Bayles General Store

The General Store at Bayles opened in January 1921, and the proprietor was George Petrie Murdoch Junior (1872-1972).  George also had the general store at Cora Lynn, which he opened in 1907 and operated  until 1922. You can read about George Murdoch and the Cora Lynn store, here. 

When I say the Bayles store opened in January 1921, that is actually the first advertisement that I found for it, and it was called the Yallock General Store. I was confused initially because I didn't know whether the Yallock Store referred to in the advert was actually in the 'old' settlement of Yallock or the 'new' Yallock, centred around the Bayles Railway Station. However, the Shire of Cranbourne Rate books  confirm that Murdoch's store was actually in Bayles ('new Yallock') not 'old' Yallock. George Murdoch is first mentioned as owning the land in the 1920/21 Rate books.

I was also confused as to why George would have opened his store in January 1921 when the Koo Wee Rup to Strzelecki Railway line, of which Bayles was the first station from Koo Wee Rup, wasn't officially opened until June 29, 1922. I knew that Bayles, as such did not exist before the railway line, it was the Railway Station closest to Yallock settlement.  However,  the railway stations were opened earlier for limited transport of goods (not passengers), whilst construction work was still going on. In the case of Bayles, it was February 1921  so that would have bought traffic to his store; the next stop down the line was Catani and it was opened for limited operations from May 1921. I have written about the Strzelecki Railway line, here, and about Frederick Bayles, the namesake of the town, here. 

First advertisement for George Murdoch's store at Bayles (then known as Yallock)

Koo Wee Rup Sun January 20, 1921, p. 1.

When the store opened in January 1921, Thomas Keys was the manager. However, as you can see by the advertisement, below, a year later he was no longer involved and George himself was operating the store and it had been renamed the Bayles General Store.

The store is now called the Bayles Store and Thomas Keys is no longer connected to the business.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, January 26, 1922, p. 3

By 1925, George was assisted in the store by his son Allan and daughter Mary Jane (according to their occupations in the Electoral rolls). In March 1927, the business was sold to Mr E. H. Kean, but George Murdoch retained ownership of the building (and had other properties in Bayles) until at least 1950.  The Electoral rolls tell us that E.H. Kean was Edmund Herbert Kean and his wife, was Helen May Kean. 

The Bayles Store is taken over by Mr Kean, and this advertisement shows the 

huge range of stock available at the store. 

Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 3, 1927, p. 4

Short advertorial advising the change of ownership of the store. 

Koo Wee Rup Sun, March 3, 1927, p. 4

Edmund and Helen Kean were at the Bayles Store until July 1936 when they sold to D.J. Cole, who previously had a business in Daylesford. The departure of the Keans from Bayles was much regretted as they were most desirable residents, as the Dandenong Journal told us. The Keans moved to Parkdale, where they had a store and later to Isabella Street, Mentone, where the Electoral rolls list Edmund's return to his occupation of mechanic.

The Keans leave Bayles.

Dandenong Journal, July 2, 1936  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214740179

The new owner of the Bayles store was David James Cole. Also living there was his son Keith and his daughter-in-law, Joyce, as well as Joyce's sister Gwen Hoarth.   

Mr Cole takes over the Bayles Store as a going concern.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 9 1936, p. 1

Mr Cole's first advertisement.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 9, 1936 p. 4

David Cole had the store until June 1943. The Dandenong Journal of June 30, 1943 (see here), published a lovely report of the farewell function-

Farewell To Popular Bayles Storekeeper

The monthly euchre party and dance run by the Bayles Red Cross attracted a bumper house on 16th. inst., owing to the occasion being taken to express the district’s appreciation to Mr. D. J. Cole, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Cole and Miss Gwen Hoarth before they left the district. The euchre tournament attracted a large number of competitors, and Mrs. P. Wildes carried off the honors. Rogers' orchestra provided a happy evening for dancers, while Mr. Gordon Potter in his usual capable manner, acted as MC. During an interval Mr. Potter, in inviting the guests to a seat of honor, said it was a happy thought on the part of the local Red Cross to invite the Cole family to the function.

Cr. L. J. Cochrane referred to the generous support always given by the Cole family to all social and patriotic functions and for any cause for the benefit of the district. Mr. Cole came to Bayles in 1936 when district affairs were at a low ebb, but by his energy and industry, built up a prosperous business, and people were grateful for the many kindnesses extended to them. Miss Gwen Hoarth had for two years proved herself efficient and courteous in the conduct of postal and switch-board duties.

Mr. Cole has one son (Laurie) in the AIF., the youngest member of the family, Colin, is serving in the RAN., while Mr. Keith Cole is about to enter the RAAF. Cr. Cochrane concluded by wishing the guests long life, health and happiness wherever they may go. Mr. Cole, senr. thanked the speakers for their kind remarks and the Red Cross for the invitation to be present. He was sorry to be severing his connection with district affairs, he said, but Keith’s desire to enter the services caused him to make his decision. Mr. Keith Cole, in his usual happy style returned thanks on behalf of himself, his wife and sister-in-law. For they are “Jolly Good Fellows” brought a happy event to a close. As usual the ladies provided a dainty supper.

Laurie, Colin and Keith all returned home safely from the War. 

Mr Cole sells business to Mr Griffiths

Koo Wee Rup Sun June 10, 1943, p.4

From June 1, 1943, Mr A.J. Griffiths took over the store. I have not discovered his given names.  He was only there for three years but in that time the Dandenong Journal (1) reported that in 

February 1944 - Mr A. J. Griffiths advised that at a meeting of citizens at Bayles it was resolved, in view of the serious, menace of fire to the town and property in that area to form a bush fire brigade. Mr. J. G. Potter is captain, Messrs. E. Epps and S. McKay, lieutenants; and Mr. A. J. Griffiths secretary.

In September 1944, he sang the beautiful hymn, "Thine forever, God of love'' at the wedding of Peggy Hodgson to William Pearse, in the Koo Wee Rup Anglican Church, and also sang at their reception.

In October 1945, it was reported that a permit has been granted to A. J. Griffiths to erect a bulk food store at Bayies, at a cost of £450.

In January 1946 he unsuccessfully stood for Council.

Mr Griffiths was clearly a man who involved himself in the community life of Bayles. In June 1946, the store was taken over by S. & S. King - Stanley and Shirley Bonnaville King. 

Mr Griffiths last advertisement in the Koo Wee Rup Sun

Koo Wee Rup Sun June 5, 1946, p. 2

The first advertisement for the Kings in the Koo Wee Rup Sun

Koo Wee Rup Sun June 12, 1946, p. 4

Stanley and Shirley King were in the Electoral rolls at Bayles in 1954, but the 1958 roll, saw them living in Seaford, where his occupation is a grocer. Interestingly, the 1954 roll lists both Shirley and Stanley as 'general merchants' - married women rarely had an occupation specified, no matter how much the worked in the family business or on the family farm, they were usually just listed as 'home duties' 

What do we know about Stanley and Shirley? They were married 1940 at the Holy Trinity Church of England in Kew, and their wedding was reported in The Australasian of August 17, 1940. Shirley was the daughter of Cr and Mrs H.F. Mogg, the Mayor and Mayoress of Kew and Stanley the son of Mr and Mrs H.E. King of Bourke Road, East Malvern. Stanley died in May 1965, aged 54, at their home in Kananook Avenue, Seaford, and his death notice in The Age of May 17, 1965 lists three children, Robin, Clive and Mark. Shirley died in 1982, aged 71. 

