This week in 1919: December 11

SOLDIERS’ CLUB OPENED.

There was a very representative gathering of soldiers and their friends at the formal opening of the club of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League on Thursday afternoon. Dr. T. Keyes (President of the club) formally welcomed the President of the Shire and visitors. Cr. Schier said he was pleased and proud to be present. After the four years they had passed through they would appreciate peace, and the club room would give soldiers a hall in which to meet their old comrades. He was pleased to welcome Mr Palmer (President of the Victorian branch of the League) and Lieut. Fair.

Mr G. R. Palmer, on rising to declare, the club rooms formally open, was greeted with applause. He was proud to be among them. They were now at peace after four years of the most strenuous war in the world’s history.

The rooms would give old comrades a place to meet and to consider the future..The men had come back with a broadened vision and with higher ideals. It was not a question of party. They would support a National Government for the benefit of Australia. He thought, that one of the uses of the rooms would be for a committee to meet and discuss questions of interest and give their opinions to headquarters. There was no doubt of the need in this direction.  

The Numurkah Hotel.—In another column Mr A. D. Guthrie announces that he has taken the control of the popular Numurkah Hotel from Mr D. J. Reilly, and promises that in his hands the conduct of the well-appointed house will leave nothing to be desired. Mr Guthrie has opened a sample room for the convenience of travellers, whilst the dining-room trade will be made a feature under the personal direction of Mrs Guthrie.

Football Association.—At a meeting of the G.V.F.A. on Monday evening the pennant flag won by Muckatah was handed over to that club by the President (Mr H. V. Howell), who congratulated the club on it performance. 

Rainstorm.—In common with many other places, Numurkah experienced a heavy rainstorm early on Thursday morning last, 33 points falling in a few minutes. For the year to date 1136 points have fallen, a record much below the average. Of this small total 845 points were recorded in the months of February (331), April (141), May (239) and September (131).

WUNGHNU V. NARING DIP.

The Wunghnu cricketers took the field against Naring Dip on Saturday afternoon in anything but a chastened spirit. For the first time this season they were playing on their own ground, which counts for something in most field sports. Skipper Roy Pinchbeck won the toss and sent Naring to the wickets. Addie Gray and R. Gordon opened to the bowling of Ted. Graham and Dan. Quinn. Graham put over a barrage of “whiz-bangs,” which proved fatal to Gordon, who was caught by Jimmie Linehan without scoring. Skipper Donald made two runs and then gave a catch to Norrie Gillespie, which was accepted. Ryan added to his side’s score and then put one into the hands of Jack Pinchbeck and retired. J. Heyme was caught in the Graham barrage before he had scored. Allan Grey shaped nicely for 13, when he was bowled by Ray Pinchbeck. Sidebottom proved himself to be a cricketer as well as a footballer by knocking up 34 and carrying his bat. Addie Gray by careful and correct play carried his score to 18 before Roy Pinchbeck beat him with a real “trimmer”’ that broke the bail. Kilgour made 12, and then succumbed to the bowling of Norrie Gillespie. Barnes and Williams were disposed of by bowlers R. Pinchbeck and J. Linehan for nil, whilst Carnie’s career was arrested through the agency of Delarue’s bowling when he had made 1. Sundries (1) brought the total to 82.

The Chairman Smoked.—The unusual spectacle of a chairman of a public Meeting puffing at a cigarette was witnessed on Monday evening. We take no exception to the departure, but, we think the least the genial gentleman could have done would be to invite the audience to “light up” also.

To celebrate the State Library of Victoria’s digitising of the war years editions of the Numurkah Leader, each week we will include the news of the week, 100 years ago.

To view these editions online go to trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/title/591.