Annie the Circus Elephant who died at Koo Wee Rup

Goldwyn Brothers' Circus came to Koo Wee Rup on Wednesday, October 27, 1948; they were scheduled to perform that night, but were prevented by heavy rains and the show took place the next night. 

Advertisement for Goldwyn Brothers' Circus in Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 20, 1948, p. 1

However, one of their performing elephants died at Koo Wee Rup on Friday, October 29 and the Koo Wee Rup Sun  reported on this sad event - 

Death of the elephant.

Koo Wee Rup Sun November 3, 1948, p. 1

Valuable Elephant Alleged to be Killed by Noxious Weeds

While visiting Kooweerup last week Goldwyn Bros' circus had the misfortune to lose one of their two performing elephants, valued at £1000, alleged to be due to eating a noxious weed, viz., carrot fern, on a vacant allotment in the township fronting St John's Parish Hall. Billed to appear on Wednesday night, the show was postponed till the following evening owing to heavy rains. After helping to load equipment on Friday morning, the elephants were released and wandered on to the vacant allotment and were seen to be grazing most heartily on a prolific crop of the noxious weed. They, however, were soon stricken down and were in a serious condition. Drenches were immediately given, but in the afternoon one of the animals died and it was not until Saturday morning that the other elephant was able to regain its feet, when it quickly recovered. Although the circus had to forgo showing at Hastings on Friday night, the management was able to fulfil its engagement at Frankston on Monday.

What happened to the Elephant? I have been told by some locals that the elephant was buried at Koo Wee Rup, however the Dandenong Journal reported that -
Problem of Disposal of Dead Elephant
[Cranbourne Shire Health] Inspector J. Robertson  reported that while at Kooweerup Goldwyn Bros. Circus had the misfortune to lose one of two elephants, both of which were affected by fodder poisoning. Considerable delay was caused before the circus moved on, and arrangements had to be made to remove the carcase to a metropolitan boiling down works.

Disposal of the dead elephant

Dandenong Journal November 10 1948 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214584143

I must admit that when I heard an elephant had died and was buried at Koo Wee Rup, I was very sceptical; so I was happy and surprised to read a reference to the elephant in Gavan Donoghue's book The Stratford Elephant Mystery & more!  Gavan's book looks at the story of a circus elephant which was said to have been killed when it struck its head on the railway bridge on the Princes Highway at Stratford, in Gippsland. To track down which elephant this may have been, he made a list of all the circus elephants (and their fate) in Australia from post 1945. One of  the elephants was Annie, who belonged to the Goldwyn Brothers' Circus. Gavan notes that Dick Bills, a former lion-tamer and Goldwyns' Circus owner, suggests Annie died from eating poison weeds at Koo Wee Rup in the 1940s. 

Armed with this information, I found the Dandenong Journal entry, which gave me a date, and then I could go to the Koo Wee Rup Sun and I found the advertisement and the short article about the elephant.

Gavan also supplied the following information about Annie - she was an Asian elephant and she was a war refugee. Annie was evacuated from England because zoos etc were being bombed and she travelled all the way to Australia. She initially belonged to Soles' Circus until she was sold to Goldwyn Brothers' Circus and then sadly met her death in Koo Wee Rup having eaten carrot fern, another name for hemlock. 

Since I wrote this post, on June 14 2023 I received this message from Gavan - I rang Dick Bills today. He was briefly the owner of Goldwyns and also a  ‘Lion Tamer’.... He said he turns 101 this year. He is an amazing old guy. Still really sharp. I told him about the documentary find by you which confirms his recall. He said Annie was a lovely natured little elephant.

The Stratford Elephant Mystery & more!  by Gavan Donoghue (published by the author in 2019, and now in its 3rd edition) Follow Gavan on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/stratfordelephantmystery 

Short history of the Hospitals in Koo Wee Rup

The Koo Wee Rup Regional Health Service celebrated it centenary on May 23, 2023 and even though we have looked at some aspects of the history of the Hospitals in Koo Wee Rup and the people involved in various other posts, this post includes other aspects of this history. It is not  a comprehensive history. 

The Bush Nursing Centre opened in July 1918 and a nurses' cottage was built in 1921 (1) and it was on May 23,1923 that the Bush Nursing Hospital, named the Fallen Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital, officially opened in Station Street. You can read the Koo Wee Rup Sun report of the opening, here. 

The Koo Wee Rup Sun report of the opening noted that much of the credit for the Hospital goes to the long serving Secretary, George Burhop, who joined the committee in 1918. As they reported - 

Now that the hospital is an accomplished fact, we cannot conclude without saying that one outstanding personality in bringing the scheme to a successful consummation has been the untiring zeal and devotion of Mr G.R. Burhop. He has been absolutely absorbed in the work. The most difficult task did not daunt him, and he has given time, money and labor and he must feel highly elated that the object for which he has been striving is now a practical reality. He has worked in a splendid spirit and has been suffused with “the white heat of a passionate enthusiasm” for the centre. (2)

Advertisement for the opening of the Hospital 

Koo Wee Rup Sun May 10, 1923, p.1 

George Randall Burhop was born in England in 1873 and died in Brisbane on May 30, 1949; he married Dorothea Pausacker in 1898 (she died 1962, aged 87) and they had four children - Dora, Amey, George and Thomas. George was a Cranbourne Shire Councillor 1921-1941 and Shire President 1927-1928.(3). 

