WHAT TO DO IN AND AROUND STRATFORD
DAY 01
Visit the Stratford Museum (Hobson St, Stratford) Open Tuesday & the 4th Sunday of the month Bike ride along the Rail Trail to Maffra (10km each way).
Drive to Briagolong Quarries (20 km return)
DAY 02
Walk/Ride the Arts Trail through the streets of Stratford. More information at Segue.
Drive to Sale (20 km each way) and walk/ride around Lake Guthridge and Lake Guyatt.
DAY 03
Walk/Ride the Blackall Creek Reserve alongside Merrick St, Stratford.
Drive to the Glenmaggie Weir (BYO Barbeque or Picnic).
DAY 04
Walk/Ride to The Knob Reserve (Old Redbank Rd, Stratford).
Drive to the Blue Pool, Briagolong for a swim.
DAY 05
Walk/Ride to the Apex Park (Tyers St)
Memorial Park (Tyers St) Market Reserve (Hobson St)
Mary Treasure Reserve (Hobson St)
Visit the Maffra Car Museum
RESIDENT’S SAY
I hope you are inspired by our front page feature and the companion Facebook campaign over recent weeks, encouraging us all to shop right here in Stratford this festive season. We all value the traders we have and surely wish Stratford to have a thriving business community, support local employment, retain our existing businesses and attract more. As we enter the holiday period, it can be all too easy to get caught up in the busyness, rush and bustle of shopping centres and horrendous traffic. Fuel is costly and online
STRATFORD LIONS CLUB
The Lions Club of Stratford celebrated the 50 years of being Chartered and the service of Brendan Lee on 3 November. Brendan is the last founding Charter member of the club. A 50 years badge was presented to Brendan by Council Chairperson Multiple District 201 Steve Boyce. Brendan spoke about when the club first started and the help that Stratford Lions gave in the formation of the Lions Club of Lindenow.
shopping can be a real lottery. So do yourself and the town a favour, fire up your imagination, consider businesses you may not usually frequent, and go shopping in a relaxed manner, right here in town, for a surprising variety of goods, services, vouchers, etc.
Whether you are travelling over the holidays or not, or working or not, I hope you have some time for peace and quiet, or whatever it is that restores you. Please take extra care on the roads and in the water.
Thank you to our readers, our faithful Crier team, all contributors, the thoughtful
Ben Davies spoke about the work and support over the years that Brendan has given to Stratford Lions. The information given was very informative for the new member of the club and at times quite humorous. We don't realize the amount of work/service that the Stratford Lions club has given over the years until you speak to someone who has served so long and has a great recall of events.
groups who have made donations to us, and our precious advertisers, without whom the Crier could not exist. We hope you enjoy our monthly community newspaper. Due to rising printing costs, we are in desperate need of more advertising, so if you have a business in Stratford and surrounds please consider supporting our newspaper. We will be back with the February 2023 issue. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and every good wish for the New Year.
Judy DonoghueSTRATFORD S.E.S.
In October, members from Stratford SES took our rescue truck to Sale clock tower Mall where we along with other emergency services attended a display day for members of the public to view vehicles, see equipment and meet personal. Both paid and volunteers.
Later in the month and the north of the State along the River Murray sustained major flood damage. The call went out for members to travel to Echuca and assist with filling and laying sand bags, rescue and other tasks to help the local communities. Some Stratford members travelled north and spent some time there assisting.
There was a callout to a fallen tree, which was partly blocking a local road.
Early in November and members were paged to a local town to free a person who was trapped in a piece of playground equipment. Cutting tools were used to free the person who then was
STRATFORD RSL
Remembrance day has now come and gone when we remember those brave service personnel who in the past gave their lives to preserve the relative peace and prosperity which we in Australia have come to take for granted. The one minutes silence which we observe at 11am marks the time on November 11, 1918 when the First World War ended 104 years ago.
This years commemoration, in the Memorial Park, was our first in 3 years without Covid restrictions and was well attended and many thanks to those who participated in the readings and especially to Dane Nicholls for his singing of the National Anthem. Once again our ladies auxiliary and others arranged an excellent morning tea following the service. Also following the service a rather belated centenary commemoration lunch was held at the Avon Hotel to acknowledge 100 years of the local sub branch (now 102 years) and this occasion was enjoyed by all who attended. Harry Jacobs, a RSL member and a veteran of the Korean conflict, kindly agreed to be our guest speaker and spoke of
A few days later and a local town was hit with a large rainstorm in the evening. This caused some flash flooding threatening a couple of premises. Members filled a large number of sand bags and barricaded the water away from the premises.
Returning from this job, it was now late in the evening and dark when we came across a low lying part of the road, which was badly flooded. Members stayed at the flood scene warning motorists until RRV and VicPol attended.
David Smith
the significance of the RSL and the changes he has seen in his lifetime. His thoughts were well received by those in attendance.
Special thanks to Kim and staff at the hotel for their efforts in making this occasion a success. Many thanks also to Heyfield Bakery for supplying a wonderful
Avon Branch of the Country Women’s Association Inc has some very generous supporters. Recently Mardi McLaughlin came to our meeting with a variety of jumpers, cardigans and hats that she had knitted. She asked that we send them to a charity that our Branch supports. In this instance it will be the Red Cross or the Sale hospital. Thank you Mardi for your very kind and generous donation.
