1921 - A CHRISTMAS STORY
This newspaper article regarding Christmas celebrations at the Western Camp at Yallourn was published in December 1921. Times were challenging for the workers who lived in the camps and day-to-day living, without any recreational activities to relieve the drudgery of manual labour, must have tested the staying power of most men.
Social clubs, cultural organizations and sporting teams were virtually non-existent in that period of Yallourn’s history but Christmas was one bright spot in the lives of the men at the camps. In his famous story entitled ‘A Christmas Carol’, Charles Dickens wrote…
“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”
The above words seem true as the following news from the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ report conveys the friendly spirit engendered by a Christmas party organised by the local Returned Soldiers Branch* in 1921.
*(Note: Many of the men who worked at Yallourn in the 1920’s had served in the military forces during the Great War).
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23 December 1921 MORWELL ADVERTISER Page 2
AT WESTERN CAMP, YALLOURN
The people of Western Camp thought they would like to have a social gathering before they broke up camp for Xmas holidays so the Returned Soldiers' Branch took things in hand and arranged a good night's fun at the Western Camp for all.
There was card playing in one room and in the dining room they held a dance and concert, an item being given between each dance.
The room was tastefully decorated with fern tree fronds, red, white and blue bulb lights and a prettily painted scene across the front wall with Xmas greetings to all painted thereon.
There were a large number of patrons from Coal-Mine, Moe and Morwell who joined in the merry making and were given such a good time that they forgot to complain about the bad weather.
Mr D. Murphy thanked all present for their generous support, especially the ladies. He promised the visitors that Yallourn would return the support in any of their functions on future occasions. Wishing all A Merry Xmas and Happy New Year he thanked all once more.
Things were then carried on under the leadership of Mr Griffin and good music supplied by piano and cornet. Supper, soft drinks, ice cream and fruit were dispensed during the evening and things kept going merrily till nearly sunrise.
THANK YOU & SEASONS GREETINGS
The news article from 1921 says it all…..
To all the contributors and readers of the Virtual Yallourn website thank you for your support and encouragement throughout the past year; and we hope that the stories, articles and photographs, which have been posted on the Virtual Yallourn website, have rekindled some memories of our remarkable town and its wonderful people.
MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE
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