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Caption: Santa Claus and Friends at Yallourn ‘W’ Picnic at Neil Ipsen’s property at Beck’s Bridge.

To see more photographs of Christmas celebrations for 1973 go to: The December edition of the 1973 ‘Contact’ magazine. This can be found on this website by simply typing the word: ‘Contact’ in the Search field (above); and then by scrolling down through the various editions of the magazine.

HISTORY PROJECT - ‘FROM THE NEWSPAPERS’ The idea of this project, ‘From the Newspapers’ was seen as a fitting way to highlight the selfless endeavours of the residents, of earlier days, who ‘paved the way’ in developing the township of Yallourn. The series of articles commenced in January 2015; and, over the past five years, more than seventy extracts from various newspapers have focused upon local families, personalities, organisations and events of Yallourn since 1921.

Caption: YALLOURN SCOUTS: Lady Baden Powell visited Yallourn on February 13th and inspected local scouts (top left), cubs (lower left )…

Source: ‘Weekly Times’ Wednesday 25 February 1948, page 5

1948 - A LONG HOT SUMMER IN YALLOURN The sales of electric refrigerators took off some time in the 1950’s; and it is documented that 67% of Melbourne homes had electric refrigerators by 1955. Up until that period, people depended upon ice chests to keep their food fresh and edible. The following extract reports on a lively debate that arose at the Yallourn Town Advisory Council meeting, in February 1948 regarding a shortage of ice for household ice chests.

If you would like to read more about this clever idea go to: The April edition of the 1969 ‘Contact’ magazine. This can be found on this website by simply clicking on the tab above "Magazines" and scrolling to the April 1969 copy or by typing the word ‘Contact’ in the Search field (above) and then scrolling down through the various editions of the magazine. THIS PHOTOGRAPH WAS TAKEN 50 YEARS AGO… CAN YOU HELP?

88 YEARS AGO THE FUNERAL OF SIR JOHN MONASH

Source: ‘Western Mail’ (Perth) October 22nd 1931; page: 22.

The people of Yallourn held the name of Sir John Monash in highest regard. The archives show that because of his vision and determination, as the first full-time Chairman of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, the town of Yallourn grew, from the most humble beginnings, to become one of the finest ‘garden towns’ in Australian history.

It was not just the people of Yallourn who revered John Monash…

TROUBLE AT THE POWER STATION

In the early days of Yallourn, life was demanding and hardly idyllic for the workers on the project; and it is documented that the camps were not without ‘trouble and strife.’ Numerous newspaper reports, of that early period of local history, provide some insight into the ‘comings and goings’ that kept the Yallourn constabulary ‘ever watchful’ and always busy.

Lauris Irene Stanger married Ivan Sidney William Brill 10 July 1954 at St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Yallourn. Lauris and father Thomas Stanger arriving at the Church Bridal party includes bridesmaid Betty Mitchell, daughter of Keith and Laura Mitchell, Yallourn.

This photograph was taken by well-known Yallourn identity Mr Cliff Cleverly at the first game of night football played at the Yallourn Oval on Wednesday, July 21st 1971.

Source: ‘SEC Contact Magazine’ August 8th 1971 Page: 16.

YALLOURN - A SPORTING CENTRE FOR ALL

INTRODUCTION – BACKGROUND TO THE GARDEN TOWN OF YALLOURN When the report entitled ‘The Establishment of a Township at Yallourn’ was tabled in 1921, the strong emphasis placed in planning for parks, gardens, tree-lined streets, children’s playgrounds and sports grounds in the ‘scheme of things’ was a significant step in Australian town planning.

1978 - THE THIRD YOGA REUNION

This photograph was taken at the third gathering of the Yallourn High School ‘Old Girls’ (as it was then known) which was held on March 4th 1978. It was published in the ‘Contact’ Magazine (March edition-1978). On that occasion, the reunion was held at the Latrobe Valley Visitors’ Centre in Morwell.

