THE TRARALGON & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC |
DOCUMENTED EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON
"JOURNAL" - 1975
Taken by John W. Davidson
(This segment January to September 1975. To be continued in
September 1999)
January |
| Traralgon City Council adopted a co-ordinating role as well as acting as a Sponsor for Darwin Relief Appeal following the widespread destruction of the Northern Territory by Cyclone Tracy on the morning of Christmas Day. |
| Messrs. Trevor Howe and Michael O'Sullivan became the new owners of LV Printers in Seymour Street, after purchasing the printing works from Mr. W.A. (Bert) Thompson, proprietor for the past 12 years. (The original "Record" office was demolished in 1962 and the rebuilt "Caxton House" is in the process of again being demolished in 1999). |
| Cr. Henry Charles (Harry) Saunders, President of the Shire, was awarded the M.B.E. |
| Mr. Griffiths was farewelled. from the Methodist Circuit, after 6 years, and transferred to Preston. He was replaced by Rev. Ray Outhred from Horsham |
| Gippsland Pottery Pty. Ltd., operated by Mr. and Mrs. Jim and Eileen Thor, joined the decentralised secondary industries in Victoria |
| Helen Rooke, top goal thrower in Traralgon Amateur Basketball Association competition received her presentation from the President, Mr. Bruce Pickering. |
| Construction of a new 150 metre long workshop began at Superwelds in Argyle Street; its 2 sections will take 2 years to complete and will employ a further 12 men. |
| Robert Knight, Daryl Keuch and Alan Greave were among 23 first-year S.E.C, apprentices presented with awards at Yallourn. |
| It took 30 firemen, 7 fire units and 9 hours to put out a fire at the rubbish tip. |
| The Memorial Hall in Grey Street, taken over by the R.S.L, in about 1963, is to be sold. |
| Demolition work is well under way at Albroy Shell Service Station; a new $1.5 million restaurant complex is to be built on the site with Mr. Alby Witchell to take charge. |
| New classrooms at St. Paul's College, started in November, to be completed soon. |
| 26,433 railway passengers booked from Traralgon in 1974, compared with 23,423 in 1973. Passenger revenue increased from $64,841 to $77,386 Goods revenue also increased significantly. |
| At the C.W.A. meeting, members helped in celebrating the 80th birthday of Mrs. Alice Farmer, wife of the late Bob Farmer. Born in Perth, she came to Traralgon in 1920. She founded the first cub Pack in 1946 and the first mounted Guide troop in Glengarry with 17 girls - only one other like it in the world. |
February |
| Mrs. Heather Hoggins changed from Hairdresser to opening "Primavera" antique and art gallery in Seymour Arcade. |
| 1st Traralgon Cub Pack; "Baloo" Brian Nicholson, "Wontolla" Mrs. Lorrel Sampson, and "Kim" Mrs. Dorothy Porter helped "Akela" Mrs. Marion Davidson celebrate 10 years with the Pack. |
| Tuesday 11th saw the first visit and inspection of the new Loy Yang project by Parliamentary Public Works Committee, arranged by S.E.C. |
| Mrs. Betty Harden became the new secretary of local Community Aid Abroad, taking the place of Mr. Syd. Buxton. |
| During a testimonial dinner to Mr. Bert Thompson, retired printer and publisher, and his wife, by the City Council, the Mayor, Mr. Paddy Frankland, announced that the park opposite Victory Park, north of the Highway Bridge, would be named the "Bert Thompson Reserve". Prior to that 2 electric barbecues were installed there, donated to the City by the S.E.C. |
| Mr. Bill Bethune and Mr. Jack Orriss were made Life Members of R.S.L. |
| 600 girls from as far away as Bendigo and Melbourne, attended Traralgon Marching Girls Club's first annual competition, at the Showgrounds. |
| Traralgon City Water Trust compulsorily acquired 80 acres of land from farmer Mr. N.L.Jones, in Clarkes Rd., Traralgon South, for site of proposed $200,000 water treatment plant |
| Mr. Bill Peart, after 6½ years with the Commonwealth Bank, resigned to take up a position with L.G.Bell & Sons. |
| Mrs. E. Darvall, born at Maryborough, turned 100 on 29th. |
