What happened in Garfield in 1925

 This is a look at what happened in Garfield and surrounds 100 years ago in 1925.

January 1925 - the year started with this tragic incident on Saturday, January 10th  

At Garfield North, George Brew, aged 12 years, was fatally shot by his cousin, John Brew, aged 14 years. George Brew was sent on a message to his aunt's house. While there John told him of a Winchester repeating rifle, which belonged to a visitor from Melbourne. John brought the rifle out from the house, and in some unknown way it was discharged. George was shot in the back of the ear. He was hurried to Warragul Hospital, but died soon after admittance. Much sympathy is felt for both families, who are pioneers of the district. 

(The Argus, January 16, 1925, see here) 

The formal findings of the Coroner into this sad event were - Albert George Henry Brew died at Warragul  from a bullet wound in the head, from a pea rifle, and I find that the pea rifle was accidentally discharged whilst in the hands of John Aloysius Brew, no blame being attachable to anyone. (1)

Death notice for young George.

The Argus, January 21, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2028802

January 1925 - This interesting look at Tynong was written by 12 year-old, Jean Chilcott, to Aunt Connie, the editor of the children's pages in the Weekly Times. 

Dear Aunt Connie -  This is my first letter to you. I will take for my subject Our District. Tynong is 42 miles from Melbourne. Tynong is a very small township. There are two grocers, two butchers, two fruit shops, two blacksmiths, one draper, and one dressmaker's shop, and also one post-office. The school is about a quarter of a mile from the township. Our teacher is Mr Giles. There are about 50 children going to Tynong school. Our school is called the State School. The number is 2854. We are about three-quarters of a mile from the station. I am 12 years old, and in the sixth grade at school. 

(Weekly Times, January 31, 1925, see here)

February 1925 - Apples exported 

Heavy crops of well conditioned apples are being gathered in the Nar-Nar-Goon, Bunyip, and Tynong districts. Prices are satisfactory for apples and pears. Last week 6000 cases were despatched from the Pakenham station, 4000 of which left by the steamer Mooltan on February 17 for the British markets. 

(Weekly Times, February 28, 1925, see here)

Shipment of  40,125 cases of apples from Victoria including Garfield

Weekly Times, February 17, 1923 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article223856734

April 1925 - Racing at Garfield and Cora Lynn

Special Train for Garfield - In connection with the Garfield races on Tuesday; a special train will leave Flinders street station at 10 am., leaving on return at 5.10 p.m. Owners and jockeys must obtain coupons, as no refunds will be made. The club has announced that two gold mounted riding whips will be presented - one to the rider of the winner of the 14.2 Pony Race, and one to the most successful jockey at the meeting.

Cora Lynn Weights - Mr. W. Cahill's weights for the Cora Lynn pony races, to be held on Easter Monday, April 13, appear to-day. Owners are notified that they should make early application to the Railways department for horse-boxes, which should be sent to the Tynong railway station. A special train will leave Flinders street at about 9 o'clock, on the morning of the races. 

(The Argus, April 4, 1925, see here)

April 1925 -  Miss Peverill leaves Garfield North School

Miss Peverill, head teacher of Garfield North State school, was farewelled by residents, prior to her departure, and presented with a leather bound writing case, a silver jewel case from the tennis club, and a case of perfume and other gifts, from the scholars. 

(The Age, April 20, 1925, see here) 

Charlotte Elizabeth Peverill had been at the school since September 1921; after Garfield she taught at Tungamah until June 1927, when she resigned from the Education Department. She had to resign as she married William Costigan and married women were not  allowed to continue teaching. In fact it wasn't until the Teaching Service (Married Women) Act of 1956 was passed which made it possible for women teachers to remain on permanent staff when they married. (2)

May 1925 -  A peculiar accident

A lad named Frederick Gross, aged 17 years, of Garfield, met with a peculiar accident which was attended with fatal results, while fishing on Sunday. He tripped and fell while walking through the bush, and his head came in contact with a log. The boy returned home, and after taking several fits he was removed to a private hospital at Bunyip, where he died on Monday. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 14, 1925, p. 4.)

May 1925 - The Main Drain silts up

Berwick shire council has passed a resolution to close the roads during certain winter months against sand carting, but it is powerless to prevent sand coming into the shire. The main canal is in a fair way to become obliterated with thousands of tons of this material, which is silting up year after year. Already through the Vervale and Cora Lynn districts it has reduced the carrying capacity of the waterway to less than half, and the danger of flooding has increased proportionately. 

(The Age, May 27, 1925, see here)

The Main Drain near Walkers Drain, between Cora Lynn and Iona, in 1939, when siltation was still a problem.

State Rivers & Water Supply Commission photograph

May 1925 -   A Priest farewelled and a Priest welcomed at the Iona Parish

At the Columba Hall, Iona, on Tuesday, 19th inst., the parishioners assembled to say farewell to the Rev. Fr. M. T. Keenan, who was recently transferred to Balaclava, and to welcome his successor, the Rev Fr. O'Callaghan, A well-organised concert by the pupils of Iona and Cora Lynn Convent schools, was greatly appreciated. Two little girls from the Cora Lynn Convent, and two from Iona, presented Fr.Keenan a set of stainless cutlery and carvers, and a tea-set was presented to Fr. O'Callaghan.... [After various speeches] The shire president, Cr. J. G. Dore, then presented Fr. Keenan with an Australian oak roll top desk, an Australian oak chair, suitably inscribed, an easy chair and down cushion, an American clock with silver plate inscription and a handsome wallet. 

(The Advocate, May 28, 1925, see here)

May 1925 - A lucky escape

For two nights, John Noble, of Garfield North, was pinned beneath a dray which had capsized in going over rough country.  The horse freed itself, but in its exertions kicked Noble in the head. The imprisoned man had to dig himself out with a small stick. The skin was worn off both hands in his efforts to extricate himself. He finally found his way to a neighbor's place in an exhausted condition, and is now recovering from the effects of his trying ordeal. 

(The Sun News-Pictorial, June 1, 1925, see here)

July 1925 - The route of the 100 mile cycle race is announced

The annual cycle traders' 100-mile road race, one of the most important events of the season, is claiming attention of the organisers and officials. Early this week the route followed on previous years was inspected by officials of the association, and though in the main the course will be the same again this year, owing to the bad state of portions of the road to Drouin and farther along the old Gippsland road, that part of the route has been eliminated. The following is the course which will be followed: Starting at Kelly's Hotel Oakleigh, along the Dandenong road to Cranbourne and Tooradin, thence to

Bayles, Cora Lynn, Iona, and Longwarry (one of the principal checking stations), and along the Princes' Highway, to Bunyip, Garfield, Tynong, Nar-nar-goon, Pakenham, Berwick, Narre Warren, and Hallam; on striking Dandenong there will be a direct return to the starting point. Feeding stations at convenient distances have been arranged. 

(The Argus, July 4, 1925, see here) 

The race was held on August 15 and 1930 riders participated. The winner was C.M.F. Shillito of the Coburg Club in four hours, 56 minutes. (3)

The start of the 100 mile cycle race. 

Three of the men pictured, Hubert Opperman, Ern Bainbridge and Percy Osborn (who was from Bayles) participated in the 1928 Tour de France cycle race.

The Sun News-Pictorial, August 17, 1925 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article277183735

August 1925 - Another lucky escape 

Garfield -  Frank Harris, an old League footballer, met with a severe accident on Saturday. He was falling a tree when it fell back on him and broke his leg at the thigh. Notwithstanding that the bone was protruding, the unfortunate man crawled half a mile through the bush to obtain assistance. 

(The Age, August 25, 1925, see here)

September 1925 - New Presbyterian Minister 

The Rev R.G. Butler has been inducted into the charge of the Presbyterian Church, and will have charge of the districts of Garfield, lona, Cora Lynn, Bunyip and Longwarry. Mr and Mrs Butler were given a welcome social after the service. 

(The Argus, September 8, 1925, see here)

September 1925 - Young Patrick thrown from his horse

Patrick Quigley, 15 years, son of Mr. Martin Quigley, of Cora Lynn, whilst riding a young, restive horse was thrown and injured. He is an inmate of a private hospital, but his condition is not serious. 

