Ku-ring-gai Clippings Vol 19

PYMBLE'S BOLL OF HONOUR.

THE CALL FOR MEN.

MR. COOK, M.P., ON COMPULSION

Editors comment: The ceremony below took place on Saturday 15^th April 1916, at the unveiling of the Pymble and St. Ives Roll of Honour at Pymble Railway Station.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 17^th April 1916.

The Pymble war committee is an active body, and a short statement of its activities was given on Saturday afternoon by the Rev. J. Oberlin Harris, secretary of the committee, at the ceremony of unveiling a tablet containing the names of the men from the district who have enlisted. The committee had a scheme prepared for helping the war loan, enabling small subscribers to put In their sums- as low as 5s. would be received- and to aggregate the sums until their total reached the sum of £10, which was the lowest the Federal authorities would receive. Unfortunately, out of 92 men who had enlisted, six had been killed - J. Mc Connnell, F. E. Hoggard,

A. H. Murray, J. Rickard, Major G. A. Uther, and C. A. Wallack, and for the memory of these men he asked the buglers stationed near by to sound the "Last Post."

This was done, the men present at the ceremony standing bareheaded while the notes sounded. They all knew, he said, that the call of Senator Pearce was for more men, and in this regard he had to refer to the way in which 39 young men from Pymble had recently been treated. They sent in their names, and were told to attend at Gordon at a certain time. The enrolling officer was not present when they arrived, and they had to wait some hours for him. Finally the men were examined, and nine were accepted. It looked as if the defence authorities did not want these men, as they were as fine a lot of young follows as one could wish to see.

Mr. Wade, in unveiling the roll of honour, delivered an address. He said Australia was now fighting for the liberty of nations against oppression and barbarism, and the cry was for more men. Our efforts must not relax until the last man had gone and the last penny had been spent.

Mr. Joseph Cook, M.P., said they did well to keep in everlasting memory the deeds performed by our heroes at the front. They had achieved the impossible in many respects, and the record of their endurance and heroism ought never to die, but continue to thrill the pulses of the race in the generations to come. At the back of all our thought was the idea of war against war. We wanted to scotch the snake once and for all, so that we might fulfil our destiny in peace. To do this more and more men were needed. We might have to suffer even more keenly than in the past, and if necessary we must be prepared to do it. An example had already been set us. We were told the other day of two hundred deaths from exposure in a blizzard which blew at Suvla. Nor could we get It out of our heads that many of those lives would have been saved if there were sufficient numbers at the front to give the necessary relief and change.

He meant by all this that we must “get a move on”. " We were not honouring the promise of the Prime Minister, and something would have to be done to get more and more men for the front; for the end, he feared, was yet far off. He would rather appeal to voluntary instincts-the patriotism of the people-but he wanted to say quite plainly that the men must go and the Commonwealth must send them, willingly, he hoped; but they must go, anyhow. It was time to talk all out in these matters-our duty to the boys, our duty to our country, our duty to our traditions, our duty to our destiny- and if necessary that duty must be enforced by the Commonwealth. He hoped it might not be necessary, but there were 70,000 men to be got within three months, before the 300,000 limit was reached, and be had to confess that It did not look very promising. Meanwhile they were doing their simple duty that day in paying this tribute of affection and gratitude to the men who had seen the gleam and followed it, and thus set a striking example to all those who remain behind.

SOLDIERS SACRIFICES.

GORDON’S FINE RECORD

MR. COOK ON HIGH IDEALS

Sydney- The Sydney Morning Herald Monday 5^th February 1917

An attendance representative of practically the whole of the Ku-ring-gai Shire was present at the unveiling of a roll of honour on the Gordon Railway Station on Saturday afternoon. Detachments of both men and women Voluntary Aids, and local trainees, lent a military colour to the function, which was presided over by Councillor Fitzsimons, President of the Shire, while the local band discoursed patriotic music. The honour roll contains 116 names, and it was claimed by the chairman that this was a record for a district of one square mile, comprising less than 400 houses. There are several batches of three, four, and five names from one family on the board. The unveiling was done by Mrs. Morley, president of a local Women's Patriotic Society.

The Federal Liberal leader, Mr. Joseph Cook, who represents the district in the Commonwealth Parliament, was the principal speaker. Of all the duties he had to perform he said, none appealed to him in the same way as those which had to do with war preparations. They did well to remember the boys in this memorial form. That honour roll spoke to them of courage, high resolve, inflexible determination, thorough and absolute unselfishness. It was said that every country had its own distinctive contribution to make to that sum of things which went to make up our civilisation. We, in Australia were making our own peculiar contribution in this war.