Our Junior members, 8 years plus, meet on the second Saturday of each month. They must be accompanied by an adult and please bring a small plate of food for a shared afternoon tea. There is a small cost of $5 to help cover the cost of the craft kits. Parents please RSVP to Emma a few days prior, on 0409 865 047 to ensure there are enough craft kits for everyone.
Avon CWA meets on the third Monday of each month at 10.00am followed by a BYO lunch and our monthly meeting commences at 1.00pm. We meet in the Senior Citizens rooms at 5 Hobson St, Stratford.
There won’t be a regular meeting in December, but we will have our Christmas breakup. We usually recommence in January. Our members thank you for your support and wish you and your family a Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for 2023. Further enquiries can be made to Emma on 0409 865 047.
Dianne Honey
Seafarers Mission, Associated Country Women of the World which sends items overseas to poorer countries, local aged care facilities, and Ambulance Vic. Our Branch is very happy to accept donations of yarn which is shared amongst members and the local community. The knitted products are returned to the Branch to be disbursed.
STRATFORD POLICE REPORT
On 31 October at approx. 3.30am an unknown offender has attended to the rear of a business on Tyers Street and has thrown half a brick at a glass window smashing same, before decamping.
unknown offender/s attended the Endeavour Service Station and damaged the front Perspex sign and the door to the male toilet. Estimate damage $1500.
Please remember to continue to ensure you lock your vehicles and homes, whether you are going out or staying home.
population in making this years' Poppy appeal a success. We raised in excess of $3550, all of which goes towards assisting ex service personnel and their families in times of need.
In closing I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and New Year and sincerely thank those who have supported our sub branch throughout the year.
Between 1.30pm on 4 November and 8.30am on 5 November, unknown offender/s have gained entry into a business on Tyers Street through an unlocked door, whilst inside the offender/s have forced open the till and have removed an amount of cash prior to decamping.
Sometime between 10 and 14 November, unknown offender/s attended a premise on Fitzroy Street and forced entry to a rear shed and have stolen items from same.
On Sunday 20 November between 1.30am and 4.00am,
There are still a lot of online scams occurring, a lot of these are not being reported to Police out of victims feeling embarrassed for falling for the scam. If you are a victim, please report it to Police as soon as possible. Do not open any email or text message links from people/businesses that you are not expecting correspondence from.
Pictured are our Men’s and Ladies Champions for season 2022 2023. Jason White defeated Des Phillips in the final after some hard fought matches along the way. Bev Thatcher won her first Ladies Singles Championship after many years at the club, and was very excited about the win. Runner up June Richardson played well on the day, but Bev was able to hang on to the lead she established and come away with the title.
Winners of Club titles go on to represent our club in the regional events. Jason White and his daughter Kirstie entered the State Mixed Pairs, and along with the other club pair of Mick Dee and Leonie Flynn won their way into the finals which had to be postponed recently because of poor weather. We wish them well for the rescheduled matches to be played in January.
TRATFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH
The Stratford Neighbourhood Watch meeting held on 1 December was well attended. It was great to see new faces and hear constructive new ideas from enthusiastic people, many of whom are relatively new to town. Senior Constable Shayne Croaker advised that formal reports of crime were down for last month, but that crimes are likely still occurring at the same rate but not being reported to official channels. This can be for a variety of reasons. The meeting was
STRATFORD RED CROSS
Stratford Red Cross
Dee and Wayne Marsden who finished as Runners Up in the title match for the over 60’s Men’s Pairs in the Gippsland Region.
The update of our facilities is continuing, and we are pleased to have support in the work we are doing. Plans are in hand for the painting of the exterior before Christmas.
Pennant is almost to the half way mark and there have been some great wins for the Stratford teams. You can view
the up to date ladders on Bowlslink.
Crackerjack players remain enthusiastic despite the cool and often windy condition we have been experiencing on a Wednesday nights.
Social members as well as our full club members are invited to the Christmas gathering on Saturday December 10th after the pennant matches. Please make sure your name is on the list at the Club by the Thursday so catering can be organised.
Margaret Robbinsreminded that no one should be too embarrassed to report crime, e.g. online scams, and that reporting via social media is not the way to have crime properly investigated and solved.
There was also discussion on hopefully raising funds to install CCTV in the Tyers Street vicinity. Several meeting attendees will research options and report back. We also wish to remind readers again to please be sure to register their home CCTV with Sale Police. The existence of the CCTV network register means that if any incident occurs in any vicinity, the
COMMUNITY BANK MAFFRA & DISTRICT
householders to contact to view possibly helpful footage. To register yours, please phone Sale Police station on 5142 2200 and ask to speak to Kim Kell.
Please be sure to lock your home, garage, sheds and vehicles securely, be patient on the roads, and have a relaxed and safe holiday period. Keep these numbers handy. 000 for Urgent Response, 131 444 Police Assistance Line when lights and sirens are not required, and 1800 333 00 for Crime Stoppers.
