Originally published August 30, 1934
IF there was some unconscious prompting of patriotism that induces respect for vice-Royalty, only a winning personality and truly democratic bearing could give birth to the spontaneity with which the citizens of Mildura have taken Lord Huntingfield, Governor of Victoria, to their hearts.
With Lady Huntingfield, whose charm and friendly beating equal that of her husband, the Governor has shown by a ready understanding of the problems of the outpost city of the north-west, and an eagerness to become closely acquainted with the people and their activities, a very real interest in all that Mildura has to present.
This interest was revealed when he met the three sons of Mr W. B. Chaffey, the founder of the settlement, after the city had been officially proclaimed.
He told them that he felt that he knew them personally, as he had read all that had been written about the founders of Mildura.
“I made my aide-de-camp read the book,” he said, “and I have dispatched a copy to the Duke of Gloucester, so that it will reach him in Columbo. It will give him the opportunity to learn about Mildura, too.”
Keenly alive to the significance of all that they witnesses, Lord and Lady Huntingfield won the regard of every man, woman and child by the ease and friendliness with which they moved among them, and the proclamation of Mildura as a city will be remembered as much for the charm of the vice-Regal representative who uttered it, as for the rise in status itself.
In a true Mildura setting of bright sunshine, a large crowd gathered before a specially-erected dais at the Mildura Town Hall to hear the proud proclamation of Mildura’s rise to the status of a city from the lips of the King’s representative, Lord Huntingfield, Governor of Victoria.
Symbolical of the youth of the city that was to grow with them, 1500 school children waved a colorful welcome with flags as the vice-Regal party approached.
Massive gums, typical of the flora of the primitive bush from which the city had been won, shaded the scene from the central plantations, and lines of Girl Guides and Boy Scouts made an avenue of approach to the dais.
Intense interest was apparent on every face as the proclamation was read.
Here and there, some of the smaller children had a far away expression — planning perhaps the itinerary of the holiday that had been granted them by the Governor; but the majority seemed to realise the full significant of the occasion.