What that distinctive thing was, let the words "Anzac' and “Pozieres” be the answer. Where other troops had not succeeded ours had. Neither shot nor shell, nor all the evil forces arrayed against them could stay their onward and conquering rush. They won through and did their Job In a way that had never been surpassed in all the brilliant history of our Empire army. (Cheers)

Those boys had left all behind them, and marched away to fight for King and country, cost what it might, in suffering, and deprivation. The pleasures of home and friends, their worldly prospects, had been put resolutely behind. Today they were enduring every possible discomfort. Moving amid dangers which never ceased, floundering in mud and with the numbing cold they set fine example of devotion to high ideals.

While they were covered in mud, they, at the same time, covered themselves with fame, a fame that ought never to die.

HALL OR FOOTPATHS?

SHIRE COUNCIL'S ACTION CRITICISED.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Tuesday 13^th July 1909

A meeting of ratepayers was held in the Church-hall, St. Ives, on Saturday evening to protest against the erection of a shire building at a cost of £800, that sum having been voted at a meeting of the Ku-ring-gai Shire Council on June 10.

Mr. J. H. Pearce, who occupied the chair, said that the action of the council in appropriating such a large sum when the roads and footpaths were in such a disgraceful condition should be resisted.

Councillor Aldworth said that he was of opinion that the £100 deposit paid for the land had been technically misappropriated from the general fund, as the Governor's assent proscribed in the Act had not first been obtained.

Mr. W. R. Fitzsimons, president of the Gordon Progress Association, said that if the council continued with the project it was intended to get a petition signed throughout the shire calling upon the councillors who had supported the proposal to resign, and allow the electors to express an opinion on the subject.

On the motion of Mr. George Beard, seconded by Mr. W. Smith, an emphatic protest against the erection of the council-chambers "until the roads and footpaths, now in a deplorable condition, have been considerably improved," was unanimously agreed to.

THE APPROACH TO GORDON RAILWAY STATION.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 30^th October 1890.

The question of opening a road from the Gordon railway station along the eastern boundary of Mr. Matthew's land, was also placed before the Minister of Lands by a deputation yesterday. A petition in favour of the work was presented, and it was stated that the deputation would guarantee subscriptions to the amount of £200 towards the cost.

Mr. Brunker read reports from officers of the department, which were quite opposed to the work being done. These, however, had been made sometime since, and the contentions were, in part, repudiated by the deputation. The Minister promised to call for a fresh report, and to inform the deputation of his decision.

MEN OF THE DARDANELLES.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 31^st May 1915.

PRIVATE A. C. GEORGE.

Private A. C. George, who has been wounded, was educated at St. Ives Public School. Previous to enlisting he was employed as an orchardist. He was one of the youngest in the district to enlist, and had to obtain his father's written consent.

Personal

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 28^th December 1912.

Mr. Isaac Haddon, for many years past in charge of Pymble railway station, was, on Christmas Eve, presented by the travelling residents of Pymble with a silver kettle in appreciation of his services to that suburb. The gift was accompanied by an address in which Mr. Haddon's long connection with the northern suburbs, and especially Pymble, was referred to in terms of high commendation. The presentation was made by Mr. Norman McIntosh, on behalf of the subscribers.

SPORTS CARNIVAL.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 10th February 1922.

A sports carnival, consisting of trotting, jumping, hack racing, buckjumping, wood chopping and tug of war, will be held at Hassall Park St Ives on March 4.

The proceeds will go to the Royal North Shore Hospital.

SPORTS AT ST. IVES.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 2^nd October 1922.

To raise funds for a new showground, the St. Ives Agricultural and Horticultural Association held a sports meeting at Hassall Park on Saturday.

Results: - Foot races:

2 miles handicap: M. Bourke, J. Ellison.

100 yards handicap: J. Pidcock, 1; H. Nicholl, 2.

Boys' 100 yards handicap: R. Roberts.

Girls’ 75 yards handicap: I. Beard.

Editor’s comments: From 1921 to 1926 the St. Ives Show was held at Hassall Park after which it was transferred to the St. Ives Showgrounds. Some newspaper articles were written describing the Hassall Park days. They were obviously big occasions.

ST. IVES SHOW.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 8^th January 1923.

