Hallam War Workers' Association

In November 1939, the Hallam community formed the Hallam War Workers' Association. The object of the organization was to raise money for the Red Cross and other patriotic causes. One of their early functions, held on Saturday, November 11 1939 was a successful and profitable euchre party and dance (1). 

Formation of the Hallam War Workers Association

Dandenong Journal November 8, 1939  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201308536

By the end of their first year of operation they had raised £76/14/3 - Dances, euchres, and concerts have been held, and members also make regular monthly contributions. Not only did they raise money but since July 22nd [1940], the following goods have been made by the industrious workers: 110 prs sox, 4 prs spiral sox, 4 pullovers, 5 scarves, 15 caps, 17 prs mittens, 16 helmets, 4 prs bed sox and 2 hot-water bottle covers (2).  

Advertisement for the Hallam War Workers' Grand Ball

Dandenong Journal November 22, 1944 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214168056

A report of a Hallam War Workers' Association Fancy Ball, which attracted over 200 people, who were entertained by Miss Cheeseman's Rythym Rascals.

Dandenong Journal January 24, 1945 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214329768

The Group also undertook other fundraising including the quintessential country activity of catering at clearing sales.

Clearing sale for Mr Murphy of Gunns's Road, Hallam who is retiring from the dairying. 

Luncheon was provided by the Hallam War Workers' Committee.

The Age March 28, 1942 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/page/19384628

The War Workers' also fundraised in tandem with other groups such as the Hallam Yonger Set - a small group of, I would presume, people in their twenties; as well as the Mothers' Club and the Hallam Hall Committee (3). The money the Association raised went to a number of local and International causes such as the Red Cross, the British Empire Bombing Victims fund, the Blinded Soldiers Appeal and the  Red Cross comforts fund (4).

The Association also arranged send-offs to local boys. As the Dandenong Journal reported all local soldiers received a hand some gift on embarkation, and canteen orders and sox have also been sent overseas to them (5). They also arranged welcome-homes for their returning locals (6). 

Report of a send off to local man, Jack Poulton (7).

Dandenong Journal March 4, 1942  http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article215707879

The Hallam War Workers' Association held their last meeting on May 20, 1946 - It was a grand climax to the activities of a small band of people, who, under the title of “The Hallam War-Workers’’ worked throughout the war years and raised hundreds of pounds for patriotic purposes and the welfare of their servicemen and women (8). The Association had raised over £600 in the six years they were together. At their last meeting a balance of approximately £l2 was voted toward the cost of an honor roll to be erected in the hall as soon as possible (9). I have no information as to whether the honor roll was ever installed and if it was, where it is now.

The small band of people who made up the Hallam War Workers' Association included Frank Kirkham, who was the President of the Association during the six years of its existance. Vice Presidents included Mr Kinrade, Mr A. Fraser, Mr Reedy and Mr G. Gatter. The role of the Secretary was filled by Mr Ehms and later Mr A. Fraser. The Treasurers were Miss Wallace and then Mrs Blackley. Mrs Kinrade and Mrs Kirkham are also mentioned in reports. 

I have checked the Electoral Rolls and other sources to find out more information about these tireless community workers.
Mrs Blackley - Elsie Mary Blackley, married to Daniel, a farmer. Their address was Kay's Road, Grassmere, an old name for the Doveton / Hallam region.

Mr O. Ehms - There is an Otto Ehms, a jeweller at 16 Dorothy Avenue, Glenhuntly in the Electoral Rolls at this time, seems unlikely to be him and I can't find a connection between him and Hallam. Mr Ehms resigned from the Association in 1943 owing to business ties (10). In 1950, there was a report of  a robbery at the Hallam Hotel where three employees were bashed, including an Otto Ehms (11) so I assume this is our Mr Ehms.

Mr A. Fraser - not sure who this is.

Mr Gatter - There is a George Francis Gatter and a James George Gatter in the Electoral Roll at Berwick Road, Hallam. They were both listed as gardeners. 

Mr & Mrs Kinrade -Alfred John and Clara Alice, of The Oaks, Hallam Road, Lysterfield. He was a market gardener.

Frank Kirkham - a man whose interest in all matters of local community welfare commands the respect of all (12). Frank was also the President of the Hallam Progress Association for 26 years (13) The Kirkham name is synonymous with the Hallam area and you can read about the Kirkham family, here.

G. Reedy - George Reedy was from another well known local family from the Hallam / Hampton Park area. You can read about the family, here. Mr Reedy died in June 1948, and you can read his obituary, here.  

Miss Wallace - Florence Emma Wallace, a school teacher at Hallam State School and the inaugural Treasurer, who resigned during 1942, as she was transferred to Hopetoun. She married Allan John 'Jack' Guthrie in 1943 (14). They are listed in the Electoral Rolls at Princes Highway, Dandenong in 1949.

We will finish this post with the tribute to the Hallam War Workers' Association from the Dandenong Journal.

The Dandenong Journal tribute to the Hallam War Workers' Association

Dandenong Journal June 5, 1946 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214794000

Trove list - I have created a  list of articles on the Hallam War Workers' Association on Trove, access it here. 

Footnotes
(1) Dandenong Journal, November 15, 1939, see here.

(2) Dandenong Journal, December 18, 1940, see here.

(3) Dandenong Journal, December 2, 1942, see here.

(4) The Argus, May 30, 1941, see here; The Age, March 3, 1944, see here; Dandenong Journal, July 29, 1942, see here are some reports of their fund raising destinations.

(5) Dandenong Journal, December 18, 1940, see here.

(6) Dandenong Journal, June 5, 1946, see here.

