PEEPS INTO THE PAST 16 – 22 May 2021
Presented by Mildura & District Historical Society. Compiled by Judi Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Service
100 years ago
BIKE: Where in all the world is that faithful, humble, much-maligned make the “push bike” still the universal vehicle except in Mildura? The bicycle as most folks know, is the descendant of the ancient hobby horse, evolved during nearly 100 years by stages that included the velocipede and the famous bone-shaker of the 1860s that monstrosity with a 5ft wheel in front and a 10-inch wheel behind the “bicyclette” and many other fearfully and wonderfully made two-wheeled steeds until the safety of the ’80s. In Paris, on one of those afternoons when all Paris seemed to have nothing else to do but wear its best clothes, when cyclists by the hundreds in baggy cycling-knickers and gaudy-topped knitted stockings were wheeling up and down French girls suddenly appeared, slowly, sedately pedalling along the Bois with slim-stockinged legs emerging from garments never before seen in public, two small dainty figures – the first lady cyclists. They caused a minor revelation looking neither left or right – but in every paper that day and in the English papers the next day the appearance of these wholly unfeminine specimens of the sex was commented upon by pens dipped in various venom and brimstone. The first English women cyclists of sober old Britain were long past the age when caustic criticism of small boys could pierce her delicate sensibilities and she was clad in a costume that was mirth-raising – the be-bloomered cyclist gradually became a familiar figure upon country roads. (19.5.1921)
ITEMS: The specifications have been drawn up by Mr I. Anderson, architect, Mildura, for the erection of a memorial clock tower for the Carnegie Library and approved after foundations were found to be in first-class order. The foundation stone of the new Catholic Church at Mildura was laid by Father Ryan watched by a large attendance, the Right Rev Dr Foley, Bishop of Ballarat, was unable to attend as he was in Europe, 100 pounds was received in donations. (17-19.5.1920)
MERBEIN: The Merbein Doradillo Association called a meeting of some 60 growers interested in the formation of a co-operative distillery company with the proposal of taking over as a going concern the whole of the property of the Mildara Winery Ltd and to carry on the distilling, producing of spirits and other grape, wine-making etc. The Victorian crown lands investigation committee visited Mildura to inspect Cowanna Bend, which was fenced by the Forestry Commission about two years ago – since then more than 400 tons of timber have been cut on one portion of a hundred acres and as a result a forest of young seedlings is now about 6ft high, all as straight and strong as a gun barrel. Dr Spargo wrote about the indiscriminate flooding of the roads in the Merbein Settlement saying in response to see a desperately ill child. He started off from Merbein South turning out of the Main Avenue at the usual place called Dunn’s Corner, the number of the place apparently being a secret – the central portion of the road ploughed up and impassable, so he turned at the next turn off Main Ave and it was also ploughed up and impassable. The whole road in front of the Merbein South School was also flooded, a perfect quagmire of at least 250 yards. He then made a wide detour via Yelta Road to pass the bog which had been like it for the last fortnight, he was told, and other than the usual ruts, dust and humps, wondering whether the so-called roads were really intended as highways or merely waterways for the disposal of surplus irrigation water. It is obviously high time the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission took some effective steps to not delay urgent calls for help. (18-20.5.1921)
75 years ago
WAR ITEMS: To lessen the grain consumption in Britain, the British Government has reduced the standard loaf of bread from 2lb to 1¾lb – two slices off the old loaf. An American Army major, whose wife developed leprosy while they were imprisoned together by the Japanese, has refused to leave her side and petitioned to be allowed to share her fate at the leper colony in Louisiana. At the outbreak of war she rejected a chance through her German brother to remain free – she elected to accompany her husband to the internment camp where she contracted leprosy. Since VE Day, Britain had sent 1,400,000 tons of foodstuffs to liberated Europe said Sir Ben Smith referring to the House of Commons appeal. The transport, Fred C. Ainworth has arrived from Fremantle with 425 war brides and children. The husbands were anti-aircraft gunners in Fremantle. The Red Cross officials said the ship made history because there was a husband waiting on the wharf for each wife. Victory medals, 1,250,000, of them are to be distributed to Australian school children before Victory Day, June 10.
(17.5.1946)
LOCAL: The RAAF theatre and lecture room at the Mildura Airport seats 400 to 500 and a large screen. Many country towns in Victoria cannot boast such a popular rendezvous place for personnel. It would make an ideal assembly hall if the proposed university college extensions were established here. The following servicemen will be welcomed home at a ball in Pooncarie: Messrs H. C. W. A. C. G. and A. Smith, G. S. J. P. and C. Williams, J. and K. Watson, J.W. and F. Sullivan, J.D. Cain, D. Crosier, E. Bath, C. T. D. and L. Page, J. Hill, L. G. C. J. H. and D. Garraway, K. and W. Edwards, C. Farrell, W. and F. Field, Delbridge, A. Lewin, L. and R. L. Lambert, J.R. Richardson, L. Wakefield, H. Kline, W. Woodroffe, D. and R. Stirrit, A. Barraclough, F. Henderson, R. Newberry, E. Crump, J. Pratt, G. Beaton and A. McDonald. (18.5.1946).
