sydney despite the government prohibiting the sale of the poppies.
After most threatening weather conditions on Friday, today broke gloriously for the Henley-on-Yarra Regatta.
Work on the Great Ocean Road in Victoria is well advanced, and motorists will be able to drive direct to Lorne in the coming season.
The most recently opened and the most southerly section of the Birdwoodton soldier settlement is now nearly all planted up with a good strike of vines.
Mildura Returned Soldiers Association, in conjunction with the Friendly Union for Soldiers’ Wives and Mothers, will hold a promenade concert in Mildura.
During Mr Henrichsen’s address in the mission-tent at Merbein last Friday evening, an unseemly incident occurred when the tent was suddenly bombarded with eggs.
A meeting of 200 fruit growers decided to form a pool of apricots, plums and certain varieties of pears.
The road to the Mildura punt, which has acted as a dam to keep the flooded river from the flats behind it, broke yesterday morning, allowing the flood waters to break through the road.
Small boys were considered to be involved.
A cooling chamber is soon to be erected at the rear of the premises at Martin’s Merbein butchery.
The chamber, when erected, will be large.
On Monday night before the Renmark Literary Society, Colonel Dolman, of Renmark, gave a most interesting lecture on Charles Dickens.
A concert took place at the Irymple state school on Monday, October 17.
The programme was provided wholly by the children, who raised £20 for furnishings.
The trustees of the Merbein public hall are making extensive improvements by the erection of the open-air theatre.
A most successful garden fete was held in the Nyah School ground last week.
The net proceeds amounted to £52. There were touching scenes of affection at Victoria Station at the farewell to the Prince of Wales.
The Queen broke down and sobbed.
POPPY DAY: To Commemorate the Signing of the Armistice, Mr F B. Wood, secretary of the Carwarp branch of the RSSILA, has received a letter from Melbourne informing the branch of a “Poppy Day” to be held in all parts of Australia on the anniversary of the signing of the armistice (November 11).
The red poppy of Flanders has been adopted by the League of Nations as their international symbol, and facsimiles of these flowers made by children of devastated France and Flanders will he sold at 1/- each, the proceeds to be equally divided between the returned soldiers and the children of France and Flanders that have suffered as a result of the war.
The secretary wishes all ladies willing to assist in the work of badge sales and other schemes for the raising of money for this fund to communicate with him.
SPORT: The Australian cricketers in Johannesburg were playing in windy and dusty weather and a wicket fast when play was resumed this morning.
On account of persistent soaking rain on Friday, a number of cricket pitches were so sodden today that several matches had to be postponed.
A cricket match will be played on the Curlwaa oval on Saturday next between Curlwaa Footballers and the Wentworth Wattles.
The Victorian Rifle Association’s annual meeting commenced at Williamstown today.
Sunraysia Cycle Club’s first road race is to be held tomorrow at 3pm sharp and intends to hold a race monthly. In the fight for the pennant of the association football Footscray and Williamstown reached finality today at Fitzroy.
On the opening of McGauchie’s billiardroom at Red Cliffs an exhibition game was played by Messrs S. Miles and E. McVeigh.
On Saturday afternoon the members of the Merbein gun club will hold a clay-pigeon shoot.
The president’s trophy is valued at £5/5/-. It has been decided that the re-formed Nyah Tennis Club will hold the annual Nyah Sports Carnival on New Year’s Day to include aquatic, athletic, and equestrian events.
Australian tennis players (Hawkes, Peach, Anderson) were beaten in the Davis Cup this morning. There is a record crowd in Melbourne for the VRC races and the betting for Derby Day tomorrow.
BOYS, SNAKES, BIRDS AND BEES:
Verses by a 14-year-old boy scout were published in the September issue of the School Magazine at the Council School.
It is reported upon reliable authority, that a youth, Harold Jones, is awaiting trial on a charge of killing a little girl at Abertillery, Wales.
Two boys that had announced their intention of chopping down a tree that contained a wild bees’ nest, started away in good spirits, but found there were many bees but no honey.
When Mr H. McKay, of the Mildura powerhouse staff, went to clean the pump motor in the well recently he discovered in it a fine snake.
Mr W. Hopper of Merbein had the rather unusual experience of being attacked by a black snake in the same spot as another snake on the previous day.
