ALL over the civilised world certain “days” are being observed as either national or world-wide occasions.
The best known are such religious festivals as Christmas and Easter, observed by all Christian peoples.
As religion is of prime importance in the life of man, so it is fitting that his most important holidays (or holy days) should commemorate portions of the life of Christ.
Man’s first duty is to God, next he owes obedience to his nation, and it is to keep this in view that certain “national holidays” are kept.
Thus we have Empire Day and King’s Birthday as representing our allegiance to our great British Empire.
Later than this idea is the growing thought of our own Australian nationality.
A.N.A. Day stands for the political beginning of our Australia; yet the eyes of the world seldom ever glanced at our corner of the map when great questions were being discussed.
Today we stand in a prouder position. We have now our delegates sitting at all the important world conferences, as at Washington and Genoa.
Our voice is hearkened to with the respect of all nations.
What has caused this growth of our national pride and position? Why is it that, we, in common with other sister dominions, have been accorded a voice in the directing of the policies of the whole world and the British Empire in particular?
Without the slightest hesitation, we say it is because of the proud and honorable way in which our soldiers left their homes to go across the world and fight the common foe; to their unexampled exploits, both on the cliffs of Gallipoli and in the trenches of Flanders; to the gallant sisters, who were close behind, healing the wounds of the fallen; and to the fine spirit of independence, originality and resource shown by so many of our men, some of whom, like the late Sir Ross Smith, have continued, after the armistice, to make the name of Australia famous.
In all their deeds of gallantry and daring, some have fallen by the way, some sacrifice of precious life has been paid, and it were unworthy of a young nation to claim credit for the deeds of its heroes without honoring those who paid the great price.
It is to commemorate all this that we celebrate, and will continue to celebrate, Anzac Day, a day chosen as the first and perhaps the most spectacular of the great exploits of our soldiers in the war – a simple little story of the scaling of those cliffs, and one which our children must be taught to love with the combined love of a whole nation, and to remember as an example of the high sense of duty held by their fathers.
Let us not forget Anzac Day.
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MR W. J. Oates, of the Frankston Dairy, has been appointed sole district agent for the Lady Talbot Milk Institute, which specialises in special nursery milk.
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MR Carl Dyring, while motor cycling on his way to spend Easter at Frankston, was struck by a car, and received severe bruises, concussion and a broken rib, necessitating removal to Sister Creswick’s hospital.
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A FIRE last Sunday wrought great destruction at the Government pine plantation, Frankston.
The damage is estimated at thousands of pounds.
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WE are pleased to learn that Mrs James, wife of Mr M. A. James, of Frankston, who has been seriously ill, is now progressing favorably.
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MRS Coxall, who has been in critical condition, suffering from heart trouble, is still an inmate of Sister Creswick’s private hospital.
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MR George Keast and Mr Chas Copsey, of Somerville, have gone on a holiday trip to Sydney.
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A COLLISION between a motorcycle, with side car attached, and a motor car on the Point Nepean Road, near Frankston, on Sunday night, resulted in slight injuries to two men on the cycle, and more severe injury to a young lady in the car.
The rider of the motorcycle, Alexander Wilson, of Murrumbeena, received a cut on the head, and John Weston, of Oakleigh, who was riding on a seat behind him, had a hand fractured.
Miss Rose Jones, of Clifton Hill, one of the occupants of the motor car, received a serious fracture of the jaw by being struck with a broken hood stay.
All three patients were admitted to Sister Creswisk’s Private Hospital for treatment.
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Shire Council meeting
AT previous meetings, the advisability of removing the barb wire fence from the Soldiers’ Avenue in Melbourne Road had been discussed, and a motion moved by Cr. Wells had been actually passed to have it abolished on the score that it was a source of danger.
Cr. Oates, who strenuously opposed the proposal, was supported by the president of the local branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, and he succeeded, at the last meeting, in having the motion for the removal of the fence knocked out.
Cr. Wells was still of opinion that the wire was a danger, and he considered that if the returned soldiers wanted to retain it, they should accept responsibility, for any accidents that might occur.
Cr. Oates replied that the Council was prepared to accept its own responsibilities.
Cr. Jones, supported by Cr. Alden gained his point in securing four seats for Hastings Park.
The secretary (Mr. John E. Jones) had a sample seat on view in the Council chamber, and the Hastings representatives liked it so well that they refused to be satisfied until an order was put through for a “couple of pairs of seats as per sample.”
It appears that some years ago Hastings had some new seats made and paid for by public subscriptions. The councillors of that time, for some reason not stated, sold them to the Frankston Riding, and they were transferred to the Frankston Park.
Cr. Alden first ventilated the matter two or three months ago, and after persistent effort, it has been decided to provide Hastings with new seats.
Cr. Oates said that now it had been decided to extend the Frankston electric lighting system to Seaford, it might be advisable to include Somerville and Hastings.
Cr. McLean supported the idea, and President Longmuir undertook to test the feeling of the ratepayers interested and to report at next meeting.
Cr. Wells expressed himself as being far from satisfied with the reports received as to the working of the Moorooduc quarry, and he moved that a special meeting of the Council be held on the 21st inst., at two o’clock, to investigate affairs.
This was seconded by Cr. McLean, and carried.
At the instance of Cr. Latham, the Council has resolved to take prompt action to compel landowners to eradicate noxious weeds – particularly stinkwort.
The secretary said he had sent final notices to several owners, but without effect.
Cr. Gray considered that an independent inspector should be appointed.
It was too much to expect the Shire secretary to attend to the matter and make the personal inspections necessary.
It is probable that the question will be brought on for discussion at the next Municipal Conference.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 21 April 1922