The wedding of Shirley Mogg to Stanley King. 

From left - the bride and bridegroom, Mrs B.V. Mogg, Miss I. King and Miss Mary Shaw. 

The Australasian, August 17, 1940 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142142165

The report of the wedding.

The Australasian, August 17, 1940 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article142142169

We will leave the Bayles Store with the Kings; however nearly 102 years after George Murdoch established the Store, it is still going strong.

Footnote

Sources for the information about Mr Griffiths

Dandenong Journal, February 9, 1944, see here

Dandenong Journal, September 13, 1944, see here.

Dandenong Journal, October 10 1945, see here

Dandenong Journal, January 16, 1946, see here.

Bayles Football Club - a poem

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of May 14, 1925 published this poem by Master A. Murdoch about the players of the Bayles Football Club. I am guessing that the poet was Archibald William Murdoch, the son of George Petrie Murdoch, who had the store at Bayles.  Archie was born 1909, and so would have been about 16 at the time - young enough to be called 'Master' and old enough to write the poem. George Murdoch also had the store at Cora Lynn from 1907 until 1922, read about this here. The poem is transcribed below.

Bayles Football Club poem 

Koo Wee Rup Sun May 14, 1925 p.3

Bayles Football Club by Master A. Murdoch

They are Black and White Magpies,

The king of all birds;

Some come from the factory-

They live on the curds.

There's Jeffers and Stewart and Murdoch and Kane; 

They never are beaten; they all come again.

And there's Tommy O'Brien and Bromeo Fred,

And Taylor, the butcher, to carve up the dead;

Harker, the captain, an old hand at the game,

Who never gets beaten or never goes lame.

There's butchers and bakers and shopkeepers, too

They're footballers all and they know what to do.

But what about Smithy and Dan Cunningham?

They're as good as the day they came out of the pram.

There's great big Bert Griffo, who works on a farm;

He's that big and hefty, he'll come to no harm.

There's poor old Bill Wise, the man with the watch;

They say he's too fat, but that is all bosh.

But what about O'Brien and Sage?

If Bayles get beaten they'll get in a rage, 

And if anyone tries to sneak into the plot,

Les Egan, on Charger, will run down the lot.

Look out! Here comes Egan with one of his rushes;

The men are all gasping, the ladies all blushes.

And there's Egans and Linehams, who plow in the furrow,

And by all that is holy we'll down Korumburra.

Ernest John Lupson (1888-1967)

E.J. Lupson was an engineer with the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (SRWSC). When he retired in 1953 the Koo Wee Rup Sun reported that Mr. Lupson has had 40 years' service with the commission, practically all concerned with the flood protection works of the Kooweerup and Cardinia districts. He was stationed at Kooweerup as district engineer for many years, when the main works were being constructed, and spent the later part of his service as divisional engineer for reclamations at head office (1). 

Ernest Lupson, taken at Koondrook February 11, 1948. 

Photographer: J.W. Moore.

State Library of Victoria Image RWP/A35.292, 

See footnote 2 for more information.

For people familiar with the history of the drainage of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp then they would know of the Lupson report, of which E. J. Lupson was the author. He started work on the report  in 1935, following the devastating December 1934 flood. The report - The Lower Kooweerup Drainage Works Proposed Improvements (3) was released in early 1936 and as he wrote in the report -

The Commission has made a through investigation of the conditions and formulated an improved scheme of works to alleviate flooding. It is considered that a complete scheme to cope with the extraordinary floods is financially impracticable, and in the circumstances, a modified scheme has been prepared to deal effectively with flood discharges in the main canal of 11,000 to 14,000 cusecs by providing an overflow floodway along the south east side of the canal for a distance of approximately 4 miles above Cora Lynn, to carry the quantity of water which overflowed that section in the December 1934 flood, and discharge it into a large new drain to be constructed on the West side of the No. 4 Yallock Drain and thence into the Yallock outfall to Western Port Bay. 

 A Royal Commission was also established in 1936. Its role was to investigate the operation of the SRWSC. The Royal Commission report was critical of the SRWSC’s operation in the Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection District in a number of areas.  It ordered that new plans for drainage improvements needed to be established and presented to an independent authority. Mr E. G Richie was appointed as the independent authority. The Richie Report essentially considered that the Lupson Report was sound and well considered and should be implemented. The main recommendation of the Lupson report was the construction of the Yallock outfall drain from Cora Lynn, cutting across to Bayles and then essentially following the line of the existing Yallock Creek to Western Port Bay. The aim was to take any flood water directly to the sea so the Main Drain could cope with the remaining water. The Yallock outfall drain was started in 1939 but the works were put on hold during World War Two and not completed until 1956-57 (4). 

This is the Yallock Outfall Drain, Ernest Lupson's lasting legacy on the 

Koo Wee Rup Swamp. 

This water was diverted from the Main Drain at Cora Lynn, to take the pressure from that Drain and thus help to protect everyone downstream from flooding. 

The Drain is normally just a bed  of reeds.

Image: Heather Arnold October 27, 2022

Who was E.J. Lupson? Ernest John Lupson was born on July 26, 1888 at the family home, 53 Cambridge Street, Collingwood. His parents were John Thomas Lupson, a draughtsman who was 31 years old and 29 year old, Agnes Matilda Johnson, who had married on October 12, 1883. Ernest had three sisters, Edith Agnes, born 1884; Marjorie May, born 1890 and who died at the age of  two months and Dorothy Grace, born 1898 (5).  The family lived at Cambridge Street until 1905, when they moved to 267 Burke Road in Camberwell, and from 1912 to 39 Alma Road, Camberwell (6).  In 1904, John Lupson, who had been listed as a Surveyor in the 1903 Electoral Roll was appointed as an Instructor of Drawing at Melbourne University. He later became  a Lecturer in Surveying in the Engineering Faculty and was a Fellow of the Victorian Institute of Surveyors (7) 

Education was clearly important in Lupson house and Dorothy, and possibly, Edith attended Lauriston Girls' School, at the same time as the daughters of Carlo Catani, another engineer connected to the Koo Wee Rup Swamp (8).  Ernest attended Wesley College and was Dux of the Upper Fourth form in 1903 and in 1904 in the Lower Fifth form won the prizes in Mathematics; English and History; Physics; Scripture. I don't know where he studied after that, however in 1910 he is listed in the Working Men's College examination results for Applied Mechanics, however this may have been a single subject and he may have studied at Melbourne University (9). 

