50 Years Ago – 30 April 1976

Mr. Ted Briggs of the Golden Fleece station reduced the price of his petrol to 68.9 cents a gallon [15.16 cents per L] on Tuesday morning. He knocked 10 cents off a gallon as a protest against depot trading under which certain sections of the community get discount petrol. He claims that if all petrol was sold through normal retail outlets then the price for everyone could be reduced. His aim is to get the oil companies to remove petrol pumps from the depots.

STOP PRESS. 2pm Thursday: Mr. Briggs has removed his sign advertising discount petrol following a threat to have his petrol supply discontinued for a month. Mr. Briggs said he did not intend to let the matter rest.

Five new Brownies were enrolled in Moruya this month. They were: Julie Louttit, Tracey Anderson, Michelle Murphy, Stephanie Mayman, Caroline Stephens. Welcome! Proficiency badges have been earned by Michelle Greig, Jenny Martin and Adele Armour. Hostess – Bernadette Beasley, Michelle Armour, Christine Greig, Jenny Martin. Collector – Angela Jay.

The Tuross Heads Women’s Club presented a carry chair to Mr. Jack Bardsley, Deputy Superintendent of the Far South Coast Ambulance Service, for use by the Moruya branch. The chair, that cost $166.50, is specially designed for ambulances and can carry patients up and down stairs. It is a composition of a stretcher and a wheel chair.

Emily Constable, a resident of Bodalla for the past 45 years, died in hospital on the 19^th April. She was born in Sydney in 1889, and was a member of the Sutherland family of Dignam’s Creek. In 1906 she married William James Constable (Jim) and lived in the Dignam’s Creek area where she was post-mistress for a number of years and raised seven children. In 1931 the family moved to Bodalla, where Jim passed away in 1964. By 1974 she was totally blind and had to live with her daughter. She is survived by one son Fred, and four daughters, May (Mrs. Engelman), Ruby (Mrs. Travis, Narooma), Ada (Mrs. O’Cass, Bodalla) and Marie (Mrs. A. Lamont, a niece, Moruya) and their families.

All the members of the Tom Price family gave him a surprise party for his birthday on Saturday, April 24, in the CWA Hall, Moruya. Very special surprises were his sister, Mrs. Ella Only, of Hawthorn, Victoria, and all Mrs. Price’s sisters and brothers-in-law from Queanbeyan and Canberra. His daughters Ella and Pauline and their husbands, Bruce and Jim, also all his grandchildren and great-grandchildren and lots of friends were present. Jack Mylott created and iced the cake, and Mrs. Frank Mehl catered for the dinner. A very happy birthday for a fine citizen of Moruya.