THE TRARALGON & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC

DOCUMENTED EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON "JOURNAL" - 1940
Taken by John W. Davidson in 1968

January  

R.D. Christensen took over the butcher's shop from Mr. F. Reeder, and J. Summers and F. Seaton will manage.
Wednesday 3rd touched 100° F. and at 6 p.m. it was still 88°.
First Constable Lowe left Traralgon.
All men between 20 and 21 were called up for medical examination.
Defence Surveyor's headquarters, after 2 years, moved to "Fortuna", Bendigo.
Constable Bell replaced Constable Lowe.
Garbage was collected for the first time.
Fire, at 10.30 a.m. destroyed the home of Joe Breen (south west of Traralgon Creek Subway) - first occasion that the Brigade has used the motor pump from "still" water.
Traralgon Railway men ran a picnic to Walhalla, with Traralgon Band and 600 visitors.  This may have been the last excursion, when the train actually left Maffra with bandsmen from there as well as Morwell.  First stop after Moe was Gould and a short stop at Erica to pick up a sole passenger, the local policeman. (I remember the trip well and the dance that day in the hall during the day .  J.W.D.)

February  

Annual Traralgon South Hall Committee, recalled that first meeting was held on 9th February 1889, and hall built and opened with concert and ball, 3rd July 1890.
A.P.M. Sports Club held a picnic  at Coopers Creek with 90 members and families.
Chinamens Gardens house broken into.
Mrs. Chenhall's mother, Mrs. Walton, recalled living in Traralgon before the railway line, and also the occasion as a small girl, putting flowers on the grave near the railway line.
Grey Street pupils Grades 1 and 2 used the Methodist Hall during alterations.
Railway men held their annual picnic at the Sandbank Reserve.
Callignee South School No 3673, destroyed on "Black Friday" 1939, was rebuilt and officially opened by H.J. Hyland on 23rd February.  It was originally built in 1911; Robert Scanlon was the first Head Teacher.  Click here to read more about Callignee South School
Frank S. Ward built his new 2 storey Chemist shop in Franklin Street.
The town Post Office Clock dial was illuminated for the first time (Paid for by Councillors J.H. Rogers, A. Gilmour, and A. Joel). Click here to read more about the Post Office Clock.

March  

Another bushfire swept through the district on 13th March; with great speed it swept past the west side of the Maryvale mill and on to Mr. Thos. Downie's, 8 miles up Traralgon Creek, in about 3 hours.
New Scout Master, Jack Mole, and assistant, Harold Lingham, took over 1st Traralgon from F.E. Handley and Troop Leader Steward Berwick, who had kept the group together since Bill Reid left.
Traralgon farewelled local soldiers at Town Hall, at a musical night, and each was presented with a Rolls Safety Razor.
Les Caldwell won the World Championship for the undercut event (woodchopping) at the Sydney Royal Show.

April
The Imperial Football Club disbanded after 20 years.
Messrs. C. Allgood and J. Mattson. building contractors and funeral directors, from Cohuna, bought out the business of W. McIntosh & Co.
A Public Meeting was held to form a Committee to build a Scout Hall for the 1st Traralgon troop.
The Kay Street Baby Health Centre was completed.
First Anzac Day march and service, with local men again at war, 25 years after the first one in 1915.  Militiamen of B Company of 37th Battalion of 13th Light Horse were on parade.

May
 Walter Skeels took charge of the collection of waste paper for Red Cross funds.
Miss Summerhays retired from Grey Street School.

Work commenced on S.E.C. store rooms in Seymour Street.
Old Kay Street Police Station dismantled.
J.A. & A. Templeton started a business as Funeral Directors.
Skating Marquee set up on vacant block in Seymour Street, west of Church of England.
Traralgon Butter Factory was making about 6 tons of butter per week.
Miss Hawley began at Grey Street School.
Keith Davidson transferred from Traralgon to manager of Fred Hesse, at Sale.

