Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society.
Compiled by Ann Ziguras for the Mildura Rural City Council Library Service.
100 years ago
EVENTS: Remains of 406 unidentified Australians are at Flembaix. The official blind concert-party now touring the Mallee under the direction of the Association for the Advancement of the Mind, will perform tonight at Wentworth. To celebrate French Week, 95 couples, to the accompaniment of Mr H. Higginbotham’s jazz band, enjoyed a long night at the Mildura Town Hall (Palais de Danse). In connection with Mrs. W. B. Chaffey’s appeal for contributions toward the Victorian effort to assist in the restorations of Villers Bretonneux, Mrs W.I. Newman and Mrs C.W. Roberts of Irymple have arranged a dance, to be held in the Irymple hall on September 8. No invitations are being issued, but 159 tickets may be purchased from either of the promoters or from Miss Geer, care of Dove and Anderson. There was a large gathering on Tuesday night at the Underbool Hall at the Methodists’ social and dance in aid of the church funds. The Catholic community of Underbool held their annual concert and ball in aid of the church building fund on Wednesday night. Mr. Jack Russell, manager of the Red Cliffs Amusement Company, will shortly go on a visit to Melbourne to arrange for a supply of films. Forty-two town lots at Red Cliffs sold at high prices. Mildura High School’s annual concert promises to be better than any previous entertainment given by the staff and students. Deakin Avenue lawn reserve has been protected by a large rock border. An interesting baby show competition is to take place November 19 in Mildura. Telegraph messages are now able to be transmitted directly from Renmark to Mildura, via Wentworth. The Ellen arrived at Mildura from Swan Hill at 5 o’clock last evening and departed the next day at 11 o’clock for Morgan. About 15,000 people attended a welcome to Dr Mannix in the Exhibition Building last night. The first unit of the Australian seaplane fleet, the Mary, was launched today from the works of the Fairey Aviation Company at Southampton. An 18-foot candle that can be burned every All Souls’ Day for the next 5000 years is being made as a memorial to the late singer, Caruso.
SPORT: The fifth Test match began in London with England batting first and losing four wickets for 129 runs. The Australians concluded the Davis Cup series with Denmark on Sunday with their fifth consecutive victory. Anderson defeated Tegner 6-2, 6-0. Curlwaa and Merbein Rovers met on the Curlwaa Oval on Saturday afternoon in ideal weather and the spectators were treated to a splendid match. A football match between North Red Cliffs and Carwarp was also played at Carwarp on Saturday. North Cliffs were at the top of the ladder. One of the semi-finals of the Nyah Association was played on Saturday resulting in a win for Piangle over Nyah by one goal, two points. The annual meeting of the Ouyen Tennis Club was held on Tuesday. The members of the Presbyterian community of Merbein are making good progress with the preparation of their two new courts. Curlwaa Cricket Club held its general meeting at the state school with a good attendance. Two women footballers, Miss Telt and Miss McCann, were injured while training at the sports ground. Miss McCann was hurt to such an extent that she had to be taken to hospital, but afterwards she was allowed to go home.
HORTICULTURE: At the Renmark branch of the Agricultural Bureau meeting, a paper on tree surgery was read by Mr R. Ritchie which broke new ground and opened up possibilities hitherto almost undreamed of among Australian growers. Mildura rose growers will have the opportunity next Saturday of hearing an address on the practice of rose culture from Mr. J. Molloy, an ex-president of the National Rose Society of Victoria. He is on a visit to Mildura and is presenting a paper.
ANIMALS: Dog fanciers today asked the Acting Minister for Trade and Customs to remove the prohibition against the importation of dogs owing to hydrophobia. A fox terrier was locked in a church at Wallerawang from Sunday to Sunday. During the whole time it was without food or water. The stations along the southern bank of the Murray between Merbein and the border are not yet shearing their sheep, except for Ned’s Corner.
75 years ago
HOTELS: With Mildura’s second largest industry caught in a stranglehold through inability to accommodate the thousands of tourists who clamour in vain to come here, the Ansett subsidiary company’s project to build luxury hotels along the routes it serves, calls for Mildura’s immediate attention. Not one but several additional hotels are needed in Mildura if the city’s future is not gravely jeopardised.
BICYCLES: The urgent need for many more bicycle racks in the city area was illustrated yesterday afternoon when between 50 and 60 machines were left either standing against the kerb in Langtree Avenue or on the footpath adjacent to the Astor Theatre. The line of machines, in places four deep, stretched from the lane running down the side of the theatre to the Langtree snack bar.
SOLDIERS: Convened by the Red Cliffs sub-branch of the Soldiers Fathers’ Association, a meeting of about 90 former servicemen, held there last week decided to form an organisation to be known as The Prospective Land Settlement Association. Speakers sharply criticised the restricted program of land development for the settlement of returned soldiers.
50 years ago
YOUTH: Setting up a Mildura Youth Council would be a practical step in overcoming entertainment problems for young people here, a public meeting in Mildura was told last night. Discussions on local entertainment have taken place since the recent closure of the Ozone Theatre.
SHOOTERS: Sunraysia sub-branch of the Victorian field and game association has welcomed the State Government’s new laws on licensing of all shooters. Vice-president of the branch Ron Whitworth said Victorian shooters had often requested such a law in this state.
25 years ago
RUNWAY: The first official landing on the upgraded runway at Mildura Airport was made yesterday in a Southern Australia Dash 8 aircraft. Joining Mildura Rural City Council commissioners and officers on the flight were members of the former Sunraysia Development Corporation transport committee and the media. Larger passenger and freight aircraft will now be able to take-off and land from the runway – extended by 351m and incorporating a 60m long stopway and 90m long runway end safety area.
VIETNAM VETERANS’ DAY: Sunraysia’s Vietnam veterans yesterday gathered to honour comrades who died in the Vietnam War. It was a somber day for district veterans who held two memorial services to mark Vietnam Veterans’ Day and the 30th anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan. In Mildura, about 60 veterans congregated at the first memorial service at the Memorial Wall in Seventh Street, paying tribute to the 18 Australians who died in the battle. A dawn service was held at Henderson Park before a march along Deakin Avenue to the Seventh Street Memorial Wall at 11am.
HOSTEL: A promised Commonwealth grant of $1.5 million has paved the way for a 30-bed hostel for the elderly on land purchased in Karadoc Avenue, Irymple. Plans for the aged care hostel, as proposed by Sunraysia based Oasis Aged Care, have been completed and it is anticipated work will begin on the first stage of the project in the new year. Hostel accommodation will consist of a bed-sitting room and an en-suite. The main wing will provide larger communal living and dining areas.