(The Advocate, September 17, 1925, see here)

September 1925 - Burglary at the Hotel

At an early hour on Monday morning the Iona Hotel [at Garfield] was entered by burglars, and the cash register, together with a hospital collection box, rifled. About 4 a.m. the licensee was disturbed by a noise in front of the house, but on investigating  failed to locate the origin. At  a later hour on opening the bar door, he was surprised to find a railway service lamp and a steel jemmy on the counter. An examination of the cash register proved that £1 in small silver had been removed and the hospital collection box broken open. It is evident that the thieves were disturbed as the shelves, lined with cigarettes, cigars and spirits, were left untouched. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, September 25, 1925. p. 4.)

November 1925 - Presbyterian Church fund raiser

From a queen competition and other sources the adherents of the Presbyterian Church raised 3/0, which effort was considered very satisfactory. The queens were Miss Ferguson (Cora Lynn), 1 ; Miss Barker (Garfield), 2 ; Miss Leithhead (lona), 3; Miss Wilson (Bunyip), 4. The crowning of the successful queen took place at a crowded concert in the Garfield Theatre on Thursday night. 

(The Argus, November 9, 1925, see here)

November 1925 -  Asparagus season

Now in the middle of the asparagus season, Mr Roxborough's farm [at Vervale] is  a scene of activity. Four men are constantly employed tending the crop, and when matured extra hands are engaged for cutting, trimming, washing and packing. The harvest, commencing in September, lasts until late December. The original nine acres planted has been extended and about 30 acres are now under cultivation. An average of over half a ton per day is despatched to the metropolis, the bulk being consigned to canning factories, while the balance is retailed to leading hotels, cafes and shops.

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 26, 1925, p. 4)

Footnotes 

(1) Inquest into George's death - Public Records Office of Victoria can be read here

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/81CF4D39-F1B2-11E9-AE98-917DA13A0E73?image=1

(2) Charlotte Peverill's teaching record - Public Records Office of Victoria 

https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3D7FF25D-F7E4-11E9-AE98-DD3948FEC58C?image=249  

Information about the Teaching Service (Married Women) Act of 1956 from Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. (Education Department of Victoria, 1973), v. 1.

(3) Sporting Globe, August 15, 1925, see here.

What happened in Garfield in 1924

This is a look at what happened in Garfield and surrounds, 100 years ago, in 1924, as reported in the newspapers.

The first issue of The Age for the year reported on this snake bite incident -
A Dangerous Plaything. Child bitten by Snake - Edith Jackson, aged 6 years, was bitten by a snake on the calf of the leg whilst playing with other children on a farm at Iona, on Saturday. It appears that the children were amusing themselves with the reptile, when it attacked the little girls and struck her on the leg. Several young men who were playing cricket nearby applied first-aid measures, and motored the child to Bunyip for medical treatment. She is now out of danger. (The Age, January 1, 1924, see here)

In February the Garfield Railway Station burnt down -
The Garfield railway station, on the main Gippsland line was totally destroyed by a fire which broke out about two o'clock this morning. The station master, Mr Bartlett, locked up at 10.30 last night, when everything appeared to be safe, and the origin of the outbreak is a mystery. The crew of a goods train gave the alarm, but the fire had gained such a hold that nothing could be saved. (The Herald, February 21, 1924, see here)
Another report in The Argus gave us more information about the fire -
The Garfield railway station was completely destroyed by a fire which occurred about 2 o'clock on Thursday morning. The fire was first noticed by the crew of a goods train who awakened the station master. Owing to no water supply being available, the onlookers were unable to prevent the flames from spreading. A few milk cans were rescued from the goods shed. A number of parcels, including two bicycles and a perambulator, and a quantity of passengers' luggage, were destroyed, in addition to departmental records. The origin of the fire is unknown. (The Argus, February 25, 1924, see here)

Garfield Railway Station. I am not sure if this is the original station or the replacement.

Berwick Pakenham Historical Society photograph.

 
In March a robbery occurred at the Bunyip races – the Koo Wee Rup Sun reported –
Race meeting sensation. Man covered with revolver - A sensation was caused at the Bunyip races on Monday, when it became known that the ticket office had been robbed, and that one of the suspected thieves had been captured at the point of the revolver. While one race was being run, the clerk in charge of the ticket office, which is near the entrance gates, had his attention diverted by several strangers, who engaged him in conversation. A moment later he discovered that his cash, believed to amount to £116, was missing.

A young man was moving away from the office, and the clerk, producing a revolver, ordered him to halt. Immediate investigations were began by the police, and later arrests were made. Those arrested were William Barnett, 22 years; Maurice Brennan, 22 years; and Arthur Cohen, 24 years. They were charged with having stolen from the ticket office a sum supposed to total £116. An unsuccessful attempt was made to obtain bondsmen for the accused, who were locked up. The arrests were made by Plains-clothes Constable Lanigan, Constable Robinson (Bunyip), and Constable Barrett (Warragul). (Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 13, 1924, page 5).

The men faced trial at the end of April in the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court. Maurice Brennan was found not-guilty; and Arthur Cohen and William Barnett were convicted and, as they had prior convictions, they were both sentenced to 18 months in gaol.

March was a rainy month -
Bunyip - Since the rain commenced on Wednesday evening, 533 points have been registered. The water in the main drain, the outlet for the Bunyip River, through the swamp country, has risen 11 feet since Thursday night. Grave fears are entertained that the country around Cora Lynn will again be flooded. (The Age, March 29, 1924, see here) There are 100 points of rain in an inch and an inch of rain is 25mm.

In April there was a report of the goods traffic at the Garfield Railway Station -
During the last season 9000 tons of potatoes and 2000 tons of general merchandise and produce were consigned for the local station. (The Age, April 8, 1924, see here)

Also in April there was a serious fire at Iona -
A serious fire occurred at Iona on Monday morning, when the general store and drapery business of Messrs. Burton and Yates, together with the Iona bakery and the local branch of the E. S. and A. Bank, were destroyed. The total damage amounts to close on £2000, and is only partly covered by insurance. The origin of the fire is unknown, but it is surmised that it started in the bakery, where the bread for Monday morning's rounds had been baked. (The Age, April 9, 1924, see here)

What could have been a very serious accident occurred in May -
Whilst driving along Vervale-road, Mr. W. Simpson, a local farmer, was thrown from his jinker. The horse bolted, but the driver retained the rein, and was dragged a considerable distance. He finally brought the animal to a standstill, but the horse backed, and the jinker wheel passed over the man's neck. Fortunately he escaped with a few abrasions and bruises. (The Age, May 2, 1924, see here)

In June, a tin mining venture was refused -
Opposition to Tin leases - Garfield - Some time ago a syndicate was formed to work tin bearing country in the ranges to the north, but on application to the Government it met with unexpected opposition from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission. This body opposed the granting of any tin-mining leases on the ground that the syndicate's operations would probably be carried on within the watersheds of the Bunyip and Tarago rivers, and cause a pollution of the waters destined to supply the Westernport naval base scheme. The applicants declare that such would not be the case, and consider that if a well capitalised company were allowed to go into the industry something might be done towards opening up a tract of country which at present is a "no man's land." (The Age, June 6, 1924. see here)

Local roads have always been an issue –
The Country Roads Board has refused to consider a proposal that it should take over the 13-Mile as a developmental road to link up the main Gippsland railway, at Garfield, with the Great Southern line, at Lang Lang, through the centre of the Kooweerup Swamp. The shire council has let a section of this road for metalling between Garfield and Iona. (The Age, July 12, 1924, see here)

A fatal accident occurred in July - 

Garfield - On Wednesday Mr. W. Bellman met with a serious accident whilst ploughing with a two-horse team on his farm, on the Modella-road. While turning one of the horses slipped and fell into a table drain, and in his efforts to extricate the animal Mr. Bellman was knocked on the forehead. He was taken to a private hospital at Bunyip, and immediately operated on. Little hope of his recovery is entertained. (The Age, July 18, 1924, see here) A later report said that Mr. William Bellman did sadly pass away a few days later. He was 64 years of age.