On June 4, 1912 when he was 23 he married Winifred Alice Ede Clendinnen. His occupation was listed as Student in Engineering. Winifred was 22 years old, the daughter of William Algernon Ede Clendinnen, a dentist, and his late wife Alice (nee Roberts) who had sadly died in 1892 when Winifred was just two years old.  Ernest and Winfred are listed in the Electoral Rolls at 35 Westgarth Street, East Malvern  from 1915 until 1919 and during this time their first son, Kenneth Edward was born on June 22, 1918 at Allendale Private Hospital in Hawthorn (10).

It was however, during this period that Ernest also started working at Koo Wee Rup with the SRWSC and I believe that Ernest at least must have been living in Koo Wee Rup as he was involved with many community activities.  We first find him in the local newspapers in October 1917 where he took part in concerts at both the Koo Wee Rup and Five Mile Halls to raise funds for Patriotic causes. He contributed items of harmony as the newspapers called it, at various concerts until the end of 1918. In July 1918 at a concert given in honour of Nurse Homewood, the Bush Nurse, Mr Lupson was in great form, and rendered several songs, " Take a Pair of Sparkling Eyes." " Glorious Devon," and was warmly encored, giving " The Land of I Dunno Where," and " Shirts," a comic item which elicited much laughter. (11). 

 

In November, just days before the Armistice was announced at another show it was reported that  E.J. Lupson sang "The Yeoman's Wedding" in good style;  he followed  up with a humorous duet Upper Ten and Lower Five with H.J. Townson and later still the humorous trio, "Sea Dogs," with Messrs Lupson, Donald and Townson as three inebriated sailors, brought down the house, and a recall was inevitable. After the concert, the Koo Wee Rup Comedy Company performed their inaugural play, a romantic comedy, On and Off, and Ernest played the character, Alphonso de Pentonville, a man of romantic temperament. Ernest also performed at an impromptu concert on the day the news of the Armistice reached Koo Wee Rup (12).

We know that Ernest and Winifred were living in Koo Wee Rup from 1925 until 1928, as they are listed in the Electoral Rolls, however their time in the town was marred by tragedy. Their second son, William John 'Billy' was born on March 4, 1925, but he sadly died on November 30, 1926, not even two years old (13). 

Obituary for Billy Lupson

Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 2, 1926, p. 4

Around 1929, they left Koo Wee Rup and moved back to Melbourne to 54 Elphin Grove, Hawthorn, even though he still had the role of  district engineer in charge of floor protection work in the Koo Wee Rup and Cardinia Districts at least until 1936 (14).  From the early 1930s, and for the next 30 years or so,  36 Avenue Athol, Canterbury was their home. Their son, Kenneth went to Scotch College and enlisted in the Army in July 1940. In 1942,  he was reported Missing and ended up as a Prisoner of War in Ambon, Netherlands East Indies and not liberated until September 1945. Kenneth lived a long life and died just before his 90th birthday in 2008 (15). 

As we said before, Ernest had  two sisters who lived to adulthood. Edith married Charles Perry Stanway in 1913 and had a son, Chares Raymond 'little Ray' in 1914 and another son, Eric Percival, in 1919. Eric was born after his father died at the age of only 33 in November 1918. Tragedy was to strike the family twice more in quick succession, Edith died on April 17, 1929, aged 44, and on March 20, 1930,  Eric died at the age of eleven. Ernest Lupson was the Administrator of her estate. Ray, who was only 15 when he was orphaned, then appears to have lived with his aunt, Dorothy Dalton, and her family at 526 Burke Road, Camberwell. He is listed there in the 1936 Electoral Rolls, with the Daltons and his widowed Grandmother, Agnes Lupson. 526 Burke Road was also his address when he enlisted in the RAAF during World War Two.  Ray survived the War and died in 2001. (16)

The other sister, Dorothy, married Robert Martin Dalton in 1916 and also had two sons. Robert Geoffrey, who served in the Army and the RAAF in the War and the younger son John, also served in the RAAF and held the rank of Flight Sergeant.  Sadly,  he was accidentally killed in England in July 1944. Dorothy died in 1981, the same year as her son Robert; his cousin Kenneth Lupson was the Administrator of his estate (17).

Ernest Lupson retires from the SRWSC at the age of 65.

Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 29, 1953, p. 1

Ernest Lupson retired from the SRWSC in 1953, when he turned 65,  and the staff at the Koo Wee Rup Office presented him with a bowler's case, so he obviously played lawn bowls. He was also a keen golfer and was a member of the Kew Golf Club, where he put his expertise as a drainage and water engineer to good use, as this short report from 1938 explains -  A handsome hall chiming clock was presented by the president to Mr E.J. Lupson, a member of the club, who was the engineer responsible for the design and supervision of the watering scheme. Mr N. Black, who assisted him, was presented with a scries of volumes on engineering (18). 

A further report about this contribution was in  The Herald in 1953 -

In 1938 E. J. Lupson designed and supervised the installation of the overall watering scheme at Kew GC. For this great and gratuitous service Ernie last week was honored by a life membership. His work revolutionised playing conditions and the outlook of the club, cost about £2100 (It would run to about £8000 now), paid for Itself by "business" in less than 18 months, and at the time was unique in our golf. (19).

In 1952 his son, Kenneth, married Joan McAnulty and they would go on to have two children.  Winifred died on May 21, 1957 and her death notice referred to her as a dearly loved wife, loved mother, fond mother-in-law and dear Nana. Ernest died on August 23, 1967. They are both buried at Boroondara Cemetery with their little son, Billy. (20).

 

Trove list - I have created a list of newspaper articles on Trove connected to the life and work of Ernest John Lupson, access it here. 

Footnotes

(1) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 29, 1953, p. 1

(2) Image - State Rivers & Water Supply Commission district engineers and officers attending a demonstration of the Walsh Weed cutter, taken at Koondrook spillway, February 11, 1948. Photographer: J.W. Moore. The original photo is below, Ernest Lupson is on the left. 

State Library of Victoria - full list of names here - http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/310429

(3) State Rivers and Water Supply Commission - The Lower Kooweerup Drainage Works Proposed Improvements, 1936.

(4) Information in this paragraph from  From Swampland to Farmland: a history of the Koo Wee Rup Flood Protection District by David Roberts. (Published by Rural Water Commission in 1985). I have written about the history of the drainage of the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, here  http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/2018/10/koo-wee-rup-swamp.html

(5) Birth certificate and Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages. Thomas Lupson died 1928 and is buried at Boroondara Cemetery and Agnes Lupson died in 1945 and is buried at Burwood Cemetery.

(6) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com. Interesting article by Peter Harms about 39 Alma Road, Camberwell in the Camberwell Historical Society newsletter, Camberwell History, from June 2019. The Lupson family owned it until 1988, and even though it was left to Ernest in 1928, after his father died, he never actually lived there (according to the Electoral Rolls).  Read article, here.

