A VERY successful function took place at Mornington Junction on Saturday evening last, when Privates Walter Scott, John Pariss, John Holley and Andrew Fulton were tendered a farewell social, on the eve of their departure for the front. Mr Geo. Griffeth, president of the Shire of Frankston and Hastings, occupied the chair, and a first-class programme was rendered by the Langwarrin Camp Concert Party, under the direction of Sergeant Gigney, the following being the items given :—Overture, Patriotic Airs, Sergeant Moir; song, “On the banks of the old canal,” Private F. Dale; recitation, Sgt Richardson; The Singing Comedian, Pte Val Reeves; A few moments at the piano, Sgt Hammond: The Actor Vocalist, Band-sergeant-Major Grocott Ragtime Seyncopation, Pte W.Elder; song, Pte Sinclair; The Bird Man, Pte Hogan ; The Silvery Tenor, Pte Smith; Ventriloquism, Carbine Short Rifle.
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A LARGE yarding of cattle and sheep is advertised for Messrs A. Scott and Co’s monthly sale at Tanti on Monday next, besides some special lines on account of Messrs Firth and Doherty.
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A CAPITAL programme has been arranged for the patriotic concert to be given by Misses Anderson and Miller in the Frankston Mechanics’ Hall this evening, and a pleasant evening’s amusement is assured.
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THE picture show held in the Mechanics’ Hall on Easter Monday Night, in aid of St Francis Xavier’s R. C. Church funds was well attended by an appreciative audience, who showed their appreciation of the pictures shown by frequent applause.
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A PUBLIC meeting will be held in the Mechanics’ Hall, Frankston, on Wednesday evening next to discuss the matter of having a roll of honour erected in some prominent place in honour of those who have enlisted in defence of the Empire.
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SOME local sports are credited with winning large amounts at the Easter race meetings. Mr Col. McKenzie won a good race at Cranbourne with his own horse which was well backed locally, whilst another local sport is reported to have netted a large amount over the Epsom and Williamstown meetings.
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A CHAR-A-BANC, while on its way to Mornington on Tuesday, with a large party of returned wounded soldiers on board, broke down in Frankston. Good Samaritans, in the shape of Mr W. Catanach (chairman of the State Waters Commission) and Mrs Catanach, turned up and entertained the party at dinner, at the Pier Hotel, which generous act was much appreciated by the belated ones.
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ANOTHER old and respected resident of this district has passed over the border, in the person of Mrs Cottier, who died on Monday evening last at her residence, at the ripe age of 81 years. The deceased lived here for the last 27 years in the enjoyment of average health up to about last Xmas, when she had a nasty fall from which she never seemed to fully recover. The remains were interred in the Frankston cemetery on Wednesday afternoon, the Rev E. Tonkin officiating at the grave. A grown up family of three daughters and five sons are left to mourn their loss, her husband having pre-deceased her many years. Mr H. Gamble conducted the funeral arrangements.
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THREE of our local sports appear to have had a rather exciting time on Easter Monday. It appears that they drove out for the purpose of having some rabbit shooting, but owing to the scarcity of game, they got tired travelling about, and lay down for a spell.
One of them fell asleep, and by some unexplained means the grass around him caught fire, and he was with difficulty extricated from his exceedingly warm position by his companions. After this they determined to return home, and on the way a rabbit was sighted,and fired at, but the horse happened to be not broken in to stand under fire and commenced kicking up, with the result that one of them was thrown out.
After getting the horse quieted, they proceeded on their way, and arrived home without further mishap, but minus any game, and fully convinced that rabbit shooting is not the game it is cracked up to be.
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THE Good Friday and Easter services at St Paul’s Church, Frankston, in spite of bad weather on the Friday, were in many ways more successful than ever before. The midday service on Easter Day was unique in more ways than one. At that service the number of communicants and the amount of the collection were in both cases larger than at any previous service in the history of that church.
Very noticeable also was the profound reverence on the part of the congregation. Only once previously was an Easter evening service as large as that of last Sunday. The Vestry of St Paul’s have had many financial sets back since the war started, and for some months past have had a big struggle to keep things going and pay all accounts up to date.
Their anxieties have now been removed for the time being, as the special Easter offerings were more than double those of last year, and £10 more than ever before, the largest previous being four years ago. This is very encouraging to all concerned.
On Anzac Day, at St Paul’s Church, services were held in memory of the landing at Gallipoli. Thanksgivings for the bravery of the men, and intercessions for the peace of the fallen and the victory the arms of Great Britain were offered, and the Vicar gave a short address.
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ANZAC Day was celebrated at the Rosebud State School on 20th April in the presence of a number of parents and friends. The programme, arranged by the Education Department was carried out under the supervision of the teacher, Mr Perrin, and the assemblage was addressed by Mr E.
J. Alexander, J. P. and by a returned Anzac , Sergt Major Cotterill, who described in an interesting manner the historic landing in which he took part, receiving three hearty cheers at the conclusion of his speech.
An honor roll of over 20 names of former scholars now at the front or enlisted showed that there was no lack of patriotism in Rosebud. The ceremony concluded with the singing of the National Anthem. The scholars were much disappointed at the non-arrival of their Anzac medals, and it would appear that better arrangements could have been made for an equitable allotment of the number struck.
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From the pages of the Mornington Standard, 29 April, 1916
First published in the Mornington News – 26 April 2016
