No Foxtrots For Moruya – News from 10 years ago.

Featured image: Opening of the Masonic Hall, Page Stret Moruya

Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 5 November 1920, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society

DEBATING SOCIETY.– Not many members appeared on Tuesday night to hear the mock trial in connection with the Debating Society. The next meeting was arranged for the 16th inst. Members will be called upon to make an impromptu speech or render a musical item in lieu thereof.

SOLDIERS MEMORIAL.– the Hon. Secretary, Mr. D. Cameron, notifies that the unveiling of the Nelligen Soldiers’ Memorial will take place on 31st Dec. A concert and ball will be held the same evening. There will also be sports on New Year’s Day, with a cinderella at night.

MANAGER’S VISIT.– Mr. Miller, manager of the I.S.N. Co., was at Bateman’s Bay last week. He intends to visit Moruya and further south almost immediately. The primary object of his projected visit here is in connection with the joining up of the two local wharves, provided he obtains the sympathy of the timber shipping fraternity.

BAD ROAD.– Mr. R. Backhouse, carrier, struck a piece of bad luck this week (says the Braidwood “Dispatch.”) While on his way from Nelligen with his loaded team one of his horses slipped coming up the mountain and snapped his leg. The animal had to be killed. The mountain road, by the way, is in a scandalously bad state, and ought to receive the speedy attention of the Eurobodalla Shire Council.

FOXTROT. – Moruya devotees of dancing are rigidly faithful to the old style of stepping the light fantastic. The modern foxtrots, besitations and shimmey shakes seem to have no place on local ballroom programmes.

NOMINATIONS CLOSE.—Horse owners are reminded that nominations for the Moruya Race Club’s Spring Meeting close at 4 p.m. on Monday next, 8th inst.

MORUYA unfortunately contains a few hoodlums of both genders, whose souls are so warped that they cannot appreciate anything refined or good. Neither have they the manners to allow others the enjoyment. We refer to the talking and laughing during the high-class entertainment given by the Lynch Family on Thursday night. We are pleased to state however, that the worst offenders are not Moruya’s own native born.

 MASONIC BALL. In accordance with their annual custom the members of the local body of Masons held a successful ball on Friday night last.  Good weather favoured the function and there was a fair attendance, including visitors from surrounding centres. At one o’clock the ball opened with the Grand March under the director-ship of Wor. Bro. W. Jermyn.  This was a very effective sight, the pleasing tones of the blue and silver Masonic regalia relieving the sombre black of the usual evening dress and the ladies’ many-hued costumes helping to make a colourful picture. From then till the small hours of the morning the ball was kept merrily rolling to music of the best, supplied by Miss Kurz and Mr. J. Buckley. …

LECTURE FOR PRODUCERS.– Next Thursday night Mr. A. Crane will lecture on co-operation amongst Farmers and Producers in the Shire Hall. Mr. Crane is an A.I.F. man, who saw active service, and afterwards studied the farming methods as carried out in France and Great Britain. As this is a matter of importance to all producers there should be a good attendance, and everybody is invited. Mr. Crane is a good speaker and a practical man from the Department of Agriculture.

 WATTLE BARK. Business in bark continues slow, and our sales during the past fortnight total only 427 bags, all being in good order and of medium    to heavy substance. Only this class is acceptable by tanners, and as there is a large quantity of light and poor quality bark on hand we fear a further fall in values of this grade is inevitable. We quote: Best South Coast chopped £12 to £13; fair quality £ 6 to £ 8; damaged £4 to £6 per ton.

 ADVERTISEMENTS

IMPORTANT. FORD’S ANNOUNCEMENT. All cars ordered from this date equipped with SELF-STARTER and ELECTRIC LGIHT.  H.J. BATE, Tilba

TO LEASE BY TENDER.  TENDERS are invited and will be received up to the 26th November from persons desirous of obtaining a lease of my Paddock of about 19 acres at Bateman’s Bay. H.J. BETTINI, Ferryman, Narooma.

Twenty one 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1919 are available ($6 to $8 ea) from the Museum.  Back copies of local newspapers can be viewed on microfilm at the Society’s Family History Research Library (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Museum in Campbell St. Moruya.

The Moruya Museum houses a collection of furniture, books, artefacts and memorabilia that is intended to show visitors something of the lives of the ordinary people of this community from the middle of the nineteenth century. Most items on display were donated by local families. 

To explore the museum’s online collection click HERE.

Click to read a copy of the current museum brochure.