Letters to Iona from World War One soldiers

This post looks at letters sent to people in Iona from three Great War soldiers - Robert Bruce Forsyth (1892-1980), William Clarkin (1894-1916) and James Gully (1882-1931)

Robert Bruce Forsyth (1892-1980)
On April 15, 1915 Bruce Forsyth, of Iona, wrote a letter from Cairo to his parents. Robert Bruce Forsyth was born in Bunyip in 1892 to William and Naomi (nee Bull) Forsyth. Bruce (SN 203) was a 23 year farmer when he enlisted on August 18, 1914. Captain Forsyth was twice Mentioned in Despatches and was also awarded the Military Cross. He Returned to Australia November 6, 1918 and took up a Soldier Settlement farm near Alexandra. He married Amy Williams in 1920 and died in 1980, aged 88.

The Bunyip Free Press of May 27 1915, (see here) published Bruce's letter.

The following letter has just been received by Mr. and Mrs. W. Forsyth, of Iona, from their son Bruce, who is in Egypt with the First Expeditionary Force: -
Mena Camp, Cairo,
15th April, 1915.

Dear Mother and Father
I received your over-welcome letters yesterday, dated 16th March, and was glad to hear you were all well. You said you heard the first contingent had left Egypt. Well, the infantry and one squad of light horse have gone but we don't know where to. There are only A and B squadrons of the light horse left here now. We are, unluckily, the last ones to shift.

Last Tuesday my mate and I took a trip to the Citadel and also went all through the Mosques, they are marvellous places. We had a guide to show us through them. There are several Mosques around the Citadel all fixed up inside as places of worship. The brother, sister and parents of the present Sultan, also the man who built the Mosque, are buried in them, and they have lovely tombs. We had to put on a pair of slippers they gave us before we were allowed to enter, as they say it is holy ground.

There were natives kneeling around every where, rubbing their noses on the ground; and going through all kinds of forms. There are large fountains inside where the people have to wash three times before they pray. It was here Napoleon fired on those mosques from the citadel, and there are great lumps of masonry knocked out of the walls, and also one big cannon ball still wedged in the wall where it struck. There are also holes in the door going up to the citadel. One door in one of these places cost half a million pounds, and is made of gold and silver.

The Citadel is full of wounded Indian soldiers from the front. We went in and saw them. Now that the others are gone we get a very easy time of it, mostly just exercising our horses, and we are getting quite lazy. 

All the chaplains have gone with the infantry, so our Colonel holds the service on Sunday mornings. He is a good speaker and is well liked. Well, I think I've told you all the news for this time. Remember me to all my friends. I was very sorry to hear of "Bill " Sullivan's death."

Your ever affectionate son,
R. B. FORSYTH.
(The letter is edited, you can read the original, here.)

The Citadel in Cairo, as Bruce would have seen it.

Image dated c. 1914-1918. State Library of Victoria Image H99.166/305

William Clarkin (1894-1916)
The Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915 (see here) published these letters from local soldiers, Will Clarkin and James Gully.

William Clarkin (SN 1522) was born in 1894, enlisted at Tynong on December 7, 1914 at the age of 21. He died of wounds in France on August 26, 1916. William is listed on the Cora Lynn War Memorial, see here, (where I have more information about the Clarkin family);  the Iona Honor Board, see here, and the Bunyip War Memorial, see here. 

Letters from Will Clarkin

Mr. William Clarkin, who some time ago was wounded at the Dardanelles, has sent the following letters to his relatives at Iona : -

No. 17 General Hospital, Alexandria.
I suppose you are wondering why I have not written lately. Well, you you see, two days after I wrote my last letter we were ordered off to the Dardanelles. We had to land under fire, but we got there alright. I was about a fortnight in the trenches when I had the misfortune to get bowled over. I have been in the hospital for about three weeks, but I will soon be out again. We were ordered to take a good position that the Turks held, so about 1 o'clock in the morning our company, along with three more, were ordered out to do it.

The night was fairly dark, so we could not see the enemy too well. Anyway, it settled into a hand-to-hand go. I don't know exactly what happened, but a Turk must have got home on me with the butt end of his rifle, for I don't remember any more until I was picked up about 5 o'clock in the morning. My head felt as if it had been drawn (dragged) through a six-inch pipe, but I am getting as right as rain again. What makes it worse is that I went as deaf as a post. One of the drums of my car is broken but I can hear alright out of the other one.

I suppose you get all the news over there. The Turks are a treacherous lot. They take no prisoners, nor do they respect the Red Cross. But never mind, the war will soon be over, for news has just come that Italy will soon be into it. We get treated like kings over here - chicken for dinner every day and plenty of cigarettes. When we are discharged from hospital we are sent to a rest camp, where we pick our selves together again.

Part of the 17th General Hospital, Alexandria - where William Clarkin was treated.

Tented accommodation of 17th British General Hospital established for treatment of casualties with serious wounds.

Australian War Memorial Image H00871

Luna Park Convalescent Home, Heliopolis, 30/5/15.

Since I last wrote I have been shifted again, this time to a convalescent home about four miles out of Cairo. I don't know whether I will be sent to a rest camp or back to the front when I leave here; but I hope they will send me somewhere, for I am sick and tired of bed. Of course, I can walk about as good as ever, but you see, we are not allowed to leave the hospital. I suppose you hear all the war news. I wonder do they publish the casualty list; it must be a pretty big one. The Turks got home on our officers; there are only a few of them left.

The Convalescent Hospital in Heliopolis, where William Clarkin also received treatment.

It was called the 'Luna Park Convalescent Hospital' as it was located in the Palace Hotel at Heliopolis and an amusement park, called Luna Park, had been established in the grounds in 1911.

Australian War Memorial P00229.007

Convalescent Camp, 4/6/15.
As we have not got to do anything here but keep our tents clean, I can write a bit more often; I was shifted out into the open-air tents to-day. It is far better in the tents. It is terribly hot in Egypt now; the hottest I have ever been in. It is no place to send wounded men. The wounds will not heal up, only on the inside; only a dry scab comes over the outside. An eye and ear specialist attends me; but I am afraid he can do nothing with my ear. My other one is about as right as can be. It affected my eyes, too, but they are as right as rain. The haze that rises from the sand in the hot weather affects everybody's eyes, and my eyes were a bit weak when I left for the Peninsula. The first batch of wounded men who were fixed up left for the front again last Wednesday week, I think we will be going back again on Wednesday. But don't worry about me; I will get through alright. You might not believe me, but there is a certain fascination about the firing line, although I am not too anxious to hear the shells all around a fellow, and he has got to sit as he can get. But, cheer up; I think next 'Xmas is going to be a real happy one.

James Gully (1882-1931)
James, born in 1882, to Harry and Henrietta (nee Robinson) Gully enlisted on September 28, 1914 at the age of 32 (SN 1167). James Returned to Australia December 3, 1918, for 'Special Leave' and was discharged on medical grounds in March 1919 - having been wounded with a gun shot in the shoulder and later wounded in the left thigh. He died in July 1931 at the Repatriation Hospital in Caulfield, and is buried at the Fawkner Cemetery.

James' death notice

The Age, July 2, 1931 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203033276

The Bunyip Free Press of July 22, 1915 (see here) published this report of the letter.
Mr. Gully, of Iona, received a short letter last Thursday from his son (Private James Gully), who was recently wounded at the Dardanelles. Writing from the Base Hospital, Private Gully did not (or perhaps could not) state the extent of his injuries. He was eleven days in the firing line before he was wounded, and must have remained where he fell for some time, as afterwards he contracted pneumonia. Mr. Gully is anxiously awaiting another letter from Jim, whose younger brother has enlisted for active service, and is now in camp at Seymour.

