This is a look back 100 years at what happened in Koo Wee Rup and surrounds in 1921.
In 1921, the Koo Wee Rup Bush nurse was in the news. Nurse Walsh was employed at Koo Wee Rup by the local Bush Nursing Committee and in February she was granted four weeks annual leave. Mrs E. Johnston thought they could alleviate the nurse's condition by procuring a new horse for her and Mr G. Burhop said he knew of a pony which fulfilled all of the requirements (1). During the year there were functions held to raise money to build a Bush Nursing hospital and a nurse's cottage at Koo Wee Rup. A garden fete which raised £200 was held in the January at The Grange (2) and a Queen Carnival was held. There were three Queens, Miss Molly O’Riordan representing Koo Wee Rup, Miss Alma Cochrane Damore/Tooradin and Miss Gladys Marshall, Cora Lynn. They undertook fundraising and a ‘coronation’ took place on May 25, where Miss O’Riordan was voted the Queen. She had raised £495, Miss Cochrane £322 and Miss Marshall £98 a total of £915 (3). That is an extraordinary amount of money, given that the average wage at the time for a male factory worker was just over £200 and the three women raised 4½ times that amount in a few months (4).
The hospital officially opened May 23, 1923 (5). It was not an easy life
for the Bush Nurse who worked long hours, often on her own and had to deal with all
sorts of medical issues. In Koo Wee Rup there was the extra 'bonus' that her cottage
was right next door De Vries & Bowman, the local butcher’s slaughter yard. The
locals were objecting to it and the butchers blamed the Council as they had
land outside the town but the Council had taken over five months to make a
decision on the matter (6).
Also in February the Railway commenced the erection of four cottages for their employees, near the Station (7). One of these was moved to Bayles around 2014. On the subject of Railways the Koo Wee Rup Sun reported on March 3, 1921 that business at Bayles station is gradually increasing and farmers are appreciative of the advantages derived from railway locomotion. The old tedious way of carting to either Tynong or Koo Wee Rup is too slow, cumbersome and costly. The line officially opened June 29, 1922 although the Bayles Station commenced operation over a year earlier on February 10 and Catani was operational from June 1921 (8).
The death of David Joseph Bourke of Monomeith Park took place on February 13. David was the son of Michael and Catherine (nee Kelly) Bourke. They had arrived in Melbourne in 1839 and settled on Minton's Run, a property of 12, 800 acres on the Toomuc Creek in Pakenham in 1843. Around 1850, they established the La Trobe Inn, more commonly known as Bourke's Hotel. His obituary described him as a great lover of horses and an excellent judge of horseflesh. He gave valued service in honorary judging of blood stock at the Royal Show, Melbourne, as well as in Adelaide and exhibitions throughout the country. He was survived by his wife Mary Elizabeth (nee Hunt) and two sons, Hugh and Michael (9).
The Koo Wee Rup Sun of June 6 had the following interesting report Religious persecution caused Brigham Young to move with his saints to Salt Lake City, and the state of Utah, now with a population of half a million, was colonised by the Mormons. It is not generally known that Brigham Young wished to settle in Gippsland. This was in 1873. He had then 187 children living, of whom the greater number were over 16 years. For these he wanted 320 acres each. Nothing came of this and Brigham Young and his family remained in Utah. The problem of populating Gippsland, one imagines, would easily have been solved if we had allowed this successful progenitor and his growing family to settle in the province. Probably they would have been followed by most of the Mormon community.
In August, it was reported that the proprietors of “The Grange” Estate, Koo Wee Rup are having extensive improvements effected. By means of a road through the property, the distance to Monomeith will be greatly lessened. A number of houses are being erected, and last week a boring plant began operations with a view of locating water so that a perpetual supply will be on hand. It will be some time before the works are completed, and the proprietors must be congratulated on the enterprise they are displaying. This road is Sybella Avenue (10).
The area had a distinguished visitor in September - the Reverend Doctor Daniel Mannix, the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. He arrived at Garfield on September 23 and was at Koo Wee Rup the next day. It was reported on in The Advocate -
Remarkable interest was centred in the visit to lona of his Grace the Archbishop of Melbourne (the Most Rev. Dr. Mannix), and over a hundred horsemen and residents from all parts of the surrounding districts gathered at Garfield to accord his Grace an enthusiastic welcome. A fleet of fully fifty motor cars and buggies had been requisitioned for the conveyance of people from Warragul, Kooweerup, Nar-Nar-Goon, and other places, and Garfield presented a scene of great bustle and animation early on Saturday evening. At 6.30 o'clock his Grace arrived at Garfield by motor car from Melbourne, and there was tremendous excitement when his car was seen approaching the township. Ringing cheers broke out from the crowd gathered on the roadside, and his Grace smilingly acknowledged his cordial reception
A procession which was a singular spectacle that then headed along the Iona Road (Fourteen Mile Road). The horsemen were led by Miss Ahern and Miss Linane, each young lady wore a green costume, and their horses had waving green ribbons on their manes. A concert was held at St Columba’s Parish Hall, attended by over 400 people. The next day the Archbishop conducted a Mass at 9.00 am and another at 11.00am. Eighty children were confirmed at the second mass.
In the afternoon the Archbishop was driven to Koo Wee Rup and nearing the town Kooweerup, he was received by about 50 horsemen, and a long line of motor cars and buggies was also drawn up along the road. It was an imposing procession that entered the township, and the people turned out in force and gave his Grace a splendid welcome. At the Mass at Koo Wee Rup 40 children were confirmed. Dr Mannix then returned to Melbourne (11).
1921 was also the year that the very first direct press message was sent from the United Kingdom to Australia. It was received at 5.00 am on December 5, 1921 (12) by T. W. Bearup, at an Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) (AWA) Experimental Receiving Station at Koo Wee Rup. The Radio Station had been established in the June off Sims Lane. This communication was significant as it confirmed that direct and efficient communication between Great Britain and Australia was feasible. Radio communications, at this time, were sent and received by a series of relays. T. W. Bearup was Thomas William (known as Bill) Bearup (1897-1980). In 1916 he joined the Marine Service of Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia). He later worked for the ABC and was Studio Manager for 3LO and had various positions within the ABC until he retired in 1962.
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