15^th April, 1981

Mr. J PENROSE spoke of the early settlers of KADNOOK, CHETWYND, TALLENGOWER, MOREE and CONNEWIRRECOO including several amusing stories of local identities including Ben CHAFFY, Pat BURKE, Ron JAMIESON and WHYTE Brothers and Mother. Mr. PENROSE also told us of the sawmill at Chetwynd in 1920 which using wood from the red gums at KOOLOMERT cut blocks that were used to pave Melbourne Streets. He also told of the railway lines surveyed through CHETWYND to link with 2 other lines. This line was intended to cross the Glenelg River at its junction with the Chetwynd River and then continue through CAREY's property to link with the proposed line from Coleraine through PIGEON PONDS and further north. Members were also reminded of the mystery of the old stone chimney on Pigeon Ponds Creek. Was it there prior to Major MITCHELL's trek thru the areas as some evidence suggests?

15^th July 1981

Mrs. KOCH who spoke on the history of the KATHLEEN MILLIKAN CENTRE

The Casterton branch of the Country Womens' Association convened a meeting on July 18 1935 for the purpose of forming a Baby Health Centre in Casterton. The CWA President at that time Mrs. A W CORNEY successfully moved for the formation of a Baby heath Centre.

The first nurse was Sister TALBOT who traveled back and forth from Mt Gambier. The centre was first opened to mothers and babies on Thursday August 8^th, 1934, the site being the Soldiers' Old Clubrooms in Henty Street. The first baby to attend the centre was Jennifer GRANT.

It wasn’t long before other centers had opened at Merino and Sandford with the stated traveling to these places by train – leaving Casterton at 7 am and returning at midnight. By 1950 a vehicle had been procured for Sister, and circuit visits to Strathdownie, Chetwynd, Poolaijelo and Dergholm were conducted.

After the war, the Baby Health Centre Committee under the presidency of Mrs. MILLIKAN, made moves to form a Pre School Centre. These moves were eventually successful. The first classes were held in April 1953 in the Methodist Hall under the leadership of Mrs. S SAINSBURY.

By 1955, plans were well afoot to build a new combined Baby Health Centre and Pre School Centre. This building, named in honour of Mrs. Kathleen MILLIKAN was officially opened on July 17 1956. Sister H FINDLAY was the Centre’s first sister and Miss Lois PRYOR was the first Kindergarten Director. It is interesting to note that in 1937 there were 564 attendances at the old Baby Health Centre and in 1979 this had grown to 2061 attendances.

19^th August, 1981

Mr. J HUGHES spoke on "Forty years of Pharmacy in Casterton".

Mr. HUGHES spoke briefly on how he came to arrive in Casterton in 1941 and mentioned some of the difficulties he faced at the time such as rationing not only of petrol and food items but also of some medicines, cosmetics and best class toilet soap. Being new to the area, it was difficult for Mr. HUGHES to know who were the regular customers of the pharmacy he took over and who were not. A lot of stock was keep under the counter for regular customers only during the period of rationing. Most medicines had to be made-up, whether they were powders, lotions, ointments etc – there were very few tablets ready made. Therefore a chemist had to keep bulk amounts of stuff – especially that which went into doctors' favourite prescriptions.

Mr. HUGHES’ customers in those days (1940s) tended to be the patients of the doctor on the same side of Henty Street – Dr MILLIKAN – Dr O’SULLIVAN’s patients went to the chemist on the other side of the street Mr. HUNTER.

Patent medicines included Grasshopper ointment, Belladonna pills, Camphorated oil.

Doctors could formulate their own mixtures or formulas ie Dr CROZIER’s indigestion powders. When you buy a pharmacy you buy all these past formulas with it – there Ian LLEWELLYN can still dispense Mr. CROZIERS indigestion powder.

17^th February 1982

Guest Speaker for the evening Mr. Phee KIM

Mr. KIM’s father left Canton in 1881 and landed in Tasmania – penniless. He worked in the tin mines for some time and later moved to Melbourne. He is thought to have arrived in Casterton district around 1884 as he was remembered in the past as attending the wedding of Belle KELLY’s parents in 1884. In 1896 he became a fruit commission agent in Melbourne but was soon forced out by the fierce competition. He returned to this area after being married and became head gardener at "RUNNYMEDE" Station around 1900 when 14 lb peas was less than 1/-, he had land near HENTY, possibly McCORMACK’s. He used this as a vegetable garden for several years and during this time he would travel to WANDO VALE in his vegetable cart staying overnight at MUNRO’s.

By 1908 the family were living on land behind the Casterton Hospital, it was all bush then. During 1914-15, he took his family to China on a visit and whilst there, they were attacked by bandits who actually captured Mr. KIM (senior) and held him to ransom. The amount demanded was not large and he was returned to the family after a few weeks.

There were 8 children in all and these were all born at Sandford. Phee started school at the convent in 1919 and the family grew their vegetables for sale rather than purchasing elsewhere and bringing them in for resale.

As do all migrants, Mr. KIM (senior) brought some of his culture with him to the new land. He always celebrated Chinese New Year and always displayed the good luck symbols. Fireworks were a feature of his New Year celebrations and he ate no meal on the morning of Chinese New Years Day. He tended to keep to the Chinese dietary habit of ½ or less of the meal being meat and at least 2/3 of it being vegetable and or noodles.

In the early days he frowned upon eating pork or duck but encouraged the boys to eat salt fish "to make them strong". This actually was the Chinese way of taking cod liver oil. Phee kept a greengrocers store here for 40 years.

15^th September 1982

Mr. Aub BAXTER as the meetings guest speaker. Mr. BAXTER was first employed in a grocery shop, owned by Mr. Harry McBEAN, which was situated opposite the Albion Hotel in Henty Street. The year was about 1914, and Mr. BAXTER was employed there for around 4 years. His next position was in the large general store operated by OSBORNE and JOHNSON.