James' younger brother was John Harry Gully (SN 607) who enlisted in June 1915 and Returned to Australia May 1919.

Sources used in this post - 

Indexes to the Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920 at the National Archives of Australia; Personal notices in the newspapers on Trove; Electoral Rolls on Ancestry.com; Soldier Settlement files at the Public Records Office of Victoria - VPRS 5714.

A version of this post first appeared on my work blog -  Casey Cardinia Commemorates: Our War Years https://caseycardinia1914-1918.blogspot.com/

Alexander Leithhead and the Junction Store at Bunyip South

In early 1894, Alexander Leithhead opened the Junction Store at Iona, or Bunyip South as the area was originally called. The reason for the name is explained in a newspaper report - From the bridge [at Iona] to Mr. A. Leithhead's No. 1 Store is a distance of about 1 mile and three quarters, and at this point no less than six roads meet and three bridges are to be seen. After having a chat with the proprietor of the Junction Store, as Mr. Leithhead's place of business is appropriately termed, we set off along the Main Bunyip road for a mile and a half when we arrived at the railway crossing [at Bunyip] (1)

Just to further clarify, the store was at the junction of  Bunyip River/Main Drain, south of Bunyip,  at the intersection of Bunyip-Modella Road, Evans Road and the Main Drain Roads.

Alexander Leithhead's property, marked with the hexagon.

Koo-Wee-Rup East, County of Mornington, drawn and reproduced at 

the Department of Crown Lands and Survey, Melbourne.

Click on map to enlarge.

See the full  map here at the State Library of Victoria https://handle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/136774

Alexander and Harriet and Brunswick and Coburg

Alexander Andrew Leithhead was born in Glasgow in Scotland in 1840 to Thomas and Elizabeth (nee Andrew) Leithhead.  Alexander, a cooper, married Harriet Emma Kendall at St Luke's Church of England, on December 5, 1863, in what was then called Emerald Hill but is now South Melbourne.  Harriet, the daughter of Kennett and Harriet (nee Merchant) Westfield, had married previously in 1858 to John Kendall, who had died in May 1863. (2) Harriet and John Kendall had two children - Harriet born in 1859 who married George Withers in 1880, they had six children, all born in Brunswick and she died in 1943.  Harriet and John's second child was a little boy born in 1861 and named John Kennett. He sadly died at less than two years old; he had already passed when his mother married Alexander Leithhead. (3)

Alexander and  Harriet Leithhead had seven children (4) - 

• Elizabeth  - 1865-1866, born in Melbourne.
• Alexander Thomas - 1867-1901 born in  Emerald Hill. 
• Mary Ann - 1870-1872,  born in Emerald Hill. 
• William - 1873-1957, born in  Heidelberg.
• George David - 1876-1931, born in Collingwood.
• Kennett John - 1878-1959, born in Brunswick.
• Lillian - 1885-1945, born in Coburg.

In August 1877, after moving to Brunswick,  Alexander was elected as a councillor to the Borough of Brunswick and in 1882 he was elected as the Mayor. He resigned from his roles as both Councillor and Mayor in May 1883, due to his having severed his connection as a resident with the district of Brunswick. (5) The family moved to Moreland Road in Coburg and in August 1885, Alexander was elected as a councillor to the Shire of Coburg; then in 1886 he was re-elected to the Brunswick Council as well. (6) His second time at Brunswick was short-lived as he resigned in January 1888, in a protest at the council planning to spend £10,000  to erect a new town hall. (7)  Around this time he also resigned from the Coburg Council. (8) In January 1887, Alexander joined joined with Thomas Cormick to form Leithhead and Cormick, Timber Merchants in Moreland Road, Brunswick. Thomas had previously been the manager of Messrs. Gibbs and Mountain's timber yards, Yarra bank, the largest timber yards in the southern hemisphere, and he had worked there for 22 years  (9)

Three months later, Alexander had a serious accident, as reported in The Argus -

Accident to a Councillor - A serious accident happened yesterday, at the Moreland Sawmills, to Mr Alex. Leithhead of Leithhead and Cormick, a member of both the Brunswick and Coburg municipal councils. Mr Leithhead is the senior proprietor in the firm and has only recently had very extensive machinery erected, of which he has had but little experience. Mr. Leithhead, at the time of the accident, was assisting to place a new belt on one of the circular saws, when he slipped, and his left hand was caught by the saw, which lacerated it in a frightful manner. He was immediately carried to his private residence in Coburg, where Drs Stewart and Elliott attended, and placed the sufferer under chloroform, when it was found necessary to amputate three of the fingers. The fourth finger on the same hand was amputated some years ago, through the finger being crushed. (10)

Alexander Leithhead's accident

The Argus, April 20, 1887 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article7936121

In January 1891 the firm became insolvent with liabilities of £42,063; assets of £41,836, thus a  deficiency, £226. (11)  An auction of plant and stock in trade was held on January 15, 1891. (12)

After this I am unsure of their movements - in October 1887 Harriet Leithhead had been granted 840 acres of land at Lot 120, in  Jindivick (13). Did they acquire this land with the view of  one day becoming  farmers, or was it a convenient timber supply? Either way, I presume as it was in Harriet's name it was protected from Alexander's bankruptcy issues.

Alexander and Harriet at the Junction Store

Whether they went from Coburg to Jindivick or from Coburg to Bunyip South, by January 1894, Leithhead's Junction Store was open for business. (14) 

An early reference to Leithhead's store

Warragul Guardian, February 20, 1894 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article68733054

The store was also used for community meetings and gatherings especially before the Iona Mechanics' Institute opened in April 1895. For instance, in June 1894 a meeting was held  by settlers at the Bunyip end of  the Swamp with the object to make certain representations to Mr. Catani, engineer in charge of the works; in  May 1895 a meeting was held at the store to consider the insufficiency of monetary aid to settlers and in June 1895 a Bunyip Village Settlement Progressive Association meeting was held there. (15)

In May 1899, the Warragul Guardian reported that -

Mr Leithhead has further enlarged his Junction store, which has now a most presentable appearance. It was a good idea to complete the alterations before the new settlement sets in. Mr Leithhead has been closely identified with the development of the Swamp from the very beginning, and his own business has passed through a process of evolution, and the future is even brighter than the past. (16)

Junction Cash Store in the April 1900 flood

The Leader, April 28, 1900 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198524669

A family tragedy

On Christmas Day, 1901 tragedy struck the Leithhead family, with the death of six family members. Alexander and Harriet's son Alexander had moved to the goldfields of  Western Australia. Alexander had married Margaret Dixon in 1888 and they had seven children - Alexander (born in 1889), Jessie (1890), Vivian (1893-1894), Charles (1893), Harriet Josephine (1894), Margaret (1895) and Lillian (1900) - the eldest six were born in Victoria and Lillian in Western Australia. (17) 

The North Western Advertiser reported on this awful sad event - 

A Terrible Catastrophe. Father and Five Children Roasted to Death. 

A terrible tragedy occurred at Day Dawn early on Christmas morning. The residence of Alexander Thomas Leithhead was burnt to the ground at 2 a.m., and five children, whose ages range from infancy to 11 years, were burnt to death, while the father received injuries that subsequently proved fatal. He was terribly burned about the back of the body, the arms and the hands, and was sent into Cue Hospital. The eldest boy was saved, but so far Mrs Leithhead's condition has not been ascertained, as she is in a state of frantic grief and dementia.

A later telegram says that an inquest on the bodies of the five children was opened this morning. A burial order was issued by the coroner, and the inquest was then adjourned until Saturday. Mr Leithhead was sent to the Cue Hospital, three miles away, at 3 a.m., but was not attended until eight hours later. In the meantime he suffered terribly, and died shortly after advice was obtained. 

