State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Dates of presentations: 24/07/1901, 09/06/1902, 19/08/1902
Number issued: 11
24/07/1901 presentation
Lieutenant-Surgeon Herbert Roger HORNE
469 Sergeant William McNAMARA
383 Private George DRANE
???? Trooper NIELSON
09/06/1902 presentation
1236 Trooper Felix Leonard SIMONS [Symons]
1001 Trooper John Francis UPSON
19/08/1902 presentation
2288 Private Christopher DAVIDSON
Inscribed: "Presented to _________ by the townspeople of Traralgon on his return from South Africa, Jul. 24, 01".
Inscribed: "Presented to Trooper C Davidson by his Traralgon friends on his return from South Africa. Aug. 26, 1902".
SEE ALSO: GORMANDALE, Vic
GENERAL MEETING.
A general meeting of subscribers to the fund was then held at which there were about 30 gentlemen present. The Rev. R. Elliott was voted to the chair, and the minutes of the last general meeting were read and confirmed on the motion of Mr McCarthy seconded by Mr Trood. Thie Chairman said the committee had been formed to do certain things, viz., to find out what form the entertainment should take, to see to the collection of funds, and to report to a general meeting. Many things had come up during their meetings, but the committee felt they belonged to other than their province, and they had confined themselves to what they were elected to do. When their report was read the committee would have no locus standi, and it would be the duty of the meeting to elect a new one or re-elect the old committee. The Chairman then read the report as follows: –
Report of committee appointed at the meeting of subscribers to the fund for entertaining the Traralgon returned and returning soldiers, held at the Mechanics' Institute on the 19th June, 1901.
Since its appointment your committee has met three times …….
……. the question as to the form of entertainment to be given to the soldiers was fully discussed, and it was ultimately decided to recommend to the subscribers:
Firstly – That a sum of not less than £30 out of the subscriptions should be devoted to the purchase of souvenirs.
Secondly – That a reception be held in the afternoon of the day to bs appointed for entertainment, to which reception all gentlemen who subscribe 5s and upwards be admitted by ticket. Such afternoon reception to be conducted in the manner usually observed for smoke nights, and to begin at 2.30 p.m.
Thirdly – That in the evening of the day of entertainment, a concert be tendered to a the soldiers, to which all subscribers of 10s 6d and upwards be admitted with their families by ticket, and that all others attending the concert be charged an admittance.
Fourthly – That at such concert each of the six Traralgon returned soldiers be presented with a souvenir, in the shape of a gold locket suitably inscribed.
Fifthly – That the concert be followed by a social, to which all subscribers of 5s and upwards be admitted, and each of such last-mentioned subscribers to have one lady's ticket, and extra ladies tickets to be issued to such subscribers at 2s 6d each.
Sixthly – That the whole of the above entertainments shall take place in the Mechanics' Institute.
Seventhly – That the ladies be authorised to prepare refreshments for the social, and that the sum of £5 be allotted to them for this purpose.
Eighthly – That all returned soldiers in the neighbourhood be invited to attend all the functions as guests.
Your committee beg also to report that a meeting of the ladies was held, which meeting was attended by the Chairman and Secretary, and the ladies then present, to the number of about 20, kindly consented to form themselves into a committee, with Miss Campbell as secretary, to prepare refreshments for the social, on the understanding that the above sum of £5 should be placed at their disposal. It is estimated that the cost of refreshments for the afternoon reception will he 5s per head, or thereabouts. It is recommended that any surplus over after providing for all the entertainments and the souvenirs, and paying all the expenses thereof, shall be held and devoted to the entertainment of any Traralgon soldiers that may return in the future.
For the committee – ROBERT ELLIOTT, Chairman. HERBT. R. SANDFORD, Hon. Sec.
He said the committee were now extinct. If the meeting liked he would remain as Chairman to guide the thing along, but it was their bounden duty to elect a new committee or re-elect the old one.
Dr Spring moved "that the report be received and adopted", and in doing so, said all present were conversant, thanks to the Press, with what had been done at their meetings. Everything had been fully discussed, and as far as the whole matter was concerned, he thought the funds would allow them to carry out the entertainment of the soldiers in the way suggested. It ought to be a first-class entertainment.
Mr Sandford, in seconding the motion, said it had been fully proved, and with no uncertain voice, that the people of this district were as anxious to welcome the returning soldiers as any others, and the amount collected was clear evidence to that effect.
Mr Bawden said he would like to draw the attention of the meeting to the last clause of the report re the amount left over. It did not fix any time and he thought it advisable that the time should be limited to say six or 12 months.
The Rev. J.G. Wilson enquired how many more of the soldiers were expected to return.
Mr Hewett said there would be three without those from Tyers.
Mr Bawden moved "that the amount left over be held in hand for 12 months; and if no more soldiers returned within that time the money be handed to some charitable institution".
Mr Wilson said they did not know when they would return. The war might last for a long time yet.
The Chairman said the idea was to hold the money in hand until the whole thing was settled. No special time was mentioned.