(7) The Age, February 3, 1904, see here;  Obituary - The Argus, August 31, 1928, see here.

(8) Lauriston Girls' School results - The Argus, December 19, 1910, see here. Carlo Catani - I have a blog devoted to him http://carlocatani.blogspot.com/

(9) The Herald, December 15, 1903 see here; The Herald, December 14, 1904, see here; The Herald, January 12, 1911, see here.

(10) Marriage certificate; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Electoral Rolls; Kenneth's birth notice The Argus, July 6, 1918, see here.

(11) See articles in my Trove list, here; the concert for Nurse Homewood Lang Lang Guardian, July 5, 1918, see here.

(12) See articles in my Trove list, here; Koo Wee Rup Comedy Company report - Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 13, 1918, see here.

(13) Birth notice - The Argus, March 18, 1925, see here; Death notice - The Age, December 4, 1926, see here.

(14) The Argus, July 15, 1936, see here.

(15) Electoral Rolls; Kenneth's Attestation file at National Archives, see here; Report of Kenneth's release The Argus, September 21, 1945, see here. Death notice of Kenneth, here.

(16) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; various personal notices, see my Trove list, here; Letters of Administration file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, see here; Electoral Rolls; Ray's Attestation file at National Archives, see here.

(17)  Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; various personal notices, see my Trove list, here; Robert's Attestation files at the National Archives, see here and here; John's Attestation file at the National Archives is not yet digitised, his Roll of Honour circular, is here; Legal notice regarding Robert Dalton's estate in The Age, October 1, 1981, p. 28

(18) The Herald, March 19, 1938, see here.

(19) The Herald, April 28, 1953, see here.

(20) The Argus, April 19, 1952, see here;  Winifred's death notice in The Age, May 23, 1957. p. 13. 

 

Snakes Tales

These are accounts of close encounters with snakes on and around the Koo Wee Rup Swamp. Just remember, killing snakes is now illegal and most of the snake bite remedies mentioned here are no longer recommended. Having said that, all the people in this post survived, so something must have worked. Chloride of Lime was applied in one of these cases; it was injected. An article in the Korumburra Great Southern Advocate of December 20, 1894 (see here) on the topic and had this advice - No one in the country should be without his bottle of lime, and his hyperdermic syringe ready at hand. 

Snake-bite at Tooradin
On Monday a case of snake-bite occurred at Tooradin to a man named Gliffen. He was stalking some ducks, and while creeping through the undergrowth and ferns, he was met by a black snake of large dimensions. Instead of scurrying away, as this species generally does, it gave fight, and fastened on to the man's arm. Gliffen immediately asked a companion to help him to cut a piece of the, flesh away, and then rode to Dandenong, where Dr. Hodgson completed the cure, and next day Gliffen was able to return home. (The Argus, February 10, 1892, see here)

Snake-bite at Garfield

Silas Harris, 23 year of age, laborer, was bitten on the little finger of the right hand by a snake at Garfield this afternoon. He was cutting wood, and stooped down to pick up a piece when the snake bit him. Harris pluckily cut off the finger with the axe. He was then brought into the Melbourne Hospital, where Dr Grove administered stimulants, and dressed the finger. Harris was then able to leave the hospital. The snake was of the tiger species, and was killed by Harris. (The Herald, May 2, 1901, see here)

The cool headed Nellie Costello.
Iona - On Friday last considerable excitement was caused in the settlement by a case of snake-bite, and only for the plucky behavior of the young sufferer it is highly probable fatal consequences would have ensued. It appears that Nellie Costello, aged 14, daughter of a settler on the main drain, on the above date was sent down the paddock to drive some cows out of a crop of maize, and whilst performing this duty she trod upon a snake which turned and bit her just above the knee, she immediately formed a ligature with her handkerchief and made her way home, and requested her mother to take the carving knife and cut the piece out. Mrs. Crudden, a neighbour, performed the operation and the patient was conveyed with all speed to Bunyip, when shortly after arrival Dr. Cowan arrived in answer to a telephone message, and later on pronounced the patient out of danger. (South Bourke & Mornington Journal, January 29, 1902, see here)

Tiger Snake’s Bite. Young Man’s Escape.
A young man, named Thomas Kennedy, had a narrow escape from losing his life this week through being bitten by a tiger snake whilst engaged hewing timber on Mrs Smethurst’s farm at Yannathan, Gippsland. Kennedy was in the act of turning over a log, when a tiger snake, which had been hidden under it, seized and bit the thumb of his left hand. So tenacious was the grip of the reptile's fangs that all efforts to shake it off were futile, so Kennedy promptly seized his axe and chopped the snake in two. Using his pocket-knife, he then made a series of incisions all around the bite, and sucked the wound. Next he tied several ligatures about his hand and arm and hurried to the farm, where, securing a vehicle, he drove to Drouin, a journey of fourteen miles, and consulted Dr Cowan. Kennedy was by this time in a very drowsy state, which signified that the poison had affected him. Restorative measures were quickly and successfully administered. 

An antidote was then injected into Kennedy's veins, and after about 36 hours' suspense, during which time all manner of methods were resorted to in order to prevent the patient from falling into a dangerous sleep, the patient was pronounced out of danger. The young man then left for his home at Muckleford, where he will have to remain for some days until his lacerated hand is healed up, and the effects of the shock and medicine have passed away. (The Herald, October 25, 1902, see here)

[There are two other accounts of this story and in both he is called Timothy, not Thomas  and Mrs Smithers is listed as Mrs A.E. Smethurst, which I believe is correct. One account also said he came from Gembrook, so his return home to Muckleford may actually have been Macclesfield. These points aside, it's still a great story. Other reports The Age, October 27, 1902, see here; Weekly Times, November 1, 1902, see here]

Dangerous snakes of Victoria, indicated by Professor McCoy.

Printed by John Ferres, Government Printer, for the Education Department, Melbourne, Victoria, 1877.

