PRESENTED by Mildura and District Historical Society and compiled by Judy Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Libraries.
100 YEARS AGO: 1925
TRAINS: Many complaints have been made of late by travellers to Merbein concerning the inconvenience caused by the necessity to change trains at Mildura and wait for the running of the rail-motor. It has been suggested that the Railway Department be asked to try the experiment of running the Melbourne train straight to Merbein for a month, those responsible for the suggestion claiming that, after a month’s trial the advantages would be so apparent that a reversal to the present order of things would be unlikely. The matter will most likely be discussed at the next meeting of the Merbein settlers.
WOOD: Settlers of Carwarp held a wood-bee in aid of the Mildura District hospital. The wood will be brought to Mildura by train and the usual request will be made to blockers to assist in transporting it from the station to the institution. Yatpool settlers will hold their working bee on Wednesday, July 27 with a suggestion a dance be held at night in aid of the hospital.
CATTLE: Considerable interest, a fair amount of movement and some inconvenience was caused yesterday afternoon by a mob of about 30 bullocks in the Wentworth township. The cattle had come down the western side of the Darling and the stockmen were attempting to drive them over the bridge in Sandwych Street to the other side of the river. The mob rejected vigorously about halfway along the bridge approach. First one, then another would take it into his head to make a dash back as far as the intersection of Sandwych and Adams Streets, with a raging bushman on his tracks. The mob at last was induced to make the passage of the bridge, and traffic, which had been considerably suspended, was again resumed.
75 YEARS AGO: 1950
CLOSURE: Red Cliffs and District Youth and Community Centre, once attended by 400 children and conducted by 40 instructors, has ceased activities. The president, Mr A. Hampton, said they had become discouraged and until they could obtain and arouse more interest, would just close down. A gradual decline began after the loss of using the Diggerland Theatre. There are now only 80 young people attending the classes, boys were attending instruction at the Drill Hall and girls at the Women’s Club.
TREES: More than 50 poplar trees are being planted along Mildura’s riverfront to beautify the area and screen the railway goods shed. The trees are a gift to City Council from Mr C. Hunt of Eleventh Street. Soil on the riverfront was ideal for poplars and the trees are now 15 feet to 10 feet high and only two years old.
DRIVE: A driveway covering several miles of riverfront beginning at Benetook Avenue and taking in Apex Park will be beautified by City Council and dedicated as the T. J. Nihill Memorial Drive. Mr Nihill was the town clerk who died last year. He was town clerk from the beginning of 1927 to 1948, a period of 22 years continuous years. He often spoke of its potential as a beauty spot of Mildura and one which tourists and district people would be delighted use. He visualised the whole of the driveway as a boulevard which would enable people to see the scenic beauties of bushland and river.
50 YEARS AGO: 1975
SINGERS: The Dareton New Life Singers will travel to Melbourne next month. Group organiser, Mr P. Richter, said the singers had been asked to sing for a number of churches including the Church of Christ at Ormond. All members should enjoy the trip showing their music and being involved in the work of the church.
MOTEL: Without the motel industry, there was no such thing as tourism in Australia and the existing motel industry in Australia was under attack from government policy. Mr B. Schuer, chairman of Directors of Innkeepers said in Mildura that no longer was there the threat of bed tax but the Victorian Government had the power to finance newcomers to the industry in competition to existing motels. Our standards compare favourably with any country and are better than most; we were the first in the world to place refrigerators, television sets, radio or piped music and tea making facilities all together as standard amenities.
GRANT: A government grant of $47,405 has been made for the re-construction of the historical Jamieson Homestead and shearing shed in Cureton Avenue, Mildura on the way to Apex Park. The grant was one of several made under the Regional Employment Development scheme for various projects throughout the Mallee.
25 YEARS AGO: 2000
LUCKY: Milton Whiting was the son of a Gallipoli veteran and World War I soldier settler from Birdwoodton. He enlisted soon after his 19th birthday on March 28, 1941, and after initial training in the RAAF at No 2. Bombing and Gunnery School, Mossbank, graduated Sergeant and was presented with his WAG half wing. He then went to Cranwell (United Kingdom) for a four-week refresher course and from there to the No 14 Operational Training Unit Cottesmore flying Anson’s and Hampden’s. In 1942, large bombing raids were planned against industrial and transport centres in Germany. Sergeant Whiting and his crew took off for Dusseldorf on a 600-bomber raid, they were targeted by enemy searchlights, the plane was manoeuvred to evade the searchlights but after dropping the bomb load the plane was hit by flak, it lost speed and altitude, and the starboard motor took a direct hit. Now down to 6000 feet with windspeed 120 mph, it went into a violent spin losing another 500 feet. Despite this, the aircraft limped home with the crew looking forward to the special breakfast of ham and two eggs, the traditional reward for crews returning from an operation.
AWARD: The Returned and Services League (RSL) bestowed its highest award, the Meritorious Service Medal, upon Merbein World War II veteran Stephen McCarthy during its annual State Conference in Melbourne. It was presented by Major General Peter Cosgrove, the man responsible for co-ordinating Australia’s peacekeeping operations in East Timor and RSL state president Bruce Ruxton. The Metirious Service Medal is an honour awarded over and above life membership and over 25 years of outstanding service while being a continuous member for at least 30 years. Mr McCarthy also served in the 7th Australian Field Battalion in Darwin, New Guinea and Treasury Island in World War II.
OLYMPIC: The street route for the Mildura leg of the Olympic Torch Relay, announced on Saturday would allow district residents every conceivable opportunity to witness the historic event. The torch will pass several parks, schools and hospitals as it makes its way through Mildura on August 19, 2000. The torch will fly from Parkes in New South Wales then depart for Broken Hill following a lunchtime community celebration at the Ornamental Lakes. The chosen path covers almost 10 kilometres.
