State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 02/05/1902
Number issued: 1
Gold medal, to:
5th Victorian (Mounted Rifles) Contingent –
969 Trooper John Thomas HICKEY
Presentation made by Mr Cameron, M.L.A., in the Free Library Hall, Portland.
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper J. Hickey, Fifth Victorian Contingent, from the Portland Rifle Club".
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Portland Guardian, 30th April 1902
RIFLE CLUB.
At a meeting of the committee of the Portland Rifle Club on Monday night the arrangements for the Welcome Home to Trooper HICKEY of the 5th Contingent, who is a member of the club, were completed, and sub-committees appointed to attend to the programme. It was decided that a charge be made for the gentlemen attending, and that all lady friends of the members be admitted free. The secretary was asked to issue invitations to all the returned soldiers in the district to attend as guests of the club. The programme will consist of songs, music and tableaux. Trooper HICKEY will be presented with a gold medal by the club as a memento of his services in Africa. Tickets can be obtained from members of committee or the secretary, Mr Day.
Portland Guardian, 5th May 1902
Welcome Home to Trooper J. Hickey.
We have previously alluded to the steps already taken to make the return home of Mr J. HICKEY, a fitting one, and it now only requires us to briefly allude to the social evening tendered him on Friday night by the members of the Portland Rifle Club, to make the return from the war one which will live long in his memory. The social was held in the Library Hall, which is now one of the most finished for such a purpose in the district. An intimation was given that the riflemen could take a lady friend, and a very large number responded, and what with others who obtained admittance by ticket it is estimated that over 250 were present. The first part of the evening took the form of a social, and as might be expected a number passed the time pleasantly chatting with one another, playing cards, and by other harmless means fitted in the intervals between the items on the programme for the first half of the evening. The programme was as under, the rendering of the various items being much appreciated: - Overture (piano), Mrs F. Dimond; song, Mr H. Day; violin solo, Mr Harvey; phonograph selections; tableau, first act, "The Soldier's Farewell", second act, "The Soldier's Return"; recitation, Miss Ferguson; song, Miss A.V. Bennett; song, Miss Pirie; song, Mr Franklin; Phonograph selections; tableau, "Pay Toll"; recitation, Mr Pirie; song, Mr Maddock; song, Mrs J. Campbell; tableau, “The Last Shot". This ended, the Captain of the Rifle Club, Mr W. Bennett, intimated that apologies had been received from the following: - The Mayor, Sergt.-Major Rogers, Sergt. F. J. Beauvais, and Private Bush. Mr Cameron, M.L.A., being in the town, Captain Bennett timely arranged for him to present the guest of the evening, Trooper J. HICKEY, with a gold medal. Mr. Cameron, in making the presentation, complimented the recipient upon his manly action in proceeding to Africa, and also upon his commendable conduct while there, and expressed pleasure at seeing him in such splendid health. The medal, which was from the members of the Rifle Club, was inscribed with "Presented to Trooper J. Hickey, Fifth Victorian Contingent, from the Portland Rifle Club". Mr HICKEY, in thanking the club for the handsome present, said he had only done the same as many thousands had done. Cheers were given for Trooper HICKEY, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded the first part of the welcome. Refreshments in abundance were handed round, and the kind act very liberally acknowledged. Dancing was then begun and continued merrily for several hours.
Hamilton Spectator, 6th May 1902
PORTLAND.
Monday.
Trooper John HICKEY, & member of the fifth contingent, returned home on Wednesday evening last, and was accorded a hearty welcome by the townspeople. On Friday evening he was entertained by the rifle club, of which he is a member, at a social in the free library hall. Over 200 people were present. Mr Cameron, M.L.A., attended, and presented Trooper HICKEY with a gold medal on behalf of the rifle club, and in the course of an able address he warmly eulogised the good work done by the Australians in South Africa.
