Page . Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Newsletter of the Western Victorian Association of Historical Societies Inc. A0020504K

Published ; February/March, April/May, June/July, October/November 2015

April / May

2015

No 208

Societies cost - [ print or PDF, included in annual fee. ]

Individual Subscribers $ 15.00

EDITOR : Bob McIntosh - westernhistorian@hotmail.com

February/ March 2014 WVAHS Newsletter.

Page 2 President’s Report

Page 3 Pyramid Hill & Dist Hist. Soc. Inc. / ‘Anzac Sons’ book info.

Page 4. Midland Zone Meeting Report. Page 5. Southern Zone report

Page 6.. Wimmera Zone Meeting Report

Page 7. Warrnambool& Dist. Hist Society Inc. AGM Photographs x 3

Page 8. Nhill Hist. Society Inc. Page 9. Warracknabeal & Dist Hist Society Inc.

Page 10 Upcoming ‘Ryco Exhibition’ at Nhill Pages 11 & 12 G’long SWRail Info

Current WVAHS web address http://wvahsonline.com

New Web Address will be advised soon as available!

~~~~~~~ Please address all enquiries for WVAHS ~~~~~~~~

to the Secretary ; Helen Curkpatrick

273 Old Hamilton Rd. HAVEN -Vic 3401 -- Telephone, 03 5382 7227

ZONE MEETINGS;

October 2015

Southern Zone; Port Fairy

Wimmera Zone; Nhill

[Sunday Oct 25th.1.30pm ]

Midland Zone; Birchip

Executive Meeting Stawell Sat Aug 15th.

Next AGM Next AGM Next AGM 9th.& 9th.& 9th.& 10th. March 2016 March 2016 March 2016

Location & Host SocietyLocation & Host SocietyLocation & Host Society; ; ; Donald Donald Donald

WVAHS Committee for 2015 ~ 2016

President; Bob McIntosh Terang, S

Secretary/Treasurer; Helen Curkpatrick, Horsham. W

Past Pres; Ian Ballinger, W

Members; Yvonne Church, Cohuna. M Judith Kershaw Port Fairy S

Alma MacDonald, Cobden . S Brian O’Brien, Mt Rouse. S

Doug Pollard, Terang. S Helen Stevens, Pyramid Hill. M

Page 2. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Arapiles Ararat Balmoral Barham/

Koondrook Birchip Boort Camperdown Carisbrook

Casterton Charlton Cobden Cohuna Colac Coleraine Dimboola Derrinallum/Lismore

Donald Dunkeld East Loddon Edenhope Glenthompson Goldfields Halls Gap Hamilton

Hawkesdale Heytesbury Horsham Hopetoun Inglewood Jeparit Kerang

Koroit Geelong S/W Rail Maryborough Minyip Mortlake Mt Rouse Nhill Nullawil

Ouyen Port Fairy Portland Pyramid Hill Rainbow Rupanyup St Arnaud Stawell

Swan Hill Terang Warracknabeal Warrnambool Woolsthorpe Wycheproof South Wert Rail

Note; Send me your report [ to fit a half page ONLY ] Word documents are good. [but NOT an img. pdf ]

(Straight emails can’t be edited into the Western Historian either[ becomes un-co-ordinated paragraphs.)

[ Only the couple of societies who don’t have email, send hard copy to ‘The Editor, Western Historian ’ 28 Swanston St., Terang 3264. ]

L O N G R E P O R T S have to be ‘précised’ to fit the space, and may not contain what you consider to be relevant to your society

From your President

As we remember those men & women who represented Australia & New Zealand in the Gallipoli

landings in 1915, 100years ago, we are reminded of their sacrifice for us all.

The men who did not return, as well as those who did return with lasting

scars, both physical & mental, trying to ease back into civilian and fam-

ily life.

We remember those who waited in vain for their loved ones to return,

parents, siblings, wives & sweethearts, children, comrades & workmates

Australians have been awarded the

Victoria Cross in the following conflicts

6 in the Boer War 1899-1902

64 in World War I 1914-1918 (9 at Gallipoli)

2 in North Russia 1919

20 in World War II 1939-1945

4 in Vietnam 1962-1972

4 in Afghanistan 2001-2013

1. Australian soldiers were awarded nine Victoria Crosses at Gallipoli, in-

cluding seven during the Battle of Lone Pine (6–9 August 1915).

‘They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.’

Lest we Forget

Remembrance from your President, WVAHS Inc. ROBERT [ BOB ] McIntosh

Page 3. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

PYRAMID HILL & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY Inc

Since our last Zone meeting was at Barham I have been out of action and Margaret Williamson has often visiting her

husband Murray who is now in care at Wagga where their daughter lives.

The December meeting was held at the Victoria Hotel, a short meeting before members had lunch.

