It won’t be long before preparations will begin for celebrating the Bicentenary of white settlement in Western Australia. With proposals already being put forward for consideration, it may be worthwhile to take a look at one aspect of the 1929 celebrations, the awarding of Centenary Medals. These were presented to school-children and senior citizens and were also made available to the general public for purchase from the Perth Mint. The design by George Kruger Gray was criticised in some quarters as representing a white swan rather than a black one, the said difference being the shape of the bird’s neck. The manner in which the recipients of the seniors’ medals were chosen also raised some controversy, due to many of them not being West Australian born. Names were submitted for verification and lists were published in newspapers. Just one of them, Joseph Price, who lived to the ripe old age of 104, appears to be of convict stock.
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OUR OLDEST PEOPLE 1929 CENTENARY WA
Our Oldest People.
To the Editor, “The Western Mail.”
Sir, — Last Thursday you published my request that readers and correspondents should communicate the name in full, address in full, and year and place of birth of persons now residing in Western Australia, born in 1840 or earlier. The names of five of our oldest people have been received, and to each of the five a Centenary medal in bronze will be sent. The following particulars are given:
MRS. KATE JACKSON, born in London on October 9, 1834, came to Western Australia in 1842, with her parents, in the sailing ship Diadem. Now residing at Rosehill, Capel.
MR. JOHN THOMPSON LOGUE. J.P., born in Ireland on September 9, 1835, arrived in Western Australia in 1836. His wife was born in 1854 and is a daughter of the late Mrs. Isa Mitchell (nee Bickley), who was born in Kenwick Park, Western Australia in 1834. Present address, Moojelup Cottage, Cookernup.
MR. ROBERT MICHAEL MINSON, born in St. George’s-terrace, Perth, on August 29, 1834. Present address, 32 Broome-terrace, Northam.
MRS. SUSAN DAY, 3 Taylor-road, Claremont, born in Cambridgeshire, England, on January [sic], 1839 and has resided in Western Australia for 87 years.
MRS. E. WILLIAMS, born in England on June 21, 1837 (the day Queen Victoria was proclaimed). She left England for Victoria when she was 17, and has lived in Western Australia 33 years. Present address, 12 Onslow-road, Subiaco.
It is hoped that your readers will continue to assist, as it is desired that everyone now residing in Western Australia and born in 1840 or earlier, receive a Centenary medal from this office.
Yours, etc.,
H. A. CORBET,
Royal Mint, Perth, April 22. (Western Mail, 25 April 1929.)
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OUR OLDEST PEOPLE.
To the Editor, “The West Australian.”
Sir, — On April 18 you published the offer to send a Centenary Medal in bronze to persons born in 1840 or earlier and now residing in the State, on condition that the date, year, and place of birth, and name in full were supplied to me. The first list appeared on April 23. The second list is as follows: —
MRS. J. WILSON, born November 24, 1833, at Busby, near Glasgow. Now residing 520 William-street, Perth.
MR. JOHN BETTS, born, in the district now called Bassendean, September 24, 1839, and has lived since continually in W.A. Present address, Wilkie-street, South Guildford.
MR. WALTER LLEWELYN JONES, born June 26, 1839, in Guildford. Present address Martha-street, Guildford.
MAJOR GEORGE BLAND HUMBLE, V.D., J.P., born at Leyburn, Yorkshire, December 22, 1839. Arrived in Western Australia in the Robert Morrison, January 31, 1862. Took charge Greenough School, 1862-63. Transferred to Fremantle 1864. Present address, Leyburn, 138 Queen Victoria-street, Fremantle.
MR. AUGUSTUS GEORGE RICHARD BERESFORD, born in Surrey, England, December 17, 1836. Was in Crimean War as a boy, also in Indian Mutiny under General Havelock. Fought in the American Civil War and was at Bulls Run under General Beauregard, and Sligo under General Jackson. Attained rank of Major. Now residing 990 Wellington-street, Perth.
