Genealogical &
Historical Society Inc.
No. A17295X
Inaugural Member Society of Genealogical Society of Victoria Inc
Quarterly
Newsletter
Number
66
May 2001
Page 1
| Centenary of Federation |
We hope you enjoy our Centenary of Federation issue of Mallee Roots. The theme is apt since the second week of May is the actual centenary of the opening of Federal Parliament in the Exhibition Buildings in Melbourne on 9 May 1901.
Our next issue will coincide with the flotilla
of river craft passing through Swan Hill in August. Source to the Sea will
consist of a large number of paddle-steamer and
other river boats making the journey from Corowa down to Goolwa.
This should be a spectacular sight and something
to show the children and grand-children. It may not be repeatable since
the promised new bridges along the Murray may not open to let river craft
through.
The City Council has received a grant for celebrations
while the boats are here - a street parade, festivities in Riverside
Park, a Federation garden party at Murray Downs
Homestead to name just a few. The Genealogical and Historical
Society is considering entering a float in the
parade and having a static display in the Park. We need your ideas, help
in
construction and attendance on the day. Contact
the President on 5032 2396 if you can assist. We havent long to plan and
build!
The next Australian census will take place just
before our August Newsletter and I want to reiterate what youve
probably read in every family history newsletter
this year. Please tick the box that says you consent to your data being
kept and released after 100 years. If youve
ever found your ancestors on U.K. censuses, youll know how useful this
information can be. Please pass on this message
to 10 of your friends and ask them to pass it on, otherwise the data will
be destroyed.
Were looking for volunteers to help with scanning the Zaetta negatives. If you have a couple of spare hours in the week, talk to Julie Nix. Our burial and memorial inscriptions database will be completed soon, thanks to lots of hard work by Gillian Day. Well need to walk around the cemetery to physically proof it. Any volunteers?
On Easter Saturday we hired the Campbell Street
kiosk and sold $700 worth of our book, Traces of the Past, published with
a Centenary of Federation grant. If youre thinking of purchasing a copy,
get in soon - its likely the price will increase before too much longer.
Thanks to members who assisted with sales and to all members who carry
out the numerous voluntary tasks needed to keep our Society functioning
- our hardworking secretary and treasurer, librarian and fiche librarian,
research officer and newsletter editor and, above all, our rostered library
assistants.
Thank you all.
| Marg Banks |
President
|
duties on goods crossing state borders. Before federation, no cargoes could be unloaded from paddle-steamers at the
wharf, or any goods brought across the bridge without inspection by customs officers. Shopkeepers resented delays in
goods being available. Customs officers also had the power to seize goods where duties had not been paid. Labourers
and itinerant workers had to pay duties on any tea, coffee, sugar, tobacco or alcohol they brought across the bridge.
The most hated duty of all was the stock tax imposed in 1877. In one month Mr Byrne, the Customs Officer at Swan Hill, collected £1154/12/6 from 26,000 sheep, 400 cattle and 179 horses entering Victoria. The Swan Hill corres-
pondent to the Kerang Times wrote We trust this officer has his life ensured against drowning, or that his box is above high-water mark. (2)
One avenue through which people worked for federation
was the ANA (Australian Natives Association) 3) Branch
No.106 of this patriotic friendly society was
formed in Swan Hill in 1890. The inaugural members were M. Binns, Ed
Binns, P. Fenton, Ed Flight, G. Gannon, John
Gray, W. Gould, A. McDonald, J. Neilson, J. Rogan, Thos. Wilkins, Thos.
Pye, William Pye, Henry Pye and J. Power (4) By the end of the following
year membership had grown to 25, led by President Thomas Wilkins, Treasurer
H. Boys and Secretary W. F. Noonan. Fortnightly meetings were held in Boys
Hall.
In 1893 the President of the Swan Hill branch was Mr G. Stanford, Vice-President - Mr. E.A. Flight, Treasurer - Mr G. Barnes, Secretary - Mr A.N. Barstow, Assistant Secretary - Mr W. E. Allpress, Committee - Messrs W. Gould, R. Berry, C. Parsons, M. Binns and A. Weatheritt, Medical Officer - Dr H. St John Mitchell. Meetings were held at the White Swan Hotel.
In April 1898 a large crowd attended a meeting
on federation in the roller skating rink (5). It was chaired by Cr John
Stewart and addressed by Dr Salmon and Mr Roberts,
Vice-President of the local ANA branch, which had convened the meeting.
Mr Angus Knox Chapman, owner and editor of the Swan Hill Guardian, proposed
a number of motions
supporting federation.
Another meeting at Barrys Federal Hotel later
in the month was chaired by Herman Moser, JP and addressed by
Bendigo M.P., John Chanter. Messrs Cato and Monahan
moved motions to work for federation. On 13 May Shire
President Stewart chaired another well-attended
meeting in Bells Hall and on the 19 May Mr H. Uchtman, Secretary of the
Swan Hill ANA, advertised a public meeting in the Presbyterian Church to
debate the federal issue. Later in May, Rev. Gitford of the Wesleyan Church
spoke on Federation, the Religious Aspect.