Judy DonoghueA huge thankyou to all who supported our end of year raffle through buying tickets and giving donations. $562 was raised and all of this money will go to where needed most in Victoria.
Congratulations to the winners:
1st Prize a dinner for 2 including a bottle of wine won by Elizabeth Kovco.
2nd Prize $30 Voucher Wa De Lock won by Marion Robins.
3rd Prize Savory Pack with Wine won by Anne Hammond.
Our Christmas breakup dinner was held at the Avon Hotel on Tuesday 6 December.
Next meeting will be 7 February 2023, 11.30am at the Avon Hotel. We welcome new members so please join us or talk to Nola 5145 6928 or Jess 5145 6732 if you have any questions.
Congratulations to the Staff and Board for Community bank Maffra and District. After being in the running the last few years, this year they have achieved Regional Victoria & Tasmania Branch of The Year. This wouldn’t be possible without the support of our customers and community and our wonderful staff.
The holiday season is fast approaching. The Branch will only be closed on public holidays. We wish all our customers a safe and happy holiday season.
Sponsorships are available through Community Bank Maffra & District. Does your community group or club have an event planned, need equipment or maintenance. Contact the branch or www.bendigobank.com.au/
"Soils:
AVON LANDCARE
World Soil Day 5
December 2022
Where food begins"
This day aims to raise awareness of the importance of maintaining healthy ecosystems and human well being by addressing the growing challenges in soil management, increasing soil awareness and encouraging societies to improve soil health.
If you would like to learn more about what is happening in Australia, go to: https:// soilweekaustralia.com.au/soil/ What you can do to help the soil locally.
Compost at home
Our food waste is food for the soil and the soil grows your food.
Get a pet worm farm
They eat your food waste.
Once you have mastered your compost system, pass on your knowledge support your local school to introduce composting.
Grow a plant Give a plant
Start with one plant, then add a few more. Before you know it, you’ll be spouting green thumbs and a garden!
Give a plant for a
have a big impact on our environment.
Even the smallest change can make a big impact when it comes to creating a sustainable future. It might be improving how you recycle, avoiding single use plastics or reducing the amount of food you waste at home.
Choose your 3 small acts to make a difference at www.sabi.sustainability.vic.gov.
present
Think about replacing lolly bags at your children’s birthday parties with a plant (or give them both!)
Small Acts make a Big Impact
Small acts, like putting the right things into the right bins, remembering to take your reusables when you leave home or sticking to your shopping list,
STRATFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Our Stratford Historical Society is expanding our building to help preserve and display our collection of historic agricultural equipment. We have managed to raise the majority of funds for this, but still have a shortfall of $2,400.
We would be very appreciative of any small contribution/donations that the Stratford Community might like to make, to enable us to finish this first stage of the extension. Our Museum is an historical resource for our community, so if you can help or wish to discuss the funds needed, please come and see us any Tuesday at the Museum between 10.00am 3.00pm, or contact our Secretary on 0419 744 320.
The home of our Museum, the former Methodist Church building, is about to turn 150
STRATFORD CEMETERY
Our Trust received this letter during November from the grandson of a former World War 1 veteran. Since our 100 years of Anzac commemoration at the cemetery in 2015, we have discovered 4 additional veterans for WW1 interred there that we were unaware of at that time.
“Dear Secretary, Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Stratford Cemetery for the first time in many years. I was pleasantly surprised at the
STRATFORWARD
au Anna Roberts
years old! The foundation stone is mentioned in a few local history books, but we have never found it. Do you have any knowledge of the Church or the members of the congregation?
A lovely silver tea service, which was presented to the family of John Mildenhall as a departure gift in 1919, has recently been given to the Museum by a family member and we are thrilled to have it now in our collection.
The Museum will close on Tuesday 20 December and will re open on 3 January 2023. We wish to thank the Community for their support throughout the year and also our members whose continued efforts keep the Museum interesting and full of information through its records and regularly changing displays of memorabilia. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Jane Spiceexcellent condition of the Cemetery, a tribute to all involved. Thank you.
Of special interest was the detailed plans/lists of graves in the information pavilion. I noticed that these included a list of war veterans.
May I ask that you add another to the list when it is revised.
Francis (Frank) Byrne 1894 1963 served in the AIF (Service No. 1632) during WW1 including in France.
Attached is a photo of his grave and also an extract from his Service Record.
Stratford Christmas Decorations
We have started to add some colour to our main street for Christmas. A big thank you to Maureen Petty for her creative and colourful trees and other bright bits on the bowls club fence. Gavin Roberts has put the tree he designed a few years ago in place once again, and we have unveiled the David Luxford reindeer towing our Santa sleigh (an old lemonade cart) David has created this marvel from scratch. Amazing.
Frank Byrne started his career in the Victorian Railways at Stratford in 1919, retuning as Station Master from 1954 to 1960. He was my grandfather.
Many other relatives, Mildenhalls, Browns and Kevin Byrne (Frank's son) are also interred at Stratford.”
So many stories and so much history at our cemetery. We are fortunate that our new secretary Kerry Townsend has a keen interest in both of these aspects of our cemetery.