The funeral of the bodies of the five children took place at Cue cemetery about 7. All the mine hands and townspeople went in trollies, wagons and every available conveyance. It was the largest attended funeral ever held in the district. All the bodies were placed in one coffin. The names and ages of the unfortunate children were : Jessie, aged 11 years ; Charlie, 9 years ; Josephine, 7 years ; Maggie, 6 years ; Lillian, 2 years. A subscription has been started to send Mrs Leithhead to her friends. The eldest boy is under the care of Dr Erson for burns about the arm and hand. (18)

Margaret Leithhead and her eldest son, Alexander, both survived - Margaret married James Follett the next year in Victoria and died in Western Australia in 1937; Alexander, the only surviving child, died in 1942 in Perth. (19)

A very grainy photo of the Junction Store 

The Leader, May 4, 1901 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198086202

Alexander and Harriet move to Western Australia 

On May 31,1904, the Leithheads sold the stock of the Junction Store and the property upon which it stood and moved to Western Australia.  A clearing sale was held later on August 5, 1904 of the remaining stock and plant of the store. (20)

Sale of the Junction Store and Creamery Store (21) 

The Age, May 21, 1904 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201664597

Western Australia was where two of their children lived, William and  Lillian, plus their grandson who had survived the fire. William, their fourth child, had married  Emma Hansen Steenholdt in 1898 and had two children born in Bunyip and two in Western Australia; he died in 1957.  Lillian, their youngest child, married David Byrne in 1909 in Western Australia and she died in Sydney in 1945. (22)

Alexander and Harriet's fourth and fifth children stayed in Victoria. George married Alice Julia Barker in 1899 and they had three children (births registered in Garfield and Bunyip South); the family lived on Pitt Road, Vervale and George died in 1931 and is buried at the Bunyip Cemetery.  Kennett married Helen Carslake Wisker in 1899, they had seven children all born in Brunswick and he died in 1959. (23)

Harriet Emma Leithhead died on November 1, 1911 at 40 Harbour Road, Fremantle South, Western Australia. She is buried at the Fremantle Cemetery. (24)  Alexander Andrew Leithhead died aged 72 on February 12, 1912 at Throssell Street, Collie, Western Australia, the home of his youngest daughter Lillian, Mrs Byrne. He is buried at the Collie Cemetery. His obituary had this interesting fact about Alexander -  The deceased was a highly esteemed member of various Masonic Lodges and was said to be one of the highest and oldest Masons in Australia, he having been elected a member about half a century ago. (25)

Harriet's death notice

Perth Western Mail, November 11, 1911 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38837549

Alexander's death notice

 Perth Western Mail, February 24, 1912 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article37414869

Joseph Arthur Holgate takes over the Junction Store

The store was purchased in 1904 by Joseph Arthur Holgate, a store keeper from Bunyip.  Sadly however, it was destroyed by fire on June 14,  1907 and the Bunyip and Garfield Express had this report - 

Fire Near Bunyip. The Junction Store Destroyed
On Friday morning a fire occurred at Mr Holgate’s Junction Store, about a mile south of Bunyip. The buildings consisted of a draper's shop, grocery store, dwelling, and a large storeroom, the whole of which were completely destroyed. Mrs Robotham, who occupied the dwelling, was awakened by a series of resounding thuds from the direction of the shop, and on looking out of her window found the building to be in flames. The fire had then obtained a good hold and was breaking through the ceiling, to which were suspended buckets, kettles, and such articles, that showered down incessantly on the floor, making considerable noise. Mrs Robotham immediately aroused her family and sent them to the neighbors for assistance and very soon a crowd of willing helpers assembled and proceeded to remove the widow’s furniture, under the direction of the lady herself, who all through this trying ordeal kept cool and collected, going in and out of the doomed building calmly and without any display of emotion, collecting the most valuable of her possessions.

From the grocery store the fire spread to the draper's shop occupied by the Misses Vickery, and in a very few minutes the building went up in a pillar of flame, and the whole of the stock, along with sewing machines etc., was destroyed. ln the meantime willing hands broke into the storeroom which was attached to the building, where some tons of flour and chaff were stored, but after throwing out a few dozen bags had to beat a retreat, leaving the fire to complete its work of destruction. It is understood that the buildings were insured, and also the grocery stock, but nevertheless Mr Holgate will be put to a heavy loss as his shop was carrying a big stock at the time or the fire. The Misses Vickery lose their entire stock and plant, which carried no insurance. This is very unfortunate, as they only lately opened the business. Mrs Robotham was also uninsured, and is perhaps the heaviest sufferer by the fire.

The origin of the fire is unknown as no person slept on the premises where it first obtained its hold. With this fire disappears one of the reminders or the early days of the settlement, which stood on what is perhaps the best business site in the district, situated as it was in a thickly populated district and at the junction of six roads, and from that fact we expect to see a better and more up-to-date establishment built to replace the old one. (26)

Joseph Arthur  Holgate (1879-1966)  was the tenth of eleven children of Enoch and Ann (nee Denton ) Holgate. After the Junction Store burnt down Joseph concentrated on his Bunyip store, which he had built in 1902. (27)  He enlisted to serve in World War One in February 1915 and was rejected on medical grounds - something to do with his teeth; however he re-enlisted as Arthur Holgate at the age of 36 on July 22, 1915 and was successful.  He joined the 10th Field Ambulance (SN 12320) and Returned to Australia September 22, 1919, having been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. (28)

He went on to marry Isabella Margaret Lothian (1885-1946) in 1927 and he operated the Bunyip store himself or through managers until he sold the building in 1947.  Joseph and Isabella had no children and are remembered in the town of Bunyip with the Holgate Memorial Park, located on  their property in A'Beckett Road. (29)

The Junction Store was not rebuilt and so it came to an end with the fire of June 1907.

Footnotes

(1) South Bourke & Mornington Journal, June 19, 1901, see here.

(2) Leithhead/Kendall 1863 marriage certificate.

(3) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(4) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(5) Weekly Times, August 11, 1877, see here; Ballarat Star, August 15, 1882, see here; Mercury and Weekly Courier, May 19, 1883, see here; 

(6) The Argus, August 14, 1885, see here; North Melbourne Advertiser, August 20, 1886, see here.

(7) The Age, January 19, 1888, see here. 

(8) The Argus, March 16, 1888, see here.

(9) The Emerald Hill, Record, January 29, 1887, see here.

(10) The Argus, April 20, 1887, see here. 

(11) The Australasian, January 3, 1891, see here. 

(12) The Argus, January 15, 1891, see here.  

(13) Warragul Guardian, October 7, 1887, see here.

(14) The Austalasian, February 3, 1894, see here; Warragul Guardian, February 20, 1894, see here; 

(15) I have written about the Iona Mechanics' Institute here  https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2022/01/mechanics-institute-pioneers-hall-at.html

The Age, June 26, 1894, see here; The Age, May 13, 1895, see here; The Age, June 25, 1895, see here. 

(16) Warragul Guardian, May 19, 1899, see here. 

(17) Indexes to Victorian and Western Australia Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(18) North Western Advertiser (Tasmania), December 30, 1901, see here; The Argus, December 28, 1901, see here. 

(19) Indexes to Victorian and Western Australia Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(20) The Age, May 21, 1904, see here; West Gippsland Gazette, August 2, 1904, see here. 

(21) Denise Nest in her book, Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990 (Bunyip History Committee, 1990) noted that the Creamery store was established by April 1898. 

(22) Indexes to Victorian, Western Australia  and New South Wales Births, Deaths and Marriages.

