Advertiser January 27, 1928 The picture “Ghosts of Menin Gate,” which has been presented to Australia by Lord Woolavington (formerly Sir James Buchanan) was painted by Mr. Will Longstaff, who is an old resident of Eltham. Mr. Longstaff lived here for a good number of years, and enlisted when the war broke out, subsequently attaining the rank of captain, and being the […]
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Wikinorthia is managed by the Local and Family History Librarian at Yarra Plenty Regional Library
Tribute to the Fallen
Heidelberg Memorial Unveiled. Erected by public subscription in the grounds of the shire hall, Heidelberg’s memorial to her fallen soldiers was unveiled by His Excellency the Governor yesterday afternoon. It consists of a granite obelisk, and bears the names of 29 soldiers from the district who lost their lives in the Great War. Three of them had decorations. The president of […]
Anti-conscription Rally
More than 40,000 people attending a WWI anti-conscription rally on the banks of the Yarra in Melbourne on 21 October 1916. The anti-conscription movement was also active in our Shire. An anti-conscription rally was organised in Panton Hill by Kangaroo Ground wheelwright Mr Fryer. A correspondent writing in the Evelyn Observer in 1916 accused Mr […]
Adeline
By M.R. Simkin My grandmother’s ring was very large indeed, so big it hung loosely on my mother’s thumb when she wore it to the jewelers to have it resized. The jeweler was intrigued but didn’t ask questions. My grandmother told me the story in her tiny, crowded kitchen many, many years ago when I innocently asked her why her left ring finger […]
Anzac Stories from the St Andrews District
The following Anzac stories are from men who served in ‘The Great War ‘- World War 1 from 1914 to 1918. Some men grew up and attended local schools in the District of St Andrews, Shire of Eltham. Some men who enlisted, worked in the area, or were just passing, but they were willing to […]
Greensborough Public Hero, No 1
Hurstbridge Advertiser, 9 April 1937 Mr. Joseph Evans, Anzac – that speaks for itself. The spirit of Anzac, once born in the heart of Australian, years ago now, is still a living thing. It was shown last Sunday, when, without a moment’s hesitation, Mr. Joseph Evans of Greensborough went to the rescue of Betty Thomas, […]
Fly Specks on the Universe
By Paul Howard “Places like Panton Hill had been referred to by Mr Clement Wragge as fly-specks on the universe, and yet, from this little fly-speck, over 32 boys had volunteered and been accepted for active service.” 1916 ‘ RETURNED WOUNDED. SOLDIERS AT PANTON HILL.’, Evelyn Observer and Bourke East Record (Vic. : 1902 – […]
The Lost Honour Board
By Jim Allen On 30th June 1915 the Evelyn Observer and Bourke Record started advertising for details of local and district men who had enlisted for service in World War One. This request continued throughout 1916 for the districts of: Arthur’s Creek Kangaroo Ground Queenstown Whittlesea Eltham Kinglake Research Wonga Park Hurstbridge Panton Hill Yarra […]
Great Uncle Frank and the Great War
by Marian MacNally Private Francis Harrup Northey has garnered the sort of attention from my family that other relatives never could, as his real fate was never entirely certain. There were niceties that prevented us talking about him with his immediate family, and the fact that people who lived through the war years and grief […]
Tower of Rememberance
By Amy Shaw Just, a few more, steps, to go, almost, there! Wow, just look at the amazing views! These were the views you would see if you had the courage to climb the 52 steps to the top of the Kangaroo Ground Tower of Remembrance. It’s one of the most unusual war memorials in […]