| The "Journal" joined the Yallambee Village Committee to launch an appeal for furniture funds for the new Margery Cole Hostel, almost completed at a cost of $375,000. |
March |
| The Rev. G. Robertson helped the Presbyterian Church to celebrate 60 years of worship at the Kay-Church Streets corner. |
| After almost 60 years, Miss V. Chaundy retired as organist for St.James' Anglican Church. Thirteen years ago, she retired from the South Eastern Milk Products Company after 45 years. |
| Traralgon Scouts Assistant District Commissioner, Gordon Row, was awarded the Medal of Merit by Governor Sir Henry Winneke, at Gilwell Park, and Mrs. Pearl Hamden, Cub Leader of the 3rd Pack, was granted a Certificate of Good Services |
| Latrobe Building society merged with the Melbourne-based Hotham Building society. |
| Tenders were called for traffic control lights at the intersection of Breed and Princes Streets. |
| 9,000 beach property owners (many from Traralgon) faced building ban along the 90 Mile Beach, as they will not be allowed to build. |
| St. Paul's student, Christopher Lord, was Lions Club Youth of the Year. |
| Ministers throughout Gippsland attended a conference at Traralgon's Little Theatre to discuss unity of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches of Traralgon. |
| After nearly 40 years in practice of the law, Mr. T.G.Littleton retired from the firm of Bruce, Littleton & Hackford. He came to Traralgon in 1936 when the population was about 2,500. He was an original member of the Hospital Trust in 1942, which planned the Traralgon hospital. In 1939 he married Edith Cranswick, daughter of the late Bishop Cranswick. |
| Mrs. Gladys Freeman was elected new President of the Traralgon High School's Mothers' Club. Mrs.Pearl Reeves, senior Vice-President; Mrs.Shirley Power, Junior Vice-President; Mrs.Eileen Moulden, secretary; Mrs.Robyn Baker, Treasurer, and Mrs. Naomi Bartlett, Assistant Secretary. |
| Mr. Keith Winters, of the Basketball Club, was made a Life Member. |
| Lynette Cooper won the Latrobe Valley Festival Charity Queen title. |
| Mrs. Friedl Dietrich became new Office Manageress of the Traralgon Credit Co-operative |
| A 3 day Fishing Run at Cape Conran was held by Maryvale surf Fishing and Casting Club. |
| Mr. John Dargavel was elected President of C.A.A. branch, succeeding Mr. Vic Hillas who left the district. |
| The Cowwarr Weir was re-opened to the public after Easter. (Click here to read the history of the Weir) |
| Mrs. Jean Court and Mrs. Helen Carrington - newly appointed Guide Commissioners. |
| Mr. Jim and wife, Mary Dwyer took over management of the Royal Exchange Hotel from the former, Tony Nolan. |
| Traralgon Rotary Club installed a log and stump, about 10 feet in diameter, from the Jeeralangs, at Victory Park as a tourist attraction |
| Miss Elizabeth Killen was chosen as Miss Glengarry show Girl at the Easter Carnival and Agricultural show. |
| A total of 33 tons of briquettes was made after 3 bores were drilled on the property of Mr. A. Jones, in Minniedale Road, 26th March. Each bore was 1.5 metres, sunk to a depth of 50 metres, through 35 metres of coal. |
| April |
| Traralgon village Drive-In was the most modern in Australia when it screened its first film in April 1965. Ten years later it screened 14 special films for the week. After 1,000 films, the one to top the box office was "They're a Weird Mob" on the giant screen of 100 feet wide, 40 feet high, 25 feet above the ground, costing about $14,000 to build and weighing 8.5 tons according to manager, Mr. Ted Hogno. |
| Mr. Dugald Campbell was again elected President of the Traralgon branch of the Arts Council, while his wife, Helen, was re-elected Secretary and Treasurer. |
| Building permits for the quarter were $172,343, which included 7 residences |
| "Decor Manor", owned by Mr. Wolfe Becker and Mr. Bob Musgrove, was opened in Franklin street. |
| Mrs. M. Halkett was elected President of Kosciusko street Primary school, succeeding Mrs. J. Perrin. |
| Secretary of Traralgon Racing Club, Mr. Des Grigg, retired after 10 years |