The Koo Wee Rup Sun of June 1, 1949 had the following obituary - 

We regret to report the sudden death of Mr George Randall Burhop, J.P., of Lea road, Kooweerup, which occurred in Brisbane on Monday. Accompanied by his daughter, Amey, he left by 'plane for Brisbane last Saturday morning with the intention of spending the winter months in a warmer climate. Although not in the best of health, the news of his death came as a great shock to his family and many friends. We learn that on entering a cafe for refreshments on Monday afternoon he suddenly collapsed and immediately passed away. Following an inquiry into the cause of his death on Tuesday, Miss Burhop returned home by 'plane last night. We understand the body is to be cremated and the ashes sent to Kooweerup for private burial in an adjacent cemetery. The deceased was born in Bromley, Popular Middlesex, England on October 16, 1873, and he came to Australia with his parents, the late Mr Henry John and Mrs Amy Hannah Burhop, when 13 years of age. Living some years in Queensland and New South Wales, he came to Victoria, and in 1914 took over his father's farm on McDonald's Drain road and later purchased a much larger allotment on Lea road. He was mainly responsible for dividing the old Yallock Riding into the Lang Lang and Kooweerup Ridings, and for 17 years had most ably represented the latter riding of the Cranbourne Shire Council. He was the founder of the Kooweerup Memorial Hospital, and on December 19, 1947, was tendered a dinner and presentation by many Kooweerup and district residents in appreciation of his 28 years' services as honorary secretary of that institution. Mr McVilly, Chief Inspector of Charities, on that occasion had the honor of making the presentation of a valuable gold watch to the deceased in appreciation of his services at the hospital and 33 years' public service. Deceased was the husband of Mrs Dorothea Burhop, and father of two daughters (Dora and Amey) and two sons (George and Thomas), and to them we join with their many friends in extending our deepest sympathy in their sad bereavement.

The Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital was opened by Cr E. Sinclair Hill, who also unveiled a tablet in memory of the local fallen soldiers - Jacob Bambury (listed as Banbury on the plaque), David Bethune, Sydney Blake, John Bryan, Thomas Bryan (both listed as Bryant on the plaque), Michael Callanan, Lawrence Coates, Percy Davis, John Davy, George Garbellini, Henry Hamilton, John Hannaker, Richard Martin, George Osborne, John O’Shea, James Randle, Bernard Slocombe, Arthur Williams and Charles Woods. I have written about these men, here. 

Dr Lyell Andrews commences practice at Koo Wee Rup

Koo Wee Rup Sun May 10, 1923, p.1 

One of the results of the Hospital opening was that in May 1923, the first Resident Doctor, Dr Lyell Andrews, arrived in the town. In February 1925, Dr Alan Hewitt and his wife, Vera, who was a trained nurse, took over Dr Andrew's practice. Dr Alan retired from practice in 1963; his son Dr John worked in Koo Wee Rup from 1951 until 1955 and another son, Dr Ian, commenced practice in the town in 1955 and retired in 1995, ending 70 years of service from the Hewitt family to the town. (4).  I wonder how many babies they delivered in that time? 

The Argus reported that on October 26, 1929, the hospital accommodation was increased by the addition of an enclosed verandah of the type common to the majority of bush nursing hospitals in Victoria....This verandah was opened on Saturday by Lady Barrett, in the presence of a large gathering of residents of Koo-wee-rup and surrounding districts. Of liberal dimensions the verandah has ample room for 10 bed, which means the accommodation of the hospital has been doubled. Lady Barrett was accompanied to Koo-wee-rup by the honorary secretary of the central council of the Bush Nursing Association (Sir James Barrett) and the assistant secretary (Dr Edith Barrett) The visitors were received by a guard of honour formed by Boy Scouts, and a welcome was signalled to them in semaphore. A bazaar was held to defray part of the cost of the verandah.

Dr Edith Barrett congratulated the committee on its enterprise in extending the hospital and paid tribute to the nursing staff, of which, she said, Koo-wee-rup had every reason to be proud. (Applause). To the zeal and resource of the bush nurses practically the whole of the success of the movement was due. Nowhere in the Commonwealth were nurses so well trained as those who entered the Bush Nursing Association. Sir James Barrett recalled the beginning of the Bush Nursing Association. To Koo-wee-rup he said, belonged the distinction of having the first hospital founded by the central council. Eight years ago the Koo-wee-rup hospital was the only institution of its kind in Victoria. To-day there were 17 bush nursing hospitals; three more were to be opened shortly, and four were in course of construction.

The report continued .....Lady Barrett then declared the verandah open, cutting a ribbon across the door. Councillor Burhop, in thanking Lady Barrett, said that he was supported by an able and energetic committee, and he felt that the management of the hospital was in very good hands. (Applause). Much of the success of the hospital was also due to the untiring work of the nursing staff, especially Sister Tuffin. The verandah had been constituted at a cost of £180. Of that amount £150 had been subscribed, and he hoped that the remainder of the debt would soon be liquidated (Applause).......Councillor Burhop announced that Sir James Barrett had informed him that the central council would meet one-third of the outstanding debt. The announcement was received with applause. (5). 

