& DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC BULLETIN

JULY 2007 Registered by Australia Post PP 225170/0019 470

REPORT ON THE JUNE MEETING (13/6/07) NEXT MEETING The meeting proceeded bury Cricket Club and also WEDNESDAY at a lively pace combin- life membership with the 11 JULY 2007 7.30pm at Commercial Club ing the business of the North Albury Football Past Players Association. Albury AGM, well researched Speaker: Mr Ron Ahern answers to the Question OFFICE-BEARERS “My experiences as a tailor of the Month and the & COMMITTEE in Albury.” highlight, a fascinating There are changes to the NOTE CHANGE OF TIME committee for 2007/08. June address by Mr Rowan Shanahan did not seek re- Chalmers-Borella on his election, so Helen Livsey was QUESTION OF THE unique experience of elected secretary. There were MONTH growing up as the son of no nominations for treasurer The Hume Freeway is a VC winner. so it was passed to the com- the latest change to the Rowan has lived in Albury mittee, as were the positions of junior vice-president and road to Sydney. What since 1946, being educated at have been the earlier Albury High School and Al- auditor. Jill Wooding and bury Technical College. He Howard Jones joined the routes through and from served his apprenticeship as a committee. Albury? carpenter & joiner and Subsequent to the AGM, worked in the building trade, Chris McQuellin has agreed INSIDE THIS ISSUE the last 15 years in partner- to be treasurer and June My life as the son of a ship with his youngest son Shanahan junior vice- winner Page 2 president. A full list of posi- Answer to Question of Month Page 4 Richard at Borella Cabinets. Adelyn Clothing Factory Page 5 Rowan has had a keen inter- tions is shown in the panel Library/Museum volunteers Page 5 est in cricket and football, below. The appointment of an Base Hospital archives Page 6 being honoured with life auditor remains a task for the Journals Page 6 committee. Harold Mair Bridge Page 6 membership in the North Al- Membership renewal Page 6

ALBURY & DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC PO Box 822 ALBURY 2640

Patron: Harold Mair OAM Journals & Stock: John Craig History Meetings: 2nd Wednesday Public Officer: Helen Livsey Honorary Auditor: tba of the month 8pm at Commercial President: Doug Hunter Membership list & Bulletin dispatch: Ray 02 6021 2835 [email protected] Gear Club Albury. Vice-Presidents: Joe Wooding, June Shanahan Bulletin Editor: Doug Hunter 02 6021 2835 Committee meets 4th Tuesday of the Secretary: Helen Livsey 02 6021 3671 [email protected] month 5.15pm at Albury City Treasurer: Chris McQuellin ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION Library. Minute Secretary: Jan Marsden Single: $22 Committee: Helen Pithie, John Craig, Carole Whitbourn, Jill Wooding, Howard Jones and Family: $30 A&DHS website: Ray Gear Corporate: $50 www.alburycity.nsw.gov.au/museum/heritage

MY LIFE AS THE SON OF one of the best on the Daly. to Sergeant in January 1917; A VICTORIA CROSS He cleared his land and Mentioned in Dispatches WINNER erected 3 miles of fencing and (MID) in February, and By Rowan Chalmers-Borella dug a well 30 feet deep.” awarded a ALBERT Dad worked his block for (MM) the following month CHALMERS-BORELLA two years before, climate, re- for conspicuous bravery in Albert Chalmers Borella moteness and lack of prom- the attack on Malt Trench. was born in Borung (near ised support forced him off. He was commissioned in Wedderburn) on 7/8/1881; The land flooded in the wet, April 1917 and on 17/18 July that is 126 years ago, but that but there was no water in the 1918 he was awarded the doesn't make me 100 years dry. Produce sent to Darwin Victoria Cross for his actions old just yet. My father was 52 rotted on the wharf when the while leading his platoon near when I was born. ship failed to arrive. He Villers-Bretonneux. Keith Dad‟s mother died when he abandoned the block in 1915, Attiwill of the Argus newspa- was only four and he lived and set out for Darwin to per wrote this account of with his grandparents before enlist. When the horse went what happened: returning to help his father on lame he walked 88 miles, “Borella & his platoon a farm near Echuca swimming a flooded river „hopped the bags‟ with the DALY RIVER along the way. He used his first wave in the attack near In early 1913, after two only money to pay an out- Villers-Bretonneux, just east years with the standing debt to the Lands of Amiens. When Borella saw Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Board, then found there was a machine gun firing through

