Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society
Compiled by Ann Ziguras for the Mildura Rural City Council Library Service
SLOGAN: Don’t Apologise! Stand on your rights as a man. Do not get off the earth, merely because some assertive and bumptious person seeks to crown you. Hold your own in debate, in the market-place, and wherever men meet. Do not adopt a deprecatory air to your follows. “God hath made man upright.” Straighten your back and look every man in the eye – even your creditors. Fawners, like boot-licking poodles, deserve to be kicked – and they usually are. You have a right to your place in the sun. Stand firm. Be a man, and men will respect you as one.
100 YEARS AGO
LOCAL NEWS: Tomorrow Empire Day will be observed at the Ouyen State School in the morning by a programme of patriotic songs and addresses.
The second meeting of the Boy Scouts was held at the Mildura State School on Saturday. There was a large attendance, and fourteen new members were enrolled. Mr Hales, district secretary for the boys, was present and assisted the Scoutmaster in the organisation of the new troop, which now consists of five patrols, having seven boys in each patrol, and a patrol leader. The state school ground has been lent to the patrol by the school committee. New members wishing to join will be enrolled on going to the state school grounds on Saturday afternoon.
The well known Sydney publican, Wally Weeks, has built a church at Ben Buckler to show that “because a man sells beer it does not prove that he is a menace to society.” He says “The hotel business has been much maligned, but I hold that a man can be a sincere, practical Christian, even if he is a publican.” The church was officially opened by Archdeacon D’Arcy Irvine yesterday afternoon.
The first motor tractor to be purchased in the Ouyen district arrived at the Ouyen railway station on Thursday. The machine is a 20hp Titan, manufactured by the Intemational Harvester Company, and Mr S. Trigg, of Coorongie, is the purchaser. He intends to use it for general farm work. Mr J.J. O’Loughlin and Mr B.S. Darcy, both of Ouyen, are the agent and travelling representative respectively.
Mildura is to have an up-to-date stadium at the Arcadia Rink, Langtree Avenue, where athletic displays and contests will be conducted under strict supervision. It is the intention of the management to conduct a series of high-class boxing exhibitions during the winter, the contestants being carefully selected and properly matched. A 24ft elevated ring, the same as that used in all of ‘Snowy’ Baker’s stadiums, will be erected so that a clear view may be obtained from any part of Arcadia. The first contests will be held Tuesday night in June when Berry, the local lightweight champion, will meet Leo Monro, the amateur.
The directors of the Mildura Grand Hotel received a request from Mr Geo. Christian on Monday evening for a donation to the fund for the purchase of a piano for the Red Cliffs Development Association. The directors were entirely sympathetic, and agreed, provided that they received an assurance that the piano would remain the property of the Red Cliffs boys, to donate five guineas to the fund. They also decided to open a subscription list at the hotel, to give visitors an opportunity of assisting the movement.
75 YEARS AGO
NEWSPAPER GROUP: Once every year executives of the Elliott Provincial Newspaper Group meet in conference to discuss problems and exchange ideas for improvements of newspapers in their charge. This year’s conference, which was held at Maryborough at the week-end, was opened by the Mayor of Maryborough (Cr F.E. Outen), and addresses were given by the Minister for Transport and Decentralisation (Mr Stoneham) and the Chairman of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (Mr. L.R. East). The conference occupied two and a half days, during which every angle of newspaper production was keenly discussed.
ARMY AWARDS: Between September, 1939, and May 13 last, members of the Australian Military Forces won 7501 honours and awards, the Minister for the Army (Mr Forde) said today. These included 17 awards of the Victoria Cross, two of which went to officers and 15 to other ranks. Other awards included 150 of the Distinguished Service Order, of which 77 were won in the Middle East and 72 in SWPA or Malaya. Sixteen of these were bars to the DSO.
MANUS ISLAND: The Commonwealth Government has restored civil administration in Manus Island, which has been under military control. Manus Island was picked out by America as an essential strategic base to its defence in the Pacific and is reported to have addressed demands through London for its surrender to US. It is a heavily fortified naval base. The Prime Minister (Mr Chifley) discussed the demands when overseas. America has been informed that any request for the surrender of Manus Island would have to be dealt with by the British Empire. It was also conveyed to America that other Pacific Powers might like a voice in the future control of strategic Pacific Islands. The Minister for External Territories (Mr Ward) announced tonight that the restoration of civil administration to the district would have to be dealt with by the British Empire. It was also conveyed to America that other Pacific powers might like a voice in the future control of strategic Pacific Islands. The Minister for External Territories (Mr Ward) announced tonight the restoration of civil administration to the district of Manus on May 15, 1946, and the district of Kieta, in the Solomons on May 21. The general opinion is that this action by Mr Ward consolidated Australia’s position in retaining sovereign rights over Manus.