Marion StothersOver the next week Rachael Nicholls and her Overcoming Obstacles crew will add Santa hats and bunting and hand made symbols. These wooden symbols were made several years ago by students from our 2 local schools under the guidance of the Men's Shed. The Men's Shed members will once again put their Christmas pictures on the sides of our main street bins in the coming days.
Now it is up to the rest of us. Already new residents Michelle and Emma have been tying red bows and we encourage everyone to help our town look festive.
On Thursday 8 December we would love some volunteers to help with the remaining bows and bits. Please meet at the back of the bowls club at 5.00pm and by 7.00pm we will have the job done. If you can only stay for an hour your help will still be valuable.
Margaret Robbins
STRATFORD PRIMARY SCHOOL
It feels like 5 minutes ago I was writing the blurb for the November Town Crier! And here we are, finishing off 2022 at Stratford Primary School.
In late October, I had the pleasure of taking part in Stratty’s Big Bike Ride. This was the culminating activity in our Bike Ed program. We rode out from Stratford along the rail trail towards Maffra. Our 5 6 students were amazing! They aimed high, wanting to ride as far as they could in the time allowed. They showed respect for one another and our Bike Ed leader Melissa. They were curious about the sights we saw on the trail, and were honourable showing kindness and taking care of one another. Melissa from Wellington Shire said that she was really impressed with their manners and maturity. Great feedback for our school!
Year 2 students have taken part in our swimming program. They have completed 8 lessons over 4 weeks. It was wonderful to see the improvement in our little swimmers over this time.
We were lucky enough to have a visit from Carey Grammar. The students at this secondary school travelled to a variety of schools in Gippsland to perform a “Radio Play” called “Mayhem at Middle Manor”. Our students were enthralled, and the quality of music and drama presented by Carey Grammar was outstanding.
Kinder Transition has been completed with success! We look forward to welcoming our very excited and grown up Foundation students to Stratford Primary in January 2023. Enrolments are always open at our school, so even if your child missed transition, you
are very welcome to visit our school at any time. The Smile Squad van has been to offer free dental care for our students. If any family wishes to access free dental care for their children, contact Gippsland Regional Health. The Smile Squad are happy to take appointments at their base.
thoroughly enjoyed their time learning about the skills of Lawn Bowls. We are grateful to the Stratford Bowls Club for hosting our students and giving them coaching in the finer art of bowls.
The Stratford Primary Awards night was amazing! Our theme of “wellbeing” shone throughout, with our students showing genuine pleasure for those who received Awards and who were selected to lead our school in 2022.
Congratulations to the following students: 2023 School Captains: Kylie & Millie Vice Captain: Aiden
I am sure they will do an excellent job leading our school in 2023.
As usual, we still have many things to look forward to in 2022.
Year 6 Graduation will take place on Friday 9 December, followed by Year 3 6 Camp from 12 to 15 December. We are heading to Beechworth to immerse ourselves in some Australian History. To complete my message, I would like to extend my thanks to all who have supported our school in 2022.
I feel blessed to lead a school situated within the fold of such a caring and supportive community. Merry Christmas, stay safe and have a wonderful New Year. Kate Steele
ATHLETICS CARNIVAL
On Friday 25 November, St Patrick’s held its annual school athletics carnival. This event had been scheduled for Term 3, however due to inclement weather and the Little Athletics Track being inundated with water, it had to be postponed a number of times. Fortunately, it was a beautiful, sunny day, which meant a great, fun day for all.
This year the final results were: 1st Ryan 2nd Brice 3rd MacKillop
AIRLY PRIMARY SCHOOL
As 2022 comes to a close, and we all get a well earned break, we look forward to an exciting new year with lots of learning, laughter and legumes. This month we had a bumper crop of broad beans and it has been so much fun over the last
number of athletic events and displayed great sportsmanship throughout the day, whilst also giving their best. House points were awarded to students based on their achievement in each of the events. At the end of the day it was a close contest, however as always there had to be a winner.
Champions of each senior age group, who earnt the most points for their house out of each age group.
12 & Under Boys Cooper Strickland 12 & Under Girls Chloe Dean 11 & Under Boys Sonny Johnson 11& Under Girls Ruby Mowat 10 & Under Boys Sonny Pendrick 10 & Under Girls Tenesha Fieldsend 9 & Under Boys Max Bartlett 9 & Under Girls Isla Dorning
This year has been great for our vegetable garden and along with the beans we’ve also had a great crop of garlic and corn. Our fruit trees have also increased as the grade six leavers selected an orange tree to be remembered by. Grade six trees have been a ritual at Airly for a long time and recently it’s become standard to select a fruit tree.
up for the year and very busily practicing for our concert which
focus this year and it was a pleasure to see so many students participating in the after school soccer tournament organised by volunteers at the Sale United Football Club. We’re only a small school, but managed to field two teams and improved our skills every week. Senior team coach Kyle was in awe at how the teams had improved over the season, despite not training together. We are in awe of the amazing number of volunteers in our community, including those who work so hard to get this publication out every month.
