THE TRARALGON & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC |
DOCUMENTED EXTRACTS FROM THE TRARALGON
'RECORD' 1920
Taken by John W. Davidson, in 1981 from original copies held at the Latrobe
Library, Melbourne
February 1920 |
| Traralgon Traders held a picnic at Sandbank on 21st February, which was a first of its kind. Motors, drays, buggies, and lorries arrived with the Traralgon Brass Band, and sports, etc., were held. |
March 1920 |
| On 12th March, an aeroplane gave a series of plane trips over Traralgon at £3.3.0 per head. The cabin was enclosed to prevent women having their hats and veils blown off. |
| April |
| An Anzac Memorial Service was held in the Hall, Sunday 25th April. A concert was held previously on 22nd April in aid of the Town Band and on Anzac Eve the R.S.L. held a Smoke Night. Vice Pres. Dave MacCubbin chaired the meeting and an excellent repast was provided by Digger Les Davidson, now in the ranks of the bakers, in Franklin Street. |
| May |
| The newly formed Rechabites held a Social on 11th May, with games, music and competitions. |
| Mr. J.T. Thompson, now named as R.S.L. President, informed the public that Layton Bros. would be boycotted for dismissal of 2 ex-soldiers and keeping 2 non-Diggers on. |
| Mr. W. Chapple resigned as Births and Deaths Recorder, after 19 years, covering about 1700 births, and 200 deaths. Mr. Bert Coates took over. |
| All of the pine trees were removed from the Traralgon "Bluff" Cemetery on 28th May. |
| In the South African paper "Natal Witness", 13th May, it was reported that "an engraved brass and oak tablet, the first and only one to be inlet into the wall of the lobby of the House of Assembly in Natal, Africa, in memory of Dr. Robert Andrew Buntine M.H.R. who was drowned (torpedoed) August-September 1918." (Step-grandson of Agnes Buntine). |
| June |
| The "Commercial Hotel" in Argyle Street, was closed by the Licensing Court, after nearly half a century . Mr. D. Ryan paid £3,000 to buy the business in 1886, 34 year ago. |
| George Sneddon, of Traralgon, was killed while working on the Glenmaggie Weir, 21st June. |
| July |
| To commemorate the signing of the Peace, the Traralgon ladies gave the ex-Diggers a dinner, and 100 accepted the invitation on Saturday 17th July. |
| August |
| On 3rd August the same ex-Diggers were presented with 1914-18 Stars, by Mr. Walter West who, in turn had done so much for the Returned Servicemen that he was then presented with an illuminated address. |
| A huge crowd welcomed a gaily decorated steam train as it arrived at Traralgon on Tuesday 17th August with "War Trophies" (Big Bertha, a machine gun, and a Trench Mortar) for the Kay Street Gardens. |
| A hospital carnival at the showgrounds and a concert at night, 21st August, raised a profit of £250. |
September |
| One of Traralgon's most valued citizens, Mr. Thomas Allard Pettit, died on 21st September, aged 74. |
| October |
| Mr. Eyre Lewis Bruce and his wife, Mary Atkinson, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary at Miegunyah, now of Traralgon. They were married at Tubbut Station 19th October 1870. |
November |
| Traralgon's Richard Mackay, born near Dunbarton, Scotland. wrote a series of 10 parts, for the Journal, of his autobiography. |
| Traralgon Show, Thursday 25th November, had a "gate" of £220. £30 was collected for a memorial Honour Roll at the Traralgon State School. |
December |
| Digger Les Davidson catered for the Diggers and Dads night, 11th December. |
| Ex-students of the Traralgon High School held a reunion on 16th December 1920. |