The annual school concert – 1914 style.

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of this time in 1914, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

CONVENT SCHOOL CONCERT – “Nothing succeeds like success,” and success succeeding success is following the efforts of the good Sisters in their work in preparing the children for the annual school concert. The performance on Friday night last was one of the best we have attended, and the immense audience assembled in the Mechanics’ Hall fully demonstrated their appreciation of every item. The proceedings opened with a chorus “Welcome” by the Senior girls and was warmly applauded. The patriotic song “Faithful to our Motherland” (words and music by Father Consadine formerly of Braidwood) by Masters J., R., P. and E. Heffernan, F. and W. Constable, J. McKeon, Green, Chewying, Rootsey, Corrigan, McCauley and Quilter, was well rendered and enthusiastically received.

This was immediately followed by the flag drill, excellently executed by the same boys….”Night, lovely night” sweetly and harmoniously sung…preceded physical culture exercises by the same young ladies. This item produced one of the most beautiful spectacular effects of the evening. The pretty performers, who were attired in flowing robes of blue which glistened with representations of the various orbs of the celestial sphere, gracefully and with marked precision went through the numerous intricate movements…

After an interval of ten minutes a fitting finale to the evening’s scenes of grandeur was staged, the performance being styled “The Nation’s Quarrel.” The various Nations were represented as follows: – Mother Earth, Monie Ryan; Holland, M. Constable; England, V. Corrigan; Scotland, J. Quilter; Japan, Mildred Ryan; France, M. Heffernan; Italy, F. Constable; Russia. V. Rootsey; Egypt, P. Heffernan; Switzerland, S. Rankin; Germany, J. Battel; America (Uncle Sam), F. McCauley; Neptune (Father Sea), Miss Johnson; Ireland, K. McCauley; Australia, K. Brogan; Australian Aboriginal, W. Constable; China, J. Heffernan; Africa, Victor Corrigan; Turkey, E. Heffernan; Spain, M. Brogan; Iceland, J. McKeon; India, R. Heffernan. Each child cleverly rendered a song and dance symbolic of the nations represented… 19/12/1914

BATEMAN’S BAY (From our Correspondent) – …It is currently reported here that the very popular firm of McMillan Bros. is about to enter into the weekly shipping trade to this port, if so it should command a big support, as the members are widely known on the South Coast. It is understood that the ever popular Alf Duffy is to be their agent at the Bay. A better choice could not be made as nothing is a trouble to Alf. 19/12/1914

FLAGS! FLAGS!! Of the Allies at Weatherby’s. 19/12/1914

HISTORIC UTTERANCE – One of the speeches which will go down to history is that delivered by the chancellor of the Exchequer, the Rt. Hon. D. Lloyd George, at the Queen’s Hall, London, when he dealt with the question of national honour. A full text of the speech has been reprinted in pamphlet form, and we have received several copies from Messrs. Gordon and Gotch, Sydney, Ltd., which we will be pleased to distribute to applicants. 19/12/1914

MISS ISABEL PETERSEN, collector for the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Institution was in town on Tuesday. The collector’s charming personality should materially tend to increase the Institution’s exchequer this year. 19/12/1914

Sixteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1913 are available ($5 ea) from the society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Pioneer Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (mdhs.org.au).