PEEPS INTO THE PAST
100 YEARS AGO
PROSPERITY: A striking illustration of progress being made by the Carwarp district, and of the extent to which the city manufacture of goods is dependent on the prosperity of the man on the land, was seen at the Carwarp Station toward the end of last week. One train from the metropolis brought farming machinery to the value of 700 pounds. That was one day’s arrival at one small Mallee station. There are scores of similar stations along the northern Mallee lines, and similar settled districts buying farming plants at the sowing and harvesting seasons.
HORSE HOON: Complaints have been made on more than one occasion of drivers of motorcars and horse-drawn vehicles crossing the footpaths in Commercial Street, Merbein, to the detriment of the cement curbing and channelling recently laid down by the Mildura shire council. Yesterday morning, an employee of a horticulturist drove his two-horse lorry, laden with sweatboxes, over the footpath and curbing in the vicinity of Mr. J. J. Rogers’s store. Apparently, the only motive actuating the driver was the saving of the time incidental to turning his team and going around by means of the right-of-way. Remonstrated with, the youthful driver denied having crossed the footpath, although the marks of his lorry wheels were in plain evidence, and a number of spectators witnessed the act. Mr. Jas. Potter, the summoning officer of the Mildura shire council, intercepted the offender, and it is understood that action will be taken with a view to putting a stop to such a destructive and reprehensible practice.
LEMON BAN: The secretary of the Vineyards Protection Board, Mr Alfred E Lloyd, stated yesterday that lemons are not allowed to be exposed for sale in the Mildura district, nor are they allowed to be purchased. The notice that the embargo on lemons for export has been lifted does not affect the position in Mildura.
75 YEARS AGO
HOUSING SHORTAGE: In Mildura, there is a shortage of 200 dwellings “at the very least” said the City Medical Officer of Health (Dr. W. Aitken) in his annual report. He said that 1948 had seen an improvement in the housing position, but the situation was still desperately acute. “As last year’s report stated, a serious problem still exists, with the present state of affairs of over-crowding, sharing houses and living in sub-standard houses and shacks,” said Mr Aitken. Such conditions undoubtedly were undermining the health of people who had to endure them. The population of Mildura was estimated at about 9500, with an itinerant population of 1500.
GALLERY PLEA: The Assistant Director of the National Gallery (Mr Robert Haines) last night advised Mildura to get to work and build an art gallery to take advantage of Mr R D Elliott’s offer to the city of his valuable collection. Mr Elliott’s collection, which was offered in 1944 on the condition that Mildura built a gallery, was worth at least 100,000 pounds and possibly twice as much. It comprised about 100 Brangwyns, 40 Orpens, and paintings by other English artists, including Augustus John, as well as an Epstein bronze. There was also a nucleus of earlier Australian work, including a Streeton and a Conder. Councillor Jenkins said Mr Elliott’s offer was too valuable to be missed, and he hoped the way would be clear soon for the gallery to be built. The gallery would cost a lot of money and it would be a tax on this community, but if people showed they wanted a gallery it would strengthen the hand of the council.
RACING CLUB: First steps for a formation of a racing club at Wenworth will be discussed at a meeting tonight in Wentworth Town Hall. Purpose of tonight’s meeting is not to form the actual club, but to elect a committee which will approach Wentworth Show Committee for use of its showgrounds. Permission needed to be gained otherwise it would not be worthwhile forming a racing club. If things went favourably, a meeting to form a racing club would probably be held within a few weeks.
50 YEARS AGO
CROP DRIER: Mildura Co-operative Fruit Company Limited has taken delivery of its Agricultural Crop Drier – all 120 tons of it! Installation near Mildura Citrus Products began yesterday. The equipment arrived by truck from Melbourne, and it was met by a huge crane driven from Adelaide to be used for unloading. Main parts of the drier are two furnaces, one weighing 37 tons and the other 32 tons. The huge drier will be used for drying citrus peel, turning it into pellets for lot feeding. If not used to the limit for citrus, it may also be used to dry lucerne and other products. It was specially made in America and shipped to Melbourne.
GUIDE HUT: The new Wentworth Guide Hut will be officially opened on Saturday. Mrs Malcolm McKinnon, of Wentworth Guides, said yesterday she expected about 120 people to be at the opening. Mrs McKinnon said the new hut had cost about $3300, but the total cost was incalculable because of the time and donations people had put into the building. The old guide hut, which was on the same site as the new one in Cadell Street, was mysteriously burnt down some time ago. Mrs McKinnon said the whole hut, including all the camping, cooking and Guiding equipment, was destroyed in the blaze. She said the group had not had the means to obtain more equipment yet.
EXPORT HOPE: Japan may soon double its import of Australian sultanas for use in the country’s school lunch program. This was the indication given in Mildura yesterday by chairman of the Osaka branch of the program, Mr K Sato. “The children love them,” he said, speaking through an interpreter. “In Osaka, alone we use between 16 and 18 tons each month.” Mr Sato said that only Australian sultanas were used in the program. Mr Sato is one of 16 Japanese dried fruit users in Sunraysia for a two-day visit as part of a one-week study tour in Australia.
25 YEARS AGO
MARINA SURVEY: Sunraysia residents appear divided on their preferred development of the Mildura riverfront near the Chaffey Bridge, if a Sunraysia Daily survey on the issue of a proposed marina is anything to go by. Residents were offered the chance to put forward their views on the proposed establishment of a marina on the Mildura riverfront, or whether they would prefer the area to be developed into parkland. More than 100 residents weighed into the issue, with a marina versus parkland positive vote at 40.38 per cent and 51.82 per cent respectively. Only 9.6 per cent of respondents indicated they did not want parklands to proceed, while 48.07 per cent of surveyed contributors said the did not want the marina development. Almost 12 per cent said they were non-committed on the marina issue. This compared to a high 38.46 who said they did not have an opinion in relation to a parkland development.
HEALTH SERVICE: The new Dareton Health Service premises was officially opened yesterday by chairman of the Far West Area Health Board Bill O’Neal. Formerly the Colonial State bank building, the new premises will provide a more central location for service users. “The loss of banking services for the town was significant a loss but the building is retaining its role as a valued asset for the area,” Mr O’Neal said. Several new services will be offered at the DHS including sexual health, infectious disease, diabetes education, primary health nursing, child protection and immunisation. The expansion and relocation of the DHS took about three months and will provide employment opportunities for the region.
WHARF UPGRADE: A revamp of the Mildura Wharf has been completed on time and under budget, Mildura Rural City Council said this week. The project was completed in about three months and for just under $190,000 – the budget had been $200,000. The renovated wharf retains the style of the previous structure, and some materials were re-used. The overall design of the wharf remains more or less the same, with a change to the entry ramp in line with new access requirements the main difference.