On April 1^st 1931 Mr. BAXTER commenced a bakery business in a bake house that he leased from PEDENS Pty Ltd. At that time there were 2 other bakeries also operating in Casterton Mr. J R CARTER and Mr. J C STEWART. A 4 lb loaf of bread sold for one shilling, and a ton of flour was £4/7/6. Mr. BAXTER could make around 650 loaves of bread to the ton of flour. Mr. BAXTER although with no prior experience as a baker, learned the trade from the bakers that he employed. For many years he delivered his bread throughout the district, traveling as far north as Chetwynd. During the early 1940’s when petrol was severely rationed because of the war, Mr. BAXTER delivered bread in a car powered by burning charcoal.

17^th November, 1982

Mr. Claude KELLY the guest speaker.

Mr. KELLY initially spoke of the rabbit industry around the period of WWI, which provided invaluable income to many district families as well as food. Rabbits were frozen in Casterton at the site of BUNNIK and WHITES workshop, and then transported by refrigerated railcars. Alternatively, local rabbiters could sell the rabbits to a company at Mt Gambier, where the rabbits were tinned. Rabbiters also sold the rabbit fur that was subsequently made into coats or hats. Mr. KELLY said most rabbiters set between 70 to 80 traps a day, although Peter WOMBWELL worked as many as 200.

18^th May, 1983

Father Terry FITZSIMONDS spoke on the Church of England in early Western Victoria and the Reverend Cusack RUSSELL

Dr RUSSELL was born in Ireland in 1823 or 1824 the son of a minister of the United Church of England and Ireland. He entered Trinity College, Dublin, studied Law, Medicine and then Religion, passing out in 1846 with Batchelor of Arts Degree.

He came to Australia late in 1846 with his 14 year old wife Margaret and served as a Deacon with the Bishop of Sydney. As he disagreed strongly with many of the Bishop's practices, he was sent to Melbourne where he received a great welcome. Deacons were limited in services they could perform, they could marry by special exemption, Baptise or Bury their parishioners, but could not hold Communion Services. Dr RUSSELL was licensed to practice in the Portland, Hamilton and Harrow and Dergholm area in 1850 – this large area required a lot of traveling on horseback. Dr RUSSELL was known by all and became a confidant of many including the HENTYS, Mr. Sam Pratt WINTER and Mr. Jackson of Sandford House.

In 1851, Dr RUSSELL and his wife occupied the church parsonage erected for him near the WANNON RIVER, and established churches at MERINO, COLERAINE and CASTERTON. The CASTERTON Church was funded and built in 1867 – with the Rectory being erected in 1887 for £282.11.0. A Common School was built by Mr. JELLY in the 1840s – where present croquet Lawn is situated and an Iron Cross from that building is now in the lane at the nearest point to Henty Street.

Dr RUSSELL was a remarkable man and could preach for 45 minutes without notes. After 16 years he was ordained a priest and later had two assistant curates. He spent 25 years in this district. In 1874 Dr RUSSELL suffered a stroke and his parishioners raised the sum of £1000 pounds to enable him to go to England to regain his health. On his return journey he suffered another stroke and was buried at sea in 1876 aged 53 years.

21^st September 1983

Mr. Jack GORMAN spoke on the history of the Casterton Old Cemetery

Many of the early pioneers of this district are buried in the Old Cemetery. These include inaugural Glenelg Shire President George CARMICHAEL, George and Phillippa CHAFFEY (early owners of the Glenelg Inn), George ROBERTSON of "Warrock", the McPHERSON family of "NANGEELA" and the pioneer Townsman John S PEACHEY.

The oldest known grave is that of George WYMAN, who died in Feb 1858.

A fire in May 1896 led to the destruction of all the maps, books and other records pertaining to the Old Cemetery to that time. As a consequence, many early pioneers now lie in unmarked and unknown graves.

Available records show that the cemetery Trustees in 1897 were Dr Charles SMITH, James GLANCY, J M SCOTT, Rev Fr O’NEILL, John McINTYRE, John ILLINGWORTH and E C COURTIS. At that time the gravedigger employed was Charles COOK at 15 shillings per grave.

New trustees were elected in 1905 after the resignation of the previous Trustees. They were Thomas CAWKER, James MURPHY, John JELLY, Neil CAMPBELL and Thomas TYTHERLEIGH. By 1928 it had become necessary to appoint new Trustees and those elected were George McBEAN, Jack CAWKER, Alex CAMPBELL and John MURPHY. John STEWART was added in 1944.

The Trustees continually battled to keep the cemetery in a reasonable condition despite limited funds and shortage of materials during the war years.

The final meeting of the Trustees was held in 1949. On January 15^th 1962 the Glenelg Shire Council took over the management of the cemetery and it was decided to cease all burials there, except for those people who had already purchased plots. The last burial there was that of Mrs. Edith WOMBWELL on 21/1/1964.

Mr. GORMAN then went on to refer to other grave sites in the district. Of particular importance was that relating to Alexander McKINLAY who is regarded as the founder of Casterton, having opened the Glenelg Inn in September 1848. It is believed that his body is buried on the bank of the Glenelg River in the vicinity of the kindergarten. Other burials are also likely to have been carried out in this area. Probably the most widely known unofficial burial site in the district is that at Cemetery Swamp, off the Penola Road, near Lake Mundi. Although there is only one headstone there today, surrounded by a stone wall, the site contains the graves of Hugh McEACHERN, Dugald McCORKINDALE, a station hand named McINTYRE and some others.

Other gravesites mentioned by Mr. GORMAN included that of Charles DURRANT (who was murdered near STRATHDOWNIE and buried where he fell). Tommy REDCAP (who was a member of the aboriginal test cricket team that toured England last century) and several others in the Chetwynd area.

