Caption text for photo above:  Some members of Yallourn cricket team, who are taking part in the series of matches for country and city teams, at St. Kilda during the Easter holidays.  Source: ‘The Age’ April 18th 1938 Page: 4.

IMAGES OF YALLOURN - 1939

BACKGROUND TO THE FORMATION OF THE YALLOURN WOMEN’S CRICKET TEAM

An aspect of the sporting life of the town of Yallourn, which should be placed on permanent record, was the stunning success of the Yallourn Women’s Cricket XI in the late 1930’s. The following article is an attempt to encapsulate the team’s accomplishments for future generations to read and appreciate.

It is known that the first women’s cricket matches in Australia can be traced back to 1874 at Bendigo…  

“More than 50 years ago a women's cricket match, claimed to be the first ever played in Australia, was contested on the Lower Reserve. Bendigo, as an adjunct to the Easter Fair.  George Mackay, in his book. ‘The Annals of Bendigo’, writes… "A women's cricket match was played on April 1. 1874. One side was attired in red Garibaldi jackets and sailor hats, and the other side in blue Garibaldi jackets and sailor hats." Source: ‘The Herald’ November 9th 1935 Page: 38

The Victorian Ladies Cricket Association was formed in 1904. In the inaugural year of that association, more than twenty teams were affiliated in the competition; and according to one source ….

“Due to World War I the association was disbanded in 1916 and re-formed socially in 1930 as “The Pioneers,” (Pioneer Victorian Ladies Cricket Association). The formation of the Women's Cricket Association in England was in 1926; and 1931 was the Foundation Year of the Australian Women's Cricket Council, which changed its name to Women's Cricket Australia and now comes under the banner of Cricket Australia.”  Source:  ‘CV Pioneers History’ Website

1937 – WOMEN’S CRICKET AT YALLOURN

One of the earliest references to a women’s/girls’ cricket match at Yallourn was uncovered in ‘The Herald’ in December 1937. Games of cricket between women may have been played in Yallourn in earlier years but it was difficult to verify. The headline of the article is shown below and a copy of the accompanying text is also reprinted.

The text to a headline in 'The Herald' December 2nd 1937. Page:40 is as follows (apologies for any errors in transcription as several of the original paragraphs were difficult to decipher) ….

“YALLOURN CRICKETERS ARE KEEN:  Girl cricketers in Yallourn are better than the average first year player in the Victorian Women's Cricket Association, according to Miss Dot Mummery Debnam who visited the district during the week. It was the first visit of a Victorian official to Yallourn; and Miss Dot Debnam batted for both sides in a special 12-a-side game. Players were selected from the three Yallourn Association teams, Waratahs, Yallourn Ladies and Blue Birds (Brown Coal Mine).

Players who impressed Miss Debnam included Lorna Gore, who is only 14 and one of the best all-rounders in the district competitions. She bowls a medium pace ball and has a good defensive batting style. Yallourn’s fast bowler, Una Welfare, was not available for the match, but Phyl Crane, secretary of the Yallourn Association, and Dorothy Cooper, medium pace bowlers, also slow bowler, Winifred Paice, were outstanding in the match. Elvie Whitmore, who has scored 70 this season, and Lillian Pickard, 50, the best batswomen in Yallourn.

Mrs Jackson, who was associated with Miss Debnam in a partnership in Saturday s match, made 27. Miss Debnam says she is a hard player to dismiss. Another 14-year-old player Muriel Spriggs made 38 not out in a recent competition match. Fielding was also keen. Marie Kennedy, Masie McKay and Valerie Ireland being particularly outstanding, while the wicket-keeping of Lyle Nicholl, Ella Thomson and Gladys Cahill is a feature of the three teams in the association.

Hats and eye-shades are worn by Yallourn girls in preference to caps, and their uniform is a silk frock with divided skirt. After the match, Miss Debnam gave a lecture to 40 players. Yallourn will send a strong representative team to the V.W.C.A. Country Week fixture at Christmas.”

To continue reading this article, please click on the pdf link below

2011 - Julie George (Francis) at Grytviken, South Georgia

The above photograph is of well-known former Yallourn resident (and current website administrator of Virtual Yallourn and secretary of the Yallourn Association) Julie George, lowering a burial casket into an interment plot at Grytviken, South Georgia in 2011. The history related to this photograph makes fascinating reading; and the following link tells the background of Julie’s memorable journey in 2011.  

https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-16165494

P.S. Unbeknown to Julie, this photograph was found on the BBC website by strange coincidence; and Julie had no prior knowledge that this Image of Yallourn was being forwarded to her for posting on the website. No doubt, Julie would have been most surprised on receiving this image for the Virtual Yallourn file (Roger- January 2022).  

This photograph of Father Christmas, distributing presents to children, was taken at Yallourn SEC’s Main Office Social Club’s picnic at Cowwarr Weir in 1977. SEC picnics and gatherings for employees’ families were a customary part of the work place Christmas festivities.

A big thank you to all our contributors - wishing you a safe and happy Christmas and a great 2022

Photo - Charlie Turner and the Yallourn Band in later years

Yallourn - Year by Year - 1930

The first sod in the Victorian Government’s ambitious scheme to generate electricity at Yallourn was turned more than a century ago (sometime around 1920);  and for the next six decades  the unique township of Yallourn ‘took root,  prospered, bloomed, withered and died’….

“Yallourn was swallowed by the coal mine it was built to serve” … ‘The Herald Sun’ May 2016.

In this history series for the Virtual Yallourn website, various years in the life of the Yallourn have been researched and posted on the website. The monthly news items, listed below, attempt to highlight some of the stories, about the township and its residents that made the local and national newspapers during 1930.

1930

JANUARY: Delegates to the 10th Annual Education Conference of the Federated State School Teachers’ Association visited Yallourn. The group travelled by chartered train for the outing.

FEBRUARY: The Yallourn Band is quite a story in the town’s history; and, in that era, it went from ‘strength to strength.’ Following the departure of Mr McMahon in late 1929, Mr C. J. Turner, previously of Stawell, was appointed as the Bandmaster at Yallourn. Mr Turner (better known as Charlie) made an immediate impact; and a story about his inspiring leadership of the band can be read on this website.

...To continue reading this article, please click on the pdf link below.

IMAGES OF YALLOURN – November 1932 – David Monash Bennett

DAVID MONASH BENNETT, grandson of the late Sir John Monash, unveiled the memorial to his grandfather erected at Yallourn, Victoria, by employees of the Electricity Commission. The ceremony took place on Sunday, November 27.

Click on the pdf link below to read the full article.