Gymnastics was also a big hit this term and student voice has vocally voted for more gymnastics next year.
learning the students have had this year in ukulele and AUSLAN, as well as a small play from each class. We are honoured to have our students rewarded with a literacy award from the Stratford Crier, a Citizenship award from the Lions Club and an Arts/Gardening award from the Stratford CWA. Thank you and see you in 2023.
WHERE'S CHIPS RAFFETY GONE ?
We lost a bit of Aussie, back in nineteen sixty six Quids and Florins forever gone, to the whim of politics.
What happened to our culture, our Deeners, Zac's and Trays?
Banished forever into history, to follow American ways
There's no Chips Raffety anymore, you know the Dinkum Aussie type
The battered hat, the weathered face the Aussie drawl and pipe.
Whatever happened to ‘G’day Mate’, it gave way to ‘Howdy Guys’
Or if I dips me lid an say, “Mornin China” I rarely get replies.
We celebrate Australia day, and we sing Advance Australia Fair
But there’s no Chips Raffetys anymore an no one seems to care.
Baseball hats on back the front, g a w r d strike me bloody pink
Forty years ago or less they’d send you to the shrink.
And pray tell whatever happened to, good old fashion chips?
Now it’s hoity toity French fries an assorted kinds of dips.
Where is our past? Where has it gone? The raucous Aussie roar I’ll tell you mate, I’m dinkum, there’s no Chips Raffetys anymore. Is it world bank domination, like that European dollar?
I don’[t know what’s going on I just want to scream and holler. Where’s Chips Raffety? Where has he gone? Me little Aussie mate Will we put him on the extinction list! Say he’s gone an’ shut the gate?
Be buggered if we will! I’m gunna start the Aussie school of Arts I’ll apply to the Government for a grant, for the learning of pool and darts. An I’ll find a True Blue teacher for the learning of our slang An have national competitions, for throwing the boomerang.
W.J. MILDENHALL Canberra’s First PhotographerThe Mildenhall Photographic Collection in the National Library of Australia is a lasting tribute to William James (‘Jack’) Mildenhall who was born at Stratford in 1891. He was the youngest child of John and Mary Mildenhall. His father was a blacksmith in Stratford and the family home, ‘Cooma’, is now the Ticklish Turtle Café in Tyers Street.
William or ‘Willie’ attended Stratford State School where his aptitude for art first emerged. He won first Prize for Brush Drawing at the State Schools Exhibition in 1906. He also attended Sale Technical School where interest in photography blossomed.
On leaving school he joined the Commonwealth Public Service and continued to develop his skills in amateur photography. His employment took him to Port Augusta in South Australia where the Transcontinental Railway was being built. This became the main focus for his photography. Many of his photographs appeared in the ‘Weekly Times’, ‘Punch’ and other publications.
In 1916 William married Adele Emma Knight in Melbourne. In the summer of 1920 William, his wife Adele (‘Jill’) and baby daughter Adele arrived in Canberra to be confronted by what was little more than an isolated, hot, dry and uninviting site of no more than a handful of weatherboard and corrugated iron buildings.
Whilst his official role was Paymaster with
ACHRISTMAS
MEMORY
Robyn Poon, or Miss Poon as so many of Stratford’s children fondly knew her was a teacher at Stratford Primary School for 11 years from 1971. Robyn recalls a favourite Christmas memory from those times of singing carols around town on Christmas Eve.
“We had 3 cars to transport the children from place to place and a “list” just like the one Santa has, with names and addresses of the elderly in town still living at home. We had a plate of home made bikkies for each home, plus a beautifully wrapped long stemmed
You’ll be shot on sight for saying Guy, an jailed for saying Gal Blokes is Blokes and Sheilas is Shailas an don’t you ever call me Pal!
There’s lots of things that we can do, lots we must restore I’ll tell you mate I’m dinkum, there’s no Chips Raffetys anymore. We’ll issue all the Aussie kids with dinki di Akubra hats R.M. Williams boots alnd jeans and whips that they can plaits.
An we’ll feed em good ol’ Aussie food, like hot meat pie an sauce An be learning everyone of ‘em, how to stay atop a horse.
Or they can try their hand at shearing, yeah, that’s where our history lay An give ‘em all a Driza Bone, an let ‘em gather to the fray. Yep that’s the way it’s going to be, you can stay or use the door I’ll tell you mate, I’m dinkum, there’s no Chips Raffetys anymore.
Dennis CarstairsMINDFULNESS
I am walking dry fields in bare feet Feeling the chaff give way and my toes covered by the dirt underneath A warm summer night still early in its darkness The sky is dim with no stars giving starlight The wind is quiet the world is quiet and I’m alone I clear my mind Slowly I
the Department of Works & Railways, his photography skills were quickly recognised and from 1921 he was paid an additional allowance of 10 shillings per week to ‘take official photographs and for the use of instruments’. In 1926 he was appointed as the Federal Capital Commission's Official Photographer, a position he held until 1935.