As the fruit In the St. Ives district Is looking every well at present, a good display and close competition are expected at the third annual show of the St Ives Agricultural and Horticultural Association, which is to be hold at Hassall Park, St. Ives, on Friday and Saturday next January 12 and 13.

Entries are good, and outstanding features will be collections of fruit grown in Ku-ring-gai Shire, and collections of farm products from the St Ives district, the judging of which will take place on Friday.

The official opening ceremony, to take place on Saturday, will be performed by Mr Chaffey, MLA, Minister for Agriculture. The members for the district will also be present, and on the second day a sporting programme, made up of trotting and ring events, will be disposed of. As St Ives is within reasonable distance of the city, a large number of visitors is expected, and for their convenience, buses will run from Pymble station to the showground.

ST. IVES SHOW.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Monday 15^th January 1923.

Trotting events were decided at Hassall Park, St Ives, on Saturday, in connection with the show of the St. Ives Agricultural and Horticultural Association. Results:-

Ku-ring-gai Handicap, 11/4m - Coolabury (G. H. Moore), 1; Dunfin (K. Burns), 2; Heather Huon (M. Gilroy), 3. Time, 3m 12s.

St. Ives Handicap; 11/4m - Erlna Lad (R. Pengelly), 1; Gosford Lady (W. Stenland), 2; Gay Laddie (0. Cullin), 3. . Time, 3m 20s.

Malden Handicap, 1m.-Elmos (F. Swan), 1: Jack Mack (H., Glllet), 2; Perla May (J. Bundy), 3. Time, 2m 47s.

Pony Handicap, 1m -Basil Huon (S. Woodhill), 1; State (H. Barker), 2; Bob (A. Catt), 3.

President's Handicap (unhoppled), 11/2m.-Erina Lad (R. Pengelly), 1; Cromer Tom (F. Morris), 2; Gosford Lady (R. Ward), 3. Time, 4m 3s.

Road Sulky Trot, lm.- Jimmy (T. Taylor), 1; Lady (F. Swan), 2: Ern Hill (J. Allsopp), 3.

Ladies' Hack Race.-Mollie Lance, 1; Mill M. Birmingham, 2.

Boys' Hack Race.-Fannie S. (S. Lofburg), 1.

ST. IVES SHOW.

JUDGING DAY.

Sydney – The Sydney Morning Herald, Saturday 12^th January 1924.

Mr. H. E. Pratten, M.P., will officially open at noon today the fourth annual show of the Northern Suburbs Agricultural and Horticultural Association, at Hassall Park, St. Ives.

Yesterday was observed as judging day. The entries in the classes for horses and in the trotting events are much bigger than in previous years. Previously, the association had never had more than 70 entries in the poultry section. This year there are 130 entries. In other directions, also, the show reveals an improvement on the exhibitions of previous years. Entries in the dog classes will be taken on the ground up to 10 o'clock this morning.

A feature of the excellent farm exhibits was the splendid and all-embracing display of Mr. R. Shinfield, of St. Ives, who has now won two years In succession, the cup presented by Mr. J. W. Taylor, of Pymble.

An attractive programme has been arranged for today, which is the principal day of the show.

Yesterday's prize list included the following:

Best girl rider, under 12 yrs: Miss N. Fouder, 1; Miss N. Dunlop, 2.

Best boy rider, under 12 yrs: Cyril Gilroy, 1; Jack Smith, 2.

Best girl rider, 14 yrs and under: Miss Donovan, 1; Miss N. McWilliams, 2.

Best girl rider, 14 yrs and under, resident of Ku-ring-gai shire: Miss Jean Bell, 1; Miss Joyce Bruce, 2.

Best boy rider, under 14, resident of Ku-ring-gai Jure: M. Gilroy, 1; H. Campbell. 2.

Best heavy horse: W. Kendall. Best brood mare: W. Kendall.

Best trotting stallion: J. Lofburg, 1; A. Shipley, 2. Best trotting mare: A. E. West, 1.

Ladies' and gentlemen's hackney: Miss N. Donovan, 1; Mrs. Gartrell, 2.

Gentlemen's hackney: R. White, 1; N. Donovan, 2.

Best pony stallion: D. W. Gazzard, 1; G. Manfield, 2.

Milk cow, domestic use: R. Brown, 1; M. Burke, 2.

Yearling heifer: C. Saunders, 1; J. Alpe, 2. Jersey cow. C. Saunders, 1; J. Renshaw, 2.

Shorthorn cow: M. Burke.