Showing posts with label Nar Nar Goon. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nar Nar Goon. Show all posts

Thursday, April 14, 2022

Mr Elliot's cheque to J. Jackson and Sons of Pakenham

This is a cheque, below, for two pounds, 12 shillings and six pence written to J. Jackson & Sons, by John Elliot (1).  It's a Commercial Bank of Australia Ltd cheque, from the Nar Nar Goon branch. Every picture tells a story as they say, so this is the story behind the various elements of this cheque.



J. Jackson & Sons
J. Jackson & Sons was a general store and bakery in Main Street, Pakenham. J. J. Jackson and Sons' first advertisement appeared in the Pakenham Gazette on September 2, 1927 in which they stated that they desire to inform the public of Pakenham and District that they have taken over the general storekeeping business carried on for many years by Mr P. O'Halloran and it is their intention to conduct the business on up to date lines, at all times giving the requirements of customers their first consideration. You can read about Patrick O'Halloran, here.

Jackson & Sons first advertisement in the Pakenham Gazette.
Pakenham Gazette September 2, 1927.

This was a change of occupation for Mr John James Jackson, who had previously been in the coal mining industry at Korumburra. Mr Jackson and his wife Margaret (nee Sutton) had a large family to support - five sons and nine daughters - so it appears the move was designed to create employment opportunities for his sons. The family still operated the store until October 1951, when it was taken over by Mr C. C. Lack (2).


The local paper at Korumburra had this short report on Mr Jackson's 
new venture into retail.
Great Southern Advocate, August 18, 1927. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/254594380

Sadly, Mr Jackson died only 20 years after his move to Pakenham, on April 25, 1948 at 66 years of age. The Pakenham Gazette of April 30, 1948 published the following obituary of Mr Jackson, which I have transcribed below.


Mr Jackson's obituary
Pakenham Gazette of April 30, 1948

Obituary - Mr J. J. Jackson

By the death on Sunday morning last of Mr John James Jackson, Pakenham district has lost one of its best known and most highly respected citizens. He had not enjoyed good health for some years and for the last ten weeks had been a patient in the Royal Melbourne Hospital, where he passed away.

Born at Appin, New South Wales, 66 years ago, Mr Jackson was in his younger days closely associated with the coal mining industry, mainly in the Newcastle and Korumburra districts.

Coming to Pakenham from Korumburra 20 years ago, he and his sons took over a general storekeeping business.

Although latterly ill health debarred him from an active part in public affairs, he retained to the last a lively interest in all the local organisations, with which he was formerly predominately associated. He was a Justice of the Peace and a member of the Cemetery Trust, and an enthusiastic worker for the various sporting clubs and the Country Party. The district has benefitted greatly by his public service through the years, and by his death loses a fine citizen.

As an individual, Mr Jackson was a huge friend to many. A man of the highest principles, he delighted in giving a helping hand where it was most needed, and not even continued ill health could dim his cheery outlook on health.

The heartfelt sympathy of the whole community goes out to his widow, four sons and nine daughters in their great loss.


The funeral took place at Pakenham Cemetery on Tuesday afternoon, following a service at St James Church of England. The church was crowded for the funeral and the attendance was one of the largest seen at Pakenham for many years. Rev. W. P. Daunt officiated at the Church and at the graveside. Four sons – John, Clive, Ray and Norman – acted as coffin bearers and the pall bearers were Messrs J.R. Marshall, R. Ramage, J. J. Ahern, W. Stephenson, E. Sutton, B. Jackson and R. Webster and Dr W.G. Farrell. Messrs W. Garnar and Sons carried out the funeral arrangements.


Mr Jackson's death notice listing his fourteen children.


Mr John Elliot
Mr John Elliot wrote the cheque, he is listed in the Electoral Rolls as being a farmer, of Nar Nar Goon. John first appears in the Shire of Berwick Rates in the 1898/1899 book, where he is listed as owning 97 acres, Lot 77a Parish of Nar Nar Goon. This property was located on the south side of Bald Hill Road, a bit west of Seven Mile Road. Mr Elliot married Josephine Hayes in 1887 and they had two sons, James Ross (known as Ross), born in 1897 and Hector John, born 1901. John and Josephine are buried at the Pakenham Cemetery, Josephine died in 1924, aged 62 and John died June 17, 1937 aged 85. 

Their two sons had quite different lives  The Electoral rolls show that Hector was a timber worker and lived his life at Nar Nar Goon and then Pakenham. Ross became a State school teacher and had many appointments - Woods Point, Cora Lynn from 1925 to 1934; then Tetoora Road, south of Warragul, then to Stanhope from 1940 to 1949; then three years in Coleraine and  from there to Commercial Road State School in Morwell. He was at Morwell from 1952 until 1957and then transferred to Newton in Geelong, which was his last appointment before he retired in 1962.  His file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, which includes reports from the Inspectors, praises him as a hard working and cooperative head teacher who gives excellent service and that his energy, initiative and pupil understanding have been distinctive (3).


John Elliot's death notice


Commercial Bank at Nar Nar Goon
This brings us to the other element of this cheque - the Commercial Bank. The Commercial Bank of Australia merged with the Bank of New South Wales in October 1982, to become Westpac. The Commercial Bank in Nar Nar Goon was constructed in 1893/1894. The Cardinia Shire Heritage Study (4) describes the building as a parapeted and stuccoed Italian Renaissance styled bank typical of 19th century branch bank designs. It is significant to the Cardinia Shire as the oldest architect designed commercial building in the Shire, the relative sophistication of its design and for its associations with its early history of the small Nar Nar Goon township.


Commercial Bank, Nar Nar Goon in 2017.

The Weekly Times of April 8, 1893 had a list of all the Commercial Bank branches. Pakenham and Nar Nar Goon were listed as agencies of the Berwick bank.


List of Commercial Bank branches in April 1893.