Drama struck the hospital in December 1934 when the patients had to be evacuated through the roof as the Hospital was flooded to a depth of 7ft within a few minutes. I have written about this drama, here. 

Advertisement for the Hospital

Koo Wee Rup Sun, September 2 1937, p.3

In October 1935, a new operating theatre was opened.  The Age reported - 

Before a large crowd at the Koo-wee-rup Memorial Hospital yesterday, the president of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association (Lady Mitchell) officially opened the new operating theatre at the hospital. Lady Mitchell was accompanied by the honorary secretary of the central council of the Victorian Bush Nursing Association (Sir James Barrett) and Lady Barrett and the visitors were welcomed by the president of the hospital (Mr L. J. O'Riordan) (6). 

The Hospital relied on subscriptions and local donations but the Pakenham Racing Club was also a major donor and every year, in the 1930s to the 1950s, held a Hospital Race Meeting to raise funds for both the Koo Wee Rup and the Pakenham Bush Nursing Hospitals. (7).

The Pakenham Racing Club's Hospital meeting

The Argus, April 29, 1946 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22251935

In January 1946 (or possibly late 1945), the Westernport Memorial Hospital Provisional Committee was formed for the purpose of establishing a modern public hospital in the Koo Wee Rup locality and it appeals for the support and loyal co-operation of every person residing in the area. The immediate objective was to raise £5000. (8).

The formation of the Westernport Memorial Hospital Provisional Committee 

Koo Wee Rup Sun, January 30, 1946, p. 4.

A major problem facing Hospitals after the War in the late 1940s and early 1950s was a shortage of nurses; in fact it was so dire that it was reported that some hospitals, including Koo Wee Rup, would have to close. One innovative solution to the nursing shortage was this, as The Herald reported - Staff shortages in Victorian hospitals could be eased if male nurses were accepted generally, several trained male nurses had come from England recently and there had been several Australian ex-servicemen with provisional registrations, but, with the exception of one training school, metropolitan and country hospitals did not appear to be interested in employing them…..There were between 30 and 40 trained male nurses in England willing to migrate. Some were highly qualified. One had a special certificate as a male tutor, and would give the opportunity to establish male nurse training in Victoria. (9). 

The Westernport Memorial Hospital Committee continued their fundraising and in 1953 Bates, Smart and McCutcheon were appointed as architects and the Trusteel Corporation was the successful tenderer for the new hospital, in Rossiter Road. The local community had raised £20,000 towards the cost of the building the hospital and the nurses’ home, which cost £200,500 and was constructed in seven months (10). 

The new Hospital

Koo Wee Rup Sun July 27, 1955, p. 1

December 4, 1954  - Hospital under construction.

Photographer: Margaret Robinson

November 27, 1954 - Construction of Hospital and two-storey Nurses' Home. 

Photographer: Margaret Robinson

The Koo Wee Rup Sun reported on July 20, 1955 that Matron Laird had been appointed and that the Hospital would be ready for occupation the next month, and would be officially opened on August 22. A Meeting to form a Ladies Auxiliary was held on July 28. The visiting hours for the hospital were set at 10.30am - 11am, 2.30pm - 3.30pm and 7.15pm - 8.15pm and no children under 14, except babes in arms, would be admitted as visitors. August 22 came and went and there was no official opening, however on August 24, 1955 the hospital was opened for business with the patients in the old building transferred by ambulance to the new building. The Hospital Secretary, Mr Pollock, could advertise that the hospital was open to receive patients for all kinds of nursing. (11). 

The new Hospital is open for business

Koo Wee Rup Sun August 24, 1955, p. 4

It wasn’t until December 4, 1955 that the official opening of the Hospital and Nurses’ Home took place. The Koo Wee Rup Sun would report that despite inclement weather conditions there was a large attendance on Sunday afternoon to witness the official opening of the new 23-bed Westernport Memorial Hospital, costing £200,000, excluding furnishings. The ceremony was performed by Dr. H. J. Lindell, chairman of the Hospitals and Charities Commission. (12).  You can read the full report of the opening of the Westernport Memorial Hospital, here. 

December 4, 1955 - Opening Ceremony Westernport Memorial Hospital

Photographer: Margaret Robinson

December 4, 1955 - Opening Ceremony Westernport Memorial Hospital. 

The Fallen Soldier's plaque was installed in this wall. 

Photographer: Margaret Robinson

The focus of the Hospital changed from the 1990s - the Killara Hostel opened in 1997, the operating theatre closed in 2004. However what didn’t change was the need to raise funds and Hospital Balls were a regular feature and a major fundraiser was the Koo Wee Rup Potato Festival held from 1973 until 2000 (read about the Potato Festival, here).  However, the jewel of the Crown is the Ladies Auxiliary, formed in July 1955 and still going strong and still raising money for the Health Service. Coming up for their 70th anniversary, a Platinum Jubilee, in two years time it is an anniversary well worth celebrating for their consistent dedication to their cause and to the town of Koo Wee Rup and surrounds. The Ladies are truly worth their weight in platinum, gold and diamonds.

The start of the Ladies' Auxiliary

Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 3, 1955, p. 4

Footnotes

(1) Read about the Bush Nursing Centre and the Nurses' Cottage here   https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2014/08/medical-matters-at-koo-wee-rup.html

(2) Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 24, 1923, p 4. 