19^th October, 1983

Mr. John GARTLAN related a number of amusing stories regarding the ROYAL OAK HOTEL late of Tarrayoukyan. The hotel was destroyed by fire on May 11^th 1959 at which time a diary and other records relating to the hotel's history were incinerated. This has added considerable difficulty to the job of researchers, trying to unravel the hotel's past. The derivation of the hotel's name is not clear although Nareen means "Place of Oaks" and there may some connection. The original Inn was built around 1868 by James REECE but probably wasn’t licensed until the early 1870s. Later in the 1870s Richard CAREY opened a store at Tarrayoukyan, which included post office facilities. Soon after it appears that the hotel store and post office had been incorporated into the one site under the ownership of James REECE.

This establishment was sold to Mrs. Hugh McCAHILL around 1880 who later sold to Robert NEAVE and his wife. Robert NEAVE’s two daughters took over the business after his death, but in 1927 they sold their portions to their brother William NEAVE. He died in 1929 and the Royal Oak was then operated by his widow until 1949. Her brother in law, Eric RENFREY subsequently held the license until 1952 when it was transferred to Barney CARR, the last publican of the Royal Oak.

21^st March 1984

Mr. Ian LEWIS joined the Casterton Fire Brigade some 10 years ago. During a clean out, several boxes of Old records and minute books, trophies and photographs were uncovered and as a result Mr. LEWIS began preparing a history of the Casterton Brigade.

The Casterton Fire Brigade was formed at a public meeting held on April 2^nd 1889 although an unofficial "Bucket Brigade" had existed for many years prior to this. Mr. LEWIS read a list of the first firemen and many the surnames were familiar to members present. The first fire station was erected by 1893 and was situated on a site adjacent to the present RSL rooms. The tower added was a 30 foot wooden structure and was topped by the fire bell. Soon after the first fire engine was purchased and this horse drawn hand pumped device was named "Warrock". This pet name was later altered to "DO WELL".

Uniforms for brigade members were first worn in 1894 and Mr. LEWIS was able to show early photographs depicting these.

The most famous fire in Casterton history is the burning of the Post Office. This occurred on the morning of January 24, 1908 and little could be done to save the building. The present Post Office was subsequently erected as a result of this fire. The cause of this fire has never been established.

Mr. LEWIS gave details of other well known fires, including the burning to the ground of the old grandstand at the Sandford Racecourse in March 1934.

18^th April 1984

Mr. Alistair ROPER of Dergholm spoke about the Dergholm area prior to 1900.

Mr. ROPER reported that very little is known of the indigenous aboriginals of the area. The first Europeans to settle in the area were James JACKSON and Mat GIBSON, who took up the leases of "DERGHOLM" and "ROSENEATH" stations in 1840, an area of some 145 square miles. The above gentlemen were subsequently succeeded by William SPLATT and John RALSTON.

Rev Charles SIMSON came to ROSENEATH after 1866 having previously been minister at Glenorchy near Hobart. He also held the license to DERGHOLM at this time.

The earliest selectors in the Dergholm area were John SHAW who selected land adjoining BAILEYS ROCKS in 1872; William H ROPER who selected land at Dergholm in 1871, Angus TURNER who selected at Dergholm in 1871 having previously held land at Merino. John BAILEY and his family settled near a large granite outcrop in 1888, north of Dergholm which has since been known as BAILEYS ROCKS.

Alistair indicated that the names ASTBURY, HOWLETT and ROPER are the only names of original selectors, which have remained to the present day.

Early records of Dergholm Township are hazy. The first building was built by Donald McDONALD in 1873 and was the DERGHOLM INN. The windows of this original hotel are still in the present day hostelry. A number of stores are recorded. These include the IRON STORE (Simon RAPKIN which was eventually relocated at the rear of R S DONALD store in Casterton), John PEACHEY’s store and a store belonging to Hezekiah HOWLETT. Archie McKINNON (boot maker) and Thomas NEWSON (Blacksmith) are also recorded.

20^th September 1984

Mrs. Pauline FORD who presented general overview of the Land Acts which controlled the early settlement of Victoria

Until 1855 all Australia’s land laws were made in Britain and after then the colonial government was responsible in Victoria. The British government wanted a compact settlement for ease of administration. Its land policy up to 1836 aimed to foster the gradual spread of a typically English agricultural civilization, but in that year Governor BOURKE persuaded London that the rapidly increasing sheep and cattle needed more land. Since the graziers (squatters) had already moved beyond the legal limits of settlement set in 1829, he suggested that they should be permitted to use those Crown lands for a fee of £10 a year for an annual license. BOURKE pointed out that flocks were providing a much needed export income. From late 1837 to 1840 there was a veritable rush to take up grazing runs in Port Phillip District (Victoria) under these terms.

In 1842 Britain decreed that surveyed Crown Land would be sold by auction for a minimum of £1 acre. This high price was to encourage cultivation of the land in the more closely settled areas and to raise revenue for the government’s assisted immigration programme.

The need of the squatters in the unsurveyed outback for greater security for their investment was partly met by the 1847 Order in Council which promised compensation for any improvements made by the licensee in the event of the land being sold at auction to another and also offered the squatter the opportunity to purchase between 160 and 640 acres as a homestead block at £1 acre. These regulations encouraged the development of the pastoral industry and the more permanent settlement of the inland.

Well over 400,000 British immigrants swelled Victoria’s population in the golden 1850s and as the alluvial gold ran out the immigrants considered the time to be ripe to convert what seemed to them a vast underdeveloped wilderness into civilized farmlands like England’s.

In the 1860s, 640 acres was considered to be an ample maximum area for Victoria though it was reduced to only 320 acres just as the buyers were on the verge of moving into the drier northern area of the colony. The land was not sold at auction which would favor the rich but it was to be selected by any adult male and purchased for the flat rat of £1 acre – regardless of climate, soil or distance from the market.

There was a great scramble for land in the 1860s and 1870s. Pastoralists needed more that the 640 acre maximum area and there was no shortage of people eager to hire out their names for such an easily earned fee. Farmers particularly rushed the areas where the soil was obviously more fertile such as the Casterton – Coleraine – Merino triangle and east of Hamilton and around Horsham. Townsmen also bought blocks and speculators were especially active in the Western District.