MR. GEORGE JOHN MORGAN, born February 12, 1840, in Monmouthshire, Wales. Arrived South Australia, 1863, was Mayor, Broken Hill, 1890-91. In Western Australia since 1895. Present address, Bedford-street, Cannington.
MR. W. E. ATHERDEN, born March 2, 1836, at Dover, England. Arrived Geelong, 1853, and walked to Ballarat. Joined in Eureka Stockade, 1854. Arrived Western Australia, 1895. Present address, King Edward-road, Osborne Park.
MR. JOHN HATHAWAY, born October 20, 1836, at Walworth, England. Arrived Fremantle, 1863, from West Indies. Now living Newcastle-street, York.
MRS. REBECCA ANN MILLS, born at Guildford, October 18, 1840. Present address, 92a York-street, Subiaco.
MR. THOMAS WILLIAM SALT-KILLD, born July 17, 1840 on Block D10, Hay-street, opposite site of Mint. Present address, 116 Lake-street, Perth.
MRS. LOUISA MOORE, born near Guildford (Bassendean), December 24, 1835. Now living at 13 Stockley-street, Bunbury.
MRS. EMILY MARTIN, born Sussex, England, December 7, 1836, arrived with parents in ship Simon Taylor, 1842. Has resided in Toodyay District 85 years. Present address, Harper-road, Toodyay.
MRS. ELLEN M. PATON, born in Sussex, March 20, 1837, came to Western Australia in 1842. Now residing 85 Adelaide-street, Fremantle.
MRS. MARGARET ALLEN, born Clonmell County, Tipperary, February 11, 1838. Arrived New South Wales, 1877. Has resided in Western Australia 28 years. Present address, 37 Guildford-road, Mount Lawley.
MRS. ELIZA CHESTER, Senior (formerly BAKER), born in Albany, August 27, 1837. Present address, Duke-street, Albany.
MR. GEORGE WASHINGTON LOGUE, born at Northam, November 8, 1839. Present address, Ivy Cottage, Gingin-road, Middle Swan.
MRS. MARY ANN LEE, born August 5, 1838, St. George’s-terrace, Perth. Present address, 41 Carnac-street, Fremantle. Her twin children born July 22, 1858, are still living in Fremantle.
MRS. BRIDGET ATKINSON, born February, 1833, in Tipperary, Ireland. Arrived in Western Australia, 1853 in ship Travancore. Present address, Noggojerring, via Northam.
MR. WILLIAM SIMMONS, born September 14, 1838, at Clapham, England. Arrived in Western Australia, 1858. Present address, 33 Tuckfield-street, Fremantle.
Mr. G. W. Logue is the younger brother of Mr. J. T. Logue, J.P., whose name appeared on the first list. Two of the ladies on the second list are sisters, Mrs. Martin and Mrs. Paton. I hope that your readers will kindly continue to assist in completing the record of those born in 1840 or earlier, and now residing in Western Australia. The particulars should include name and address in full, and the date, year, and place of birth. — Yours, etc. H. A. CORBET. Royal Mint, Perth, May 1. (West Australian, 2 May 1929.)
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STATE CENTENARY.
Our Oldest Residents. To the Editor, “The West Australian.”
Sir, — I forward the fourth list of persons born in 1840 or earlier and now residing in the State. This list contains the name of Mrs. Isabella Keenan, born in Ireland on January 21, 1833, and now residing at Margaret River. It is possible that Mrs. Keenan is the oldest woman in Western Australia.
There now appears on the scene Mr. Joseph Price, of Mellenbye Station, near Wurarga. He claims to have been born in Somerset, in the very year of the founding of the State. It is expected that his century will be rounded off in July next. Of the West Australian-born, Mr. Robert Michael Minson (1834), Northam, and Mrs Louisa Moore (1835), Bunbury, lead.
MR. JOSEPH PRICE, born at Chew Magna, near Bristol, England, on July 16, 1829. Arrived in Western Australia on May 1, 1853, in the ship Pyrenees and has been here ever since. Present address, Mellenbye Station via Wurarga.