A pair of “five-footers” were found in orange cases and killed at Curlwaa.
Two species of butcher birds inhabit Sunraysia.
A large, black-throated variety is the “denizen” of the box gum trunks.
ILLNESS: Two further cases of plague are reported from Townsville, Queensland.
One Townsville patient shot himself. The death is announced in Dublin of J.B. Dunlop Snr, the inventor of the pneumatic tyre, in his 87th year.
Four cases of leprosy have been found in Western Australia among natives at Derby. 75 YEARS AGO
CONCERT: The student orchestra has completed months of enthusiastic rehearsing under the baton of Mr H.C. Wilson, and is ready for the concert on Thursday night.
Glancing through the program it is noted that it comprises a comprehensive list of orchestral, instrumental and vocal items, and the concert should be a very fine effort.
Seats may be reserved at the Ozone Theatre booking office, and a full house seems assured.
PETROL: Restrictions on the issue of petrol ration tickets at the Mildura post office had been lifted, said the postmaster (Mr J. Rogerson) yesterday.
Consumers could obtain their November tickets without first obtaining a special permit from the transport authority.
Mr Rogerson requested consumers to take advantage of the extra assistance provided at the post office for the issue of tickets.
HOSPITAL CARNIVAL: The organiser (Cr C. E. Neville) said yesterday that a record number of 123 entries had been received for the professional and amateur cycling events at the Mildura Base Hospital Cup Day Carnival.
There are seven entries for the trotting events. A description of the running of the Melbourne Cup will be amplified throughout the reserve.
50 YEARS AGO
LIZZIE: More donations for the Red Cliffs “Big Lizzie” appeal have been generously given.
The total to date is $626.73.
Following are the latest acknowledgments:
Previous acknowledged, $609.73. Collection box, $7; R.L. Bull, $5; T.G. Hollingsworth, $2; Mrs H. Wheeler, $1 and other donations $17.
FIRE DAMAGE: Slight damage was caused to a switchboard control cabinet when fire broke out at the Cureton Avenue pumping station yesterday.
Manager of Mildura Urban Water Trust (Mr R. Dudley) said Mildura Fire Brigade was called, but the fire had been put out and they were not needed. Cost of the blaze is not yet known.
FIRE BAN: People who wish to burn off their properties in Mildura Shire should make haste.
There are only four days before the expected introduction of fire restrictions in the area.
Following midnight this Friday, permits will be required for any fires lit in the open.
This date was recommended to the Country Fire Authority last week.25 YEARS AGO
PUMP HILL: Completion of the Pump Hill rehabilitation project was celebrated yesterday with the official opening of the site at Merbein.
The Water to Wine Landcare Environment Action Program (LEAP) was a joint project of Sunraysia Murray Group Training (SMGT), the Department of Employment Education and Training (DEET) and Sunraysia Rural Water Authority (SRWA).
The 26 week project employed 45 out-of-work 15 to 19-year-olds, training them in various aspects of gardening and computers, along the way losing 12 to other employment.
The opening was attended by officials of all groups, Mildura Rural City Council chief executive officer, Graeme Davy, and the remaining trainees.
RESERVES: Mildura electrical contractors, R.L. Halpin Pty Ltd., has been recognised for its support of the Australian Defence Force Reserves.
Minister for Defence, Industry, Science and Personnel, Bronwyn Bishop, presented Halpin’s proprietor, Patrick Moloney, with an award on behalf of the Reserves.
Mrs Bishop said support from employers was a vital link for the Reserves.
The company was nominated by its Reserve Force employee, Sergeant Peter Kinleyside.
He has been employed by Halpin for more than 15 years, has served in the Reserve for 19 years.
Halpin was nominated for continued support in granting Sgt Kinleyside leave to attend annual training and other defence-related courses.
A total of 13 Victorian companies were presented with awards by Mrs Bishop.
LICENCE: Prime Television has purchased the Mildura television licence for $3.2 million.
Prime was the successful bidder for the licence at the Australian Broadcasting Authority auction in Sydney yesterday.
Prime’s Victorian manager, Warwick Fenwick, said Prime could be broadcasting in Sunraysia within six to nine months. The new commercial service will join the existing service presented by WIN-TV.
