Stories

70 YEARS AGO
1945- THE OPENING OF YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL
This story was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ and reports on the opening of the Yallourn High School in 1945. The article also lists the names of the teachers of the school and their qualifications. Like the history of schooling in all country towns, Yallourn was no exception to the various changes that transpired in Victorian education following the end of World War :II.
From the most humble of beginnings in 1922, the Primary School (4085) opened with 15 students; pupil enrolment increased and some six years… more

THE YALLOURN FLOWER SHOW
In May this year (2015), under the heading ‘Zygocactus Survives’, Inge Meldgaard posted a fitting tribute to Wilma and Ralph Wicks, her mother (Elna Lerche) and other residents of Yallourn for the interest and pride that was shown in the flower and vegetable gardens of homes in the town. In her article, Inge wrote…
“This is a tribute to both Wilma and Ralph Wicks, wonderful people who were my former parents-in-law, and also a tribute to the gardeners of Yallourn, who in its heyday created such a lovely, well-kept town...and finally, a tribute to my… more

1947 THE RHODES SCHOLAR WHO ATTENDED YALLOURN STATE SCHOOL 4085
This news article was published in ‘The Argus’ and tells of Michael Thwaites’ impending return to Australia, from England, to take up a teaching post at Melbourne University in 1947.
Michael Thwaites was a student at Yallourn State School 4085. In later years, while studying at Melbourne University, he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship and came to be regarded as one of our nation’s leading academics.
In the comments, related to Yallourn State School, in the 1973 publication of ‘Vision and Realisation’ it is… more

FUNDING ANNOUNCED FOR YALLOURN’ S NEW KINDERGARTEN
Unfortunately, the original copy of this newspaper report was in such poor condition that some guess work has been used to ‘fill the gaps’ in certain paragraphs of the story. However, it is a most important news item in the history of the town of Yallourn and should be placed on record for others to read in future years.
The article, published in June 1947, reports on the A.G.M of the Yallourn Community Kindergarten Association; the meeting was held in the Yallourn Library and a large crowd was in attendance.
The issue… more

MARGARET REID EXCELS AT YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL
This article was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ in January 1948 and reports on Margaret Reid’s outstanding achievements as a student at Yallourn High School. The headline of the story was ‘Excellent Record of Morwell Pupil.’
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January 8th 1948 ‘Morwell Advertiser’ Page: 9

Excellent Record of Morwell Pupil.
Margaret Reid, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Reid, of George Street, is a pupil with a promising future.
Coming to… more

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.
In the… more

1949 YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION RESULTS

A recent ‘Virtual Yallourn’ article reported on the opening of the Yallourn High School in 1945. The extract below was published in 1949 and underscores the importance of establishing a High School in Yallourn; and highlights the excellent results gained by the students in the annual examinations.
In November- December 1948 nine students of the YHS sat for the Matriculation-University Entrance Examinations. Every student, mentioned in the article below, is shown in the photograph of the 1948 Prefects posted with this story on the… more

HEATHER MCKAY FROM YALLOURN WINS A BICYCLE
Heather McKay, from Yallourn, made the front page of the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ newspaper in 1952. Heather won a bicycle for collecting the most pennies in charity drive for local hospitals. The article was headlined ‘Health Minister ~Here Friday.’
________________________________________________________________October 18th 1952 ‘Morwell Advertiser’ Page: 1
Health Minister~ Here Friday.
“FRIDAY will be a big day in the life of nine year old Heather McKay of Yallourn. At 2.30 p.m. at the… more

FRONT PAGE NEWS FROM YALLOURN
The following news article, related to a serious incident in Yallourn, hit the headlines on page one of a leading Melbourne newspaper (‘The Argus’) in 1952.
The report told of a terrifying situation when a railway truck broke its shackles and went careering through Yallourn.
This story shared the front page of ‘The Argus’ with such important news items as: State Aid for Church Schools, the Korean War peace talks, an increase in cigarette prices, Sir Otto Niemeyer (Director of the Bank of England) and the leading article of that day which… more

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.
The following article was published in ‘The Argus’ (a city based… more