Garfield Weighbridge Directors – the weighbridge was erected in 1916.
Garfield Weighbridge Co. Ltd. Registered office, Garfield. Capital, £250 in £1 shares. Directors: John Wylie Wright Barker, Albert Stirling Barker, John Dowd, William Frederick Schmutter, Thomas Cole Green, John James O'Leary, and Charles Nicholas Barnes. (The Herald, August 4, 1924, see here). I presume that the two men named Barker and Thomas Green were connected to Barker, Green and Parke P/L - produce merchants.

Also in August was this report of a criminal case with a Garfield connection -
Country Visitor's Pistol. An expensive mistake - Harry Close, 23 years, laborer, who came to Melbourne last week from Garfield, Gippsland, was charged at the City Court yesterday with being in possession of an unregistered pistol, and also with carrying it without a permit. Plain-clothes Constable O'Connell gave evidence that in investigating a case of supposed larceny at Garfield, he arrested Close at 11 p.m. on Saturday on the arrival of the Gippsland train. Nothing was found to connect accused with the larceny, and he was allowed to go, and his swag was detained at Russell-street. When the latter was searched an old pattern revolver was found, which was loaded in one barrel and capped. When Close came to the police station next morning he said the pistol had been given him by a man named Miller at Garfield. He had tried to get it registered, but there were no police at Garfield. Close told the bench that the pistol was practically useless. When it was fired the barrel fell off. He regarded it as a keepsake. On the charge of having an unregistered pistol Close was fined £2. (The Age, August 5, 1924, see here)

 

Daniel Laurence McNamara (1876-1947)

State Library of Victoria Image H93.359/44

In August local man, Daniel Laurence McNamara (1876-1947), joined the Ministry in the Victorian Labour Government ; he was a Berwick Shire councillor 1901-1910, and in the Victorian Parliament from 1916 until 1947 (Source: https://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/daniel-mcnamara/)
General satisfaction is expressed at the inclusion of Mr. D. L. McNamara in the Labour Ministry. Mr. McNamara is practically a native of Iona, where his people still reside. He was one of the original pioneers, and when almost a boy was elected to the Berwick Shire Council, where he displayed sound progressive and democratic views. He was also Shire President. (The Advocate, August 7, 1924, see here)

The excellent state of the Garfield Recreation Reserve was reported on in August -
Some three years ago the Garfield Reserve and Racecourse was an eyesore to the district, but active trustees were elected and nearly £800 raised and spent on improvements, and today the football ground and racecourse is equal to anything in Gippsland. Seven trustees elected again during the week are Messrs. Parker, Crouch, Dowd, Gardner, Olson, Reidy and Waugh. (The Advocate, August 7, 1924, see here)

A shooting incident at Tynong in August -
Man shot instead of Bullock. George Cousins was accidentally shot in the thigh at Tynong (Gippsland) this morning. A relative of Cousins fired at a bullock, and Cousins, unaware of the preparations for killing the animal, walked in front of the rifle, as it was discharged. The injured man was taken to the Bunyip Hospital and, after having received treatment, returned to his home at Tynong. (The Herald, August 7, 1924, see here)

August was also a month of heavy rain and wide-spread flooding on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp -
Garfield - Further heavy rains have caused a flood on the swamp, in the vicinity of the main drain. On the 14 mile road, the paddocks of Messrs Filer, Golding, and Voll are under water. The water is a foot deep in Mrs. McLean's house, and Mr. J. Kavanagh's home is surrounded by water. In spite of the efforts of workers the waters crossed the road and the paddocks of Messrs. O'Leary, Leask, and B. Kavanagh are covered. Mr. O'Leary had 10 acres just planted with potatoes. At Vervale, the water rose over the banks of the main drain, and the properties of Messrs. Henwood, McGrath, and Baker are inundated. The Iona school-ground is under water. The flood swept across the farms of Messrs Lennox, Tyrell, and McManis. On the 13-mile road, the pipes were washed away from a new culvert, and the banks of the new subsidiary drain etc were carried away. In the township the shops of Messrs Khan, Hourigan, and Isherwood were flooded. The footpaths had to be cut in several places to turn the water from the road to the township flats. The drain through Mr. Jones's farm could not carry the flood, and portion of Garfield Reserve is submerged. Three inches of rain fell in 24 hours. (The Argus, August 28, 1924, see here)

Dingoes in the hills -
Garfield - Dingoes are more numerous in the hills to the north than they have been for years. Deer have multiplied in these timbered districts, which probably accounts for the presence of the dogs. (The Age, September 4, 1924, see here)

Women form an Association -
A Women's Progress Association has been formed at Garfield to assist in matters of benefit to the district. Mrs Limmer has been elected president, Mrs Martin secretary, and Mrs. Gardner treasurer. (The Argus, September 15, 1924, see here)

The on-going issue of the price paid to primary producers versus the retail price -
Dairymen in the Garfield district complain of the disparity between the price paid to them by wholesale metropolitan dairymen and the price charged the consumer. They state that while they are paid only 7½d. a gallon, the householder is charged 7d. a quart. The establishment of milk-cooling factories throughout dairying areas should revolutionise the milk supply. Longwarry Co-operative Factory proposes to pay suppliers 9d. a gallon, and, after treatment, to pass the milk on to the consumer at 1/3 a gallon. (Weekly Times, October 4, 1924, see here)

 Garfield Picture Theatre, 1932

Museums Victoria Collections https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/items/770388

On December 22, 1924 the Garfield Picture Theatre opened. It is still going strong and I wonder what gala centenary celebrations are planned for 2024.
The Garfield Picture Theatre was opened on Monday night. lt is one of the finest theatres outside the suburban area, and cost Mr. M. O'Donohue more than £5,000 to erect. In addition an electric-lighting plant, costing £1,000, has been installed. Mr. Meagher, of Collins street, was the architect, and the builders were Messrs. Rose and Wales, of Melbourne. The opening ceremony was performed by Councillor Dowd, and short addresses were delivered by Messrs. H. Coombs, H. Gardner, R. James, and H. Hourigan. Councillor P. Walsh occupied the chair. Mr. O'Donohue afterwards entertained about 700 guests, who enjoyed dancing and supper. The theatre will seat about 800 people. (The Argus, December 30, 1924, see here)  I have written about the Garfield Picture Theatre, here.

Garfield Country Women's Association: a short history

This is a short, and  by no means complete, history of the Garfield Country Women's Association (CWA), as gleaned through newspaper reports from Trove.

In February 1931, Mrs Waller, the Secretary of the Country Women’s Association toured Gippsland where she attended the inaugural meetings of six new groups - Korumburra, Leongatha, Tarwin, Foster, Yarram and on Saturday, February 14, Garfield. The Age reported that at Garfield - Mrs. Howell was appointed president, Mesdames McCleod [sic], Robertson, Waugh and Daniel vice-presidents, and Mrs. Leask as secretary. (1) Mrs Kerr-Paterson, the President of the Koo Wee Rup branch, also attended this meeting at Garfield. Mrs Kerr-Paterson was one of the inaugural members of the Country Women’s Association of Victoria when it was formed on March 12, 1928. (2)

The CWA was established to speak and act for the country women and children.....the organisation will set itself the task of improving the conditions under which women and their families live in the country, promoting social contact, encouraging the study of affairs of local government which touch intimately the home life of the people, maintaining and improving educational facilities, and securing for the country districts adequate medical and hospital facilities. (3)

At the next meeting of the Garfield CWA, held on March 5 1931, Mrs Fraser, the State President, attended and spoke on what the other country women of the world are doing. At this meeting the tea hostesses were Mesdames McLeod, Howell, Parrish and Leask. (4). A later report in July 1931 listed Mrs Jennings as secretary. By March 1932, the group had 24 members. (5)