MRS. EMMA BUDGE, born on June 9, 1837, at Burwell, England, came to Western Australia 30 years ago. Now residing 92 Campbell-street, Kalgoorlie.
MR. CHARLES SCRYMGOUR, born August 29, 1839, at Horslydown, South London. Arrived Adelaide, 1854, with parents, in sailing ship Albemarle. In Western Australia since 1897. Present address, 98 Barker-road, Subiaco.
MR. BENJAMIN BARKER, printer’s engineer, born in Liverpool, England, March 7, 1837, and now living at Railton House, Eleanor-street, Geraldton. He has been in Western Australia about 30 years.
MRS. JANE TOY, now residing 14 Hay-street Subiaco. Born at Redruth, Cornwall, August 13, 1840. In Western Australia 30 years.
MRS. ISABELLA KEENAN (nee GAMBLE), born January 21, 1833, in County Antrim, Ireland. Now residing at Glenbourne, Margaret River. Married and came to Western Australia in July, 1859.
MRS. LOUISA HARRIET WHITE (nee PROVIS), born in Wiltshire, England, October 1, 1834. Arrived in 1853 at Adelaide with parents by ship David Malcolm. Resident 42 years in Western Australia. Present address, 41 Osborne-road, East Fremantle.
To all persons named on this list a centenary medal has been sent. The death of Mr. John Cockman, whose name appeared on the third list, is noted with regret. Letters are received almost every day on behalf of persons born much later than 1840 and it is necessary to refuse these. The offer is to those born in 1840 or earlier, and the particulars required include full name and address, and the date, year and place of birth. — Yours, etc. H. A. CORBET. Royal Mint, Perth, May 20. (West Australian, 22 May 1929.)
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To the Editor, “The West Australian.”
Sir, — On April 16 you permitted me to make through the columns of “The West Australian” an offer to send a bronze centenary medal to persons now resident in the State, who were born in or before 1840. Some correspondents have misapprehended this offer. It was made to people of a defined age and there was no intention to confine it to the native-born. I am in sympathy with those who think the pioneer should receive some personal recognition, but before anyone takes up this work I suggest that he consider what a pioneer is. The word does not mean just the same in Coolgardie and in Carnarvon, and one would not expect Bunbury and Broome to agree on a definition. But if the Bunbury authorities decide to organise some recognition of pioneers they can make the conditions suitable to the district and their own intentions — and so with Broome and every other centre. Meantime I am obliged to correspondents who have furnished particulars in line with the offer made. Former lists contained 42 names, so, that with today’s list we reach a total of 52. The fifth list is now given as follows: —
MR. JOHN HEWITT, born February 22, 1831, at Cottonham, Cambridgeshire, England. Present address, Upper Swan.
MRS. ELIZABETH MOIR, born in Cambridge, England, on April 21, 1840, arrived with parents 1841. Present address, Frederick-street, Albany. She has 11 children, 34 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
MRS. JESSIE GORDON, born September 14, 1838, near Dumfries, Scotland. Present address, 43 Wasley-street, Mt. Lawley.
MRS. KATHLEEN McGOWAN, of Thomas-street, Busselton, born in 1839 in Ireland. Arrived in the ship Minden when nearly 12 years old. Her father was Private Foran.
MRS. AMELIA RIDGEWAY, born July 16, 1835, in Hobart, Tasmania, now residing at 118 Rupert-street, Subiaco. Of her descendants the following are living: — Seven children, 30 grandchildren, and 53 great-grandchildren.
MRS. ELIZABETH PATTEN, born December 12, 1840, in Devonshire, went to New Zealand 1875, South Australia 1876, and Western Australia 1896. Now living in Wittenoom-street, Collie.
MRS. ISABELLA OXLEY, born in England, February 11, 1837, went to Victoria in 1876, and to Western Australia in 1892. Present address 47 Columbia-street. Victoria Park.