Medals awarded to Capt A Chalmers-Borella: Victoria Cross, Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, 1914- 18, Victory Medal with oak leaf denoting Mentioned in Dispatches, British War Medal 1939-45, Australian General Service Medal, Coronation Medal (George VI), Coronation Medal (Elizabeth II), Somme Medal with palm (France), Albert Cross with palm (Belgium), Gallipoli Commemorative Star, and Front Line Infantry Service Medal.

Dad took up a block on the no recruiting office in Dar- the Australian barrage, he ran Daly River in Northern Terri- win. He borrowed the boat ahead of his platoon into the tory. Although there was a fare to from a barrage, shot two German copper mine operating nearby generous gentleman whom he machine gunners with his re- and a Jesuit Mission further was able to repay when the volver and captured the gun. along the river, the Daly two met again in France. When he got back to his pla- River area was remote in toon it had been reduced to 10 those days and is still. Albert Chalmers Borella men & 2 Lewis guns. The Peter Forrest, in his book, enlisted on 3.3.1915 and was eleven pressed on towards the th The Spirit of the Daly, wrote, allotted to the 26 Infantry strongly held Jaffa Trench. “Albert Borella worked ener- Battalion. Following service Using his revolver and later getically on his land, building on Gallipoli, the battalion his rifle with deadly effect a house which was notably went to France where Dad Borella charged into the en- was wounded in the battle of emy. His example was inspir- Pozieres. Dad was promoted ing and before long the pla- A&DHS Bulletin 465 PAGE 2 toon had shot the enemy in though he had only lived to Deniliquin to see his the trench & captured it. Two there two and bit years. brother. I was the only pas- large dugouts were located senger; I guess Mum had to and 30 prisoners taken. The Parks and streets named in stay home to milk the Germans re-organised and honour of Capt Albert cows. The journey seemed counter attacked twice in Chalmers-Borella include: to take a week. On arriving strong force. The second time Borella Park-Memorial Park at Uncle Charlie‟s place, out numbering Borella's men with citation in Darwin, and my Auntie came out to tell 10 to 1, but the Aussies did Borella Circuit, Jingili; Dad he was wanted on the not flinch. Borella showed Borella Park with plaque in phone. The war had just such amazing coolness and Wedderburn Vic (near where broken out & the phone determination that his platoon Dad was born); call was from Victoria Bar- put up heroic resistance and Borella Club at Bandiana racks in Melbourne to twice repulsed the enemy.” Army Camp; say:"Report to the Barracks Albert Chalmers Borella Crescent in Can- immediately." I guess we Borella received his Victoria berra; and stayed the night then set Cross from King George V at Borella Road in Albury out for Melbourne next Buckingham Palace in Octo- which is to be rededicated on day. I can still remember ber 1918. 17th/18th July 2007 follow- sitting in the car outside AFTER THE WAR ing completion of Hume this old building-covered in After the war Dad took up a Freeway. ivy, for what seemed like soldiers settlers block at MY RECOLLECTIONS hours. At last Dad came out Cavendish near Hamilton and Now to speak on how my and took me to his sister's ran a sheep & dairy farm. life has been effected being place in Carnegie. I never Dad stood as a National Party the son of a VC winner. went back to the farm as candidate for Dundas in 1924 I could probably sum it up Mum and my 3 brothers and was only narrowly de- in one sentence--- when I came to Sandringham to feated. read the citation, or paper re- live about 3 months later. Dad married Elsie Love at ports of events leading up to We all went to Sandring- Hamilton in 1928. I was the Dad winning the medal, I still ham East School. third of 4 sons born at Hamil- choke up with emotion and I can remember the ton. Dad added