THE TRARALGON & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC |
EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON
"JOURNAL" 1931
Taken by John W. Davidson
January 1931 |
| A new system of motor registration, with number plates issued by the Police, and colored certificates to be displayed on vehicles, will come into force 1st July 1931. |
| High School War Memorial garden tablets were repainted by signwriter Ernie Bohlman, in late January. |
February 1931 |
| Callignee Estate was opened for selection 24th February, with only 22 blocks but 200 land seekers. |
March 1931 |
| After a lapse of 9 years, the Traralgon Athletic Club staged another procession, held on Saturday 7th March. |
| His Excellency, the Governor, Lord Somers, visited Traralgon on Friday 27th March, for a farewell visit, and called in at the State School to address 500 children gathered around the flag pole. Being Grand Master for Victoria, he also visited the Argyle Temple, and later met Victoria's oldest citizen, Mrs. Scarff, aged 106, taking her home in the vice regal motor car. |
| April 1931 |
| James Campbell's house in Princes Street was burnt down on 1st April. It was the original home of one of Traralgon's first undertakers, Mr. Brightwell. |
| Sen. Constable Quinn left for Sale in April after spending 4 years in Traralgon. |
| Jim Price retired on 15th April, after 40 years on the railway between Traralgon and Morwell. |
| Pastor Jamieson took charge of the Baptist Church on 20th April. |
| Glengarry West celebrated its 1st Birthday, 23rd. April. |
| There were 40 present when the Blind Institute Auxiliary was formed on 23rd April. |
| May 1931 |
| Reg Hunt took over MacFarlane's Hairdresser in May. |
| Senior Constable Raven arrived on 27th May. |
| June 1931 |
| Nurse Fennel took over from Nurse Thompson at "Ewington" Private Hospital, in Shakespeare Street, in June. |
| Jack King, Scoutmaster of new 1st Glengarry troupe, June. |
| Reg Hunt refronts his hairdressing shop along with the one occupied by D. Vickers - probably the oldest shop in the centre block, because the brick wall saved it when all the shops north were burnt to the ground. |
| Attendance at the Military Ball on Monday, 22nd June, was 450. |
| Town Hall Movies showed their last silent picture on Saturday, 20th June (Bulldog Drummond in "Temple Shower" and "Power of Silence" with their first Talkies Thursday 25th June (British Pictures "The Middle Watch", Pathe Sound News, Mickey Mouse, Trooping the Colours, and Golf). Adults 2/-, Children 1/-; the pianola will cease to play. |
| July 1931 |
| Jack Telling's house, owned by Mr. R. Farmer, on the Hilltop, was burnt down, 23rd July. |
| Mr. Albert Jerkins, of the Franklin Street Small Goods Depot, purchased the fruit, vegetable, and confectionary shop directly opposite in July, which had bee formerly carried on by Poon Pang, who was returning to China. |
| Mr. Ike Cone started to grow tobacco near the racecourse alongside the place once known as Willwoods. |
| The Church of England celebrated its 53rd birthday on 27th July, and the Girl Guides celebrated their 7th on 1st August. |
| August 1931 |
| The Traralgon Hotel was taken over by Mr. J.E. Ford in August. |
| A Wolf Cub Pack was formed in August, with Mrs. Robert Farmer as Lady Cubmaster (no cub pack since the departure of Major Bruce), as well as a new Brownie Pack formed by Miss Glenister, after a previous one by Miss Leonard and Miss Stanyer. |
| In August with late night Friday shopping, the "illuminated" van, with free picture show, under the direction of Captain S. Orstein also gave free samples of Australian goods. |
| On Saturday, 29th August, the R.S.L. went to Flynn to cut firewood for unemployed Diggers in Melbourne (free rail transport). |
September 1931 |
| A 25 ft. model of Sydney Harbour Bridge was on display at D & W MacCubbin's Hotham Street hardware shop, from 4th to 12th September. |
| Mr.B.K. Coates rebuilt his newsagency in September. The old building was originally a Salvation Army barracks, and occupied by photographer Clarkson. |
| A 75 yr. old swagman drowned, below the Long Bridge, in September. Almost 50 years earlier, Jinny Breed drowned before the bridge was there, followed, a year later, by Thomas Welch. |
| October 1931 |
| Mr. Lavender took over the licence of the Club Hotel, from Frank Pickett, on 12th October. |
| It was the greatest disaster in the history of Traralgon, when a railway truck rolled down on to a Dodge car at the level crossing (west of the station) at about 4.00 a.m. on Friday 23rd. October, with 12 passengers returning from a Le Roy dance. Four were killed. |
| One hundred and fifty pine trees were burnt at the School Plantation in early October. |
| November 1931 |
| The MacMillan Scout County held a rally at the recreation ground, under Commissioner Blundell, on 21st November, with a march to the ground by scouts from Traralgon, Sale, Heyfield, Rosedale, Glengarry and Maffra, and cubs. Welcome was given by Walter West and a campfire concert was held at night. |
| Brig. General Thomas Blamey (Police Chief) spent a weekend on the Traralgon Creek, chasing trout. |
| December 1931 |
| Mr. Tucker, Engineer, and Mr Sinclair, Secretary, resigned in Morwell. |
| The Young Australia League Boys' Band, from Sydney, gave a Christmas Concert in the Town Hall. |
| The Koornalla school closed down at the end of the year. |
| Mr. and Mrs Cantwell from Ballan,, were conducting the rebuilt Royal Exchange Hotel. |
| Mr. Frank Reader took over the butchery from M.A. O'Sullivan. |
| Mr. Farren Webb was selling new Rugby cars for £229. |