Happy New Year!

Thanks to Kylie McKay of Romsey for supplying this postcard. 

The writer is Elsie of Chandos Street, Coburg. Fanny McKay lived at Hill Croft Farm in Newlands. Elsie refers to two former students of Coburg State School - C. Phillips and L. Libbis - and there's been some sort of tiff because she's not speaking to them.

I'm not sure who C. Phillips was, but the Libbis family lived in Mayfield Street, Coburg between 1909 and 1912 when they moved to Nelson Street. Leslie and Bill Libbis both served in World War One (Bill was killed in August 1915). They had a sister Myrtle Lilian, so perhaps she was called Lilian. Otherwise, it appears Elsie's argument was with Leslie. We may never know!

Both Leslie and William Libbis are featured in my book The Old Boys of Coburg State School Go to War which is available from Coburg Historical Society.   

Season's Greetings!

Thanks to Kylie McKay of Romsey for providing this card. 

Fan is Fanny McKay of Hill Croft Dairy, Newlands. The Hugh she refers to is Hugh Hilliar and Will Geddes is his nephew. They, with Will's cousin William McKay, died in a boating accident at Tarwin in July 1917, just before the cousins were due to leave for WW1. You can read about it here. 

The stories of William McKay and William Geddes as well as that of Kylie's grandfather Gordon McKay, are told in my book, The Old Boys of Coburg State School Go to War. They were all members of the pioneering McKay family who owned some of the earliest quarries in the area and went on to be prominent dairy farmers.

William Geddes. Courtesy Cassy Twomey.

William McKay. Courtesy Cassy Twomey.

Gordon McKay. Courtesy Coburg Historical Society.

Cricket - it's the season!

Cricket team - Coburg? I'm guessing it is, because of the logo/emblem on the caps. Gordon Alexander McKay is third from the left sitting down. But who are the others? And what year was the photo taken? Image courtesy Kylie McKay, Romsey.

Current logo from the Coburg Cricket Club's Facebook page.

It's a cricket team again and I've guessed that it's taken at Coburg. Gordon Alexander McKay is third from the right in the front row. Image courtesy Kylie McKay, Romsey.

I wonder if you noticed the woman looking on at the top right of the image. Sometimes these little extras provide a bit more 'personality' to a photo. I don't suppose anybody recognises her? Or could help date the photo from her clothes? (If it's Coburg, then it would have to be before Gordon McKay's enlistment in July 1915. If it's after the war, it could be anywhere up to April 1922 when Gordon McKay died. And if it's after WW1, then it's likely it was taken at Cowra, NSW, although he had big problems with arthritis in his knees from the time he joined up, which probably meant he couldn't play cricket any more.) 

I also noticed that homemade cakes and scones were on offer (close to lunchtime for me as I write this and it's just made me very hungry!) The curved opening of the building behind the players is also very distinctive and I'm hoping that someone reading this will recognise that feature.

Gordon Alexander McKay served in WW1. He married Annie Forbes in 1913 and was living in Preston with his wife and two children when he enlisted. 

Gordon Alexander McKay, courtesy Coburg Historical Society.

After the war Gordon McKay moved to Cowra, NSW with his brother-in-law Archie Sutherland. By now there were four children in the family, the last, a girl, born just two months before Gordon died in April 1922 of blood poisoning after his knee was injured when he was run over by a waggon. After his death, the farm was sold and Annie moved to Essendon brought up her four children. She remained in Essendon until her death in 1964.


Gordon McKay is featured in my book The Old Boys of Coburg State School Go To War, which is available from Coburg Historical Society.

Coburg RSL's Remembrance Day Service

This morning I was honoured to be the guest speaker at the Coburg RSL Sub-Branch's Remembrance Day Service as we reflected on the 100 years that have passed since the Armistice was signed at 11am on 11 November 1918.

The compere was Kathy Doyle. Sub-Branch President Michael Pianta spoke movingly about the war itself and its global and local impact. It was my turn then and I chose to look at how local people rebuilt their lives and found a way forward after the war was over. 

Music was provided by the 4th/19th Prince of Wales's Light Horse Regiment Association Band under the baton of Ian Davidson; vocalist Hannah Desmond; buglar Gavan Stray and piper Ian Arrell. The catafalque party was made up of members of the 7 Transport Squadron.

A group of World War One re-enactors showed us what some of the equipment and a Casualty Clearing Station would have looked like.

And wreaths were laid as a moving tribute to all service personnel who have fought for Australia over the past 100 years.

The service was a time to reflect on the losses but also on the impact of that war on the local community.

I leave you now with my final words this morning:

'We are here today to remember those who died, those who returned, and their families, friends and the community. The individuals I have just spoken of looked their futures squarely in the face as they set about creating their new world. I would like to think that in the same situation, we would all do the same.'

After the war was over

The National Archives of Australia has just launched an online exhibition on how Australians faced life after the war.

It's well worth a visit and you can see it here.

If you are in the area and are interested, I am speaking at Coburg Library next Monday (12 November) at 5pm. Find out more here. 

'The crowd in front of the Age office yesterday afternoon', Age, 13 November 1918

Coburg RSL celebrates its centenary

Yes, Coburg RSL is one of the oldest sub-branches around and it's just about to turn 100.

Here's some information about the Centenary Celebrations.

 Click here to book your ticket through EventBrite.

Coburg Cycling Club's WW1 Honour Board

I took this not very good photo of Coburg Cycling Club's WW1 Honour Board in January 2015. 

There were many articles about members of the Cycling Club who enlisted in the local newspapers. One of the most detailed was this one from the Brunswick and Coburg Leader, 4 August 1916.

Coburg Cycling Club: It is the great pride of the club that they have sent so many champions to the front. A roll of honor board was made some time ago, but it is full: 40 names in all. There are 20 names to be put on yet, hence the necessity of another board.

Among the latest members who have been wounded are L. Cpl. Broome and Pte. Lou. Ambler. Both are progressing favorably, according to latest advice.

Recently we announced that Pte. C. Jones, our great champion, had been 'seriously wounded' receiving a bullet in the head. We are now pleased to report that he has been through a successful operation and is on the road to recovery. He will be remembered as one of our foremost road and track champions, representing the club in Nella Shields and road premierships, gaining 2nd place in the 25-mile premiership, and other races too numerous to mention. His cheerful, willing disposition, his good nature, gained for him many friends in the ranks, as it did in the Coburg Cycling Club. He enlisted in July 1915, in company with J. Sheppard and W. Cooper, who, we are pleased to report, are in the best of health.

Corporal Gambetta, who enlisted and was rejected, was for several months on home service. He has now received his discharge. We will now see his well-known figure on the road. He is training hard in preparation for the big wheel race at the Exhibition, to be held this month. He has every hope of getting into form again and repeating his former successes. His ambition is to get to the front and fight for King and country.

In the end, the Honour Board listed 86 Club members, 16 of whom died.