MR. RICHARD GALE, born in Dorset on September 24, 1834, came to Western Australia about 1858, and has lived in Busselton over 60 years.
MRS. MARGARET DAY, of Herbert-street, Fremantle, born January 6, 1840, in Tipperary, Ireland, arrived in Australia 1854, and came to Western Australia in 1896.
MRS. ELIZABETH JANE HEWITT, of 64 Mount’s Bay-road, Perth, born June 12, 1838 or 1839, at Beaumaris, Wales. At 9 years of age left Southampton in the ship Esmeralda and has lived continuously in Western Australia for. [sic]
It is hoped that further names will be received. Readers are invited to give Christian names in full, surname, date, year, and place of birth in their first letter, and not to wait for these particulars to be elicited by correspondence. — Yours, etc., H. A. CORBET. Royal Mint, Perth, June 10. (West Australian, 11 June 1929.)
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OUR OLDEST PEOPLE.
To the Editor, “The West Australian.”
Sir, — I now submit another list of persons born in 1840 or earlier, to whom a bronze centenary medal has been sent. There is reason to believe that there are now very few of this age who are not accounted for. A remarkable instance is that of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Edmeades, who are both over 92 this year, and who are living in Subiaco. The sixth list is: —
Mr. JOHN PILKINGTON (senior) of York-road, Northam. Born County Clare, Ireland, in 1839; landed in Fremantle from the ship Burlington in 1863 and has lived in Northam ever since. He is now blind, but is otherwise hale and hearty.
Mrs. REBECCA CURTIS PADEY, born in Edinburgh, February 14. 1840; went to Victoria in 1873 and W.A. in 1901; address 61 Tate-street. West Leederville.
Mr. JOHN HENRY PAUL MOYSES, born February 26, 1840, in Cornwall; went to South Australia with his parents in 1849; in W.A. for 25 years; present address, Ereildoune, East Popanyinning.
Mr. HENRY GEORGE DUDLEY, born in London December 20, 1840; arrived in W.A. December 24, 1865; present address, Pingelly.
Mrs. MARGARET LAWSON, born in County Fermanagh, November 11, 1839; came to W.A. 1912; present address, Palmerston-street. Bassendean.
Mrs. ANNIE WHEATLEY EDMEADES, born in Leeds, England, April 1836; married October 1, 1873, in Manchester Cathedral; present address, 117 Hamersley-road, Subiaco.
Mr. HENRY EDMEADES, born in Chilham, Kent, November 22, 1837; one of a family of 12, of whom 10 lived to over 70 and 5 to over 80. Mr. Edmeades saw the funeral of the Duke of Wellington, in 1852; and was in New Zealand during the Maori War; has lived in six Australian States; was in Northam for 15 years, when he retired; present address, 117 Hamersley-road, Subiaco.
Incidental to this inquiry a number of instances have been received of native-born West Australians who date back to 1849 or earlier, and to each of these, a medal has been sent. With your permission a list will be given, in a later issue. I shall be glad to hear of any others; that is, of native-born West Australians who date back to 1849 or earlier. In each case the full name should be given with place, date and year of birth and present address. — Yours, etc. H. A. CORBET. Royal Mint, July 25. (West Australian, 26 July 1929.)
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SURVIVORS OF THE FORTIES.
To the Editor, “The West Australian.”
Sir, — I submit a further list of the names of natives — born West Australians — who were born in the forties. Included in the Lieut.-Governor’s party in 1829 was a connection of Captain Stirling’s, a lad in his early ‘teens named George Eliot. He left Western Australia, but returned later to become Magistrate at Bunbury and Government Resident at Geraldton. Two of George Eliot’s daughters are mentioned below. This is the ninth list: —
Mr. JOHN FORSTER JOHNSON, of Leschenault; born in Bunbury, May 21, 1848.
Mrs. ELIZA STOTTER, of 455 High-street, Fremantle; born on Mt. Eliza, February 6, 1844.
