PEEPS INTO THE PAST
1 – 7 November 2020
Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society.
Compiled by Judi Hyde and Sue Kelly for the Mildura Rural City Council Library Service.
100 years ago
CHAFFEY: Unexpected difficulties were encountered through the immense amount of seepage and damage wrought in the channels by river crayfish. It was decided to concrete the channels at heavy expense. The enterprise was floated into a company with the young Chaffey brothers retaining the controlling interest, then Mr George Chaffey headed to England to organize a board of directors comprising peers and gentlemen of the highest standing, all had consented to act when rumours of dissention among settlers, backed by damaging attacks in a Melbourne newspaper which had begun a vitriol campaign against the colonisers induced those magnates to draw back into safety. The crash came simultaneously with the bursting of the land boom in Melbourne. The two big men who had been persuaded to invest their all in the development of the Murray territory were left stranded without a penny in seven years that had spent more than they were obliged to under the agreement to layout in 17 years. Old friends in California sent urgent messages advising them to return but they preferred to stay. The Government was approached with a detailed scheme drawn up by George Chaffey but a curt reply was received from the Minister regretting that the proposal could not be entertained. Those that knew George best in those days pictured him as broken in spirit and pocket as he left Mildura for America – he had to borrow money to pay his passage back to California. He later became associated with the Imperial Valley Water and Land Scheme where he was instrumental in putting 125,000 acres of land under irrigation in 18 months. He severed his connection with the company when it refused to authorize him to strengthen the lead works of the water supply scheme at the Colorado River to guard against floods for 75,000 pounds. The next year his anticipations were realized for floods covered many thousands of acres and affected about 40 miles of the South Pacific Railway. From this time on George Chaffey made a reputation throughout America and was paid a large sum for his advice on works of great magnitude. He and his son, Andrew, became owners and designers of banks – Andrew became a leading authority on banking in America. (1.11.1920)
NEWSPAPER: The Inlanders’ new Journal Sunraysia Daily will be a magazine as well as a newspaper in proportion to the advertising support accorded to it, There will be pages devoted to fiction, verse and other light reading so that all members of every household in Sunraysia may be catered for as generously as they can desire. Sunraysia Daily will pay for contributions and pay liberally and from no class of contributors will copy be more welcome than from residents of towns, villages and farming districts at the corner store provinces at the corner of the three states. So, from the people of those regions, please contribute freely to the editor so the new Daily may brim over with the “Spirit of Sunraysia”. (1.11.1920)
HOSTEL: The application of the principal of the Mildura High School for a contribution towards the erection of a hostel for teachers supports Sunraysia Daily’s contention that the greatest need for the irrigation settlement is the speculative builder or some form of municipal or co-operative house-building activity. Mildura Borough Council can scarcely be expected to finance the construction of a hostel for teachers except as a part of some housing scheme. The department has no right to send teachers to country schools without first assuring that there is suitable accommodation for them first. The same responsibility goes to banks, post offices and other institutions whose staff are sent from one place to another to serve interests not their own. (1.11.1920).
75 years ago
LIBRARY: The chief librarian from Robertson and Mullens, one of Melbourne’s famous book houses, will arrive in Mildura soon to reorganise the library at the Mildura Settlers’ Club. Mr King, who on his recent discharge from the RAAF was appointed as full-time librarian at the club, will be assisted by the expert from Melbourne to put the club’s library on a footing which should make it one of the best in the district.
WATER: The water is getting low on the South Australian run and there was a possibility that the paddle steamer Marion might replace The Gem. The Marion draws less water than The Gem, but the latter accommodates about eight more passengers.
GALA: A display of colour cinematography by Mr Lee-Proops will be given under the grandstand at the Mildura Hospital gala. There will be a colour picture of the search for Valarie Eastwell showing hundreds of searchers, the famous police dogs, Zoe and Zuri, and numerous parties who took part in the search. The program will include scenes of VP Day at Red Cliffs and the visit of the Mildura footballers to Glenelg and the 1944 Hospital Gala procession.
50 years ago
BONFIRE: Safety hints on the use of fireworks were issued by the National Safety Council of Australia, especially for Guy Fawkes Night. A survey showed numerous bonfires have been built in Sunraysia in preparation for the night. A public bonfire will be held at Red Cliffs.
HATTAH LAKES: The water has returned to Hattah Lakes and so have the picnic parties. In recent weeks many people have travelled to the area to see water in the lake system for the first time in six years.
RACING: It was a day of fashion at Wentworth races when a record crowd attended to see the running of the 1970 Wentworth Cup. Gate taking were a record $1143.70. Guest of the club were Bellbird TV stars Gary Gray and Margaret Cruickshank.
25 years ago
WENTWORTH LIBRARY: The Wentworth community came together to celebrate the official opening of the municipal library. The library and new Council chambers cost $636,000 and were the realisation of a dream, according to Friends of the Library president Leigh Wattmuff. Mr Watmuff told a large gathering the new library was a vast improvement on the old facility and equipped Wentworth with a service “more suitable for a community about to enter the 21st century.” (1.11.1995)
WESLEY CHURCH: Mildura’s Wesley Church, currently being restored, is in far better condition than first expected, according to consultant Trevor Huggard. He said a recent Mildura CES funded Landcare Environment Action Plan project which had exposed buried air vents, removed concrete paving and allowed the church’s foundations to dry out, had quickly halted deterioration caused by rising damp. (1.11.1995)
MILLEWA: A significant day in the history of the Millewa took place recently when a plaque commemorating the Werrimull Bush Nursing Hospital was unveiled. The occasion proved a joyous one among the community, with many taking the opportunity to catch up with friends while witnessing an important historical event. The sentimental journey to the Pioneer Plantation was made by 110 people who returned to their hospital birthplace, which existed from 1927 to 1947. Member for Mildura, Craig Bildstein, cut the ribbon to open the new sheltered noticeboard, which constituted the other main celebration of the day. (3.11.1995)