We continue to have many folk searching for family history. When they come into our research area they are amazed at all

the records we have and how we can access them quickly.

Our book launched last May, ‘REMEMBER RESPECT REJOICE’ letters home from WW1, is almost out of print.

Alison Marlow Paterson launched her book ‘ANZAC SONS’ in Bendigo and Historical Society members were invited in

November. Five Marlow sons from Mologa enlisted in WW1 and only two returned. Alison found a case full of the let-

ters sent home and it took her 12 years to complete the book. It is an excellent book, she has made entries between each letter

informing the reader the circumstances.

(Mologa was once a thriving town next one south from Pyramid Hill on the railway line.)

In August this year, our Historical Society will be 50 years old. We are planning to hold a function to celebrate this in Octo-

ber during History Week and also launch our next book.

RACV FLY THE FLAG MURRAY RIVER TOUR Sponsored by the RACV and organised by the All British Classics Car

Club the Tour was here again in Pyramid Hill. There were over 150 Veteran, Vintage & Classic cars. A member of the His-

torical Society organised afternoon Tea and Mini Market. Donations of food came from the public. Proceeds to go towards

restoration of Pioneer Memorial Gates opened by Dame Enid Lyons in 1937..

In preparation for the visit students from Pyramid College along with visiting students from Berwick, as part of their commu-

nity service , some of the group came to the Museum and did a great job cleaning the annex of all the summer dust under

guidance from two members.

We are cramped for space and plan to extend for an entrance foyer, so if anyone has a barrow full of money not needed we

will come and collect it.

Thank you. Helen Stevens, Secretary.

Anzac sons : The story of five brothers in the war to end all wars Allison Marlow Paterson

…Well dear Jim it breaks my heart to write this letter. Our dear [brother] was killed yesterday morning at 5.30. The bullet

killed him instantly and he never spoke a word. I had just left him and gone down the trench to

see the other lads when I was called back. Oh Jim it is awful…Oh I do hope he is the last…

It is April 27, 1918, Jim’s brother writes from the battlefields of France. Of five brothers serving

on the Western Front, three have given their lives; another has been hospitalised. Six agonising

months of brutal warfare were yet to be endured… The Great War was a senseless tragedy. Its

long shadow darkened the four corners of the world. In Mologa Victoria, once a bustling com-

munity stands a lonely stone memorial. Etched within the granite are the names of the Marlow

brothers and their mates; a testament to ordinary people who became heroes. Composed from a

collection of over five hundred letters and postcards written by the brothers who served. From

the training grounds of Victoria, Egypt and England, to the Western Front battlefields - Pozieres,

Bullecourt, Messines, Menin Road, Passchendaele, Villers-Bretonneux and the village battles of

1918 – this compelling true story was compiled by the granddaughter of a surviving brother.

Soft cover, photographs, 688 pages. $35.00

Available at all good bookstores nationally or online at www.bigskypublishing.com.au

Distributed by Woodslane T: 1800 803 443

There is also a School resource book available @ $14.99 from, bigskypublishing.com.au [to view, see email link below]

http://www.bigskypublishing.com.au/uploadimage/ProductSamplePdf/759f8ac6-cfc2-44ed-a9af-719041fa66b9.pdf

Page 4. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Minutes WVAHS MIDLANDS ZONE MEETING

Sunday March 21st 2015 at10.30am, Heritage Works, Warrnambool

In the absence of Birchip members the meeting was chaired by Steve Pentreath of Swan Hill who welcomed

all.

Apologies received from Nullawil, Dorothy Reid & Elaine McCallum- Birchip, Jennie Weaver- Boort, Carolyn

Olive - Charlton, Yvonne Church- Cohuna, Lil Kirk - Donald, Robyn Brown – East Loddon, Sandra Westblade

- Kerang.

Roll Call; Barham- abs, Boort – abs, Carisbrook – 1, Cohuna -1, Donald- 4, East Loddon – abs,

Maryborough – 4, Nullawil - abs, Pyramid Hill – 2, St Arnaud – 2, Swan Hill – 2.

