Presented by Mildura & District Historical Society. Compiled by Judi Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Service.
100 years ago
HARRIS: The Harris’s have been in the district for 60 years. Mr Harris was born at Mildura Station in 1863 in the days when it was run by “new” Jamieson. His father James Harris and his uncle, another J. Harris, were bullock drivers for Jamieson. He recalled that in those days there was a police station at Cowanna Bend at which one constable, Sunderland, was in solitary charge. He says he was too young to remember much and when he was a fair-sized boy the family moved to Cowra Station, then owned by the Elliot Crozier family. His Dad carted wood from Para Station to Wentworth, then to Euston where the Murray River was crossed then to Melbourne – he remembers the dust rising in clouds from the Bullock team and blotting out the team. At Euston the bales of wood were stored in the dugout canoes of the numerous riverside blacks who took them over the river and the bullocks swum across the river, the bales were then taken to Swan Hill and as directly down country as possible to Melbourne.
NEWS: The first cab-stand in Mildura was not hard to visualise when the first motor car appeared in Deakin Avenue in the shade of gardens opposite the notice bearing the legend “For Hire”, there was something cityfied in the sign. The Kapok Ball, a new series of amusements is to be held in the Mildura Arcadia – arrangements are to have the large concrete floor polished even more glass-like than usual, dance sets are ready – some with highly original costumes, “old timers” are being included by special request and in the big summer-garden next to the theatre, drinks and ice-creams will be served. On the Monday, new year’s night, the Arcadia Ball will be plain and fancy dress, carloads of dancers are expected from Curlwaa, Wentworth and Ouyen and some of the shops already have in hand new designs of costumes from Melbourne. The new Hall at Risbey’s Chambers has greater accommodation than the old hall to hold winter dances.
MERBEIN: A need for a fire brigade for Merbein is urgent after the fire in Austral House which was more serious than it needed to be. The young men are available but as throughout Sunraysia organisation is needed. Two young Merbein lads, 14 and 17, took it into their heads to set out for their fortunes – they called up “Matilda” and set out to look for employment on Boxing Day. They walked as far as Wentworth then on to Tapio Station but being unsuccessful returned to Wentworth, found a job then on the fourth day of their outing and evidently tired of their exploit they headed for home again.
75 years ago
CHILDREN: The Merbein Christmas treat at Kenny Park on Christmas Eve was the most successful of its kind in 40 years. There was a procession from the ANA Hall to the park – it seemed that every second child in the district had donned a fancy dress for the occasion, eg. Barry Dowty as a Dutch Boy, Annette Dorman as a Purple Herald, Jenny and Ian Keens as Red Indians – some of the listed. There were races, prizes given by Santa, cool drinks and the Carols by Candlelight held under coloured lights with more than 1000 children attending who were almost speechless at the end. At the Meringur Consolidated School’s first speech night, held in the Meringur Hall with a Christmas tree hung with presents that were given to the younger pupils, certificates, examination prizes and sports trophies presented by Mr Piggott, headmaster. Championship sashes for the Millewa were handed to the outstanding runners Betty Hards and Harold Schilling.
DEPOT: A galvanised fruit and vegetable depot and 200 pounds worth of stock were destroyed in the 8th Street premises of Divola Bros – about 150 yards of hose was run outplaying water for over an hour – the stock was not insured, a minor blaze among the hessian bags had occurred three days ago.
WOMEN: During the War, Kew Gardens in England employed about 30 women gardeners – a unique course. Now it is likely that they will get an equal chance with men under the government scheme for assisting ex-service men and women to learn gardening in a botany class. The George Cross has been posthumously awarded to Madame Violette Szabor of the British Women’s Transport Service. She volunteered to undertake a dangerous mission in France, was parachuted in, in 1944. The Germans twice arrested her and she escaped, eventually the Gestapo surrounded her and other members in a house in the South of France and seizing a Sten gun with as much ammunition as she could carry she barricaded herself in a part of the house exchanging shot for shot, killing and wounding several Gestapo – she was later executed.
50 years ago
MEANING: It is so easy to forget the meaning of Christmas, rushing from store to store like thousands of others looking for last minute gifts to buy when suddenly she realised the three-year-old was no longer clinging to her basket. Half a hysterical block back she found him standing with his face pressed against the plate-glass shop window peering at a manger scene. On hearing his mother’s impatient call, he turned and gleefully said “Look Mummy, it’s Jesus, see baby Jesus in the hay”. Mummy pulled his hand and said: “We don’t have time for that.” Love was born at Christmas but has that truly been appropriated? We make time for those we love, don’t we?
RIVER: In Victoria since summer began 28 days ago, 17 people have drowned – six more than the same period last year. Miss Anne Welsh, horse-riding at Johnston’s Bend, Mildura, saved a young man from drowning in the Murray River – she pulled him from the river while a friend rode her horse for help. A woman in a skiing party gave mouth-to-mouth resuscitation – he revived and was taken to hospital. Ambulance bearers said Miss Welsh’s quick action when she saw waves breaking over him saved his life.
ITEMS: Caravans to the left and caravans to the right – tomorrow 250 caravans from caravan clubs throughout Australia arrive here for their first national caravan rally. John and Madge Tuke have travelled 6000 miles – even chasing wild-flowers all the way from Exmouth. New evidence has reported that garlic, the delight of some gourmets may provide a killer diet for mosquitos, houseflys and certain other major insects of the world while free of the hazards of DDT. Researchers in India have isolated and duplicated synthetically the active chemical in garlic oil which they say is responsible for the oil’s power for killing the larvae of certain mosquitos and agricultural insects.
25 years ago
WEIGHT: The “silly season” will soon be over leaving many of us feeling like we’ve done nothing but eat. Surprisingly little is known about weight maintainers – permanent weight-loss is not something you start then stop and successful losers universally keep on watching what they eat and exercise regularly. Sadly, most people put back on what they have lost within two years, some end up fatter and others yo-yo up and down admitting to eating fast food less than once a week. Average daily kl for women is 5443 and men 7240. Exercise for women burned up 11,179kl a week and men 14,613kl.
BACKPACKING: Quicker than they can say “internal frame pack” backpackers learn that every packet of lollies, every flashlight, every small tube of toothpaste matters when they’re carrying them on their backs. Add to these the creature comforts such necessary items as a tent, sleeping bag and pad, food, stove, fuel and you have weight – lots of it and you may have to carry it up a mountainside. Figure on carrying between a third and a fourth of your body weight, pack your tent, usually the heaviest item in your pack, followed by minimal clothes, food and cooking stove and fuel, then the smaller ones, eg. first-aid, sunglasses and sunscreen, water filter or purification tablets etc – your sleeping bag can be lashed on the bottom of the main compartment and your clothes on the bottom of the pack.
TIMES: Rocker Billy Thorpe performed at Mildura’s StarBar Nightclub, the last concert before his overseas tour. While bright-eyed children were up early tearing wrapping paper off their presents, garbage collectors were jumping on and off their trucks wishing passers-by a “merry Christmas”. While people settle in for normal Boxing Day activities like watching sport on television, playing backyard cricket or going to the horse races – spare a thought for those who have to work through the festive season. There was also a thought paid to people who are not here to celebrate Christmas, with fresh flowers placed by loved ones on many gravestones at district cemeteries.
