Recently added

FROM THE NEWSPAPERS 1953. A NEW DEPARTMENT STORE FOR YALLOURN This news article tells of the announcement of a new Rockman’s Store at Yallourn in 1953. It was welcome news for the people of the town and it signified the beginning of a new era of commerce in Yallourn. It was the Rockman’s 58th store in Australia; and the company took over the operations of the Yallourn General Store which had been owned by the SEC since 1922. The General Store was the only shop in the early days of settlement.

VALE COLIN ALEC WIGGINS 15/5/1943 - 9/7/2016

It is with sorrow that I inform of the passing of my life-long friend Colin Wiggins. Colin was born in Yallourn and was educated at the Yallourn State and Technical schools. His parents were old Yallourn identities and resided in Latrobe Avenue near the Technical school. Col was in my grade class for all of the years we attended school. We were both very competitive and strived to be both the best in school and in sport.

There was little more than inches in it at the finish of the second heat of the senior 100yards at the country championship athletics meeting at Olympic Park on Saturday. M. Florence (Shepparton) (nearest camera) won from K. Lucas (Ballarat) (centre) with W. Naylor (Yallourn) third.

SOURCE: NLA 206111719 ‘THE AGE’ MONDAY 26th JANUARY 1953 PAGE: 11

I wrote this song back in 1999 thinking about the effect on Yallourn of everyone moving and how i cant really take my Children back now to show them where i was born.

http://www.billybridge.com

The song is available here https://itunes.apple.com/au/album/stories-through-time/id1053010407

Ghost Town – Billy Bridge 1999

V1: Look at this place he said as he smiled and shook his head A young town in an old towns face but it may as well be dead They built the town ‘cause the work was here now they’ve sold it all away They don’t understand the sweat and tears, shed along the way.

A STEP FORWARD IN COMMUNITY HEALTH The following newspaper extract reports on the opening of the Yallourn Infant Welfare Centre in 1949. It was great news for the town and the new amenity meant a great deal for local families. As mentioned in the report below, the Country Women’s Association had lobbied long and hard to the SEC for a new health facility dedicated to infants and their mothers. The Infant Welfare Centre was built overlooking the gardens in Broadway; it was an ideal site for such an important building for mothers and children to visit as needed.

Source: Museum Victoria

Source: Museum Victoria

Allan Schroeder, of Yallourn, was the surprise 1950 King’s Prize winner, a dramatic shoot-off with Percy Pavey. Picture above shows him on the mound and at right, he is carried off in the traditional chair to the acclaim of the other shooters.

SOURCE: NLA 22815528 ‘THE ARGUS’ SATURDAY 11TH MARCH 1950 PAGE 45.

...supplied from the memory stash of Heather Norden.

First tenants in this house. Billy passed away whilst living here. William was passionate about his garden. Gooseberries around the garden. Dr Andrew lived nearby.

Immediate Neighbours: Georgina & Wally Gilchrist at No 6. Wally Gilchrist worked at the General Store Nearby Neighbours: Loris, Ian & Ray Stanger. Ray married Eileen Rose.

A FAMOUS CANADIAN VISITS YALLOURN

In 1938 the British Empire Games were held in Sydney and a well-known Canadian sports star, Lynda Adams, was a foremost competitor in the diving events. Following the games, Lynda travelled to Yallourn to participate in a diving exhibition at the Yallourn (Lake) Pool. This brief article, published in ‘The Argus’ in May 1938, tells of Lynda’s visit to Yallourn…. __________________________________________________________________

May 5th 1938 ‘THE ARGUS’ Page: 14 CANADIAN GIRL DIVER

Canadian diving champion, Lynda Adams, who visited Yallourn in 1938.

Source: British Columbia Sports Hall of Fame (Vancouver)

Lynda Adams in action…Note: This photograph was taken at the North Sydney Olympic Pool (not the Yallourn Pool) in 1938. Source: ‘Goulburn Evening Post’ January 26th 1938 page: 5

A Yallourn connection….Irene Donnet in action in 1936. Source: ‘Advocate’ (Burnie -Tasmania) February 26th 1936 Page: 7.

Click on the title above and then click the link below the picture to view the full magazine (pdf format).

Click on the title above and then click the link below the picture to view the full magazine (pdf format).

1952 -THE PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA VISITS YALLOURN

When the Prime Minister, Mr. Menzies, inspected the State Electricity Commission works at Yallourn yesterday he made a point of meeting the employees. He is shown meeting Mr. Percy Deering, who later described Mr. Menzies as "a thorough gentleman."

Source: NLA: 23167520 'The Argus' Saturday, 8 March 1952 - Page 3

1930's & 1940s Back Row: Jim Marshall, Kay Spurrier, Dorothy Edwards, Keith Horman, Fae Lawson, Mavis Webb, Eril Stephens Front Row: ? , David Andrew, Sylvia Rainbow, Helen Gregson, Max Fox, Jean Hattam, Syd Davies, Bruce King, Euan Browitt