YESTERDAY afternoon another meeting of Frankston residents was held in the Methodist Sunday school to receive reports in connection with the movement inaugurated to oppose a liquor booth license at the Frankston sports on Easter Monday.
There was a good attendance and Mrs. Twining was voted to the chair.
Mrs. Goodwin, hon secretary, stated that the services of Mr. Utber (Messrs. Hunt & Utber) had been retained to conduct the case for the opposition before the Licensing Court.
Opposing petitions were now in circulation and were being largely signed. Mr. Barrett, of the central organisation in Melbourne, had visited Frankston to assure them of the strong sympathy and co-operation of the Temperance party in opposing the granting of the license.
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RECORD entries, numbering over 70 have been received for the Phillip Island races on March 21.
Arrangements are being made to run a special train to Stony Point to enable the city visitors return the same day.
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MR. W. P. Mason conducted an auction sale at the residence of Mr. W. McLeod yesterday. Mr. McLeod is leaving the district.
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THE annual meeting of the Frankston Football Club will take place next Monday night in the Mechanics’ Institute.
The President (Cr. H. J. McCulloch) will preside.
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IN conjunction with Mr. J. Nott Marsh, Morgan, Gunn & Co., of Williamstown, will conduct a land sale at Young Street, Frankston, on March 31.
The land includes blocks in Young, Playne and High Street, and Florence Avenue, Frankston, and five blocks at Mornington.
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ON Monday last, the following representatives of the Frankston Fire Brigade left for Ballarat to attend the Country Fire Brigade’s demonstrations:
Messrs. D. H. Petrie (c.), Jack Cameron, H. B. Legge, Jim Cameron, Charlie Penman, Norman Dess, Keith Toit, Ray Coxall and Arthur Johns.
The demonstration will be concluded on Saturday next.
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MR. W. A. Towler, of Melbourne, will conduct an auction sale at Seaford on Saturday next, when a valuable block of land will be offered.
Entries for the bicycle races for the Easter Monday sports close with the secretary, Mr. W. Wilson Young, at “The Standard” Office, Frankston, on Tuesday next.
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A EUCHRE party and dance, in aid of the Church of England, will be held at Pearcedale on March 29.
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AFTER postponements and disappointments the Somerville State school held its annual picnic on the Frankston beach last Saturday.
The children, right up to the time of starting, spent an anxious time lest something might happen to prevent this important event from being carried out.
Therefore, great was the rejoicing among the early comers to see the lorries which were to convey them arrive on time.
Among the first to put in an appearance was Mr. Roy Cursion with his lorrie and spanking pair of horses.
His was closely followed by Messrs. Smart, Dennant, Sage, McLean, West, Sullivan, and J. Unthank.
These waggons and lorries were soon filled and the remaining children were either driven in by their parents or followed in the train.
What procession set out that morning in conveyances, including motor cars, motor cycles, light waggons, lorries, jinkers, buggies, making a total of over twenty, to say nothing of the push bikes.
Every one enjoyed the drive. As the tarred road wound hither and thither the panorama presented was ever changing.
At one time the native trees made a delightful avenue that almost met overhead. At another time the orchards skirted the roads when the apple laden trees showed up in all their beauty, while the rudely hue of a line of Jonathans betokened a bountiful harvest.
The ascent of Mt. Eliza was begun at a slower pace, but from its summit a glorious views was obtained.
Stretching away to the south-east the observer could discern the island studded bay of Westernport, while to the north-west over a bank of ti-tree, Port Phillip Bay was clearly visible.
Arriving at the picnic grounds the younger members of the party soon scattered along the beaches, while their elders remained behind to prepare lunch.
The first excitement created in this direction occurred when Mrs. Foster’s hand came in contact with the business end of the bread cutter, rendering her unfit to participate in the picnic games.
Lunch over, a sport programme for the children was carried out on the beach. The finishes of the races proved interesting and exciting, but the flag race, girls v. boys, created an enthusiasm rarely excelled even on a football field, was won by the boys.
Later, the adults indulged in a game of baseball rounders, one side being led by Cr Gerrand, the other being captained by Cr. McLean.
Cr. Gray acted as referee from the grandstand under the pier. All the rivalry acquired at the Council table was put into the game. The dashes of Cr. Gerrand into the brine to save the run, being attempted by his opponents, was the admiration of all.
Then Cr. McLean’s remarkable leg glances, evidently a new-stroke to baseball, was highly spoken of. Mrs. Knuckey’s fast sprints, Mrs Iles’ clean fielding, Mrs. Geo. Shepherd’s and Mrs. Millington’s finished strokes were all features of the game.
Half-an-hour’s play on this recreation ground of Frankston, where the sand is ankle deep, told its tale on the players, although the captains called for just one more game the appeal fell on deaf ears.
At the conclusion of the game tea was announced, and the beach was soon deserted. Then more games were played until the sun showed over the top of Flinders peak, and the signal was given to strike camp.
As the God of Day disappeared in a red fiery ball in the west, and the orb of night, in her orange colored robes, began to climb the eastern bar a procession, marshalled by Mr. Ted Foster on his black charger, was wending its way along the Frankston streets in the direction of Somerville.
The full moon now looked down on the returning picnickers, while the throes of “The. Long, Long Trail’’ and “Don’t You Remember the Time” floated over the ti-tree scrub.
One hour’s drive brought those two hundred pleasure seekers back to their homes and supper, when the wonders of the 1923 picnic were related to the absent ones who had missed the event of the year.
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DURING the Christmas holidays the Railway Commissioners were approached by the Shire Council with a request that luggage porters be appointed at the Frankston station.
The suggestion was not viewed favorably by the authorities, and no action was taken.
The question was received at the last meeting of the Frankston and Hastings Shire Council, when Cr. Mason stated that a local resident had applied to the Commissioners for permission to act as luggage porter, the applicant being willing to take the risk of the venture proving a financial success or otherwise.
As the Commissioners also turned this proposal down, Cr. Mason considered that the Council should make further representations to the Commissioner on the subject.
The Shire Secretary was directed to attend to the matter.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 14 & 16 Mar 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 14 March 2023