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of February 18, 1932 reported on the first anniversary of the Garfield branch -
C.W.A. Anniversary - On Thursday evening, the 11th instant, the local branch of the Country Women's Association held an evening to celebrate its first anniversary. It took the form of crazy whist, and modern and old-time dancing for those who did not play cards. A guessing competition was won by Mr Will Crouch. Miss Shaw won the ladies' prize and Mr Wade the gents at whist. During the evening Mrs Limmer sang, and Miss Elsie Shreeves recited, and Mrs Brennan supplied the music for the dancing. There was also a stall of articles which had been made for the local hospital effort, when good business was done and will result in helping along with the hospital funds. A dainty supper was provided by the C.W.A. members, which closed a very enjoyable evening. (6)

In 1933, the office bearers were Mrs W. Mortimer, president; Mrs. Nutting, secretary; Mrs. Nilsson, treasurer and Mesdames Tutton, Burleigh, Martin and Robertson vice-presidents.(7)  In December 1936, Mrs Patterson was elected as the President, with Mrs Wilson as Secretary and treasurer and Miss Williams, assistant Secretary. (8)

Before we look at some of the activities of the group we will look at who these early office-bearers women were, as much as I could discover through the Electoral Rolls.
Margaret Howell - wife of Stanley, the E.S. & A. Bank Manager at Garfield.
Lesley Vera McLeod - wife of Garfield doctor, Kenneth McLeod. I have written about Dr McLeod, here.
Mrs Robertson - possibly Florence Ada, wife of William, a farmer of Bunyip.
Clara Waugh - wife of William Waugh, school teacher. William Waugh left the Garfield school in 1933 after 15 years and a case of cutlery was presented to Mr. and Mrs. Waugh as a token of esteem from the residents of Garfield, whilst Mrs. Waugh was the recipient of a crystal necklet from the members of the C.W.A.(9).
Alice Minnie Daniel - wife of Frederick Daniel of Mikado Park, Garfield.
Jessie Leask - wife of  George, a farmer of 14 Mile Road, Garfield.
Eva Parish - wife of Alfred, orchardist of Garfield and mother of local historian, Bill Parish.
Ruby Jennings - wife of Garfield baker, Alexander.
Mrs W. Mortimer - possibly Jane Elizabeth Mortimer, wife of William, of Oaklands, Bald Hill Road, Nar Nar Goon.
Eunice Nutting - wife of Arthur, store-keeper. I have written about the Nutting family and their time at Catani, Garfield and Black Rock, here.
Eleanor Nilsson - wife of Percival, a farmer of Tynong. In 1940, she was Secretary of the CWA West Gippsland Group (10)
Agnes Tutton - wife of Leonard, a farmer of 13 Mile Road.
Isabella Stella Burleigh - wife of Andrew, farmer of Main Drain Road, Iona.
Mrs Martin - possibly Mabel Florence Martin of Garfield.
Enid Patterson - wife of Garfield Doctor, James Patterson, who had taken over Dr McLeod's practice in 1933. In 1940 she was elected president of the CWA West Gippsland Group (11). I have written about Dr Patterson, here.
Mrs Wilson and Miss Williams - not sure who they are.

There is a plaque near the War Memorial in Main Street, Garfield, honouring the foundation members of the CWA – one is the aforementioned Agnes Tutton and the other two are Kate Hourigan, whose husband Henry was a coach builder and Agnes Towt, wife of Ernest, a saw-miller.

Garfield C W A. members: Miss A. Dohertv, Mesdames L. Chappell, F. Rigg, L. Haigh,

N. Sturzaker (Treas.), C. Simcocks.

Weekly Times August 22, 1945 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/226563046

It appears that even though the CWA had as its focus the task of improving the lives of women and children in the country, this was a very broad purview. In August 1933, Garfield members attended a conference of the West Gippsland branches at Clyde. There was a broad range of motions passed at this conference - that the law regarding the wrapping of bread should be enforced; that obstructions at all dangerous crossings be removed, and that hedges be cut down 10 feet each way to safeguard the travelling public; that the Lands department be urged to use all possible vigilance in preventing the spoliation of fern-tree gullies in Gippsland. (12).

In February 1937, Garfield hosted the conference of the West Gippsland branches and over 200 women attended. There were two main issues discussed and I expected this one where - Dr. Younger Ross (13) gave a fine address on the work that is being done for the babies of Victoria, and stated that it was now possible to send a caravan fitted up for a nurse to travel to the outback parts of the State. (14)

I was, however, surprised by the following, about the destruction of forests - It was felt that as a Coronation gesture, we should plant trees. Mrs. Russell Grimwade’s fine letter in the “Argus” of February 6 (week-end section) was discussed. It is entitled, “Nature Takes Revenge,” and deals with the terrible after-effects of the ruthless destruction of forests. All over the world it has gone on for centuries, and still man has not learned the lesson taught. Before man came trees. After may come deserts. And disasters such as floods, silting dust, storms and erosion are awaiting us, in the very near future, unless the preservation of timber and forests is put into the charge of the Forestry Department, with its men of expert knowledge, instead of under the control of the Lands Department, as at present. Members are asked to read this letter at their next branch meetings. (15)

Garfield delegates at the Dalyston CWA conference - Mesdames F. Burleigh (v-p), 

F. Marsh (treas.), N. Bassed (pres.), W. Masters, S. Laity (sec.)

Weekly Times, March 5, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224017025

In February 1949, Garfield again hosted the West Gippsland CWA conference, attended by 150 delegates. The Dandenong Journal reported that the Branches present were - Tynong, Tooradin, Pakenham, Officer, Nar Nar Goon, Narre Warren, Lang Lang, Kooweerup, Harkaway, Garfield, Dalyston, Dandenong, Clyde North, Clyde, Cardinia, Cranbourne, Berwick, and Beaconsfield and Catani. The Catani branch was established the year before and already had a membership of 21. (16)  As a matter of interest, Garfield's close neighbour, Bunyip also had a CWA branch, established around July 1936, however they were in the Central Gippsland group, which ran from Yallourn to Bunyip. (17)

Two of the motions passed at the 1949 conference, both aimed at improving the amenity and convenience of country life were -

Tynong: “That the present railway time-table be amended to allow the 6 p.m. train from Melbourne to stop at smaller stations, instead of running “express” to Warragul. It was pointed out that residents of the smaller towns were penalised in being compelled to catch the afternoon train, as it must shortened the time available for business in the city.
Nar Nar Goon: “That the Electricity Commission be asked to facilitate the installation of light and power especially in dairying districts.” It was stated that Nar Nar Goon was promised a service two years but they were still waiting. (18)

Naturally, many of the activities of the CWA were domestic in nature – one of the first activities of the Garfield branch in 1931 was to "adopt" a Mallee family of seven children and supply them with clothing; in 1935 the ladies were given a demonstration of the many uses to which sealing wax may be applied, and demonstrations of poker work (the craft of decorating wood by burning  a design with a hot metal point) and in 1937 members enjoyed a dressmaking demonstration given by Mrs Redpath. (19)

In December 1936, it was reported that through the efforts of the Country Women's Association the Infant Welfare centres at Garfield and Bunyip have been granted a whole day a week by the Government. Sister Mitchell of Warragul visits these centres on the days allotted. This was a major achievement for local mothers as they could obtain free and professional advice on caring for their babies. The CWA continued to support the Infant Welfare Centre over the years, by donating baby clothes and money. (20)

Amongst the other practical activities undertaken by the branch - in February 1939 they arranged a kitchen and pantry tea for three families who were burnt out in the Black Friday bushfires. The Garfield women would have had great sympathy for these bushfire victims as on April 15,1937 the branch lost all their possessions when the Garfield Hall was destroyed by fire. (21). 