WVAHS Executive; Helen Stevens, [Helen Curkpatrick (Visited for short-time) ]

Minutes of previous meeting held at Barham confirmed on motion by Marion Melen Carisbrook,

2nd.by Betty Baker – Cohuna, Carried.

Business arising – nil.

Reports-

Birchip – read by Steve Pentreath

Carisbrook – read by Marion Melen

Boort – nil

Charlton – read by Steve Pentreath

Cohuna – read by Betty Baker

Donald – read by Mary Archibold

East Loddon – nil

GoldFields – nil

Kerang – read by Steve Pentreath

Maryborough – Betty Osborne -

Nullawil – read by Steve Pentreath

Pyramid Hill – read by Helen Stevens

St Arnaud – read by Merynne Dunstan

Swan Hill - read by Steve Pentreath

General Business –

Discussion re digitizing photos, recording donors, dates etc.

Cost of photocopying . Research fees. These varied a bit – interesting to hear what everyone charges.

St Arnaud mentioned that their data is recorded on cloud.

Cohuna asked was everyone happy with having Zone meeting at same day as the AGM. Helen

Curkpatrick ( secretary of WVAHS) who was at the meeting for a short time mentioned that it had com-

menced last year and was to save everyone having another day for a meeting and to encourage people to

attend the AGM.

Host for next meeting- Birchip – in October. [Date to be Set.]

Meeting closed – 11.55am

Page 5. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Minutes,WVAHS SOUTHERN ZONE Meeting Sunday 21 March 2015 at 10.30am HeritageWorks, Warrnambool

1.Welcome: Host society Vice-President Janet Macdonald, welcomed Southern Zone members to Heritage-

Works, 2 Gilles Street Warrnambool, the clubrooms of Warrnambool & District Historical Society Inc and

Warrnambool Family history Group Inc.

2. Apologies: Casterton-R Coventry, Coleraine HS, Dunkeld- W Williams, Geelong & South Western Rail

Heritage Society- M Menzies, Hamilton History Group, Koroit - A Lowenthal, Mortlake- F Charles, Mount

Rouse- J Page, Portland- G Bennett, Port Fairy- A Syme, Terang- D Pollard & K Pollard, Margaret Parnell &

M McIntosh, Woolsthorpe- A Roache and L Tieman of Port Fairy HS.

3. Roll Call:

WVAHS executive : Judith Kershaw, Alma McDonald, Bob McIntosh, Brian O’Brien

Camperdown- Frank Rose, Heather McDowell, John Gronbeck

Cobden- Alma McDonald, Jennifer Krepp, Judith Gribble

Colac- Rob Missen, Liz Chambers

Coleraine- apology

Derrinallum/Lismore- nil reply

Dunkeld- apology

Geelong & South Western Rail Heritage Society- apology .

Glenthompson- nil reply

Hamilton- apology [Non Financial Member of WVAHS for 5 years ]

Hawkesdale- Tim King

Heytesbury- nil reply

Koroit- Wendy Carter, Carmel Madden

Mortlake- apology [ Rail trail day]

Mount Rouse- Brien O’Brien, Phil Doherty & Mary Johnson

Port Fairy- Judith Kershaw & Graham Kershaw

Terang- Bob McIntosh

Warrnambool- Glenys Phillpot, Janet Macdonald, Barbara McLeod, Rosemary Isaac, Mandy King,

Marita Murphy, Elizabeth O’Callaghan,

Woolsthorpe- Marilyn Spikin

4.1 Minutes of previous meeting 18 October 2014 held at Penshurst were read by Rosemary Isaac (W&DHS)

and confirmed on the motion of Brian O’Brien, seconded by Bob McIntosh. Carried

4.2 Business arising from 18 October 2014- nil

5.1 Written reports were read and tabled on behalf of Camperdown, Cobden, Colac, Geelong & South West-

ern Rail Heritage Society, Hawkesdale, Koroit, Mount Rouse, Port Fairy, Portland, Terang, Warrnambool

and Woolsthorpe. Refer to copies in Minute Book.

6. GENERAL BUSINESS-DISCUSSION:

Geelong & South Western Rail Society- notice of meeting, 24 May 2015 at Penshurst, to confirm opening

of Historical Societies clubrooms with local displays on day of celebrating Rail trails & lines.

Launch of “Stories Untold and Forgotten Faces’, compiled byJames Affleck, 17 April 2015 at Koroit.

Request by Alma McDonald for Terang HS to share books of Heytesbury and Corangamite gifted by the

Corangamite Shire Council

B McIntosh re the production and group contributions for the ‘Western Historian’, it was moved by B

O’Brien ‘That the WVAHS Executive resolve to encourage member groups to send/email brief reports that

are readily uploaded to the Newsletter and shared,’ confirmed A McDonald. Carried

Group discussion suggested avenues to maintain and strengthen links with local councils and government

departments and the need to write a Memorandum of Understanding.

