HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE

Caption text: WASHING DAY AT YALLOURN. Employees of the State Electricity Commissioners are seen at the wash-tubs In the main construction camp at Yallourn. Eventually, perhaps, cheap electricity will dispense with manual labour in the laundry, but that era is only just dawning.
H. Krantz, South Melbourne, Photo.

Source: ‘The Argus’ August 27th 1923. Page:7

Yallourn - Year by Year - 1933 - Robert Dixon above

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 township of Yallourn ‘took root, 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 events in the life of the town and its industries have been chronicled. The monthly activities, shown in each year, are not necessarily the most momentous occasions but simply attempt to show the many varied and interesting happenings that made the local (and sometimes national) news in that era.

The walk down ‘Memory Lane’ (not to be confused with Meadow Lane which ran off Latrobe Avenue) begins in the year of 1925 when the plans for the Yallourn Project were well underway and the ‘garden town’ of Yallourn was creating interest far and wide.  This article relates to 1933.  

1933

JANUARY: The Victorian Education Department informed the Yallourn Elementary School Committee of the new fee structure for 1933. The extract (below) shows that certain pupils (Forms C and D) would be required to pay £9 (pounds) per year while other students’ instruction would be free of charge. The article also outlined exceptions and variations of such charges according to the situation faced by local families. Note: According to the RBA inflation calculator, £9 in 1933 is equivalent to approx. $960.oo in today’s currency.  

The annual meeting of the Yallourn Branch of the League of Nations Union was also held in January 1933.  Mr R.D. Dixon was elected to the position of President while Dr H.V. Francis and Mr Morris were nominated Vice-presidents. Mr W. Jamieson was the Honourary Secretary.

The name Robert Derwent Dixon may not have great meaning to younger generations but, in the story of Yallourn, he was a tower of strength and a person of the highest ideals and selfless endeavour.  

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

This photograph is said to have been taken in 1922. The first school at Yallourn was a weatherboard cottage at 4 Hillside. Source: ‘Virtual Yallourn’

1922 - Yallourn State School

NOTES ON EARLY DAYS OF SCHOOLING AT YALLOURN 

1. It is one hundred years ago since the first school in Yallourn was opened. In the ‘1921 SEC Report on the ‘Establishment on Township at Yallourn’ there are several clauses related to ‘Sites for Educational Purposes’ which refer to the provision of a primary school and …

“…for a secondary or technical school, for, as the district develops, the Education Department may see fit to make Yallourn a centre for technical instruction.”      

2. An early reference to the establishment of a school in the town of Yallourn was found in ‘The Age’ (January 25th 1922)… “Seven acres have been reserved for a primary school…”
3. According to the Virtual Yallourn website, the first school at Yallourn was opened on February 13th 1922.
4. The building, as shown above, was located at Number 4 Hillside.
5. Mr Tysoe (a relieving teacher) was the first headmaster. Sometimes Tysoe was written in error as ‘Tyson.’   
6. On April 1st 1922, Mr Flanagan replaced Mr Tysoe.
7. According to ‘Vision and Realization’, Mr Joseph Dobrigh became the headmaster in 1923.
8. It is reported that attendance at the school increased steadily throughout 1922 and had reached 77 pupils by December. Enrolments at the school increased to 139 pupils by the end of 1923.

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

1981 - Time Capsule from St John's Church 1923

This photograph shows Rev. Blair Grace, of St Aidan’s Anglican Church in Newborough, holding one of the items placed in a time capsule and buried at the St John’s Church in Yallourn in 1923.

The contents of the time capsule included a selection of documents related to the Church in that era. Among the capsule’s contents were a letter, an advertisement and various handwritten notes by the Parish Minister at that time - Rev. Dicker.

Other articles and photographs regarding St John’s Church at Yallourn can be seen by clicking on this link:

http://www.virtualyallourn.com/search/node?keys=St+Johns

CAN YOU HELP- REGARDING YALLOURN TIME CAPSULES?

The above article deals with a time capsule which was buried at Yallourn in 1923. Perhaps there are readers who have knowledge of other time capsules that were buried (and/or uncovered) in the district in earlier times. Please contact Julie if you have information regarding stories about time capsules in Yallourn.  Thank you.

1955 - LVFL GRAND FINAL:   YALLOURN  v  SALE

INTRODUCTION

As the 2022 AFL Finals approach, the above press release may prove of interest to football followers and former supporters of Yallourn Football Club.  

The press cutting was found in ‘The Argus’ (on September 9th, 1955 on Page 22) and is a preview of the 1955 Latrobe Valley FL Grand Final between Sale and Yallourn which was played at Morwell. ’The Argus’ was a popular metropolitan newspaper; and the item indicates the status which the Latrobe Valley Football League held in those years. Former residents of Yallourn may well remember such club champions as Gerald Marchesi, Stan Brown, Peter Cook, Ken McColl, Jack Vinall and Roy Cullinan.

The text of the above match preview is printed below.  

YALLOURN HAS THE SPEED TO BLANKET SALE

“ WET or dry Yallourn appears to have the players to counter Sale's trump cards in the Latrobe Valley Football League grand final, at Morwell tomorrow.

Morwell's ground last week was muddy, but unless heavy rain falls before tomorrow it should be in good condition, and last year's gate of £1,000 could be exceeded.

Yallourn started its run six weeks ago and although it just scraped into the four it has hit top form. Sale was struggling to defeat Warragul, in the second semi-final, but Yallourn last week had a comfortable victory.

Sale, to hold its place on top of the League ladder, developed blistering pace and a play-on style. Any slight loss of form on the part of Yallourn could prove fatal.

Sale's trumps are Orchard and King on the wing, Mason and Morrow in the ruck. Brewer on the half forward line and the Hart Brothers in the roving division.

Yallourn has the player, Stan Brown, in the back pocket to counter McKee; and McColl is in brilliant form at centre half-back and should match Brewer in the air.  Cook and Vinall are strong players on Yallourn's half forward line.

Captain-coach Marchesi, formerly of North Melbourne, has blossomed into a capable full forward and former South Melbourne seconds full back Cullinan has developed into a handy goal sneak as a permanent forward pocket.

Sale has a good full forward in C. Smith, but Yallourn half-back line may cut off his supply. Sale will be trying to use its successful play on tactics and has a shrewd tactician in non-playing coach Hughie Murnane.”

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

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 township of Yallourn ‘took root, 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 events in the life of the town and its industries have been chronicled. The monthly activities, shown in each year, are not necessarily the most momentous occasions but simply attempt to show the many varied and interesting happenings that made the local (and sometimes national) news in that era.

The walk down ‘Memory Lane’ (not to be confused with Meadow Lane which ran off Latrobe Avenue) begins in the year of 1925 when the plans for the Yallourn Project were well underway   and the ‘garden town’ of Yallourn was creating interest far and wide.  This article relates to 1932.

1932

JANUARY: A bushfire threatened the South Camp at Yallourn in January 1932. The fire started somewhere near the briquette factory and spread rapidly towards family dwellings. The Yallourn Fire Brigade and volunteers brought the fire under control. Thankfully, there were no lives lost or reported injuries.

Source: ‘Weekly Times’ January 9th 1932. Page: 5

FEBRUARY: The Yallourn Branch of the Australian Natives Association held its Annual Picnic at Walhalla. A special train carried a large group of adults and children to Walhalla for the festivities, which included a variety of games. Mr H. Tait and Mr J. Young received warm praise for their central role in organizing the ‘fun-filled’ outing.

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