Supporting Jan’s store, in Corio St, goes further than purchasing locally – because half her stock is also handmade locally - and totally fascinating, from unique dolls to pens to woodwork and so much more.
The other half is collectibles of all kinds and 50 per cent of the sale of donated goods goes to your preferred charity. Win-win.
I also received a different kind of recommendation. Belinda was delighted at the reopening (after 20 years) of The Piano Bar at the GV Hotel - just on Friday nights at this stage.
And one correspondent remarked on the fox fur, worn by one of the ladies in last week’s candid photos. She said that we couldn’t do that today (and looking at it again, I’m not sure we’d want to).Also, last week I signed off saying ‘may it be easy, my friends - and Roger.’ Well, I heard from Roger around 7.30 am last Tuesday. His text read ‘I am sad'. We can’t have any of our Town Talk readers sad – can we? That’s not what we are about. It will be fixed today.Dhurringile MansionWhen James Winter built the Dhurringile Mansion in 1877, he couldn’t possibly have foreseen that his home would be occupied by civilian internees, German officers, underprivileged Scottish youth or the prisoners who are the current residents.
James’ brother, William, built a similar home ‘Noorilim’ in south Murchison and, from the towers, they could communicate with one another.However, at the beginning of the war, Australian residents who had come from (then) alien countries were moved into the building.
They occupied the 68-room mansion for about 12 months and were then moved to prisoner of war Camp 1 at Tatura.
In 1941, Australia accepted 2500 prisoners from the United Kingdom and German officers inhabited Dhurringile.
Their attempts to build tunnels in the sandy soil were partially successful in that several officers did escape, for short periods of time.
If we consider their location – some distance from any hope of rescue – the escapes were doomed to fail. One soldier decided to travel north-east and reached Wodonga before being returned to the mansion. A lot of pain for not much gain.
The rank and file were housed at Camp 13 - five kilometres west of Murchison – which today is in private hands.In 1947, the Presbyterian Church purchased the Dhurringile Mansion to house Scottish boys from the Quarrier homes (welfare homes).
Some were orphans and others had a living parent or parents adversely affected by the war. The boys attended local schools and were often invited to visit local homes and properties at the weekends.
They had a cricket team, and eventually, a football team which competed in an appropriate league. Most of the boys thrived and went on to live successful lives. But for others, missing their parent or parents, it was a difficult time.It was in the mid-1950s that I became aware of the ‘Dhurringile boys’. I was a Scottish dancer and several of the lads played the bagpipes.
We seemed to encounter them frequently. A couple of years younger than the other girls, I slowly became aware that they had each ‘selected’ a boy. Eventually, having been left somewhat behind, I selected the ‘best of the rest’ and considered him a boyfriend.
I don’t think he was ever aware that he was my first ‘love’. In fact, I don’t think he ever knew my name. I was 12 years old and, unsurprisingly, the relationship failed to thrive.
Last month, some of the men who were occupants of Dhurringile gathered at the golf club for a reunion; many of them saying that their journey to Australia was the best thing that ever happened to them. By all reports, it was a great time to share memories.In early 1965, Mr Winter’s mansion was sold once again and opened in 1970 as a rehabilitation centre.
Today it is considered a low security prison. Sometime in the 70s, members of STAG, myself among them, visited to provide an evening’s entertainment.
I remember watching the audience as Anne and Geoff Bowen took to the ‘stage’. Anne was dressed in an evening gown. She stood primly with hands clasped at her waist.
As beautiful as her soprano voice is, the audience prepared to be politely bored; that is until they realised she was singing about poisoning pigeons in the park.
Then they laughed until they cried. And speaking of crying, one of the men told me what perfume I was wearing and his eyes filled with tears as he told me his wife also wore it. I could only apologise. I was devastated to have contributed to his misery and, doubtless, spoilt his evening.There are many, many stories about Dhurringile – and even more about Camp 13. Two of these I find fascinating and will share them as soon as possible.
This is a positive part of our history; one we can look back on without a cringe or a question mark. We ‘did good’.
In the meantime, the Murchison Heritage Centre has some wonderful photography and great displays featuring both Dhurringile and Camp 13. It is currently open on Saturday mornings from 10 am–12.30 pm but will soon close for the winter.
However, Kay and her team are dedicated historians and, if you want a group booking, please give Janet a call on 5826 2363. They will happily open up for you, as they did for me. I loved it.
May it be easy, my friends – including Roger.
- MarnieEmail: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507.