a hyphen to pride even though it was 89 search lights in the sky his name by deed-poll in years ago and 15 years before over Melbourne. We were 1939 to read Chalmers- I was born. Dad was a very even evacuated to Yarra Borella. This was so some of quiet and modest person, who Junction for a while and so the honour of the VC would seldom spoke of his war years to another school. go to his mother‟s family - and had to be asked a ques- We moved from Mel- the Chalmers. tion before details were re- bourne to Wangaratta for a Dad re-enlisted in 1939 and vealed. As Keith Attiwill of short while before moving served at Rushworth and the Argus described him: again to Gapsted as Dad Whorouly Prisoner of War "Quietly spoken, a man of was then at the POW camp camps until his discharge in deeds and not words." We at Whorouly. We never 1945. He had been promoted have found out more about saw much of Dad as he to Captain in Sept 1942. his life since his death than only came home for a day Our family moved to Al- we knew before. or so every week or two. bury in 1946. Dad died in Feb One of the few recollections As we lived only 5 or 6 1968 at the age of 86 and is I have of the farm at Hamil- miles from the camp, Dad buried in the Presbyterian ton was when I rolled off the would sometimes strip section of the Waugh Road rump of a horse Dad was rid- down to his shorts and cemetery. ing; I would have been about singlet & jog home. I can The North Territory govern- five at the time. I wasn't hurt remember some of the ment claims Albert Borella as because I landed in the mud. kids‟ mums saying, "Who their only VC winner, al- In 1939 Dad was driving the old Dodge from Hamilton A&DHS Bulletin 465 PAGE 3 does he think he is?" That years before and went to the seum in a large attic. I was was the first time I had heard N.T. He worked near Nour- surprised to see a photo of my of the "tall poppy syndrome," langie Rock with a guy father along with another VC although I didn't understand it named Doug Muir at "Darwin winner who won his medal ay the time. I was just proud Safaris". Doug flew a plane during the nine months that of my Dad. and would fly tourists out Aussies had defended and Another time I was walking from Darwin and Max would saved their little village alongside Dad; I think it may take them crocodile hunting, (3,500 pop). The museum cu- have been in Melbourne, shooting buffalo and fishing rator took us out to Monu- when two soldiers came to a for barramundi in the area ment Farm and we stood in 'crash halt' and saluted Dad as that is now known as Kakadu. almost the exact spot where we passed, I felt pride even in Muirella Park" a camping Dad had won his VC It was those early years. ground, where the air strip very peaceful and much dif- ALBURY was, a few miles south of ferent from what it would When Dad was discharged Nourlangie was named after have been some 76 years be- in 1945 we came to Albury to Doug Muir and Max Borella, fore. attend the Albury High My youngest brother, When Mary and I retired in School. Dad worked for the Neville who had worked with 2002, we took another trip Dept of Supply and Shipping me at Mates Timber Yard as a that we had planned for years. as an inspector of dangerous joiner decided to join Max in With a Land-cruiser and cara- cargoes, supervising the the N.T. after he had finished van, we travelled up through transshipment of ammunition his apprenticeship. However the centre of Australia camp- between NSW and Victorian when they banned the shoot- ing of course at "Muirella railways. ing of crocodiles and culled Park" named after brother Dad retired in 1956 & Dad the water buffalo, the camp Max and his partner in the and Mum ran a corner store disbanded. Max joined B.P. safari business; visiting Daly on the corner of Swift and and worked at Darwin Airport Crossing and actually finding David Streets, Albury for sev- refuelling planes and Neville some old corrugated iron and eral