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 […]
Tag: World War 1
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 […]
“One of the Most reliable and Courageous Men”
by Jillian Durance Frederick George Starling was ‘best man’ at my grandparents’ wedding in October 1919. The wedding photo shows Fred Starling with just a glimmer of a smile on his face. A brave smile perhaps. I never knew Fred Starling, nor do I remember my grandfather Herbert Godber speaking of him, but then again, […]
Victoria Cross Estate
VC Estate history recognised City of Banyule – September 2015 The history of the VC Estate in Macleod West is finally being recognised, nearly 100 years after it was conceived, with the launch of new signage and the installation of a time capsule to be opened in 25 years. The Mayor of Banyule, Cr Craig […]
Macleod Avenue of Honour
Reprinted from Heidelberg Historian (newsletter of the Heidelberg Historical Society) June 1990 “Avenue of Honour” On Monday 23 April 1990, some 250 people attended the unveiling of a memorial and the dedication of the Avenue of Honour in the Mont Park Grounds, near Cherry Street, Macleod. The plaque records the planting of the Avenue by World […]
Pioneers of the Sky
By Jim Allen Not many people would be aware of two brothers who were possibly one of the greatest influences on the development of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The connection to the Eltham Shire is that one brother Ellis Charles Wackett, (1901 – 1984) is buried in Kangaroo Ground Cemetery. His nickname to […]
Rozell’s Last Journey
by Lilian Kwiatkowski Australia December 1916 On the other side of the world, another name was added to the list of lost Australian sons who would not be coming home. Rozell Newton Stevens was one of those boys. Christmas lunch at 119 Melbourne Road, Williamstown was a sad affair. Around the table, someone was missing. […]
Hurstbridge Lads
This postcard size studio portrait (cropped here) of Hurstbridge locals Stanley and Allan Verso was sent home to their family in March 1918. Both brothers had worked as orchardists on the family property Versdale in Boyd’s Road before enlisting in 1916. Both survived the war and were awarded the Victory Medal, the British War Medal […]
Arthur Albert Meekcoms: a survivor of his great adventures
By Liz Pidgeon For many young men, especially early in the war, enlistment was seen as the opportunity for a grand adventure. For Arthur Meekcoms, his journey of a lifetime came when he had earlier decided to migrate to Australia. Arthur was among 150,000 state assisted settlers who arrived in Australia between 1906 and the […]