PEEPS INTO THE PAST 31 January – 6 February 2021 Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society.
Compiled by Ann Ziguras and Sue Kelly for the Mildura Rural City Council Library Service. 100 years ago
NEWS: The Supreme Council in Paris has declared that 11 thousand million are to be paid by Germany to the Allies over a period of 42 years. The Supreme Council has approved to the terms of a fixed annuity to be paid in gold marks. At Leicester Assizes in England three women jurors were disallowed in a rape case. Counsel declared that such cases should be tried either by all men or all women. Justice McCardle upheld the objections and expressed the opinion that the time was drawing near when Parliament would consider whether a mixed jury was the best tribunal to try any case involving a full and frank discussion of intimate sexual details. AWU seamen, miners and railway men decided today to negotiate together in regard to the formation of one big union. This decision was arrived at the AWTI convention this morning and it is regarded in union circles as highly significant. (31.1.1921)
NARROW ESCAPES: While a train was travelling between Dungog and Newcastle on Saturday the driver saw a boy holding a small dog. Suddenly the dog broke away with the boy in pursuit on a trestle bridge 50 feet above the water. The dog ran in front of the engine with the boy chasing it. When the boy realised his danger he fell flat while the train passed harmlessly over him. The driver pulled up the train and rushed back expecting to find the boy cut to pieces. He was amazed to see him unhurt but evidently frightened. When he saw the driver coming toward him he quickly picked up the dog and ran away. Mr A. Jacobs had an exciting adventure with a visit from a snake at Cowangie when he was unlacing his boots at 10pm. He saw the snake pass after he had taken one boot off. He immediately took aim with the boot and succeeded in disabling the reptile which had hidden among the flower pots which had to be removed before the snake could be destroyed. (1.2.1921)
SWIMMING: The Red Cliffs men who bathe in the Murray River in the region of the bank from where the complaint to Sunraysia Daily concerning nude bathers was sent state emphatically that they always use the required bathing costumes. Should anyone be to blame it must be visitors. Hawaiian swimmers gave a fine exhibition of their prowess in the water at Fletcher’s Dock in Port Adelaide. Kealolla eclipsed his own record for the 100m recently in Sydney. (2.2.1921)
PRECIOUS STONES: A proclamation has been issued in which the Queensland Government acquires all sapphires and fancy stones in that state. (3.2.1921)75 years ago
AUSTRALIA DAY: Making the most of the last holiday before Easter, people crowded all forms of transport to swimming resorts for Australia Day. Sporting attractions, including the Cardross picnic carnival, Merbein bowls and Mildura cricket left streets practically deserted during the day. In an effort to escape the heat many picnic parties remained at the river until a late hour.
CARDROSS: Many district residents made the Cardross Lake their rendezvous for the Foundation Day holiday, when the Cardross Progress Association conducted one of its most successful annual picnic meetings on record. They were catered for with a program which lasted from 10.30am until late afternoon and included trotting and pony races, wood chopping, foot running and novelty events.
IRYMPLE WAR MEMORIAL PARK: About 70 pounds was raised at the garden party held at the residence of Mr and Mrs A.V. Dickinson of Irymple. This sum will considerably swell the funds already on hand for the Irymple war memorial park.50 years ago
THORN: Mildura City Council Works Committee will inspect an area in Walnut Avenue where the noxious weed Camel Thorn has been found. The thorn is a member of the pea family and grows wild throughout Turkey and Russia.
CEMETERY: A new type of burial area will come into use at the Mildura Cemetery within the next two months. It will be a lawn cemetery, consisting of newly planted lawns in which concrete beams have been set up. An area sufficient enough to take 240 graves has been planted. Trees and shrubs will be added later. Eventually the lawn cemetery will cover about ten acres.
25 years ago
TODD KELLY: Mildura’s Todd Kelly will spend his weekdays at school this year and the weekends averaging 200 kilometres an hour on the race track. The 16-year-old driving sensation set two track records last weekend at Eastern Creek and is set to become possibly the youngest competitor to win the Formula Ford series championships. (31.1.1996)
OFFICES: The former Mildura Shire offices officially started a new life yesterday as the headquarters of the Sunraysia Rural Water Authority. The offices were sold last year in a controversial $1 million deal by the Mildura Rural City Council. The upgrade and refurbished offices, located on the Calder Highway at Irymple, were declared open by the authority chairman John Lester. (2.2.1996)
BMX: World champion BMX rider, Kamahl Lord was last night named the Northern Mallee Sports Star for 1995. Lord took out the peak district sporting award after an outstanding year of competition which culminated in success at the World BMX Championships. The talented 19-year-old was selected by BMX Australia to represent the country at the Colombia championships after a string of state and national wins. (3.1.1996)