years. I got my first feel took work at saw mill on the an old cast iron boiler that of army life when I did Na- Daly River. The second fam- marked the site of my father‟s tional Service training at ily tragedy occurred in 1960 Daly River farm; and finally Puckapunyal. The army was when Neville was drowned the Benning Water Holes not for me. whilst shooting ducks in a where brother Neville had I married Mary Britt in lagoon about 80 km south drowned. This brought a clo- 1959 and we had three beauti- west of Pine Creek. sure to a lot of unanswered ful children who are all mar- As Dad had died in 1968, questions in our lives. ried and have children of their my mother in 1975 and Max [This has been edited for own and we are still all to- from a heart attack in 1999, I publication. The full text is to gether-which is great. They am the only surviving mem- be placed in the History are all very proud of their ber of the family. Room at Albury Library.] Grandfather and Great Grand- TRAVELLING # # # father. In 1994 Mary and I had an Answers to question of FAMILY TRAGEDIES opportunity to go overseas on the month The first tragedy in our a cricket tour of England with Who were the tailors who family occurred when my eld- the "Golden Oldies" (not the had a business in Albury? est brother, Mervyn was Aust Test team). After the There were many, so listed killed when a primary glider tour of England, we spent two are some in business around he was flying crashed at the weeks travelling through 1900. Albury aerodrome in 1954. Europe. We took a side trip to R Abrahams (Albury Tailor- My next eldest brother, Amiens then to Villers- ing Co.) Est c. 1884 and by Max -a real outdoor type and Bretonneux where the mayor 1895 was employing 22 in the a bit of a loner, did what our gave us afternoon tea then busy season. He had two- father had done some 40 took us across the road to the storey premises more than school and upstairs to a mu- 100ft deep with a 25ft front- A&DHS Bulletin 465 PAGE 4 age to Dean Street, original firm com- employed traveLlers menced in 1906. Five and serviced clients years later Small as far away as Syd- took over the busi- ney. In 1901 he oper- ness and operated ated from William from 596 Dean St. St., Sydney, late Al- under the name of W bury and Melb. Small & Son. Low M Justice tailor, operated independ- clothier etc, Dean St; ently from 606 Dean opp Day‟s Commer- St. cial Buildings. He [There are many started the business in more names that we Albury c. 1860 and in will record in the 1895 employed 20 History Room] hands (no females). # # # The premises were Victoria cross two-storey, 30ft by shavings 165ft. Mr Alexander During an exchange visit Justice was taken into to UK, 1960-62, Colonel Bob McLean visited the the partnership in workshop where metal 1893 and by 1901 was being cut from a Cri- seems to have taken mean War cannon to over the business. make the medals. He John Thomas was gathered some metal not only „My Hatter‟ From the soon to be published Extracts from the 1907 shavings and brought but also „My Tailor‟ Wodonga & Towong Sentinel produced by the Wodonga them home. They are now and „My Mercer.‟ He Historical Society. in the AWM. came to Albury in 1884, opening his own busi- of Albury. The premises Adelyn clothing factory ness in 1893. It was known as were 20ft by 165ft. Mr J D Helen Pithie is research- “The Strand” opposite Dean Turnbull negotiated the trav- ing Adelyn Clothing Fac- Square (NSW State Offices elling for the firm while Mr tory and would value in- Dean St.) when he sold it in W Shortal had charge of the formation, stories and/or 1905. cutting dept. By Nov 1896 photographs members Turnbull & Shortal, Town- they had moved to Dean might have. send St; employed 17 hands Street. In 1901 the partner- Contact Helen 6051 3483 BH. in 1895 with the business ex- ship was Nolan & Turnbull. tending to a 100 mile radius W Low & W Small. The A&DHS Bulletin 465 PAGE 5