Because so much of the land supported less than half a sheep to the acre, most pastoralists paid quite dearly for it and then had to spend more on improvements (especially fences), so that many were carrying debts for the rest of the nineteenth century. It was not until 1878 that the government recognized the financial problems of the pioneer farmers and extended the time of payment to 20 years, for by then one third had given up and mostly gone to the city to live.

21^st November 1984

The guest speaker Mr. Kevin STARK was born at Lake Mundi and has lived all of his life there as was the case with his father. In fact the fifth generation of STARKS are still resident at Lake Mundi. The District derived its name from a Lt MUNDI (late of 21^st Regiment) who passed through the area in July 1839 on an expedition from Melbourne to Adelaide.

By 1845/6 a good deal of the land at Lake Mundi was being leased from the Crown by McEACHERNs of "Heathfield" and GARDINERs of "Nangwarry". Hugh McEACHERN and others from the Heathfield property are buried in the scrub in the area.

The first selector at Heathfield was Albert W WATERS, his selection later being leased to Tom KERR (husband of Daisy CAWKER) who trained racehorses on the property.

"Nangwarry", originally occupied by Capt. GARDINER when it was called "Kilbride", has always had considerable acreage on the SA side of the boarder. The first selector there was a man named EDWARDS, whose selection was on the site now occupied by ABERFOYLE.

The guest speaker’s grandfather, James STARK, came from Scotland about 1850. He arrived at Lake Mundi some years after his arrival in Australia. His first Freehold at Lake Mundi was gained in 1870 although he was in occupation of the block some 3 years previous.

Alex GILLIES came in 1871 to take up land at Lake Mundi. William GLADSTONE was another early settler his land being later purchased by CARMICHAEL BROS. Other early settlers were Duncan BOYLE (1871), Thomas SHANKS (1881), Andrew McCALMAN (1882), Thomas CARMICHAEL and James McGINTY toward the end of the century.

In 1876 the first State School opened at Lake Mundi, with an average attendance of 15 scholars. A residence for the teacher was attached in 1886. A second State School was opened some years later.

The LAKE MUNDI HOTEL alias the HALFWAY HOUSE was run by Mrs. McLOON (later she became Mrs. McGANN) for many years.

20^th February 1985

Mr. Bill ELIJAH the guest speaker.

Mr. ELIJAH was raised in Hamilton, where his families association with that town goes back many years. His paternal grandfather came to Australia in 1850s and spent many years driving coaches for COBB & CO where he was based at Skipton. He later moved to Hamilton where he established his own stables in Lonsdale Street and ran coaches to many parts of the Western District.

The speaker's elder brother, Norman ELIJAH, was transferred to Casterton from the head office of the Stock and Station agents T H LAIDLAW & CO in 1926. He later set himself up as an accountant in Casterton and served as secretary to the Racing Club and the Water Trust.

The speakers first contact with Casterton arose during his last year at the Hamilton High School when he came to holiday with Norman for a week. After the flat country around Hamilton, he was amazed at the undulating country side around the Coleraine/Casterton area.

Mr. ELIJAH then went on to relate some of his first memories of Casterton including the boarding house where his brother Norman was stationed which was run by Miss Fanny BADAMS, the racecourse etc.

During a subsequent visit to the town, Mr. ELIJAH experienced his first contact with ISLAND PARK, where he was involved in a cricket match.

In 1946 the guest speaker came to settle in Casterton. This was a time when there was an air of confidence in the town and there was talk of soldier settlement in the district.

The only shop available in the town was a small section of the building he now owns. In 1946 it was owned by Ben SHIPHAM and his elderly mother. After much difficulty in obtaining stock, he finally opened for business with crockery as a major line. The opening of Mr. ELIJAH’s business coincided with the great floods of 1946, although his business remained unscathed.

In 1956, ELIJAHS purchased the corner shop and residence.

During the course of his talk, Mr. ELIJAH spoke briefly of fires in Henty Street that he remembered and also of other incidents that he considered to be of interest.

Since coming to Casterton, the guest speaker has been deeply involved with the administration of various sports such as badminton, football, tennis and cricket.

Of particular interest were his reflections on the apparent demise of many sporting bodies in the District over the years. He recalled days not too distant when every minor areas such as Bahgallah and Strathdownie field cricket and football teams. Every locality had at least one tennis team and rivalry with other areas was intense. Most of these smaller clubs have disbanded because of lack of players.

Times have even changed to the extent that top tennis players no longer visit the town to play exhibition matches. The last such event was around 1958 when Mal ANDERSON, Neil FRASER and Roy EMERSON visited to play such a match, The limestone court at ISLAND PARK was laid especially for this visit.

21^st August, 1985

The guest speaker was Mrs. Jean DEHNERT, whose talk focused on the early settlement of TULSE HILL and later the soldier settlement of the area.

William CORNEY and his 2 brothers settled on WANDO STATION in October 1840 previously having arrived in the colonies from England via Van Diemans Land in 1821.

In 1846 William CORNEY married Stephanie ROBERTSON, a sister of John G ROBERTSON, occupier of the neighboring WANDO VALE station. Their only child Robert William CORNEY was born at the WANDO in December 1847. William sold his station in 1854. Later he purchased "TULSE HILL" property which although reduced in size is still retained by the CORNEY family.

After the Second World War a large portion of TULSE HILL was made available for settlement by returned soldiers under the auspices of the Soldier Settlement Commission. In all some 8 holdings varying in acreage from 630 – 800 acres were allocated.

The guest speaker and her husband considered a number of grazing blocks in the Western District prior to their inspection of a block at TULSE HILL. Their inspection of TULSE HILL was not particularly favorable due to the areas remoteness, and lack of adequate roads. In addition inclement weather did not assist their initial impressions of the District. However application for the block was still made. This application initially unsuccessful was later granted. Due to the primitive living condition, Mrs. DEHNERT did not join her husband at TULSE HILL for some time. Conditions were still difficult and service virtually non existent when she took up residence at the property.