(23) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Shire of Berwick Rate Books

(24) Perth Western Mail, November 11, 1911, see here; The West Australian, November 3, 1911, see here.

(25) Perth Western Mail, February 24, 1912, see here; Obituary - The Collie Mail, February 17, 1912, see here. 

(26) Bunyip and Garfield Express, June 20, 1907

(27) Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Bunyip and Garfield Express, July 18, 1947, see here

(28) WWI Attestation papers at the National Archives of Australia   

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=9530189

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=5844226 

(29)  Index to Victorian Births, Deaths and Marriages; Bunyip and Garfield Express, July 18, 1947, see here; Call of the Bunyip: a history of Bunyip, Iona and Tonimbuk, 1847 - 1990 by Denise Nest  (Bunyip History Committee, 1990)

Garfield - named for an American President

Garfield was originally called Cannibal Creek. The term Cannibal Creek is believed to refer to the killing of dogs by dingoes and was the name of an early cattle run, also called Coonabul Creek, based around Mount Cannibal. Another interpretation is the term comes from a corruption of the Aboriginal couna meaning ‘forehead’ and bal meaning ‘he’ or ‘she’. This referred to the shape of Mount Cannibal, which was said to resemble a head. (1)

The town grew up around the Cannibal Creek railway siding which opened in 1885 to accommodate the timber tramline which was constructed by William Brisbane, a contractor on behalf of Francis Stewart. This tramline run for about 8 kilometres, to the Two Mile Creek, the Garfield North road basically follows this tramway. (2)  In May 1886, the Cannibal Creek Post Office was established at the Railway Station. (3)  There was community agitation to change the name and eventually Garfield was selected and the Post Office became known as the Garfield Post Office on May 16, 1887 and in the July the School also changed its name from Cannibal Creek to Garfield, after the assassinated American President, James Garfield.  (4)

James Abram Garfield (1831-1881), 1870s.

   Brady-Handy Collection, Library of Congress). LC-BH826-1484-B.

https://www.loc.gov/item/96522558/

So who was President Garfield, the man who gave the town its name? (5)  James Abram Garfield was the 20th President of the United States of America. Garfield is considered the last of the ‘log cabin Presidents’ as he was literally born in a log cabin on November 19, 1831 in Orange, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. His parents were Abram and Eliza (nee Ballou) Garfield. His father died when he was two and his mother had to raise her five children on her own. Garfield worked in canal boats that sailed between Cleveland and Pittsburgh; then he worked as a carpenter and later supported himself by various jobs whilst he studied at College. These studies lead him to become Professor of Classics at the unusually named Western Reserve Eclectic Institute in Ohio. He married Lucretia Rudolph in 1858 and they had seven children, two dying in infancy. Lucretia died in 1918, aged 85.

Garfield’s political career commenced in 1859 when he was elected to the Ohio Senate. During the Civil War (which lasted from April 1861 to May 1865) he served on the Union side and became a Brigadier General and two years later a Major General of volunteers. He was an abolitionist and supported the end of slavery. While he was serving in the Union Army, he stood for election for the Federal House of Representatives and was elected in October 1862. Garfield then went on to win another eight elections.

Garfield became President by defeating the Democratic nominee, General Winfield Scott Hancock, and began his Presidency on March 4, 1881. General Hancock had also served on the Union side during the Civil War.

Garfield’s presidency, noted for his attack on political corruption, was short lived as on July 2, 1881 he was shot by Charles Guiteau at the Baltimore and Potomac Railway Station in Washington. Guiteau was an embittered and delusional man as he believed that Garfield should have appointed him to the post of Ambassador to Vienna or Paris - he made a few requests that went unanswered. Guiteau planned the assassination, had purchased the gun, practiced with it and started stalking the President who, unlike today, travelled without a body guard. He shot him firstly in the elbow, and then the back, where the bullet lodged behind the pancreas. Guiteau stood trial for murder, and was convicted and hung.

Sadly, for President Garfield he had a very slow death and this was exacerbated by the medical procedures of the time - there were no antibiotics, doctors didn’t wash their hands before or after any procedures so his wounds became infected due to them prodding around for the bullet, the removal of which was seen as a high priority. Apparently medical practice at the time was to reduce the patients’ diets and Garfield was fed only on eggs, bouillon, milk, whiskey and opium. Because of this, he lost 45 kilograms before he finally died on September 19, 1881, at the age of 49, from an infection and internal haemorrhage; although newspaper reports at the time say he died from sheer exhaustion. (6) His doctor was the ironically named Dr Bliss.

Garfield’s death was well reported in many papers in Australia (7)  but it is still an interesting choice to rename a small town in West Gippsland after an American President, six years after his death. Clearly around this time there was agitation to change the name Cannibal Creek. Bill Parish, in his short history of Garfield, which was published in the 1962 Back-to booklet, said it was due no doubt to the fledging government’s urge for mundane respectability (8) 

One of the names suggested was Hopetoun, however the South Bourke and Mornington Journal in February 1887 reported that at the Berwick Shire Council meeting, a letter had been received from the Railway Department, stating the name of Cannibal Creek cannot be altered to Hope Town [sic], as suggested, as there is already a postal town of that name in the colony. (9)  Hopetoun was named for the Earl of Hopetoun, a British politician and the Governor of Victoria from 1889 until 1895, and Governor General of Australia from 1901 until 1902. (10)

At the same meeting in February 1887 the Council had also received a letter from Hugh Paul of Cannibal Creek, regarding new names for Cannibal Creek.  The letter stated that at a public meeting held there on the 29th ult. the following names were agreed to, the first to be selected if eligible, if not the second, and so on in rotation -  Mount View, Gladstone, Garfield, Kenilworth, Soho. - The list of proposed names to be forwarded to the Railway Department. (11)

Suggested names to replace Cannibal Creek

South Bourke and Mornington Journal, February 9, 1887 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article70394536

As for these options - the meaning of the Mount View name is obvious. Gladstone would have been after William Ewart Gladstone (1809 - 1898) who was British Prime Minister on four occasions. Kenilworth is a town in England or perhaps it was named for the novel Kenilworth by Sir Walter Scott, published in 1821. This book was still popular in the 1880s; in fact a new illustrated edition de luxe version of the novel was printed in 1885 according to advertisements in the paper at the time. Soho is a district in London, which later developed a reputation as a trendy entertainment and red light district,  so perhaps we are lucky that Soho wasn’t selected.  The South Bourke and Mornington Journal reported on April 13, 1887 that the Railway Department had written to the Berwick Shire stating that the name of Cannibal Creek had been altered to Garfield, as suggested by the residents. (12)

Acknowledgment 

Unless footnoted,  the life and death of President Garfield is from - 

Encyclopaedia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/biography/James-A-Garfield

Smithsonian magazine - https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-stalking-of-the-president-20724161/

East Carolina University - Dr Williard Bliss 

https://digital.lib.ecu.edu/special/ead/findingaids/0307 

Footnotes

(1) Blake, Les Place Names of Victoria (Rigby, 1977)

From Bullock tracks to bitumen: a brief history of the Shire of Berwick (Historical Society of Berwick Shire, 1962)

Watson, Angus B Lost and almost forgotten towns of Colonial Victoria : a comprehensive analysis of Census results for Victoria 1841-1901 (A.B Watson, 2003)

For other information on the Cannibal Creek name see here -https://kooweerupswamphistory.blogspot.com/2024/02/mount-cannibal-origin-of-name.html

(2) McCarthy, Mike Settlers and Sawmillers : a history of the West Gippsland Tramways (Light Railway Research Society of Australia, 1999)

(3) Post Office gazetted in the Victoria Government Gazette on June 4, 1886; notice dated May 29, 1886. Warragul Guardian, June 10, 1886, see here. 