Using glass plate photography William recorded virtually every aspect of Canberra’s growth during the nineteen twenties and thirties. His works now held at the National Library and National Archives total over 7000 photographs of buildings, civic works, transport, scenery, people and community events. They include the construction and opening of ‘old’ Parliament House, the 1927 Royal Visit, Prime Ministers and much more. One striking photograph is that of, Jimmy Clements (also known as Yangar or ‘King Billy’) a First Nation’s man standing alone on the steps of Parliament House after its Official Opening in 1927. His photos were also used in early tourist advertisements for Canberra. His unique skills resulted in him becoming known as an ‘artistic’ photographer.
In 1933 Fox Movie tone News engaged William to shoot silent film of official openings and major civic events for their Newsreels (to which a soundtrack was added before being shown in theatres around Australia). In 1936 he was a member of the team that undertook the first aerial geographic survey of the Northern Territory.
The Mildenhall’s enjoyed an active social
carnation to go with it. With typed sheets of well know carols plus the beautiful voices of each child accompanying us, we set off. (I cannot remember if we had candles in those days as when we finished the rounds it was well and truly “Silent Night, Holy Night! and the children had to have something to read by). One year as we finished the rounds, we even saw a very tired Santa resting on the bollard of the Service Station!
It was a thrill for the children (and adults) to ring a door bell, greet the occupant and start singing carols. To see the joy of the faces of the seniors as they listened, was reflected in the faces of the children bringing a happy moment to them.
hear the noises and feel the electric energy as a rain storm comes The drops sweetly fall on my hands and arms I am mostly dry yet covered in these beautiful polka dot marks I don’t run from it instead I enjoy the journey I breath in and I breath out
Daniel Fullerlife In Canberra, in part resulting from his position as Official Photographer but also through his family’s involvement in the arts, tennis, the Church and charitable organisations. His daughter, Adele Mildenhall, became Secretary to John Curtain but had to resign when she married, just before Curtain became Prime Minister in 1941.
William and his wife continued to live in Canberra after his retirement in 1952. He remained active in the community with the Red Cross, Eisteddfod Society, Good Neighbour Council and other organisations, whist enjoying both angling and golfing for recreation. He continued to give many public talks about his photography. Mildenhall Place in the suburb in the suburb of Forest is named in his honour. The breadth and number of photographs that William took is unsurpassed. No one else captured more of the growth and development of Canberra and its people in the formative years of the nation’s Capital as the young man from Stratford, William.
Kevin Roche James ‘Jack’ Mildenhall. William ‘Jack’ Mildenhall in May 1927 with his Armstrong Siddeley motor car. Picture: National Archives of Australia A3560, 3120
Everyone was blessed. More often than not we were invited inside where the TV was on and Carols at the Myer Music Bowl was being broadcast. Every visit ended with the singing of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas”.
They were very special years, and I would hasten to say that the children and parents involved enjoyed giving their time and voices to bring some cheer to the elderly, especially those living on their own. To them it was a special part of their Christmas”.
I wonder how many others have happy memories just as I do of being involved in the carol singing. I remember being given a huge lollypop afterwards and feeling like
all my Christmases had come at once!
Some time later the Uniting Church also did some carol singing from the back of Laurence Hamlyn’s truck. The singers sat around the edge of the tray legs hanging over the edge and on board was a full size piano played by Elaine Haywood and Jan Davidson playing the piano accordion. The comment spoken by several when reminiscing about these times was “Ah, the good old days”. I tend to agree. Stratty was a great place to grow up and Christmas time was always a treat.
Jennifer WrigleyCHURCH
One of our members, Margaret Warnock, was recently recognised by the Gippsland Presbytery (The group that oversees Uniting Churches in Gippsland) for her 30 years faithful service as a Lay Preacher which is someone who preaches but is not formally ordained. We have been very blessed to have Margaret join our church family in Stratford. She has stepped into the gap many times now that we do not have a minister.
Allan Condron along with Don and Meg McRaild recently spent 2 weeks in Vanuatu touching base with the work there. It was a very productive and successful time. There were some very positive meetings with potato growers and government officials. It has been a long journey but the dream that took seed over 10 years ago is coming to fruition. As mentioned previously we send containers to Vanuatu packed with household good, clothes, school supplies etc. Earlier this year we sent a sewing box full of sewing essentials that had been donated. We added some fabric and earmarked it for a certain woman. It was wonderful to see her wearing a dress she had
Apparently she is the envy of other women in her village who are always wanting to borrow something out of the box.
We have just hosted an afternoon for our friends from Maffra, Heyfield and Sale Uniting Churches.
If you are over 55 and looking for a neat little unit to call home there are a couple available behind the church. These are not administered by the Church. Give Uniting a call 5144 7777.
You are most welcome to join the Uniting Church for our Christmas Day Service at 9.30am.
We wish everyone a very blessed and happy Christmas period. Remember “Jesus is the reason for the season”.