18^th September 1985

Mrs. KOCH guest speaker

Mrs. KOCH managed to include in her talk a summary of most aspects of life in the Western District from its first settlement to the present day and comparisons of life in the past to the present that she drew were most lucid.

Mrs. KOCH described the early settlement of the district from Edward HENTY landing at Portland Bay in 1834 to begin the first permanent settlement and the historic expedition of Major MITCHELL through the district in 1836 to the HENTYS establishment of stations at "MERINO DOWNs", "SANDFORD" and "MUNTHAM". The isolation and difficult conditions endured by early settlers and their improvisations they made to endure these conditions were described by the guest speaker.

The role played by religion in these times and the efforts of early ministers such as Dr RUSSELL were described by Mrs. KOCH as well as the subsequent development of formal education with the erection of district schools. Soldier settlement schemes in the district led to the proliferation of small schools these have mostly disappeared, with the decrease in rural population and the concept of the Consolidated school introduced in the 1950s.

The introduction of postal services became the main means of communication in the early days with mails arriving by steamer to Portland. In Casterton, the first post office was incorporated as part of the Glenelg Inn in 1847 and conducted by Alex McKINLAY. Communications were improved by the introduction of the telegraph dating from the 1860s. The telephone however proved the greatest asset to people on properties in the district.

Mrs. KOCH spoke of the change in transport patterns, drawing comparisons between the horse and bullocks of last century through to the introduction of the railway system and later its withdrawal to probably the one with the most significant effect on lifestyles – the car.

19^th February 1986

Guest speaker Mrs. Mary BALKIN who spoke on the life of Dame Mary GILMORE

Dame Mary GILMORE’s life was so immensely extensive its far beyond one to cover even one quarter of her activities during her ninety seven years – we must never lose sight of Mary GILMORE as the social propagandist, propagandist for the causes and issues that permeated her life and work, causes and issues that have often because of her voice come to be built into the fabric of Australian society. These causes and issues – feminism, egalitarianism, the aboriginals, the welfare of the underprivileged, patriotism – she has presented with the verve and immediacy of one who has herself played a leading role in the struggle down through the years. The pages of the Worker for almost a quarter of a century bear witness to her efforts. Most of her early learning years were formed with the help of her parents as it was difficult for her mature mind to adjust to the school curriculum. Traveling through NSW and QLD, mainly with her father, she became vitally aware of all aspects of the development of Australia.

Great industrial corruption was taking place in Australia in the 1890s. Mary with others sailed to Paraguay, where she met William GILMORE, married, and 12 months later William Dysart Cameron GILMORE was born. Their plans to set up a socialistic utopia in Cose had failed – her husband went shearing and demonstrating the newly invented shearing machine for 12 months in the Argentine to provide the return fares to Australia.

Mary lived at Strathdownie and Casterton for 10 years. William then acquired land at Cloncurry and Mary went to Sydney to the "seat of strength". There she settled to write with tremendous vitality in every field. For many years she led the May Day processions as their May Day Queen. After 66 years of avid work at the age of 97 she inscribed her last volume " Fourteen Men" with the words

"Here at this last I can come home

And lay me down with a quiet mind

For the work is done that I had to do

A sheaf that my hand must bind"

16^th April 1986

Guest speaker Mrs. Z CAMERON who read from the excerpts from the Chronicles of Dr Ernest Sandford JACKSON. This collection of papers was kindly donated to the museum by Dr E DERAVIN (nee ROSS)

Dr JACKSON's great grandfather, Henry JACKSON of London had 4 sons – Henry or John Henry, Samuel, William and Joseph although Dr JACKSON was not entirely certain of details relating to other such early information. Dr JACKSON was directly descended from the son of the original Henry, known as Henry or John Henry mentioned above.

This is further confused by the fact that Dr JACKSON’s own father was also a John Henry. Dr JACKSON’s father married Marianne BOWTELL, the daughter of an early settler in the Merino/Sandford district. Dr JACKSON's aunts were Sarah, who married Robert TOWART of Tasmania and Eliza who married Thomas CORNEY. Mrs. CAMERON related the facts as to how Dr JACKSON father came to eventually own SANDFORD HOUSE, as well she read a number of short excerpts from Dr JACKSON's writings, giving his impressions of both is father and of the countryside in the district. Dr JACKSON wrote these accounts of his family and indeed of his own life in 1917 mainly to make his descendants aware of their heritage in the family.

16^th July, 1986

Guest speaker Mr. T P DAVIDSON who spoke on the history of the Wando Vale area

Major MITCHELL traversed the area on August 10 1836. However land in the Wando Vale area was not taken up until around February 1840 when John G ROBERTSON squatted on some 12,000 acres. The guest speaker talked for some time about ROBERTSON's background and his father's fortunes after arriving in Van Diemens Land in 1831 until his departure from WANDO VALE in May 1854. John G ROBERTSON sold WANDO VALE to John and William ROBERTSON (no relation to him) who held the license until 1867. John R MCPHERSON held it for 12 months until sold to Mrs. Ann NICHOLAS (widow of Archibald JOHNSON) in February 1868. In 1886 she threw open a portion of WANDO VALE for growing wheat and for leasing. In 1898, WANDO VALE was offered for sale at SCOTTS HOTEL, Melbourne but passed in. Towards the end of 1899 Mrs. NICHOLAS died. In 1900 WANDO VALE was chosen as a site for Closer Settlement and 66 allotments were offered.