(4) Name change - The Argus, May 6, 1887, see here, says the railway station name was changed; The Riverine Herald, May 6, 1887, see here, says the post office name was changed. Cannibal Creek to Garfield: a history of Garfield Primary school, No. 2724, 1886-1986, published by the Centenary Committee. The Committee consisted of -  Mary White, B. Andrews, R. Spencer, Kevin Daley, Rosemary Parham and Mick Whiting.

(5) See Acknowledgement, above, for the sources used for the President's life and death.

(6) The Argus, October 25, 1881, see here. 

(7) The Argus, September 21, 1881, see here.

(8) Parish, William Back to Garfield, 1887-1962 (Back-to Garfield Committee, 1962)

(9) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, February 9, 1887, see here. 

(10) Lord Hopetoun - Australian Dictionary of Biography 

https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hopetoun-seventh-earl-of-6730

(11) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, February 9, 1887, see here. 

(12) South Bourke and Mornington Journal, April 13, 1887, see here.

What happened in Koo Wee Rup and surrounds in 1926

This is a look at what happened in Koo Wee Rup and on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp 100 years ago in 1926.  I write this every year for the Blackfish, the Koo Wee Rup township newsletter;  I also do a similar one for the Garfield Spectator, you can read that here.

January - The year started on a sad note with the report of the discovery of a dead body at Cardinia -
Dead Body Found - While shooting in a paddock on the property of Mr R. Brown, of Cardinia, on the day before Christmas Day, Mr J. Cox found the body of a man, who had apparently been dead for some time. Near the body was a newspaper dated November 11, and a beer bottle containing liquid. A rope was hanging from a bough of a tree nearby. It is thought possible that the man may have hanged himself, and that the rope became unfastened. The man's features were unrecognisable, and there was nothing by which his identity could be established. The matter was reported to the police, and the body was conveyed to the morgue. The dead man was described as being aged about 60 years, 5ft 4in in height, of thin build with grey hair and a moustache. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, January 7, 1926, p. 4)

February - In February  we have two railway related reports -the first on sand loadings at the local railway stations; the sand was dredged from the Main Drain and other drains and the second regarding a derailment
Large quantities of sand for building purposes in Melbourne are being forwarded from this district. During the last fortnight, 189 truck loads were despatched from Bayles railway station, and 60 tons are sent dally from the Koo wee rup station. (The Argus, February 6, 1926, see here)

February - 

Off the Line Gippsland Train. Two Hurt. Koo-wee-rup Smash.

Panic followed the derailment of the 5.5 p.m. train from Leongatha on Saturday at 7.35 p.m., while travelling over the points at Koo-wee-rup station crossing. The wheels of the tender are believed to have fouled the points. The engine and five carriages left the rails. Two people were injured. Many are suffering from shock. The damaged train blocked traffic on both the up and down lines until 7 a.m. today. Passengers both ways had to be transferred and taken on by relief trains on either side of the derailed train. Those for Korumburra got there early this morning.

The leading carriage hit 4 feet into the permanent way, and when halted had an acute slant to one side. About 100 yards of rail was torn out, and the points smashed. Springs and undergear of the carriages were extensively damaged. The rear carriages when halted had a dangerous tilt. Several passengers tried to jump from windows. Mr. H. Hanbury, who with three companions was travelling in the leading carriage, said the first warning was heavy bumping and blinding dust. He looked out of his window, but could see nothing for clouds of up-flung earth. He considered it was fortunate that the train escaped complete wrecking. (Sun News-Pictorial, February 15, 1926, see here)

March - In March there was a complaint about the condition of local roads out of Bayles -

On the Scanlon road early last week the caving in of a rabbit burrow caused a large hole in the roadway. Later, about six or seven chains from the No.4 bridge a hole over 2ft deep appeared, and another in the vicinity of O'Brien's sand pit is also in evidence. Filling up these holes with sand is simply a waste of  time and money. Failing the use of a fumigator - the road for some chains is a warren - the burrows should be opened up from the mouth, the entrance blocked, and filled in to the breakaway. (Koo Wee Rup Sun,  March 25, 1926, p. 4)

April - Plowright's Siding between Koo Wee Rup and Bayles was completed, operations commenced there, two months later.

The new railway siding has been completed at Bayles for Messrs. Plowright Bros. Machine Washed Sand Company. Elevators are being erected for the loading into railway trucks from the tram trucks. (The Argus, April 22, 1926, see here)

Plowright Albion Sand Co. operation on the Main Drain - Sand passing through hopper onto trucks,  c. 1926-1931.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society.

May - the need for a local High School - From May there were reports in the newspapers of meetings to have a new High School established. The closest High Schools were either Warragul or Dandenong, and for children who lived on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp they were both difficult to get to; and thus a more central location was desired. It took another 30 years before there was any progress on this front - Drouin High School opened in 1956, Koo Wee Rup in 1957 and Pakenham  in 1967. 

Proposed High School - On Thursday afternoon last a meeting was held at the Kooweerup State School, when delegates from the Garfield Women's Section of the Victorian Farmers' Union met the members of the Kooweerup branch and the local State School committee and discussed the proposal to obtain a high school for the swamp area. The suggestion was well received, and it was decided to ascertain information as to the number of scholars who were likely to seek a higher standard of education. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 20, 1926, p. 4)

The following article from August explains the travel difficulties faced by local children to attend High School -
Garfield - Parents of children attending the Dandenong and Warragul High schools are agitating to have a railway motor bus service established between the intermediate towns for the convenience of pupils attending both schools. The Warragul school has a road service, which terminates at Bunyip, but the children attending the Dandenong school have to depend on a very inconvenient train service, which necessitates leaving home at 6.30 a.m. and returning after 7 p.m. It is understood that the Commissioners are giving the proposal favorable consideration, and that the service will be established during the summer. A public meeting was held at Cora Lynn, which lies in the centre of the Kooweerup Swamp area, to urge upon the Government the necessity of erecting a high school in the district, as children living at any distance from the rail and motor service - such as they are - are debarred from attending either Warragul or Dandenong schools. (The Age, August 26, 1926, see here)  

A later report from September, suggested that a High School could be built at Cora Lynn or Bayles -  At a meeting of district representatives at Cora Lynn the high school proposal was further considered. Sites at Cora Lynn and Bayles were reviewed, and it was unanimously decided to recommend an area of Crown land at Bayles, which is above flood level and large enough for all requirements. It was resolved to ask the Education department for an early inspection of the site. An active canvass for subscriptions and guarantees from parents is to be undertaken. Mrs. Shreeves was elected president, and Mrs. Terrill secretary. (The Age, September 17, 1926, see here) 

May - other local events which took place in May included a boxing match and a fishing trip -
Koo-wee-rup - A contest for £25 a side and the heavy-weight championship of Gippsland took place between "Jack" Killeen, of Koo-wee-rup, and "Bill" Walsh, of Melbourne. At the end of the fourth round Walsh's seconds threw in the towel. (The Argus, May 4, 1926, see here)

Fishing Party - On Sunday last a party of Kooweerup fishermen went to Tooradin, and had a very successful day, bagging 140 flathead. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, May 13, 1926, p. 4)

June - In June there were complaints about the state of the main street of Bayles and the inadequate accommodation at the Bayles Railway Station -

Bayles - Owing to council operations and the recent rainfall, the main street through the township presents anything but a pleasing appearance. The road has been ploughed and crowned ready for gravelling, but owing to heavy traffic it much cut up, and in places is converted into a "glue pot." 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, June 3, 1926, p. 4.)

