From the Newspaper Files 100 YEARS AGO 50 YEARS AGO
West Gippsland November 23,, 1920.
Gazette –
Tuesday,
For the Children
The pressing necessity for certain improvements at the Warragul State School resulted in calling a public meeting on the 11th inst. To discuss the matter, and it was decided that in order to raise the necessary funds for a shelter shed for the girls and other essential improvements, to organise a fete to be held about the 22nd of February. In order that the work may be put in hand as soon as possible 11 gentlemen decided to give £5 towards a guarantee for the cost pending the necessary raising of funds. A subscription list was also opened in the room, and a sum of £18 18s was promised in donations. It was further resolved that a public subscription list be opened and that the Press would be asked to assist this worthy object. We shall be pleased to acknowledge subscriptions. The following is the list of donations already given :- J Cromie £2 2s; Mrs Kendall £1 1s; S.J. Gay £2 2s; B.J. Dunn £1 1s; H Copeland £1 1s; C.H. O’Connor £1 1s; R Dickson £1 1s; Rev Dawe £1 1s; C.H. Edwards £1 1s; H MacFarlane £1 1s; C Brown £1 1s; C.A. Oliver £1 1s; Dr. Hayes £1 1s; Mrs W.A. Lawson £ 1s.
Display of sweet peas
A very fine display of sweet peas was in view in Mr Hiscock’s window during last week. They were grown by Mr Nedwell, postmaster at Warragul, who is an enthusiast in sweet pea and rose culture. The varieties were all named and some of the blooms were choice and well grown. Had they been available at the time of the recent flower show, there would have been a much more strenuous task for the judge; for some of these finest blooms would undoubtedly have been worthy of the first prize.
Accident
Whilst engaged in excavating work on the show grounds last Wednesday Mr “Brownie” Gallagher met with a very painful accident to two of his fingers through come into contact with the cogs of the machine. Medical aid was sought, and the genial “Brownie” is now progressing as satisfactorily as can be expected.
Warragul Gazette – Tuesday, November 24, 1970.
Valley Freeway
The nine-mile section of the proposed Latrobe Valley Freeway, which will bypass Warragul and Drouin will cost $6.07 million.
The minister for local government, Mr Hamer, has told The Gazette that construction is not likely to begin “for at least three years.”
Preliminary proposals, including plans of the nine-mile section, have been submitted to Warragul and Buln Buln councils for their consideration.
Buln Buln Council already has seen the plans and referred them to a Town Planning Committee.
Warragul Council is expected to discuss the plan on December 1.
The proposed freeway will bypass Drouin to the north and Warragul to the South.
He new freeway will leave Princes Highway at the top of Picnic Point hill, crossing it twice before re-joining it one mile east of Warragul.
The first crossing of Princes Highway will be between Robin Hood and Matthew Bennett Park.
The route then swings south-east, crossing main Neerim Road.
It then follows the route of an unused road, crosses Wadell Rd and Higgs Rd, and reaches the closest point to Drouin where it crosses Buln Buln Rd.
EDITORIAL
Warragul’s rate increase seems likely eventually to be ratified by the Shire Council, but ….
…. it will be the most talked about rate decision in the Shire’s history.
Councillors themselves have already talked for about 18 hours on the 1970-71 rate – and another meeting has been called for next Friday.
Circulation of a petition immediately after the Council’s first estimates meeting hay have influenced the Council to meet again in an attempt to review its former position.
The petition, which was signed by 296 people, was ill conceived.
Those who circulated It were not in a position to describe the rate rise proposal as unjustified because they did not have access to the figures on which the Council decision was based.
On the face of it, the Council’s proposed increase of one cent in the $1 seems reasonable when general salary and price increases are taken into account.
However, the interest taken by the petition organisers is promising and should be channelled into a more general and continuing interest in Shire affairs.
Genuine public interest in the administration of the Shire has been conspicuously lacking for some years, as evidenced by the automatic “election” unopposed of so many councillors.
The role of the councillor is largely a thankless one, and although those who choose to seek office must be open to public challenge, they are at least entitled to the courtesy of informed and constructive criticism.
One field in which the Council leaves room for disquiet is in the level of debate, which is low – and disorganised.
Men imprisoned
Two Warragul men were sentenced last Friday to 14 days imprisonment for stealing from Burton Stores, Warragul on November 19.
The men, Edgar Green and Joseph Wandin, were charged with the theft of a shirt and a half gallon of wine, valued at $6.10
Mr R.V.D. Davis heard the case, in which evidence was given by first Constable M.J. Brown.
In other cases before the court an 18-year - old Melbourne girl lost her probationary licence and was fined $15 for exceeding 45 mph in a 45mph zone on Princes Highway near Warragul, on September 20 this year.
First Constable M.J. Brown told the Court that the girl, Heather Olson, of Richardson St, Albert Park committed the offence at about 10pm.
Georgia Nicoletes, of Station St, Carlton, aged 34, was fined $10 for exceeding 40mph in a 40mph zone at Darnum on October 1.
The offence occurred at about 9.30. pm Anthony John Puchalski, aged 18, of Henrietta St, Warragul, was fined $10 for creating undue noise, and $10 for failing to display ‘L’ plates on his motorcycle.
The offences occurred on September 17 at about 7.15 pm.