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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.

This rare photograph was unearthed in the ‘Weekly Times’ under the heading of ‘Yallourn War Workers.’ Caption: ‘ Committee of Yallourn Women's National Emergency Fund, which has sent 1380 parcels to local servicemen and women, and 2600 knitted garments for the Red Cross and A.C.F. : Mesdames B.T. Drummond (Sec.), W.G. Monteith, R. A Hunt (President), H.W. Lynch, R. McGowan (Treasurer), C. Tinker, C.M. Smith, C.T. Habich, E. Madden, W. Kerr, C.F. Jolliffe, L. Dann.”

Circa 1936 - Joyce, Ena & Verna Withers

This photograph will bring back many pleasant memories about life and times in Yallourn. The picture shows Mr Wally Lacey, a most popular barber in the town for some 40 years, cutting Ray Cordell’s hair - supposedly the very last hair cut in Yallourn by Wally.

The photograph was taken in 1981, just before Mr Lacey closed his shop in Yallourn and relocated to new premises in Rutherglen Road in Newborough. Those who remember Mr Lacey will recall his great love for the outdoors and the game of chess.

VERONICA LACEY LOOKS BACK

1933 - A SEASON TO REMEMBER FOR YALLOURN FC

It wasn’t long after Sir John Monash turned the first sod to commence the SECV’s ambitious project at Yallourn, that the Yallourn Football Club came into being. Wherever there are men, such as in the camps at Yallourn, one will usually find a football match, of some code, being played. Consequently, with hundreds of workers being employed in the Yallourn Project, it was only a matter of time before (i) a football team was formed and (ii) matches between neighbouring towns were organized.

To read this article in full, click on the title above and then click the link below the picture to view the full magazine (pdf format).

This photograph of the Yallourn Madrigals was taken in 1976; and it is an important image, in terms of the history of Yallourn, as it places on record the names of the members of the choir at that time.

Wayne Lock, David Brown, Avril Brown