State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 20/12/1900
Number issued: 1
Gold albert & locket, suitably inscribed, to:
RETURNED SOLDIERS.
SUITABLY WELCOMED.
PRIVATE J. KEEBLE.
ENTERTAINED AT DARNUM.
The reception and social to Private KEEBLE took place in the Mechanics’ on Thursday last. Never have I seen the old hall so crowded or so well decorated. The decorations were splendid, and were done by Mesdames Davis, Wilson and Call, and they deserve every praise. Punctually at 8.80, G.J. Turner, Esq., ex-M.L.A., took the chair, supported on his right by the guest of the evening Private KEEBLE, and also Private TAYLOR, of Yarragon. Other military individuals were in the body of the hall.
The Chairman, with a Few felicitous remarks, after reading apologies from Private BROOKER, who was away in Warrnambool, and Saddler-Sergeant ALLINSON, away in Melbourne, called on the Misses Nott to play the overture, a duet, which was well played and received. …….
The Chairman following, spoke on the war from its commencement, and traced it to the present time, showing the reason for Australia's sons taking part in it, and eulogised the bravery displayed. He spoke at some length, and all could see he knew the subject he handled. Never have I heard him speak better. He then presented Private KEEBLE with a handsome gold Albert (double) and locket suitably inscribed, amidst rounds of applause.
When the appreciative audience became calm Mr Davis, of Darnum, sang "Let me like a soldier fall" very nicely, and he was well received. Mr Tolliday's next effort, "Steering home", was done full justice to, and Miss A. Davis appeared to better advantage in the "Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond".
Private KEEBLE, in a neat little speech, amidst rounds of applause, in which he said he was a "fighter" not a speech maker, returned thanks for the handsome and valuable present he received from the people, and Lieutenant Farrar in a happy speech that pleased the audience very much thanked the people for the reception given to one of his men.
Mr Nott then sang "Sons of the Sea", the hall echoing to the chorus from the voices of the audience. Master Darcy Griffin sang "To the Front" very nicely, and received rounds of applause. Mr Waldron sang "The absent minded beggar" and was again encored, and sang two more verses kept in reserve.
A vote of thanks to the chairman for the able manner in which he carried the programme through without hitch, was carried amidst rounds of applause. The audience rose and sang "God Save the Queen", thus bringing that portion of a very pleasant evening's amusement to a close.