State Library of Victoria Image H99.24/1-2 http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/459295

Bitten by a black snake

A man named Stephen Collins engaged as bullock driver at Nar Nar Goon was bitten on the left leg below the knee, by a large black snake about midday today. He was conveyed in an unconscious state to Berwick a distance of about fourteen miles. where he was attended by Mr Alex. Bennie, M.B., who used strychnine, calcium chloride and potassium permanganate. The patient regained consciousness during the afternoon, and is now convalescent. (The Argus, October 14, 1904, see here)

A Seven-foot Snake

Dandenong - Snakes are being discovered in large numbers this season, and numerous snake-bites are recorded. One day last week Mr. J. Hardy, of Tooradin, while at Heath Hill killed a black snake, and on opening it found it contained no fewer than 30 young, several inches in length. On Friday while Mr. T. H. Grant, of Toomuc Valley Orchard, was returning from Somerville he saw a large black snake with red sides on the Frankston-road. He killed the snake, which was 4ft. 6in. in length. Thinking it looked bulky, he dissected it, and discovered 16 young ones, about 6in. long, and alive. Mr. Grant took six of the young ones home with him, and has preserved them in spirits. On Monday Mr. Innis, a ganger on the Gippsland railway, killed a large carpet snake on the line, near the Frankston-road gate. The reptile measured 7ft. 3in. This is the largest snake seen in this district for the last 40 years, and it is believed to have been brought from a northern district in a railway truck. (The Argus, January 25, 1905, see here)

Snake-bite
Yannathan - About 7 o'clock on Friday a young woman named Lily Mannix, in the employ of Councillor Cameron, of "Fassifern," was bitten on the finger by a snake. She was taken to the Yannathan Store, where Mrs. W. R. Currie rendered first aid, and injected chloride of lime. The patient was then driven to Lang Lang and attended to by Dr. Harkness, and is now out of danger. (The Argus, June 3, 1907, see here)

The Snake Season. Harvesting Experience
Pakenham - A resident of McDonnell’s Drain, Iona, named W. Webster, was working a reaper and binder on a flax crop at South Pakenham on Friday. Hearing a squeal he stopped the machine, and found that he had cut three legs and the tail off a hare, the balance of the animal could not be found. Later, he had occasion to tighten a nut under the machine, and there being very little room he had to be on his back. While in this position he suddenly felt something cold on his throat, and found that a snake was crawling over his neck. As the head of the reptile was disappearing through the spokes of the wheel he caught it by the tail, but was forced to let it go as it turned to bite him. It then got away. (The Argus, November 30, 1909, see here)
[McDonnells Drain is actually McDonalds Drain and it isn't at Iona, it is at Pakenham South/Koo Wee Rup North.]

Divine help

On Saturday last a man named Horace George Iles, of Narnargoon, was bitten by a snake. He probably owes his life to the first aid assistance of Rev. Father Connellan, of Iona, as when he was taken subsequently to a doctor at Pakenham, he was in a very critical state, and the Doctor had all he could do to save his life. He has since recovered. (South Bourke and Mornington Journal, January 23, 1913, see here)

Snake at Clyde

On Wednesday afternoon at Clyde two boys named Greg Hardy and Arthur Hall, while rabbiting, hunted a rabbit into a small, burrow about 4 feet long. One of the boys poked a stick into one end while the other boy watched for the rabbit. To the lads' surprise a large black snake crept out. The boys ran half a mile to a neighbour, who with a gun killed the snake. (Bunyip Free Press, February 19, 1914, see here)

Cow swallows Snake

Mr P. Einsiedel, of Monomeith, recently had a singular experience.  He purchased a cow at a high figure, and some time afterwards the animal died without any apparent reason. A post mortem which was held revealed the fact that there was a snake about 18 inches long in her lung; having evidently been swallowed by the cow. (Lang Lang Guardian, April 25, 1917, see here)

Cow swallows snake.

Lang Lang Guardian April 25, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119514347

Copperheads plentiful

Garfield - Owing to the dry spell, snakes of the copper head variety have been more plentiful in the district than they have been for years. (The Age, February 26, 1923, see here)

A Dangerous Plaything. Child Bitten by Snake

Garfield - 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 girl 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)

Child Bitten by Snake
Garfield - The daughter of Mr. Young was bitten by a snake on Saturday evening. After first aid had been applied the child was taken to the Bunyip private hospital. She is now out of danger. (The Age, March 2, 1926, see here)

Snake Bite and Compensation. Employer’s Liability 

Though the amount involved was small, a case under the Workers' Compensation Act that came before Judge Winneke last week was of particular interest to employers of labor, as indicating to some extent their liabilities under the act. William Ernest Humble, of Garfield, laborer, was employed by David McLennan, of Catani, farmer. On 25th November last he was removing sheaves of hay in a paddock, when he was bitten on the little finger of the right hand by a snake. As a result he was incapacitated for four weeks, and he made a claim under the Workers' Compensation Act for £8. The facts were admitted and the amount of damage was admitted if it could be proved that claimant was entitled to damages. His Honor said in his opinion the snake bite was directly caused by applicant's employment. He was picking up sheaves of hay presumably with his hands. This was necessary in the performance of his work. It rendered him liable to snake bite. Therefore he would make an order for £8 compensation, with costs to be fixed. (West Gippsland Gazette, July 5, 1927, see here)  [This case was also reported on in The Age, June 17, 1926, see here]

Bitten by Snake at Five Mile

Mr J. O'Brien, employed by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission at Five Mile, was bitten by  a snake on Monday. After receiving first-aid he was conveyed to Kooweerup, where he received attention from Dr Hewitt. He has now recovered from the effects of the injury. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 3, 1927, p.4).

A narrow escape at Bayles

Mr J. Kane had a narrow escape from being bitten by a snake at Bayles on Thursday last. He sat down on a log to have a rest, when he felt something soft and got a surprise when he found that he was also sitting on a snake. He leapt forward and the reptile endeavoured to escape, but Mr Kane quickly despatched it. It is surmised that Mr Kane had the snake pinioned by the head, which prevented it from biting. Snakes are very plentiful and within the past fortnight a dozen have been killed in the Kooweerup township.  (Koo Wee Rup Sun, November 3, 1927, p.4).

Snake Disturbed in Hay

Frank Creber whilst removing some hay on his brother's farm at Caldermeade was bitten by a brown snake. He was taken into Lang Lang for treatment, and subsequently recovered. (The Age, August 25, 1928, see here)

Wound Scarified by Motorists
Albert Chapman an employee of Mr C. Cam, farmer of Lang Lang East, was bitten on the leg by a brown snake 3ft 6in in length. He killed the snake, tied a ligature above the wound, and rode four miles into Lang Lang to a doctor. Before he reached the doctor he met some motorists who had a snake bite outfit. They scarified the wound, and Chapman is now out of danger. (The Argus, January 15, 1929, see here)

Snake at Railway Station

Last Thursday evening a commotion was caused at the Kooweerup Railway Station by the appearance of a brown snake about 3ft. long on the platform. The reptile had the audacity to make its appearance from under the Strezlecki line office, but on seeing a number of people about found a hole in the wall of the ladies waiting room and quickly made its exit. One young fellow rushed into the office for a cricket bat, with the intention of displaying a Jackson stroke, but the reptile disappeared with the rapidity of a ball despatched by Larwood  (Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 14, 1929, p. 2)  

Note: Jackson stroke - presumably named for Archie Jackson, described as a a stylish and elegant batsman, with a genius for timing and placement and who faced Harold Larwood, the English bowler, in the 1928/29 Test series. Jackson sadly died in Brisbane in 1933, aged only 23 years of age, of tuberculosis. [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archie_Jackson]

Youth Bitten by Snake at Caldermeade
Arthur Stevens, aged 19 years, employed by Mr. W. Parker, of Caldermeade, was stooking hay yesterday when he was bitten on the ankle by a tiger snake. He killed the snake and scarified the wound. He was then driven into Lang Lang for medical treatment. He appears to be out of danger. This is the second time he had been bitten by a snake. (The Argus, December 31, 1930, see here)

Bitten by Snake
Mr M. Murton, while engaged on Mr W. Goble's farm, Kooweerup, last Thursday felt a sharp sting on the arm, but went on with his task. Later he found his arm beginning to swell and punctures from a snake bite were found. Immediately a ligature was applied and the usual measures taken to counteract the poison, after which he was conveyed to the surgery of Dr. Hewitt. Mr Murton quicky recovered form the effect of the bite.              (Koo Wee Rup Sun, February 5, 1931, p.1)

Bitten by Snake at Garfield North

While lighting a fire at Garfield North, Mr Ron Towt was bitten on the left wrist by a snake last Tuesday week. His father (Mr E. Towt) scarified the wound and applied a ligature. Beyond suffering the discomforts of a swollen arm, he felt no ill-effect.     