At the 1946 Conference at Dandenong, the Garfield delegates put forward this practical motion -
“That the C.W.A., as one of its post-war schemes, edit its own Housekeeping Book, to contain sections for cooking suitable for beginners starting life in the country, hints on first-aid, school lunches and keeping of food, with a chart showing cuts of meat.” This resolution was moved by Garfield branch, which stressed the value of such a book to the young housewife new to the country, or the ex-service girl starting domestic life afresh. Tooradin branch seconded the motion. An amendment to postpone this motion until September to enable particulars as to cost, etc., to be obtained, was moved by Mrs. K. Paterson, seconded Mrs. Rogers (Cranbourne) and carried. (22)

The branch also organised Debutante balls - I have found a report of one in November 1938, where the debs were listed as Misses O. Perkins, J. Galway. J. Hicks, J. Perkins, M. McClure, M. Preston, V. Barnes, M. Dawes, and N. Preston. The only other Debutante ball I know about was  held in July 1957 as my aunt, Marion Rouse, was one of the debs; her partner was Frank Dineen. (23)

Garfield C.W.A. members: Mesdames H. Gibson, C. F. Gates, E. Watts, V. Maud, 

S. Laity (sec.), M. Marsh (treas., and sec. Infant Welfare Committee), C. Rowlerson, 

A. Bassed, (pres.), E. Cox, D. James, J. Lindsay, E. Parr, E. Sturzaker.

Weekly Times, June 18, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224019418

The Garfield CWA was still going strong in the 1950s. Some of their members were among the 200 delegates at the September 1952 West Gippsland group conference at Dandenong. At this conference the following motion was passed, once again showing the broad range of interests and concerns the women had -

A resolution, moved by Tynong and seconded by Garfield was carried, relating to Cruelty of Dumb Animals, and requesting that Victorian laws relating to same be brought into line with those of the other States. (24)

When did the Garfield CWA cease? I know they were in existence in 1971, as I have a copy of a Bunyip and Garfield Express newspaper from November 1971 and at a report of the Annual General Meeting  the following office bearers were elected -  Mrs H. Marson, President; Mrs E. Kavanagh, Secretary; Mrs L. Kellaway,  Treasurer and the Vice Presidents were Mrs A. Dick, Mrs L. Kierce and Mrs V. Marsh. (25)

Report of the 1971 Annual General Meeting

Bunyip and Garfield Express, November 25, 1971, p. 1

The CWA Railway Garden and playground
In July 1937, in a practical activity to directly aid local families, the Garfield CWA was granted a block of land at Garfield for a children's playground and the planting of ornamental trees by the Railways Department. (26) The playground was opened in February 1938 by the CWA Group President, Mrs Gamble, who, after congratulating the branch on its progressiveness, cut the green and yellow ribbon and declared the park open. Mrs Gamble was presented with a beautiful bouquet by Marjorie Lawson, one of the children who will be enjoying the benefits of the new playground. (27)

In January 1940, the branch planted shrubs and seedlings, the gift of the Railway department, in the new portion of the C.W.A. garden. (28) The local Council was both unhelpful and helpful – in January 1940, the council was reluctantly compelled to refuse its request for a light in the Garfield Playground and Garden; however in November 1943, council agreed to clean up the garden and playground at Garfield. (29)

Sadly, the garden was associated with a tragic accident in October 1950. The Argus reported -
Found near line - A five-year-old boy, Geoffrey Roberts, of Garfield, died after he was found lying in a deep gutter at the side of the railway line at Garfield on Saturday. Police believe that he was struck by the Warragul-Melbourne train after wandering from the near-by playground onto the line. The driver of the train did not know of the accident. (30).

Perhaps in response to this accident, the Railways decided to enforce the original conditions of the use of the land and in March 1951, the Dandenong Journal reported - 
The Railway Department advised that it had been brought under notice that swings and a sandpit had been placed on land at Garfield leased by the Department to council for beautification purposes. This was contrary to the terms of the lease. In August, 1946, the Commissioners had refused to permit council to establish a children’s playground on the land in question. It was requested that the swings and sandpit be removed as early as practicable. Councillors agreed that the equipment would have to be shifted and the Garfield Progress Association is to be contacted about the matter. (31) The playground had been  removed by October 1951 (32)

Trove list - I have created a list of articles on Trove on the activities of the Garfield branch of the Country Women's Association,  access it here.

Footnotes
(1) The Age, February17, 1931, see here.
(2) The Argus, March 14, 1928,  see here and here; Mrs Kerr-Paterson, born Margaret McAlpin Davis, she married William Kerr-Paterson in 1915; her first husband John Smerdon had died in 1914.  In the 1926 Electoral Roll he was the manager of the London Bank at Koo Wee Rup, in 1931 he was listed as an Estate Agent at Dandenong. Margaret died in Dandenong in 1954, aged 83. You can read her obituary in the Dandenong Journal of September 1, 1954, here.
(3) The Age, March 15, 1928, see here.
(4) Weekly Times, March 14, 1931, see here; Weekly Times, March 21, 1931, see here;

(5) The Argus, July 11, 1931, see here; Weekly Times, March 5, 1932, see here.

(6) Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 18, 1932, p. 4
(7) The Age, November 29, 1933, see here.
(8) The Age, December 5, 1936, see here.
(9) Horsham Times, January 20 1933, see here.

(10) Dandenong Journal, November 27, 1940, see here.
(11) Dandenong Journal, February 14, 1940, see here. Dandenong Journal, November 27, 1940, see here.
(12) The Age, August 11, 1933, see here.

(13) Dr Henrietta Younger Ross (1887-1956), read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/ross-isabella-henrietta-younger-isie-8272
(14) Dandenong Journal, February 25, 1937, see here.
(15) Ibid
(16) Dandenong Journal, February 23, 1949,  see here.
(17) The Age, July 7, 1936, see here; The Argus, March 12, 1949, see here.
(18) Dandenong Journal, February 23, 1949,  see here.
(19) The Age, June 2, 1931, see here; Dandenong Journal, March 21 1935, see here; Weekly Times, April 24, 1937, see here.
(20) The Argus, December 18, 1936, see here; The Age, December 28, 1937, see here;  The Age, December 21, 1938, see here. Weekly Times, May 4, 1940, see here. Local Infant Welfare Centres  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/10/baby-health-care-centres.html
(21) The Age, February 2, 1939, see here; Weekly Times, April 24, 1937, see here; I have written about the Garfield Hall, here https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/06/garfield-public-hall.html

(22) Dandenong Journal, March 6, 1946, see here.
(23) The Age, November 4, 1938, see here.

(24) The Dandenong Journal, September 10, 1952, see here.
(25) Bunyip and Garfield Express, November 25, 1971, p. 1
(26) The Argus, July 22, 1937, see here.
(27) Dandenong Journal, February 23, 1938, see here.
(28) The Age, January 10, 1940, see here.
(29) Dandenong Journal, January 24, 1940 see here; Dandenong Journal, November 24, 1943, see here.
(30) The Argus, October 9, 1950, see here.
(31) Dandenong Journal, March 28, 1951, see here.
(32) Dandenong Journal, October 24, 1951, see here.

RAAF plane crash at Garfield, January 17 1958

This report of the crash of an RAAF aeroplane at Garfield  is from the The Age, Saturday January 18, 1958 p. 3.  

Air Cadets unhurt in R.A.A.F. Crash

Schoolboys were on First Flight.

Twenty-five schoolboy members of the Air Training Corp escaped unhurt when an R.A.A.F. Dakota – taking them on their first air force flight – crashed in a paddock near Garfield, in West Gippsland, yesterday. Five members of the crew also escaped injury as the plane careered along the ground on its belly.

The aircraft was on a routine flight from Laverton to Sale where it was taking an Air Force scientist, Mr W. Rice, of Altona. The cadets who had been on a two-week camp at Laverton, were taken along for the ride to gain experience.

Wing-Commander G.H.N. Shiells, commanding officer of Aircraft Research and Development Unit at Laverton, who authorised the flight, said that if the plane had come down anywhere else but on a flat paddock everyone on board could have been killed.

The pilot, Flight-Lieut. L.A. Evans, of Laverton, did a magnificent job in missing power lines as the plane first crashed through a boundary fence and then bounced and jolted its way more than 500 yards across the rough paddock.

The plane blazed a shallow furrow in the hard ground before it finally came to rest in a great cloud of dust only 80 feet from a road which had high tension power lines along its edge.

 

The plane after the crash

 The Age, Saturday January 18, 1958 p. 3.  

