“What About Moruya’s Recruitment March?” – News from 100 years ago

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 23 October 1915, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:

RECRUITING MARCH – The Gilgandra recruiting march is progressing so satisfactorily that many distant towns throughout the State are making a movement in this connection, and Bega is also bestirring itself towards the same end. What about Moruya? If the Far South Coast starts a troop to link-up with Nowra, why could not Moruya and all the other smaller centres en route shoulder arms and join in the march, making one big imposing army of volunteers on arrival in Sydney? If our local Recruiting Association will take this up and communicate along the line from Nowra to Bega, we feel sure that the result, from a recruiting point of view, will be a great success. Now, Captain Harrison!

ILLNESS – A variety of complaints are prevalent in Moruya at the present time, and hardly a family through the whole district has escaped from one disease or the other. The complaint which has claimed the greatest number of victims is influenza in an aggravated form. Others have been suddenly struck down by throat trouble, which requires immediate remedies to save the patient from choking. Measles have attacked others and some have been affected by skin eruption in a milder form. A heavy fall of rain is urgently needed to sweep these diseases away.

MOTOR CAR BURNT – Messrs. Pooley and Malone had another of their motor cars completely destroyed by fire on Sunday. It is presumed that back-firing of the engine was the cause. This makes the third car which this firm has had burnt.

DREDGING – The output of the Tewksbury Proprietary Araluen dredge for the fortnight ended October 9 was 111 ozs. of gold while that of the Victorian Araluen plant for the same period was 89 ozs.

MILK FEVER – A town cow during the week developed milk fever the first night after calving. Mr. T. Gould was called in and used the air treatment. Though the animal was bad, in half an hour she showed signs of improvement, and next morning was feeding around, quite recovered. – Milton “Times.”

MEMORIAL SERVICE – An impressive memorial service was conducted in the Presbyterian Church on Sunday last by the Rev. C. McAlpine. The service was to the memory of Leighbourne Johnstone, who was killed at the front. At the conclusion of the service “The Dead March in Saul” was played. Miss Jenner officiated at the organ.

A WELCOME FACE – On Wednesday last we received a pleasant surprise on seeing the welcome and cheery face of friend Mr. George Mitchell, of the Narooma Saw Mills, facing us in our sick sanctum. The genial George has been away on an extended holiday jaunt seeing the sights of parts of the world, including the Panama Exhibition. Being a well informed and intelligent man Mr. Mitchell was enabled to improve the shining hours with greater facility and advantage than could many others if placed in the same happy position.

SAD DEATH – Quite a profound gloom was cast over Moruya yesterday when the sad news of the untimely death of Mrs. C. Stubbs, jnr., was made known. The deceased was confined of a daughter at her residence, Dwyer’s Creek, on last Wednesday week, but having contracted influenza was ordered to the hospital together with her nurse, Miss Maggie Heffernan, who was also seized with the same complaint. Nurse Heffernan rapidly recovered and is now out of hospital, but poor Mrs Stubbs became worse and passed away at 10:30 yesterday (Friday) morning. Deceased was only 33 years of age. She was the only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Little who reside near Dwyer’s creek, and leaves a husband and eight children, seven sons – the eldest being only 10 years old – and one (infant) daughter to mourn the irreparable loss of a dutiful wife and loving mother.

Seventeen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1914 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 Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au).

A  DVD entitled Soldiers of the Eurobodalla, Stories of our Locals is also now available from the Society.