PEEPS IN THE PAST July 4-10, 2021
Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society
Compiled by Mildura Rural City Council Library
Today’s Slogan: Keep serene! Bad temper is bad form. A woman with her hair off is no lady, and a man in a paddy looks a goat. Ill temper sours the milk of human kindness and poisons the springs of being; it is the friction that starts the smouldering fires of resentment and the lightning that blasts the tree of happiness. Selfish anger is incipient hate, and is the wrecker of homes and the sunderer of families. Hate is the original and only genuine Hun. If we could banish selfish anger from human society we should imagine that the devil was dead. It is anger that fills our hospitals and cemeteries, and its worst feature is that it is so contagious – we catch it by contact. The directions for prevention are: Keep serene, no matter what the provocation!
100 years ago
WIMBLEDON: In the mixed doubles at Wimbledon, Woosnam and Howkins defeated M. Alonso and McNair. 6-1, 6-4. It was a surprising game in the second set. Alonso played far below his form. Miss Suzanne Lenglen, the champion woman player, defeated Miss Ryan of California in the challenge round of the| Ladies’ Singles Lawn Tennis Championship. This is the third year in succession in which Miss Lenglen has won the championship. In the men’s doubles championship, Lycett and Woosnam reached the final by defeating R. Farrell and Norton. They will meet two brothers, F.C. and A.H. Lowe, in the finals. There will no challenge as the holders, the Americans Garland and Williams, are not competing in the tournament. Lycett played a magnificent game. He was forced to shoulder about three parts of the overhead smashing, as Woosnam was the weak spot of the four. (4.7.1921)
UMPIRES: Mildura Club’s action has been criticized by a Correspondent. “Follower” writes: “A recent report in your columns states that one of the local teams will not play under one of the League’s umpires. This is an unusual procedure in football, and it shows distinctly bad taste and bad sportsmanship. An umpire has a hard enough task to perform without a team blaming him for their defeat. Most of the Sunraysia teams have played under this umpire, and a consensus of opinion points to the umpire concerned as an efficient male. In a recent match at Red CIiffs the losing team were very hostile to the umpire, J. Allen, but they had no reason for being so. Red Cliffs were awarded thirty-six free kicks and Mildura thirty-three, a margin of three. When it was shown that Mildura became rattled in the last quarter, and frequently broke the rules, thus shifting the preponderance of free kicks to favour Red Cliffs, it will be readily recognized that the umpire was very fair to both sides. This sums up the position, and suggests that Mildura may have some personal grievance against the umpire concerned. In any case, a single club has a right to bar the umpire. This right rests with the majority of the clubs in the League. (4.7.1921)
KIDMAN CATTLE: Mr. A. Withers, of Mallee Cliffs Station (Murray and Woodbinds) was in Mildura on Tuesday and, in the course of a chat, said that Mr Sid Kidman constantly sent mobs of cattle through the Mildura country. They come, he said, down the Anabranch, some being trucked up the river to Swan Hill. A mob of mixed cattle is expected shortly to pass through Mildura. Some of these will be railed from Mildura, and the rest will pass through Mallee Cliffs run. Mr Withers said that there should be some fine bullocks among them. (6.7.1921)
DANCE OF DEATH: An eccentric tango to which her husband objected was mainly responsible for the death of a beautiful twenty-five year old bride, the wife of Otto Schmidt, a millionaire merchant of Brandenburg. Schmidt was acquitted on a charge of murder. An extraordinary story of jealousy was unfolded by Schmidt under examination. “My wife,” he said, “was an Italian and full of temperament. On one occasion, during our honeymoon, she hurled a rock at me for having spoken to another woman. On the night of her death I had given a ball at our house. My wife danced in a manner to which I took strong exception. I also had occasion to reproach her for having let other men kiss her. “I shall dance as I like and kiss whom I like” was my wife’s answer to my chagrin.” Schmidt then confessed that in a moment of temper he struck his wife. “What happened then?” asked the judge. “My wife”, replied Schmidt, “pulled out a revolver which I had given her for protection”. I exclaimed: “You had better put that away at once.” There was, according to the story of the husband, a violent struggle for the possession of the weapon, and in the course of it the revolver went off and the woman who had been merrily dancing before, fell dead with a bullet through her brain. (5.7.1921)
75 years ago
