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Last month, I attended a ‘birthday party’ for Foresters Hall; our oldest building is 150 years old — and, obviously, it is appropriately valued. It was a pleasant afternoon, with interesting speakers and, it is important to mention, several members of Greater Shepparton City Council, including our mayor (who is everywhere) and new chief executive Fiona Le Gassick (while remembering that Fiona is far from new to Shepparton).
I’ve included a brief history of the building’s extensive history and some information about the Foresters — who were/are they?
The history of Foresters Hall
Late in 1873, William Fraser reached a lease agreement with James Hay, who would lease the Punt Hotel and the Prince of Wales Hotel. However, Mr Hay also wanted a brick building 13ft x 30ft, a saddler’s shop and, if required, a butcher’s shop. In return, Mr Hay was to build a new punt, 20ft x 60-70 ft and pay Mr Fraser 300 pounds per annum — with payments half-yearly.
Shepparton was in its infancy, and this small brick building would be our first public hall. It would prove to be very useful indeed.
The first local Catholic services were held here, and the first Catholic wedding was when James O’Connell married Mary O’Leary in 1877.
In 1885, Messrs Pettit and Challendar purchased the premises for use as a steam printing business. Here, for a short time, they printed The Farmers’ Gazette.
In 1888, prior to the opening of the Presbyterian Church, services were held in the hall, including the marriage of Erastus Robertson to Jessie McLean. Their daughter, Isabella, was the first baby christened in the new church.
Over the years, the hall had many purposes; ballet classes were held there, and it was a rehearsal space for the Highland band. It was a plumbers’ workshop, and a pensioners’ club used the hall for meetings; even ping pong competitions were held in this building. Ownership of the site changed many times.
In 1934, the Ancient Order of Foresters — represented by William Lightfoot, William Dear and Harold Pink (trustees) — purchased the property. It became known as Foresters Hall.
Who are the Foresters?
When I was a small child, I thought of the hall as a place ‘where men went’. Largely, I guess, because my father attended Lodge there. I don’t know which Lodge because it was rarely mentioned. As I grew, I imagined that there must have been a ‘Mr Forester’ who owned the place and, later still, I incorrectly assumed that the Foresters must have had some connection to the felling of trees.
This is how they explain their beginnings in England in the 1700s:
“Our first members came to recognise they had a duty to assist their fellow men and women who sometimes needed help ‘as they walked through the forests of life’. This need arose principally when a breadwinner fell ill, could not work and received no wages. Providing financial and social support to our members has been the main purpose of the Foresters Friendly Society throughout our long history. Back then, members recognised that by paying a few pence a week into a common fund, they would be able to offer sick pay and funeral grants when needed.”
This is how others describe them:
“The Ancient Order consisted of over 300 branches of the Royal Foresters Society, which may have been established as early as the 1720s as a means of mutual aid for groups located in or around royal forests.”
So, take your pick. I’d go with the ‘forests of life’ rather than the ‘royal forests’. It’s an elegant phrase and entirely appropriate; there is beauty in a forest — and fear, from time to time. Not unlike the average life!
The society came to Australia, where there are no royal forests (but the Royal National Park may suffice).
It arrived in NSW in 1843 and Victoria in 1849. The motto, at this time, was Unity, Benevolence and Concord.
The first Shepparton Court of the Foresters was held in the Star Theatre on August 1, 1905. It was court number 8715.
Today, in the UK, it appears to be an insurance company — and a successful one. Its last update was 2023.
In Australia, it is a corporate body, and there was a case in the High Court in 2018. But now I’m into the legal stuff, and my brain doesn’t stretch that far.
Anyway, at least we know something about the Foresters and why we will always call our little brick building ‘Foresters Hall’.
By the way, there is an interesting exhibition at the Shepparton Heritage Centre (the museum on Welsford St). You’ll learn a great deal more about the history of our oldest building, and if you are interested, why not chat with someone about volunteering? Even for just a few hours each week? The people there are doing some great work, and every hand helps.
What I did wrong last week
I directed readers to Facebook and then ultimately made up the rest of the address.
If you want to read more about the International Village/Botanic Gardens story, you should go to Facebook and search Shepparton International Village. Sorry! No excuses!
I became far too emotionally involved in the story, and there is something else I need to explain. In 2004, when the Victorian Heritage Commission was clearly critical of the council, our mayor said, “If anything, it is a criticism of all the community groups that haven’t been able to maintain interest in all of the buildings.”
When my anger cooled, I deleted the mayor’s name because, in my opinion, this was a comment made under pressure — and not indicative of the common sense normally displayed. Most likely, it was later regretted. I know some of you have been asking who it was — but this is why I deleted the name. We all make mistakes when the pressure is on.
I had to laugh, though, when the suggestion was made that the story be published every 20 years. Does anyone want to put their hand up to remind this newspaper in 2044, 2064 and 2084? Meg, you are the only one I can think of who might still be around in 2084.
Seriously, however, though there were a few tears, it appears to have brought closure for at least a couple of the participants.
And then the lights went out
As it was for many of us, last Tuesday was a difficult day for me. There was an appointment in the afternoon, which I didn’t feel good about postponing; I couldn’t get a park where I needed it — and walking the streets in 40°C heat wasn’t fun.
Home at last! I put my phone on to charge, the lights went out, and the first text message was concerning. There would be no power until midnight. I sent text messages to our sons to say we were likely to be out of contact until 12 o’clock. My daughter-in-law rang back to say, “Come to our place for a few hours — it’s cool; you can eat and charge your phone.”
“No. All good. The new text says 6.30pm. I can’t cook anything, but there is stuff in the freezer I can heat when we have the power back.”
But the third text said we’d be reconnected by 6.30am on the 14th. As Tuesday was the 13th, this was becoming serious. I rang my son — surprised there was still a call left on the phone. He said he’d pick us up before 8pm.
So, there we sat. My man was in his permanent, personal darkness — no internet, no audiobooks — in his armchair. And I wonder what people actually did before electricity. No wonder there were large families.
He obviously didn’t feel up to singing — so he told jokes. I laughed, although I’d heard them all before — until there was one I didn’t get. Why no laughter, he wanted to know. It was funny. I don’t get it! What, I asked, does a seeing-eye dog have to do with the guy next door?
Then he said — and I quote: “Oh dear! She used to be such a nice girl — and fun too. I remember when she was fun!”
That made me laugh; our son pulled up, and the lights went on simultaneously. It was 7.45pm.
As it later emerged, we were among the lucky ones.
This would be great
I was more than interested to read that the cattlemen of this country are considering selling their product directly to the consumer. What a first-rate idea! The technology is certainly available; they would make some money, and we would save some. And any price gouging that may or may not have gone on would have to stop.
I would hope, though, that they’d cut some of it up for us. I’m not sure how I’d handle a quarter of a cow. Exactly where is the eye fillet?
I’m not a huge fan of our current technology. I think we’ve outsmarted ourselves and now have to keep going in an attempt to stop the bad guys. However, there is one thing I really like — and that is talking to the remote control so it can do the searching for me. That is fun!
Please remember to take care of yourself; you are no use to anyone else if you don’t. And we all want to be helpful.
May it be easy, my friends.
Marnie,
Email: Towntalk@sheppnews.com.au
Letter: Town Talk. Shepparton News. P.O. Box 204. Shepparton 3631.
Phone: Send a text to 0418 962 507. (Note: text only. I will call you back if you wish.)
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