(3) The details of his Council service is from The Good Country: Cranbourne Shire by Niel Gunson (Shire of Cranbourne, 1968)

(4) Mickle, David J. Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup (The Author, 1983) and More Mickle Memories of Koo Wee Rup (The Author, 1987); notes compiled by Jack Mills at the Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

(5) The Argus, October 28, 1929, see here. Dr Edith Barrett, was the sister of Sir James Barrett - read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here and Sir James' here.

(6) The Argus, October 28, 1935, see here. Lady Mitchell - read her Australian Dictionary of Biography entry here. President of the Hospital was Mr L. J. O'Riordan - Les O'Riordan - read about him here and here - Les is the sister of Margaret Hamilton.

(7) Various articles in the newspapers.

(8) Koo Wee Rup Sun, January 30, 1946, p. 4.

(9) The Herald, January 15, 1948, see here; The Argus, May 15, 1948, see here; 

(10) Koo Wee Rup Sun July 27, 1955, p. 1

(11) Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 20, 1955, p. 1;  Koo Wee Rup Sun, August 24, 1955, p. 1

(12) Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 7, 1955, p. 1.

RAAF plane crash at Garfield, January 17 1958

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

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

Schoolboys were on First Flight.

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

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

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

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

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

 

The plane after the crash

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bunyip News article

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

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

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

RAAF Serial - A65-99 

Radio call-sign - VHRFP 

Model/Type C-47B-30-DK 

C/N - 33103 

USAAF Serial - 44-76771 

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

Doctor and Mrs Appleford, M.M. arrive in Lang Lang

Lang Lang had good news in September 1919 as Dr Appleford and his wife, Nurse Alice Ross-King decided to settle into the town -

Lang Lang is about to have a longfelt want filled, namely a resident doctor, Dr Appleford, a returned soldier, having decided to take up his abode at Lang Lang. The doctor is at present on his honeymoon in the Lakes district. His wife (nee Miss King Ross) is also a returned "soldier"- and holds the M.M. for bravery under fire - the Huns having shelled the hospital in France in which she was working. The doctor and his wife will be a great acquisition to the district, and we wish them the best of good luck. (1).

Dr Appleford comes to Lang Lang

South Bourke and Mornington Journal September 11, 1919

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article66196736

Dr Appleford also consulted at Koo Wee Rup, at Mr T. Burhop's  and Grantville on 'sale days'.

Where to consult with Dr Appleford

Koo Wee Rup Sun Nov 12 1919, p. 1

The Applefords lived in a house beside the Butter Factory in Station Street (2) and started operating a private hospital. Dr Appleford treated the usual range of ailments and incidents common in a country town, including treating the 54 people injured in the Christmas Eve train accident of 1928, when a passenger train hit a stationary goods train at Koo Wee Rup (3).  Here are some other reports of his medical cases, including happy births and sad deaths.

Birth of Jean Chisholm at Dr Appleford's Hospital

The Argus, January 15, 1921 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1732810

Birth of baby Goudie at Dr Appleford's Hospital

The Argus,  January 26, 1924 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1914771

Death of young William McCord at Dr Appleford's Hospital

The Argus, May 3 1920 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1697513 

Other reports of Dr Appleford's cases -

Bee Attack - Unbeknown to his mother, Colin Leeson, the 14 months’ old child of Mr. and Mrs. A. Leeson, of Caldermeade, followed his mother to the garden and sat down in front of a bee-hive, and as a result the bees attacked him and stung him severely round the head. The child’s screams attracted his mother’s attention, and she was severely stung in rescuing him. He was hurried to the surgery of Dr. Appleford, of Lang Lang, who ordered his removal to a private hospital for observation, in case poisoning and shock should supervene. The child has since returned home apparently none the worse for his adventure (4). 

Snake bite - A resident of French Island was attacked and bitten by a tiger snake during the week-end. He was brought into Lang Lang, where he was given treatment by Dr. S. T. Appleford, who ordered his removal to a public hospital (5).

Shooting accident - Stanley Jackson, aged 16 years, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Jackson, of Lang Lang, nearly lost his left hand as the result of an accident while he and three friends were out shooting. The gun exploded while he was trying to fix the safety catch. One of his companions stripped his shirt and bound the arm. After supporting Jackson in turn as they made their way back to the vehicle, they brought him into Lang Lang, where has was treated by Dr. S.T. Appleford, who ordered his removal to Melbourne. An operation was immediately performed, and it is believed that the youth's hand will be saved. (6)

The Applefords also joined in with the community life of Lang Lang - Alice Appleford was a member of the Lang Lang State School Mother's Club and President in 1934 and 1935. The couple's four children - Isobel, Marion, John and Richard -  all attended Lang Lang State School. She was also a member of the Lang Lang R.S.L. Women's Auxiliary.  Sydney Appleford was a founding member of the Lang Lang Tennis Club and President for the first fifteen years; a member of the Lang Lang Golf Club Committee (7).

The Appleford's farewell function

Dandenong Journal March 6, 1940 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article216060046

In 1940, Dr Appleford sold his practice to Dr Alan Hewitt of Koo Wee Rup, as he had enlisted in the Australian Medical Corps. The family left Lang Lang at this time and moved to 255 Buckley Street, Essendon. 

