OVER twelve months ago representatives from various organisations in Frankston met and formed a committee to raise funds for the general improvement of the Frankston Park.
Subscription lists were issued and the district canvassed, but the response in cash was not encouraging, less than £20 being collected.
Last night the committee met again primarily with the idea of considering a letter from Mr. R. Coxall, secretary of the Frankston Football Club, asking for improvements to be made in the direction of providing dressing rooms, etc.
Mr. W. Lind: Have you decided where the new dressing shed is to be erected?
Secretary: On the west end of the park.
Mr. Lind: That is the wrong position. It ought to be on the east side near the kitchen. It should be a decent building—not a lean-to or a China-town affair, but something in keeping with the rest of the park.
Good drainage could be obtained, and the water supply was handy,
Mr. Harry McComb: Does it come under the province of this committee to erect a building as proposed?
Secretary: It is improving the park.
Mr. McComb: Our intention was to improve the oval, and the junior team subscribed on that understanding.
Mr. W. W. Young said that clubs other than football would find the proposed dressing room useful. A temporary shed at the rear of the pavilion would meet the case.
Mr. W .Crawford Young reminded the meeting of the objective of the committee, which was to effect permanent improvements on a large scale. The present proposal did not seem to harmonise with the ideals then set up.
The chairman agreed with this view, and discussion ensued as to whether dressing sheds or improvements to the playing oval were the more important.
Mr. Jennings considered they had met for a specific purpose, viz., to arrange for the building of dressing sheds. The footballers were a fine body of men and should receive every encouragement. He moved that dressing rooms be erected with water laid on for showers, etc.
Mr. Lind seconded.
Mr. Lawrey thought that a galvanised iron lean-to erected at the rear of the present pavillion would answer all purposes. Building at present was very expensive, as witness the new Mt. Eliza hall, 30ft. x 30ft., which cost £600 in addition to a large amount of voluntary labor.
Mr. Lind: There has been some talk of a working bee.
Mr. Lawrey instanced the enterprise of the Langwarrin Football Club as to what could be accomplished by working bees.
The chairman thought the Council might raise a loan for park improvement and he consulted with the engineer regarding the matter.
Lieut.-Colonel Lazarus said he was not present as a delegate.
The Chairman: We would like you to consider yourself a member of the committee.
Lieut.-Colonel Lazarus: I have decided views regarding the park. If you read “The Standard” you will know what those views are. If you don’t read it, the sooner you begin to do so the better. (Laughter).
He could see that the football representatives were desirous of having the dressing shed erected. He wondered if they could manage to do without it this season.
Mr Reg. Coxall: It would be possible. The club spent £23 on the shed and grounds, including £6 or £7 for material, which had since been stolen.
Mr. Lind: Excuse me, it is all there. (Laughter)
Mr Coxall: The caretaker told me it had been stolen.
Lieut.-Colonel Lazarus said he had a scheme for putting the park in a proper condition, and he supported the chairman’s proposal as to a loan.
It was not advisable to expend money now on work of a temporary nature.
The oval required grading.
The chairman said that a few years ago no one was more opposed to the raising of loans than he, because it meant added burden to the few people then residing in the district. Today conditions were different. The population was increasing by leaps and bounds, and with added numbers the burden would be light.
He was convinced that the Council would have to launch out if they wanted Frankston to progress.
The park, foreshore and beaches should be made more attractive, and so induce people to come to Frankston and reside permanently.
The small loan they might raise for the park would be paid for by all the people. The same applied to the foreshore. $1000 expended on the foreshore between the pier and Beach Street would put Frankston in a position far ahead of other places.
He did not like the idea of a temporary building and he was prepared to go to the Council and move for a loan to improve the park properly. He thought the football club could manage to run along with the same arrangements as they had last season.
Mr. Lind: Could the temporary structure erected by the footballers remain for the use of the sports on New Year’s Day?
The Chairman: No, but the new building would be ready by then.
Mr. Lind had his doubts on the matter.
The Chairman: You never saw anything I tackled fall through.
Mr. Lind: I don’t want to bring in private matters. Where will the sports club be if your proposal falls through?
The chairman said the sports club could use the footballers’ material and erect a shed in a day.
In reply to the engineer Mr. Coxall said he thought the football club could manage with last year’s arrangements if there was a prospect of getting something permanent.
Mr. Jennings: In view of Mr. Coxall’s statement, I withdraw my motion.
Mr. Gamble considered that any buildings provided should be erected by the Council. He did not believe in the practise of going around the town with subscription lists to effect improvements that benefitted the whole of the public. He favored permanent improvements and letting all the people pay.
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LAST Monday night a motor car, the property of Mr. Smith, of Mordialloc, was very badly damaged by fire on Pt. Nepean Road, near Parkdale.
The fire brigade quickly extinguished the flames, not, however, before the car was severely damaged.
Insurance for £175 was carried by the North British and Mercantile Assurance Co.
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AT the last Council meeting, Cr. Oates moved that a deputation wait on the Minister for Public Works with a request that a vote be set aside for the purpose of making a harbor for yachts at the Frankston pier.
Cr, Gray: Better make a harbor at the mouth of Kananook Creek.
Cr. Jones: If you looked after the finances of the Frankston Riding you would do better.
Cr. Oates said any number of gentlemen would anchor their yachts at Frankston if a safe harbor was provided. He knew that members of the St. Kilda Yacht Club had made promises to that effect.
Cr. Alden: Lord Forster is going to Mornington, you know. (Laughter).
Cr. Mason seconded the motion, which was carried.
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Progress Association
Mr. J. Bradbury, jun., moved that a map of Frankston be procured and placed near the ticket window at the Frankston railway station.
He has seen the idea carried out in other places and strangers greatly appreciated the convenience.
Mr Jas. Lambie considered the suggestion an excellent one. He seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously.
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From the pages of the Frankston and Somerville Standard, 18 & 20 Apr 1923
First published in the Mornington News – 18 April 2023