AT the close of last year the school children were promised “the best of picnics and sports,” as a reward for a good year’s work and especially for their success in gaining merit and qualifying certificates, and right well was the promise honored, for last Thursday will long be remembered as a day of days.
This fine result was due to perfect organisation by the staff, and a hard-working committee of ladies of exceptional ability, backed up by generous donations from the parents and child-loving friends.
The contest, began at 10 o’clock and continued through the day with breaks at 11.30 for lunch and races; 2.30 for ice creams and a first-class Punch and Judy show, by “Millar”; 4 o’clock for tea; 5.30 for lollies, grapes, apples, etc., and at 6 o’clock for a nut scramble.
In addition to prizes won every child received a gift.
A commendable feature of the day was the precision with which each child knew, and kept, its allotted seat, under the generous shade of the pine trees, during the distribution of the foods at the several sittings.
Evidently a rehearsal had taken place the day before.
At the close the head master, Mr. Jennings, publicly thanked Mrs. Rogerson, Mrs. Amor, Mrs. Evans and the committee for their hard work, the superior quality of the food provided and their fine organisation.
He also thanked Mr. Lind, who had so ably helped him in the sports from early morning to the end.
The children then gave such ringing cheers for their benefactor as must have wide-opened the eyes of the startled owls in the pines.
Two important events have yet to be contested – the swimming championship for boys and girls.
For the former, Mrs. Amor has presented a watch, and for the latter a gold medal has been given by Mr. Lind.
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THE first ball of the season was given by the Hastings Football Club in the Public Hall at Hastings on Monday evening.
The event was splendidly organised by the club’s secretary, Mr. H. Haddock, and its members, and the result fully justified the pains taken.
A record crowd attended, so that by 10 o’clock the floor was fully taken up by couples whose only concern in life seemed to be “On with the dance!”
It was a gay scene, and old and young were equally happy, as oldtime dances followed the modern jazz.
The floor was in splendid condition, and non-dancers standing round the doors, as they listened to Miss Romeo, the pianist, regretted longingly the neglect of their education in their early youth.
The streamer and confetti dance completed the scene of gaiety. A good supper and ice cream followed, allowing for a breathing space to prepare for the latter half of the programme, which was carried to 3 o’clock in the morning.
Mr. Arthur Howell, as master of ceremonies, kept a tight rein on each dance, even the waltzing competition not escaping comment.
Such control as this must lead to a much improved standard of dancing.
The winners of the waltzing competition were Miss D. Stanford and Mr. Cooage.
The one-step competition went to Miss R. Stanford and Mr. Martinoja.
In stating that the takings for the night were over £22, Mr. Haddock wished specially to mention the attendance rendered by the ladies.
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AN application from Mr. Norman Clements read at the Council meeting today brought up the question as to whether Wells Street should be considered as a residential or a business street.
Mr. Clements owns a 60ft. allotment in Wells Street, on which is erected a cottage. He asked permission to subdivide the allotment into two blocks of 30ft. each, as he had a prospective purchaser of the vacant portion who was desirous of erecting a lock-up shop on the block.
Cr. Longmuir favored nothing less than 40ft. There was plenty of land in Frankston.
Cr. Alden: You will find lock-up shops in Bourke Street with a frontage of only 10ft.
Cr. Mason considered that Wells Street should be considered as a business street, and he moved that Mr. Clements’ application be granted.
Seconded by Cr. May and carried.
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THE attention of the Country Roads Board is to be drawn to the sharp turn at Strahan’s corner, on the Pt. Nepean Road, near Mornington, as several motoring mishaps have occurred there in recent years.
The traffic on the road is heavy, and the turn is too sharp for motors.
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CLAUDE Parsons, of Mornington, met with a peculiar accident by falling upon a darning needle, which entered his stomach and placed him in a critical condition.
Dr. E. J. Somers had to operate to remove the needle.
Parsons was walking from one room to another with the needle in his hand, and tripped and fell upon it.
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THE Prime Minister (Mr Bruce), who has been on a visit to Sydney, where he was accorded a great reception, returned to Melbourne on Thursday.
He will officially declare the Mount Eliza public hall open tomorrow, at which gathering there is expected to be a large attendance.
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MISS Lena Werner, of Frankston, sailed by the Omar for Europe today, sailing via Colombo, Egypt, Naples, Toulon, Gibraltar and Plymouth.
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“THE Standard” Delayed – Owing to a slight mechanical trouble in the intertype machine, which could not be repaired until this morning, owing to the holidays, the publication of this paper has been seriously hindered today.
With a little effort, however, we have been able to keep faith with our readers, though two pages less than usual.
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TWO boys, 14 years of age, named George Steele and Matthew Madden, of Camberwell, who were staying at Mount Martha, had a narrow escape from drowning.
They went out to sea in a boat, which they took from the beach, and were soon lost to sight.
A fisherman (Mr. Whitehead) made a search for them, and it was with considerable difficulty that he took the boys from the boat in a heavy sea.
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E. T. BYRON, formerly amateur champion of New South Wales, and subsequently a professional rider in America, who, competed at the Frankston sports on Monday last has challenged Ken Ross over five miles at the Exhibition tomorrow night.
Byron is hopeful of succeeding where Jack Fitzgerald and Harris Horder have failed.
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MR. Mason, of the Corowa “Free Press,” one of the principal newspapers in the Riverina, has been spending a short holiday at Frankston with his brother, Cr. W. P. Mason, J.P.
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THE Frankston Pictures Co. Ltd. will present Dorothy Dalton, supported by Milton Sills, in “The Woman That Walked Alone” at Saturday’s pictures.
In addition to an Arrow comedy, featuring Eddie Barry and Vera Reynolds, Justine Johnstone will be starred in “A Plaything of Broadway.”
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THE Gippsland & Northern Cooperative Co. will conduct a clearing sale on Mr. J. Finch’s property at Seaford on Thursday next.
The list includes 120 cattle (including 30 milking cows), 300 sheep, 9 horses, and general farming plant.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 4 & 6 Apr 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 4 April 2023