Dr Sydney Appleford

Image: Geelong College

https://gnet.tgc.vic.edu.au/wiki/Print.aspx?Page=APPLEFORD-Sydney-Theodore-1891-1959

Sydney Theodore Appleford was born on August 29, 1891 in Geelong to John and Mary (nee Knight) Appleford; he attended Geelong College and then studied Medicine at Melbourne University. Sydney applied for a Commission in the Australian Army Medical Corps on August 24, 1915 when he was 23 years, 11 months old. He left for service overseas in the October and then returned to Australia in September 1916 on medical grounds (gastritis). He recovered and was sent back overseas in February 1917. In July 1918,  he was promoted from Captain to Major. Dr Appleford Returned to Australia January 14, 1919. It was during the voyage home that Sydney Appleford met his future wife, Sister Alice Ross-King, and they married in Melbourne on August 20, 1919.  Dr Appleford re-enlisted in the Army in the Second World War on April 12, 1940 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, and was discharged in January 1949. (8). He died on September 20, 1959 and is buried at Fawkner Cemetery. (9).

There  is a short and interesting biography of Dr Appleford on the Geelong College website, here. 

Sister Alice Ross King

Weekly Times October 6, 1917 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132695390

Dr Appleford's wife, Alice, had also served in the First World War, and as we saw in the article at the top of the post, she holds the M.M. for bravery under fire - the Huns having shelled the hospital in France in which she was working. Alice Ross-King was born on August 5, 1887, in Ballarat, the daughter of Archibald and Henrietta (nee Ward) Ross King. She was actually christened Alys, but generally used Alice. She trained as a nurse at the Alfred Hospital and also worked at the Austin, Mildura and Wentworth Hospitals. Alice enrolled in the Australian Army Nursing Service on November 5, 1914.When she arrived in Egypt she was assigned to a Clearing Hospital for Gallipoli casualties. In April 1916, the Australian General Hospital, to which she was attached, was transferred to France. On July 22, 1917 the hospital was bombed and for her bravery, Sister Ross-King was awarded the Military Medal, one of only seven Australian Nurses who received this award during World War One. The award was gazetted in the London Gazette of September 25, 1917 and appeared in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on January 24, 1918 (10). 

Sister Ross-King awarded the Military Medal

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. January 24, 1918, p. 83. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232463297

In November 1918, Sister Ross King was awarded the Royal Red Cross decoration in recognition of her valuable service with the Army in France and Flanders. The Royal Red Cross decoration was the initiative of Queen Victoria to reward women who showed exceptional service and dedication in nursing sick and wounded servicemen, whether at home or abroad. (11).  Sister Ross-King's diary, 1915 - 1919, has been transcribed and can be read on the Australian War Memorial website, here.

Sister Alice Ross-King awarded the Royal Red Cross decoration

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. November 7,  1918, p. 2111. 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232462776

Lorna Finnie, the author of Sister Ross-King's Australian Dictionary of Biography entry describes her service in World War two - She enlisted for full-time duty with the V.A.D.s and her husband was commissioned as a medical officer in the army. By 1942 the V.A.D.s had developed into the Australian Army Women's Medical Services and Alice Appleford was commissioned as a major and appointed senior assistant controller for Victoria. Untiring in her devotion to duty and hard work, with responsibility for some 2000 servicewomen, her organizing skills had great impact on fund-raising activities during World War II. She was fully committed in assisting Red Cross and Service charities, supporting war widows and children and demonstrating concern for the well-being of members of the A.A.W.M.S. (12). 

Major Alice Ross-King

Australian War Memorial Image 080772 https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P11013368

Alice Appleford died August 16, 1968 in Sydney and she is buried with her husband at Fawkner Cemetery. (13)

Footnotes
(1) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, September 11, 1919, see here.

(2) Coghlan, Barbara Protector’s Plains: history of the Lang Lang Primary school No.2899, 1888-1988 and district (CBC Publishing, 1988), p. 22.

(3) Photographs here - https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2020/02/railway-accident-at-koo-wee-rup.html ; Accounts of the accident -  The Argus, December 26, 1928, here; Weekly Times,  December 28, 1928, here; The Australasian, December 29, 1928, see here. There are varying reports of the number of people injured - The Argus says it was 54 passengers; The Weekly Times 48 passengers and the Koo Wee Rup Sun of January 2, 1928 says it was 52 passengers. 

(4) Dandenong Journal, January 25, 1934, see here.
(5) Dandenong Journal, April 11, 1935, see here.

(6) The Age, July 9, 1935, see here.

(7) Dandenong Journal, May 11, 1933, see here and Coghlan, op. cit; The Age, July 16, 1937, see here; Great Southern Advocate, September 24, 1936, see here; Great Southern Advocate, April 23, 1936, see here.

(8) Military Service - WW1 Attestation file at  the National Archives of Australia, see here; WW2 Attestation file at the National Archives of Australia, see here.

(9) Death notice, The Age September 22, 1959, p. 15.

The Age September 22, 1959, p. 15. newspapers.com

Isobel Appleford married Arthur Roy Mansfield Watson in 1941;  Marion Appleford married Lieutenant Geoffrey Howard Sanders, RAN, on July 19, 1948, see a report of the wedding in The Argus June 21, 1948 here;

(10) Finnie, Lorna M  Alice Ross-King (1887 -1968), Australian Dictionary of Biography (ADB) https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/rossking-alice-8276. Military Service - WW1 Attestation file at  the National Archives of Australia, see here.

