April 2013 MURPHY’S CREEK NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE A S S N I N C News From Extending the hand of friendship Jessie’s Cottage Date Claimers PRESIDENT’S REPORT Important dates to note (see inside for more details) The result of elections at our AGM on Monday 25 March 2013, follow.

 Sat, 13 April, Dance President: Trudy Graham Postmans Ridge Hall Vice-President: Madeleine Prior Secretary: Susan Stilgoe  Sat, 20 April Movies Treasurer: Betty Thomas Under the Stars at MCG - FREE In my report to the meeting, I said that Australia might have been built on the sheep’s back, but it’s the volunteers who keep our communities thriving and  Sun, 21 April at Postman’s Ridge growing. That’s as true in our community as any other and I thank each and Hall, Country Music everyone of you for doing what you can to help. Like anything that is shared, with Ted & Friends the burdens are less and the rewards great.

 Thurs, 25 April at We look forward to our new Community Centre being opened for business,

the MCG, ANZAC and to ticking off the items on our activities wish list. Day Service Trudy Graham

Community Groups Meeting Dates VALE—Elva Neumann Elva was a life-member of our association and for a time served as Secretary.  Progress Meeting 7p.m. 2nd Wednesday She worked for the community in many ways, giving a helping hand wherever each month, Murphy’s it was needed and crafting beautiful items for sale on our stalls; her door mice Creek Recovery Centre. were particularly popular. Over the years, Elva also collected, cleaned and repaired many hundreds of toys, which were then given to QUOTA of  Neighbourhood Centre General Meetings, last to distribute to children. Elva was a brave lady who lost her Monday each month, battle with cancer on 13 March 2013. We extend our sincere condolences to Recovery Centre, her family; she will be missed. 9.30am. All welcome.

 Rural Fire Brigade 7pm A Safer Community IN THIS ISSUE 1st Monday each month,

at the Fire Shed, except Statistical evidence demonstrates that April 2013, when it will in areas where Neighbourhood Watch Date Claimers ------1 be held on Monday 8th. is established, and active, there is a Meeting Dates ------1 significant reduction in criminal President’s Report ------1  P&C 5pm, 3rd Wednes- offences. Vale, Elva Neumann ------1 day every month. 75% of our residents need to A Safer Community ------1 show their support before we What’s on This Month ------2 can set up a Neighbourhood Coming in May ------2 Watch in our area. Award for Margaret Woods ---- 2

Please call in to the shop and Murphy’s Creek State School -- 3 sign the petition today. Signing Preserving our history ------3 does not obligate you to join a Historical Feature ------4 committee—it just indicates your A Piece of History Returns ----- 4 support of this vital service to keep Contacts ------4 our community safe.

MURPHYS CREEK NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE ASSN INC NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013 PAGE 2

What’s on in our Community CONGRATULATIONS to Margaret Wood, Secretary and support worker, Murphys Creek This Month Rural Fire Brigade, who was recently presented with the National Emergency Medal for her volunteer work with Fire and Rescue Come along for an enjoyable day of during the floods of January 2011. COUNTRY MUSIC with Ted & Friends The medal (struck by To help raise funds for Laidley Flood Victims the Queen in 2011) was presented to Mrs Sunday 21 April 2013 Woods by Commis- Postman’s Ridge Hall sioner Lee Johnson, 10 am to 5 pm Queensland Fire and Rescue (left), and the Various Artists Honourable Jack Sausage Sizzle Dempsey, M.P. Minis- ter for Police and Entry $10 per person Community Safety. Lucky Door Prize Multi-Draw Raffles Margaret said that the Cold drinks on sale award was totally Free tea, coffee & milo unexpected; she only Please bring a plate for afternoon tea found out about it All welcome when she collected an For further information call Australia Day Medal Ted Hanlon 4630 5143 from the Regional Fire Service. According to Margaret, she did nothing special. ‘I was only doing my job,” she said.

Movies Under the Stars Sat 20 April 2013 Those who know her will tell you that Margaret Wood gives over and above what is expected of her, FREE ENTRY Bring along your own chair or that with her husband Reg Woods, she spends blanket, have a picnic and make a family night of many hours working to keep our Fire Brigade it! A sausage sizzle, drinks and snacks will be running smoothly and subsequently our communi- available on the night, with all proceeds going to ty safe. Congratulations Margaret, your Award is Murphys Creek Progress Assn. well-deserved.

For more information phone Lorraine Mann 4630 5157 Postmans Ridge Hall Dance

This screening is part of Council’s Movies Under the Stars Next dance night is series which are being held once a month in different Saturday 13 April 2013 locations throughout the region. with Jim Kelly 8pm to midnight

ANZAC DAY Lucky Door Raffle Fruit Basket Raffle An ANZAC Day service will be held on the Murphys Creek Ground $10 at the door includes supper

Thursday 25 April 2013 at 10 a.m. For more information followed by light refreshments phone Ruby Jenson, 4630 3522

KAROKE/TALENT QUEST—Postponed COMING IN MAY

Due to circumstances beyond their control, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea Murphys Creek Progress Association have had to postpone this event. Their apologies for any Sunday 19 May, 2013 10 am at the Murphys Creek Grounds inconvenience this may cause. Watch for news of a new day/time for this All of us have, or will be, touched by cancer at fund-raising event for our Tasmanian friends. some stage in our lives. Come along to our Big

[Looking on the bright side, we now have Morning Tea, bring a plate to share, and make a more time to practice our acts!] donation to aid Cancer Research.