No panic
Flight-Lieut. Evans said that they were half way to Sale when the port motor cut out. He decided to try to return to Laverton, but five minutes later the starboard motor also cut out.

“I didn’t have much time to think as the aircraft plunged down. I sighted a fairly large paddock and decided to try a ‘belly’ landing,” he said. “This is the second time I have made a wheels-up landing. The first was during the war when the under carriage of a Lincoln bomber failed and I made a forced landing at Townsville, in Queensland.”

One of the cadets on board, 14 year-old M. Latham, of Frankston, was sitting by a window near the port engine. He said his only thought as they were approaching for the crash landing was…”What happened if it explodes?”

“The first I knew of the crash-landing was when I saw shattered fence posts flying past my window,” he said. “None of the boys showed any signs of panic as we hit the ground and I only felt a series of severe bumps and jolts before the aircraft finally stopped.

“As soon as we stopped moving we all started talking and shouting, but we were told to leave the plane as quickly as possible.”

The cadets line up with the damaged aircraft in the background.

 The Age, Saturday January 18, 1958 p. 3.  

 
Girl Watched
Patricia Terrill, 16, who lives just opposite the paddock in which the plane landed, was watching it when the engines failed. “I watched the plane coming down towards the paddock and then I raced into the house as it came full-pelt towards me,” she added. An R.A.A.F. official said last night that a full investigation would be held into the cause of the accident. He said the aircraft would be dismantled and conveyed to Laverton in pieces to be examined by experts.

About six hours after the crash an R.A.A.F. bus arrived from Melbourne and the cadets were taken back to camp.

......................................................................................  

Note: Article has been re-paragraphed. The Age article is from newspapers.com, and original is below.

 The Age, Saturday January 18, 1958 p. 3.

......................................................................................................................................

Bunyip News article

The December 2022 issue of the Bunyip News had an interview with, and photos of, Ken Sumsion, who was one of the cadets on board the RAAF plane when it crash landed at Garfield. He was 15 years old at the time. The article was written by Roman Kulkewycz and you can access it here  https://bunyipnews.org.au/#editions

..................................................................................................................

ADF-SERIALS: Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History website

This website - ADF-SERIALS: Australian & New Zealand Military Aircraft Serials & History - RAAF A65 Douglas C-47, C-49, C-50 and C-53 http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/2a65.htm has the following information about the ill-fated RAAF plane which crashed at Garfield. It says the plane took off from Moorabbin; The Age article says Laverton, which is where the Air Force base is located. 

RAAF Serial - A65-99 

Radio call-sign - VHRFP 

Model/Type C-47B-30-DK 

C/N - 33103 

USAAF Serial - 44-76771 

C-47B-30-DK constructed under USAAF Contract AC535-AC-40652- #2032. Ex 44-76771 ordered under Indent 2415 (6th of 10 C-47B Aircraft Batch, delivery from USA to Australia May 45). Rec 3AD ex USA 11/05/45. Renumbered and given DAT Rego VHRFP. Rec 13ARD ex 3AD 17/05/45. Rec 35 Sqn RAAF ex 13ARD 23/05/45. Coded BK-O. Rec 2ADex 35 Sqn RAAF 11/12/45. Issued 35 Sqn RAAF ex 2AD 21/12/45. Rec 36 Sqn RAAF ex 35 Sqn RAAF 12/04/46. Cat B Storage ex Schofields UE 20/05/48. Issued 86 Wing Det Garbutt Townsville 20/05/48.Rec 86 Wing ex Garbutt 20/06/49. Rec 3AD ex 86 Wing 12/08/49. Rec 86 Wing ex 3AD 10/11/49. Rec 86 Wing Det Darwin ex 86 Wing 19/05/50. Rec 86 Wing ex 86 Wing Darwin Det 20/07/50. Rec DAP ex 86 Wing 22/08/50. Rec 1AD ex DAP Parafield 25/08/51. Rec R/S East Sale ex 1AD 08/06/51. Rec 86 Wing ex R/S East Sale 17/08/51. Damaged from storm 10/11/52. Rec DAP ex 86 Wing 16/11/53. Rec 86 Wing ex DAP 10/05/54. Rec DAP ex 86 Wing 26/01/56. Rec ARDU ex DAP 02/08/56. Rec DAP ex ARDU for SARAH Modification 02/01/57.Rec ARDU ex DAP 19/02/57. Accident 1000hrs 17/01/58 after taking off on a ILS Check flight to East Sale from Moorabin Vic, when in flight, port engine failed, followed soon by the starboard engine, near Warragul Vic, forcing pilot to make an emergency forced landing in a paddock( owned then by Mr Edward Walters) damaging some 25 yards of fencing, one mile southeast of Garfield, Gippsland Vic. Crew; F/Lt L A Evans Serv#022135, W/o F Russell Serv#A31517, Sgt W R Ross Serv#A33211, A/c G F Green Serv#A218463, Mr Rice Scientific Officer ARDU(Civilian) and twenty Melbourne ATC members were not injured. Aircraft retrieved by 1AD, deemed unrepairable by unit and listed for disposal 06/01/59.TTHrs 4886.35. Rebuilt by Bristols 1960. VH-PNA Papuan Air Transport 'Mount Victoria' Registered 23/08/61. Ansett Airlines of PNG Registered 01/07/72. Withdrawn 30/10/72 Madang. Used for fire practice 11/72. Scrapped . Pics held of aircraft post forced landing.

Richard Beuhne's Bee Farm at Garfield

The Leader newspaper of September 3, 1893 had an article on bee keeping in Garfield which also gave some interesting insights into the development of the town, described as a little wayside hamlet which as yet gives no promise of future greatness.  It is reproduced below. The interview was with R. Beuhne, who was Frederick Richard Beuhne, known as Richard.

Richard Beuhne

The Herald June 24, 1933 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article245420107

Richard applied to be naturalised in August 1914 and his application papers tell us that he was born in Dresden, Saxony, in Germany on January 11, 1859 and arrived in Victoria on September 22, 1880, when he was 21 years old. His occupation was an Apiarist, and he had lived at Garfield for 15 years and then at Tooborac for 19 years. Richard married Annie Maxwell in 1883, and they had a son Claude Ralph born in 1887 and a daughter Hilda Bertha Rhoda, born 1891 (1). There is more information about the family in footnote 1.

The first mention of Richard that I can find in the Shire of Berwick Rate books was in 1884 where he is listed as owning 226 acres, Crown Allotment 71, Parish of Bunyip.  CA 71 fronted what is now called the Princes Highway and was on the west side of North Garfield Road. He sold the land in 1896 to Ernest Thompson and moved to Tooborac.  

Parish Plan of Bunyip - the township of Garfield on the railway line is bottom, centre. Crown Allotment 71, owned by Frederick Richard Beuhne, is north of the town on the Gippsland Road or Princes Highway.

Click on image to enlarge.

See the full Parish Plan at the State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/112025

Mr Beuhne died on June 24, 1933 and an obituary in The Argus tells us something more of his life including the fact that he worked at the Department of Agriculture as their apiculturist and was editor of the Australian Bee Journal -

Mr. F. R. Beuhne, secretary of the Victorian Apiarists' Association, which has just finished its annual conference in Melbourne, was found dead in his room at the Victoria Palace, Little Collins street, on Saturday morning. Apparently he had had a heart seizure. Mr. Beuhne, who was aged 70 years, was one of Australia's leading authorities on bees. He had been a member of the Victorian Apiarists' Association for 41 years. His term as secretary began about six years ago, on his retirement from the office of apiculturist to the Department of Agriculture. Mr. Beuhne's first association with the department was as consultant on apiculture. In that capacity he did most valuable work, and when the industry grew to one of importance he was appointed a full-time officer. His two text books on beekeeping and honey flora are much valued by apiarists in Australia and overseas. Mr. Beuhne had been editor of the "Australian Bee Journal'' since its inception. He was the Victorian Apiarists' Association delegate to the Chamber of Agriculture, and was the judge of honey at the Royal Show. He was also a member of the Field Naturalists' Club (2).