It appears to have been a very short-lived agency as it was closed in August 1893, perhaps due to the economic depression, however, it re-opened as a branch during 1903/1904.


Notice regarding the closure of the Nar Nar Goon and Pakenham Commercial Bank agencies.
South Bourke & Mornington Journal August 30, 1893. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70015880


The Commercial Bank re-opens at Nar Nar Goon, 1903/1904.

The Bank Manager at Nar Nar Goon at the time Mr Elliot wrote his cheque to J. Jackson & Sons was Arthur Ahern. Arthur had been transferred from Pakenham to Nar Nar Goon in June 1927 (5) and then in September 1928 he was transferred to Moulamein in southern New South Wales (6). Arthur was the second of eight children of James Joseph and Marion (Trewartha) Ahern. J. J. Ahern was the Shire of Berwick Secretary from 1906 until 1948. 

I don't have the exact date of the closure of the Nar Nar Goon Bank, which possibly took place in the 1970s. In the early 1980's it was the home of Witchetty Grub Children's clothing, established by Maree Cunningham (7).  There was double page spread in the Australian Women's Weekly of March 31, 1982, advertising her garments on offer.


Fashion spread for Witchetty Grub children's clothing, made in the old Commercial Bank 
at Nar Nar Goon.
Australian Women's Weekly March 31, 1982. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/52264380/4480137#

The text reads - Nar Nar Goon seems an unlikely birthplace of a children's fashion label, but that's exactly where Maree Cunningham, a Gippsland farmer's wife, faced with dressing her own four children, started to design and make their clothes. Her very first range was produced for three Melbourne boutiques. Today, the Witchetty Grub label, with all its fashion charm, is marketed through some 40 outlets around Australia, and it's still designed, manufactured and dispatched from its all-Australian birthplace, Nar Nar Goon.

From left: Witchetty Grub - Grey check shirt $36, navy flannel shorts $45 and navy jumper $32. Peach sleeveless quilted jacket $47, matching divided skirt $49 and Liberty print shirt $47. Blue quilted jacket $57, matching skirt $42 and shirt $45. Taupe shirt $35, check knickers $48 and grey jumper $32. Black cord dress with detachable collar $74. Red check dress $74.


Footnotes
(1) I bought this cheque on Ebay. Thank you to my fellow historian, Isaac Hermann, for finding it for me. As soon as he pointed it out to me, I knew there was a story there.
(2) The first advertisement for Mr Lack appeared in the Pakenham Gazette of October 5, 1951. There was an interview with Clive Jackson, John's son, in the Pakenham Gazette of December 5, 1955 and it appears that he took over the business again in 1955, see below.


Pakenham Gazette December 5, 1955

(3) The information about the Elliot family comes from the Shire of Berwick Rate Books, the Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com and the Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Informatition about Ross' teaching career comes from the Teacher Records at the Public Records Office of Victoria, Series 13579 and Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria (Education Department of Victoria, 1973
(4) Cardinia Shire Heritage Study, v. 3 - Heritage Places by Graeme Butler & Associates (Cardinia Shire, 1996), pp. 284-285.
(5) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 9, 1927, see here.
(6) The Dandenong Journal, September 20, 1928, see here.
(7) Thank you to my mother Wendy and my sister Karen for telling me about Witchetty Grub clothing and it's connection to the bank.

A version of this blog post, which I wrote and researched, also appears on my work blog - Casey Cardinia Links to Our Past.

Saturday, January 1, 2022

Nar Nar Goon and the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Boards

There are 51 soldiers listed on the Nar Nar Goon Honour Board and 15 soldiers listed on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board. Eleven men are on both the Honour Rolls, thus 55 different men are honoured by having their name on the Honour Rolls.  The Nar Nar Goon Honour Board is at the Nar Nar Goon Community Centre. It was originally unveiled on April 22, 1921 on the occasion of the opening of the Nar Nar Goon Soldiers' Memorial Hall. You can read about this, here. The Nar Nar Goon North State School Roll is at the Nar Nar Goon North Public Hall. The Nar Nar Goon North School, No, 2914, opened in April 1889 and closed on October 12, 1951 when it was amalgamated into the Pakenham Consolidated School (1).

According to Discovering ANZACs and the AIF Project websites  there were 50 men who were either born or enlisted in Nar Nar Goon. Of the 55 men on the Honour Rolls only 22 are amongst the 50 listed on these websites.  Once again, it would be interesting to know how the local community selected the men who would be honoured on the War Memorials as obviously some with a local connection were not chosen.


Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board
Photograph courtesy of the Casey Cardinia Remembers website




Nar Nar Goon Honour Roll
Photograph courtesy of the Casey Cardinia Remembers website  www.caseycardiniaremembers.org.au


Here is  a list of the soldiers with their Service Number (SN) so you can look up their full service record on the National Archives of Australia website, www.naa.gov.au

Aalto, Atolf Aleksanter (SN 3676)  Listed as Alto on the Honour Roll. Atolf was born in Nystad in Finland, he was a 21 year old miner, he was Naturalised on July 6, 1915  and he enlisted at Bendigo on July 29, 1915. His father, who lived in Finland, was his next of kin. Atolf  was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia May 4, 1919. What is his connection to Nar Nar Goon? He obviously spent some time there after his arrival in Australia  and before he enlisted at Bendigo. I can't find him in the Electoral Rolls after the War but there is a Adolf Aalto listed in the United States Federal Census, living in Michigan. He is the right age and arrived in the U.S in 1919. Is this the same man?

Blackwell, Gilbert Darlow (SN 4137) Gilbert enlisted July 12, 1915 at the age of 18. He was a farm labourer. Gilbert Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919.
Blackwell, Bernard Robert (SN 53566).  Bernard enlisted on October 2, 1916. He was 18 years old and  a farm hand.  He had 'Bronchial Asthma' and was considered unfit for Military Service and was discharged in March 1917. 
The boys, both born in England,  were the sons of William and Primrose Blackwell who are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Nar Nar Goon in 1914. William was a boot maker.