Veteran Affairs assist with graves of returned Servicemen & Women

The benefits for Historical Societies adopting the Model Rules were discussed.

Host for next meeting- Port Fairy – in October. [Date to be Set.]

Meeting closed at 12.10pm

Page 6. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Minutes of WVAHS Wimmera Zone Meeting at Warrnambool Historical Society

Saturday 21 March 2015 at 10.30 am

Present: Ian Ballinger, Helen Curkpatrick, Rod Jenkinson, Noelene Jenkinson (all from Horsham), Tania Shalders (Balmoral).

Apologies: received from Dimboola (Dale Conway, Margaret Menzel, Raymond and Evelyn King), War-

racknabeal, Edenhope, Nhill, Halls Gap, Hopetoun, Minyip, Stawell.

Roll call – Arapiles (absent), Ararat (absent), Balmoral (1), Dimboola (absent), Edenhope (absent), Halls Gap (absent), Hopetoun (absent), Horsham (4), Minyip (absent), Nhill (absent), Ouyen (absent), Rainbow (absent), Rupanyup (absent), Stawell (absent), Warracknabeal (absent).

Minutes of Previous Zone Meeting

held at the property of Minyip’s President Joy and her husband Owen of Kingsley, Minyip at 1.30 pm on Sunday 12 October 2014 were unable to be read and received as true and correct as the Minute Book is currently missing.

Business Arising: None

Reports From: Arapiles via Ian Ballinger – the group is going through the pros and cons of purchasing

a service station at Natimuk. Plans are done and permits are needed. The renovation of the building would

be approximately $350,000.00. Arapiles Historical Society was located at the local courthouse until ap-

proximately ten years ago when there was movement found in the building. The Horsham Rural City

Council is still monitoring the situation. Meetings have been held so some rooms are finally OK to use

however the collection is still scattered amongst private homes. The Arapiles Society is looking to pur-

chase the Natimuk Masonic Hall – an offer was made but the building has to be auctioned in April 2015.

Balmoral – attached - read by Tania Dimboola – attached - read by Helen

Edenhope – attached - read by Helen Horsham – attached - read by Rod

Minyip – attached - read by Helen

General Business

1. Discussions were held regarding websites and facebook – the new technology for young people

in an ageing population. To attract young members to our societies we need to realise that tradi-

tional forms of communications (ie Australia Post) are becoming obsolete.

2. The Horsham Historical Society is seeking software to change CD & DVD data to read-only

security so that content cannot be printed or copied. To date they have been unable to find suitable soft-

ware for this which would enable the Society to sell electronic versions of books that it has published

without the need to print and post them. For example - selling an electronic copy to a school for read-only

access by students. Have any other groups encountered this situation and if so how have they priced the

electronic version compared to a printed book? Are there copyright issues?

A new member for the WVAHS could be Harrow – the President is Marj Quigley c/- Post Office, Harrow.

Helen to write to Mrs Quigley with details of membership.

Next Wimmerra Zone Meeting

Nhill – Sunday 25 October 2015 at 1 pm. Doors will be open from 12.30 pm at the Senior Citizens Hall in Campbell Street, Nhill (adjoining Nhill Historical Rooms which are in McPherson Street Nhill).

Everyone welcome).

Meeting closed at 11.35 am.

Page 7. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Warrnambool & District Historical Society

The highlight of the activities of the past year would have to be the use of our new accommodation.

The partnership between WDHS and WFHG continues to be a valuable asset and the amalgamation of research ma-

terial and our combined experience is an amazing positive. We recently had a “getting to know you better”

workshop so we all make better use of the resources we now share.

An unexpected win from the relocation program was the moving of the Pioneer board from the Warrnambool Li-

brary to HeritageWorks. During a recent visit, Museums Australia Victoria suggested the Pioneer board is a treas-

ure worthy of restoration work and suggested we apply for funding to do this work and we will do this. How suc-

