100 years ago
13 May 1915
Australians at the front
The Colonials exceed all expectations as fighters
Australians must indeed feel proud of the manner in which troops from these shores have acquitted themselves in the gigantic warfare which commenced some days ago at the Dardanelles, when reading the cable messages published by the Melbourne dailies.
“The Australians rose to the occasion.
“They did not wait for orders or for the boats to reach the beach but sprang into the sea, formed a sort of rough line and rushed the enemy’s trenches.
“Their magazines were not charged, so they just went in with cold steel.
“It was over in a minute. The Turks in the first trench were either bayoneted or ran away.
“Then the Australians found themselves facing an almost perpendicular cliff, with loose sandstone covered by thick shrubbery.
“Somewhere half way up the enemy had a second trench strongly held from which was poured a terrible fire on the troops below and the boats pulling back to the destroyers for the second landing party.
“Here was tough proposition to tackle in the darkness. But these colonials, practical above all else, went about it in a practical way.
“They stopped for a few minutes to pull themselves together got rid of their packs and charge their magazines.
“Then this race of athletes proceeded to scale the cliff without responding to the enemy’s fire.
“They lost some men but did not worry. In less than a quarter of an hour the Turks were driven out of their second position and were either bayoneted or fleeing.
“The courage displayed by those wounded Australians will never be forgotten.
“Hastily placed in trawlers, lighters and boats, they were towed to the ships.
“In spite of their sufferings, they cheered the ship from which they had set out in the morning.
“In fact I have never seen anything like theses wounded Australians in war before.
“Though many were shot and were without hopes of recovery, their cheers resounded through the night.
“You could see in the midst of the mass of suffering humanity arms waving in greeting to the crews of the war ships.
“They were happy, because they knew they had been tried for the first time and not found wanting.“
Killed
Private Eric Martin – Keysborough
Wounded
Private R M Daffey – Dandenong
Private R H Dawborn – Frankston
Private E R Williams – Springvale
50 years ago
11 May 1965
Whooping cough epidemic ends
Springvale – Predictions of the medical officer that an epidemic of mild whooping cough in Springvale City would end in autumn have been borne out.
Dr N H Luth’s report to council for February stated that 10 cases of the cough had been notified. His report for March contained no cases.
In two weeks during March no infectious diseases were notified which he considered very
satisfactory.
Dr Luth stated general health of the community was satisfactory and except for the usual minor respiratory complaints there was nothing to comment on.
20 years ago
15 May 1995
Pledge Made
The State Opposition has pledged $17 million to finish the Westall Road bypass should Labor win the next election.
The announcement was made by Mr Steve Bracks, chairman of the ALP’s transport taskforce, the State Labor Member for Clayton, Dr Gerard Vaughan and the candidate for Mordialloc, Ms Robyn McLeod.
Mr Bracks said the roads, part of a program of improving public and private transport throughout Melbourne, would be funded by the three cents per litre fuel levy instead of tolls.
5 years ago
10 May 2010
Open to Job Ideas
More than 1000 local students have been booked in for this Wednesday’s Transport Manufacturing Careers Open Day at Dandenong rolling stock manufacturer Bombardier.
Student groups will arrive in 45 minute intervals and will make their way through a trade exhibition area of supplier displays and careers booths.
Then they will go on a tour of the factory.
Students will then have the opportunity to gather information from Jayco and Volgren about their operations.
Compiled by Dandenong and District Historical Society