Cahir, Joseph Keith (SN 960) It seems that he was known as Keith by his family, so that's what we will call him - Keith enlisted on October 1, 1914. He was a 24 year old striker (a blacksmith's assistant) and his next of kin was listed as his sister, Stella Maris Cahir, of Mt Ararat house, Nar Nar Goon. Keith was reported missing in August 1915, held as a Prisoner of War in Turkey and not released until the end of the War in 1918. Keith had malaria in prison and then caught Spanish Influenza when he was released. He Returned to Australia on December 2, 1918. Keith is on both Honour Rolls. Keith was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.

Carter, George Henry (SN 2314)   I had no idea who this was and there were 32 G. Carters who had enlisted so I started going through their records to find a Nar Nar Goon connection and on the 20th one I found George! George enlisted on June 30, 1916. His occupation was a trapper, he was born in Yorkshire and his next of kin was his friend, Samuel Batten of Nar Nar Goon. He was Killed in Action, in France,  on April 5, 1918. However on the Honour Roll, George was not listed as dying in the War, so I am now unsure whether this is the correct G. Carter, but having gone though all the G. Carters I still have no-one else with any local connection, tenuous though this one is. As  a matter of interest, George was only 18 when he enlisted and he claimed both his parents were dead, however it turns out that his father lived in Oakland, California and he didn't find out that his son had enlisted or been killed until 1919.

Castle, Frederick William (SN 1213) Frederick enlisted on July 26, 1915 at the age of 22. His next of kin was his mother, Frances Castle, of Nar Nar Goon and he was a saw miller. He Returned to Australia May 29, 1919.

Chatfield, Frederick Norman (SN 62) Frederick enlisted on February 25, 1916, aged 21, and he was a 'chaff cutter feeder'. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Chatfield of Nar Nar Goon. He was discharged from the Army on April 19, 1920. Frederick was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.

Childs, Albert George (SN 2599) Listed as Child on the Honour Roll. Albert enlisted in Melbourne on July 9, 1915, his occupation was Dairyman. He was 29 years old, born in England, his address on the Nominal Roll is Primrose Park, Beaconsfield, however he is listed as living at Nar Nar Goon in the 1914 Electoral Roll. Albert Died of Wounds on August 5, 1917 in France.  Albert is also honoured on the Beaconsfield War Memorial.

Dore, David (SN 2637a) David was born at Nar Nar Goon and when he enlisted on July 20, 1915 his next of kin was his 'second eldest half-brother', Mr J. Dore of Nar Nar Goon. He was 18 years old, a farmer,  and was an orphan. He was Killed in Action in France on August 9, 1918. David is on both Honour Rolls.

Drummond, Walter Neil (SN 2571)  The only W.N Drummond I could locate was this Walter, he was a Blacksmith, 18 years old, was born in Eskdale and was from Officer, which is only two railway stops west of Nar Nar Goon, so this could well be our man. He was the son of  William and Margaret Drummond, of Pinehurst, Officer. Walter enlisted June 28, 1915. He Returned to Australia on April 13, 1919.

Edwards E.S -  I don't know who this is - The only E.S Edwards I can find is  Ernest Samuel Edwards (SN 1346) from Walhalla, he is a stoker and blacksmith.  There is an Ernest Edwards (SN 5327) who was a blacksmith from Longwarry (just four railway stops east of  Nar Nar Goon). There was a John Edwards who was the Station Master at Tynong from 1914 to 1917, so was E.S Edwards connected to him? There was also a Thomas Henry and Christine Edwards in the Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon in 1914 - was E.S Edwards connected to them?  Any help appreciated.

Ferguson, Alexander  (SN 798)  Alexander was 24 years old, and a farmer when he enlisted on June 27, 1917 and his next of kin was his wife, Nina Grace Ferguson of Prahran, however she is listed in the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon.  Alexander Returned to Australia on April 27, 1919. 


Alex Ferguson leased out his farm before enlisting.
Pakenham Gazette May 25, 1917. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92153109


Gaskett, Albert James (SN 1481) Albert was 19 year old farmer, when he enlisted on November 9, 1915. He Returned to Australia on July 17, 1919. 
Gaskett, William John (SN 1830) William enlisted on February 28, 1916, when he was 21. He was also a farmer.  He Returned to Australia on July 21, 1917. He was discharged on medical grounds - Nephritis. 
William and George are brothers from Nar Nar Goon and were the sons of George and Levina (nee Collins) Gaskett. Levina died in 1914 at the age of 42. George is listed in the 1914 Electoral Roll as a saw miller. Albert and William are listed on both Honour Rolls.

Harris, Leo  (SN 3132)  Leo enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was a 20 year old farm labourer, born at Kyneton. His next of kin was his mother, Josephine Harris, of Nar Nar Goon, however, his father W. Harris, also signed the letter agreeing  to Leo enlisting, as he was under 21. Leo was Killed in Action, in France, on August 9, 1916. There is some interesting correspondence in Leo's Attestation file regarding his grave. Parents of soldiers who were killed or died on service could have an 'emblem of faith' inscribed on the grave - a Cross or Star of David, depending on whether they were Christian or Jewish. Mrs Harris had asked for a Star of David, and when Base Records queried that because Leo's stated religion was Presbyterian, Mrs Harris wrote back saying I was under the impression that the Cross was Roman Catholic and Star of David protestant faith, so I will not have either emblem inscribed. That letter was dated September 2, 1920, but she wrote again on October 11, 1920 asking for the Cross to be inscribed. 


