11 – 17 February 2024
Presented by Mildura & District Historical Society
Compiled by Mildura Rural City Council Libraries
100 YEARS AGO
SWIMMING CLUB: Only recently, a ladies’ swimming club was formed in Mildura, under the capable head of Mrs Rawlings of Nichols Point, who has done a great deal of excellent work in this connection. The club has arranged for a swimming carnival to be held next Wednesday afternoon in the baths, and a very interesting program is promised. In addition to a large number of events for the ladies, including the club championship, the winner of which will receive a shield presented by the club, there are to be several events for men, including men’s diving. The varied program also includes a number of novelties, which, in conjunction with the remainder of the programme, should prove of much interest to the public, who should attend this carnival, as it is the first that has been mooted by the new club.
RED CLIFFS MAP: It has been stated by those that have occasion to visit the different parts of the Red Cliffs settlement that it is at times a matter of great difficulty to find the position of a particular block. Sunraysia Daily is preparing for publication a 120-page booklet containing complete and corrected lists of block holders in alphabetical order and blocks in numerical order giving full particulars as to the holder of each block, and the position of the block on the plan of the Red Cliffs estate. Four plans, each representing one quarter of the settlement and showing Red Cliffs township in one corner, will be found in the book, which will be placed on sale at all newsagents and booksellers at a price of 1/6. It is pointed out, however, that settlers themselves could assist in making easier identification of their blocks by painting or stencilling the block numbers on their gate-post. In some parts of the settlement, gate-posts do bear the number of the blocks, and it is contended that if this practice were generally adopted the outcome would be to the advantage of the settler as well as to that of his visitors.
WATER POLO: At a committee meeting of the Mildura Swimming Club held recently, the Secretary, Mr L H Webber, was instructed to purchase a water polo ball. This has now arrived and is in the charge of the caretaker of the baths, who has instructions to issue the ball to any members of the swimming club for practice purposes. It is the intention of the swimming club to organise water polo teams as soon as possible. When the teams are formed, club matches will be played.
75 YEARS AGO
BEAUTY CONTEST: Seventeen towns have agreed to send representatives to participate in the “Queen of the Murray” contest to be held during Easter weekend. Mr R Tuohy, manager in Mildura for Ozone Theatres, said by the end of the month this should be increased to 20 contestants. The girl who becomes Queen of the Murray will receive 100 pounds prize money, a fortnight’s holiday in Sydney, and a screen test conducted by Fox Films, which if successful might mean a trip to Hollywood. While in Mildura, all Queen contestants will be guests of Ozone Theatres, with all expenses paid for a five day period. A tour of Sunraysia district will be conducted. STEAMER SOLD: The 71-year-old river steamer Avoca made her usual Sunday night cruise yesterday under new ownership, for the first time in 20 years. During last week, Captain Dan Treacy sold the Avoca to Collins Brothers of Mildura and is now making preparations to leave with Mrs Treacy on what he describes as “a well-earned holiday”. As use of steamers to carry river cargo began to decline about 1929, Captain Treacy decided to try a new idea. In 1932, the Avoca made its first trip along the Murray as a showboat. “It was difficult educating the people to be river-minded,” Captain Treacy relates. “But after the idea caught on, show boating became quite popular.” When the dance floor was built on the Avoca deck in 1939 “we had no need to look back”. The new owners of the ship are well-known rivermen and are well acquainted with the Avoca. Captain W Collins was engineer for six years before buying the Avoca last week. His brother Captain N Collins who shares ownership of the boat with him, is now engineer.
NEW FORD: The 1949 Ford, now being displayed in Mildura, is a completely redesigned car, and merits inspection by every motorist in Sunraysia. More than 500 people inspected the new Ford at Mildura yesterday. The car is being displayed at Washington Motors, Langtree Avenue, for about 10 days. Scores of children apparently could not get away from school quickly enough to look the new model over, as the majority still carried books and satchels. General Manager of Washington Motors (Mr R N Tonkin) said the car would remain in the showrooms until country people had time to inspect it. Then it would be taken on the road.
50 YEARS AGO
OFF THE AIR: Radio 3MA went off the air for around 35 minutes at 4.30pm yesterday when its main connection with the transmitter at Lake Ranfurly was cut. It is believed the cut was caused by a piece of Mildura City Council earthmoving equipment carrying out roadworks on 13th Street West. Station manager Mr Roy Harwood said 3MA was able to broadcast tape recorded music for about 35 minutes before the connection was restored.
BEER BAN: Negotiations were held in Melbourne yesterday in an attempt to end the ban on the loading of beer for Mildura’s Grand Hotel. The hotel manager, Mr John Petrie, is believed to have attended the talks with leading officers of Victorian Branch of the Federated liquor and Allied Industries Employees Union. The decision to ban beer loading for the Grand was made at a mass meeting of brewery workers in Melbourne on Friday. The meeting resolved to maintain the ban until agreement as reached between the hotel and the union, guaranteeing 100 per cent unionism at the hotel. This means more than 90 full-time and casual employees at the hotel could be forced to join the union. Only two men and seven women belong to the union – union membership was compulsory for the females. The subscription is $16 a year, with a $1 entry fee, or $12 for women not on equal pay.
Tor Downs Station homestead, 80 miles north of Wentworth, was threatened by rising floodwaters in the Darling. Now the threat has gone – because so has the homestead. On Saturday night, the whole building was destroyed by fire. Yesterday morning, all that was left standing of the 50-year-old building were charred mud walls. The fire is believed to have broken out in the kitchen. It was discovered by Mr Reg Doolan, of Broken Hill. He was sleeping on the homestead verandah when the fire broke out about 2am. Peter Crozier, who runs the station was in Adelaide. Mr Doolan was minding the homestead for the family. Mr Crozier’s mother, Mrs Lindsey Crozier, of Cuthero Station, said last night that all possessions were destroyed in the blaze.
25 YEARS AGO
PRIVACY BREACH: Former Mildura Base Hospital patients were horrified to learn yesterday that their confidential pathology records had ended up as drawing paper for primary school students. Hospital chief executive Sid Duckett was similarly appalled and had promised a thorough investigation. He said the situation was viewed as an extremely series breach of hospital policy and would be very closely examined. Records including patients’ names, addresses, dates of birth and details of pathology requests somehow ended up at Ranfurly Primary School and were inadvertently handed out by staff. Principal Peter Kearney said yesterday he had been very disappointed by the situation but did not feel the school was to blame.
RETIREMENT VILLAGE: Local residents still have the opportunity to invest in a world class $6.8 million retirement village to be built in Mildura. Developers of the proposed “Vines Retirement Village”, Sunraysia Syndicate Management, yesterday confirmed they would compete the purchase of property at San Mateo Avenue within the next few weeks. Situated on a sprawling 6,445-hectare property, The Vines will include 119 independent well-appointed living units with two or three bedrooms. The complex will also include community facilities and community areas, barbecues, and for the sporting enthusiasts, golf chipping and putting areas.
Interest in being sought in establishing a “Friends of King’s Billabong Wildlife Reserve” group. Parks Victoria is helping facilitate the establishment of the group by seeking expressions of interest. King’s Billabong Wildlife Reserve is a 2140-hectare reserve nestled between Nichols Point and Red Cliffs. Surrounding areas are heavily populated and many people use the reserve for recreational activities such as fishing, skiing, camping, bushwalking, horse riding and bird watching. Members of King’s Billabong Wildlife Reserve friends group could expect to meet regularly with Parks Victoria rangers to discuss and plan projects of benefit to the reserve and its users.
