100 YEARS AGO
RED CLIFFS: The development of the Red Cliffs Settlement and its transformation from scrubland to a wine growing centre has taken place in so short a space of time that it is only with an effort that the older settlers realise that three years ago, Red Cliffs as we know it did not exist. My first impressions of the place were not encouraging – it was mid-summer two years ago; work was slack but I did manage to get a place in a clearing gang working hard getting 25/- a day and so saved enough to convince the chairman of the next land board that I had those qualities of thrift and perseverance that were essential qualifications for prospective block-holders. I met many old army acquaintances – Captains and Lieutenants worked in the gangs with their erstwhile subordinates. One “water-joey” had been a Major in the AIF, his ganger had a distinguished AWL record.
MISHAP: At about 9.30am, a telegram was sent to the manager of the Murray Shipping Co Ltd from Cape McLean, stating that the “Ellen sunk at Happy Valley near Euston – all passengers landed”. The boat reached Happy Landing, near Cooleena Bend, about midnight and there may have been some exciting incidents connected with the safe landing of those on board at such an awkward time and the most likely attempt to beach the boat on a sandbar would be difficult to find as the Murray was in flood. The Ellen, which sunk, had been running on the Murray River for 30 to 40-plus years and used to be one of the Chaffey Brothers fleet.
MERBEIN: The Governor General, Lord and Lady Foster, visited the Soldier Settlement at Merbein West, inspecting the block of Mr W Forsyth and were impressed with the young couple’s hard work and the enterprise displayed by them, making good in trying conditions. They later saw allocated blocks in bearing and non-bearing stages and were really struck with the progress made. On the return to Mildura via 17th Street, the vice-regal party noted points of beauty, Lake Hawthorn with the game-sanctuary and the Lake School with its fine flower garden. The next day, the Governor-General performed the ceremony of unveiling the Soldiers’ monument between 10th and 11th Streets in Deakin Avenue. There was an enormous attendance of people from all over the settlement. A special order of service, hymns played by the Mildura Brass Band and a strong muster of returned soldiers representing the Merbein and Mildura branches of the RSSILA and Girl Guides under Miss McWilliams.
75 YEARS AGO
PEOPLE: Karween and District Farewell and Welcome Home Committee held a social evening in Meringur Hall when an Honour Roll dedicated to the local men and women who enlisted in the forces during World War II was unveiled.
WOOD CUTTERS: Fifteen immigrants, political refugees from communist dominated States of Eastern Europe, Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia arrived in Mildura to camp 35 miles upstream in NSW, where they will cut wood for the First Mildura Irrigation Trust pumping stations.
NEWS: The Research Station, at Merbein, is an ultimate development of the work started at the Mildura High School in its early years as an Agricultural High School, with land attached for student instruction.
FUNDRAISER: A successful children’s frolic was held in Crosbie’s Hall to augment the funds being raised by Merbein’s Princess entrant (Miss Betty Walder). In the Red Cross drive, Prize winners were Clive Bennett, Chester Parker, Harold Cattermole, Bill Deckert, Miriam Pettigrew, John Dwyer, Valda Sylvia, John Storer.
AG SOCIETY: April last year, Mr Lem Moebus suggested to the Mildura RSL, in conjunction with other sub-branches under No24 District Board, sponsor the formation of an Agricultural Society in this district.
REPAIRS: The funnel of the PS Gem is being repaired after the top was torn off by a low-hanging electric cable, opposite the Coomealla Pumping Station.
FRUIT: The late E J Roberts, one of the real pioneers of Sunraysia and the Irymple Packing Pty Ltd, wrote in his memoirs: “A man can achieve most things if he is determined to succeed”. Succeed he did and when he died on January 26 this year, aged 90, he left behind a historical trail that led from the dry earth of the Murray banks 60 years ago to the prosperity that is Sunraysia today. Virtually from the smouldering ashes of one of the most disastrous fires in Sunraysia – the Cowra Packing House fire at Irymple – was founded the Aurora Packing Company Pty Ltd in October 1923.