Correspondence from Mrs Harris regarding the 'emblem of faith' to be inscribed on her son's grave.
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Heffernan, William  There are nine W. Heffernans who enlisted, all called William, so we can be pretty sure his name is William - but I cannot find a W. Heffernan with a local connection. William is on  the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board , so I presume he went to school there - no William Heffernans are teachers, so he didn't teach there. Any help appreciated.

Holcombe, Archibald Jones (SN 68586)  Born in Wales and he was the son of Francis Holcombe of Nar Nar Goon. He enlisted on July 1, 1918 when he was 19 and embarked on October 22, however the troop ship was recalled to Australia due to the end of the War, so Archie did not see any active service, not through the want of trying it seems. There is a Statutory Declaration signed by Archie on July 1, 1918 stating that his mother and father refused to sign the verification paper, stating that he could go if he wished, but that they would sign nothing!


Archie Holcombe's Stat Dec saying his parents refused to sign his papers.
National Archives of Australia www.naa.gov.au
First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920

Huby,  Walter Percy Clarence  (SN 11351) He seems to have been known as Clarence, so that's what we will call him. Clarence enlisted on June 6, 1915 and he Returned to Australia on November 7, 1919. Clarence was born in York, England and his next of kin when he enlisted at the age of 22, was his mother also from York. He married Ada Hollick, in England on October 16, 1919. Clarence's occupation was sawyer on his Enlistment papers and 'mill labourer' in the 1914 Electoral Roll when he was living at Nar Nar Goon. In the 1924 Electoral Rolls he and Ada are living at Gembrook, where he is commemorated in the Avenue of Honour. Clarence also enlisted for service in World War Two.

Jones,  Arthur Alfred Charles   (SN 5117) Arthur enlisted on January 4, 1916. He was 21 and a baker.  He was living with his aunt in Northcote at the time, but his next of kin was his father, Robert Jones on Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on September 6, 1919.


Arthur Jones
Northcote Leader October 26, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article126179668


Keddie, Bert John (SN 4833) Bert was a School Teacher, born in Stratford and his father who was his next of kin lived at Murrumbeena. When he enlisted on January 1, 1916, he was 20 and was teaching at Ouyen State School and had received leave from the Education Department to enlist. He Returned to Australia on September 25, 1919, but before he returned had married Jean Hamilton on April 16, 1919 in Scotland. Bert and his brother Thomas, below, are on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board.
Keddie, Thomas Lee Heard (SN 856) Thomas, like his brother Bert, above, was born in Stratford and was also a School Teacher. He was at Byaduk State School (south of Hamilton) when he enlisted, at age 24, on August 18, 1914. He was discharged on December 12, 1915 as he was medically unfit after suffering a gun shot wound on April 25, 1915. He then re-enlisted on June 19, 1916 and was discharged on medical grounds on August 1, 1916. So what was the connection of the Keddie boys to Nar Nar Goon? Their brother, Richard James Keddie, was a teacher at Nar Nar Goon in in 1909-1910 - is he the connection? The boy's parents are James and Jane - James is listed in the Electoral Roll as being a Railway employee - did he work at Nar Nar Goon and the boys went to school there? 


Thomas Keddie

Kidd,  James Edward  (SN 64477) James enlisted on May 21, 1918. He was a 20 year old coach trimmer. He was the son of James and Margaret (nee Keane) Kidd of Nar Nar Goon. His father, James, was a blacksmith. James Returned to Australia on July 3, 1919.

Lamb, Charles Hargrave (SN 3092)  Charles was the son Joseph and Annie Lamb. Joseph Lamb was listed in the 1909 and 1914 Electoral Rolls at Nar Nar Goon, his occupation was a boot maker. Charles,  a blacksmith, was 18 when he enlisted on December 4, 1914. He Returned to Australia in March 1916 to recover from a gun shot wound to the neck. He re-enlisted on  February 2, 1917 and was Killed in Action, in Belgium, on October 4, 1917. When he enlisted in 1917, his father was deceased and his mother, Annie, lived in East Brunswick. Charles was honored with a tree in the Memorial Grove at the Tynong State School which was planted in 1917. Read about this here.


Charles Lamb's return home due to being wounded
Dandenong Advertiser May 4, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88658511

Ledger,  John  (SN 4666) John enlisted on September 9, 1916 as Francis George Moore. He said he was 19 years and three months old, was a farm labourer, was born in Nar Nar Goon, he said he was an orphan and his next of kin was his Guardian, Mrs R.E. Smith of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on July 7, 1919. There is a statutory declaration in his file, signed September 23, 1919 which says that he enlisted under the assumed name of Francis George Moore as at the time he was under eighteen years of age. He requested that all the records be amended so that his correct name was listed. Was he really an orphan? There is a Rosalie Emma Smith listed in the Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon in 1914, so she existed, and he obviously had some contact with Nar Nar Goon as he was recognised on the Honour Roll.  Ironically, when he returned from active service, lets say he was 17 when he joined up, he would only have been 20 when he returned, still not old enough to enrol to vote! You certainly have to admire his spirit.

Lia,  Matthew (SN 471) Matthew enlisted in Lithgow, N.S.W, on January 2, 1916. His next of kin was his father, Joseph Lia, of Nar Nar Goon.  Matthew was awarded the Military Medal. After the War he was granted leave for 'non military employment' at A.C Carson Artificial Flower Manufacturing Company  and was discharged on June 7, 1920.

Liston,  Thomas   (SN 1514)  The Honour Board has a C. Liston  listed, but the only Liston  I could find with a Nar Nar Goon connection was Thomas. Thomas was 29 when he enlisted on November 10, 1914. He was a farm labourer and his next of kin were his parents who lived in Brunswick. Thomas enlisted at Tynong, the Attesting Officer was William Carney, Shire of Berwick President and his medical examination was held in Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on June 23, 1919. Thomas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.