RURAL TRAINING: The Rural Training Authority in Melbourne was anxious to obtain the names of growers who are able and willing to take and train ex-servicemen for a period of approximately two years under the Rural Training section of the Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme, said Mr H.H. Jones, welfare officer of the Rural Training Authority, who left Mildura for Swan Hill yesterday after a short visit to Sunraysia. During his visit he interviewed trainees already in the district, and conferred with the executives of local growers’ organisations. Conditions applicable may be obtained on application to the Deputy Co-ordinator of Rural Training Department of Agriculture, 605 Flinders Street, Melbourne, or to Mr H. Gwillam, rehabilitation officer, No.16 Bowrings Buildings. Mr Gwillam said that under the scheme a generous living allowance would be granted, either for married couples or for single trainees, to enable them to undergo an intensive course of training in the principles of horticulture. In the case of inexperienced trainees the horticulturist was only called upon to provide 15/- a week for the first six months, out of a total remuneration to the trainee of £5 a week. The grower’s contribution would increase by increments every six months to £3 a week at the end of two years’ training. For every 12 months period the trainees would be entitled to 14 consecutive days’ holiday on full pay, in addition to gazetted public holidays. Suitable quarters were expected to be provided on the property for the trainee and his dependants. Mr Gwillam said the department was particularly anxious to obtain places with accommodation for married ex-servicemen. This was a great opportunity not only for the trainee but the grower also. (4.7.1946)
GOL GOL GOATS: The temporary closing of Essendon airport should make little difference to Mildura’s air services, so A.N.A. representative (Mr R.H. Chaffey) told me yesterday. The difference in mileage between Essendon and Laverton was negligible, he said, and air travellers would have the advantage of landing on probably the best R.A.A.F. aerodrome in the Commonwealth. When concreting of runways was completed at Essendon there would be a big improvement there. If American scientists and defence authorities want to carry on with atomic experiments they had better not look to Gol Gol for additional goats as “guinea pigs” for their target fleet. Gol Gol goats are not what they used to be – in fact, there are very few of them left. A resident told me yesterday that Gol Gol people had disposed of most of them. The drought made little difference to them, although war time jam tin labels weren’t quite as succulent as the brighter coloured peace-time labels. As the goats used at Bikini Lagoon survived the atom bombs “with a defiant look in their eyes”, maybe there will not be any need to replenish the supply after each bomb. (4.7.1946)
50 years ago
‘TRACTOR’ CARROLL: “I’m gadget-mad”, admitted John ‘Tractor’ Carroll yesterday. “I would rather work on one of my gadgets than go to the cricket or football. It’s a full time hobby and occupation with me.” he said. He is 37 and has been designing and building gadgets for the past 15 years, as well as running his own fruit property at Red Cliffs. Forty of his gadgets have been exhibited and demonstrated at Irymple Gadget Field Days. Today and tomorrow, four of his latest inventions will be shown to the public for the first time. The four exhibits this year are a rack-spraying platform, a $50 cultivator, a trailer mounted fork lift and a mechanical harvesting aid. The main invention, a mechanical harvesting aid, is built onto a 10-ton truck chassis mounted behind a tractor. His pride and joy, a 1951 petrol-kerosene Fordson Major tractor, will be used to demonstrate all his gadgets today and tomorrow. ‘Tractor’ doesn’t make his gadgets for profit, just for kicks. He has helped many people in many places. Perhaps that’s why most of his mail is addressed to “Mr Tractor” Carroll, Red Cliffs.” (6.7.1971)
WINTERSUN FESTIVAL: Mildura’s fourth Wintersun Festival will be held at Mildura Arts Centre from July 10 to August 1. The festival will feature ballet, dancing, drama, music, art, talks, design and a Wintersun Arts Ball. A special performance of national and modern classical ballet, in a Dance Gala, will be conducted by a company of guest artists and students of the School of Classical Ballet. On the drama side, Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible will be performed by Sydney’s Old Tote Theatre Co, a piano recital by Margaret Schurmann, with other items will provide an evening of music. Many prize-winning art pieces and sculptures will be on display. The Wintersun Arts Ball will be the gala event of the year with a fancy dress theme — art (colour), theatre (Hair), and music by Johnny Holmes Jazz Six with Ron Shea as compere. Up until a few years ago, the Wintersun Festival was formerly known as Gallery Week. (6.7.1971)
‘BIG LIZZIE’: At the last meeting of the Red Cliffs Jubilee Committee, Mr V. Gates, nephew of the inventor of ‘Big Lizzie’, spoke to those present. He spoke about four wheels which were made for various traction engines but the biggest was the one used in Big Lizzie. The plans for Big Lizzie were made in 1914 and were completed in Melbourne in 1916. In October 1916 it was in the Elmore district, and one year later, on October 17, it arrived at Yatpool, where adjustments were made, as the Murray River was in flood and work in the river area was restricted. On Christmas Day, 1918, it arrived in the South Merbein area for wheat carting. Sleepers were carted to Merbein railway station and then Big Lizzie worked in clearing South and West Merbein area and also Birdwoodton. It was then moved to Red Cliffs to clear the settlement until 1924 and was then moved to Ouyen in 1926 and then to Glendenning Station, where it has been up until it was bought by the Red Cliffs Big Lizzie Committee. A fund has been organized to pay the cost of the purchase of Big Lizzie, moving it to Red Cliffs and its restoration. Red Club and Mockridge’s Newsagent will accept donations. Mail donations can be sent to Big Lizzie Appeal, Secretary of the Red Cliffs Jubilee appeal Mr R. Dean. (8.7.1971)
25 years ago