Mr. OWEN HALE, of Wedgecarrup, via Wagin; born at Perth, January 24, 1846.
Mr. JOHN ARTHUR MOORE, of 95 Raleigh-street, Carlisle; born at Picton, near Bunbury, November 7, 1844.
Mrs. J. F. M. WANSBROUGH, of Avon-terrace, York; born at Fremantle, June 20, 1845.
Mr. RICHARD CHARLES DELAPORTE, of Wellington-street, Bunbury; born at Australind. September 3, 1845.
Mrs. MARTHA EVERETT, of 123 Palmerston-street, Perth; born at Seaton Ross, Beverley, December 17, 1846.
Mr. THOMAS SCOTT, of 20 Francis-street, Perth; born at Coomber, near Busselton, August 29, 1846.
Mr. JOHN THOMAS SMITH, of 95 Alma-road, North Perth; born in Perth, August 30, 1849.
Mr. ALEXANDER JAMES FERGUSON, of Julimar, Toodyay; born on the Swan, May 27, 1848.
Miss ANNA LOUISA ELIOT, of 85 Thomas-street, Perth; born at Bunbury, March 2, 1847.
Miss MARY GERTRUDE ELIOT, of 85 Thomas-street, Perth; born at Bunbury, July 22, 1848.
To each of these old colonists a centenary medal was sent. I hope your readers will continue to provide information of this description. — Yours, etc. H. A. CORBET. Royal Mint, Perth, Aug. 19. (West Australian, 20 August 1929)
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CENTENARY MEDAL FOR THE KING.
To the Editor, “The Western Mail.”
Sir, – The West Australian Historical Society is opening a shilling fund for the purpose of obtaining a gold replica of the Centenary medal for presentation to his Majesty the King from descendants of the early colonists. A record of all the subscribers will be preserved. If those interested will kindly forward their subscriptions to the writer their action will greatly facilitate the business of the collectors.
YOURS, etc.,
VERNON HAMERSLEY,
Chairman of Sub-Committee,
Historical Society.
30 Ord-st., West Perth.
July 18. (Western Mail, 25 July 1929.)
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You Get a Centenary Medal Free!
Official Centenary medals are being given away with every pair of boots or shoes bought from George Nelson, whose half-yearly sale is now going strong. Likewise there’s a pair of tennis shoes or six tins of Supreem boot polish being given away to every purchaser. George Nelson keeps large stocks of the world’s finest makes of quality boots and shoes and there’s sure to be a keen rush to his two Hay-street establishments during the remainder of the sale for all the best lines are most attractively priced. (Mirror, 3 August 1929)
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CENTENARY MEDAL
Official Centenary Friday
ISSUE FOR CHILDREN
Next Friday, at 3 o’clock, the official ceremony of striking the centenary medal will be performed at the Royal Mint by Lady McMillan, the wife of the Lieut.- Governor.
By the severing of a ribbon Lady McMillan will set in operation the machine which casts the medals.
The first medal struck will probably go to the Museum, Perth. Subsequent medals will be available in bronze, gold, and silver, and an issue of the bronze is to be made to the children of the State.
The gold and silver varieties will be available for sale. Invitations have been issued to the Ministry, members of the centenary executive and other prominent citizens to attend. (Daily News, 11 March 1929.)
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Centenary Medal.
White Swan, Not Black.
ACCURACY ESSENTIAL.
We all know that this is Centenary Year, and we learn from the papers that this or that sports meeting is of special importance in consequence but if we had not this information very few of us would be able to distinguish this Centenary Year from any other which has gone before.
The crowds of visitors who were expected to flock to our shores are evidently waiting for the big things in the spring months — of which the Royal Show will be the biggest — and the feeling is growing that celebrations extending over a full twelve months might, with advantage, have been dovetailed into one.
Some amusement has been caused by the design of the Centenary commemorative medals, on one side of which is a presentment of a bird which ornithologists declare is not a black swan, but the white, or English, variety. It is clear, too, that they are right.