MURPHYS CREEK NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE ASSN INC NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013 PAGE 3

Murphys Creek State School

SCHOOL LEADERS for 2013

Left to Right

Trey Moon- Leslie House Captain

Alan Ryan – School Vice-Captain

Aaron French – School Captain

Kieran Pollett – Murphy House Captain

Volunteering @ Murphys Creek State School I am interested in being a volunteer at the school. Please return slip to school or email Lyndal on [email protected] (a numeric ‘one’ before the @ sign)

Name: ……………………………………………………………I am interested in:

Classroom Reading

Covering & repairing Library books

Other tasks (Gardening, tuckshop…?)

I am available to volunteer ………………………………………………………….....…( list days)

From ……………………...to …………………………. (approximate times)

How often? Daily/ weekly / fortnightly My contact phone : …………………..…………

MUPHYS CREEK POLICE STATION circa 1879

The original of this photograph is in the possession of Mrs Mercer, of Toowoomba. It shows the O’Loans, who lived at Murphys Creek at the time. The house is now a private residence.

We have been told that there was another police station in Murphys Creek and would be pleased to hear from anyone who has information about this.

PRESERVING OUR HISTORY. CAN YOU HELP?

Murphys Creek Neighbourhood Centre has received funding for an ORAL HISTORY PROJECT. We are continually on the look-out people who can tell us stories of days gone by, or who have photographs or documents relating to those times.

If you can help, please contact Susan Stilgoe on 4630 5703.

MURPHYS CREEK NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE ASSN INC NEWSLETTER APRIL 2013 PAGE 4

THIS MONTH’S HISTORICAL FEATURE converted into a shop with a dwelling. (The The Murphy’s Creek General Store Chapmans lived in a garage beyond the hall until the shop was ready.) The original Murphys Creek Store was established by the Chapman family. The Murphys Creek store has had many owners

Henry Chapman was born in 1838 and came to over the years, and was threatened with closure Australia from Gloucestershire looking for a time or two but it’s still there. From a simple gold. He returned to England, married Martha ‘last minute grocery items’ and fuel stop, its and settled in Drayton in 1860. Later, the latest owner, Del Gold, has expanded it to in- couple selected 300 acres at Murphys Creek, clude almost everything you could need, and is soon to open a postal service. built a cottage and then the store and butchery. Their son, Sydney, was born in 1873 and he From an article in The Lockyer Journal, 1995. extended the business with hardware, groceries, poultry farm, pig enterprise, free barbering service and bush undertaking. He played the violin, concertina and accordion for dances in the original Murphys Creek Hall.

In 1923 an arsonist burnt down the store and three years later, the storekeeper’s house alongside. He (or she) was never caught but did send a note asking for forgiveness. “God forgive me for what I did.”

The Chapmans then moved into Murphys Creek Hall, which was later pulled down and

HISTORY RETURNS TO MURPHYS CREEK SCHOOL

We were very excited to learn (Murphys Creek State School Newsletter Vol 1 Ed 8), “that a piece of school work has arrived back at the school, 124 years after it first left. The ‘sampler’ of embroidery was done by Annie Adkins, a student at the school in 1889. Annie’s embroidery has been donated to the school by her great niece, Elaine Naughtin and her great-great niece, Deborah Neven. In another interesting fact, Elaine’s mother, Dorothy Graham, also attended the school from 1913-1917.”

The Murphys Creek State School plan to have the piece reframed with glass to protect it and then to loan it for display at Jessie’s Cottage.

[The cottage has also recently received a donation of costumes dating back to the 1920s. Watch this space for more details and news of when these will be on display.]

CONTACT DETAILS

Murphy’s Creek Neighbourhood Centre Murphy’s Creek Progress Assn Inc Jessie’s Cottage, 8 Jessie Lane Murphy’s Creek President, Bob Mann 4630 5157 Secretary, Julie Reck 0407 034 214 [email protected] Mail to 43 Goodsirs Road Murphy’s Creek 4352 Murphy’s Creek Rural Fire Brigade President, Trudy Graham, 4630 5084 Secretary, Margaret Wood, 4630 5191 0419 959 508 or Email: [email protected] Murphy’s Creek State School Parents & Citizens’ Assn Secretary, Susan Stilgoe, 4630 5703 President, Andrea Elks ] phone the school on Treasurer, Betty Thomas, 4630 5863 Secretary, Roslyn Woodhouse ] 4630 5167

Do you have news to share? Deadline is last Friday of each month. Distribution first Monday each month. Copy preferred as attachments to email. Send to: [email protected] with Jessie’s Cottage News in the subject line