cessful we will be is the real question!

The committee made a decision to take part in the Museums Australia Victoria’s Museum Accreditation Program.

We acknowledge that this will be an onerous task and take between two and three years to complete. We have made

a start on assessing our policies and the task appears to be as large as the painting of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

We lodged a successful application to the Warrnambool City Council for a grant under their Community Support

Fund program to assist with extending security at History House to HeritageWorks.

We assisted with the recent display opened at Flagstaff Hill titled Women who changed their World. The stories of

Mary Gaunt and Eliza Hornsby, and taken part in the community partnerships that has assisted the Hidden Histories

and Laneways project aimed at revitalizing the CBD. Recently we hosted the launch of a book -Mary Gaunt, an

Independent Colonial Woman by Bronwyn Hickman.

In conjunction with Warrnambool City Council we have run a series of Historic Hotels walks that have proved to

be very popular

and we have given talks at Vision Australia, several Probus clubs and Lyndoch…… And next week are speaking on

the Mystery of the Mahogany Ship to 34 Maroondah Probus Club members.

Reg Smith, a great supporter of the society and one of our life members passed away in Tasmania 2013 and made a

generous bequest to the society. We have this week taken delivery of some smart looking cases in time for our An-

zac Centenary display.

In the past year particularly - WCC Records Department has shared many useful items, either giving us old Council

records or digital copies for our use.

Research is our lifeblood and enquiries come via the website or email and are from all corners of the world.

We have just replaced some of our older computers and now have wi fi available throughout the premises We are

lucky to have such a capable, hardworking and resourceful research team.

Glenys Phillpot , Warrnambool & District Historical Society Inc.

19 March 2015

Delegates at the AGM

Warrnambool 21st. March 2015

Ian Ballinger’s 80th Birthday Cake At the

AGM , Sec/ Treasurer, Helen Kirkpatrick,

PP Ian Ballinger & President Bob McIntosh

Presentation to Guest

Speaker, Prof. Ian Sherwood,

by Pres. Bob McIntosh

These 3 Photographs courtesy of the Warrnambool & Dist. Historical Society Inc. AGM Host Society..Thank you.

Page 8. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

The Story of Nhill continued... 1882

The Nhill Hospital

Nhill was described as a “wretched swampy area with only four buildings” by Mr. Thomas Blackburn when he

arrived in Nhill with Dr. Edward George Keightly Marks in 1882. Little did the writer know what a progressive

town Nhill would become, with a favourable description of the town a few years later.

Prior to 1882 if anyone in Nhill was seriously hurt or very sick they had to travel to Horsham to be treated in a hos-

pital or to see a doctor. But, one November afternoon in 1881 a cart ran over Mr. Fry and broke his leg. As Mr Fry

was being loaded into a cart, watched by concerned citizens, to be taken to the doctor in Horsham, Councillor David

Bone, from Woorak West, suggested that a small cottage hospital should be established in Nhill. (From the Nhill Hospi-

tal First Hundred Years1882 to 1982. By Jan Doust) The first

meeting of interested locals took place on December 1st 1881. The meeting decided to encourage the erection of a

hospital, to see that progress was made and to obtain subscriptions in order to finance the building of the hospital.

(From Nhill Hospital First Hundred Years 1882 to 1982 Jan Doust page 8)

By the next meeting in February 1882, Jan Doust says, that they had £200

already on hand. They thought that they would need about £400 to build

the hospital. Then discussion followed concerning whether it would be

better to appoint a doctor before the building went ahead. In the end a

doctor was appointed to Nhill before the hospital was built, as the tenders

for the hospital were above what the committee expected so the process

lapsed for a while. A doctor was appointed in July 1882, and Dr Marks

and the Chemist Thomas F Blackburn travelled together to Nhill from

