September 13-19, 2020
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
HOSPITAL: In the 29th annual report of the Mildura District Hospital, the president is pleased to be able to report that the long talked-of new wards are on the way. The foundation stone of the new ward building is to be laid next Wednesday by the newly elected Mayor of Mildura, Cr W.B. Chaffey, J.P. but that does not mean that the wards are already built and paid for. It is being laid because that ward is an absolute necessity. Up to date, something like £2000 is in clear sight, but there is still £4000 to be found with more and more patients to care for. There have been 846 inpatients and 181 outpatients treated during the year. Last year’s figures were 620 and 217 respectively; and it should be remembered that last year there was an influenza rush. In making another appeal for practical general support of the hospital, we do not forget the generous aid given it from many quarters, the Voluntary Aid Society, Traders’ Association, Mildura and Merbein bands, schools, clubs, local papers, Mallee wood bees, entertainments, etc. But fact has to be faced. The hospital does not get sufficient steady practical support to allow it to keep pace with district requirements. “If every person in the community would tax himself or herself a few pence per month or shillings per year without fail as a hospital tax, or humanity tax, or whatever it might be called, our hospital would be “on easy street”. If every local person of “thinking” age realises that the £4000 still required to pay for it is as big a necessity as the ward, and that generous little hospital tax of a few pennies per week per local wage earner would help keep the ward going later on, there would be a cessation of these “reminders”.
EVENTS: Returned soldiers are advised that two blocks are available at Merbein South, adjoining the research farm. Central State School Fete Wednesday, September 15, in the Shire Hall to raise funds to erect an obelisk in memory of soldiers educated at the Central State School of Mildura. As is usual in holiday time, Mr and Mrs Chaffey arranged a young folks dance for daughter “Bizzie” last Friday evening. Dancing took place in the ballroom and I am sure the guests felt quite grown up with programmes, etc. The girls looked very sweet in their pretty party frocks, the little hostess wearing a girlish white frock. All had a very enjoyable time. Dancing and music were indulged in and all were sorry when home time came. Mildura Cricket Club annual meeting on Thursday next. Austral Tennis Club general meeting on Friday, 17th September. Merbein Gala Day Saturday, 25th September in aid of Merbein Band and Public Hall buildings funds. Prizes galore. Sensational jumping by horses was shown at Albury last Thursday, when the ladies’ high jump was won by I Musician, owned by Mr W.J. Weir, of Narrandera. Ridden by Miss Roach, Musician cleared 7 ft., 5 in., creating a new record. During the contest Miss McKinney received a nasty fall off Vice Regal at 6 ft. and Miss Clark was thrown under the hoofs of Sundown at 7 ft. She was stunned, but (like Miss McKinney) escaped serious injury. An attempt by Sundown to break the open record (7 ft., 3 in.) just failed, the gallant animal tipping the rail with his hind hoofs. The schooner Amelia J., owned by Jones & Co., Hobart, which left Sydney for Hobart with coal cargo on August 21st, is missing. Fears for its safety are entertained. The shearing strike in New South Wales ended through a concession of the men’s terms by graziers in order to get shearing complete.
FOOTBALL: Having won the Carwarp District Championship rather easily, the Diggers challenged the local premiers (Irymple) to a game for a dinner and came along on Saturday last to determine the issue. Irymple was taking no risks and put in a very strong team, though F. Walpole, Eastwell and Clifford were absent. Red Cliffs was not so well represented as it hoped to be, several of the best players being unable to play. The visitors’ uniform was a nondescript one; several appeared in the Cliffs’ red and white, but there were others in blue and white and yellow and red, and even in long ‘uns. Two men played bare-footed, and they were among the best on the field, kicking remarkably well. Collingwood (4.17) beat Fitzroy (3.5) in the league football semi-final on Saturday last.
75 years ago
PIPE BAND: At least six members of the Mildura Pipe Band have now been reported recovered from Japanese prison camps. There was great jubilation among members of the Scots community, when official advice was received that the following members of the band had been reported safe: Staff Sergeant W.H. Brown (pipe major of the band), pipers E.W. Clifford, Colin McDonald and Jim Oliver, and drummers Don Scott and Stan Newton. There are still three or four members of the band of whom news is awaited. The Scots community has purposely refrained from welcoming members of the band who have returned from other theatres of war, with the idea of staging one big reunion when all members of the band have returned to Mildura.
WRITERS’ CLUB: To enable district writers to meet and discuss literature, a writers’ club was the idea of Mrs A. Goldring, librarian at the children’s library, who has been granted permission to hold club meetings in the library room.
HOSPITAL: The Mildura Base Hospital blood donor list has become depleted and an appeal is made for people willing to donate blood to submit their names.
SHORTAGES: The Mildura stationmaster (Mr P. Lanigan) said that owing to the acute shortage of coal, wood was being used in goods locomotives between Donald and Mildura.
50 years ago
HATTAH LAKES: The rise in the level of the Murray River will fill the Hattah Lakes system for the first time in six years. The lakes filled in 1964, but they dried up two years later. The residence of the small township of Hattah, 40 miles south of Mildura, use the main lake in the system, Lake Hattah, for water supplies. Water was pumped from the lake to the township more than three miles away, but for years water has had to be bought by the railway after being carted from Mildura.
PISTOL SHOOTER: Mrs Beth Fitzpatrick, of Mildura, has been named Australia’s top female pistol shooter. Her last score in Australia-wide pistol shoot topped Commonwealth scores, and is only six off the world record. She shoots with a handicap of 19.
25 years ago
MURRAYVILLE: The efforts of the Murrayville Progress Association in its first attempt culminated in a “fantastic success” when the township held its spring trading fair last week. According to the newly elected president, Mr Rod Thurlow, an estimated 500 people patronised the fair, generating a carnival atmosphere among the township. Reed Street, the main thoroughfare of Murrayville, and the Pioneer Park became laden with arts and craft stalls, while the State Emergency Service (SES), fire brigade and ambulance constituted the promotional aspect of the day.
LINTON’S: After 50 years of serving Sunraysia’s sporting enthusiasts, Linton’s Sports Store will close its doors for the last time later this month. Store proprietor, Geoff Linton, has seen his family’s store stripped bare of sporting, fishing, and hunting goods during the closing down sale of the small, specialist store.
CREST: An embroidered crest made for the former Shire of Mildura’s centenary has been shifted to the arts centre theatre foyer. The crest, which took 960 hours plus countless hours of work at home by members from the Mildura Branch of the Embroiderers Guild of Victoria, was one of the many items removed from the former shire offices at Irymple this week.