Whether the design is a libel on the English swan only those who know the latter bird can say, but our black swans are not flattered by the medal.
In matters such as these, accuracy counts for a good deal. (Toodyay Herald, 5 April 1929.)
Note: The swan design was executed by Mr George Kruger Gray.
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COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL.
Swan’s Neck Controversy.
A further contribution to the controversy concerning the swan that is represented on the centenary commemorative medal was made by the Rev. C. L. Riley when addressing members of the Press sub-branch of the Returned Soldiers’ League at a luncheon meeting yesterday on the subject of stamp collecting.
“It made me smile,” Mr. Riley said, “to read that Mr. Macartney contends that the design on the medal is practically a replica of the black swan on the old West Australian stamp. In making this statement he really proves his opponent’s argument that the swan is an English white swan and not one of our birds, because the old back swan stamps which were used in this State, and from which the medal design has been taken, were all designed and printed in England. The designers, in those early days, had not seen our swans and put on the stamp an English swan but printed it in black ink.” (West Australian, 21 March 1929.)
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Centenary Awards.
In connection with the campaign the following awards will be made: —
A Centenary Certificate of Merit and a bronze medal tor those farmers whose yields reach 18 bushels.
A Centenary Certificate of Distinction and a bronze medal for those farmers whose yields reach 21 bushels.
A Centenary Certificate of Special Distinction and a silver medal (for those farmers whose yields reach 24 bushels or over.
A Centenary Certificate of Special Distinction and a gold medal tor the farmer obtaining the greatest average yield per acre in the Centenary Year. (Toodyay Herald, 11 January 1929.)
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Centenary Celebrations
Arrangements are proceeding in connection with the Centenary fireworks display on April 2, on the Esplanade reserve facing the river, east of Barrack-street. The programme will be more varied and attractive than any which has previously been offered in this State. Set pieces will include an item having significance to the State’s Centenary, and others will represent Mundaring Weir overflowing, and the statue of the late Lord Forrest. The first copy of the Centenary medal was struck at the Perth branch of the Royal Mint on Friday afternoon last. The obverse side of the medal, showing an effigy of the King, was designed by Sir Bertram Mackennal, and the reverse side, showing a design of the black swan, was executed by Mr George Kruger Gray. The first medal will probably be deposited in the Perth Museum. Later medals will be available in bronze, gold and silver, and a bronze medal will be given to the children of the State. Gold and silver medals will be sold to the public. (Southern Districts Advocate, 25 March 1929.)
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CENTENARY DOINGS
Children’s Celebration
Friday will be Children’s Day for the centenary celebrations. In the morning special lessons and addresses will be given on the centenary and its significance in the State’s history. The afternoon will be devoted to an entertainment, sports, and so forth at the schools.
The central committee has allocated one shilling per head for entertainment and in addition a centenary medal will be given each child. Some 70,000 of these medals have been issued. Each school has been left to make its own programme. In many instances the Parents and Citizens’ Association’s branches will co-operate. The Educational Department has made no set programme, being desirous of making the celebrations fit each district’s and school’s special circumstances. (Daily News, 11 September 1929.)
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HARVEY CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS
A splendid meeting of the Harvey branch of the Parents and Citizens’ Association was held in the school on August 23, to discuss the Centenary Celebrations to be held on Friday, September 13.
Mr. A. D. Hill outlined what had been done previously and that the day set apart for the celebration was Friday, September 13th, when a medal would be presented to each child attending school and the Central Centennial Committee were providing 1/- per head for the entertainment of the children. In addition the Harvey Road Board had promised 6d. per head, for this purpose. He asked what form the day should take. Mr. Davis suggested that it be made a full holiday in the town in the form of a National day and that the children be provided with a sit-down luncheon so that the occasion be made of more importance in the minds of the young folk that the ordinary annual school picnic.