Casterton. Dr. Marks stayed in Nhill for 8 months.

In October the need for a hospital in Nhill was again raised in an article in the Nhill Free Press and another meeting

of the Nhill Hospital committee was convened at the Commercial Hotel. At this meeting, on October 13 th, it was

decided to apply to the Lands Department for a grant of three acres of land on allotment 3, “In lieu of the one al-

ready surveyed. The agreement between Dr Marks and the committee was read and approved and £50 was given to

Dr Marks for his first quarter’s salary. A long discussion took place on the advisability of at once building the hospi-

tal, but it was ultimately decided to allow the matter to stand over for a month.

But, the Nhill Free Press of Friday 17th November, 1882, reports that the next meeting of the Hospital committee

that occurred the previous Saturday lapsed for want of a quorum. The article suggests that now would be a good

time for the building to go ahead as the “carriage on all classes of material is as low now as it will be at any time

during the summer.”

The Nhill Free Press dated Friday 1st December, 1882, refers to the meeting of the Nhill Hospital Committee held

Saturday last and that Mr Kozminsky reported that he had heard a great many complaints about the action of the

committee in not proceeding with the hospital, as numbers of those who had already subscribed did so upon the dis-

tinct understanding that a hospital was to be built, and if such was not to be the

case they wanted their money returned. The result of this and other discussion

was that tenders were called to build a two ward hospital which could be added

to later..(This photograph of the Hospital is obviously after several extensions have oc-

curred.)

Nhill & District Historical Society Inc.

Editor; Just a small sample of the 8 page Nhill Newsletter emailed for the Western

Historian

[ Contact Nhill Historical Society Inc. to read the whole very interesting Newsletter ]

Page 9. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Warracknabeal’s Vintage Machinery Rally a Great Success

This year’s Easter Rally at Wheatland’s Warracknabeal Agricultural Machinery Museum fea-

tured earth moving equipment. So each day some of the machinery was demonstrated on the

paddock behind the Museum. Graders, bulldozers, rippers, scoops & land levellers of various

sizes were put through their paces. Other earth moving machinery, some quite old were dis-

played. After the annual street parade, the Vintage Tractor Pull began, going on into the eve-

ning. Sunday, rope making, chaff cutting, blade shearing, axe handle making, gristing, station-

ary engines & the Garrett steam engine pumping. The two stroke Jelbart tractor was also run-

ning.

The weekend had a good array of craft stalls, hand painted glass and various collections of in-

terest to the visitors. The weekend was fully catered & the local Guides also made damper.

Next year’s Easter Rally will feature , ‘All things Sunshine.’

Photographs:

1. Vintage Car Dis-

play

2.Tracked Allis Chal-

mer Pulling a Brit-

stand Ripper

3. Ex Army Stewart

Tank with blade at-

tached, Small Ransoms

dozer, Britstand grader

4. Vintage Engine dis-

play

1 2

3 4

Page 10. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Page 11. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Geelong & South Western Rail Heritage Society Inc. IAN: A0049909K

P. O. Box 1953, Geelong 3220.

Christmas in July heritage train ride & dinner.

Saturday 18 July 2015.

Join us for an evening of heritage train travel,open fires and warming food, as we celebrate Christmas in July at the historic Birregurra

Railway Station.

The historic Birregurra Railway Station was constructed of Portarlington brick in 1877, with brick extensions added around 1890. It has a veranda along the passenger platform supported by cast iron posts, French doors and open fire places. Restoration works have been carried out over the past two decades and are ongoing.

Travel there and back by 1930 vintage Diesel Electric Rail Motor (DERM) from Melbourne and enjoy over three hours at Birregurra Station. Relax in front of warming open fires whilst you en-joy a two course hot dinner with drinks.

