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| "Back to Nhill Week - looking toward Nelson Street - March 1929" By Eva Pilgrim on her Kodak Box Brownie |
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| This same invitation appeared in several Newspapers in March 1929 |
Invitations were sent far and wide, to Newspapers across the Country.
" All ex-residents are cordially invited to re-visit Nhill and district during the "Back to Nhill and District" celebrations from 16th to 23rd March next. Ex-residents are asked to make a special effort to re-visit Nhill, and meet old friends from all the States, including the Western Australian and Riverina contingents. Arrangements have been made to conduct a race meeting, grand concert, dances, lodge meetings, church services, and swimming carnival; there will also be tennis, bowls, croquet [&c.] Cars will be placed at the disposal of the visitors to revisit the district centres. Ample accommodation will be available, and every effort will be made to the entertain the visitors, who will find that great improvements and many changes have been made during recent years. Names of those who are coming back to Nhill and District should be forwarded immediately to the secretaries, Messrs. H and F.W. Fritsch, Nhill" 1
"BACK TO NHILL."
"BACK TO NHILL
There was a huge crowd in Nhill for the Back to Nhill and district celebrations. The back to school function proved very interesting. Mr Herbert Taylor, now retired, took his place as head teacher, and the old scholars were present from all States. Two hundred cars were parked. Town and district children took part in a huge procession led by the Nhill Band. A squadron of aeroplanes, by special invitation, arrived from Point Cook, and during the afternoon gave a thrilling display of aerobatics, looping the loop and side rolling. An old time dance was crowded, two big halls being engaged. At the firemen's reunion ex-Captain G. Culliver, of Horsham, first captain of the brigade, presented the Nhill Brigade with an enlarged photo of members of the firs bridgade. The Better Farming Train arrived on Tuesday, and the town is crowded. The celebrations continued all the week." 3
" I boarded with Aunty Alice while going to High School and had visions of being a teacher, but Mum was going through change of life and when she went down with measles, I had to go home at 14. I only had 6 years of schooling, as we lived over 3 miles from the school. At first we had to walk. They kept me home till I was 8 and John was 6." Eva Pilgrim
Sources:
1 Kapunda Herald (SA: 1878 - 1951), 1 February 1929, page 2 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
2 The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848-1957), 19 March 1929, page 4 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
3 The Horsham Times (Vic.: 1882-1954) 22 March 1929, page 2 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
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| "Back to Nhill - Victoria Street - 1929" by Eva Pilgrim on her Kodak Box Brownie |
"BACK TO NHILL."
Sports and Aerial Pageant.
NHILL, Monday, - The "Back to Nhill" official reception took place in the Citizens' Park this afternoon. Mr [Westenhall] M.L.A., and the chairman of the committee (Councillor E.C. Davis) welcomed the visitors, on whose behalf Mr. Bond a former Nhill councillor, expressed appreciation. A "back to school" gathering was held this morning, the school and grounds being crowded with former pupils. More than 1000 children marched to the park, where sports were held for prizes given by Dr. Ryan. An aerial pageant, the best so far seen at Nhill was a feature of the programme. Residents from district centres thronged the town to-day, and the celebrations promise to be a complete success. To an 'old time" dance held in the Theatre Royal tonight, hundreds were unable to gain admittance. The weather is perfect." 2
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| 1929 My Grandmother, Eva Pilgrim at home in nearby Winiam She was 18 years old in March 1929 |
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| "Back to Nhill" 19 March 1929 by Eva Pilgrim on her Kodak Box Brownie |
"BACK TO NHILL
There was a huge crowd in Nhill for the Back to Nhill and district celebrations. The back to school function proved very interesting. Mr Herbert Taylor, now retired, took his place as head teacher, and the old scholars were present from all States. Two hundred cars were parked. Town and district children took part in a huge procession led by the Nhill Band. A squadron of aeroplanes, by special invitation, arrived from Point Cook, and during the afternoon gave a thrilling display of aerobatics, looping the loop and side rolling. An old time dance was crowded, two big halls being engaged. At the firemen's reunion ex-Captain G. Culliver, of Horsham, first captain of the brigade, presented the Nhill Brigade with an enlarged photo of members of the firs bridgade. The Better Farming Train arrived on Tuesday, and the town is crowded. The celebrations continued all the week." 3