Mrs. Blowfield moved that the catering be done by tender. Mr. Dalgleish moved that a ladies’ committee be formed to carry out the catering. Mr. A. H. Smith seconded this and offered his services in cutting up the joints but suggested that the provisions be purchased instead of asking the ladies to provide cakes, etc. On the ladies present offering to act on such a committee the motion was carried unanimously. Mr. Davis moved that children under school age participate in the afternoon celebration. Messrs J. M. Johnston and J. Mercer supported a motion that all children present at the luncheon be provided for. It was decided that children under school age would be included in all functions on this day and an application would be made to purchase extra medals so that every child could receive one.
A committee consisting of Messrs Hill, Prideaux, Mercer, Gould, Harrison, Davis and J. M. Johnston was appointed to draw up a programme of sports. The suggested programme for the day is that the children assemble at school as usual. Morning — addresses by prominent citizens, displays by children, presentation of medals and singing of patriotic songs. Luncheon in Harvey Hall. Afternoon — Sports and afternoon tea on recreation ground. It was decided to collect funds throughout the Harvey area and the following were appointed collectors: — Uduc area and West of railway line, Mr. Gould; central area, Mr. J. M. Johnston; River Road, Mr. E. Dorph-Peterson; Herbert Road, Mr. Dalgleish. A list will also be open at the school. It was decided to request the Traders’ Association to close the business houses for the day. (Bunbury Herald and Blackwood Express, 4 September 1929.)
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BENGER
The Centenary celebrations at Benger school were carried out on Friday with much enthusiasm. In the morning the headmaster briefly outlined the history of the first landing and the importance of celebrating the centenary of such a great venture.
He then called upon Mr. Charles Offer, chairman of the Parents and Citizens’ Association, and also the oldest settler in Benger, to address the children. Mr. Offer gave a very interesting description of the lives of the early settlers. He told of the difficulties of getting about the country, of the first postal services, the first mail coaches and the opening of the railway. He also gave a very fine account of the dairying industry in the early days and compared the methods then employed with present day methods.
Mr. Thomas Offer, the district Road Board member, and the second oldest Benger-born settler, then addressed the children. He described the methods of cultivation used in the old days. The customs of the natives who roamed the country were described and their methods of trading in weapons, and how the natives of jam wood country made boomerangs and traded them for spears made by coastal natives. The gold rush was next described and the hardships of the early diggers furnished some amusing stories. A few of the nuggets found by Mr. Offer were handed round for inspection by teachers and scholars. Mr. Offer had also some tin-mining experiences and described the tin-mining industry and displayed samples from the Greenbushes field.
The children showed their appreciation of the speeches in regular schoolboy style. In the afternoon old and young assembled at the school. The proceedings were opened by the children singing a hymn of thanks. The headmaster, Mr. Marshall, then spoke on the object of the celebration. He stated that though we honoured the pioneers and regarded them as heroes the pioneers were quite unconscious of heroism and only did their duty as it appeared from day to day. We must not rest on the reputation of the pioneers but must be prepared to follow on in their footsteps. He believed the children of today had just as much grit as their fathers and would rise to the occasion as their fathers had done in the past. The children of today had much better chances than their fathers and should make their watchwords: Truth, honesty, upright dealing and service to fellow men.
Mr. S. H. Fry then spoke of the great difficulties of the early settlers but thought that children of today could face the same difficulties if called upon. He said the children were fortunate to be born in such a fine land as Australia. They would be the fathers and mothers of the future and trust aim high and stick to the old rule, “Do as you would be done by.” Mr. A. C. Barnes then addressed the gathering and said Australia was a very good country. He felt sure that the children of today would follow in the footsteps of their sires and worthily uphold the traditions of their fathers.
The visitors then inspected a number of drawings illustrating life in the early days of the State. A display of physical exercises was followed by a very hotly contested game of basketball under the direction of Miss White. With banners flying the children marched to the hall where every child was presented with a Centenary Medal and a piece of Centenary China. After a hearty meal each scholar was given a bag of lollies and some oranges. The singing of God Save the King brought the day’s enjoyment to a close. (South Western Times, 21 September 1929.)