| Mrs. Kath. Teychenne and Councillor Harry Saunders received their M.B.E. medals at Government House. |
| The Principal of Liddiard Rd. Primary School, Mr. F. Rumpf, announced that Miss Janet Downie, of Churchill, and Mr. Terry Dent, of Swifts Creek, replaced staff on Long Service Leave |
| The Diamond Jubilee of Anzac Day was commemorated on 25th April. |
| Much of the work of victory Park was done from 1941 - 1942 by a small group of citizens who banded together to form the Rotary Club of Traralgon |
| New supervisor of the new Margery Cole Hostel is Mrs. Yvonne Shannon who left her home in Anderson Street to live at the Hostel with husband, Peter. |
| May |
| 100 members of the Ikin family gathered for a re-union at Traralgon South to mark 100 years since John Ikin arrived in Traralgon in 1875 from Wen, a small village on the Welsh border, and in 1879 married Catherine Tanner, of Callignee. |
| Mr. Don Dunbar was appointed secretary of the Latrobe River Improvement Trust, succeeding Mr. Bill Teasdale. |
| First meeting of the newly-formed Latrobe Valley Co-ordinating Committee was held in Melbourne to play a vital role in the future of the Latrobe Valley. |
| Traralgon City Council appointed Kathlene Carlson as one of two female traffic by-laws officers. |
| More than 250 people saw Maree Waldron and Kathryn Ashworth become Queens Guides at the Jubilee celebrations of lst Traralgon Guide Company, with 7 of the 8 Queens Guides present, as well as Ethelwyn Uren (nee Leonard), the first of 3 guides to be enrolled at the formation on 16th October, 1924. |
| Alf Gray retired from the Post Office after almost 20 years there. |
| Mr. Bob Cole died, aged 89. His father, Arthur, came out from England in the 1870s to work for his cousin, Mr. Thomas Row, in Traralgon. |
| Television stations had been telecasting almost fully colour for past 3 months. |
| Rev. Sydney T. Ball, former Rector of St. James' from 1935, died in Melbourne. |
EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON 'JOURNAL' 1975 WILL BE CONTINUED IN JULY, 1999 |
| June |
| New General Motors dealership launched after transfer of operations from Roland Hill Pty. Ltd. to James Peters Holden. Mr Hill established the business in 1922. |
| Mrs.W. Wilson re-elected for third term as President of Croquet Club. |
| Mr. Pat Windridge retired from driving the school bus from Cowwarr to Traralgon since 1953. |
| Traralgon High School's new library was named after Mr. H.E. Jones, the school's first headmaster who joined the school when it became a High School in 1951. |
| About 30 men were retrenched from the Country Roads Board, 10 are under notice, and a further 20 are to be given notice. The A.P.M. at Maryvale expects to retrench 150 men in the next few months and at the Pyneboard plant at Rosedale it is expected that staff will be cut by two-thirds. |
| Mr. Leon Bartlett was elected President of Rotary, replacing Mr. John Barassi who, prior to retirement, presented the inaugural President of the Traralgon Club, Mr. Roland Hill, with the highest award in Rotary International, "The Paul Harris Fellow". |
| Zone Officer, Mr. Ron Symons presented long service medals to local firemen Mr. C. Jones, Mr. K. Grubb, Mr. J. Jones, and Mr. J. Finlay. |
| The first of 25 residents started to move into Margery Cole Hostel, "Yallambee Village" which has taken over one year to build at a total cost of $380,000 including furnishings. |
| Brad Gilmour, new President; Diane King, Senior Vice President; Don Stuckey, Junior Vice President; Jan Thompson, Secretary; and Caroline Whelan, Treasurer, were elected in Young Farmers Club |
| DIstrict Chairman of Lion's Club installed Mike McCabe as new President replacing Fred King. |
| Mr. Bob Fatchen opened branch of the Gippsland Insurance Service at the corner of Franklin and Service Streets, together with a snack and takeaway food bar, formerly "Kyana" Milk Bar. |
| July |
| Leatherware factory started in unit recently vacated by Sheridan Textiles, one of 4 in council owned estate. |