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 15, 1931, p. 1)

Snake Caught Eating Bread
Koo Wee Rup - For several weeks a resident of the district has found that bread left in a box outside his house by the baker has been nibbled and he has blamed mice for it. But when a tramp was passing the box today he saw the tail of a snake protruding from it. He crept towards the box and found that the snake was eating the bread. He killed the snake. (The Argus, March 18, 1933, see here)

George survived a bite from a  five-feet tiger-snake - see story below.

The Herald, March 26, 1934  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243321692

Brothers' Courage    

Snakebite Sequel - Night ride

White, and shaking after a wild night ride of nearly 50 miles, George Wells, 20, of Lang Lang, who was bitten by a five-foot tiger-snake yesterday afternoon, told in the Melbourne Hospital today a story

of brotherly pluck and bush fortitude, which reflects the resource of a family used to dealing with such dangers. His elder brother, Jack, 24, was bitten by a tiger-snake only 12 days ago, and the brothers have had many encounters with the species. George Well's life was probably saved by the swift action of his 15-year-old brother, Don, who chopped off his brother's finger with an axe.

"CUT IT OFF"

"I was cutting ferns a mile and a half from the farm at Grantville, near Lang Lang, where two of my brothers and I have been 'baching,"' said Wells. Don and Jack Hemingway, of Alphington, were with me. I walked away from them into a nearly dry creek, and was chopping with the axe at the roots of a nice maiden-hair fern when I put my hand into the roots to loosen it, and immediately felt a sharp bite.

"I pulled away my hand, and a tiger-snake five feet long came with it. I shook it off, yelled to the others, and ran towards them. "'Cut it off,' I said to Don, handing him the axe, and laying my finger - the forefinger of the left hand - on a log.

"DIDN'T SAY WORD"

"He didn't say a word, but went white and clenched his teeth. He raised the axe, and did a good clean job. Then he fell to the grass, sobbing. Meanwhile, Hemingway had taken the lace out of my shoe and tied a ligature around my finger. "I set off at a run for the farm, leaving the others well behind. My father and a friend, who were on a visit from Melbourne, saw me coming, just about 'all out.' Dad's friend, Mr Bob Harvey, of Northcote, cut some rope and tied another ligature on the arm, which went

numb. "They put me into a farm truck and took me to Lang Lang. "Mr Harvey made me sing songs on

the way to keep my spirits up.

BROTHER BITTEN

'We had not gone far before the engine began to give out. Just then a service car came along, and I was transferred to it, and taken to Dr Appleford's at Lang Lang. There the truck caught me up, and I was sent in it to Melbourne. "On the way the battery gave out and we came on to Melbourne without lights.

There I was put into a relative's car and taken to the Melbourne Hospital." 

George, Don and Jack Wells were digging with mattocks on Wednesday week when Jack was bitten by a small tiger-snake. For a few moments his finger, like his brother's, was in jeopardy, for the

brothers debated whether to cut it off with a mattock. Jack decided the question for himself, however, cutting the finger with a razor-blade, and applying a ligature, with no subsequent ill-effects. After his harrowing task, Don Wells became very ill, and is still feeling the shock. (The Herald, March 26, 1934, see here)

Just In Case

Although Dr. A. B. Hewitt said that he had not seen a case of tiger snake bite in the district for 17 years, he recommended that a supply of tiger snake anti-venene be obtained by the council and made available if necessary. He made this recommendation, he added, because Cr. Greaves had informed him that there were some "tigers” up in the Cranbourne end of the shire. They were mostly black, brown, and copperheads down in the swamp. Cr. H. Kirkham said that he had not seen a tiger snake in his end of the shire in 40 years but he believed they had been seen in the country behind the Cranbourne racecourse.

Dr. Hewitt said that as a rule people did not know what kind of snake had bitten them, but even if a person had not been bitten by a tiger, the anti-venene would not hurt them. If they had, then, it would be practically a life-saver. Council decided to make the purchase and leave the distribution to the doctor. (Dandenong Journal, March 11, 1942, see here)

Dropped live snakes in solicitor's office. “Mischief” Charge Fails.
A man who had terrified a solicitor's stenographer by releasing six live snakes in her office was acquitted in the Criminal Court yesterday. A bottle of "pickled" snakes was an exhibit in the case. William Connelly, 53, farmer, of Lang Lang, was charged with assaulting Miss Gwendolyn May Gilchrist, stenographer, of Hill St, Thornbury, by throwing six venomous snakes at her feet, thereby putting her in fear of injury, and doing an unlawful act tending to cause, or effect, a public mischief by releasing live snakes in the office of A. L. C. Flint and Marrie, solicitors, of Queen st. Accused pleaded not guilty to both charges, and after a short retirement the jury found him not guilty. He was discharged.

Connelly said that the snakes were harmless, as he had "milked" them for venom on the way to Flint's office. They would not hurt a two year-old child. The Crown alleged that Connelly had gone to the office of Messrs A. L. C. Flint and Marrie, solicitors, on December 6 last after a land sale had fallen through. He had paid a deposit of £100 and the solicitors had deducted £6/6/ costs, returning the balance to accused. Apparently accused did not like having the £6/6/ deducted. Gwendolyn May Gilchrist, stenographer, said that when accused called at the office she told him that Mr Flint was not in. He said he wanted to leave a parcel in Mr Flint's room. Witness then asked him to leave the parcel in her room.

"You had better see what I am putting in Mr Flint's room," replied accused. He then took a package from a gladstone bag, and six snakes fell to the floor. Witness ran into another room, and accused then left the office. "I had a small attack of hysterics," added the witness. Accused, in evidence, said he brought the six snakes to the city in an oatmeal bag. At Flinders Street station he put the snakes in a wash basin and extracted venom from four of the snakes. The other two were too young to have venom. He took every precaution against hurting Miss Gilchrist. He intended to frighten Mr Flint and to bring up the scandal of land sales. Accused said he found the snakes in the bush and kept them, as they would probably have died because the swamps were drying up. He fed the two big copperheads and four little ones for about three months. They were very quiet around his camp and were around when he and his family were having their meals.

