State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 08/01/1900
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, to:
FAREWELLS TO CONTINGENT.
Private Walter FOOTE, who is leaving for South Africa as a member of the second contingent, was entertained on Monday evening by the residents of Blackburn, in which district he has lived for many years.
The president of the shire, Mr C.D. Hall, occupied the chair, and upwards of 100 gentlemen sat down to supper at Sewell's Hotel. The usual loyal toasts having been honoured, the chairman proposed the health of their guest, and said that the whole district felt honoured in being represented among the troops proceeding to do the country's work in South Africa. He then, on behalf of those present and other friends, handed to Mr FOOTE a gold medal and a spirit flask, both appropriately inscribed.
Mr FOOTE returned thanks in feeling words, and expressed the hope that he would be spared to return to Blackburn, and that he might be wearing another medal besides the one just presented to him. The rest of the evening was given up to music, patriotic songs, and a number of other toasts.
“SEND-OFF” TO “DRIVER” FOOTE.
The men of Blackburn, young, middle-aged, and old, rolled up in imposing force on Monday evening, and crowded to overflowing the large dining hall and passages of the new Travellers’ Rest Hotel, to send off with befitting circumstance and glamour their fellow townsman, “Driver” FOOTE, who leaves for South Africa tomorrow.
The gathering took the form of a light banquet, over which pending the arrival of the president of the shire, who was detained with council business until 9 o’clock, Mr Knowles ably presided. The tone from beginning to end was most enthusiastically patriotic, and had an enlisting sergeant come on the scene many of these present would undoubtedly have accepted the queen’s shilling.
The formal business of the evening was the presentation to Mr FOOTE, by the president (Cr. Hall), on behalf of the people of Blackburn, of a chastely designed gold medal as a souvenir of the occasion, and a silver spirit flask, each suitably inscribed. In making the presentation, Cr. Hall and Cr. Morton, who spoke in support, eulogised the patriotic ardour that was [illegible] of others to respond so promptly to the country’s call, and wished Mr FOOTE all the good fortune a soldier can hope for.
Mr FOOTE, standing to reply, looked every inch a soldier, and in a few manly words thanked those present for their presentation and presence there. He said he had been about 11 years playing at soldiering, but that now at last the opportunity he long had hoped for had come, and he hoped soon to face the stern reality, and to act in a manner worthy of his flag and of his country.
During the evening numerous patriotic and a few comic songs were ably rendered by Messrs Ryan, Jennings, Husband, Swift, Knowles, Stewart, and others, Mr H.J. Rawlings ably presiding at the piano.
Various toasts were honoured. Mr Robertson proposed that of Mr Morris, the station master, to whose effort the gathering was mainly due. The “Pioneers of the district” was ably responded to by Mr W. Clarke, who settled in Blackburn over 40 years ago. “The Visitors”, proposed by Mr Knowles, was responded to by Mr Macpherson, a probable candidate for Dandenong and Berwick at the next election, and others.
At the suggestion of Mr Robertson a collection for the “Absent-minded Beggar” was taken up at the close of the meeting.