NEWS: The Community Centre Boy’s Club team is at present in Melbourne for a week before entering competitions in the Victorian junior boxing and wrestling championships. These competitions attracted 278 entries from all of Victoria – many were eliminated – all entries from Mildura will compete. Infantile paralysis continues to rage unabated and 20 fresh cases brings the total to 357 children since January. The Sydney Children’s Hospital is full and other hospitals are being asked to take paralysis patients – there is also a shortage of physio-therapists- a Sydney dental surgeon has also contracted polio. The fixed price for crayfish in Melbourne is 1s 8d per lb – outside the metropolitan area an extra 3d a pound was allowed to cover freight and packing charges – this makes the retail for lobster and crayfish in Mildura 1/11 per lb. (16-18.5.1946)
50 years ago
ITEMS: The Premier (Sir Henry Bolte) was unofficially told about the proposed Sunraysia Way during his visit as before making a formal approach to the proper authorities, the Sunraysia Way Committee wanted to have all its facts straight. Shown visiting the “Water into Gold”, Merbein Rotary Exhibition was Lyn and Christine Willock and June Sutton, who are part of St John’s Church of England Girls Friendly Society. Children are believed responsible for the release of cattle from the stockyards near the Urban Water Trust – a bull was loose for over two hours. There are 15,652 books in the adult section of Mildura’s Carnegie Library – 97 were cancelled because they were soiled and beyond repair. (18-19.5.1971)
NEWS: The display of a full replica set of Britain’s Crown Jewels worn by the Queen at rehearsals for her 1953 Coronation will be on show in Mildura. They will be housed in a 26ft caravan escorted by a limousine used in a tour of New Zealand – they are an exact replica of the originals in the Tower of London. The venue for the exhibition is the Caltex Service Station at the corner of Ninth Street and Langtree Avenue – the jewels will be kept overnight in a top security vault at a Mildura bank – no request for police help. People who have war souvenirs such as grenades are being asked to contact the nearest Army depot or police station. The souvenirs are collected by the Army on a “no questions asked” basis, potentially dangerous ammunition should not be dumped in paddocks or on vacant allotments in case they are found by children. (17/19.5.1971)
PLANE: The prototype Fairey Battle first flew on March 10, 1936, and was the forerunner of 2419 production models for the RAF, and were the first aircraft to be sent to France with the Advance Striking Force. On May 10, 1940, Fig Off Garland, in Battle P2204, was awarded the first RAF VC of World War II – many were shipped to Canada and Australia as training aircraft. In Australia the RAAF prefix A22 was allocated to the Battle, but the aircraft retained their RAF serial numbers – Battles operated mainly at BAGS units until 1945 – full details of technical data in Sunraysia Daily May 18. (18.5.1971)
25 years ago
MASON: Sunraysia senior Mason Bob Tollner, had the honour of turning the first sod, watched by other Masons, for the new Masonic temple at Irymple. The Freemasons began here in the 1880s, the Masonic Lodge was previously housed next to the Cinema Deakin but had to move because of lack of space. The $500,000 complex will be multi-functional and used by the 11 district lodge and community groups. (18.5.1996)
WENTWORTH: Wentworth Shire Council rallied behind Curlwaa Stockfeeds Pty Ltd calling on other councils to voice their outrage over the loss of its licence to fish for carp, crippling a growing industry within the shire and halting the eradication of carp, declaring it a noxious pest. Mr S. Sommers is the only commercial fisherman in New South Wales to be banned from Electro- fishing – the legality of electro-fishing was being questioned by the fisheries department after concerns were raised that it did not comply with the Cruelty to Animals Act. The Wentworth Shire Council’s fire-fighting capability was boosted with the official handing over of three custom-built fire trucks – each costing $112,000 – they will be based in Pomona, Gol Gol and Buronga. (16/18.5.1996)
BALL: The first Mildura Sash Final Ball will be held to commemorate the 50 years of service given to promotion and development of ballroom dancing by Bessie and Alec Perry. More than 50 couples as far afield as Bairnsdale, Warrnambool, Wangaratta, Victor Harbour and New South Wales will attend the two balls. The Perrys’ held old-time dances in Nichols Point and around the district for years. People who do not wish to dance can attend and observe the judging of the gowns at a cost of $4. (18.5.1996)