CITRUS: Citrus growing in Mildura began in the early days of the irrigation settlement by the Chaffey Bros. Plantings have continued to have a place and now assume considerable proportions, between 3000 and 4000 acres devoted to several varieties.
STRIKE: It is understood that one Mildura bakery will make bread today for its regular customers and another will supply 50 or 60 loaves for district hospitals. The Sunraysia group of the Operative Bakers’ Union endorsed altering starting times from 4am to 5.30am but bread will not be baked again till the strike is over.
50 YEARS AGO
WATER: The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission workers have blocked off the Lake Hawthorn outlet to the Murray River when the flood water was about a foot from the top of the roadway and built a Levee bank on the “Mad Mile”, as it’s known.
SANDBAGS: Residents at Boeil Creek seemed to have overcome another flood – a resident Mr A Snodgrass spent time tying up the hundreds of sandbags. Acres of beans have been swamped by the flood water on the Marrows properties.
LEVEE BREACH: Riverside Golf Course became the latest victim of the swollen Murray River after a break in the levee bank at 7am. Water is 30 yards from the clubrooms.
GUNS: Response in Mildura to a state-wide amnesty on illegal firearms has been slow. So far, only two old rifles have been handed in. The Amnesty lasts till December 21, so if there are any rifles, shotguns, pistols or ammunition that should be handed in do so before action is taken – that old gun under the house can be melted down to make railway brake blocks.
THREAT: Market gardeners and “blockies” on the NSW side of the Murray River claim that the heavy wash from the paddle steamer Melbourne was threatening their crops. They say they stand to lose thousands of dollars if the constant wash from the passing boat erodes or breaks a levee bank, which has so far cost them over $2000 to build.
25 YEARS AGO
ITEMS: The Red Cliffs Musical Society this year celebrates its 60th anniversary after being formed in 1938 by Geoff Beacham, who directed it for 20 years, then Fred Uchtman for 5 years, then Lionel Young for 25 years. Former soldiers of the Citizens Military Forces and the Army Reserve at Mildura will have a reunion here at the end of the month with their families. The Cardy Burger usually weighs about 950 grams is the brainchild of Cardross General store owner Mr Arthur Deakin – probably the largest in the State. A person would walk around the world three times in the average lifetime, but the foot is still the most neglected parts of the human body said the Sunraysia Community Health Services podiatrist – Tracey Meyer.
OUTDOORS – A grower with innovation and inventiveness are qualities the horticultural industry will associate with Mr Geoffrey Voullaire, a prominent citrus grower from Monak who died this week. He and his pioneering family have links with Red Cliffs, Merbein and Monak and are known for a number of innovative developments in horticulture.
FOOTBALL: Fans of the 1999 Sunraysia Football League Grand Final are likely to be asked to leave their cars outside the City Oval unless they are prepared to allow them to be searched for alcohol being taken into the game.
SNAKES: With the onset of warmer weather, DNRE Fisheries and Wildlife Officers ask Sunraysia residents to make properties snake-proof as each year 2000 people are bitten by snakes.
ON SHOW: The 1998 Mildura Show attracted a near-record crowd despite the terrible weather on Saturday with a second storm front expected when the fireworks were scheduled so they were set off earlier. The take at the gate was $112,000. The Laurie Family has for 90 years operated the 100-year-old Merry-go Round – the only travelling steam driven one in the world – built in Germany in 1898 and brought to Australia by a tightrope walker for entertainment during his theatre show intervals, then acquired By Mr F Laurie Snr in 1903. Now it’s Mr Max Laurie’s, who comes from Dubbo. It’s on show at about 30 Shows in 12 months, as are his Dodgem Cars. Another Show attraction is Mr E Jennings’ 1958 50cc Vespa Scooter – of which only one batch of them were sent to Australia.
