100 Years Ago
July 1926
Football: One hundred and twenty St Arnaud supporters joined the players on the train to Birchip where they watched them play in very wet conditions.
Scores- ¼ time St A 1-2, B nil, ½ time Birchip led by 9 points, ¾ time St A scored 6-6, Birchip nil final scores St Arnaud 8-16 defeated Birchip 4-6.
Goals kicked for St Arnaud by McAuliffe 2, Proctor 2, Rowe, Lloyd, Edelsten, and Millgate one each and best players for Birchip Connelly Bros, Hampton, Benton and Lockwood.
Birchip player McIntosh broke his collarbone and St Arnaud player McAuliffe suffered a nasty cut to his eye.
Donald 8-19 defeated Cope Cope 6-13 and Watchem 8-6 defeated Litchfield 5-7.
Premiership ladder at the moment – Donald 28, Watchem 24, St Arnaud. Birchip Litchfield 16 each and Cope Cope 8.
Soccer: A soccer match was held at King George’s Park with players chosen from new arrivals from overseas and created much interest from spectators. St Arnaud 6 goals beat Fentons Creek 4 goals and the proceeds were donated to the St Arnaud Football Club.
Deaths: Mrs Mary Esther Swanton relict of the late Mr Edward Swanton formerly of ‘Hope farm’ Mt Teddington, Stuart Mill died age 97. Her husband predeceased her thirty-three years ago and Mary spent the last twenty-six years living with her daughter in Maryborough. Mary was born in Somerset England and sailed for Australia in 1855.
Three years later she married Mr Swanton and they lived at Elsternwick before trying their luck on the gold diggings. In 1864 they purchased a farm at Stuart Mill where they were very involved with the Methodist Church. Mary and Edward had seven children; all but three are left William, Ellen and Esther.
Mr Michael Breen died at his residence Inkerman St, ST Arnaud age 76, leaving a widow Ann and a daughter Mary [Mrs J Downes]. Michael was born in Ireland and came to Australia as a young man, married Ann Gorman in 1885 and selected land at Swanwater where he farmed successfully until retiring eight years ago.
Mr Duncan Ferries of St Arnaud died age 45 leaving a widow Agnes and five children. He was born in Harcourt and worked at his father’s monumental masonry in Castlemaine.
Fourteen years ago he started business in St Arnaud and three years ago George Nimmo joined him as a partner. Duncan had been ill for eighteen months, the last nine weeks confined to his bed. As Duncan had served in the Boer war the R S L conducted the funeral service.
Traynors Lagoon Rifle Club: Conditions –300 and 500 yards, seven shots at each – F Harding 69, G Barratt 68, J Clarke 62, J H Jesse 57, and A J Cameron 55.
Horse Bolted: A horse in full harness bolted from H Neville’s residence in Burnside Road and careered madly along the road until reaching H Shepherd’s blacksmith shop where it slipped on the asphalt and broke its’ neck.
Read More: St Arnaud