COUPON GUIDE: Tea: 41 to 52 (expire June 2). Butter: 37 to 39 (expire on June 2). Meat: Black coupons (adults) 65 to 91: red and green coupons (children) 97 to 103 (expire June 2). Clothing: Y1 to 58 and Z57 to 112. (Expire December 31). Petrol: May ration issue available now.
50 YEARS AGO
EMPIRE DAY: Chief observance is customarily given in schools in Mildura but owing to the fact that the day coincided with the May vacation this year little recognition was given here yesterday. However some schools had Empire Day observances before breaking up for the holidays.
‘CHIPS’ RAFFERTY: Australia’s internationally known movie star died suddenly in an Elizabeth Bay, Sydney, street on Thursday night. The switchboard at Actors’ Equity headquarters was jammed with calls from all over Australia when news of his death was announced yesterday. One of his most famous roles was as a “Digger” in the film Forty Thousand Horsemen. Another Rafferty “great” was Mutiny on the Bounty.
“BIG BAND”: Mildura has something on Adelaide – a big band of the Glenn Miller style. Mildura has the Jazz All Stars and now a move is being made in Adelaide to try to form a similar band there. An English migrant, in Australia 15 months, has advertised for musicians to join him in a band to produce the Miller sound in Adelaide. So far he has obtained only three musicians of the required 17. Mildura Jazz All Stars have been playing as a big combination for about five years. They have delighted thousands of people with their music. The bank’s three night seasons twice a year have had capacity houses. The All Stars have been invited to play in Adelaide, Broken Hill and Swan Hill in all-expenses-paid offers.
RHUBARB FEAST: Rhubarb is a perennial plant and needs a special garden bed where it can remain for many years. As with other crops, the success of the rhubarb depends largely on the initial preparation of the soil before planting. The ground must be richly manured and well drained. A raised bed will overcome any drainage problems on heavy soils. Large quantities of organic mixture should be worked into the lower layers of the soil. This can be done by removing the top 10 to 12 inches of soil and working the top soil can then be replaced and enriched with a dressing of 2oz to 3oz of blood and bone per square yard, horse or cow manure into the lower layers. The top soil can be replaced and enriched with a dressing of 20z to 3oz of blood and bone per square yard. New rhubarb plants can be planted out from mid May to late July.
25 YEARS AGO
MALLEE MOVIE: Scenes from the Mallee will be viewed by a world-wide audience following the international success of Love Serenade. Love Serenade, filmed in Robinvale and Red Cliffs, was awarded the coveted Camera d’Or, for best first time director. Director Shirley Barrett beat Al Pacino and Anjelica Huston to win the award during a special ceremony held to mark the end of the Cannes Film Festival in France. More than 100 extras from Robinvale and Red Cliffs took part in the filming and, according to Quixote Casting Mildura manager Shirley Cameron, the tourism spin-offs could be enormous. Mrs Cameron said film-goers were traditionally curious about the location of the scenes in a film. She said the Murray River, vineyards and other rural scenes appearing in Love Serenade would attract more tourists to the north west region. Love Serenade is about the antics of two sisters who try and woo a handsome radio announcer who moves in next door.
BRIAN CASWELL: Brian was five years old when he wrote his first story. “It was something my brother had already written that I really liked so I wrote it again.” Many years, ink, writer’s block and aspirations later, the commended author from Sydney has gained his own sources of inspiration, becoming a name synonymous with children’s literature in the process. Mr Caswell, who is probably best known for his first novel, Merryll of the Stones, and subsequent works such as A Cage of Butterflies and Mike, is touring local NSW schools this week under a Federal Government funded Country Area Program (CAP) writing workshop and has visited Buronga Primary School. His visit has given country students the opportunity to broaden their creative writing skills. “Basically it’s a fun thing. But I’m also here to answer any questions the kids might have and generate an interest in writing,” Mr Caswell said.
MARCH FOR PEACE: More Than 1000 Christians joined together on Saturday at the Ornamental Lakes for the annual March for Peace. Seventh Day Adventist Church pastor Ross Chadwick said the march celebrated the traditional day of Pentecost – when the Christian church started. Pastor Chadwick said the march was established to show the strength of the Christian church. “Even though we have our theological differences this march demonstrates the common ground between all Christians.” Pastor Chadwick said it was pleasing to see so many families and young people taking part in the gathering which made its way along Deakin Avenue, down Tenth Street and back to the Ornamental Lakes.
