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\u201cIt was a great place. When I went to school here, there were 28 children, and we had one teacher. We were all poor, but everybody was the same. It was a hard life, but it was a good life.\u201d<\/p>\n
A large brass plaque was unveiled, embedded into a granite boulder from the Holding family property.<\/p>\n
It features an original map of the settlement area of the Parish of Mannibadar in the Mount Bute Estate, and a list of original settler names, beside some who arrived a couple of years after the initial settlement.<\/p>\n
Attendees then enjoyed an afternoon tea, and historical displays and photographs in the hall, including settler Sergeant David Hannah\u2019s Distinguished Conduct Medal on loan for the day from the Ballarat Ranger Military Museum.<\/p>\n
Mrs Tucker\u2019s nephew Graeme Ellis was one of the event\u2019s organisers, pleased to meet the many attendees he\u2019d been in touch with while coordinating the afternoon, but had not yet seen in person.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know the names from a piece of paper, and now I\u2019m meeting the people, including one lady in particular who came across from Perth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been fantastic. There was always a connection between the descendants, but I believe this will renew that connection, especially amongst grandchildren and great grandchildren.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
THE long-awaited centenary celebration of the 1921 Mannibadar Soldier Settlement was held last Sunday afternoon. Hundreds of people including children and descendants of original settlers, their broader families, and residents of the area marked the occasion at the Mannibadar Soldiers\u2019 Memorial Hall. A centenary cake was cut by Irene Caldow and Joyce Tucker, who are […]<\/p>\n