A SPECIAL meeting of the Frankston Soldiers’ Memorial Committee was held at the Shire Hall on Tuesday night for the purpose of receiving a deputation from the Frankston branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association.
When the meeting started the members of committee present were: Messrs. P. Wheeler, J. E. Jones, Mark Brody, A. Hill, W. Crawford Young, H. Morrison, and the hon. secretary, Lieut.-Col. Lazarus.
Mr. Wheeler was voted to the chair.
The deputation from the soldiers’ branch consisted of Messrs. R. Gray, D. Dodd, and J. L. Pratt, and they were invited to state their ease.
Mr. R. Gray referred to the proposal that had been made some time ago to erect rooms over the present Shire Hall for the use of the soldiers.
His branch was not in favor of that idea, and three of their members had waited on Col. Lazarus and outlined a scheme whereby necessary facilities could be provided by adding to the building at present used by the soldiers.
They did not want anything elaborate – simply an additional room at the back and a scullery. The branch managed to hold its monthly meetings in the club room, despite bad lighting and other inconveniences.
Quarterly socials, however had to be held in the Mechanics’ Hall, the rent for which was 25/-.
The soldiers considered that before £13 of £1500 was expended in a memorial, some provision should be made to provide the soldiers with comfortable quarters.
The soldiers did not oppose the erection of the memorial stone; they simply asked that they be provided with reasonable facilities for carrying on the business of their branch.
Frankston was now the headquarters of the district council, and it was necessary to provide suitable accommodation for the delegates from the various Peninsula branches.
Mr. D. Dodd said great difficulty had been experienced in keeping the branch together. The meeting room was not large enough, and the lighting was bad. It was important in the interests of the branch that the improvement asked for should be provided immediately.
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Letter to the Editor
Sir,
Your article re High School in your issue of the 17th inst. reminds me of captains of cricket teams who do not utilise their change bowlers until the game is lost.
What is the use of agitation unless supported by action on reasonable lines?
Last week you counselled a referendum. This you invite Cr. Wells and Gray to take charge of the forlorn hope and so translate what you say is now an impression into an actual fact.
To those who have vision, there is no connection with being denied the recreation ground and the loss of the High School but a grave probability, that if you do not concentrate upon what is called the alternate site (which is not on the Hasting Road), you will lose that, and with it the High School.
It should not be a difficult task for the Council to select a suitable area from the available Crown land, get it reserved for High School purposes, then press for money to be placed on the estimates for school buildings thereon, and the object is attained.
Whereas, if action is long delayed the Crown land will be bought up and with it will go all prospects of a High School.
Yours, etc.,
JOSEPH R. McCOMB.
Editors note: Mr. McComb touches a tender spot. He is captain or vice-captain of the little band of oppositionists.
What they lack in numbers they compensate for in concentration, determination and singleness of purpose.
They don’t want a High School on the cricket reserve. That is the beginning and end of their fight.
If the preservation of the cricket reserve means the loss of the High School, well, let the High School go – Mr. McComb’s troubles!
The great army of High School supporters lacks competent leadership. Nominally the Shire Council is conducting the High School campaign. Actually, there is no leadership, and never was, from the first day of the project was mooted.
If any one of our shire councillors had kept pace with Mr. McComb in his personal interviews with Ministers and departmental heads, there would probably have been a different tale to tell today.
Mr. McComb, tongue in check, talks about selecting other sites. He knows that a High School on any site but the cricket reserve, if agreed to by the Minister, would cost the local people anything from £5000 to £7000, perhaps more.
Spacious Mr. McComb!
Ed. “Standard”.
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AT a time when loyalty to local industries is more “honored in the breath than in the observance,” more especially in regard to the Moorooduc quarry, it is most refreshing and gratifying to learn of the good opinion of men of experience as to the quality of metal now being turned out there.
Mr. Geo. T. Allnutt, a good contractor, who is an authority all over the State on road works, who happened to be passing through Frankston the other day, in conversation with Contractor Hodgins, was invited to examine a sample of the material now being carted on to the Point Nepean Road deviation, and expressed his opinion, unasked, that it would be impossible to find a better sample of stone anywhere.
Mr. Allnutt was told that the sample he saw was uniform with all the metal that had been turned out of the quarry since the Council had taken over the management into its own hands.
Such an unsolicited and handsome testimonial from an absolutely disinterested source ought to be encouragement of all those people who have no higher interest in their municipality than to cry “Stinking fish” at every chance, to change their views and do everything they can to help those whose optimism compels them to keep on keeping on.
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WHILST returning from the Melisande Pictures on Saturday night, Mr. Frederick Woolcox, employed at “Osborne House”, Frankston, was knocked down by a motor cyclist on Melbourne Road.
As he was suffering from painful injuries, Woolcox was conveyed to Sister Campbell’s private hospital and received prompt treatment.
The cyclist who is alleged to have been the culprit, when accused of the offence, said he had no knowledge of striking anybody or anything that evening.
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AFTER being in the service of Geo. Robertson & Co. for 50 years, in charge of the binding department, Mr. E. J. Madden has retired, and will in future reside at Frankston.
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MR. H. C. Barclay, produce merchant, will shortly move into newly erected premises situated on the corner of Young and Playne Streets.
Mr. Barclay is to be commended for thus demonstrating his belief in the future of the Frankston district.
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THE Frankston school will re-open on Tuesday, 30th January.
The number of pupils has increased so much that the Education Department is adding two new rooms at the school to accommodate 100 scholars.
Pending the completion of the new building, the Department is leasing part of the Masonic Hall to be worked as an adjunct to the school, and thus make possible the attendance of all the pupils.
Miss Orr, R.T., has been appointed as an extra assistant.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 24 & 26 Jan 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 24 January 2023
