Moonee Valley Family & Local History Blog

From now until 30th April, the Writing the War exhibition is on at Avondale Heights Library and Learning Centre. This exhibition, which helps commemorate 100 years since World War I, tells the stories of seven Australians through personal accounts. We've also put together displays of original artefacts from the First World War which local people and organisations have very generously put forward for this exhibition. There are fascinating (though often tragic) stories to learn about how local people contributed and were affected. Thank you to Lenore Frost, David McCall, Essendon Historical Society, Essendon Rifles, Essendon RSL, East Keilor RSL, Stephen Hutton, Judy Maddigan and Moonee Valley City Council for lending artefacts for this exhibition.  

Join us next Tuesday evening as we commemorate the centenary of ANZAC Day at Sam Merrifield Library with a special talk about the local impact of Gallipoli and wider war on what is now the Moonee Valley area. The local contribution and impact of the First World War was enormous, but is now not well known. Local Historian, Lenore Frost, will share some of this amazing, often tragic, history, particularly the stories of early World War One enlistees from Moonee Ponds and Essendon, several of them former cadets in the Essendon Rifles. Many of these men went on to serve as officers on other fronts, if they were first fortunate enough to have survived Gallipoli. To book call Sam Merrifield Library on 8325 1950, or book online .

The University of Melbourne have posted a fascinating article by Michelle Moo about Australian women who wanted to serve as doctors during the Great War. Mary De Garis, (pictured above), for example, tried to enlist with the Australian Army Medical Corps. She was refused, but eventually found a role working with the Scottish Women's Hospitals who provided mobile medical units.

As Victoria gears up to mark the Anzac Centenary (2014 – 2018), the State Government has called on the public to "share Victoria’s stories" to help honour the contribution of local World War I service men and women. A new website www.anzaccentenary.vic.gov.au has been established which includes historical information and photographs, resources to research family and community history, and links to other important websites. A key feature of the website is an online portal where people can register local commemorative events and share their own connection to WWI. “These shared stories form an important reminder to our community of the legacy of the Anzacs and the impact the war has had on so many lives,” Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Hugh Delahunty said. “With less than 10 months until the Centenary officially starts, now is the time for all Victorians to look into their own history, to share their story and to become involved in commemorating the events that so heav...

As mentioned previously in this blog, we have recently put together an album of photographs from our collection and asked for public help to  identify the  people and events portrayed in these images. You can view the album at Sam Merrifield Library or online .   The soldier in this image has been identified as Saddler Sergeant Alfred Robert Shurey of Ascot Vale. Fred, as he signed himself in this photo, enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, AIF, in October 1915. Records from the National Archives of Australia show that he served in France from March 1916 until the end of the First World War in 1918. He returned to Australia in April 1919. At the time of his enlistment he was 35, with a wife and 3 children. Fred died in Essendon in 1974 at the age of 93. His brother, Charles,  also enlisted in 1915 as a Saddlers ironmonger. Charles served in France and like Fred returned to Australia in 1915. Jennie

  In the lead up to Anzac Day on the 25th April, Find my Past has created the Anzac Memory Bank to allow people to share personal and family stories about Australia and New Zealand involvement in wars and conflict around the world.  Information and articles from military experts will also be available. In addition Find my Past will provide free access to all its military records from Monday 22April to Friday 26th April.

November 11, Remembrance Day, is a time of reflection as we think about the end of World War I and the tragic loss of life from 1914 -1918. In November 1918 cities, towns and municipalities around Australia marked the end of this conflict  with celebrations and memorial services.  In Moonee Ponds, ANZACS were welcomed home by the Mayor and Councillors outside the Town Hall, and other services were held across the community. The Essendon Gazette has many articles detailing these events, and reading them conveys the emotions and feelings generated by loss and the  turmoil of war. The issue of conscription for example was still divisive even at the end of 1918. You can read original articles from The Essendon Gazette on microfilm in the Sam Merrifield Library or visit the Trove website and view digitised copies of this newspaper from 1914-1918.

The numbers of those killed during the First World War is mind numbing. It is only through looking at personal stories that we can fully grasp not only the personal loss but also the loss to our communities. Ross McMullin explores the stories of ten young Australian men who lost their lives during the Great War. These men were  accomplished  in medicine, the military, sport, politics, architecture, agriculture and science. Ross McMullin's book, Farewell, Dear People: biographies of Australia's lost generation   is available from the library. This talk will take place at Sam Merrifield Library, Wednesday 7th November 2012 at 7pm Free, but bookings are required. Call 8325 1950