(Note: This is a text excerpt. Refer to the newsletter PDF for the complete newsletter including images)
Excursion
An excursion is planned for our next meeting day Wednesday 25th of May. We will be visiting the Fisherman’s Cottage at Tooradin, admission to the Cottage is $2. From there we will travel to Ballam Park Homestead and Museum (1854) at Frankston. The cost of the excursion is $30 which includes entry to the Homestead and the bus fare. It is planned to hire a 24 seater bus which will leave from the Inverloch football oval at 8.45 am. Contact Robyn Allen or a member of the Committee if you would like to join the excursion.
Raffle
The annual raffle is underway, tickets will be sold in the Arcade during the weeks leading up to the Queen’s birthday weekend ending Monday 13th of June. We still need items for the hamper, please give them to a member of the Committee when convenient. The raffle will be drawn at a time to be determined during the Long weekend
Anniversary
Another reminder, the Inverloch Society will reach its 20th Anniversary on June 26th, the day it was founded. If you have any suggestions as to how we can recognise the occasion in an appropriate way please contact our Secretary Graham or a member of the Committee.
Image: The Esplanade Hotel 1906. The photo is on a souvenir post card. A separate bakehouse is behind Vietz’s Store. Post Card Acquired from Mrs. Melva Thomson nee Symonds.
Image: Main St. Inverloch C 1920. Mechanics Institute Hall on right. Post card acquired from Mrs Melva Thomson nee Symonds.
Image: The Church of England Inverloch 1924.
April Meeting
With no specified Guest Speaker, members were asked to make a small verbal contribution to the meeting. This proved to be most interesting. It was suggested that at the June meeting, each member be asked to bring along some object / personal possession that is of interest and speak about it briefly.
Vern Burchett spoke of restoring an anchor which, after investigation with local identity Bob Young, was found to be the anchor for either Ripple 1 or Ripple 2. Bob was not sure which boat, but he certainly recognised the anchor by his special markings. The anchor was offered to I.H S. by residents of a property at Golden Beach in East Gippsland, after being a decorative item in a garden. Thank you to Bob who has donated the anchor to I.H.S.
John McLean spoke of his youth and growing up in Wellington in Central New South Wales, especially his experiences with working in the grain mills. The area where John lived was noted for each town having its own grain mill, and of the steam engines that drove them to grind the flour. John was clearly enthusiastic, and said he could talk far more about the subject.
Patsy Williams spoke about why she came to Inverloch. Like many arrivals to Inverloch, Patsy spoke of the town’s beauty, the greenery, the sea and the overall pleasant place Inverloch is. Patsy obviously struck a positive note, for many members nodded their head in agreement.
John Hutchinson spoke about his efforts in the past nine months in doing the research for a possible book the Society may publish, entitled “ INVERLOCH – A PLACE OF BEAUTY –TODAY AND YESTERDAY”. The text is almost complete, and over 250 photographs have been taken by John. Eulalie Brewster and Vern Burchett have cooperated with John in its preparation. A further update will be given at future meetings.
Many thanks to John Hutchinson for writing the above notes regarding the previous meeting.
New Sub-committee
A sub – committee has been formed to prepare letters and other documents, and to meet with various people and authorities as we continue our search for a home to store and gradually display the 4200 plus items we have collected during the past 20 years. We will endeavour to keep you informed of events during the coming months.
Geoff Arnott talk ( continued )
John Arnott, 4th child of James and Elizabeth Arnott went to Stawell and lived at 10 Prince St. Stawell. The home is still there today, and is one of the oldest homes in Stawell. Jack had some personal problems, resulting in him having problems with the law. Two of his sons were John George (Geoff’s grandfather ) and Jack who was one of the group of servicemen in World War Two eventually known as “ The Rats of Tobruk”.
Geoff mentioned the Sutherland Homes for homeless children where the children of his grandfather were sent when the family broke up. Geoff’s father worked in the railways at Hamilton as shunter and a railway guard. The last chapter of Geoff’s book involves his experiences while living in the country town of Hamilton. His story concludes in 1960.
After question time, John McLean thanked Geoff for his very interesting talk and presented him with a basket of fruit in appreciation.
Editor: Ian McBurnie