20^th August 1986

Guest speaker Mrs. Heather BAKER who has been recently acquiring information in order to construct the JESSUP family tree

Walter JESSUP was born in England on 16^th November 1828 a son of James and Alice JESSUP. He was one of 10 children and could write and read. Before emigrating to Australia, Walter married Harriet WELLS and they had 3 children; two of these died on the voyage out. Mr. JESSUP’s troubles continued when his wife Harriet died only 1 month after they reached Portland. Walter remarried Jane Elizabeth RICHARDSON on 27 January 1854. The family moved to Mt Gambier and then to ARDNO WEST. By 1869 they were living in Bahgallah Rd Casterton. In 1872 Walter selected 60 acres at Silver Creek Bahgallah adding a further 40 acres later on. All of Walter's daughters were married at Silver Creek – one of these, Elvina married an American known as Benjamin JEWELL. Walter later sold SILVER CREEK to his son in law Henry HUMPHRIES. Walter later remarried to Elizabeth MADDOCKS, and moved to a site near the Killara Bridge – this he later sold to Frank and Mary HUMPHRIES and went to live in a hut in the bush. He was a tee-totaller, and belonged to a number of Casterton organizations. He died at his hut in the bush 12^th May 1896 and is buried at the old Cemetery

15^th October 1986

Guest speaker Mrs. H SLATER (nee Rita LAWRENCE).

Mrs. SLATER started guiding in Casterton in 1926 the same year that a local organization was formed. Mrs. McKay SHAW of "RIFLE DOWNS" was Commissioner at that time. The local troop began with 8 guides with Misses B & F CAMPBELL as captains. The first Brownie leaders were Lizzie McBEAN and Margaret CARTER. The Rangers formed in 1928 with Miss P SEYMOUR in charge; they met at the Sons of Temperance Hall in Henty Street.

The guest speaker took over as Guide captain in 1933 with Lena BAXTER as assistant. There were 9 guides at this time. Competitions were regularly held in conjunction with Balmoral, Portland and Coleraine troops. The Girl Guides held their first ball in the old Mechanics Institute Hall around 1934. Mrs. SLATER related a number of stories regarding the first Jamboree attended by the local troop. This was held in Frankston on 8 December 1934 and was attended by 10 local guides. The Guiding headquarters was shifted to the ODDFELLOWS HALL soon after 1935. During the second world war guides helped in waste collection around Casterton and also acted as messengers around the town. The guides contributed to the 1938 Back to Casterton celebrations by making countless paper flowers to decorate shops in the town. There were 24 guides in the local troop when the guest speaker retired in 1944. Miss D MILWARD took over the reins that year.

15^th July 1987

Guest speaker Mr. Sandy STEWART.

Mr. STEWART was the first cub in Casterton, when he joined up in 1931 at the age of 11. In those days the Scout Hall was situated in a shed behind the present launderette in Henty Street. He described how, on Empire Day 1934, the scout troop surveyed land sited the Fleur de Lys, to celebrate the centenary of Portland. Mr. STEWART frequently drew amusing happenings from his repertoire of experiences when in the scouts, particularly in relation to camping excursions at the Wannon - Glenelg River’s junction at "RIFLE DOWNS", Woodside and Hamilton. He spoke fondly of a rally of Western District scouts at "MURNDAL" and of the Frankston Jamboree where 11,000 scouts were addressed by BADEN-POWELL.

The first Casterton troop was formed in the early 1920s at Scots Church hall under the Rev SCARFE. An old tin shed (mentioned above) was loaned by Jack LITTLE as a Headquarter. Patrols were SWIFT, PARROT, KANGAROO and CURLEW. Trevor LEY was an early patrol leader. Mr. STEWART’s recollections and revelations relating to his days playing the piano at dances at Chetwynd and Sandford were much enjoyed by members.

19^th August 1987

Ruth RIVETT who had recently accompanied by relative Mrs. P WOMBWELL and R BEATON visited the family ancestral home of LANGLEY, Essex. Her great great grandfather, Peter WOMBWELL was born there in 1818.

15^th November, 1987

Mrs. Pat WOMBWELL addressed the meeting on research on the WOMBWELL family. Charles WOMBWELL came to Australia in 1851 from Langley Essex. During her address, Pat read the obituary of Joseph WOMBWELL who died in 1918. Joseph was a son of Charles WOMBWELL and he was born at Langley before the family emigrated to Australia.

17^th February 1988

Mr. J KENT as a guest speaker

Jim spoke on a range of topics and generally maintained a decided leaning towards the mirthful. His recalling of several memories relating to the late Harold FERGUSON was of special interest, and was followed by the donation of several items from the FERGUSON Estate to the museum. Of particular significance was the baptismal gown worn by Harold FERGUSON some 64 years ago. The needle work was admired by the ladies present. Mr. KENT then went on to speak of one Francis BIRTLES, who according to the guest speaker is an unrecognized pioneer of automobile travel in Australia. In 1912 he drove some 2600 miles in 4 weeks from Perth to Melbourne and was the first to cross the Nullabor by car. He also completed several other remarkable car trips including traveling from England to Australia.

21^st April 1988

Members read out several articles of historical interest

Mrs. I MARTIN read the Coroners inquest report in to the drowning of Charles BEST at Sandford in 1863 following the unnotified removal of the bridge over the Wannon river near that town.

Mrs. E PEART then read several interesting accounts (published in 1923) relating to the origin of the Kelpie dog in Australia.

22^nd June 1988

Mrs. E PEART related information regarding the NEIL family who formerly resided at NEIL’s CORNER at Bahgallah. Several miles from the Golf Course corner on the Mt Gambier Road.

Miss K ANNETT the guest speaker

The ANNETT family recently secured possession of 12 letters written to Miss ANNETT's mother’s great grandfather, whose name was Thomas VINEN. The letters are between 1836 and 1856 and were mainly written from England to Thomas in Australia, Thomas was a son of William VINEN b 22-2-1769 d 1841 or 1842. William and his wife had 10- children that can be traced from the letters – Thomas, Mary, Joseph, Isaac, Jane, Elizabeth, Harriet, Ellen, Ann and Catherine. The following are great grandchildren of the above mentioned, Thomas VINEN, Joan ANNETT, Hank VINEN, Belle McCALMAN and Harold NEWTON, Cam NEWTON, Jean ZUKIECUWZ, and Kaye ANNETT are great great grandchildren of the Thomas VINEN.

18^th July 1988

Mr. Peter McCALLUM of Casterton who for some years has been gathering aliquots of information relating to the local football scene. He has been a member of the Casterton Football Club since 1953 when he first played for the 3rds. He retired as a player in 1975.