The State Library of Victoria has three books or booklets by Richard Beuhne - Bee-keeping foul brood in bees and transferring bees (8 pages, published 1913); Bee-keeping (12 pages, 1913)  and Honey flora of Victoria (148 pages, 1922). There is also another book by Richard,  Bee-keeping in Victoria, published 1916 of 128 pages.  There was an updated edition of this book in 1925 of which the chief feature of the new edition is the information contained in chapters which deal with the heating of honey, clarifying and refining, and pollen. The type of honey-heater advocated has been proved, after considerable experience, to be an ideal apparatus for clearing the honey of the minute, particles of wax and pollen grains which it is impossible to strain out in the clarifying of the honey for market by ordinary means. It possesses the merits of being both simple to operate and compact in design (3).  It appears that Richard invented his own honey-heater, an example of which is shown below.

Beuhne honey-heater made by Pender Brothers Limited, 1931. 

Powerhouse Museum collection https://collection.maas.museum/object/228403

The Herald also had an obituary and this tells us other aspects of his life. It's a lovely tribute -

After having left a conference of members of the Victorian Apiarists Association last night, Mr F. R. Beuhne, one of the foremost of Australian bee experts, died suddenly last night. He was found dead, only this morning, in his room at the Victoria Palace, Little Collins Street, fully dressed, having apparently died from a heart attack. Mr Beuhne came to Australia as a young man, and was for 41 years a member of the Apiarists Association. He was appointed apiculturist of the Department of Agriculture. Some years ago, when he was due for retirement at the age of 65, he was asked to stay on for another year. After retiring, he was appointed secretary to the association. Mr Beuhne was editor of the Australian Bee Journal, and was a delegate from the Association to the Chamber of Agriculture. He was a member of the Forest League and a judge in honey contests at the Royal Show. Mr Beuhne has left a widow, a son and a married daughter. "His death is the greatest loss the Association could have," said the president (Mr M. Morgan) today, "Mr Beuhne brought it from financial difficulty to some degree of prosperity. He always did his best, sometimes to his own disadvantage, to assist the bee industry." (4). 

Richard Beuhne was a foundation member of Victorian Apiarists Association and at their June 1939 conference plans were revealed for a memorial to him - 

members were informed that all arrangements had been finalised for the proposed memorial to the late Mr. F. R. Beuhne. The memorial is to be in the form of a plantation of trees and by arrangement with the Country Roads Board, which has agreed to co-operate by doing the planting and caring for the trees, the site is to be on the Hume Highway between Kilmore and the turn-off to Heathcote. As the late Mr. Beuhne was a lover of trees the memorial seems to be a very fitting one. The planting is to take place in the near future (5). 

In August 1939, the Kilmore Free Press provided this report of the tree planting ceremony to honour Richard Beuhne, the first tree being planted by his son, Claude - 

On 11th August, a short ceremony took place at the planting of a number of trees, at which district apiarists and representatives of the Apiarists' Association, the Country Roads Board, the Forestry Department and the Department of Agriculture were present. Mr. Wills, President of the Victorian Apiarists' Association, welcomed all present and said the idea behind the plantation was the commemorating of the life of the late Mr. Beuhne. Later it was proposed to erect a cairn with a copperplate inscription indicating what he had done for the bee-keeping industry...The first tree was planted by Mr. Claude Beuhne (6). 

No doubt due to the War, it was actually a decade later on June 24, 1949 that the Memorial Cairn was unveiled by the  President of  the Victorian Apiarists' Association, Mr G. Loft, in the presence of 100 people, including Claude. (7). 

Plaque on Frederick Richard Beuhne's cairn, near Kilmore.

Photographer: Kent Watson. Source Monument Australia

https://monumentaustralia.org.au/display/31812-frederick-beuhne

Richard's brother Karl Richard Beuhne also migrated to Australia. Born in Brockwitz, Saxony, Germany on May 18,1855, he arrived in Australia on May 9, 1890, at the age of 35. Karl was naturalised in 1926, when he was 71. After his arrival he settled in North Garfield, where he was a market gardener. He married Maria Theresa Josefa Borrmann (also Saxony born) in 1896 (or that's the year the marriage was registered) and they had four children, all born in North Garfield - Alfa Toni (1892-1899), Friedrich Hans (1896), Otto Kurt (1898) and Rosie Dora (1905). He died on October 30, 1938 at the West Gippsland Hospital in Warragul (8). For some reason, even though Karl was at North Garfield from 1890, he doesn't appear in the Shire of Berwick Rate books until the 1929/1930 year, when he is listed as owning 4 acres, Cannibal Creek Frontage, Parish of Bunyip. 

Informative death notice of Karl Beuhne. His brother was Professor Beuhne of Dresden; 

The Argus November 12, 1938 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/12062784

Report of Karl Beuhne's death. 

Weekly Times November 12, 1938 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/225434115

This is the article on Mr Beuhne's Bee Farm from The Leader of September 2, 1893 (see here)

BEE FARMING AT GARFIELD

By our Agricultural Reporter

The little wayside hamlet of Garfield is one of those places which has sprung into existence since the main trunk railway line to Gippsland was built. It is distant 40 miles from Melbourne and overlooks the Kooweerup Swamp, that extensive tract of reed beds and morass which is now being reclaimed by the State. The township of Garfield is still in the embryo stage, and as yet gives no promise of future greatness. Most of the land hereabouts was selected 10 or 12 years ago, and a farming population settled on it, who proceeded to turn it to profitable account in the usual way by ringing, clearing, cultivating and stock keeping.

The advancement of the district has certainly not been assisted by the operations of the land syndicates, who during the "boom" purchased from the original selectors several thousand acres of land with a frontage to the railway line and in the vicinity of the railway station. This land is now lying idle and absolutely unproductive, while the owners are still holding on in the hope of settlement being attracted some day, thus giving them a chance to dispose of it at something approaching the prices paid for it to the original settlers. As the land was bought at prices varying from £18 to £25 per acres, this hope is not likely to be realised for some time to come. 

The soil for the most part cannot be called rich, except narrow strips in some of the with a growth of heath and coarse sedgy grasses. The timber is not of good character, and its principal use hitherto has been for firewood, of which large quantities used to be sent to Melbourne; but since the unemployed have been engaged at the work of wood cutting most of the residents of the district have found out that it does not pay to enter into competition with them, consequently sending firewood to Melbourne from Garfield has been practically abandoned.

  

Richard Beuhne's farm.

The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

The main Gippsland road runs through the district and the principal stream is the Cannibal Creek, a tributary of the Bunyip River. Several of the farms some distance back from the station are fairly well improved, and in a couple of instances beekeeping engages a good deal of attention. Nowadays, when so many people are anxious to get on to the land and engage in some occupation that will prove profitable, beekeeping is an industry which should receive more attention than has hitherto been given it.

It must, however, be admitted that only comparatively few persons are fitted by nature for the occupation, but amongst those who have made it a success is Mr. R. Beuhne, whose farm is situated about 1½ mile from the Garfield station and on the Gippsland-road. Mr. Beuhne selected land here about 11 years ago, and is now the holder of 220 acres. About 30 acres have been thoroughly cleared, a comfortable house erected, an orchard established and other improvements, carried out, but attention is mainly devoted to beekeeping. This is generally considered one of the small things of a farm, but Mr. Beuhne has found it profitable enough to justify him in almost exclusively depending on it; indeed, he is of opinion that if carried on anything like an extensive scale it does not go well with any industry except poultry keeping, as during the busy season all other work must be neglected in order to attend to the bees.

Richard Beuhne offers lessons in bee keeping.

The Age, September 16, 1893 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/197182658

From a small beginning Mr. Beuhne gradually increased the number of his colonies until now he has 136 to control, and the many duties connected with them keeps him fully employed. Indeed, the work in connection with so many hives, when pursued scientifically, is almost endless, but at the same time it is light and highly interesting to any one who really cares for the occupation. If the beekeeper is not really interested in the pursuit and does not follow it for love of the work he will never make it a success, and it is better to direct his attention to some other business. If, on the other hand, attention to all the details of the industry is a pleasure, beekeeping becomes a profitable undertaking in any district that is adapted for the pursuit. 