(11) Royal Red Cross https://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/building/cultural-collections/medals/collection/royal-red-cross/history/

(12) Finnie, op. cit.

(13) The ADB entry has her death date as August 17 1968,  but the death notice from her son, John has the date as August 16.

The Age, August 19, 1968, p.14. newspapers.com

The Age, August 20, 1968, p. 21, newspapers.com

This is an updated and expanded version a story, which I wrote and researched, which appears on my work blog, Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years

Welcome Home at Koo Wee Rup

In April 1918, Koo Wee Rup boys, Les Cochrane, Bill Gilchrist and Billy McGree arrived home after fighting in France. They were welcomed home by their friends at the Railway Station. 

The boys were welcomed at the Railway Station

Lang Lang Guardian, April 20, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119515345

On Friday, April 26 1918 a Welcome Home was held for the trio at the Koo Wee Rup Hall. We are fortunate to have this photograph of the occasion. 

Welcome home to Les, Bill and Billy.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

The Lang Lang Guardian of May 4, 1918 (see here)  reported on this well attended Welcome Home - 

KOO-WEE-RUP WELCOMES SOLDIERS.

About the biggest and best function of its kind ever held at Koo wee-rup took place on Friday night last, when the local hall was crammed, jammed and packed to its utmost capacity, over 300 being present. Koo-wee-rup was honoring its returning heroes, Corporal Gilchrist, Privates Cochrane and M'Gree. On arrival the schoolchildren formed a guard of honor, and Mr W. Eason welcomed the soldiers on behalf of the committee. At the local hall, which was most tastefully decorated by the ladies, Councillor O'Brien presented each man with a ring, bearing the colors of their respective battalions. They were enthusiastically received, and made suitable responses. The returned men all fought in France. Corporal Gilchrist was injured in the body with shrapnel, a piece still lying close to his heart. Private Cochrane was wounded in the hand and elbow, and Private M'Gree's leg was injured. The latter was on board the Ballarat when that troopship was torpedoed in the Channel.

Dancing, interspersed with songs, was carried on to a late hour. A splendid supper was also provided by the ladies, whose efforts would be hard to beat. The returned warriors were present at the local school on Anzac Day, when they were given a stirring reception by the scholars.

Here is a short biography of each of the three men.

Leslie James Cochrane (1894-1972)
Les (Service Number 2162) was born in Bentleigh in 1894 to David and Lucy (nee Burgess) Cochrane. The family moved to Caldermeade when he was eight. Les, a farmer, enlisted on May 2, 1916 at the age of 21 and his next of kin was his father.  He served in France and was twice wounded in action. Les Returned to Australia February 15, 1918 and in the December of the same year he married Ivy, the daughter of Harry and Sarah Wildes of Yannathan. Mr Cochrane later became a Cranbourne Shire Councillor and a Member of the Legislative Assembly - you can read more about him here. You can view his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here.

William John Gilchrist

Bill (Service Number 1648) was born in Collingwood in 1889 to Robert and Florence (nee Hiam) Gilchrist. He was 26 year old farmer when he enlisted on January 13, 1916.  His brother, Albert, of Koo Wee Rup was listed as his next of kin, as his parents were deceased. After serving overseas, Corporal Gilchrist Returned to Australia January 31, 1918. He was discharged on medical grounds on May 25, 1918 - his disability was listed as Myocarditis. Bill applied for a Soldier Settler block and was granted 40 acres (Allotments 106 and 119, Section 0, Parish of Koo Wee Rup East, off Little Road in Iona) in May 1921 but had to give up the land due to his on-going ill health two years later. His application form said that he was receiving a pension of 14 shillings per week due to shell shock. 

Bill married Minnie Mary Ellen Forsyth in 1920. Bill lived to the age of 86 and died on June 23, 1975; Minnie died at the age of 81 on August 9, 1983. You can read his Soldier Settler file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here and his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here. 

William Francis McGree
Billy (Service Number 3110) was born in Launceston, in December 1893 to Michael and Mary (nee Walsh) McGree. He was a 23 year old farm labourer, when he enlisted at Dandenong on February 2, 1917 and his next of kin listed was his father, who lived at Karoola in Tasmania.  Billy served overseas and was wounded in action (gun shot wound to left leg) in France. He Returned to Australia February 15, 1918. Billy was given a Soldier Settlement Farm in 1918 and like William Gilchrist, had to give up his land in July 1921 due to ill health. His land was of 84 acres, Allotment 23a, Section J, Parish of Koo Wee Rup - off the Pakenham-Koo Wee Rup Road. 

