Welcome back to every one of you — and especially to Tessie, with whom I caught up, all too briefly.
Last week
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Having read all I could find about Mollie Hill, I still didn’t have any details after 1951. I really wanted to know if she came ‘home’; it felt to me as if she belonged with us. So, I was delighted to receive this email:
Hello,
I read with interest your article about Molly Hill.
Hopefully you have received more information. Molly became a resident at Mooroopna extended care centre in the Mary Coram Unit in the early 1990s. I have a photo of her and myself, it was her birthday.
Molly had very good command of the English language. It also extended to Welsh — she was able to pronounce, to our amazement, the name of the village in Wales that starts with Llanfair and finishes gogogoch! 58 letters.
That is as much as I can relate, am not sure if it's ethical to publish a photo.
Kind regards,
Jeanette
Jeanette and I had a long conversation in regard to the photo. It is a nice, happy pic, with a birthday cake. We were wondering how Mollie would feel about it. Jeanette only knew her for a short time — and I never met her; neither of us were in a position to decide. I didn’t hesitate to publish last week’s photo because Mollie was young and attractive; however, it is a different matter when a person is coming to the end of life. Finally, we decided against publication; however, if you knew her and feel otherwise, please let me know. I can send it to you, if you wish.
One thing I’ve learnt from conversations with our readers: you all love a chat as much as I do. Jeanette and I have never met but we are of a similar age — and had similar memories and experiences. I think one of us said “I have to go now” at least four times before we actually ended the conversation.
The mind is its own place
For some reason, there are quotes and sayings in my subconscious mind, obviously from something I’ve read or heard, and every now and then, one pops into my consciousness, not unlike the way a song can, seemingly for no reason. So, I’ve got these words in my head with no idea who wrote or said them — and it drives me crazy until I solve the dilemma.
This one was last week: ‘The mind is its own place and in itself can make heaven of hell — and hell of heaven.’ Now, I love that because I believe it to be true. You know, when something ‘bad’ happens and we think it’s the end of the world, except it turns out to be for the very best. We decide it is bad, until the future reveals the truth. The quote, by the way, is from Milton’s Paradise Lost.
Sometimes the ‘unfortunate’ event leads us to ‘Choose the path that leads to wisdom’ (Buddha). Easier said than done, however!
All of which leads me to yesterday’s quote, which, I think, is a dumb one. But I want to chat about it anyway. ‘I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past’ (Thomas Jefferson). Now, I don’t know much about Mr Jefferson — except that he was a ‘Founding Father’ and third president of the US of A. But, Google says, he was an architect, philosopher, diplomat and lawyer.
However, to begin with, isn’t ‘history of the past’ a tautology? Surely ‘history’ and ‘the past’ are the same things?
Anyway, I think our knowledge of the past informs our dreams for the future. It is not so much that we repeat the same errors, but we can make new mistakes based on ignorance, or a lack of understanding. History not only tells us what happened in the past but underlines the enormous changes in us — in humanity — over the centuries. In Greater Shepparton, over our 184 years (counted from Hawdon’s camp), there have been decisions that were endlessly debated; the true outcome only appreciated over time — right or wrong, good or bad.
The Irishman
Sherbourne Sheppard came (1841) and went and returned (1855). I’ve been trying to find a friendlier name for our pioneer but all I could think of was ‘Sherbs’, which is what people call the hotel. Perhaps not very respectful!
Twenty-four years after Sherbourne returned, the first Shepparton Shire Council was in place. I’ve selected some very brief notes to give us an insight into the difficulties of building a town from not much at all.
19th century Shepparton
1880: The Shire Hall was built in Nixon St.
The capital value of rateable property in Shepparton was 76,000 pounds ($152,000).
The railway line from Shepparton to Mooroopna was opened.
1881: Mr Furphy was granted permission to lay the pipes for the shire but was told he must first apply to the Minister for Lands for permission.
The Shepparton to Numurkah railway line was opened.
A customs officer was appointed at the railway line to collect custom duties on certain goods passing from one state to another.
1882: Because of the shortage of water, every well in the shire was to be placed in good working order and the pumps were to be repaired at the cost of the council.
1884: Complaints about the indecent practice of bathing in the Goulburn River near the bridge were received. The attention of the police was called to the fact that the practice of bathing in the river, except at a gazetted bathing ground, ‘was indecent and calculated to give great offence to respectable people using the river bank to promenade or to boating excursions’. (Promenade? As in Bridgerton? On the riverbank?)
The shire was divided into two — the southern part was called the Shire of South Shepparton.
1885: The Shire of Shepparton changed its name to the Shire of Numurkah. (Don’t ask me!)
There was much protest against the Shire of Echuca for attempting to have the waters of the Goulburn diverted to the Loddon.
1886: The shire changed its name to the Shire of Shepparton. (Ditto.)
1888: The Shepparton to Dookie railway line opened.
Shepparton Volunteer Fire Brigade formed.
1889: The council came to an agreement with the Colonial Gas Association to provide gas lighting to the streets.
A large deputation was received by council with a view to forming the Eastern Goulburn Irrigator’s League.
Application made for a permanent reservation of the swamp near the southern boundary of the town known as Tucks Swamp for the purpose, at some future date, of forming an artificial lake and sewerage farm. No action taken.
1890: Shire council received two separate counts from which to determine the local population. Shire secretary Mr Nickinson said, ‘Shepparton has hitherto hugged the fond delusion that it had a population of 2000. But as far as I can ascertain, it amounts to only 1300.’ Councillors were not impressed and to back up their disbelief pointed out that there must be a population boom, as it was impossible to get houses for new settlers. It was estimated there were about 400 houses in the town.
Mr Nickinson’s estimate of the population was 1508 in the Shepparton town. 540 in the Shepparton Parish. 419 in Congupna. 390 in Pine Lodge. 350 in Tallygaroopna. Total 3207. (Yes! one contradicts the other — but they are both there!)
Application was made to the Department of Lands and Survey for an extension of the area surrounding the swamp, which was later refused. (Plans for the lake were shelved — until the Borough was created.)
1892: The shire council set about beautifying the town and established the Queen’s Gardens, recreation reserves and planted many trees.
1895: A dispute erupted between Mooroopna and Shepparton over the road between the two towns.
1896: Previous year’s valuation was tabled — giving the shire a total of 37,170 pounds ($74,340) for the shire.
1897: Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee year. Processions were held in the streets and school children put on a sporting display.
Rateable property within the shire was 840,000 pounds. ($1,680,000). (This appears to be extraordinary growth!)
I have left out many snippets from the shire minute books — as published in ‘Reflections 1879 -1979’. But attempted to select what was informative, mildly amusing or applicable, in some way, to today.
By the way, the interesting exhibition Hans Wolter von Gruenewaldt: Artworks from Prisoner of War Camp 13 Murchison closes soon. It is at SAM until Sunday, September 11.
Enjoy the sunshine — I hope you feel 10 years younger. And may it be easy, my friends.
Marnie
Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text on 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back, if you wish.)
Town Talk