August 29 - September 4, 2021

Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society.

Compiled by Anne Ziguras for the Mildura Rural City Council Library Service

Today's Slogan: Shun Scandal! The busybody should have something better to do. Minding your own business is the best cure for the propensity to worry over your neighbour's. If the woman next door shocks you, take your eye away from her keyhole. Paul Pry never sees anything edifying. There are persons with an infirmity that causes them to eat dirt; there are others with a depraved appetite for slander and salaciousness; they talk that sort of scandal, read that sort of paper, study that sort of human character. We see what we want to. Some men come in to town and only see the churches; some see only the pubs some see only business chicanery, or marital infidelity. Don't ask your eyes or your ears or your tongue to do dirty work.

100 years ago

OVERSEAS NEWS: The latest news from Russia states that 30,000,000 people are famine-stricken, including 9.000,000 children. Young men and women are being sold to be slaves. All through the War the Scots Guards keep two cows. The Prince of Wales has accepted one of the five calves that have been borne to one of the cows that were captured by the Scots Guards. The Australian cricketers yesterday played against South of England Home Team – 4 for 116. The Australians were beaten, Amateur Team won by 28 runs. Japan is to play America in the Davis Cup at Vancouver Monday. A million and a half unemployed in London. Sinn Fein's reply consents to a Conference in London. Belfast fighting ceases. Children's golf competitions are the latest popular craze. Crowds were present at the final of the Juvenile Challenge-Cup in London. Following the example of a girl from Australia, Nottingham girls are insisting on being vaccinated on the leg to preserve the beauty of their arms. It is an astonishing fact that over three quarters of a million oxen are needed to make an airship. (29-31.8.1921)

MEMORIALS: Good progress is happening with the Library Tower Work on the strengthening of the foundations of the tower at the Mildura Carnegie Library. The base is being rendered thoroughly substantial to enable it to carry the additional weight that is to be placed on the top of the present tower. The finished structure will stand out as one of the most prominent buildings in Mildura. The clock is a four-faced one, and will chime the hours. The architect (Air. 1. G. Anderson) inspected the work yesterday, travelling especially from Geelong to do so. He expressed himself as well satisfied with the start made on the work. A machine-gun as a war-trophy, made by the Merbein branch of the R.S.A., will be presented to the Merbein West State School on Friday.

LOCAL NEWS: The election of Cr. Henderson to the Mildura mayoralty will give unfeigned pleasure to a very large proportion of the population without any tendency to self advertising. A lengthy discussion took place last night at the Annual Meeting of the Mildura Bowls Club in Risbey's Chambers. Blocks are available in South Australia for soldier settlement. Land in Pompoola and Berri was gazetted on Thursday. The area is situated about ten miles upstream from Murray Bridge. The first aeroplane to visit Cowangie arrived during the football match on Saturday afternoon. The Maryborough District Football Association has agreed to play the challenge match on Saturday as desired by the Mildura team. In an exciting finish Imperials defeated Tigers for the first time at the Wednesday Football. The Nichols Point cricket club meeting will be held in the State School. Tonight's pictures feature Fatty Arbuckle, Enid Bennett and Wallace Reid. The patrons will certainly find nothing to grumble at in the special programme to be presented at the Olympic Theatre. Diggerland opened Wednesday. Now Red Cliffs has its own pictures. Four hundred persons were there. This season of the year the country of the Broken Hill district is carpeted with the wonderful blooms of the Sturt's desert pea. Although a Mallee-hen is a small bird, compared with the domestic fowl she lays a much larger egg.

75 years ago

BRAVERY: Sgt A. Fleming, of Mildura, and Staff-Sgt R. Young, of Western Australia, rescued 15 Japanese women, children and old men from drowning at Kyruga Eta Jime last week-end. A report of the incident was released by the BCOF authorities today. The two NCO's were waiting on a jetty at Kyruga for a boat when a sampan carrying Japanese holiday-makers capsized and sank about 250 yards from the shore. The young men of the party immediately struck out for the shore, leaving the women, children and old men to fend for themselves. Young and Fleming immediately went to their assistance and brought 15 persons to safety. The Australians were treated later for extensive cuts and lacerations inflicted by barnacles on the wharf piles. Sgt Fleming is well known in Mildura, where he excelled as a distance swimmer. (29.8.1946)