Some localities are much better adapted for beekeeping than others on account of the climate, the greater profusion of honey producing trees, shrubs and flowers. The Garfield district is not specially suitable, the varieties of eucalypts with which it is timbered being principally those known as stringy bark and peppermint, whereas the box and white gum blossoms secrete most honey, while the flavor of the article is also superior. In the gullies and swampy places also a good deal of ti-tree grows, from the blossoms of which honey of a peculiar character is obtained. It possesses a distinct flavor of its own, and, strange to say, cannot be extracted from the comb by the centrifugal extractor. The closeness with which it adheres to the sides of the cells seems to indicate that it partakes somewhat of the character of gum, though persons who are in the habit of using it declare that they prefer it to any other kind of honey. The taste for it, however, requires to be educated, and its general popularity is never likely to rival that of honey obtained from box or white gum blossom. On account of its non-extracting peculiarity small section frames have to be used in the hives during the period, when the ti-tree is in bloom, while at other times, the ordinary large frames are placed in the boxes.

Richard Beuhne working with his bees.

The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

Mr. Beuhne uses hives of the Langstroth principle, but the boxes are two inches shorter than the regulation size. He has made them all himself, being an amateur carpenter of no mean skill, and most of the appliances used in their manufacture have also been supplied by his ingenuity. A small circular saw, made out of a piece of a broken hand saw, has been set in a neat frame and worked by a treadle. With this the laths used in the frames of the hives are quickly sawn, and an appliance for boring holes, also worked by foot power, has been provided. Each hive is made exactly the same size so that the parts are interchangeable and he is thus able to work amongst the bees with that confidence which is absolutely necessary if success id to achieved in dealing with these remarkable insects.

In dealing with his bees, Mr. Beuhne in general follows out the practice adopted by the majority of skilled apiarians in attending to the thousand and one particulars involved in beekeeping, and which could not be fully described in anything short of the limits of a book; but he is also experimenting, and there is a possibility of his experiments proving successful, and having an important bearing upon the future of the industry. For instance, he thinks there is a possibility of breeding out the swarming impulse, which causes so much trouble during the season. He points out that it is just as natural for hens to sit as for bees to swarm, yet the desire to hatch has been almost entirely overcome, by breeders in connection with certain breeds of fowls. 

Of course bees are more difficult to control, but by selection and management much may be done. He would select queens, from stock that experience had shown displayed comparatively, little disposition to swarm, and by mating her very late in the season a beginning leading to the desired end would be made. In order to secure the fertilisation, advantage would be taken of a favorable day when the drone bees were likely to fly, and by giving them a little stimulating feed liberating the queen shortly afterwards the desired end would be accomplished.

A careful attention to the laws of selection having the definite object in view of producing non-swarming bees, and following out the lines indicated, would he thinks, eventually result in the apiarian being able to control the impulse as the progeny of queens fertilised late in the season evince less disposition to swarm than those mated early. Mr. Beuhne has at various times grown patches of buck wheat as pasture for the bees, but, as a rule, the insects have to depend for stores on what nature provides. Wattles and acacias, as well as different kinds of heaths, blossom well in the district, but, unfortunately, the flowering season is too early to be of much benefit to the bees, and the blossoms in most instances have disappeared by the time they are most wanted. Just at present the prickly mimosa and pink and white heaths are in full bloom, but the bees are not to be tempted out during the present unsettled weather, and consequently the stores of honey which the flowers contain cannot be utilised.

Mr. Beuhne is now engaged in the endeavor to solve the problem of how to prevent the crystallisation of honey during the winter months. It is well known that the best and purest honey crystallises in cold weather, and this has a prejudicial effect upon its sale, more particularly if it has been put up in glass jars. It frequently happens that the crystallisation is only partial, and while one portion of the contents of a jar assumes the consistency of lard, the remainder is liquid. This causes many persons to think that the honey has been adulterated, and accordingly they decline to buy. The honey does not deteriorate in quality by becoming crystallised; indeed, not a few who know the difference consider that it is improved thereby; but its sale to the general public is undoubtedly affected, hence the necessity for preventing crystallisation if possible. Mr. Beuhne, by a process which he has invented, but which is yet a secret, believes that he can not only prevent any honey from crystallising, but can also treat that which has already become crystallised in such a way that it will ever afterwards remain liquid. If the process, after being thoroughly tested, is the success which he claims, it will have the effect of increasing the local sales of honey, and will be of immense importance if an export trade is established on anything like an extensive scale, as no doubt it will be some day. A press which he has constructed for obtaining wax is very simple and useful, and with it he can obtain just as good wax from old black combs as from now unstained comb.

Richard Beuhne working with his bees.

The Leader, December 9, 1893 - see Footnote 9

 With regard to the profits to be derived from beekeeping, it must be remembered that this district is not a good one for bees, consequently results obtained here are likely to be greatly exceeded in other and more suitable localities. Last year, which was a bad one, Mr. Beuhne obtained only an average of 30 lb. of honey from each hive; the previous season he obtained over 50 lb., and his best record was 80 lb per hive. There is certainly nothing startling in these returns, but, taking one year with another, say 60 lb. of honey, worth at least 4½d. per lb., can be got from each hive, and this is certainly not an excessive estimate, then the gross return per hive amounts to £1.

Mr. Beuhne would advise all who think of going in for bee culture to begin on a small scale and gradually work up. Although much information may be gleaned from books, practical experience must be gained, and this will be less costly when pursued in connection with a few hives than when the care of a large number is attempted by one who has had no previous knowledge of the business. If possibly an opportunity should be sought of getting employment with a practical aparian for at least 12 months, and thus gain the benefit of his experience. Even after such an opportunity to gain knowledge it is necessary to make haste slowly, as there is always something to learn or some unexpected difficulty to overcome. Perseverance, however, will eventually be crowned with success, and the industry offers a means of making a fair livelihood to those who have a taste for beekeeping; and if this industry is combined with poultry farming, the owner of a small block of land ought to make not only a good living, but to ultimately realise a handsome competence.

Trove list: I have created a short list of newspaper articles connected to Frederick Richard Beuhne, his time at Garfield and his other activities. Access it here.

Footnotes
(1) Naturalisation papers at the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au Family information from Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and family notices in the newspapers. Annie died January 13, 1941, aged 76. Their son, Claude married Irene Florence Bognuda in 1923. They were divorced in 1933 on the grounds of her desertion. They had one child, Elaine. He remarried in 1936 to Irene Richardson and he died in 1959.  Hilda (known as Flossie)  married William Murray Winzar in 1924. She died in 1943, aged only 52. They had three children - Dorothy, Gordon and Freada.

Annie Beuhne's death notice

The Argus, January 14, 1941 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8150821

Claude's divorce

The Argus November 20, 1933 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11712728

Death notice of Flossie Winzar

The Age December 11, 1943 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article206344628

(2) The Argus, June 26 1933, see here.

(3) Australasian, November 28, 1925, see here. 

(4) The Herald, June 24, 1933, see here.

(5) Kilmore Free Press, June 22, 1939, see here. 

(6) Kilmore Free Press, August 24, 1939, see here.
(7) Read the full report of the unveiling in the Kilmore Free Press, June 30 1949, see here.
(8) Naturalisation papers at the National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au  and the  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.
(9) The illustrations are from The Leader December 9, 1893, see here. The newspaper incorrectly stated that these illustrations were of Mr M'Farlane's farm at Lyndhurst. There was a correction in The Leader of December 16, 1893, see here, In last week's Leader a full page illustration of "Bee Farming," the central picture in which is a representation of Mr. Beuhne's apiary, was inadvertently described as Mr. M'Farlane's. The mistake occurred through our reporter having visited both the apiaries named, and his description of Mr. M'Farlane'a place at Lyndhurst was attached in error to the drawings taken by our artist on the establishment of Mr. Beuhne, at Garfield, about 40 miles from Melbourne, on the Gippsland railway.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past. This is an expanded and updated version of that post.