IURP WKH 1HZVSDSHU )LOHV 100 years ago
West Gippsland Gazette, February 28, 1921
BARTON’S CIRCUS
It is announced in our advertising columns that Barton’s big circus will visit next Wednesday and Thursday, 1st and 2nd March. Referring to their opening performance in Adelaide, “The Advertiser” of November 26 says - There was a large attendance at the opening of Barton’s Circus on Saturday evening.
A diversified program was presented, and judging by the frequent applause, the audience was thoroughly satisfied.
A remarkably clever turn was presented by the Fredo Boys, tumbling violinists who skillfully manipulated the violin while turning back somersaults and posing in all sorts of impossible positions.
“Little Mona”, the child wonder, performed many hair raising feats on the flying trapeze, while the Three Lees, child tumblers and contortionists, appeared to have limbs of rubber. Wee McGregor performed all the old and new tricks on the tight wire and the Toronowski group of Japanese gave a clever demonstration of ladder balancing.
Other performers include Edward King, bareback rider, Silver King, performing Hungarian Pony and “Barney”, another pony and three clowns provide the merriment.
PROMISING FUTURE
The greatest discomforts I experienced on arriving in Warragul were the terribly muddy roads and the almost incessant rainfall. It rained without ceasing night and day for over three weeks upon my arrival.
I asked an old resident if it always rained like this. “Well”, he replied, “it generally rains like this up to Christmas, and then winter begins.” This struck me as an exaggeration, so I asked him if he was an Australian native or born in America.
No wonder the roads were very bad under such conditions, especially as the sun, even on fine days, could not penetrate through the dense, tall trees and undergrowth. All this is now, of course, completely changed.
Through the clearing of the forest, the rainfall has moderated, while the existing well-made and well-graded roads make travelling, either for business or pleasure, a delight, instead of a toil and danger to be avoided.
These improved conditions, no doubt, account for the great number of motor cars now to be seen driven about by the well-to-do farmers and others, now scarcely distinguishable from opulent city plutocrats.
Warragul, having such a large area of fertile land surrounding it, must always be a progressive centre, and, in my opinion, only requires the establishment of a few factories, on a modest scale to begin with, to make it one of the most attractive country towns in the State, and unquestionably the capital of Gippsland.
SCHOLARSHIP
Keen competition was shown in the test for the scholarship in singing, which was given by Miss I.F. Truebridge, A.C.M.M., in her studio at the Masonic Hall, Warragul, last Thursday.
The successful lady is Mrs Crisfield, who is well known in this town. She possesses a mezzo voice of beautiful quality, and that very rare attribute - temperament.
Miss Truebridge predicts a brilliant future for her in the musical world. Another applicant who attracted a great deal of attention was Miss Jessie Gallagher.
She has a voice of pure lyric quality, and with careful training should make a name for herself.
She received honourable mention. No scholarship in pianoforte was awarded, owing to the work of the applicants not being of the required standard.
50 years ago
The Gazette, February 29, 1971
BOY RETURNS
Six-year-old Warragul boy Robert Walsh last night contentedly played with his favourite toys before being tucked into his own soft bed.
It was an entirely different story 24 hours earlier.
Robert was “somewhere” in Warragul - wet, cold and undoubtedly frightened.
The son of Mr and Mrs J. Walsh, of 23 George St Warragul, Robert wandered away from his home about 3.30 p.m. last Sunday.
For the next 19 hours, his parents, neighbours and police fruitlessly searched the whole town.
Special police messages were broadcast seeking information on his whereabouts.
Robert, who is autistic, wandered into West Gippsland Hospital at about 10.30 a.m. yesterday.
A friend of the family recognised him and informed the police.
A relieved Mrs Walsh last night expressed her thanks to the police and the general public for their help during the search. She saad Robert had not spoken about his “adventure.”
“He has wandered off before, but we have usually been able to locate him fairly quickly,” Mrs Walsh said.
POP FESTIVAL
A special meeting of Warragul Shire Council tomorrow is likely to decide the fate of Warragul’s proposed Pop Festival.
The Shire President, Cr M.A. McCarthy has called for the meeting for 9.30 a.m.
It will discuss a dispute between the Warragul Sportsground Improvement Committee and the Warragul Festival of Arts Committee over hire of the Showground for the Pop Festival.
The Festival Committee plans to stage the Pop Festival on March 25 and 26 during the town’s Festival of Arts.
An application to hire the Sowground was granted at a meeting of the SIC on February 9.
However, SIC president Mr C. Logan ruled at a meeting of the committee last Monday night that the February 9 meeting was “unconstitutional”.
The meeting last week voted on the application “in camera”.
The application was rejected.
After the meeting, the Festival of Arts Committee executive agreed to request Cr McCarthy to call a special meeting of the Council to discuss the validity of the SIC meeting.
Cr McCarthy said this morning he was asked last Wednesday to call a special meeting to discuss the issue.
COURT HOUSE
The National Trust of Australia is concerned about the possible fate of Warragul’s 76-yearold Court House.
The Trust is concerned that the historic building may be demolished if a new Court House is built here.
Its concern follows authorisation last week by the Minister of Public works Mr Byrne of the immediate demolition of the old Court House at Colac.
The Warragul and Colac Court Houses have been awarded the “C” classifications by the Trust.
In a statement to The Gazette, Victorian Chairman of the National Trust, Mr R. Davidson, said last week that Mr Byrne’s decision and the demolition of the Colac building had been caused by the apathy of the residents.
“Before making the final decision, the minister undertook extensive research to gauge the extent of local support for the retention of the building,” he said.
“It was clear that little local support was forthcoming,” he said.
Mr Davidson said the decision to demolish the building ended a battle by the Trust to save the building; have it restored; and put to a good use to contribute to the cultural life of the community.
He said the lead “should have come from the council and responsible citizens was lacking.”
Warragul Festival of Arts Committee members last year expressed interest in seeking the Court House here as a possible Art Gallery.
CAMPAIGN OPEN
Federal Opposition Leader Gough Whitlam will launch the Labor Party’s campaign for McMillan Electorate at Warragul on March 21.
Mr Whitlam will support endorsed ALP candidate Mr F. Mountford, of Warragul.
The campaign will be launched at a public meeting in Warragul’s Exhibition Hall.
It is expected that Mr Whitlam will spend Monday, March 27, touring the electorate, meeting people at functions in several towns.
McMillan is regarded as a key seat in the Labor Party’s campaign to win the 1972 Federal elections, which are expected to be held in November.
Mr Whitlam has underlined the importance of McMillan by making the Mountford campaign opening one of his first major engagements.