Tallygaroopna teenagers Zoe Kotoulias, Edi Crozier, Alice Stevens, Jodie Rutten, Olivia Reynolds and Verity Joy-Watson representing the teenage girls of 1922. Photos: Julie Mercer and hall committee members.
One hundred years ago, a community banded together to build a memorial hall to honour its soldiers.
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It took some time, but the hall soon found its foundation and queen.
The Tallygaroopna Soldiers’ Memorial Hall became a bustling centre for Tallygaroopna’s social scene, hosting many grand concerts, parties and balls.
At one point, it served as a place where care packages were lovingly crafted to remind soldiers of their home in the Goulburn Valley.
Over the weekend of June 8 and 9, a celebration honoured the hall, its founders, and the brave soldiers it stands in memory of.
An opening ball featuring talented ballroom dancers from across the GV dazzled the hall on Saturday night and Tallygaroopna teenagers dressed as princesses and queens for the re-enactment of the Queens of Tallygaroopna fundraiser.
On Sunday, a memorial service was held, followed by lunch, the cutting of the cake and a long service award ceremony.
“The feedback has been so positive, it was more than we expected, which was lovely,” committee member Bev Moss said.
“We had a wonderful turnout, and the local MPs and mayor came along; it was terrific.”
Mrs Moss authored the Tallygaroopna Soldiers’ Memorial Hall Commemorative History Book, a labour of love detailing the hall’s rich history which was launched at the event.
“The feedback on the book has been excellent. It’s been two years in the making; it’s a privilege to be able to do it, but it was a notorious task getting it to be readable,” Mrs Moss said.
“(There are) lots of coloured photos, lots of individual stories.”
The book is available at the Tallygaroopna Post Office, Numurkah and District Historical Society and Shepparton Heritage Centre.
A speech by Sally Brennan, granddaughter of Colonel Murray Bourchier who laid the foundation stone 100 years ago, brought things full circle.
“At the end of her speech, she surprised us and made us all cry. They produced the trowel (gifted to Col Bourchier) from 100 years ago and presented it back to the hall committee,” Mrs Moss said.
Col Bourchier’s grandchildren gift the trowel back to the committee.
A centenary plaque was presented by State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe to the hall committee, and 10-year-plus long service awards were awarded to Heath Thompson, Geoffrey Thompson, Lynette Currie, Ken Hosie (for his father Stuart Hosie), Heather Daniels (for her mother Myra Spencer) and Tony Farrell.
Margaret Pell cuts the cake at the Tallygaroopna Centenary Celebration, an honour passed down to her as daughter to Queen of the Valley Doris Wiseley, with State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe and Heath Thompson.
Crowds gather outside the Tallygaroopna Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, celebrating its 100th anniversary.
38 Army Cadet Unit, Catafalque Party, led by master of ceremonies Andrew Hunt.
Alan Strang, the grandson of the hall president in 1924; granddaughter of the-then Colonel Murray Bourchier, Sally Brennan, and great-great-nephew of Sir Earle Page Daniel Watson, re-enacted the 1924 unveiling of the foundation stone laid by Col Bourchier.
Generations having a wonderful time dancing in the beautiful hall.
The Centenary Plaque from the Parliament of Victoria was presented to the Tallygaroopna Soldiers’ Memorial Hall Committee members.
Shepparton RSL Padre Keith Moodie, Heath Thompson, State Member for Shepparton Kim O'Keeffe and Shepparton RSL Mark Stephens OAM at the RSL memorial service.
State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe presents the long service awards to the dedicated members of the committee.
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