From the Newspaper Files
100 YEARS AGO Sir John Mackey
West Gippsland Gazette – Tuesday, January 11, 1921.
The electors of Gippsland West will fully appreciate the honour of knighthood conferred upon their member, the Hon. J. E. Mackey, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Victoria.
Sir John Mackey, however, will be none the more popular because of this distinction bestowed upon him, for the electors have proved for themselves by experience – the best of all criteria – the value of his service to his constituency and to individual constituents.
The fact that he has held his seat so long, and only recently was returned again unopposed, indicates the esteem in which he is held in Gippsland West.
In addition to this, he has been unanimously chosen by the Parliament of Victoria as the best and most capable man to preside over that august assembly, and hence his election to the speakership.
BOATING FATALITY
A dreadfully sad and sudden accident occurred to a boating party on the Hopkins River at Warrnambool.
There were about 80 persons in the motor launch, which suddenly sprang a leak and went down immediately.
Ten of the passengers were drowned, including a well-known Warragul man Mr Will Middleton, who not long since married Miss Gallagher, and went to live at Warrnambool. Mrs Middleton was with her husband, but was saved.
The deepest sympathy will be felt locally for the young widow, as well as her family, who all live in Warragul.
The first news of the sad occurrence was telephoned through from Warrnambool to Mr. J Crombie by Mr. J. W. Clarke, late clerk of courts at Warragul.
The Gas Supply
One serious effect of the stewards’ strike in Melbourne, and the consequent laying up of idle vessels, is the shortage of coal throughout the state.
And in every country town more or less inconvenience is indirectly caused through the curtailed railway, facilities or the limitation of gas and electric supplies.
Owing to the succession of strikes, and the limitation of the coal output, there has been no opportunity to build up supplies of coal in the Warragul gas works during the past year, and it has been impossible to get the orders filled.
Last week the gas position in Warragul was serious, but a truck of coal came to relieve the situation. Consumers, however, are asked to be as careful as possible. 50 YEARS AGO Warragul Gazette – Tuesday, January 12, 1971.
QUEEN STREET PROJECT
Work has begun on Warragul’s controversial multi-million dollar Queen Street widening project.
Country Roads Board workmen have begun preparatory earthworks on the project.
However, it is unlikely to be some weeks before traffic using the section of Princes Highway will be affected.
Warragul Shire Council last year approved CRB plans for the project amid a storm of protest from Queen St traders.
Council is contributing $10,000 toward the cost of the project.
Work so far has included the moving of several yards of earth from a bank just west of Bowen St, and the removal of several large trees from the nature strip in front of St Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church.
Locomotive site gets ok
A site suggested by Warragul Council for location of an historic steam locomotive has met with the approval of the Warragul and District Railway Club.
Club members supported the suggestion when they met.
A council sub-committee recommended to the club that a site adjacent to the Warragul Pound would be suitable.
Provision of filling to build up the area as a safeguard against flooding was also discussed by club and council representatives.
The Railway Club proposes to buy an “A2” Class locomotive from the Victorian Railways. The locomotive, which last ran in service in 1963, has been reserved for Warragul by the VR.
Trafalgar grandstand destroyed by fire
Fire destroyed the grandstand at Trafalgar Recreation Reserve.
The fire was first noticed soon after 1am but police and firemen believe the building had been burning for some time.
Trafalgar Rural and Urban Fire Brigade attended the blaze but were unable to save any portion of the building.
Trafalgar Football Club and Cricket Club equipment and records stored in rooms under the grandstand were destroyed in the fire. The grandstand was recently renovated and repainted.