Wartime losses a cross to bear THIRTEEN soldiers from the Sorrento area lost their lives at Gallipoli and the Western Front during World War I and an amateur historian from Blairgowrie will head off later this year to place crosses on the graves of five of those 13 killed in action in France and Belgium. Peter Munro has been researching the lives of the “13 Sorrento boys” who died on foreign fields and only six have known graves. The other seven are commemorated on memorial walls at Lone Pine, Villers-Bretonneux, The Menin Gate and Fromelles. Five of the six graves are in the Somme and Flanders areas. Mr Munro will visit the five burial sites at cemeteries in Belgium. “I’ve felt I’ve been walking in the footsteps of these lads for the past twelve months,” Mr Munro said. “The backgrounds of this group are so diversified, some born in Sorrento, some who came to the area for work and some who went the school and later left the district”. Among the 13 are two school teachers, one Robert MacDonald after passing his teachers’ examinations spent less than three months at Sorrento before he enlisted. Fellow teacher Frank Kemp’s father was headmaster at Sorrento State School for 17 years. Four sons from the same Sorrento family, the Hibberts, died after volunteering for service. Two sons Albert and Cecil were killed on the Western Front. The Sorrento RSL has made designated crosses, each bearing the name of the soldier and the insignia of the Sorrento RSL. “It’s only a small contribution in proportion to the sacrifice these lads made,” Mr Munro said. He thanked Michael Jeffreson, president of Sorrento RSL, Anne Adams and Warren Steele of The Friends of the Sorrento, Portsea RSL, and John Phillingham, nephew of Albert and Cecil Hibbert, for their time and effort in making and personalising the crosses.
Title challenges ‘HOW much are you worth?’ is the challenging title of a talk at the Rye Presbyterian Church Hall, corner Collingwood and Lyons streets, Rye, 6pm, Sunday 20 September. Speakers Brian and May Gault will entertain at this free event where all are welcome. Voluntary offerings will be accepted for Christian Blind Mission Australia. Light refreshments are available with an RSVP required for catering purposes. Details: Hui Lim 0402 887 650.
Mental health help FUNDING cuts to mental health services have prompted a response from Peninsula Harmony Counselling Service manager Emma Hayes. “With the cuts and the growing demand for mental health services on the peninsula I have started my own not-for-profit service,” Ms Hayes said. Peninsula Harmony Counselling Service, based in Somerville, offers counselling without the trouble of getting a mental health plan. “To make it easier I also perform case management and outreach services,” she said. “Due to a growing need I am also setting up groups on the peninsula for adults and children focusing on depression, anxiety, resilience, mindfulness, anger management and suicide prevention. “These groups are one of a kind and can also be adapted to run in school.” Details: 0406545482.
Annual book fair
Lest we forget: John Phillingham, left, Michael Jeffreson and Peter Munro pay their respects to the war dead of Sorrento. Picture: Yanni
ST MARKS Anglican Church, Balnarring is again holding a secondhand book fair starting 9am, Saturday 19 September. The book fair, running since the early 1990s, will cater to all tastes with thousands of condition books for sale. The fair is in the hall next to the opportunity shop, 1 Balnarring Rd, Balnarring. It will also be open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, finishing on Saturday 26 September. Details: 0425 700 713.
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Southern Peninsula News 15 September 2015
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