(7) Jack Poulton - This is, I believe, John O'Loughlin Poulton, listed in the 1942 Electoral Road at Back Road, Hallam. Born in 1914 at Hopetoun. He was discharged January 25, 1946. The Dandenong Journal of March 8, 1944 published a letter that he had sent to his mother from Italy, read it here.  

(8) Dandenong Journal, June 5, 1946, see here.

(9) Dandenong Journal, June 5, 1946, see here.

(10) Dandenong Journal, August 11, 1943, see here.

(11) Weekly Times, September 13, 1950, see here.

(12) Dandenong Journal, August 5, 1942, see here.

(13) Dandenong Journal, April 13, 1949, see here.

(14) A report of Miss Wallace's impending wedding can be read in the Dandenong Journal of May 19, 1942, here

The McDonald Brothers of Yannathan

As part of our series, Brothers who enlisted, we look at the four McDonald brothers of Yannathan, who enlisted. They were the sons of Charles Stuart McDonald and Margaret Matheson who had married in 1876 and had fourteen children (that I can trace) - Donald Alexander (1877 - 1945), Charles Stuart Black (1879 - 1957), Lachlan John (1881 - 1918), Ann Euphemia (1883 - 1960), Violet Ida Helen (1883 - ?), Norman Victor (1885 - 1968), Neil Lamont (1886 - 1917), Lionel Munro Matheson (1888 - 1963), Malcolm McLean (1890 - 1890, died aged one month), Eliza (1891 -1891, died at 2 days old), Hector Rodney (1892 - 1952), Hugh Carr (1895 - 1971) and Duncan McLean (1897 - 1963).

The births were registered at Mooroopna, but the children were born at Ardmona. The family moved to Yannathan sometime after Duncan was born but before November 1901 when Charles placed the following advertisement for the sale of a stripper and winnower in good working for order. 

Charles McDonald's advertisement

Euroa Advertiser November 1, 1901 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/65537988

Charles died in 1919, aged 69 and Margaret died in 1925 aged 73. The only other thing I could find out about Charles was that he had an unfortunate incident due to one of the many floods on the Koo Wee Rup Swamp, this one was in 1915, when three feet of water covered the road. The No. 6 drain, the location of the incident, runs besides the Bayles-Modella Road.

Mr McDonald's unfortunate incident

Lang Lang Guardian, November 17, 1915 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/119513134

Here are the details of the four McDonald boys, of whom two sadly died whilst serving their country. I have included their service number (SN) so you can look at their full record on the National Archives website, www.naa.gov.au.

McDonald, Lachlan John. Lachlan enlisted in the Royal Flying Corp and was killed in a flying accident on January 19, 1918. The Dookie and Katamatite Recorder of February 14, 1918 had the following tribute to Lachlan.

Our Heroes.

Died, in the service of his country, Lachlan J. McDonald, horticulturist, attached to the staff of the Dookie Agricultural College, and well known to residents of this and surrounding districts. The late Mr McDonald ("Mac" to all his numerous friends) spent his early days in the Mooroopna district, and received special training at the orchard and school of horticulture of Mr John West, of Ardmona. Further experience was gained at the well-known Nobelius Nurseries at Gembrook, and lands-scape gardening on station homesteads in the Western district contributed its share towards putting a finish on an education which was to be used, at a later period, in imparting a first-class knowledge of horticultural work to the numerous students who came under his care.

During the years of his connection with the College, Mr McDonald contributed a great number of articles on subjects connected with his work to various agricultural journals and papers, and was a splendid lecturer and teacher. He was an enthusiast in all matters pertaining to his particular branch, and had the faculty of being able to enthuse others. Mr McDonald joined the College staff in

1907, and left for England in October 1915, where he received a commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Flying Corps, became Instructor in Aviation, and, as the result of an accident when flying, met his death at Stockbridge, Hants, England, on the 19th January of this year.

A good public-spirited citizen, and one whose loss will be regretted by all classes in the community. We offer his relatives our heartfelt sympathy. "Vale!"

Dookie and Katamatite Recorder of February 14, 1918 (see here) 

McDonald, Norman Victor (SN 934) Norman enlisted on February 8, 1916, same day as his brother, Neil. He was a 31 year old labourer. Norman Returned to Australia July 4, 1919. Norman was  granted a Soldier Settlement farm at Catani, read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here. He married Florence Mary Jackson in 1925 and he lived the rest of his life in Catani and after his death, on October 18, 1968, he was cremated at Springvale Necropolis.

Norman McDonald was involved with the R.S.L.

Dandenong Journal, June 20, 1945 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article214331846

McDonald,  Neil Lamont (SN 2060) Neil was a 29 year old labourer when he enlisted on February 8, 1916, the same day as Norman, His father was his next of kin, but this was later changed to his wife Matilda (nee McFarlane), whom he married between his enlistment and his embarkation. Her address was listed as Modella, Longwarry.  Lance Corporal McDonald Died of Wounds on May 14, 1917 received whilst fighting in France.

Marriage notice of Neil McDonald to Matilda McFarlane, which took place on March 4, 1916.

The Age April 10, 1916 http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155075807

McDonald, Hector Rodney (SN 3425) Hector enlisted on January 1, 1917. He  was 25 year old farmer and his father was his next of kin. Hector Returned to Australia July 24, 1919. Hector was also granted a Soldier Settlement farm at Catani, read his file on the Battle to Farm website, here. Hector was listed  in the Electoral rolls at Catani, until his death, which took place on February 10, 1952, when he was aged 60.

Hector's death notice 1952

The Age February 12, 1952 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/204972444/19718566