| Mr. Don McFarlane, manager of Broadford, relieved Maryvale APM manager, John Barassi while he was at head office. |
| Traralgon Shire Council created a "pound" site on the road reserve at Scrubby Lane. |
| St Paul's College won 40 silver awards in the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme. |
| John and Mary Stewart took over the management of the new Shell Roadhouse alongside the new "Albroy's" service station first opened in 1959. |
| "The Gippslander" train running between Melbourne and Bairnsdale celebrated 21 years on 22nd July, when the Mayor of Traralgon, Mr. Paddy Frankland, introduced Mr. Gibbs, Chairman of the Victorian Railways Commission, who later placed a wreath on the child's grave in the railway yards (almost 100 years old). |
| Mr. Paddy Frankland unveiled a plaque in Victory Park where a specimen tree trunk and stump of a mountain ash were erected by the Rotary Club (under President, Mr. Leon Bartlett). |
| Country Roads Board removed a row of cypress trees on the Highway between Traralgon and Morwell to allow for duplication of the highway. |
| Teachers and pupils farewelled the retiring Acting Principal of Liddiard Road Primary School, Mr Syd. Falla, after 25 years in Traralgon. |
| Mr. Jim Duncan was re-elected President of the Traralgon Fish and Game society. |
| Mr. Maurie Salt became Acting Postmaster after recent death of former Postmaster, Mr. Bill Simkin, who had been here since 1967. |
| The last survivor of the Liddiard family, who took up No. 1 selection in Traralgon during the 1860's and among the earliest families here, Mrs. Emmeline McNairn (nee Newman) died on 18th July aged 96. |
| Mr. Peter Nixon, Member for Gippsland, was at opening of the Margery Cole Hostel. |
| Part-owner of Latrobe Valley Printers, Mr. Trevor Howe, was elected Chairman of the Traralgon Advisory Committee to the Gippsland Regional Tourist Authority. |
| Latrobe Farm Supplies, a new firm, opened in the former Permewan Produce division in Princes Street by partners Ted King and Malcolm Hole. |
| Mrs. Muriel Coates, Secretary for 35 years, and Mrs. Elsa Lang, Treasurer for 23 years, both retired from the Glengarry Red Cross. |
| August |
| Glengarry Methodist Church celebrated its 84th anniversary. |
| Newman Park, of 4 acres, was bequeathed to Traralgon City Council by the late Mrs. McNairn, for a public park and recreation area. |
| Cr. Rod Dunbar, Mr. Bob Symons and Mr. Gill Grout all on the same ticket, along with Cr. Bernie Pendlebury, were elected and filled vacancies in the City Council elections. Mr. Ray Symons defeated Mr,. Graham Starkey in the Traralgon Shire election. |
| After 10 years as Principal of Traralgon Technical School, Mr. Jack Canavan retired. |
September |
| Australian Cycling champion Graham Rowley from Traralgon, won the prize of "All Nation Road Race" in Austria. |
| Traralgon City's new Mayor, Cr Peter Wood, replaced retiring Mayor Cr. Paddy Frankland, and Cr. Ron Gilmour, Secretary of the Loy Yang Landowners Association, member of the C.F.A. and the Graziers Association, was elected Shire President. |
| Dr. Charles Bridges-Webb was appointed Professor of Community Medicine at Sydney University. Dr. and Mrs. Bridges-Webb came to Traralgon from Melbourne in 1960. Along with Dr. McLean, he helped to form the Traralgon and District Historical Society in 1972. He left here at the end of the month. |
| Third-generation Licensee, Mrs. Molley Buckley (nee Ryan) received a letter from National Trust advising that they had classified the hotel as "essential to Australia's heritage and must be preserved". |
| Mr. Bert Hare steps down, after 33 years, as inaugural treasurer of Traralgon Racing Club. |
| Traralgon firm Hourigan and Walsh, has tendered successfully to construct the second stage of the Traralgon Creek Railway bridge. |
| Traralgon began metric shopping with mixed feelings from both shoppers and retailers. |
| Dr. M.S.A. Swan was made a Life Governor of Central Gippsland Hospital after being a member from 1956 to 1975. |
| October |
November |
December |
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