Bayles - Many visitors have joined the ranks of local grousers at the present lack of decent office and passenger  accommodation at the local station. The incoming train on Monday last brought  a load of parcels which overfilled the apology for an office, and the surplus had to be stacked in the shelter shed, which also, per force, does duty as a ladies' waiting room. When the train left the platform, our popular Station Master managed to scramble back into the office, leaving behind him and effectual barrier from outside customers.  Some good humoured banter ensued, but until the bulk was reduced owners could not sign the book or the S.M. move freely. From information received we are led to believe the railway chief views modest local requests favourably. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, June 3, 1926, p. 4.)

Main Street, Bayles, c. 1930s.

Image: Bayles Fauna Park Reserve.

June - In June the following statistics were published in regards to potato loadings at local railway stations -

It was estimated that the potato crop in the Koo-wee-rup area would reach £500,000, and by the record of truckings on railway this is not far short. The output of 29,403 tons from the nine stations was distributed as follow: - Koo-wee-rup, 6,952 tons; Garfield, 6,451; Bayles, 5,591; Dalmore, 3,346; Tynong, 2,580; Bunyip, 2,057; Nar-nar-goon, 1,814; Lang Lang, 443; Warragul, 169. At £10 a ton this would realise £294, 030. From December 1, 1925, to April 31, 1926, 498 trucks (6,945 tons) left Garfield, and during April 600 tons. From January 1 to May 30, 1926, 156,929 bags of potatoes left the Koo-wee-rup station. There are still many thousand bags in storage and on farms. The season so far promises to be excellent. (The Argus, June 11, 1926, see here)  

July - In July, Koo Wee Rup had a spate of burglaries.
Burglaries - On Friday evening a number of Kooweerup business people received an unpleasant surprise when they discovered articles missing from their establishments. It appears that some person or persons had decided on a raid and selected the late shopping night as the most opportune time. At most of the shops goods are left exposed outside, which gives a good opportunity to get away with them. The goods were evidently purloined early in the evening, for after having tea Mrs Gray missed a blanket and cardigan jacket. From Mr A.W. Stephens shop an oilskin overcoat was taken; Mr F. Ellis lost an oilskin and bicycle coat, and Mr C. Loveday an overcoat and rug. On the previous Wednesday several small articles were taken from Mr Stephens shop. The matter had been placed in the hands of the police, who are endeavouring to trace the thief. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, July 1, 1926, p.1)

September - In September Koo Wee Rup became -
Kooweerup Premiers of South Gippsland Association.
Postponed from the previous Saturday on account of bad weather conditions, the final of the South Gippsland Association's competition was played on the Korumburra show ground in perfect weather. The ideal day could not be improved on, which no doubt helped considerably in making the attendance a record one. The gate takings amounted to £84/8/- which is a record for a football match on this line.

Both teams were well represented, and the public witnessed a good exhibition of football, which terminated with a most exciting finish, leaving Kooweerup premiers for 1926 by the narrow margin of three points.

Kooweerup played towards the town in the first quarter; they were the first to score, and put up 2 -1 before Leongatha raised a flag. From then it was a ding dong go, with Kooweerup always a few points in front. With the exception of the first quarter Leongatha had the most scoring shots each term, but their kicking was very erratic compared to their opponents. 11 - 4, Kooweerup's figures, were remarkably good kicking, but the team played to get the ball into position before shooting for goal. During the third quarter the umpire (Dunning) was knocked over and walked on by one of the players, and the game was held up for a few minutes. With only a couple of minutes to go, Leongatha only four points behind, had play well in front. The usually reliable Sinbeck had an easy shot but a roar of disappointment was the signal that only a point was scored. It was their last chance; for play then went to the centre, and Kooweerup managed to keep it there till the bell rang out. The final scores were:
Kooweerup: 11 - 4 - 70 points.
Leongatha: 9 - 13 - 67 points
It was a strenuous game, played in a good spirit and splendidly umpired by Dunning. For the winners Johnny Shelton played a great game right through. Among the best of the others were Jas Shelton, Cobb and J. Lavelle. Leongatha were best served by Boon (who brought off some wonderful marks) Crombie, Jones, Vibash and Hine. 

(Great Southern Advocate, September 23, 1926, see here)

This delightful photograph appeared in the Sun News-Pictorial in September 1926. 

They are Kevin (Kelly) and Richard O'Hehir, of Koo Wee Rup, who were born in June 1925. The chubby pair, won first prize at a baby show held at Pakenham and are pictured with their proud mamma. They are the sons of  Richard and Elizabeth (nee Killeen) O'Hehir. 

(Sun News-Pictorial, September 23, 1926, see here).

October - In October it was reported that -

Fire - A sensation was caused at Kooweerup on Saturday morning, owing to a fire at the rear of Mr E. Cougle's store. The fire was quickly discovered and an alarm raised brought a response of fifty helpers. The fire was confined to a stack of empty boxes, luckily piled up against a galvanised iron fence. A chemical fire extinguisher was brought into play, but with little effect, owing to a strong northerly wind. A bucket brigade, however, eventually succeeded in quenching the flames. It if had not been for the timely arrival of so many willing workers a serious conflagration would have resulted. The cause of the fire is alleged to be due to the strong wind which prevailed carrying ashes from a smouldering rubbish fire to the pile of cases. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 7, 1926, p.2)

October - Also in October, students at Five Mile State School (also called Koo Wee Rup North) passed their Temperance Physiology examination. This seemed to be an examination conducted in conjunction with the Independent Order of Rechabites, a temperance (anti-alcohol) organization
At the examination in Temperance Physiology conducted by the Education department during July the following candidates from Five Mile School were awarded certificates - Grade 6 - James Scala, 82 marks; Freda Secomb, 70; Harry Stephens, 65; Dorothy Nicholson, 62. Grades 7 and 8 - Ronald Bethune, 81 marks; Matthew Garbellini, 80; Grace Pollock, 74; Margaret Moore, 72; Agnes Mellen, 65; Ellen McQualter, 64; Charles Law, 65. The examination, for which prizes are given, is of a competitive nature, there being more than 5000 entrants throughout the State. Successful candidates are entitled to compete for a scholarship. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 7, 1926, p.4)

Koo Wee Rup North School, 1927

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society

October - Also in October, Koo Wee Rup had this problem -
Straying horses - Frequent complaints are being received as to the depredations carried out by straying horses in Kooweerup. It is in the evening that most of the damage is done. Yesterday morning the hon. secretary of the local branch of the R.S.S.I.L.A. found the gate leading to the Soldiers' Club Room smashed, and all the evidence indicated that it was the work of straying equines.(Koo Wee Rup Sun, October 14, 1926, p.4)

December - The Bayles Progress Association was formed -
The meeting convened for the purpose of forming a local Progress Association was held on Thursday night last at the Butter Factory, the audience being limited. A motion that an association be formed, called the Bayles Progress Association, was carried. The following office-bearers were elected:- President, Mr A.T. Green; vice-president, Mr J. Egan; treasurer, Mr G. Murdoch; secretary, Mr S. Jeffers; committee Messrs Trevellyan, Woodman, McGowan, Murdock, and Ahern. On the motion of Mr Ahern, the secretary was instructed to write requesting the Cranbourne Shire Council to furnish four benzine lamps for lighting the township, the association undertaking to tend same when erected. (Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 9, 2026, p. 4)

December - Also in December exam results were published -

Examinations. The following are the results of the recent examinations held at the Kooweerup State School recently. For Merit certificates nine passed out of ten competitors. The one failing in one subject only is entitled to another chance. For qualifying certificates 11 were successful out of 14. Passed, Merit Certificate - William Andrews, Meryvn Bath, William Mills, Gerald Sluiter, Eric Garnham, Pierce Healy, Edna McLeod, Pauline Giles, and Catherine Healy.  Passed, Qualifying Certificate - Frank Colvin, Eric Edwards, Ronald Leydon, Ronald Mills, Lindsay Mortimer, Robert Child, James Johnston, Elizabeth Mills, Phyllis Johnston, Myra Bath, and Mary De Vries. 