NURSES: The Japanese murderers of 21 Australian Army nurses on Banka Island, near Sumatra, in February 1942, are being rounded up and will be tried before the Australian War Crimes Court at Singapore. Already the two alleged ring-leaders, Lieut Masayuki TWakeuchi and Sergeant-Major Taro Kato, are in custody. It has been established that two companies of Japanese war veterans participated in the massacre of nurses, but most of them were later killed during operations against Australians and Americans. The Australian Army Directorate of P.O.W. and Internees describes the Banka massacre as the worst individual crime in Australia's long list against the Japanese. The victims were men and women who had survived the sinking of an escape ship from Singapore. Another Japanese Major-General Tanaka, who later fought against the Russians in Manchuria, is being sought by the Russians for handing over to Australia. Twenty-six other survivors of two Japanese companies are now being interrogated before the trial. (30.8.1946)

FOOTBALL: "Frothblowers" (a team from the staff of Hotel Wintersun) and "Stragglers" (a team from the staff of Mildura Co-operative Packing Co.) will play a challenge football match on Lock Oval on Sunday afternoon. Programme proceeds will be in aid of Mildura sub-branch of the Australian Legion of Ex servicemen and Women. Programmes will be on sale for 1/- and afternoon tea and other refreshments will be available. Teams are as follows: Wintersun: V.Randall (vice-capt), A. Bloomfield (Capt), D Bell, J. Young, M. Gonsalves, B. Lauder, P. Clark, J. Sainsbury, D. Munro, W. Perry, B. Surgey, C. Bloomfield, B. Clough, J. Barlogh, H. Cornelius, I. Givbvs, J. Nemarick, R. Williams, D. Wilson (19th), L Lehmann (20th). Co.op: H. Carter, G. Francis, P. Gathercole, B. Gathercole, B. Woods, V. Walker (capt.), L. Beasey, J. Smith, N. Matulick (vice capt), M. Shurwell, W. Fisher, R. McKean, J. Turner, W. Nolan, D. East, H. Somers, H. Kelly, J. Leach, B. Gibhart. R. Harper. Merbein won their way to the grand final of Sunraysia Football League on the Mildura recreation oval on Saturday when they defeated Irymple by five points in a thrilling play of the final. The largest crowd ever to attend a football match in Sunraysia – nearly 4000 – witnessed the thrilling encounter, which kept them on their toes throughout. Gate takings were £355. Never at any stage of the game did either side look like establishing a winning lead although Irymple, early in the game were too fast for Merbein. The Magpies repeated their final quarter burst of last Saturday, and when they gained the lead, grimly held on to it. Both sides deserved to win, with prospects of another draw appearing in the last quarter. (2.9.1946)

GOLF: The Annual R.S.L. Golf Day was conducted yesterday at Mildura Links under ideal conditions. The morning event was a foursome best ball which was won by W. Hiscock, D. Bryceson. With 5 up. Other cards were: S. Biese, H. Smith and R. Bowen-Kenny, each 4 up. The afternoon's event was a mixed foursomes, which was won by J. Richards. Mrs Stephenson, with the fine nett score of 67 ½. Others to score well were: Mr and Mrs J. West 68, W. Buxton, Mrs Holdsworth 69, D Flynn, Mrs Craddock 69 ½.

50 years ago

AWARDS: Mildura City Council will award special ceremonial plaques to another 17 men who have served or who are still serving in Vietnam, says the Town Clerk (Mr W.J. Downie). Last Wednesday the former Mayor (Cr N.J. Noyce) presented red gum timber plaques to some of 31 Vietnam veterans or relatives of servicemen. Mildura Young Farmers Club has won the Victorian "Most Progressive Club of the Year" Award. Members were told by telegram yesterday that the $200 prize, donated by an international shipping line, was theirs. The club's public relations officer (Miss K. Bysouth) said last night a meeting on Thursday may decide how the money was to be used. It would probably go into funds and be put towards building clubrooms. (30.8.1971 - 4.9.1971)

BREAKOUT: Five North Vietnamese prisoners have escaped from an island off South Vietnam, a bloody breakout which left nine other prisoners and eight police dead, military sources said yesterday. The breakout on Phu Quoc Island in the Gulf of Siam took place last Tuesday. The sources said that the five prisoners were still at large. Six police and seven prisoners were wounded. A squad of 125 police were leading a work party of 22 North Vietnamese prisoners to gather wood from the jungle outside the prison when they were ambushed by guerillas. Guerrillas were also believed to be on the island again on Wednesday when an American helicopter, apparently searching for the prisoners, was shot down over the island. (1.9.1971)