Those pictured above are: Back Row: Winnie Watkinson, Nita Spittall, Joan Harris, George Bates, Val Kerr, Tess Whitehead, Nell Hewitt, Maidi Smith Front Row: Sonja Bates, Nola Trethowan, Charles Trethowan, Lucy Crowe

The final Save Yallourn Committee was the President, Joe Dell, Treasury, Honor Crane, and Secretary, Ted Hopkins. The two boxes of the entire information of Save Yallourn Committee was provided to me. As such, the boxes were placed in a shed of Greville Street 48-54 accommodation and offset printing places. A terrible problem occurred when the shed and boxes were fire burned (1979?). Just a selection of items were still available for the SLV and my residence. ....Ted Hopkins 2019

1940 - CHARLES BURTON BOEHM

Charles Burton Boehm came to Yallourn in 1922 following his period of service in the Royal Australian Navy during World War: I; and he worked with the SECV until his retirement in 1950. During those years, as a resident of Yallourn, he served on a long list of sporting and social committees with indefatigable enthusiasm.

Caption: ‘As the officer escort for Japanese military and naval commanders at the official surrender ceremony at Torokina, New Guinea on September 8th 1945.’

This rarely seen photograph is part of an article in a ‘Contact’ magazine related to the life of Brigadier John Field. Brigadier Field was the General Superintendent of the Latrobe Valley Region of the SECV from 1951-1964 and a resident of Yallourn (at 23 Reservoir Road) for many years.

To read more about Brigadier John Field and the ‘Yallourn connection’:

YALLOURN’S GLOOMCHASERS ORCHESTRA & JOCK SLOAN

The following brief advertisement was published in ‘The Advocate’ in 1930; and refers to a popular local orchestra known as ‘The Gloomchasers’ being the main attraction at Yallourn Catholic Church’s Annual Ball.

The background information regarding the Gloomchasers is interesting; and underlines how the group became ‘much sought-after’ for social functions throughout the district. The Gloomchasers Orchestra played a major role in the social gatherings in Yallourn and other nearby towns during those years.

STAN & DOUG BROWN

The first photograph (taken in 1969) shows a former popular sporting identity of Yallourn, Stan Brown with his son, Doug. Stan Brown was a star for Yallourn Football Club and played in the club’s last premiership in 1948. That season, Stan won the Kevin Comber award for the Most Improved Player.

Stan won a string of awards at YFC including the Most Consistent Player trophy in 1954 which was the inaugural (and momentous) season of the Latrobe Valley Football League.

The Fewster family moved to Yallourn in the early 1920's. Arthur William Edson Fewster and his wife Hilda Isabell Fewster, along with their six children, the youngest being Alfred Lewis (my father). AWE had served in WW1 as a lieutenant in the Australian Army and then settled in Warragul before moving on to Yallourn as an Engineer. When AWE and hilda arrived they were moved into 8 Northway. AWE was very involved with the progress of the town and a great orchid grower having a large hot house and glass house on the property.

The ‘beginnings’ of YALLOURN HOCKEY CLUB by Veronica Lacey – 1.3.2017 The following article is a brief account of Yallourn Hockey Club which includes available information up to approximately 1984. The Yallourn Hockey Club was formed in 1956 as a result of the Morwell “Golds” Hockey team (a High School team led by teacher, Mr. Nicholls) resolving to form an independent team and affiliate with the Traralgon Women’s Hockey Association (later becoming the Latrobe Valley Women’s Hockey Association (LVWHA). Note: The minutes of the Inaugural meeting and following meetings are supplied.

1945 - THE YALLOURN WOMEN’S NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND The following article was published in a column entitled ‘Between Ourselves’ in the ‘Weekly Times’ in 1945. Someone simply known as ‘Margaret’ edited that particular page; and it seemed to be a potpourri of observations about celebrities and other snippets of news from ‘around the traps.’ Although the article is brief, it is an important item in the history of Yallourn as it highlights the work undertaken by the Yallourn Women’s National Emergency Fund during World War: II.