JIM JOLLEY: Ouyen Nursing Home resident Jim Jolley celebrated his 100th birthday last Thursday. Born in Scotland in 1896, Jim migrated to Australia in 1912 with his parents, six brothers and two sisters. The family ran a dairy farm outside Ballarat until the death of Jim’s father in 1915, when they moved from the farm into Ballarat. Soon after, Jim and two of his brothers joined the army and returned to Europe to fight in the First World War. Jim was wounded at the Battle of Bullencourt in France in 1917 and was repatriated home the same year. His nephew, Ian Tune of Mildura, said that in 1919 Jim started a wheat farm at Patchewollock under the soldier settlement scheme. On arrival he was shown his block and given an axe, shovel and tent. Along with a Mallee roller, they were the only tools he had to clear his land. Without any outside help, Jim harvested his first wheat crop off 40 acres. Water was scarce, and he often had to make a 20 mile trip in a horse-drawn cart to the nearest water supply, to fill his two large barrels. During the summer the horses would drink the entire contents of one of the barrels before he got home, and he would have to make the trip two or three times a week. Mr Tune said that during the 1920s, Jim built a home on the property, married and became the father of a girl and two boys. He was very active in the community, and was once president of the shire of Karkarooc. He was the timekeeper for the Patchewollock football team for 40 years. After the death of his wife, Annie, in 1973, Jim lived with his daughter but kept a daily watch on his farm and stock. A keen shooter, he kept the rabbit population down with his true eye and trusty .22 rifle. Mr Tune said failing eyesight at 90 curtailed Jim’s activities, although he never missed a football match and had a great interest in young people. (10.7.1996)
EVENTS: Skaters from the Mildura branch of the Silver City Roller Skating Club travelled to Broken Hill last weekend to compete, where they faced tough opposition from skaters from Mt Gambier, Adelaide, Whyalla and Broken Hill. The girls have been training in Broken Hill on weekends with their coach, Marie White, preparing for the competition. Heidi Burton was the most successful, taking first place in the Intermediate ladies’ figure section. Larissa Long was third in Elementary D Grade figures, Katrina Moore fourth and Kerrin Moore fifth, Jena Craig Brown sixth and Katie Cohrs seventh. Heidi also passed her fourth Bronze Bar and Bronze Medallion in the figures proficiency test. Marie White said she was very pleased with the results as this was the first competition for several of the girls. They are now setting their sights on an Adelaide competition next month and Heidi is concentrating on the state titles in Adelaide in July. Several Sunraysia hockey players will be heading to Perth on July 23 to compete in the Australian Country Women’s Championships as part of the Victorian Country XI. Cathy McQuie, Rowan Congress and Melissa James of Waratahs were selected at trials over the past month to be part of the team. Sally Dunne and Simone Webb, part-time players, were also named in the side. This is the first time that Sunraysia has had representation comparable to larger regional areas, such as Ballarat and Geelong. Sunraysia coach Sue Baird will also be travelling with the team as manager. The Roulettes flying team with Wing Commander Warren Madsen made a brief visit to Mildura yesterday, refuelling on their way from Indonesia to their base at East Sale. The Roulettes, with an accompanying support aircraft, for the past fortnight have been performing at air shows attracting many people during public displays. Sunraysia residents will have the opportunity of winning a superb sapphire and diamond ring when they attend the Mildura and District Gem Club 4th Annual Gem Show which opens today at 9.30am. Admission to the show at St Andrew’s Hall is free and a special feature is the display of several personal collections of gem club members. Many items will be offered for sale and many prizes including a gold nugget and gem craft items are there to be won. (4-6.7.1996)
ALFRESCO DINING: A dining facility to cater for 24 people in Gallagher Lane has been approved by Mildura Rural City Council, subject to conditions. The facility, connected to the Grand Hotel, will be built at the Langtree Avenue end which will be permanently closed off to vehicles. Conditions of the approval include pedestrian access be retained through the outdoor dining facility during daylight hours and all hours of operation of the facility. Provision is also to be made for utility authorities to maintain service mains through the area and that free access be provided for fire fighting purposes. A Mildura Rural City Council spokesperson said the proposal met relevant planning scheme provisions, with the exception of car parking. The requirement for car parking provision requires assessment pursuant to council’s car parking policy for restaurants within the CBD. (8.7.1996)
CHILLY WINTER MORNINGS: The temptation of lying in bed just that little bit longer must have been strong yesterday morning with such a chilly morning in Mildura. Yet surprisingly it was not as cold as it has been over recent weeks, according to figures obtained from Mildura Weather Station. At 8am yesterday the barometer struggled to just two degrees. But the weather station said the low temperature was nothing out of the ordinary. The lowest ever overnight temperature recorded in Mildura occurred during May, when the mercury dropped to a low of 0.4 degrees. Despite this, the RACV in Mildura said it was busy all morning with emergency calls of cars not starting as a result of flat batteries. They said that the cold weather made weak batteries go flat. The Mildura Weather Station forecasts that the chilly weather will remain for the rest of the week. (9.7.1996)