The club was first established in 1875 with the first match played between 2 local scratch teams on Wednesday June 9^th 1875. In the late 1880s and 1890s there were two local teams – Casterton Football Club and Casterton United Football Club (later Parkville FC). Clifton Hill Football Club was in existence around the time of the Great War. After the war the clubs in Casterton were the Rainbow and Federal Football Club.

Frank GILL regarded as the best footballer that Casterton has produced, appeared on the scene in the late 1920s. After a few seasons with Casterton, he went to Carlton where he played 205 games, mainly at full back. He became captain of Carlton and played in the 1938 premiership side. He also represented Victoria.

After the 2^nd World War, Casterton joined the Glenelg Football League and won the premiership. With Jack DOUGLAS as coach, the club also won the 1949 flag.

The C R GILL Clubrooms were opened in 1956, the same year the club changed to the present colors. During the decade of the 1960s the Club won 5 flags. Also 4 players made VFL teams.

17^th August, 1988

Mr. J KENT handed a shearers ticket that was donated by Mr. and Mrs. E J "Ted" SMITH to the museum. Mrs. SMITH nee Heather McDONALD is a grand daughter of the late Mr. James THOM, purchaser of the ticket.

19^th October 1988

Mr. Jack GORMAN the guest speaker.

He began his talk by reading a petition dated September 1^st 1867. This petition was promulgated at a public meeting and called for the establishment of a new cemetery in Casterton to replace the Old Cemetery as it was considered by the meeting to be "repulsive to the feelings of the living, ill chosen from the fact that it is situated in gloomy country of a poor scrubby description".

In the years prior to 1867, very little is known of the Old Cemetery. It is not known when the site was reserved as a cemetery. Mr. GORMAN thinks it was about 1861, but as against that is the tombstone of George WYMAN who died on February 12th 1858 aged 22 years.

It is known that all the early records of the old cemetery were kept at BOND and CLANCYS store in Henty Street (adjacent to NEWMAN's milk bar). A fire at the back of the store on 21^st January 1892 did minimal damage, but a second fire on 12^th May 1896 burned the brick store to the ground. It is believed that the cemetery records were lost in this fire. The cause of both fires was unknown. The cemetery trustees at the time of this fire were Mr. BOND, John Finn CUSSEN and John CARMICHAEL. New Trustees were appointed in 1897 – Fr O’NEILL, Dr C SMITH, John ILLINGWORTH and John MCINTYRE. They appointed Herbert JACOBS as secretary at a fee of £2 per annum. The trustees met regularly every quarter. Charles COOK was the gravedigger. In 1905, the trustees of the Old Cemetery first sought amalgamation with trustees of the New Cemetery. Amalgamation was refused despite several further attempts during the succeeding decades. That same year new trustees were appointed – John MURPHY, John JELLY, Neil CAMPBELL and Thomas TYTHERLEIGH, but apparently between 1907 and 1912 there were no records kept at all.

In 1912, Herbert JACOBS resigned as secretary after 15 years and A J FOX took his place at £1 per annum. He only lasted a short time in the job and in 1913 was replaced by Thomas TYTHERLEIGH. Between 1924 and 1944 there were only 31 burials recorded in the old cemetery and it seems that between 1913 and 1928 there were no meetings of the trustees held at all.

In March 1928 three new trustees were appointed – George McBEAN, Jack CAWKER and Alex CAMPBELL to join John MURPHY who had been a trustee since 1902 and Thomas TYTHERLEIGH. From 1929, meetings were held regularly at Jack CAWKER’s home on the Mt Gambier Rd.

Tom TYTHERLEIGH died on 1943 and Mr. BANNOT was appointed as secretary to replace him at £2 per annum. He was the last secretary of the Old Cemetery trust. Jack STEWART was added as a trustee in 1944 following a public meeting. No meetings were held in the years 1944-1949. The final meeting of the trustees comprising Jack CAWKER, Alex CAMPBELL and Jack STEWART was held in 1949. Until 1962, there was nobody responsible for the Old Cemetery at all. Last person buried there was Mrs. Peter WOMBWELL (Lillian) in 1962.

The shire of Glenelg was appointed trustees after 1962.

During the many questions that followed his talk, Mr. GORMAN highlighted the paradoxical dates on which the Old and New Cemeteries in Casterton were officially gazetted – Old Cemetery in 1879, New Cemetery some 12 years earlier in 1867.

16^th November 1988

Dr Brian COULSON, guest speaker

In 1985 the owner of the old blacksmith shop in Whyte Street Coleraine, Mrs. Kit CAMERON, decided to sell the building. Elders wanted to purchase the site, bulldoze the blacksmiths shop and erect a storage shed. The guest speaker decided to save it and organized with 7 other people to purchase from Mrs. CAMERON. The blacksmith’s shop was in a state of considerable disrepair, but still contained many historic tools of trade.

Dr COULSONS research indicated that Henry Mathew COOKE, the founder of the shop, initially established himself as a blacksmith on a site adjacent to the present shop in the 1870s he built the present shop in November 1886. A son was Colin COOKE who followed his father’s trade. Colin died in 1981, and possession of the shop passed to his daughter Mrs. Kit CAMERON.

15^th February 1989

Mr. Gordon OSBORNE, guest speaker

Mr. Gordon OSBORNE of Mt Gambier is the fourth some of Fred and Lucy OSBORNE who came to Casterton in 1925 to lease with right to purchase the business of Mr. Goodman (Goodie) HARRIS.

Gordon’s father Fred originated in Coleraine, where as a boy he worked at Trangmar’s General Store. Fred eventually married Lucy BOND of Heywood. Following his marriage, Fred took up position as head grocer for a large business in Lockhart NSW. This was subsequently followed to similar moves in other stores in NSW including Hay, Temora (where the guest speaker was born), Junee and Jerilderie. Fred OSBORNE began a partnership with Alex JOHNSON (an experienced men’s mercer) and opened a general store. After several successful years, the pair began to look to take possession a larger business in Victoria.