Madden, Frank (SN 1798) Frank enlisted on January 13, 1915 at the age of 19. Frank was awarded the Military Medal and he Returned to Australia on April 8, 1919. 
Madden, Thomas William (SN 2232) Thomas' address on the Embarkation Roll is Nar Nar Goon and he was 25 years old when he enlisted on April 1, 1916. Thomas Died of Wounds on October 18, 1917 in Belgium. 
Frank and Thomas are brothers and they were both wool sorters by occupation. When Frank enlisted in January 1915 his next of kin, his mother, Grace Madden, was listed at Nar Nar Goon; when Thomas enlisted a year later, his next of kin, his father Thomas was listed at 9 Caroline Street, Clifton Hill. In 1917 a Memorial Grove was planted at the Tynong State School and Trooper Madden was reported as being honoured with  a tree, who I believe it is either Frank or Thomas. You can read about it, here.


Death notice for Thomas Madden.

Matthews, Frederick George Gladstone  (SN 2272)  George, was a 22 year farmer and he enlisted on July 24, 1915. He was the son of William Thornburn and Mary Jane (nee Phillips) Matthews of Nar Nar Goon.  Frederick Returned to Australia on July 22, 1917 and was discharged from the Army on medical grounds due to a gun shot wound to the left knee.

McCarthy, Daniel Patrick  (SN 10447) Daniel enlisted on August 10, 1915. He was 23 years old, a farmer and an orphan and his next of kin was his brother, Edward, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on May 20, 1919.

Moore,  Walter Frederick (SN 79636) Walter enlisted on September 18, 1918. He was a 21 year old farmer.  Walter did not get to serve overseas as the War ended. Walter is on both Honour Rolls. Walter, born in Vermont, was the son of Arthur Charles and Alice Louise (nee Plumridge) Moore of Nar Nar Goon.


Walter Moore and Henry Richardson enlist.
Pakenham Gazette September 20, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92152230

Mortimer, Thomas Ernest Gregory (SN 6900)  Thomas enlisted on August 17, 1917. He was born in Longwarry,  He was 21 years old and a school teacher. Thomas was the son of George and Sophia Georgina (nee Snell) Mortimer, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on July 23, 1919. In the 1922 Electoral Roll Thomas is listed as a teacher at Nambrok and the 1924 Rolls at Patho, near Echuca.

Nash, Walter Horace (SN 250)  Listed as H. Nash on the Honour Board, so I presume he was known as Horace, so that's what we will call him. Horace was 33 years old and a Labourer when he enlisted on January 14, 1915.  His next of kin was his father, Walter Thomas Nash of Box Hill, later Brighton. Horace was Killed in Action at Pozieres on July 31, 1916. I had a lot of trouble identifying this man, then I saw a W.H. Nash in a Casualty list, so investigated further in the Roll of Honour at the Australian War Memorial, decided our man was most likely Horace, but it was only confirmed by the on-line Melbourne Grammar War Service Records, here. His entry mentions that - he was farming at Wandong for a while, but moved to Nar Nar Goon before he enlisted in January 1915. 

O'Brien,  James Arthur (SN 2737) James was born in Nar Nar Goon and enlisted on May 3, 1916 at the age of 23. He was a hardware assistant and his next of kin was his father, Daniel O'Brien of  Yarroweyah (between Strathmerton and Cobram), however James was listed in the 1915  Electoral Roll at 36 Airlie Street, South Yarra, with his sisters Helen Mary and Emily Kate. Their mother, Mary Jane O'Brien (nee Eves) was also at the address.  James Returned to Australia on October 20, 1918, having suffered a serious gun shot wound to the head.  James is listed  on the Nar Nar Goon North State School Honour Board.   


Report of James Arthur O'Brien being wounded

O’Brien, James Joseph   (SN 1876) James was born in Nar Nar Goon and was 18 when he enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was a farm labourer. His next of kin was his mother, Elizabeth Mary (nee Whelan) O'Brien of Seven Hills, Nar Nar Goon. James Returned to Australia November 25, 1917 and was discharged on medical grounds, as he had a gun shot wound to the left leg 'involving the joint.'  James is on both Honour Rolls. James' father was Patrick O'Brien who died in December 1912.

O’Brien, Daniel Francis (SN 2379)  This man is in the notice, below, as having gone into Camp and he is listed as F. O'Brien, so I feel he may have been known as Francis, so that's what we will call him.  Francis was 24 years old, a grazier and born in Nar Nar Goon. He enlisted on August 16, 1916. His next of kin was his sister, Katherine O'Brien, of Nar Nar Goon. Francis Returned to Australia on  February 15, 1918 and was discharged on medical grounds, due to a gun shot wound to the left leg. I believe that Francis was the son of Michael and Johanna (nee Mulcahy) O'Brien. They were both deceased, Michael having died November 1915 and Johanna in March 1914.


Fred Chatfield, William Gaskett, James Smith and Francis O'Brien go into camp.
Dandenong Advertiser May 4, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88658511

Patrick O'Brien, Daniel O'Brien and Michael O'Brien were brothers, the sons Nar Nar Goon pioneers, Daniel and Bridget (nee Walsh) O'Brien.  This means that James Arthur O'Brien, James Joseph O'Brien and Daniel Francis O''Brien  were first cousins. There is more information  about the family in footnote 2. 

Charles Olsen
Australian War Memorial Photograph DA13462

Olsen, Charles Christian (SN 3898) Charles was a 20 year old sawmill worker when he enlisted on July 14, 1915. He had been born in Nar Nar Goon and lived in Nar Nar Goon. Charles was Killed in Action on June 12, 1917.
Olsen, Richard Henry (SN 3026) Richard was born in Williamstown, and was 24 years old when he enlisted in South Australia, on June 8, 1915. He was a Labourer. Richard Returned to Australia on March 23, 1919.
Charles and Richard are sons of Andrew and Martha (nee Warren) Olsen. The boys are on both Honour Rolls. 