Billy married Elizabeth Margaret (Maggie) Neal in 1919. Billy died in Ararat in 1957 aged 63. I can't find any reference to the death of Maggie. You can read his Soldier Settler file at the Public Records Office of Victoria, here and his Army service record, held at the National Archives of Australia, here

Koo Wee Rup Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital evacuated in the December 1934 flood

The worst flood in the history of Koo Wee Rup occurred on December 1, 1934 and the Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital had to be evacuated. I was hoping that the local paper, the Koo Wee Rup Sun, which was published weekly, would have had an account of this,  however they did not produce an issue until December 20, 1934. As they reported -
It is rather late for us to have anything to say in regard to the ruinous flood which occurred on the 1st inst., and which day no doubt in the future will be known as “Watery Saturday." We, like all others in the township, came in for more than our share of Adam's ale. The plant was inundated in over 4ft of water; type was carried by the strong current out of open doors, and hardly a dry sheet of paper was available after the bottled-up waters had receded sufficiently on the 3rd inst. to regain admittance. Being prisoners on the roof of the Premises for over 16 hours, one did not care about writing “Sun Spots” (1). 

However, there was this report in The Argus about the evacuation of the Hospital
Koo-wee-rup Hospital was flooded to a depth of 7ft within a few minutes, and the patients, some of whom were seriously ill, were trapped before they could be moved. Mr Clarence Renner, who had undergone an operation for appendicitis a few hours beforehand, was in bed, and unable to help himself. His father, who was on the railway platform, waded and swam through the swirling water to the hospital, and climbed on to the roof, where with the assistance of Mr Gannon, he cut a hole in the galvanised iron and pulled his boy to safety up through the hole. Aided by others who came to the rescue, the 10 remaining patients in the wards were taken out in the same manner.
Heroism and Fortitude
Mrs Mary Ann Bolleman, aged 59 years, another patient, held a baby in her arms above the water for 15 hours with the water surging above her neck before they were rescued. Mrs A. Adams and her baby which was born only the night before were being pulled out when the child was dropped into the water. She grasped the child's clothing frantically and saved it from drifting away. Both were raised through the opening to safety. (2). 

Fallen Soldiers' Memorial Hospital in a flood; must be the 1924 as in 1929, an enclosed verandah was erected around the original building. 

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society 

The report mentions four people by name and I thought we would look at who they were.

Clarence Fenner
Clarence's surname was listed as Renner in The Argus report, but listed as Clarence Fenner in a Morwell Advertiser report (3) about the evacuation. As I cannot find any reference anywhere to a Clarence Renner, I believe this is actually Clarence Charles Fenner, born February 6, 1919 to Charles Stanley Victor and Esther (nee Burden) Fenner in Frankston, so he would have been about 15 during the flood (4). 

Charles was listed in the Electoral Roll as a contractor and the family were living in Frankston, when Clarence was born. They then spent a few years in Morwell in the early to mid 1920s, where perhaps Charles was employed on State Electricity Commission projects such as the construction of the Yallourn Power Station. The family then moved around various Melbourne suburbs, until the early 1940s when they lived at 30 Sutton Grove in Richmond. Clarence, or Clarrie, as he was called, had three older brothers - Harold, who worked for the Brighton Gasworks Company and tragically died in 1927 when he fell 30 feet whilst constructing a new gasometer; and Stanley and Frank (5). 

Clarrie, whose occupation was a driver, married Evelyn Smith in 1937 and enlisted in the Army in June 1940 and was discharged in October 1945. From the 1960s, the Electoral Rolls show the family was living at 1 Biran Court, in Reservoir. Clarence died March 6, 1999 and is buried at Fawkner Cemetery with his son Brian (1947-2013). His wife Evelyn who died in 1980 is buried in the adjoining grave with their son Stanley (1939-1963) (6). 

Why was Clarrie having an operation at the Koo Wee Rup Hospital in 1934 when, according to the Electoral Rolls, his parents were living in the suburbs of Melbourne? The doctor in Koo Wee Rup was Dr Alan Hewitt and in Lang Lang, Dr Sydney Appleford, so the family may have had a connection to either doctor or there was possibly a family member in the town, who could have visited him, but I don't the reason. I wonder how many times during his life, Clarrie told people the exciting story of being evacuated through the roof at the Koo Wee Rup Hospital? It was very fortunate that Charles Renner and Mr Gannon had the nous and the ability to cut a whole in the roof to enable the rescue of the patients. 

Mr Gannon
Helped Mr Fenner rescue his son through the roof. I can’t find a Gannon listed on the Electoral Rolls in the area during this time, so he remains a mystery.

Mrs Mary Ann Bolleman

Mrs Bolleman, known as Madge, held a baby for 15 hours. We do not know who the baby was.
Mary Ann was born in Glengarry in 1874, the only child Agabus and Sarah (nee McAuley) Barden (7). Agabus, died on August 12, 1903 as a result of an accident whilst riding his horse. Sarah died the next year on July 1, 1904 and she was buried with her husband at the Traralgon Cemetery. 

The death notice of Agabus Barden

Gippsland Farmer's Journal, August 18, 1903 

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/264475283/29600346

The obituary of Sarah Barden

Gippsland Farmer's Journal July 5, 1904 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article264512746

On July 10, 1904, just over a week after her mother died, Mary Ann married fellow Gippslander,  George Henry James Bolleman.  The ceremony was conducted by the Methodist Minister in Morwell. They had the following children -

· Melchoir Francois Albert, known as Francis or Frank, born in 1908 in South Melbourne. He died in Dandenong in 1986, aged 74.
· Marie Agnes. Born in 1910, in Foster; married Maxwell Timmins in 1929 and she died in Drouin in 1954, aged 44.
· Florence Mary. Born in 1912 in Leongatha; married Albert Herbert in 1929 and she died in Melbourne in 1946, aged 35.
George Bolleman died in 1918, aged 37 in Pound Creek (near Inverloch), leaving Mary Ann to raise her three young children alone. (8). 

