Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 26 May 1917, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
DEATH. – By Wednesday’s Sydney “Sun” appeared the funeral notice of Mr. Timothy (Ted) Hogan, late of Glenduart, Mullenderree. The remains interred in the Catholic Cemetery, Rookwood, on Thursday.
RECOVERING. – His many friends through the district will be pleased to hear that Mr. James Lavis of Mosquito Bay, who went to Sydney some six weeks ago to seek relief from an internal trouble, has returned home very considerably improved and without undergoing an operation. Mr. Lavis’ trouble was brought on through strain in overlifting, and after he had been advised by one or two doctors to undergo an operation for appendicitis, had the good luck to place himself under the treatment of an eminent Herbalist with the pleasing result above stated.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND. – A general meeting of the parishioners of St. John’s Church was held at the Parish Hall on Monday night, the 21st instant, to devise ways and means of raising money to Replenish the General Fund which is highly necessary for the general upkeep of the Church. No effort in this direction has been made for a considerable time, the Wardens and Council being loth to interfere in any way with the various patriotic efforts which have been held in Moruya. After considerable discussion it was decided to make a “straight-giving” appeal to parishioners, and collectors were appointed to canvass for subscriptions.
DOVE PIGEON. – For the past two or three years there has been a lonely dove pigeon, of the brown dove variety, cooing in the ornamental trees surrounding the local R.C. Church, Presbytery and Convent, and so pleased was our townsman, Mr. R. Knight, with the bird’s soft plaintiff note and sympathetic with it in its loneliness that when is Sydney some time ago he secured, brought back and liberated two pairs of the same breed. We are publishing this news for the information of our lads so that they will be the more careful not to disturb their nests but leave them to breed and multiply. As far as we know the original lonesome dove has so far not mated with Mr. Knight’s importations, but since the departure of Archdeacon Cassidy has changed its religion, having left its R.C. home for that of the ground surrounding St. John’s Church and Rectory.
OUR BOYS AT THE FRONT. –
Ptes. A. Cruikshanks and Claude Jones of Mogo, are in a London hospital suffering from trench feet.
All the Mogo boys are in the fighting line except Gunners F. Innes and G. White, who have not long left these shores.
Amongst the list of missing are the names of Ptes. E. J. Sebbens of Mogo, S. W. Marsden, Bodalla, and E. H. Riley, Narooma. Pte Sebbens only left Australia in Nov. last and sailed to France in March.
L-Cpl. F. G. Gillespie, Cobargo, wounded.
PERSONAL and OTHERWISE. –
Constable Barry of Central Tilba has been promoted to the charge of Narooma Police Station.
Dr. and Mrs. King formerly of Moruya, have returned to Nowra where they intend to reside privately.
Corporal “Joe” Smith, late of Moruya, who was badly wounded in the Pozieres battles, and who was invalided home, has sufficiently recovered to return to the fray, and will sail immediately for the front to rejoin his four brothers, who are now in the thick of the fighting.
The Chinese Consul, Mr. Tseng (Melb.), accompanied by Dr. and Mrs. Chockson, will arrive in Braidwood on Wednesday, and will be the guests of Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Nom Chong. Dr. and Mrs. Chockson are passing through on their way to Sydney to join the steamer for China. They will return to their home in Ballarat (Vic.) in a few months’ time.
BODALLA NEWS. – A most successful ball in aid of the Y.M.C.A. funds was held in Bodalla on Wednesday night, the nice little sum of £11 being cleared. Mrs. G. V. Ebsworth, Miss Marjorie Mort, Mrs. Head and Nurse Salter were the prime movers. There were three or four car loads of patriots from Moruya present, including Mr. and Mrs. T. Flood and Mr. and Mrs. J. R. Milne. Empire Day was celebrated by a picnic at the public school.
Eighteen 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1916 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).
