Hello there. Firstly, I must thank everyone who contacted me this week, old friends of Town Talk – and new.
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In Meg’s email she said: ‘Great to see that Marnie's deep dive into Maude St history is becoming a community effort.’
It truly has been just that and I thank you all most sincerely.
I have included letters from two correspondents below.
"Dear Marnie, I love your page and I was very interested about J.W. Every.
I worked there in 1945 for three years developing and enlarging films, but when I worked there, he was sharing a shop with McDonald’s jewellery store.
My dark room was under the stairs that led up to Folies dentist, just a few doors from ‘Maples corner’.
I worked in the dark for about two hours, being careful not to knock the films out of line otherwise Mrs Smith might have got Mrs Jones’ photos. Haha.
Dot McCoy
My note: I remember the dentist Dot, very clearly; and the dark stairs. My mother always made my father take me.
Dear Marnie,
I worked at 3SR upstairs on Maude St corner, above Rico Shoe Store from 1953 until we moved in 1954 to Wyndham St, in the old Advertiser building.
Pat Florence had the Children’s Hour. Marie Pinney had the 3SR Friendship Club. Yes, Ken Austin was there, but moved away and came back after we started at Wyndham St.
I left in 1955 to get married. I didn’t drive and was told it was too far to Shepparton..
On Friday morning, a queue formed outside the Lyrice Music Salon, opposite, for the McMillans to arrive, and we rushed over to book our seats for the Astor Saturday move.
For some time, I have wanted to write about the island window (on the corner of Fryers St – Fairley’s corner.)
A huge raffle was displayed in the form of a dolls layette. Everything little girls could wish for; doll’s prams, hand made clothes and knitwear, high chair and toys.
Every little girl in Shepparton could be found with their noses to the glass.
It was probably sixpence per ticket and we begged for another ticket every time we walked past. I don’t remember if it was for the war effort or for Mooroopna hospital.
I was about five years old.
Another fundraiser for the hospital – with some other girls, I was dressed up as a nurse with a long white apron, cape and veil.
We walked around the ‘block’ with donation tins, for hours.
Shepparton has always been a great fundraising town.
I well remember groups of school kids getting together and having little fetes in their garden for the war effort.
Sixpence or even a shilling would get you what you wanted.
A great time, I can’t forget.
Thank you for your column. I am now 88 years old and love history.
Glenice (McNeill) Holmes
P.S. The car in the Maude St picture, looked like the 3SR salesman’s car. Jack Walker drove it by day and there was always plenty of parking in Fraser St.
P.P.S. Advertiser building was down past the old bank at High St. corner. I can’t work out all the little buildings now. Past 3SR there was a dentist house and then Vibert’s large store.
Sorry I don’t do computer or texts.
My note: Thanks Glenice.
I remember organising a concert in our garage, to raise funds for the hospital. And that is absolutely all I remember about that.
But I clearly remember the island window. In the early 60s it became a place for teenage boys to gather, after work.
They whistled at girls and called out loud comments. I had to walk from Wyndham St (where I worked) to Maude St to catch a ride home with my parents.
I quickly learned, if I could get to Fryers St before 5.30pm, I could cut through Fairley’s (from Fryers to Maude). It was worth the risk of being locked inside the store.
I remember, around this time, the window dresser was Tom Graham.
I don’t know what year the store was redeveloped, and the island window was no more.
However, I was old enough to wonder why the store would remove such a strong sales tool. (Perhaps they were trying to get rid of the teenage boys.)
And I must apologise to Glenice, if I have got anything wrong, in her letter. When I receive letters, a helpmate in the editorial department takes a photo of each page and emails the result. He kindly offered to help me transcribe but I think I’ve managed okay. I am totally responsible if anything is astray.
Shepparton museum
With our wonderful new attractions, please let’s not forget our original museum and, without funding, it needs our support.
The rebuild of our long-lost post office remains a major project.
They have been held up this year, awaiting delivery of the post office boxes for the new build.
These have arrived and are being cleaned; they’ll be housed in the museum until the new/old building is complete.
The boxes are being sold, to families just like yours – to use as time capsules – or in any way you see fit.
I’ll give you full details in the near future.
Under the clock
June 1, 1914
TRAMPS LOVE FLOWERS — A new game is being played off on owners of gardens in Shepparton, by some of the tramps who make their presence known at unexpected hours.
They ask if some of the blooms could be spared them; occasionally they tell you that the blooms are for wreaths they desire to place on the coffin of some relative – the poor old grandmother for preference.
Then they carry off the flowers and sell them for a few pence – for drink.
June 8 1914
SNEAK THIEF – For some weeks past, some person, evidently keenly interested in football, has visited the library of the Tatura Mechanics Institute and cut out of the local papers the full reports of the recent football matches.
The police have the matter in hand.
Until next week — let’s talk again soon and may it be easy, my friends.
— Marnie