Historical information gathered

He had a lot to tell me about our local Highland Gatherings and was rapidly shooting names at me.

So much information.

The stories of some of these people have been well-covered, and occasionally there’s confusion regarding the people involved with the Highland Gatherings and those who worked with the Dhurringile Boys Pipe Band.

And then there were gentlemen, like Bob Agnew, who were heavily involved with both projects.

But this correspondent (we’ll simply call him Stewart), really threw me with the following statement.

“Highland Gatherings were held at Deakin Reserve and Karabrook Park which was where the fire brigade building is — in Archer St.”

Now there are many things I don’t know about our city — but this one took me by surprise.

I tried several alternative spellings for the park Stewart had mentioned, but nothing rang a bell.

Finally, there it was, exactly where Stewart had told me — clear as can be on a google map — Kaibok Park.

I’m guessing it has been there for my entire life and I knew it not.

However, the mention of Deakin Reserve puts my husband firmly at odds with Stewart.

He claims the Gatherings were definitely at the showgrounds — and that Deakin would not have been large enough for 22 bands.

Stewart also mentioned the “Orange Lodge”, which was in Ashenden St, and was a gathering place for both Irish and Scottish immigrants.

What we need to know, to tie at least some of this together, is when and where the last Shepparton Highland Gathering was held.

Stewart has given me a phone number for a lady who might know, but as yet I have been unable to make contact — and deadline looms; his sister stopped dancing in “the 60s” and I finished my highland dancing stint in 1960.

So none of that helps much.

We believe the event continued until 1962, at the earliest.

And, if you attended a Gathering at Kaibok Park, it would be good to know — because this would mean that the event decreased in size or popularity — and that would also answer a question.

The Blossom Festival

The lovely pic provided celebrates a festival, but we are not sure which one.

The Blossom Festival, we believe at this stage, was held in 1956 and 1957, organised by the Shepparton Jaycees.

Glenice Holmes (nee. McNeill) sent me this photo and is very sure it was taken in 1954.

The Argus newspaper came to town to take a number of pics of the blossom and published a double page spread.

Last week, there was a pic of a Blossom Festival float that was too small to see — but it was clearly marked 1956, by the lady who took it. (Jeanette Doherty would have been a girl at this point).

Then I remembered something to complicate (or clarify) our story.

I think there was a festival called the “peaches and pears’’ – or vice versa, and this could well have been in 1954 and match with Glenice’s photo.

She said it was taken in a small garden on the corner of Wyndham and Sobraon St and the girls involved were Gillian and Lesley Cox, Shirley Parker and Glenice McNeill.

Stewart mentioned that a Mr Godden was in charge of a festival — perhaps the “peaches and pears”?

I’m not at all sure whether we are getting closer to the facts — or not.

I have promised Glenice that I’ll try to find the double page spread, in the Argus, published in the spring of 1954.

As always, I’m grateful for your assistance and your patience; sometimes a great deal of time and effort is involved in your contributions.

Perhaps we should give our history a break for a while?

What do you think?

While you are thinking, take care — and may it be easy, my friends

Marnie

Email: towntalk@sheppnews.com.au

Phone: Text or call 0409 317187