Ord, Albert Leslie (SN 3889) Albert enlisted on August 7, 1915. He was 22 years old and  a labourer.  He was the son of Frederick Thomas and Margaret (nee Leishman or Leichman) Ord. Their address on Albert's Attestation papers was Nar Nar Goon, however they were at Tynong in the 1914 Electoral Rolls. Albert Died of Wounds in France on September 25, 1916 - he was accidentally shot in the hip by another soldier who was cleaning his gun. Albert's Roll of Honour Circular at the Australian War Memorial said that he attended Tynong State School.  Albert was honored with a tree in the Memorial Grove at the school which was planted in 1917. Read about this here.


Harry Pepper
Australian War Memorial  Photograph H06683

Pepper, Harry Higham (SN 2744) Harry enlisted on August 2, 1915, at the age of 22. He was a farmer. His next of kin was his mother, Mary Ann (nee Banks) Pepper of Nar Nar Goon. Harry was Mentioned in Despatches and was Killed in Action in France on August 9, 1918. It appears that Mary Ann had separated from her husband, Henry, as a letter in Harry's Attestation file said Henry was living in Molong in NSW.

Perry, Silas Cole  (SN 1337)  Silas was born at Nhill, He enlisted on November 2, 1914 when he was 26 and his occupation was a farmer. His next of kin was his father, James Perry, of Nar Nar Goon.  Silas Returned to Australia on February 2, 1919. Silas was granted a Soldier Settlement farm, you can read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here.

Pettman, Isac William (SN 2419) Isac (unusually spelt with only one a) enlisted at Tynong,  on May 31, 1915. His next of kin were his parents, Isaac and Ellen, who were from Bunyip; he was labourer and 19 years old. He Returned to Australia on July 1, 1919. In 1919, Isac married Doris Augusta Blackwell, the sister of Gilbert and Bernard, listed above. Isac's brother George also enlisted. George (SN 3908)  was born at Garfield and enlisted at the age of 18 on August 7, 1915. He  Returned to Australia February 9, 1919

Prior, James Stanley Glenth (SN 31721) Mr Prior enlisted using only his middle name Stanley.   He was a Compositor, born in South Melbourne and enlisted in Claremont, Tasmania on October 16, 1916 at the age of 25.  His next of kin was his father, James, of Braeburn, Nar Nar Goon. Stanely Returned to Australia July 1, 1919

Reid, Kenneth Sutherland  (SN 14065) Kenneth was 18 when he enlisted on March 17, 1916. He was the son of  William Alexander and Sarah (nee Maxwell) Reid of Nar Nar Goon and was a Medical Student at the time and had already spent a year with the Melbourne University Rifles. He Returned to Australia on February 28, 1919. According to the Electoral Roll he later became a research chemist.

Richardson, Henry Christopher (SN Depot) Henry enlisted on September 16, 1918. He was a 20 year old labourer. He passed the Light Horse riding test, but did not get to serve overseas as the War finished.
Richardson, Walter Sidney (SN 3227) Walter enlisted on July 14, 1915. He was 19 years old and a driver.  Walter Returned to Australia on August 8, 1919.
The brothers were the sons of Christopher and Jessie (nee Beaton) Richardson of Nar Nar Goon. 

Rogers, Vaughan Arthur  (SN 1275)  The  Honour Roll has a T.A Rogers listed, but I am pretty sure that it should be V.A Rogers and I cannot find any T. Rogers with a  Nar Nar Goon connection. Vaughan enlisted on July 20, 1915. He was 19 years old and a driver. Vaughan was the son of William Henry and Alice (nee Cahill) Rogers of Nar Nar Goon. He caught Rheumatic Fever and was sent home to Australia from England in October 1916 and discharged from the Army on February 16, 1917. Vaughan is on both Honour Rolls. As a matter of interest Vaughan's birthplace in his Attestation file is Nar Nar Goon, but on the indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and marriages it is Numurkah. 

Rowe, W.   A Private W. Rowe is also listed in the newspaper report as having been honoured with  a tree in the Tynong Memorial Grove, see here, but I have not discovered who this is. There are number of W. Rowes with a Gippsland connection but no-one with a specific Tynong or Nar Nar Goon connection. There is a William Rowe in the Shire of Berwick Rate Books listed at Tynong, occupation farmer, around 1914;  a F.H. Rowe of Tynong  wrote  a letter to the Berwick Shire in September 1916 complaining about drainage - so Private Rowe may well be connected to either of these men. 

Smith, James Francis  (SN 2563) James was born and lived at Nar Nar Goon, he was the son Marmaduke and Kate (nee Mulcare) Smith. He enlisted on April 19, 1916. He was 23 years old and  a farmer. James was Killed in Action in France on February 14, 1917. James is on both Honour Rolls.


Death notice of James Smith

Startup, Rupert Walter. Rupert was a bit of  a mystery as there were no  Startups who enlisted in the First World War according to the records at the War Memorial and the National Archives. However, via Ancestry, I found his name listed at the National Archives in England in the 'Registry of Shipping and Seamen: Index of First World War Mercantile Marine Medals and the British War Medal' so he was in the Merchant Navy during the War. Rupert, born in 1896, served in World War Two. He was in the Army from December 1940 until January 1942; then the Air Force from September 1943 until October 1945. Startup is a very well known Nar Nar Goon name - John Startup and Edwin George Kettle took up the Mt Ararat run in 1854. It was 17,000 acres in size and was said to extend from Pakenham to Drouin. Rupert is the grandson of John Startup (3). 

Taylor,  William David (SN 4530) William enlisted January 31, 1916, he was 30 years old,  a labourer  and living with his wife, Cecelia, in Nar Nar Goon. He had been born in Perth.  William was Killed in Action in France on March 27, 1917.

