Wartime Shepparton was a busy place in the 1940s.
While the town had patriotically sent away its available young men and women to aid the Allied war effort, at home belt-tightening was the order of the day.
Many people used kerosene in place of petrol due to the rationing; using non-rationed petrol was a punishable offence.
Permits were issued to allow the purchase of four gallons a month, or for travel of 16 miles a week, a meagre distance in the bush.
Still, there were monies to be found, as a gala ball (in these times all balls were gala events) held in Murchison to help fund the replacement of the ill-fated HMAS Sydney, lost at sea, showed.
The Shepparton Showgrounds housed the 15th Infantry Training Battalion and opened on June 10, 1940 to relieve pressure on the Melbourne training depots.
The first draft of Army trainees arrived on June 13, and one recalls being allocated the cattle stalls as his “residence”.
It was mid-winter and the floor of the pen was liquid manure, so it took a load of apricot shells from SPC to make the place more habitable.
The Shepparton Heritage Centre is always looking for volunteers. If you are interested, contact the centre on 4831 8659.