TOUR DETAILS: The DERM will depart from Southern Cross station at approximately 1500, picking up at Newport and Lara (if required), and depart Geelong at 1615. Enjoy cruising through the pleasant countryside surrounded by the polished interior woodwork and the sound of a quaint 75 year old rail motor humming its way back in time to Birregurra, arriving there shortly before 1800.

You will be welcomed into the historic station building with a complimentary drink and warm-ing open fires. During your three hour stay, a hot two course roast dinner and Christmas pud-ding will be served. Additional drinks may be purchased from a cash bar at moderate prices. Two scheduled V/Line passenger trains will pause at the platform during the evening with their passengers able to gaze in envy whilst you enjoy your dinner.

At 2115, you will board the DERM [Diesel Electric Rail Motor] for a relaxing evening ride home without having to be concerned about driving. Return to Geelong will be at approximately 2230 and 2345 at Southern Cross, with set down stops at Lara and Newport (if required).

Please advise if you have any special dietary requirements.

TIMES: Approximate times are: Southern Cross depart 1500, (pick up at Newport or Lara if re-quested), Geelong 1615 and arrive Birregurra 1745. Return, depart Birregurra 2115, Geelong 2230, (set down at Lara and Newport if required) and arrive Southern Cross at 2345. Final times and platform numbers will be advised during the week prior to departure.

BOOKING AND FARES: Adult $129, Concession $124, Child $120.

(Fare includes rail travel, complementary drink on arrival, two course meal and tea/coffee).

The same fare will apply from Geelong or other intermediate stations, due to the cost of hiring the DERM making a large proportion of the costs. However, those passengers are welcome to travel to Southern Cross by V/Line (at own cost) and join the DERM there.

Bookings are to be made on the attached form and posted to the Booking Officer, Christmas in July Dinner, P O Box 1953, Geelong 3220, or by email to railexp@bigpond.com

Final information will be forwarded during the week prior to departure, by email if you have in-dicated that option, or by mail. (Please enclose a stamped self-addressed DL size envelope with your booking if you ish to have information mailed to you). ENQUIRIES: Phone enquiries may be made to Michael Menzies on 0419 546 251, preferably between 7.00pm and 9.30pm weeknights.

Page 12. Western Historian April ~ May 2015

Christmas in July rail and dinner tour - Saturday 18 July 2015

The Booking Officer. Date: / / 2015

Christmas in July Tour.

P O Box 1953, Geelong 3220

Please find set out below my booking requirements for the above tour.

Adults @ $129 ea. $..........................

Concession @ $124 ea. $.........................

Child under 16 @ $120 ea. $.........................

TOTAL: $____________

Payment may be made directly into our bank account over the counter or by internet banking. Bendigo Bank: BSB 633 108, account number: 130308083 (Please identify your payment as “Christmas in July” and include the surname of the person making the booking).

Make cheques/money orders payable to Geelong & South Western Rail Heritage Society Inc.

Payment may also be made by Mastercard or VISA. (Circle card type). It will be processed to show the transaction as “Leaf and Stone”.

Full name of Cardholder: ……..…………………… Cardholder Signature: …………………

16 digit Credit Card Number: ………………………… Expiry Date: ……../……..

(In order to process your payment, we also require the three digit number from the rear of your credit card. Please write it here _____, or if you are reluctant to do so for security reasons, please bring the card with you on the day so that we may record it then. Your credit card details will be destroyed after we process the payment). Name of person making booking: ………………………………………………………….

Address: …………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………….…………………………………….Postcode: ……..

Phone: …………………………………. Email: ………………………………………….

Names of others in party (show age if under 16): …………………………………………..

I/we intend to join the tour at Southern Cross /Newport / Lara / Geelong.

Please confirm booking by email / enclose a business-sized (DL) stamped self-addressed envelope for details to be posted to you.

Signed: ………………………………………………….. Date / /2015