Jennifer Wrigley'Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth.....' The Christmas season is upon us and the Parish is busy preparing for the celebration of the birth of Jesus the Saviour of the world. Our Christmas services are as follows all welcome:
Saturday 24 December Christmas Eve:
6pm Family Christmas Service at Holy Trinity
8pm Holy Communion at St Mary's Munro 11pm Candle lite Holy Communion at Holy Trinity Sunday 25 December Christmas Day
8.30am Holy Communion at All Saints Briagolong 10am Holy Communion at Holy Trinity
The Stratford Community Christmas Celebration (formerly known as 'Carols by Candlelight') is on Sunday 11 December at Apex Park, Stratford starting at 5.15pm lots of Family Fun! There will be a sausage sizzle ($1), Santa, with free activities of a Jumping Castle, Clown and Fairy Floss. Christmas songs start at 7pm with MC Darren McCubbin, Sale City Band, Mick Harrington, Stratford Singers and Local Schools. The Mayor of Wellington Shire, Councilor Ian Bye, will open the program at 7.00pm and will deliver the Christmas Message. BYO chair or rug (some chairs will be available).
STRATFORD TOWN
Ask not what Stratford can do for you ask what you can do for Stratford
In the pursuit of sharing some of the history of our town it has been a privilege and a pleasure to meet and talk to representatives from some of the community groups who have been working tirelessly, largely in the background, in our town for many years.
As in most country towns the groups I spoke to Red Cross, Fire Brigade Ladies, RSL Ladies Auxilliary and the RSL have been the backbone of the community through good times and bad. It has been inspirational hearing the stories that in some cases date back 100 years of how the community has pulled together through natural disasters, wars and various community celebrations. Much time has been spent raising money through various means. Even in this edition we read that the Red Cross has recently raised over $500.
Of course the groups mentioned are only a sample. It would be a very interesting exercise to list everything we have in town thanks to the work of volunteers not in the least our Swimming Pool and Stadium. It
STRATFORD SISTER CITIES
We at Stratford Sister Cities would like to wish everyone a very happy Christmas.
We are busy planning our next reunion in Ontario 2 to 9 August 2023. At present there are 11 delegates attending and we are meeting on 6 December to plan the trip.
Our Delegates will get to stay in a home of a member of the Ontario
The event, proudly sponsored by the Wellington Shire Council and Marathon Electrical, is being organized by The Stratford Community Christmas Celebration Committee. All welcome! (If weather inclement, the event will be held in the Mechanics Hall.)
Op Shop Fashion Show last month was an enjoyable time of fun and fashion and we are indebted to the coordinating team of Bev, Kim and Janene for a wonderful afternoon. A big thankyou to all our volunteer models. The musical entertainment was greatly appreciated as well!!
Tickets for our annual Christmas raffle are on sale at the Op Shop. The Op Shop will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Day and Monday 2nd January.
The Parish's retiring offertory this month is in support of Christmas Bowl, a long standing mission of the National Council of Churches supporting those in need.
Worship Services: our regular Sunday services continue to be streamed via Facebook and Zoom as follows: For Facebook search for ‘Anglican Parish of Avon’; services go live 5 minutes before commencement. Please email Priest Dave Perryman (email: davidjrperryman@gmail.com) for details to join via Zoom. Copies of our Order of Service are available at our parish website http://
would also be impossible but incredible to calculate how many raffle tickets have been sold, how many rounds of sandwiches, slices, cakes and cups of tea have been made, how many social events have been organised and how many dollars have been raised.
Without exception everyone spoken to mentioned they are struggling for members which greatly curtails what they are able to be involved in and achieve. We are fast approaching a brand new year. It’s a time when many people make “new year resolutions”, make changes and set goals. A challenge. What community group can you get involved in and give a few hours a week/a month to? There is something to suit everyone. Page 10 of this paper is a good place to start!
We live in an ever changing and sometimes crazy world but if we can keep the legacy of a strong, supportive and caring community in Stratford I believe it will be nothing but positive for all of us. So, ask not what Stratford can do for you ask what you can do for Stratford!
(To paraphrase John F. Kennedy) Jennifer Wrigleygroup, it is a great way to make friends from all over the world, the host city has a full week of activities including a trip to Niagara Falls. There is still time to register please don’t hesitate to call if you need more information.
There will be a zoom get together on 17 December keep an eye on our Facebook page for details or contact Sandra Meredith 0406 983 503
Sandra Meredithanglicanavon.org.au/parishbulletin/ and Facebook
Gail Wager
Parish Dates December/January
Thursdays mainly music 9.30am in Parish Hall during School Term
December
Sunday 4 10.00am All Age Family Worship at Holy Trinity
Monday 5 Christmas afternoon tea for Op Shop volunteers at Wa De Lock
Thursday 8 last session of mainly music for 2022 Friday 9 6.00pm the Avon Parish Christmas Dinner at the Avon River Bakehouse
Sunday 11 Stratford Community Christmas Celebration. 5.15pm Sausage Sizzle and Family Fun Time. 7.00pm the Christmas Songs program
Wednesday 14 Sharing of Christmas Treats delivered to those in Stratford Business and Industrial Houses and Parish Supporters.
Thursday 15 10.00am mainly music morning tea
Saturday 17 Men's Breakfast Christmas Breakup Saturday 24/25 Christmas Services
January Friday 27 Family Movie Night Saturday 28 10.00am Women's Craft in Parish Hall
As we approach Christmas and the New Year things are slowing down at the Courthouse. With the only show scheduled for December now cancelled, the committee is looking forward to a well earned rest before we continue our mission of bringing quality theatre and music to Stratford into 2023.
