State: Victoria
Issued on: Departure
Date of presentation: 28/01/1902
Number issued: 2
Gold medals, suitably inscribed, to:
Send-off at Mitcham.
RINGWOOD.
A most enthusiastic gathering assembled in the Mitcham Hall on Tuesday last, for the purpose of entertaining Farrier F. TOOGOOD and Private Jas. WHEELER, prior to their departure with the Commonwealth Contingent for South Africa. Mr E.E. Walker presided, and the affair proved the most successful ever had in the Mitcham HaII. The Committees of Management and Finance deserve great praise for the prompt way in which they worked up the entertainment.
The programme was gone through is follows: — Violin and pianoforte duet, Messrs Mellor and Pope; song, "Sons of the Southern Sea", Mr Simmons; comic song, "Woman's Way", Mr E. Rawlings (encored); song, "First in the Field", Mr Mellor; comic song, "Is there anything else you'd like", Mr D. McClelland; song, "Death of Nelson", Mr Pope; then followed six selections rendered by Mr Bewley's graphophone, which were loudly applauded. At this juncture, the Sergeant-Major of C Company of mounted rifles, accompanied by Farrier TOOGOOD and Private WHEELER, entered the room amid great cheering and the singing of the National Anthem. Song, "I should like to be a soldier", Mr C.E. Husband; comic song, "Love to all", as an encore, "Here we are again", Mr E.E. Rawlings.
Then followed the most important item of the evening, viz., the presentation of a gold medal suitably inscribed to each of the soldiers by the chairman, who spoke in the highest terms of praise of their manly qualifications, wishing them every success on the battlefield and a safe return to their native land.
The sergeant-major also offered a few words of advice and encouragement to the departing soldiers, who he said were two of the smartest men in the C company.
After refreshments had been handed round, the proceedings concluded about mid-night with a dance, and everybody returned to their homes highly delighted with the evening’s enjoyment.