Koo Wee Rup Swamp History

Thursday, September 17, 2015

100 years ago this week - Kirwan's store at Vervale

100 years ago this week - John Kirwan, store owner, was caught illegally selling alcohol. Kirwan's store, at Vervale, was on the corner of the Thirteen Mile and the south side of the Main Drain. I have written about the store and its owners - The Kirwan family and James & Edith McMannis, here.

Seizure of Liquour from John Kirwan.

Dandenong Advertiser September 23, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88661288

SEIZURE OF LIQUOR AT BUNYIP.
A large quantity of whisky, beer, and stout in cases, was seized on Koo-wee-rup Swamp on Friday by Constables Allen and Anstee, of Bunyip. For some time the police have suspected that there was trafficking in liquor at Iona, and they watched the store owned by John A. Kirwan. They saw a man leaving the store with a bottle of whisky, and he admitted to the police that he obtained the liquor at
Kirwan's. The police took the liquor to the Bunyip police station, and Kirwan will be prosecuted on one or more charges of having trafficked in liquor illicitly.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

100 years ago this week - Dalmore Roads

100 years ago this week comes this report from the Lang Lang Guardian of September 8, 1915 about Dalmore ratepayers prepared to pay extra to get their roads fixed. Apparently Dalmore was a 'quagmire covered with scrub' The roads were partly bad as a great many tons of potatoes were being sent to the Dalmore Station. Dalmore Station had opened on October 1, 1888, it was originally called Peer’s Lane, then Koo-Wee-Rup West, then Dalmore.

The School at 'the end of Ballarto Road' was the Cardinia State School, No. 3689, which had opened on November 3, 1911. The Church they are referring to is the Cardinia Presbyterian Church which was completed in October 1915.

Lang Lang Guardian September 8, 1915.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article119512856

Saturday, August 15, 2015

100 years ago this week - Junior teacher position available

Want a job as a teacher? Then apply to the Bunyip State School. You must be over 16, apply in your own hand writing, and prepared to pay a fee of 2/6 to sit the examination!

Junior Teacher wanted at Bunyip.

Bunyip Free Press, August 26, 1915 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129630790

Junior Teacher.
The head teacher of the Bunyip State School (Mr. T. Slattery) has been instructed by the Education Department to invite applications for the position of junior teacher, which is now vacant in the school. The candidates must hold the merit certificate or have passed the Junior Public or higher examination of the University, and be over 16 years of age. They must apply in their own handwriting, stating full Christian names and date of birth to the head teacher, and be prepared to pay a fee of 2/6, to be handed to the officer conducting the examination.

100 years ago this week - Iona citizens support the War effort

It's always interesting to read local newspapers and see how they either make or report pronouncements on international matters. This report looks at the meeting of Iona citizens held around the anniversary of the declaration on the Great War. The meeting was held in Columba Hall, the hall at the Iona Catholic Church.

Meeting of Iona residents

Bunyip Free Press August 19, 1915

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129630757

IONA.
The recent recruiting meeting held in Columba Hall was very largely attended. Cr. Carney (President of Berwick Shire) occupied the chair, and apologised for the absence of Mr. W. S. Keast, M.L.A., who had to preside at a meeting at Dandenong. When Cr. Carney took the chair the audience rose and sang the National Anthem. The chairman moved the following motion -

"On the anniversary of declaration of war, this meeting of the Iona citizens records its inflexible determination to continue to a vigorous end the struggle in maintenance of those ideals of liberty and justice which are the common and sacred cause of the Allies."

The motion was seconded and supported by Rev. Father McNamara and Mr. Minton, and on being put to the meeting was carried by acclamation. The Iona Brass Band (under Band master Legg) rendered a number of patriotic selections. The meeting closed with votes of thanks, ringing cheers for the Allies and Australian troops, and a cheer for the chairman.

Sunday, July 19, 2015

Mr Rodger the baker at Bunyip - 100 years ago this week

Hers is a great advertisement from Mr Rodger the baker and general storekeeper at Bunyip in the Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915. In keeping with the nationalistic and imperialistic times, Mr Rodger advertises No fancy Foreign cakes kept on my counter

Henry Rodger is listed in the Electoral Rolls as a baker in Bunyip from 1903 until 1924. In 1928 he is listed as a retired baker. He was married to Hannah and she died August 10, 1926 and is buried at Bunyip Cemetery. Henry died December 17 1937 and he may well be buried with his wife but he is not on the gravestone. They had three children Aldred (died 1969, aged 72, buried at Bunyip), Ada and Jessie.

Boys' football match - 100 years ago this week.

From The Lang Lang Guardian of July 21 1915, comes this account of a a football match between the boys at Yallock and Yannathan State Schools. Yannathan won the match 8.8. to 2.3.