After Federation, the local ANA branch was involved in the celebrations. A half holiday had been declared in Swan Hill 14 May 1901 and all the shops closed for the afternoon. At 12.30 p.m. the Swan Hill Brass Band formed up at the Post Office accompanied by a squad of Victorian Rangers commanded by Sgt. Drummond, and they marched up to the school where the citizens were assembled. The ANA had presented a Union Jack and this was run up the pole by Master Donald Chapman. God Save the King was sung and speeches made, including one by Mr F.S. Latch, an ANA representative.
The annual ANA combined syllabus for all Victorian branches, including No.106 Swan Hill, lists office-bearers, meeting places, topics for discussion at the fortnightly meetings and who was to lead the activity. A sample page from the 1893 syllabus is shown on p. xi of Traces of the Past by Graham Gardner, our Societys recent publication made possible by a grant from Centenary of Federation Victoria. (See Page 1)
Special thanks to archivist Beryl Armstrong at Australian Unity (formerly ANA) who generously allowed access to their records. These are a mine of information for family and local historians. The quarterly returns sent in by branches show names, ages, marital status and occupations of each new member and dates of clearance for people moving to and from other branches, which makes it easier to track an itinerant ancestors movements if he was a member. Membership was for men only, although they could enrol their wives for purposes of medical and funeral benefits, but women took no part in the day-to-day activities of the organisation and no names were listed, only ages.
Some examples of the information available from the ANA quarterly returns are shown below.
Inaugural members 1890
Binns, M. 26 +s labourer Neilson, J 22 s bank
clerk
Binns, Ed. 16 +s storeman Power, J* 26 s billiards
sln
Fenton, P 29 m contractor Pye, Henry 25 m contractor
Flight, Ed 26 m engineer Pye, Thos 25 s butcher
Gannon, G 30 m accountant Pye, William 20 s butcher
Gould, W 28 +s saddler Rogan, J 21 s printer
Gray, John 35 m auctioneer Wilkins,Thos 33 s
publican
Mcdonald, A 25 +s saddler
+s = single, m = married *
J. Power joined 1/9/90 was a clearance from Charlton
By the time of the next quarterly return:
H. Pye was unfinancial. Ed Flight had enrolled
his wife aged 20. Daniel Rohan, aged 18, had died 6 Dec 1890 but his
family was not entitled to funeral benefits because
he had been a member less than six weeks. J. Power was given a
clearance to Bendigo 24/10/90, so he had been
in Swan Hill only about eight weeks.
New members, with their date of election or
clearance, were:
Carruthers, J 19/12/90 30 m station master
Pettigrew, G 9/12/90 22 s driver
Ritchie, J 5/12/90 24 s carpenter
Stanford, G 1/12/90 38 m saddler clearance from
Brighton
Urquhart, H 19/12/90 22 s blacksmith
In 1891, new members were
Alpress, N.E. 13/3/91 postm. clearance from Sandhurst
Barnes, G 25/11/91 29 m contrac
Barstow, A. 8/7/91 22 s storeman
Crilly, W 10/4/91 38 m hawker
Fluent, F 5/8/91 27 s coach driver
Kirk, J. 22/7/91 34 m blacksmith
Long, James 22/7/91 16 s baker
Mcmannis, F 24/6/91 26 s railway guard
Mckeddie, W.J. 5/8/91 27 s rly fireman
Milburn, F.H. 8/5/91 25 clearance from Brunswick
Neerhut, Fred 23/11/91 29 m lab
Nestor, M 5/8/91 27 s rly line repair
Picken, C 25/11/91 25 m lab
Ramsay, F 18/1/91 19 s gardener
Robinson, H. 8/7/91 33 m line repair, railway
Smith, T 27/2/91 25 m carrier
Thomas, J.H*. 18/1/91 30 m inspector of works
Tovey, M 23/12/91 32 m railway platelayer cleared
from Sandhurst
Walker, G.N. 22/7/91 18 s storeman
White, W 8/7/91 16 s butcher
Thomas, J.H. given a clearance 5/6/91 location
not specified
The following enrolled their wives, whose ages
are in brackets
Crilly, W; Robinson, H (30); Kirk, J (28); Carruthers,
J (32); Pickin, C (23); Barnes, G (25)
W. Pye died, aged 22 and was allowed £20
funeral expenses
(1 )Morris, Alan Rich River (1952)
(2) Scholes, Leslie A History of the Shire of
Swan Hill: Public Land Private Profit and Settlement (1989)
(3) Gardner, Graham Traces of the Past: A Pictorial
History of Swan Hill and District from Federation to the Present,
1901-2001
(2001)
(4) Archives of Australian Unity, formerly ANA.
(5) Swan Hill Guardian
SHG&HS Inc - Open Day - 27th May
week days, however other Members are most welcome. Volunteers will be on duty to give assistance. 10.00 am to 4.00 pm. Tea and Coffee will be available. BYO Lunch.