Peeps into the Past – April 27 to May 3: Leading by example

PRESENTED by the Mildura and District Historical Society and compiled by Judy Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Libraries

100 YEARS AGO: 1925

RAILWAY: Messrs R. Solly, MLA (chairman), A. E. Chandler, MLA, J. D. Deany, MLA and A. E. Lind MLA, members of the Railway Standing Committee and Mr G. Brown, secretary arrived in Mildura today. The party left almost immediately on a tour inspection. They said they had made the trip to investigate a proposal to extend the railway to serve the Millewa district and had been to Ouyen also and taken evidence relating to the Millewa proposition, which supported a scheme to take off at Tranita, just south of Hattah on the Mildura line and proceed west to Mopoke Plains. They were also going out to see the amount of settlement along the Werrimull section.

WREATHS: In connection with the observation of Anzac Day at the Mildura Central State School the children placed a wreath on the memorial in the school. Under the organisation of the Junior Red Cross, the children also sent a cross of flowers to be placed on the memorial in Deakin Avenue and a wreath for the memorial at the Carnegie Library opposite the rotunda.

DANCE: The public hall at Yatpool is well known to district dancing enthusiasts, for it contains a perfect dancing floor. Real pleasure and something new are in store for dancers attending a “Saturday Night” dance in May. Dancing under dimmed and coloured lights will be one of the attractive features of the evening.

75 YEARS AGO: 1950

CENOTAPH: The Mayor councillor A. Mansell has decided to launch an appeal for funds to erect a war memorial cenotaph in Mildura. He said on Anzac Day he had attended the war service at Edith Cavell Memorial in Deakin Avenue, the commemoration service in the Ozone Theatre in the afternoon and the laying of the wreaths at the memorial at the Carnegie Library and felt as there was no central point for observance this distracted from the impressiveness. He has decided to launch an appeal, with the support of the RSL, the appeal would be a short one seeking 2000 or 3000 pounds.

BOWLS: Nearly 600 bowlers played their first two rounds in the Rio Vista Fours competition in perfect weather, the opening day of the 19th Annual Mildura Bowling Carnival at Mildura greens. Almost the full number of bowlers entered in the carnival, about 640, and many wives and friends attended the official opening. At a reception last night over 250 bowlers were welcomed by the Mayor Mr A. Mansell.

FESTIVAL: The State Schools Floral Festival at the Town Hall proved so successful that the committee decided on Saturday night that it should be open another day. It was opened on Friday but by Saturday night it was estimated that 6000 adults and children had seen the display.

Tens of thousands of flowers went into the 300 entries. The six school entries are placed down the middle of the hall, each its own design executed in thousands of individual flowers carefully matched in colour and placed into damp sand. The winning entry by Mildura West, 12 feet by 10 feet, carried the school badge, Mildura Central was second, 10 feet by 10 feet and third was Nichols Point 5 feet by 7 feet. Many other smaller entries, sand trays, model gardens and posies were on display.

50 YEARS AGO: 1975

MARCHERS: Three teams of marching girls from the Mildura Cokette Club competed with success in the Victorian Country Championship in Werribee. Both the midget and senior teams were successful while the juniors narrowly missed out on placings.

HOMESTEAD: The historical “Old Mildura Homestead” should be built within three years. This is the prediction of the Mildura Historical Society, and its special homestead project committee, said the chairman Mr R. Etherington. It will be built on land near Mr Mansell’s property in Cureton Avenue on the site of the original homestead. Research began four years ago. It was the first homestead here, situated on one of the first sheep runs and lived in by the Chaffey Brothers in 1887.

EQUIPMENT: Members of the Mildura branch of the Asthma Foundation have been given a talk on the bird’s respirator which the Base Hospital is to buy. The mist is inhaled into the lungs effectively dilating constricted lung tissue. It can be attached surgically to the windpipe of an unconscious patient to take over their breathing while the patient is acutely ill.

25 YEARS AGO: 2000

PRINCIPAL: History has been made at Chaffey Secondary College this term with the appointment of the school’s first female principal. Fiona Merlin – formerly Merbein Secondary College principal – started her new position on Wednesday. Ms Merlin said she was also the first female principal at Merbein and her gender did not cause any hassles there, so she didn’t see it being a problem at Chaffey. “I don’t think gender is such a big issue anymore,” she said. Ms Merlin said it can be sometimes daunting to walk into a meeting and not see another female, but she has never been intimidated. “They treat me the same as everyone else – they’re all professional.”

GARDENS: What was once a dry and barren area will soon be transformed into lush greenery following the planting of an area of lawn at the Botanic gardens. One and a quarter acres of grass all under irrigation and costing $12,000 were planted on the exotic side of the gardens adjacent to the popular rose garden. Eventually they aim to cover eight acres, planting trees for shade for people having picnics and children playing on the lawn. Seven members of staff and volunteers gave their time and effort in the project.

BALLOON: Sunraysia’s largest balloon officially launched itself into the bright sunny skies at the Mildura Weir. The balloon is the sixth one purchased by Camerons of Mildura – it will carry 10 adults. On board with Len Foreman, David and Chris Edwards were Alan and Shirley Cameron celebrating 11 years of hot air balloon flights in Mildura.