Accused then related an incident of a visitor having a cup of tea at his place while the snakes were hanging around. "I could see by the look on his face that he wasn't comfortable, so I put the snakes in a biscuit tin so that he could enjoy his cup of tea," added accused. "My dog got on well with the snakes," Connelly said. "I could coil a copperhead around the dog's neck and the dog would not worry about it."
Mr W. S. Sproule, KC, prosecuted, and accused conducted his own defence. (The Argus, August 26, 1947, see here)

State Primary Schools called Koo Wee Rup

There have been five State Primary Schools named Koo Wee Rup.

School No. 2629
In 1884, School No. 2629 was built on the corner of Bayles Road and Bethune’s Road. It was originally known as Yallock, but changed its name to Koo Wee Rup in 1903. The school officially opened on November 1, 1884 and the first Head teacher was Eva Hurst with an initial enrolment was 22 pupils. Miss Hurst was replaced by Mary Dodd, who was in turn replaced by Mrs Grace MacKenzie in 1888. There was agitation, from as early as 1891, to have the school location moved closer to the town of Koo Wee Rup, which was growing due partly to the arrival of the railway in 1890.

The school population moved into the Public Hall in Rossiter Road in 1909 and in the September of 1910 classes moved to the original school building, which had been shifted into town to the site where the Secondary College now stands. Mrs MacKenzie left the school in 1911 to take up a new appointment at Moolort. The original school building became redundant when a new building was opened in February 1915 and this old building eventually became the Island Road School. In 1953, the Higher Elementary School was completed. This school included both primary and secondary classes (Forms 1 to 3 or Years 7 to 9). The school became a High School in 1957 and shared the building with the primary school students until November 1960 when the Primary School opened in Moody Street.

 The Koo Wee Rup Higher Elementary School, 1954. 

Photograph taken by Mr H.L. (Len) Anderson, who was Head Teacher 

from May 1953 to September 1956. 

Image courtesy of Ian Anderson.

School No. 3198
On July 7, 1894, the Koo Wee Rup South School, No. 3198, opened at Five Mile, on the corner of Main Drain Road and Five Mile Road. The building was previously located at San Remo School. This school has the distinction of starting its life called Koo Wee Rup South and then having its name changed to Koo Wee Rup North. 

Detail from the Parish Plan of Koo Wee Rup, showing the location of the school on the corner of Main Drain Road and Five Mile Road. There was also land set aside for a Mechanics' Institute, Recreation Reserve and a Church of England.

  Koo Wee Rup, County of Mornington. State Library of Victoria http://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/104366

Peter Norris was the first Head Teacher. At one time the school population was over 100 but in July 1954 when the school celebrated its 60th anniversary there were only 20 children enrolled. However, the anniversary celebrations were a great success with over 700 people attending, including three original scholars - W. Gilchrist, W.G. De Vries and Tilly Freeman (nee O’Shea). The school parents voted for the school to close in November 1959 and the children were sent to Pakenham Consolidated School. Five Mile was the last school to join or ‘consolidate’ with the Consolidated School which had officially opened in May 1951. Read more about the Koo Wee Rup North school, here.

Pakenham Consolidated School - In the 1940s and 1950s there was a movement to consolidate small rural schools into one larger school. This was partly a response to a shortage of teachers, due to many male teachers enlisting during the Second World War. The War also caused a shortage of materials and labour and many Schools fell into disrepair. The Education Department decided that Pakenham would be one of the first six Consolidated Schools to be established and that all schools within 8 kilometres or 5 miles would be closed and beyond that, the Schools would have an option.

The Pakenham Consolidated School was officially opened on May 29, 1951, on the site of the Pakenham State School, No.1359, in Main Street. The original Pakenham School had opened on a site near the Toomuc Creek in January 1875 and it moved to the Main Street site in 1891. The Pakenham Gazette of June 8, 1951 reported that on May 29th, four buses conveyed 130 children from surrounding districts to Pakenham Consolidated School. At present there are 258 pupils attending the School, and it is hoped that in September several other schools will be consolidated, raising the attendance to over 400 children.

The first Head Master was Charles Hicks. The School offered classes up to Year 10 (Form 4). The schools that formed the Consolidated School were Pakenham Upper No. 2155 (closed January 1952), Pakenham South No. 3755 (closed September 1951), Toomuc Valley No. 3034 (closed September 1951), Army Road No. 3847 (closed April 1947), Mount Burnett No. 4506 (closed October 1949), Tynong No. 2854 (closed April 1951), Tynong North No.4464 (closed December 1951), Nar Nar Goon North No. 2914 (closed October 1951), Nar Nar Goon South No. 4554 (closed May 1951), Rythdale No. 4231 (closed September 1951), Officedale No. 4242 (closed May 1951), Cora Lynn No. 3502 (closed May 1951) and Koo-Wee-Rup North (Five Mile) No. 3198 (closed November 1959).

Koo Wee Rup North State School, No. 3198.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

School No. 3201
When the Iona School, No. 3201, opened two days after the Five Mile School on July 9, 1894, on the corner of Thirteen Mile Road and Bunyip River Road, it was called Koo Wee Rup North; in 1899 it changed its name to Bunyip South and then in 1905 to Iona. This school closed in December 1993. Read more about the Iona State School, here.

School No. 3456
School No. 3456 was opened on April 1, 1903 in Modella in temporary premises in a room in a private house. At the time the area and the school was known as Koo Wee Rup East. The school moved to its permanent location, on the corner of Longwarry-Koo Wee Rup Road and Bridges Road in January 1904. On February 16, 1905, the school officially changed its name to Modella. The first teacher was Frederick Rumpff and he was there until 1907. There was then a series of short-term appointments including Dorothy Sillett, who was there in 1908. Her report in the Teacher Records file at the Public Records Office, says she was inexperienced, but anxious to do her best. Dorothy was 20 years old and had only been teaching since April 1907. Given that she was the sole teacher at the school, and that she would have been isolated by lack of transport coupled with the low pay of female teachers it is no surprise that her few months at Modella marked the end of her teaching career with the Education Department. The Modella school closed in December 1993.

School No. 3502
In January 1907 the Koo Wee Rup Central School (No. 3502) was built at Cora Lynn. The first Head Teacher was John McGibbon. On July 9, 1907, Mr McGibbon wrote to the Education Department…..on July 1st the Postal authorities granted the residents here a postal service and in compliance with a general request, named the district Cora Lynn. Hence, we should like the school to bear the name likewise. Again, great delay and inconvenience are caused by parcels and letters addressed to Koo Wee Rup Central S.S. first going to Koo Wee Rup S.S., or Koo Wee Rup South or Koo Wee Rup East before finally coming to hand. This annoyance would cease with the change of name. By September of the same year its name was changed to Cora Lynn. This school became part of Pakenham Consolidated School in May 1951.