Wade, A   I don't know who this. There is an Arthur Wade on the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon - his occupation is a groom. but if he did enlist I cannot work out  which of six Arthur Wades he might be (if any) as none have a Nar Nar Goon connection. I have checked the fourteen A.Wades who enlisted and once again none have an obvious Nar Nar Goon connection and neither do the other 128 Wades.

Warren, Robert James (SN 5099) Robert was 18 and an orchardist when he enlisted on February 2, 1916. His next of kin was his mother, Catherine Warren, of Nar Nar Goon. He Returned to Australia on April 1, 1919. Robert is on both Honour Rolls.

White, Sydney Pleno (SN 3638)  Sydney enlisted on July 12, 1915 at the age of 31.  He was born in England and his next of kin was his father in England and he was a coachsmith. His address on his Embarkation papers was Toorak however there is a Sydney Pleno White on the 1914 Electoral Roll at Nar Nar Goon (occupation farmer) so I presume, with that unusual middle name, that they are the same person. Sydney Returned to Australia on July 4, 1919. He was in Pakenham in the 1924 Roll, occupation orchardist and in Berwick in the 1931 Roll, occupation Dairy farmer. He died in Berwick in 1954. Sydney has three Soldier Settlement land files on the Battle to Farm website, you can read them here, here and here.

Wilson, Robert Charles Percy (SN 685) Robert enlisted in January 3, 1917 at the age of 26.  He and his wife, Rachel, lived in Nar Nar Goon where Robert was the Station Master. He was part of the 1st Australian Light Railway Operating Company and was  awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.  Robert Returned to Australia on May 11, 1919


Footnotes

(1) Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria, edited by L.J. Blake. Published by the Education Department of Victoria, 1973.

(2) O'Brien Family, Nar Nar Goon.
Information is from
Early Settlers of the Casey Cardinia District by the Narre Warren & District Family History Group, published 2010
From Bullock Tracks to Bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of the Berwick Shire, 1962)
Solid Bluestone Foundations and other memories of a Melbourne girlhood, 1908-1928 by Kathleen Fitzpatrick (Penguin 1986). Kathleen Fitzpatrick was the great grand-daughter of Daniel and Brigid O'Brien

In the 1860s, Daniel and Brigid (nee Walsh) O’Brien built the Limerick Arms Hotel on the corner of Wilson Road and the Gippsland Road (now called the Princes Highway) at Nar Nar Goon. Daniel, Brigid and their one year old daughter, Ellen, had arrived in Melbourne in September  1841 on the Forth. Also on the same ship were the Dore family  - John (c. 1808 - 1895) his wife Betty (nee Elizabeth O'Connor, c. 1808 - 1876) and their children Edward, Thomas, Patrick and Ellen, six more children were born in Victoria.  In 1844, John Dore and Michael Hennessey took up the Mount Ararat Run at Nar Nar Goon of 1,900 acres. The partnership existed until 1855. Hennessey then moved to Dandenong and built the Bridge Hotel and later took over the Eumemmerring Hotel. In the 1860s, Dore purchased the 640 acre Mt Ararat pre-emptive right. He later purchased another 387 acres and his son Thomas 300 acres so they held a total of 1,300 acres. The property was later bisected by the railway line when it was built in 1877.

Back to the O'Briens  - Daniel was a builder and the plan was to work in Victoria for four years save enough money and then return home, as it was they never did return to Ireland. The family first went to Waurn Ponds near Geelong where Daniel worked as a builder. They then  decided to buy some land  - Waurn Ponds being too dry looking they decided to buy in Gippsland and brought a farm called The Swamp at Mt Ararat or Nar Nar Goon, perhaps they were influenced in this decision by the Dores.

The O'Brien's  had more eight children - Michael James born 1843 at Saltwater; Patrick Francis 1845, Jeremiah Gerald 1846,  Johanna Mary 1848, Catherine, 1853 - these last four were born when they were at Nar Nar Goon. Bidelia Amelia 1853, Mary Ann 1856 and Daniel 1859 were born in North Melbourne.

Because the children needed an education the O'Briens moved back to town and built a house in North Melbourne so the children could go to school.  Daniel was again working as a builder but  his business partner stole the proceeds of the business and this forced the family to move back to Nar Nar Goon where they opened the Limerick Arms. This was  a success  as the Gippsland Road went as far as Sale and there was lots of traffic; it was also a Cobb and Co Coach stop.   The hotel also had  a reputation for being spotlessly clean and offering good meals. Every six months  a Priest would visit, and conduct a mass and also baptise any babies that needed  that sacrament.  The services were either held at the Limerick Arms or the Dore's House. 

A succession of tutors were employed by the O'Briens until they settled on Daniel Ahern. The O'Briens and the Dores also built a school on Mt Ararat Creek for their own children and the the neighbouring children and Daniel Ahern was the teacher. Mr Ahern later taught at Eumemmerring State School, later called Hallam State School from 1870 to 1890. Daniel was the father of James Joseph Ahern, Shire of Berwick Secretary from 1906 until 1948.

Daniel died in 1886 at the age of 82 and Brigid in 1888 at the age of  77. The Limerick Arms was delicensed in 1908 and the building has been demolished. The son of Daniel and Brigid, Michael and his wife Johanna (nee Mulcahy) opened the Nar Nar Goon Hotel in 1883.

The O'Brien family also inserted a number of informative death notices into the newspapers, which helped me sort out who was who.

Death notice of Patrick Francis O'Brien from 1912

The Argus December 9, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10522112

Death notice of Michael O'Brien from 1915

The Argus, November 8, 1915  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1577894

Death notice of Daniel O'Brien from 1921


(3) Startup family - John Startup (c. 1822-1905). He married Emily Tolhurst in 1852 and they had the following children - John (born 1854), Susannah (1856),  Fanny (1857),  William (1860),  Rosetta (1863),  Herbert Walter (1865),  Leila (1866). You can read John Startup's obituary in the South Bourke & Mornington Journal of July 12, 1905, here.  Herbert married Catherine Damyon in 1895 and they were the parents of Rupert Startup, listed on the Honor Board. 

