One recent item of mail

might be of Interest to

members/readers:

   The Salvation Army have

launched their Keeping it

Alive' project - an opportunity

to join in the writing of the history of The Salvation

Army in the South Pacific area.

 They correctly view history as a living and evolving thing, which they believe can utilise the past

to inspire the present, and

be a guidance in the future.

   The project is due for release in 2008, and they seek your support: Salvationists and

 friends are invited

to supply photographs,

film, information, artefacts or other material, or assist in research teams.

   At its peak, the Victorian

Navy fielded 16 vessels including the flagship H.M. V.S.Cerberus. After a regretful lapse. it is back again, and with a noble purpose.

   Many of us have seen her-the ship described by the National Trust as one of the most historically important naval vessels in existence anywhere in the world the now rotting and collapsing hulk of H.M.V.S. Cerberus, still serving as a makeshift breakwater at Half Moon Bay, Black Rock.

Launched in December 1868 on the Tyne, north England, she arrived in Melbourne, partly under sail, in April 1871, and remained in service until disposal in 1926.

   The voyage out was an epic! 

For the ship was of unfortunate design. being in effect a floating gun platform, mounting four (clumsy, muzzle heavy, slow firing) ten inch rifled muzzle loading Armstrong guns of 5 km. range, supported by four one inch Nordenfeldts.

   Her flat bottom, shallow draught and appalling steering. coupled with an engine capacity of 250 horsepower giving nine knots, and an initial list to starboard of 6 degrees were causes for concern: leaving England in October 1870 the ship encountered two gales that had her rolling 40 degrees at 1 1/2 knots and nearly foundering.

    Reaching Malta many of the crew deserted, three preferring six months jail to rejoining the ship.

   Once in Melbourne her duties revolved around Harbour Defence, highlighted by shooting the Gellibrand Lighthouse and de-roofing a St. Kilda pharmacy whilst warning off a customs evader.

   Despite this, Cerberus represents the transition between sail and steam, wood and steel, broadside and turret.

   And now she needs your help! Restoration might be at hand - already her four 18 tonne guns have been removed -but fundraising is vital. You can 'purchase a commission' in the new Victorian Navy (a non - profit arm of the Friends of the Cerberus) by contact through the website below:-

   Albert Edward Burrows was one of nine children born to Richard and Henrietta Burrows. His revolver, a Webley & Scott Royal1rish Constabulary Model in .442 calibre, stayed in the family for over 100 years.

   The arm was, in fact, a presentation piece to one of the Pioneers of Numurkah and District-and for a purpose, for along the top of the barrel was the inscription:

"Presented to Private A. Burrows by the People of Strathmerton and District on the eve of his departure to Sth Africa with the Imperial Bushman's Corps 19/04/1900"

   Research by John Sigley,

of the Numurkah Historical

Society, adds more detail:

the good people of Strathmerton

presented Burrows with a

suitable weapon at his farewell function. A revolver, because the equipment issued to the Bushmen consisted of Rifles, Bayonets and Bandoliers only.

No. 463 Pte. Albert Burrows of the Fourth (Imperial) Contingent, Victoria, happily returned safely to Oz.

   Arriving in Shepparton in 1900, Mr. N. "Coli" Colliver soon became one of the town's leading citizens. 

His photographic postcards of pre First War views, colour tinted, are prized today, while his community service, as Treasurer of the Shepparton Progress Association, was much appreciated.

   In 1913 Coll found the need to purchase a horseless carriage for conveyance.

   His choice, a 1913 Hillman of four cylinders, gave reliable service until a broken axle in the early 1920's saw it stored in a garage.

   After his death, Coll's car was repaired, but as a fun exhibit in local parades, circa 1952. It seemed destined for the scrapheap, but, by happy chance, passed through a series of owners, and is still with us today.

   Recently our Museum was visited by a Mr. Peter Ford of Tasmania, the present owner.

Coll's car is now the oldest Hillman in Australia, amongst the top ten oldest in the world, and has participated in Rallies in Victoria and New South Wales.

   It will be a prized exhibit in South Australia next year, as part of co1ebrations of the Marque's Centenary.

         Where do you go? 

  An interesting question, and one shortly to be asked about the fate of our relic riverboat wharf, in the Precinct grounds at the rear of our Museum.

   Our Society has recently been contacted by a staff member of the City Council, seeking views about the desirability, or otherwise, of maintaining the old wharf.

   Members may have observed that, in recent months, access to the structure has been prevented by strands of red and white plastic tape -for the wharf is now in its 126th. Year, and is showing damage, due to constant exposure to the elements.

   The wharf is the last of the two relics of the Shepparton riverboat trade that survived

into the 1970's; (the other, a stout tree with the original earlier steel hawser cable for tying

paddle steamers up to the bank vanished with the altering of the course of the Goulburn River.    The loss went un-noticed by almost all except the council groundsman who was plagued by the cable snagging his lawnmower).