(Koo Wee Rup Sun, December 16, 1926, p. 4)

What happened in Garfield in 1926

This is a look at what happened in Garfield and surrounds 100 years ago in 1926.   I write this every year for the Garfield Spectator. I also do a similar one for the Blackfish, the Koo Wee Rup township newsletter, you can read that here.

January - A bushfire, caused by campers who were 'smoking out' rabbits, had started in the area on December 31, 1925, but was under control three days later. The Herald had this comprehensive report on the fire -
Bush Fire Dies. Breaks and Rain Defeat It
The dangers of the fire between Tynong and Garfield, has passed. The townships of Tynong and Garfield have been saved by the fire breaks cut in the scrub, and by the rain that fell on Sunday and early this morning. Mrs W. Johnson's home was twice threatened on Saturday, but after 30 hours' continuous work cutting firebreaks, the fighters turned the flames. But for the work of Mrs Johnson, two girls, and several neighbors, the fire would have reached the outbuildings in which were stored farm implements.

The flames rose 100 feet, and devoured gums and undergrowth. The outbreak, which began in Mr Wilkins' property, swept through Mrs Johnson's, then through dense scrub on to Mr Berry's land. It was checked there, and about 500 tons of firewood ready for trucking were saved. After a strenuous battle near Wallace's Creek, Weatherhead's timber mills were saved. On Berry's Hill a break of one mile long by about 30 chains wide was cut. Early on Sunday morning the fire was travelling towards the old Sale road. Here the property of Mr A.Megas was threatened. He worked all through Saturday night, clearing a break.

Fires were burning in many places at the same time, and men were rushed from one front to another when things began to get serious. Some of the fighters had been on the scene for 48hours, and many were suffering from slight burns. About 450 acres of grass have been destroyed, with firewood and fencing. The total damage will amount to about £1000. The chief sufferers are Messrs. H. Wilkins (50 tons of firewood and fencing), W. Johnson (grass and fencing), C. Sinclair and W. Berry (grass and fencing). Several other farmers have lost firewood and fencing. (The Herald, January 4, 1926, see here)

A sawmill belonging to the Weatherheads at Tynong North, 1920s.

January - About seventy children were confirmed at Iona recently by his Lordship, the Bishop  of Sandhurst, the Right Reverend Dr McCarthy. The girls are pictured below. (The Advocate, January 7, 1926, see here)

The Girls who were confirmed. The clergy standing in the back row are the Revs. T. O'Callaghan, P.P., Rev. J. Egan (Dalyston), Rev. L. Hartnett (lona), and the Rev. F. Merner, Dandenong. The sponsor for the girls, Mrs. Field, is seen standing to the right. [Unfortunately, the photo is so dark, we can't actually see Mrs Field]

 The Advocate, January 7, 1926  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article171417927

January - Also in January was this interesting report from Cora Lynn -

A calf a day for three days is a record established by a cow owned by Mr. A. Wakenshaw at Cora Lynn. The calves were born on 4th, 5th and 6th January respectively, and they are all normal and thriving. The mother is recovering from an attack of milk fever. (The Age, January 14, 1926, see here)

March - In March, there were complaints about the town water supply in Garfield -

Local residents, for many months, have been endeavoring to impress upon the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission the urgency of a town water supply scheme, and have had indifferent replies. At the present time people of the town have to pay 2d per gallon for water for domestic purposes, drawn from the main drain, Iona. This water is contaminated by herds of cattle and scores of bathers. Fortunately it is a swift-running stream, otherwise public health would be menaced. During a season like the present many towns in West Gippsland depend on this source for their water supply.  (The Age, March 3, 1926, see here)  

April - In April, Martin O'Donohue, who built the Garfield Picture Theatre, left the town for Warragul -

Mr. M. O'Donohue, who has conducted the Garfield Hotel for the past five or six years, has purchased the freehold of the Royal Hotel, Warragul. Mr. O'Donohue's departure from Garfield parish and community will be a severe loss to the district. Last year he built a commodious picture theatre there, together with several shops and private dwellings. (The Advocate, April 1, 1926, see here) 

Martin O'Donohue's Picture Theatre, which opened in December 1924.

Image: Koo Wee Rup Swamp Historical Society 

April - Also in April the following meeting was held in Garfield -

At a meeting of Bunyip and District Teachers' Union the following elections took place:- President, Mr. Noonan (Longwarry); vice-presidents. Messrs. P. Scouller (Iona), W. Waugh (Garfield); secretary and treasurer, A. Mackay (Bunyip); auditor, I. McAlpine (Bunyip). It was decided to donate £2 2/ to the testimonial to Mr. David Black, ex-president of the Teachers' Union, which is to be given by the latter body for services rendered. Mr. Black raised the members' roll from 700 to over 8000. (The Age, April 1, 1926, see here).  

June - In June, it was reported that - 

Garfield - The operation of moving a four-roomed weatherboard house six miles, to Tynong, was successfully performed by Mr. D. McLennan, of Fitzroy North. On the way bridges had to be widened, trees lopped, telegraph wires lifted. As the house was blocking a narrow road on Saturday night it had to be jacked up high enough to allow traffic to pass underneath. (The Age, June 25, 1926, see here) 

June - Also in  June the following statistics were published in regards to potato loadings at local railway stations -

It was estimated that the potato crop in the Koo-wee-rup area would reach £500,000, and by the record of truckings on railway this is not far short. The output of 29,403 tons from the nine stations was distributed as follow: - Koo-wee-rup, 6,952 tons; Garfield, 6,451; Bayles, 5,591; Dalmore, 3,346; Tynong, 2,580; Bunyip, 2,057; Nar-nar-goon, 1,814; Lang Lang, 443; Warragul, 169. At £10 a ton this would realise £294, 030. From December 1, 1925, to April 31, 1926, 498 trucks (6,945 tons) left Garfield, and during April 600 tons. From January 1 to May 30, 1926, 156,929 bags of potatoes left the Koo-wee-rup station. There are still many thousand bags in storage and on farms. The season so far promises to be excellent. (The Argus, June 11, 1926, see here)  

July - These figures, above,  show the importance of the potato industry to this region and in July it was reported that -

The largest meeting of potato growers ever seen at lona assembled on Monday evening to protest against the importation of New Zealand potatoes, the reported introduction of corky scab, and against the abolition of 10-ton railway trucks. Cr. J. Dowd, who was chairman, said that if once the scab got into the district it would never be wiped out. He knew that a sample of imported potatoes had turned black after being boiled. It was strange if New South Wales inspectors were passing such produce as sound. The menace was serious to farmers, and they should be active. Several speakers spoke against the importation of potatoes, especially if diseased, and urged that drastic action be taken at once. The local market was being glutted, and Victorian farmers could not compete against the low prices ruling at Sydney, £10 a ton, while it was reported that new Zealand potatoes were down to £9 10/ in Albury.