June

Fish and Game smoke night abandoned, first time since 1928.
Kay Street Welfare Centre opened.
Maryvale employees began weekly donations to provide an ambulance for A.I.F.
Over 700 present at Civic Ball in Town Hall; Councillor & Mrs. Whately received the 24 debutantes and their partners.
80 R.S.L. men formed a War Veterans Volunteer Corps, later known as the V.D.C.
Traralgon also collected to provide an ambulance for the A.I.F.
Rev A.W. Smith (M.C.) of Baptist Church, joined the A.I.F.
750 children passed through the Baby Health Centre since opening.
Bowling Club held "Soap Box Derby" in Henry Street in aid of Red Cross.
End of June recorded 84 recruits from Traralgon joined the A.I.F.

July

Public meeting for air raid precautions.
Rev. G.G. Robertson, Presbyterian, farewelled to East Malvern.
Archie W. Din was one of Traralgon's Chinese gardeners.
Red Indian wrestler, "Big Chief Little Wolf" holidayed with friends, and attended the S.E.C. Ball in the Town Hall.

August
Maryvale, with 600 employees, produced paper for the first time in Gippsland, Wednesday 7th., 200   inch wide kraft, 40 to 50% eucalypt.
Councillor Bob Farmer retired, after 25 years.
B. Hentschel rented the Franklin Street., Old Shire Hall, at 15/- per week.
Constable Priest, now attached to Police Station transport section.
Cecil Inglis, director of Latrobe River snagging for 3½ years, left.
Tenders were called for construction of sewerage works.
Morwell Brass Band bought the old "Arts" room at Grey Street school for £12.10.0 and shifted it to Morwell for a Band Hall.

September

Sir John Harris, M.L.C., Minister for Public Instruction, officially opened the new additions to Grey Street school.  Glass bricks used for the first time in Traralgon (in these additions).The oldest scholar, Mrs. M. Wykes, who left the Traralgon school in 1879, was presented.
Pastor E.R.Phillips arrived from Bendigo to the Baptist Church.
The Golf Club held its first tournament on new links on the highway.
Councillor and Shire President Whateley retired in place of Councillor G.E. Clarke.
British and Foreign Bible Society celebrated its Centenary in the Traralgon Town Hall.
Miss Mary Neilson, ex-music teacher, of Loch Park, died in Melbourne.
Roland Hill bought his property in Hotham Street, at the auction of Estate of late Peter Dunbar, for £1,725, and the old stables on the west side for £800.
Park Lands (today Victory Park) 7½ acres, originally owned by D.N. Christensen, with original price of £1,600 was turned down by ratepayers.
Scout Committee agreed to build a log cabin.
Council offered site on Gas Works land in Breed Street, but they preferred north west corner of park (Victory).
Private G.W. Morley found grave of Traralgon digger, Pte. C.E.W. Chester, aged 25, in Military Cemetery in England.
Viaduct bridge rebuilt 18 inches higher and 6 feet wider below Whittaker Road railway bridge.
22 public bodies were present at the Council Meeting to seek park and playgrounds opposite the Methodist Church (Victory Park today).

October
Lieutenant Michael Hagen, son of Dr. Hagen, late of Kay Street., died from war wounds..  He was born in Traralgon but lived in London where he joined the "Black Watch" Regiment.
Mr. Horrie Stoner built 2 new shops in Seymour Street.
Mr. R. Warden. Lands Officer for several years, left Traralgon.
Misses Broderick returned to Traralgon to take charge again of the "Coffee Palace" in Argyle Street.
Race Course sold by Racing Club to Mr. I. Cone for £16 per acre.
Farmer Bros., of Upper Flynn's Creek, put down water bore to depth of 214 ft and found brown coal at 167 ft.

November

Council finally bought (Victory Park) for £1,850.
Both Traralgon and Morwell Brass Bands attended the Traralgon "Patriotic" agricultural show, with £285 gate.
Scout Dance on Show Night found over 400 in the Mechanics Institute Hall.

December

Dreadful accident near Glengarry railway station, when 3 railway men were killed and several injured as their trolleys left the line.
Rev. Fred Yarnall, from Horsham, became Minister at St. Andrews.
Councillor W.E. Cumming turned first sod at sewerage pumping station.
S.E.C. Office Manager,Norman Weeks, farewelled after 13 years, and welcome to new Manager, Mr. E. Burgess.
Mr. Hall, Messrs. Mackie, Bourke, Brown and Mitchell transferred from Grey Street school.  13 pupils sat for Intermediate certificate.

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