Cora Lynn State School working bee, 1907.

Image courtesy of Des Dineen

 

Sources

• From Three to Ninety three: ninety years of education at Modella by Shirley Breese (The School, 1993)
• On the edge of the swamp: a history of the Iona Primary School No. 3201 1894-1994 by Denise M. Nest (Iona Primary School Back-To-Committee, 1994)
• Schooling on the Swamp: a history of Primary School No.2629 Koo Wee Rup 1884-2009 by Don Jewell (Koo Wee Rup Primary School, 2009)
• The tale of the Blackfish: a history of the Koo Wee Rup High School 1957-1977 by Fred Hooper (Koo Wee Rup High School, 1977)
• Vision and Realisation: a centenary history of State Education in Victoria edited by Les Blake (Education Department of Victoria, 1973)
• Notes on the history of Cora Lynn State School, compiled by Bryan Sim, Education History Services of the Education Department in 1984.

Baby Health Care Centres

The Baby Health Care movement began in Victoria in June 1917 when Dr Isabella Younger Ross (1) opened a centre in Richmond, with Sister Muriel Peck (2) as the Sister in charge.  Dr Younger Ross had studied medicine at Melbourne University and Glasgow University. She then worked at the Queen's Hospital for Children in London and this encouraged her interest in child welfare. This interest was reinforced by later study in Chicago.  The child health experts emphasised the importance of teaching women hygiene, nutrition etc with the ultimate aim of lowering the child mortality rates. 

Dr Younger Ross and Sister Peck were  helped in her endeavours by supporters such as Ethel Hemphill and Mrs W. Ramsay (3). Other centres were soon established in the Bouverie Street Clinic in Carlton and City Free Kindergarten in the City and they then spread throughout Victoria. The Victorian Baby Health Centres Association was established in 1918.  

I came across, purely by chance, the digitised reports of the Victorian Baby Health Centres Association from 1918 onwards on the Queen Elizabeth Centre website   http://www.qec.org.au/professionals/corporate-documents

1917-1918 annual report

This is from the inaugural Annual report and shows the progress made in establishing the centres in the first year. It was written by Ethel M. Hemphill.

From the next report lists of the Centres appear along with their opening hours, and later the names of the Nursing Sisters in charge and the names of women on the local committees, so this gives us some indication as to when Centres were opened in each area. 

The Centres and their opening hours from the 1918-1919 annual report

The Shire of Berwick and Shire of Cranbourne were both relatively late in establishing Centres; later than many areas much further from Melbourne.  The first mention of  local towns I could find in the 1935-1936 Annual report (see here) when both Garfield and Bunyip are listed. Garfield was open Fridays 10.30am to 12 noon and 12.30pm to 1.30pm; Bunyip was open Fridays 2.00pm to 4.30pm. I presume that there must have been local agitation to have these Centres opened in what were by no means the biggest towns in the Shire.

Office bearers of the Bunyip and Garfield branches from the 1936-1937 annual report

In 1937-1938 Annual report the Lang Lang and Pakenham have Centres opened. The report has statistics for Pakenham (or Pakenham East as it was called) - 39 individual babies were treated, plus 13 children over 2 with a total visit of 300 babies and 48 children.  

The number of babies attended to at various Centres, including Pakenham, from the 1937-1938 annual report. 

It wasn't until the 1938-1939 Annual report that the Shire of Cranbourne presented a report - they had Centres at Lang Lang and Pearcedale. The statistics for Lang Lang were 29 individual babies were treated, plus 21 children over 2 with a total visit of 354 babies and 68 children.

The number of babies attended to at various Centres, including Lang Lang 

and Pearcedale from the 1938-1939 annual report.

 The Tynong Centre was operating according to the 1942-1943 report. 

Tynong Office bearers from the 1943-1944 annual  report

In the 1944-1945 report the Shire of Berwick could present statistics for seven towns - Berwick, Beaconsfield Upper, Bunyip, Garfield, Nar Nar Goon, Pakenham East and Tynong - as Berwick, Beaconsfield Upper and Nar Nar Goon had not been listed before we can assume that these Centres were established  during that time. 

The Shire of Berwick report in the 1944-1945 annual report.

Gembrook and Officer in the Shire of Berwick had Centres established in the 1945-1946 year and the Shire of Cranbourne established a third Centre, in the town of Cranbourne. In that year the Centre in the town of  Cranbourne saw 19 individual babies treated, plus 8 children over 2 with a total visit of 82 babies and 25 children. 

The opening of the Centre at Koo Wee Rup and other towns from the 1946-1947 annual report.

Koo Wee Rup was established in 1946-1947, I don't have an exact date.  It is interesting to look at the statistics for that year for Cranbourne and Koo Wee Rup - they both had about the same number of individual babies treated (40 for Cranbourne and 42 for Koo Wee Rup) and yet Cranbourne's total baby attendance was 586 and Koo Wee Rup's was 276 - so Cranbourne mothers had an average of 14 visits per baby compared to Koo Wee Rup's 6 per baby - it's hard to know why - were Cranbourne babies more sickly or  did more of the mothers live in the town and not on farms and it was easier to attend or did the Infant Welfare Centre Sister encourage more visits?

Cranboure Shire statistics from the 1946-1947 annual  report.

Tooradin was established in 1947-1948 and there were no other  local Centres established up to 1950,  which is where we will finish, but before we do here are the Committees from local towns from the 1949-1950 annual report

The offices bearers of the local  Baby Health Centres from the 1949-1950 annual report.

These reports are a fabulous resource tracing the history of the Infant Welfare Centres in Victoria. They are also a great resource for local and family historians as they include lots of names of the local Committee members, mainly women, so they may help you discover the role your female relatives played in the town where they lived.  You can find the reports at  http://www.qec.org.au/professionals/corporate-documents

Acknowledgement - the information in the first two paragraphs comes from All the little children: the story of Victoria's Baby Health Centres 1917-2017 by Heather Sheard (MCHN Vic Inc., 2017) and this website http://www.qec.org.au/history/history-gallery

Footnotes
(1) Dr Isabella Younger Ross (1887-1956), read her Australian Dictionary of Biography here.
(2) Sister Muriel Peck (1882-1947), read her obituary in The Herald of May 21, 1947, here and a tribute to her in the Gippsland Times of June 5, 1947, here. Sister Peck also visited many country towns on the Better Farming Train and gave valuable advice to many rural mothers. I have written about the Better Farming Train, here. I have also written about her in connection to the Lady Talbot Milk Institute, here. Here obituary form the 1946-1947 report is below. 

The obituary of Sister Peck from the 1946-1947 annual report.

(3) Ethel Hemphill - Ethel Mary Hemphill, nee Scott, married James Johnson Hemphill in 1907 and died in 1939, aged 64. Mrs W. Ramsay, I have no other information about her.

A version of this post, which I wrote and researched, has appeared on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Links to our Past.