About this time, the business of H & G HARRIS in Casterton came up for auction. Fred OSBORNE and Alex JOHNSON took over this business in 1925 and called the business OSBORNE and JOHNSON. The business included grocery, drapery, dressmaking, general hardware, timber, produce and wine and spirits departments as well as the TEXACO petrol agency. Cars were filled using four gallon tins.

Later OSBORNE and JOHNSON was the first local business to have a petrol bowser. A large part of the business was the free delivery of groceries and other purchasers to all part of the district on unmade roads that were generally in deplorable condition. The business also held the mail run to Harrow for nine years.

As was the custom in those days, OSBORNE and JOHNSON would buy standing crops of oats and other crops and bag the chaff and grains for sale in the store.

Seed potatoes would be provided for farmers at Lake Mundi and elsewhere and these would also be grown and bagged under contact for the store.

The business would purchase timber from mills at Heywood or Hotspur and often Gordon who was just beginning to drive would pick it up.

It was sold at Casterton for 21 shillings per 100 superfeet. Posts and timber were also purchased from local splitters and re sold.

Mr. OSBORNE recounted how many customers would bring in eggs, cream butter and other farm produce to effectively trade for other groceries.

This produce would be sold in the business and excess would be sold to a company based in Melbourne.

Most farm customers came to town to shop on Thursdays and always parked their buggies or cars in the same parking spot as if by ritual.

Although is it hard to believe today, during the 1920s and 30s some farmers would travel into town but once a year usually Christmas eve when they would settle their bills and see the sights of Casterton.

OSBORNE and JOHNSON would visit these people on their properties during the year to take grocery and other orders and to make deliveries.

Prior to the Second World War, very few grocery lines were pre packed and employees were compelled to work late in to the nights packing and bagging biscuits, flour, sugar, rice etc and bottling rum, vinegar, kerosene, wine, turpentine, honey, paints etc.

The business that has recently been purchased by SWINTONS was established by Simon RAPKIN in 1871. The present double story store was completed in the mid 1880s. Following RAPKIN's death in 1892 the business was taken over by H & G HARRIS and in 1925 by OSBORNE AND JOHNSON.

In 1937 Fred OSBORNE took over sole ownership and retained this until 1945 when he sold to MR R S DONALD. Around 1970, MURRAY GOULBURN LTD took over the premises and carried out renovations.

The guest speaker related a great many amusing stories relating to his time in Casterton and also listed some of the other businesses as he remembered them.

Blacksmiths - Otto WERNER, HOGBEN & ATCHISON, Don SMITH,

Garages - LITTLE KENT & CO, JAMES BROS, COXON BROS, Edward DALGLEISH, A O BERKEFIELD

Carriers - Bill O’CONNELL, Jack LEHANE, Wes McCOMBE, Mr. PRESKETT, Alex McRAE, Lance McGINTY& SONS.

Night Soil Contractors - S T MOYSEY, Jack JOLIFFE, Ern & Percy HUTCHINS,

Chinese Market Gardeners - Hee BEN, Mr. KIM

19^th April, 1989

Mr. Bud GARTLAN was introduced by the President and he spoke of his families background at KANUMBRA and later at KOOLOMERT.

Bud donated to the museum a lengthy pamphlet documenting the history of the GARTLAN family in Australia. This was researched and written by John GARTLAN, a son of John GARTLAN pioneer of KANUMBRA.

19^th July 1989

Mr. G HENTY ANDERSON related the history of the subdivision of "MERINO DOWNS" into "WURT WURT KOORT", "TALISKER" and "MERINO DOWNS", with each of Francis HENTY’s daughters acquiring a portion.

18^th October 1989

Mr. Rod NORTHCOTT, guest speaker

James and Prothesus NORTHCOTT of Devonport England and their family George, James, Sarah, Richard, Susan and Jane emigrated to Australia from the 1850s. George was married prior to coming to Australia. His family was Henry, George, Jane, Jane and Emily. Most of these are buried at Merino. The first Jane died aged 1 year, the second Jane died as a young teenager. Henry who married Alice LEAKE was the guest speakers grandfather. Children were George, Henry, Inez, and Alice (Mrs. Jack McINTYRE. She died after giving birth to a still born baby. The guest speaker’s father was Henry John and his brother was George Rod married Helen SHEPHERD.

The NORTHCOTT family has a total of 57 years service as Glenelg Shire Councilors dating from the 1800s.

21^st February 1990

Cr CLAMPITT proceeded to address the meeting regarding aspects of his research into the history of Merino’s policemen.

The guest speaker has a general interest in history, but has developed a particular interest in that of the Merino district since his arrival there some years ago. This interest flourished when he began to find out about the police who have served in Merino. Cr CLAMPITT was especially intrigued to uncover something of the history of Sgt. Thomas KENNEDY – Merino’s longest serving policeman.

KENNEDY is buried at Merino cemetery with his first wife (who died in childbirth) and 4 of his 6 children. At the Police Historical Section, based at Russell street, the guest speaker come across an early photograph of the old Merino police station, which featured Sgt. KENNEDY, his second wife and another policeman. Subsequent research led the guest speaker to find Sgt. KENNEDY’s grandson, currently living in Melbourne. In September last year, a reunion of some 21 existing descendants of Sgt. KENNEDY was held at the graveside in the Merino cemetery. A suitable bronze plaque was also fitted to the gravestone.

When Sgt. KENNEDY left Merino in August, 1886, the townspeople presented him with an inscribed gold watch. This watch is still in the possession of the KENNEDY family, and was a prized memento at the 1988 reunion.

Cr. CLAMPITT also spoke about other former Merino policemen, such as Michael "Dick" NOLAN (served in the 1920s and 30s and was a well known local horseman prior to his transfer to Melbourne) and Charlie NIEWAND.

The Merino Police Station first opened on December 6^th 1866 with Constable RYAN as the first policeman. Cr CLAMPITT believes that he is the 30^th policeman to have been posted at Merino since it was first established.