General News
2 May, 2026
St Arnaud 100 Years Ago: school officially opens and Anzac Day services
What was making news in St Arnaud in 1926.
Anzac Day: This year 25th April was a Sunday. During the afternoon, 30 returned soldiers led by the St Arnaud Band marched from the weighbridge down Napier St to the Town Hall where a memorial service was held. This Anzac Day Service was advertised to be as exactly as that being held in Melbourne where 15,000 ex-soldiers marched from St Kilda Road. The St Arnaud Town Hall was filled to capacity and was the largest gathering for an Anzac Day service ever held in St Arnaud. Seated on the stage were the Mayor Cr Gardener, Rev T Dickson [Methodist], Mr T H Ritchie [representing Rev C T Fletcher, Presbyterian], Mr Turner [C of E], Ensign Cant [Salvation Army] and the choir. The service went as follows – National Anthem, prayers for the King, the Queen and the Royal Family, Hymn ‘All people that on earth do dwell’, prayer by Mr Turner, reading of the lesson by Mr Ritchie, hymn ‘Nearer my god to thee’ the Lord’s Prayer, solo ‘Heroes of the Dardanelles’ by Mrs Turner, address by Rev Thomas Dickson, solo by Mrs Dickson Rest in the Lord’, thanksgiving prayer, hymn ‘Lead kindly light’, Benediction by Rev Dickson, two minutes silence, followed by the ‘Last Post’ by Bugler Summerfield to conclude the service.
Swanwater West: The new Swanwater West State School was officially opened on Friday 23rd April. For the past six years school sessions have been conducted in the local Sunday School. The new school building is situated to the rear of the church on the property of Mr A P Bath. In very adverse weather the opening ceremony began with the raising of the flag, followed by the pledge and the National Anthem by the students. There were solo recitations by Miss Mabel Hodge, Mr C J Sparrow, Miss Laurel Bath and two by the children who also sang two songs. The Hon E G Bath gave an address and then presented each child with a souvenir button showing a photograph of the new school. The new building has accommodation for thirty children and features modern windows and lighting plus fly proof lunch cupboards. Children’s races were stopped by very heavy rain, however the winners of races that were run were – Marion Hodge, Roper Hodgson, Geoffrey Young, Myrtle Bath, and Albert Grundy. The children were given fruit and lollies and tea was served but the children’s concert was postponed so everyone could return home before dark due to the bad weather.
St Arnaud Turf Club Winter Meeting: The race meeting was held on 28th April in glorious weather. The recent rain made the track in good running order but the entries in each race was below six horses. In the first event the Handicap Hurdle Race there were two accidents. Just after the start at the first hurdle ‘Bilwyt’ fell with its’ rider Foley who escaped injury, then on the second round at the same hurdle ‘Royal Stick’ fell and threw the rider Hatcher who broke his leg just above the ankle. The race was won by C Hagney’s ‘Flying Well’ ridden by C Kingston. Only four started in the main race the St Arnaud Handicap and ‘Good Taste’ led all the way till entering the straight when ‘Dal Monte’ moved forward and won. Dal Monte is owned by F M O’Donnell, rider E Cameron and ‘Good Taste’ is owned by P T Vogel, rider G McKenna. First prize was £50,length 9 furlongs, time 1min 56 secs. The Handicap Novelty Pony race was won by R McQueen’s ‘Blue Amber’ ridden by E Bulter.
Farewell: Mr & Mrs Harry Raeburn who are moving to Geelong were given a farewell evening by the residents of Winjallock and Paradise, where they were presented with a marble clock.
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