I found this notice of the dissolution of the partnership between John Startup and Edwin Kettle, it is the first time I have seen Mr Kettle's given names, all other sources I have seen  just refer to him as Kettle. 

The Argus March 27, 1856  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4834077


A version of this story, which I wrote and researched, appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years

Sunday, December 16, 2018

How Nar Nar Goon celebrated the Armistice in 1918

The Pakenham Gazette had this article about the Armistice Celebrations at Nar Nar Goon in their December 6, 1918 edition.  The report said that 1,000 people attended the event, that's an a amazing number.  You can see the whole article on Trove, here, but I have transcribed it, below.

NAR NAR GOON
A PEACE CELEBRATION

Wednesday last was a red letter day in the history of Nar Nar Goon, the occasion being a public demonstration and picnic in connection with the celebration of peace. The day was observed as a public holiday, all business places being closed, and it may be safely asserted that most of the residents of the district not only took part in the demonstration but did their best towards making it a
success.

About a fortnight ago the towns people decided that it was desirable that something should be done to mark their appreciation of the glad news that an armistice had been declared and that there was every indication of an early and lasting peace. An appeal was made for funds to meet the expenses of the celebration, and this met with a most generous response, about £50 being raised.

Wednesday's event was a credit to the town and district, and it will always be looked back upon with
interest. Both young and old entered into the spirit of the day, and as a result everything worked smoothly and all had an enjoyable outing.

The day's proceedings opened with a monster procession, which completely eclipsed anything of the kind ever seen in the district, comprising 130 vehicles and numerous horsemen. A number of the vehicles, including buggies, jinkers and lorries, were nicely decorated with greenery and flowers, and there was a profusion of flags, all the Allies being represented.

An effigy of the Kaiser, the handiwork of Mr Mappin, of Tynong, was mounted on a horse. This was safe guarded by Master J. Ede, in the character of  'John Bull'  and was a special attraction.

Space will not permit of a description of the various vehicles, but it may be said that all were attractive, those of Mr E. Oram, representing 'The Day'  and Mr J. Spencer, representing 'Peace', being worthy of special mention.

Amongst those with decorated vehicles were :- Messrs A. Harris, M. Dore, J. Mortimer, J. Mulcare, T. Eves, A. Thorn, J. Kenny, J. Gray, S. Collins, T. Garrett, J. Latta, R. Brooke, T. Grigg, E. Oram, J. Spencer, jun., and J. R. Spencer, the last named driving a fine team of four greys in a buggy. There was also a decorated motor, driven by Mr Donald. Some of the riders were in fancy costume.
amongst the number.being Miss M. Raftis (Ireland) and Master Wadsley (England).

The procession was formed into line at about 11 o'clock, and, headed by the Richmond Juvenile Brass Band, marched from the township to the place chosen for the day's picnic.

Four returned soldiers, viz., Ptes. W. Comely, P. Neilsson and H. J. Lennon, of Tynong, and Pte. G. Bjursten, of Cora Lynn, held a prominent position in the procession.

On arrival at the ground judging took place for prizes in connection with the procession, and the awards were asfollows:
Best decorated vehicle: Mr E. Oram, Tynong, 'The Day'
Best Group: Nar Nar Goon.
Most original character: Master Ede, Tynong, 'John Bull'
Special prize: The Kaiser.
There were about 1000 persons on the ground, and a sports programme was carried through, providing plenty of enjoyment for young and old. A merry-go-round was provided for the
children.

Thanks to the excellent management of the committee and the cordial cooperation of all present, the celebrations throughout were a decided success.

Sunday, June 29, 2014

100 years ago this week - Roller Skating

Roller Skating was a popular winter past-time 100 years ago - these advertisements for skating at the Bunyip Mechanics' Institute and the Nar Nar Goon Public Hall appeared in the Bunyip Free Press of July 2, 1914.


Skating at Bunyip and Nar Nar Goon
Bunyip Free Press July 2, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629166

A Skating Carnival was held at Keast Hall (the public hall) on July 17, 1914. The Bunyip Free Press reported that In spite of the unpromising night and the state of the canal, which was running a banker, the local people turned out well and a vey enjoyable evening was spent. 


Report of Skating Carnival at Cora Lynn.
Bunyip Free Press July 23, 1914  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129629268


Sunday, June 23, 2013

The Nar Nar Goon to Mirboo railway line


The Argus, October 17, 1911.

I came across this the other day. I can tell you that the Railway line never eventuated, but it would have been interesting if it had. Cora Lynn never got  a railway station - the closest stations were Tynong and Garfield on the Gippsland line and the Bayles and Catani Railway Stations on the Koo-Wee-Rup to Strezelecki line. This line opened on June 29, 1922 and closed in stages with the Catani station closing in April 1950 and Bayles in February 1959.

Here's what it says:
Railways Standing Committee
Nar Nar Goon to Mirboo
Cora Lynn, Monday – the Railways Standing Committee visited Cora Lynn today, and took evidence in the public hall in regard to the proposed railway route from Nar Nar Goon to Mirboo, via Cora Lynn and Modella. Over 100 persons were present.
Mr Melville, M.L.C., presided, and Messrs Billson and Warde were also present.
Evidence was given by Messrs Kinsella, Porter, Murdock and Dyer in favour of the proposed line, and all favoured it going through Cora Lynn, in order to tap land to the south of that township. Messrs Chambers and Schmutter (Modella League) favoured the same route, provided the line was carried through Modella.
 The Committee also took evidence at Nar Nar Goon and Messrs Reid and Latta were examined in regard to the proposed route. The latter gentleman said that he had been 29 (?) years on 700 acres of land and after that time his land was only now in a fit state to produce crops which would be valuable to him.