In July we were nominated to be part of a Cultural Tourism program funded by Regional Arts Australia. This will help fund a couple of very exciting performances in February and March of 2023. Stay tuned for more detail as we put this program together.
We thank everyone who has attended a show at the Courthouse in 2022 and hope you have a peaceful and enjoyable festive season. We look forward to your continuing support in the New Year.
For more information and bookings go to stratfordcourthouse.com.au
BOOK REVIEW
By Turn the Page
‘Elementary, my dear Watson’ ‘I shall return’
‘We shall fight them on the beaches’ ‘Dr Livingstone, I Presume?’ ‘It’s Time’
We have heard these ‘one liners’ often and probably at some stage have used them for our own purposes, but there is a story behind each of them.
‘Dr Livingstone, I Presume?’ was uttered on 10th November 1871 by Henry Morton Stanley to an emaciated and destitute Dr David Livingstone at Ujiji near the shore of Lake Tanganyika in Africa.
Stanley had travelled with a caravan of porters and animals for 975 miles and 236 days across Africa searching for the elusive Dr Livingstone.
Morten was born about 1841, was a veteran of the American Civil war (fought for both sides) and afterwards was an adventurer and a newspaper reporter for the N.Y. Herald, which sponsored him to go to Africa to find Livingstone.
STRATFORD SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL
Planning for Shakespeare Festival 2023
On Sunday 7 May join in the fun of The Medieval Market Faire Day on the Village Green. With a grand variety of traditional arts and crafts, food and beverages, fresh produce, together with live music, workshops and displays. Every year we transform our beloved town into the traditional Village Faire Day with arts and crafts, food stalls, fresh produce, the Pop Up Bar and lost trades in The Art Colt. We will also feature
• Children’s Games on the “Village Green”
• Local Stalls and Demonstrations
• Street performers and exhibitions
• Instrumental and Vocal ensembles
We are currently looking for stall holders to join our day. If you are an artist, food vendor or entertainer and would like to know more, please contact Aynslie Watson on 0405 633 456, email: shakespearefaireday@gmail.com
Community Players
Come join in the fun of being in a full length Shakespeare play! It’s not too late to get involved and be a part of the cast or crew for our 2023 production of Twelfth Night. Rehearsals are held weekly and start at the end of January. The show will be a light, musical take on one of The Bard’s most famous romantic comedies.
Dr David Livingstone was a Scot. He was married with 4 children. He was a missionary and around 1841 went to Africa to do his missionary work and to try to end the repulsive slave trade run by the Arabs.
He had made several trips to Africa in this capacity when in 1866 he accepted an offer by the Royal Geographical Society London to return to Africa to find the source of the Nile River. He expected this to take about 2 years, but it became an obsession, and he was there many years longer. There was much speculation; and rumours coming back to England had him ‘dead and buried’.
A few ill organised and half hearted search parties were dispatched, but he became almost forgotten.
When eventually found by Morton he said he ‘wasn’t lost, just overdue’. At the time of his exploration people believed the middle of Africa to be a vast desert of nothingness but he found that civilization had thrived there for millennia.
On 1st May 1873 aged 60 he died in Africa. 16th April 1974, 8 years and 18 days after last leaving England his body was returned to England and subsequently interred in Westminster Abbey.
Contact the Community Play Director, Helen Waddington on 0419 181 972 to learn more.
Sheila Malady Short Story Competition
This year sees the tenth running of the Sheila Malady Short Story competition. Open to experienced authors or budding young writers, each year we receive entrants from across the country and occasionally the world.
Two’s Company is the writer's prompt set by judges this time. William Shakespeare loved to write about twins, lovers, couples and pairs of all kinds and now it is your turn. Send us your best original work of 2000 words or less.
With thanks to our major sponsor The Sister Cities of Stratford Victoria and Collins Booksellers in Sale, we are able to offer prizes across three categories. First prize includes $300 cash, two tickets to a performance of the community play, Twelfth Night and a beautiful wooden quill crafted by local artist Gavin Roberts. The local prize for a writer residing in Gippsland includes a Collins Book voucher plus two tickets to a performance of the community play. The final category is for a young writer aged under 18, who will receive a Collins book voucher.
For all things Shakespeare visit stratfordshakespeare.com.au
Waddington
WAITING
BY PERRY LAIRDYou're the only one I know That I could ever love
Love you from head to toe
All that I do is whisper your name And we live it all again
You say that you want another man
All I can do is stand by And watch you walk away I've waited for you all my life
And I don't feel satisfied at throwing it all away You might say it's romantic to feel this way But all I feel is pain
You dream of another plan and all I can do is stand by And watch you walk away I was waiting for You were waiting for We both were waiting patiently I was waiting, you were waiting We both were waiting for you and me
You say you want another lover
Well go ahead, take one mother But don't expect me to stay
You know that I won't be around To share the joy that you've found I couldn't even look at his face
You might say it's romantic to feel this way But all I feel is the pain
You dream of another plan And all I can do is stand by As I watch you walk away.
I am waiting for I hope you'll be waiting for We both will be waiting for you and me.