A number of motions were moved at the meeting - a recommendation of a  protective duty of £4 a ton be placed on all potatoes entering the Commonwealth; the Agricultural Department take drastic steps to prevent corky scab from entering Victoria and the 10-ton railway truck should not be abolished. The Iona District Potato Growers Association was enthusiastically formed with the aim of State-wide organisation and communicating with all potato districts. (The Age, July 14, 1926, see here)

The 10-ton railway truck, with potatoes, from Garfield to Melbourne

State Library of Victoria image H92.301/93

July - In July, was this unusual legal case with a Garfield connection was reported - 

Not Abduction. Twins Were Taken Back to Aunt's Care

At Alexandra Court this morning charges against two men for alleged abduction were dismissed, as it was proved the girls were over 16 years of age. The defendants were Alfred Vincent and Charles Poylor Marshall. Mr M. Devine, who appeared for the defendants, said it was a pity more care had not been exercised in bringing the men up on such a charge. The girls' aunt had reared them, and they had lived with her until they were 15. The girls, who were twins, wrote and told her that they wanted to go back to her, and made an appointment. They were taken from Thornton straight to their aunt's place near Garfield. The girls' names are Nellie and Millie Taylor, and their parents live at Thornton. (The Herald, July 8, 1926, see here)   

August -  In August there was good news that a missing girl, Olive Bassett, was discovered unharmed - 
It was reported to the police that a girl named Olive Bassett, aged 11 years, was lost in the bush, and search parties scoured the locality for some hours, when a telephone message was received that she had been found at Nar-nar-goon, having walked nine miles from her home at North Garfield. The child was little the worse for her adventure. (The Age, August 6, 1926, see here).

In 1926, there was agitation to have a High School established in the area. The closest High Schools were either Warragul or Dandenong and a more central location was desired. It took another 30 years before there was any progress on this front - Drouin High School opened in 1956, Koo Wee Rup in 1957 and Pakenham  in 1967.  Here are three articles relating to the issue -

August - The following article explains the travel difficulties faced by local children to attend High School -
Garfield - Parents of children attending the Dandenong and Warragul High schools are agitating to have a railway motor bus service established between the intermediate towns for the convenience of pupils attending both schools. The Warragul school has a road service, which terminates at Bunyip, but the children attending the Dandenong school have to depend on a very inconvenient train service, which necessitates leaving home at 6.30 a.m. and returning after 7 p.m. It is understood that the Commissioners are giving the proposal favorable consideration, and that the service will be established during the summer. A public meeting was held at Cora Lynn, which lies in the centre of the Kooweerup Swamp area, to urge upon the Government the necessity of erecting a high school in the district, as children living at any distance from the rail and motor service - such as they are - are debarred from attending either Warragul or Dandenong schools. (The Age, August 26, 1926, see here)  

August - In August, The Argus reported on a local meeting to support the establishment of a High School - 

One of the largest meetings ever held in the district was convened by the Iona women's section of the Farmers' Union, to consider the establishing of a high school for the swamp area. Councillor P. Walsh (Berwick Shire) presided and Mr Wrigley, assistant chief Inspector of secondary schools, was present. Figures were given showing that on this side of the swamp there were 1,400 scholars on the rolls at the various schools and that 140 to 150 would be available for higher education. On the Koo wee rup side there were 450 children attending. Mr Wrigley promised to put the case before the Minister. A strong committee representing 22 school centres was formed to go into the matter with the branches of the women's sections, Councillor McCulloch to represent Cranbourne Shire, and Councillor Dowd Berwick Shire. A motion was agreed to that it was desirable to establish a higher elementary school in a central position in the swamp. (The Argus, August 27, 1926, see here) 

September - A later report suggested that a High School could be built at Cora Lynn or Bayles -  At a meeting of district representatives at Cora Lynn the high school proposal was further considered. Sites at Cora Lynn and Bayles were reviewed, and it was unanimously decided to recommend an area of Crown land at Bayles, which is above flood level and large enough for all requirements. It was resolved to ask the Education department for an early inspection of the site. An active canvass for subscriptions and guarantees from parents is to be undertaken. Mrs. Shreeves was elected president and Mrs. Terrill secretary. (The Age, September 17, 1926, see here) 

September - In September, we had two stories connected to the Railways -
Milk by Rail. Complaint From Garfield.
Replying to a paragraph in "The Age" of Wednesday, 8th September, in which it was stated at Garfield that at certain stations in the Gippsland district cans of milk were being loaded in the vans of passenger and goods trains along with hides, skins, calf carcases, crates of fowls, the Railway Commissioners said that such action was contrary to regulations. Definite instructions had been issued that milk must not be loaded with such goods as fish, rabbits, meat, hides, and the inquiries that had been made into the complaint under notice failed to disclose any disregard of these instructions. The Commissioners added that if a specific instance were given of milk being transported in such a manner they would have immediate inquiries made. (The Age, September 16, 1926, see here)  

September - Garfield was (almost) the location of a  feature film, The Northbound Limited, being shot by a  talented and ambitious 17-year-old, George Palmer. George Frederick Thomas Palmer (1909-1994) founded radio station 3AK in 1931 and bought out radio 7UL in Ulverstone, Tasmania in 1933. George married twice and had four children the youngest being well known politician and business man, Clive Palmer. 
When a goods train was travelling about 30 miles an hour between Garfield and Pakenham on Friday countryside spectators were amazed to see a fight in progress on the tender of the engine, shots being exchanged, and two men in deadly conflict, while from a position on the train a cinematograph operator was busily engaged. One of the final scenes in The North-bound Limited was being filmed by the 17-year-old Australian actor producer George Palmer. The Sydney express was also the venue for some of the film story, including a dash by Palmer's motor car in front of the express travelling at 60 miles per hour. Scenes in Sydney, Melbourne, Ringwood and Powelltown will also be shown in the film, which will be released in a few weeks. (The Age, September 21, 1926, see here)

Advertisement for George Palmer's The Northbound Limited

The St George Call (Kogarah), January 13, 1928  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article232071927

 
September - In September, the folks at Iona got a new telephone exchange -

A new telephone exchange has been established at lona, with a trunk connection with Melbourne, and over 30 subscribers are already paid up. This has done away with the costly service proposed whereby subscribers were to be charged as high as £10 or over to connect with Garfield. This was the proposal of an officer who upset a previous plan of another officer whereby local needs could be met at a reasonable cost. There was not any likelihood of the farmers undertaking such a costly telephone service, so that the department, instead of losing revenue by reason of its non-acceptance, will gain by the new exchange, which has given great local satisfaction. (South Bourke & Mornington Journal, September 23, 1926, see here)

October - In October it was reported that feral Deer are doing considerable damage to orchards in Tonimbuk district. These animals are stripping the trees, and as it is almost impossible to fence them out, farmers are at a loss to cope with them. (The Age, October 27, 1926, see here)

November - In November, we find that it wasn't just milk that was badly handled by the Victorian Railways, it was also  potatoes - 

Railway Delays. Potato Trucks Go Astray.
Garfield - Indignation is expressed by potato growers regarding the Railway department's haphazard methods of handling the new season's consignments. Out of three trucks consigned from this district last week, two were lost on a journey of under 50 miles, and were only discovered after diligent inquiries extending over two days. The trucks had been left at wayside stations between here and Melbourne, with the result that it is doubtful if they will be salable. At the present market rates this means the loss of upwards of £100 to the consignors. At a meeting of the Gippsland Potato Growers' Association the matter was discussed, and the Railway Commissioners and their methods were severely criticised. Mr. J. Dowd, president of the association, was delegated to visit Melbourne and interview the Commissioners.  (The Age, November 29, 1926, see here)  

December - The year started badly with the bush fires and in December ended badly with a severe frost -    

A severe frost. Potato and Maize Crops Ruined.  Monday night's frost was worse than anticipated. With the exception of odd potato crops the whole of the Kooweerup area of 75,000 acres is devastated. Maize crops share the same fate. Growers hoped for rain on Tuesday, to help to recover the tubers, but an east wind and a hot sun completed the destruction. (The Age, December 16, 1926,  see here)