There being no seconder to Mr Bawden s amendment it lapsed.
Mr Wilson in speaking to the motion said it occurred to him that, as this was a Christian community, there should be some acknowledgment of the Almighty. It might not meet with their approval, but it was in his mind that there should be some expression of gratitude for the safe keeping of the soldiers.
The Chairman said this might be taken as a reflection upon him, but he considered it did not lie in their province, as each soldier could have a thanksgiving in his own distinct church, and independent of this altogether. (Hear, hear).
THE SOLDIERS' WELCOME.
TRARALGON.
TRARALGON.
TRARALGON.
TRARALGON.
WELCOME HOME.
PRESENTATIONS AT TRARALGON.
On Monday evening last the Mechanics' Institute was the scene of a regular round of festivities in connection with the return of several members of the now famous Fifth Contingent. An energetic committee had been working for the previous month or so to bring matters to a successful issue, and were undoubtedly successful to a high degree. The programme that had been arranged was for a smoke night to take place from 7 p.m. to 8.30, after which a dance and social was to follow. The large hall had been most tastefully decorated for the dance, the walls were hung with flags and bunting, the stage was well filled with ferns and evergreens, whilst the floor was all that could be desired for a "hop". It had been deemed advisable to hold the "smoker" upstairs, and punctually at 7 o'clock the door was thrown open to a very neat spread. The catering arrangements were in the hands of Mr J. Jensen, of the Club Hotel, and Mr T.S. Gilbert, and were very creditably carried out. There was a very large company present, including returned troopers from Gormandale, Tyers, Jeeraling, Hazelwood, Glengarry, Morwell, Yinnar, etc., and the seating capacity of the room was taxed to the utmost – indeed we believe there were a few who could not be accommodated. Apologies were received from Messrs Whttakers, and others.
A few minutes after 7 o'clock Mr P.P. Serjeant took the chair, being supported on his right by Surgeon-Captain PATTERSON, next to whom was Mr H.R. Sandford, who was attired in the uniform of an officer of the Royal Artillery; whilst on the left of the chair were Cr. West and Troopers UPSON and SYMONS, Trooper BRYANT being absent. The Chairman proposed the "King", which was duly honoured, after which he said he was sorry to have to go on so soon with another toast, but as he had promised the ladies to have the smoke concert over by 8.30 there was no time to lose, he would therefore ask them to charge glasses to the toast of "Returned Soldiers", Surgeon-Captain PATTERSON, Troopers SYMONS, BRYANT, and UPSON, who had left Traralgon for the war and had now returned. They had returned from a war that had been forced upon Great Britain. Preparations had been going on for years with the Boers for this war. Kruger had said at the outset that the cost of the war would stagger humanity. Well, the war was over and Great Britain had been victorious, but it had not staggered humanity – nor even England, who stood today the greatest nation on the earth. (Loud applause). At the beginning of the war, Natal was invaded first, and there were many bravely-fought engagements there under General Buller, than whom he considered there was no better man in the British army. General Gatacre was also a splendid type of British commander, whilst Lord Methuen's name was a household word. The reverses suffered in the early stages of the war woke up England, and the colonies rushed to the assistance of the mother country, and their help was accepted by the Imperial Government. Australians were peculiarly adapted for the sort of warfare that was experienced in South Africa. They were bushmen, and had a practical knowledge of bush life and tactics. In so doing, they proved to the world that they had the grand old blood of the Britisher in their veins. When he told them that no less than six V.C's. had been won by Australia that spoke enough. It had shown the world that the old British oak flourishes in the colonies as well as in England. Now we had the glorious words of peace. May peace long reign. (Loud and prolonged cheers).
Mr H.E. Henden in supporting the toast said it gave him great pleasure to be present that evening. They had all come there to do honour to brave soldiers, and right proud were they to belong to such a nation as could produce such capital citizen soldiers. They were all pleased to see them safely returned amongst them, though some had been more or less battered.
Cr. West also supported the toast, and had much pleasure in welcoming the soldiers home amongst them once more. They had returned from great danger. He was also pleased to be able to say that they in Traralgon had been very fortunate, for though a good many had gone from here to fight, no lives had been lost. He trusted those at present in South Africa from Traralgon would also return to be welcomed in a similar manner. They had been rejoicing during the past week at the glorious news of peace, and there were those amongst them who had taken part in that glorious end. England had never been at a loss for men, she knew not the strength of her foe, but had ample assistance from her colonies. Four thousand men had gone from Victoria of their own free will, but England could have got double that number if she had required them, but they must also remember that the members of the Imperial Government and their good policy had done much to bring about such a glorious victory, and had former British governments followed the same lines, the war in South Africa would never have come about, but with good administration we would have the Boers fighting for us yet with more determination than they fought against us. (Applause).
Mr J.S. Milligan said the war had been a cloud, and they had all felt its effects. The history of the war had been already traced and he did not wish to detain them. The soldiers had undergone many hardships and he was glad to see them home safely again. (Cheers).
FOOTBALL CLUB DANCE.