Albury & district historical society incorporated Encourages the study of the history of the Albury district and of Australia through  Monthly Meetings—7.30pm, second Wednesday of each month February to December;  Monthly Bulletins—11 per year—reports, activities of the Society, research & liaison;  Tours—private and fund-raising—to sites and properties of historical interest; and  Research—Archives in the History Room at the Albury Library-Museum.

MEMBERS OF THE SOCIETY ARE ENTITLED TO:  10% discount on all items at the Museum shop.  The monthly Bulletin (not produced in January) posted or emailed.

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION 1 June 07—31May 08: INDIVIDUAL $22; FAMILY $30 CORPORATE $50

New library/museum packed 14 boxes of memora- administrator of Wagga 1841- Volunteer Register bilia, listed the intriguing items 1923. Erika Balla-Harper, Education and repacked them. First indica- Heritage: Heritage Office of NSW Officer at the Library/Museum tions are this is a job worth do- Magazine, Autumn 2007. plans to recruit Volunteers to train ing and Hospital staff are most 1. Denbigh at Cobbity built by as Guides in the new Library / Mu- Charles Hook 1818, listed State supportive of the project. heritage. seum. A photo of the Board in the Erika has developed a Volunteer 2. The last midget sub, Questions Centenary Year, 1960, alerted us Register for interested people to posed: Final action of the crew? enter their names. It is anticipated to the fact that the hospital will Condition of sub? What hap- that a Guide would work 3 hours on celebrate its 150 years in 2010. pened? a proposed roster. It is truly one of Albury‟s oldest For those who register, training institutions. Harold mair bridge sessions are planned for: Congratulations to our es- July 10 10.30am-12.30pm OR Journeying through the teemed Patron upon the deci- 5.30-7.30pm journals sion of Albury Council to July 17 10am-12.30pm OR 5.00- by John Craig 7.30pm Royal Australian Historical Soci- name the 134 metre cable July 24 10am-12.30pm OR 5.00- ety (RAHS) Journal, June 2007. footbridge at the eastern end 7.30pm 1. Fascism in pre-WWII Italian of Dean Street in his honour. population of Qld. Harold was born in Albury, Volunteers can take one of two 2. An analytical approach to events the son of a railwayman; roles for the first month after open- at Risdon Grove (Tas) 3 May ing. One is a Tour Guide the other 1804. worked as an apprentice role is Exhibition Guide. Links “N” Chains: Liverpool GS printer and studied at the Both roles provide information, Journal, May 2007. Railway Institute prior the interpretation and by being present, 1. Origin of the 31 suburbs of Liv- WWII. He served in the act as gentle security. erpool. South-West Pacific and later It is anticipated that a guide would 2. The voyage of Arthur and Barry take 1-2 tours lasting 10-15 min- Cleveland 1867 (cont). with the occupation forces in utes. A tour could be longer if pre Borderline News: Wodonga FHS Japan. arranged and by agreement. Newsletter, May 2007. Harold Mair was mayor of For further information please 1. At AGM 17 July 2007, Presen- Albury 1976-1977, and mem- contact Erika Balla-Harper, Learn- tation by Ann Burrows on Helen ber for Albury in the NSW ing and Outreach Coordinator or MacPherson-Smith Genealogy House of Representatives Sharon Groch, Learning and Out- Centre. reach Officer on tel. 02 60513470 The Argyle Bulletin: Goulburn HS from 1978 to 1988. & FHS Journal, May 2007. Harold qualified as an ac- Base hospital archives 1. The Woodhouselee Church Ball: countant and worked in busi- The archive team had is first a poem by William Everitt Bol- ness in Albury till his retire- outing on Monday 18 June. In a ton (1890-1931). ment. He now lives in How- Wagga Wagga Historical Society room we shared with cleaning long and is studying for an equipment and bins we un- Newsletter, April/May 2007. 1. L A Fosbery: prominent public Arts Degree at CSU. figure and local government A&DHS Bulletin 465 PAGE 6

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