Stories

As published in Yallourn North Community News in March 2015

1949 YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION RESULTS

A recent ‘Virtual Yallourn’ article reported on the opening of the Yallourn High School in 1945. The extract below was published in 1949 and underscores the importance of establishing a High School in Yallourn; and highlights the excellent results gained by the students in the annual examinations.
In November- December 1948 nine students of the YHS sat for the Matriculation-University Entrance Examinations. Every student, mentioned in the article below, is shown in the photograph of the 1948 Prefects posted with this story on the… more

MARGARET REID EXCELS AT YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL
This article was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ in January 1948 and reports on Margaret Reid’s outstanding achievements as a student at Yallourn High School. The headline of the story was ‘Excellent Record of Morwell Pupil.’
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January 8th 1948 ‘Morwell Advertiser’ Page: 9

Excellent Record of Morwell Pupil.
Margaret Reid, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alex Reid, of George Street, is a pupil with a promising future.
Coming to… more

70 YEARS AGO
1945- THE OPENING OF YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL
This story was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ and reports on the opening of the Yallourn High School in 1945. The article also lists the names of the teachers of the school and their qualifications. Like the history of schooling in all country towns, Yallourn was no exception to the various changes that transpired in Victorian education following the end of World War :II.
From the most humble of beginnings in 1922, the Primary School (4085) opened with 15 students; pupil enrolment increased and some six years… more

HEATHER MCKAY FROM YALLOURN WINS A BICYCLE
Heather McKay, from Yallourn, made the front page of the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ newspaper in 1952. Heather won a bicycle for collecting the most pennies in charity drive for local hospitals. The article was headlined ‘Health Minister ~Here Friday.’
________________________________________________________________October 18th 1952 ‘Morwell Advertiser’ Page: 1
Health Minister~ Here Friday.
“FRIDAY will be a big day in the life of nine year old Heather McKay of Yallourn. At 2.30 p.m. at the… more

FROM THE NEWSPAPERS - 1934 - ADVENTURE WITH A SNAKE
Meeting with venomous snakes in Yallourn was not uncommon and, in the early days, such stories made exciting reading.
The following brief news report was found in the ‘Newcastle Morning Herald & Miners Advocate’ which was published on the 12th January, 1934. There are two aspects to the story which are indeed interesting…
• It is curious that the story was newsworthy so far from ‘home.’
• The journalist (unknown) didn’t waste any words in describing the demise of the tiger snake.
… more

CHRISTMAS IN THE MINING CAMPS
The following article was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ on the 23rd December 1921. The headline of the story was ‘Christmas Tree at Coal Mine.’
Unfortunately, the report is very difficult to read and appears to have been damaged at some time. Several key words are illegible and the entire last paragraph of this newspaper report is missing.
Note: The unreadable words and phrases in the text are shown by ************* (illegible).
It is a pity that it is impossible to read how many children attended the celebration in the hall… more

This extract from the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ reported on a visit to the Yallourn State School by Father Christmas in 1934. The brief article was published in the newspaper on the 10th January 1935 (Page: 9)…
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10th January 1935 Morwell Advertiser Page 9
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Yallourn State School
MOTHERS' CLUB
A happy afternoon was spent at the Infant School on Tuesday, the 19th December, when Father Christmas again visited the… more

Former Yallourn FC rover ‘Alec’ (James Alexander) Shaw passed away on Thursday, 13th November after a long battle with illness.

As a youngster, Alec was an outstanding athlete and he was regarded as a potential star in local football in the early 1950’s. Such predictions of his ability proved true when, still a teenager, Alec won the senior team award for the Most Improved Player at Yinnar Football Club in 1953. He was also a member of the victorious Yinnar team that defeated Hazelwood in the 1954 Mid Gippsland FL Grand Final.

Alec gained a reputation as a skilled rover… more

ANDOR MESZAROS AND THE YALLOURN CENOTAPH
In April 1953 ‘The Argus’ newspaper carried the following report about the day that the Governor of Victoria Sir Dallas Brooks officially unveiled the new Cenotaph in the gardens of Yallourn…

GOVERNOR UNVEILS YALLOURN WAR MEMORIAL
“Two thousand people packed Yallourn's town square yesterday to watch Sir Dallas Brooks, Governor, unveil the town's war memorial. In the crowd were members of the R.S.L., C.M.F., and the S.E.C.'s own 99th Construction Squadron, and Scouts, Guides and Brownies. The £1,800 memorial, a Cenotaph, was… more