  The wharf was opened for business in June 1880,having been built by the well known local contractor J. Dainton, after whom one of the bridges between Shepparton and Mooroopna is named.

   Indeed, the possession of such a feature turned Shepparton into a River Port, and accordingly a great crowd assembled on

Saturday the 18th. of that month to view the paddler, Murrumbidgee head off

downstream to Echuca, having been the first to use the facility for unloading.

   The great crowd may well have had their hopes dashed, however, for while the 'bidgee did unload salt and potatoes, and take on a cargo of flour and oats, it was by hauling into the river bank as in the past the wharf had not been provided with either crane or derrick, and was thus of

limited use.

   The arrival of the railway to Shepparton that same year saw the river trade-and wharf-decline in importance. The wharf would now become an important part of our early social life, as grandstand to the many regattas held on the Goulburn.

    Sixty-four years ago Yard No. 26 was launched by her builders, H.M.A. Naval Dockyards Williamstown, Victoria.

   No. 26 was one of 60 Bathurst class minesweepers built to a wartime programme, but she would be commissioned on the 1st. February 1943 as a Survey

Vessel, Pennant No. J 248, with chart room added aft, and a special raised bridge.

   All of the Class were named after inland towns and cities, and J 248 is better known as H.M.A.S. SHEPPARTON.

   The Shepparton conducted

marine survey work in New Guinea, New Britain, the

Solomon Islands, and Northern Australia, her career not ending until February 1946.

"By Wisdom and Courage"

(Ships and Town Motto)

   On war service she steamed 62,000 miles - mostly in enemy waters, mapping hostile minefields,

and taking soundings off beaches, either by night or by day under enemy observation.

   She was sold out of service in Feb. 1958

   Yet another of the occupants of our Heritage Precinct has been festooned with the

red and white. and it too faces an uncertain future.

   This time, the object of attention is the small shelter between our Museum, and

the wharf. It, too, has suffered the attention of time, and is under Council inspection.

  So just what is it, and why was it placed there? There is little to suggest that this humble structure has a link with the first building in

 Shepparton-the Emu Bush Inn -but indeed this is the case.

   The Bush Inn. perhaps surprisingly to modern readers, remained standing from circa 1850 to circa 1933 when the land was sold, and the new owner found what he thought was a better use for it.

   Original planking from the Inn was preserved, and served as the lower surrounds to the shelter,

which was intended to preserve them. 

This may have been done for the Centenary of Settlement, 1938. The area was certainly highly valued, and, with a popular swimming spot a short distance away, was used for community recreation.

  The Shepparton Heritage Centre Inc., through its earlier life as the Shepparton Historical Society, has a tradition of 44 years unbroken voluntary community service.

 Community interest in our past goes back much further, however. In July of 1910,

J. Edward Robertson compiled and published his 'Prosperous and Progressive Shepparton' -a record of leading citizens of the day, and some related businesses.

   This was followed, in the 1920's and 1930's, by the printing of special supplements to our 'Shepparton News' in which

old colonists were interviewed. These articles were in support of the popular "Back to Shepparton" events involving former residents, and are something of a goldmine for us today.

   1934 saw another step taken in recording our past, when Shepparton Borough Council constituted an Historical Committee to gather suitable information. It took twelve months to assemble what would, in 1938, be our first published

history.

 Written by Mayor W. S. James, the 'History of Shepparton' was published to mark Shepparton's first centenary of settlement, and it acknowledges the courtesy of Me. A. S. Kenyon, President of the Historical Society.

   Alas, this is the only reference to an outstanding body of public-spirited citizens, and the group may have been the Historical committee in a more advanced form.

   The Shepparton Historical Society of recent times originated largely through the efforts of another member of Shepparton

Council. Mr. Raymond West was a local lad who proved his mettle by becoming an officer in the local Cadets prior to the First War. Upon the outbreak of war, he enlisted into the 5th. Battalion, Australian Imperial forces, and after his return, began a career in Civic Administration, becoming Shepparton's Town Clerk.

   During his term, he assembled a small 'Shepparton Historic Collection', and after retirement, became a leading organiser of a historical society to further develop this theme.

   The Shepparton Historical Society was formed in 1962, and, having the support of Council, was given care of the Historic Collection. The early years utilised the Shepparton Mechanic's Institute as a home, with the collection displayed in one of their rooms. Parts of it were, at times, exhibited at Shepparton agricultural shows, and at other venues, such as schools, when invited.

   In 1972 Council purchased the former Public Hall, built in 1873 (also later known as the foresters Hal1), located in Welsford Street. The site would be developed as a historic precinct, and the Hall, plus an old weatherboard cottage, was

made available to the Historical Society.

   Today's Heritage Centre comprises a four gallery Museum, a modern replica cottage with meeting room, and fireproof Family History Group Inc. archive.