MARY: When Mary Smart of Spokane, Washington, U.S.A. was 13 her mother died, and her father, William Smart, was left with a large family of young children to care for. The way he devoted his life to them made such an impression on Mary, that when she grew up she decided that something should be done to gain recognition of the noble work of which fathers are capable. In 1910, Mary, who had become Mrs John Dodd, called a meeting of mothers in her home town. Afterwards they went home and put their plans to their husbands, who gave them their blessing. The next day horses were harnessed to buggies and the ladies set off round the town looking for worthy fathers to whom to give presents. (31.8.1971)

EGG THROWING, POLO AND ROWING: More than 3000 people attended this year's Wentworth Show compared with last year's attendance of 2000. Many tourists on holidays in the district attended the show and some came from as far as Tasmania. One of the main attractions was the egg throwing contest. With all their training and expert techniques, the locals were defeated by two Geelong boys on holidays in the district. The two boys won the junior division with a distance of 69 feet without breaking the eggs. The senior division was won by two locals, Rod Baird and Richard Harvey, with a distance of 82 feet. The egg throwing contest was a crowd pleaser and as the contestants swung into battle scores of youngsters wanted to try their skill. The other attraction was the polo match between Wentworth and Werrimull with victory going to Werrimull 7-6. The match was fairly even and the crowd was kept interested to the end. The Wentworth Rowing Club's annual Henley on the Darling attracted 173 crews and had more than 50 events netting a profit of more than $600. (1.9.1971)

25 years ago

SPORT: Sunraysia Soccer Association will hold its second coaching clinic in three months after an overwhelming response to the initial course from local coaches. State director of coaching with the Victoria Soccer Federation, Mr Paul Truman will be travelling to Mildura to conduct the course. Australian cricket selectors have decided to play all 13 squad members at some stage on their tour to Sri Lanka, which spells good news for Darren Lehmann and Jason Gillespie. The South Australian pair now can look forward to fulfilling their goal of taking the field for their country, and joining West Australian spinner Brad Hogg as international debutants in Sri Lanka. Imperials Football Club has continued its success in winning premierships by taking out the under 13 and under 15 flags played at Sarah Oval on Sunday. Imperials played Wentworth in the under 13s after the Roos had won a spot in the grand final by beating Robinvale and Merbein. Imps were undefeated during the season and showed their strength by goaling in the opening minute through centre man Brendan Clohesy who was later awarded the medal for best on the ground. (30.8.1996)

SPECIAL NEEDS: Sunraysia Northern Mallee Disability Resource Council is continuing its push for a hydrotherapy pool in Mildura. Council president, June Dowdy, said the aquatic centre being planned as part of the Alfred Deakin Centre (on the corner of Deakin Avenue and 12th Street) presented a prime opportunity for such a pool. Mrs Dowdy said this would benefit an enormous number of people and supervision could be conducted by trained persons already available within local agencies. Mrs Dowdy said currently people who had to travel to a special pool in Bendigo also stood to benefit. (30.8.1996)

FERGIES: Red Cliffs took a step back in history yesterday as Fergie tractor owners gathered to take part in the historic three-day Fergie Parade. At 10am more than 100 Fergies chugged slowly out of Red Cliffs to celebrate the crucial role the little tractor played in holding back flood waters in 1956. The parade was led fittingly by 88-year-old Jack Cook who climbed aboard the same Fergie he put to use 40 years earlier during the floods. Jack was among many who helped save the Red Cliffs Pumps from rising waters and drivers yesterday passed the pumps and many other landmarks during the journey to Mildura. Mary Withington, from Cliffside, has had her 1948 Fergie for about 10 years and knows its origins in detail. The Fergie was in Robinvale during the 1956 floods and Mary now uses it around her fruit block. In preparation for the three-day parade, Mary cleaned the radiator, put in new spark plugs and reckons it's running smoother than ever. Organisers at the launch said Fergie numbers would increase to an expected peak of 220, easily making it the longest procession of Fergies ever. Bill Doubikin, from Peterborough, made a trailer especially to transport his Fergie to the parade. He got his first tractor licence on a Fergie and still uses the machine as his main means of transport. Bob Miller came all the way from Melbourne to drive his Fergie in the parade: and still uses it on his market garden. He was three years old when he first sat in a Fergie seat and wouldn't have missed the parade for anything. Bob heard about the parade from "Macka" on ABC radio and from the Weekly Times. Wentworth Mayor, Don McKinnon, who also joined the drivers, said the procession would reach its climax on Sunday in Wentworth when the tractors were officially counted as they passed the Fergie monument. (31.8.1996)