 

Obituary for George Bolleman, Mary Ann’s husband

Powlett Express November 8, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article130666138

Death notice for George Bolleman, Mary Ann’s husband

Great Southern Star December 6, 1918 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article89256304

According to the Electoral Rolls, Mary Ann continued to live in Pound Creek after her husband's death and later at Leongatha. In 1934, she was living in Station Street, Koo Wee Rup. Her two daughters and their husbands were also living in Koo Wee Rup in 1934; son-in-law Maxwell Timmins was a labourer and son-in-law, Albert Herbert a railway employee. Mary Anne was still in Koo Wee Rup in 1937. In the 1942 to 1949 Electoral Rolls she, her son Francis, her daughter Marie, and son-in-law Maxwell, were living in Tooradin (9). 

Mary Anne died at Berrybank, near Lismore (Victoria) on December 29, 1951. It would be interesting to know why she was living there at that time. Her son Francis, was listed as the informant, and his address was Dandenong. Mary Ann was buried in the Lismore Cemetery (10). As with Clarence, I wonder how many times Mary Ann told the story of her rescue from the flood and how she bravely and kindly saved the life of the little baby by keeping them out of the water for fifteen hours. She may well have been too modest to tell anyone. 

Mrs A. Adams and her baby
This took some detective work to work out who this was. I found Albert and Annie (nee Davies) Adams listed in the 1934 Electoral Roll at Dalmore. His occupation was a farmer, so I thought it was a good chance that this was the right family. I put their name into Trove to see what I could find and  discovered this death notice of their son, John Thomas, who sadly died in 1951, aged 25.

Death notice of John Adams

Dandenong Journal, September 19, 1951http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222354800

The death notice lists John's siblings as - Brenda who married Vivian Powell in 1943; Charlie; Oliver, who enlisted in the Army in 1943 and his birth date is February 15, 1924 (11). The last child listed is Toby, who was at Tooradin North State School in 1946, as the report, below tells us.

Toby Adams at Tooradin North State School

Dandenong Journal, July 3, 1946  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214794288

The book Tooradin: 125 years of coastal history has a section on local families including the Adams family. Albert Adams served in World War One, and took up a Soldier Settlement farm on Manks Road in 1921. The book lists his children as Brenda, Charlie, Oliver, John and James (Toby). There is also a list of the students of the Tooradin North School and James Percy Adams started in 1939. Given that children started school at around the age of five, that means he was born around 1934, so I felt he would be a likely candidate for the little flood baby (12). 

 I looked on some family trees on Ancestry.com and one lists James Percy Adams, son of Albert and Annie, born at Koo Wee Rup, November 20, 1934. Which means he was ten days old on the day of the flood, which doesn't fit in with The Argus story, of him being born the day before, but it was confusing times, so it is not surprising the dates are a bit inconsistent. The family tree lists his death date of April 28, 2021.

 
Given all this, I believe that the Mrs A. Adams referred to in the article is Mrs Annie Adams of Manks Road, Dalmore and her little baby who was dropped in the water was James, also known as Toby. You can hardly image the horror and panic Mrs Adams must have felt in those few seconds before she regained a hold on her baby. 

Albert Adams passed away December 7, 1956, aged 65 years old and Annie on September 29, 1984 aged 90. They are buried at Cranbourne Cemetery (13). Again, I wonder how often Annie Adams and her son Toby, told the story of their dramatic and in the case of young Toby, his very lucky rescue from the December 1934 flood.

 
Footnotes
(1) The Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 20 1934, p. 4
(2) The Argus, December 3, 1934, see here.

(3) Morwell Advertiser, December 6, 1934, see here.

(4) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Date of Birth from World War Two Nominal Rolls, see here.

(5) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and Tasmanian Archives. Clarrie's brothers -  Harold (1902-1927) was the product  of Esther's first marriage to Robert James Stevenson, but he used the Fenner surname. Then Stanley (1913-1969) and Frank (1915-1982) and Clarrie were the sons of Charles Fenner. The eldest three were born in Tasmania.  Charles Fenner died April 1953, aged 65 and Esther died March 1963, aged 84 - they are buried at Springvale Cemetery. 

Harold Fenner's tragic accident

Morwell Advertiser, May 13, 1927 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article65924805

(6) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, World War Two Nominal Rolls, see here; Fawkner Cemetery is part of the Greater metropolitan Cemeteries Trust and their records are on-line https://www.gmct.com.au/deceased

(7) Information from Mary Anne's marriage certificate.

(8) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages and Mary Anne's marriage certificate.

(9) Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com

(10) Death Certificate of Mary Ann Bollerman.

(11) Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages, World War Two Nominal Rolls, see here.

(12) Tooradin: 125 years of coastal history - Blind Bight, Cannon's Creek, Sherwood, Tooradin North, Warneet 1875-2000 State school No. 1503 compiled by John Wells and the 'Tooradin Celebrates Together 125 Years of Education Committee' published in 2001.

(13) Cranbourne Cemetery information - http://www.ozgenonline.com/~vic_cem/cranbourne/cranbourneaf_data.htm