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| "Back to School Nhill - March 1929" By Eva Pilgrim on her Kodak Box Brownie |
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| Eva Pilgrim's Nhill HES badge |
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| "Back to School Nhill - March 1929" By Eva Pilgrim on her Box Brownie |
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| From all accounts it was a very successful week Chronicle (Adelaide, SA: 1895 -1954), Thursday 3 June 1929, page 29 trove.nla.gov.au |
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| "Looking towards Winiam - Back to Nhill Week - March 1929" By Eva Pilgrim on her Kodak Box Brownie |
Sources:
1 Kapunda Herald (SA: 1878 - 1951), 1 February 1929, page 2 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
2 The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.: 1848-1957), 19 March 1929, page 4 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
3 The Horsham Times (Vic.: 1882-1954) 22 March 1929, page 2 - http://trove.nla.gov.au/
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| This prompt was prompted by Sepia Saturday Please click to see more posts |
This reminds me of Cradock where I grew up. It was a vibrant little community for many years but fell to decay when original owners died or moved out and property values plummeted. But every year there is a "Come Home to Cradock" event as part of revitalization efforts. The leaders of Nhill certainly made the event one that everyone surely wanted to attend.
ReplyDeleteAt present there is a local projected to revitalise the Old Hume Highway Route and get tourists to visit the little towns that have been by-passed by the Freeway. Hate to admit that I haven't visited a lot of the little towns and instead speed past on the Freeway. Think that I need to take the time to visit them.
DeleteThat was a wonderful post. The type of reunion has been held in so many small communities across Australia. I think it it is only as you get older that you start to appreciate these country towns and with two thirds of Australia's population living in the capital cities and their suburbs so many of the very small communities are disappearing.
ReplyDeleteGive me the country any day! I enjoy visiting the city from time to time but I am a country girl, who likes my personal space!
DeleteThere's nothing like a 'back to' event to bring people together and get them talking and reminiscing over times past. Did the year 1929 have any special historical significance for the town? It must be about time for another 'Back to Nhill' event!
ReplyDeleteI can't see why 1929 was important but will see what else I can find out.
DeleteGreat story of an important event. I love the Kodak box camera pictures...looking good. My first camera was one of those, but I don't think I have any shots from it still. Now I'll have to look.
ReplyDeleteOne day the themes will allow me to do a blog about my grandparent's Box Brownies.
DeleteI like that banner at the end! Interesting and my favorite photo (they're all great) is of all those old cars!
ReplyDeleteYes it was the old car photo that I immediately thought of when the prompt came up. I also really like the message on the final banner.
DeleteThe banner at the end of your post reminds me of one of the songs we used to sing in a round around a Girl Scout campfire: "Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other, gold." :))
ReplyDeleteI have never hear that song but it certainly sounds similar.
DeleteThe message is a good one though!
Wow what a lot of effort they went to in Nhill. I haven't heard of these type of reunions before - school and family yes, but not towns.
ReplyDeleteWe are in the process of organising a work reunion (those who worked in the same Area in the 1990s), which will be interesting!
DeleteWhat an interesting idea. I bet it was a lot of fun for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI was a bit sidetracked by 'Nhill' - thought it was a contraction of something much longer!
Mum always said "There is Nil at Nhill". I disagree as for me there is a lot of history at Nhill!
DeleteThat sounds like quite an event. I have seen old postcards from "Old Home" weeks which sound similar.
ReplyDeleteInitially I thought it must not have been well attended as the first and last photo look very empty. However, from all account, there was a large crowd so my grandmother must have taken her photos at the right time!
DeleteSharon. this photos by you 18 year old grandmother to be -- with her box brownie camera -- at true treasures. Eva managed to capture a slice of history!
ReplyDeleteYes I am very thankful that she captured so many wonderful images with her Box Brownie. She was excellent with her labelling too. Just a shame that she didn't go through the Album with me when she was alive.
ReplyDeleteA quite fascinating account, it almost made me feel as if I had gone back to Nhill myself.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting account of a quite significant event, but isn’t it great that Eva had her Box Brownie?
ReplyDelete