Vera Lynn and Shelley Beach

Despite the efforts of the cancel culturists who seem to wish history was otherwise and seek to re-write it, written history—like it or not—should accurately and immutably reflect the mores, time, and place of its creation. However, when history depends on the spoken word, there is commonly a slow drift of names, places, and events as the subtle influence of interpretation bends and shapes the original facts in the telling and re-telling.

As a young boy, I remember being taught the concept of ‘Chinese Whispers’ as the ‘game’ was then quite openly called. Played from time to time in the school room, the game was intended to teach us an important lesson: that the original wording and meaning of a spoken phrase may be subtly altered as it is softly whispered from one to another when passed around the class.

While the term ‘Chinese Whispers’ has correctly joined several other pejorative, derogatory, and ‘non-U’ terms that, by anyone’s standards, should now clearly be avoided, it was nonetheless in wide use as a ‘classroom game’ in the 50s and 60s when racial sensibilities were less well refined, the White Australia policy was still in place, and colonialism—albeit in its the last throes—was still rearing its ugly head. This and similar racially demeaning terms were in common usage when colonialism was at its peak, the imperial powers of Britain, France, Germany, the US, and Japan were ascendant in China, and the [now racist] concept that Chinese people spoke in a way that was deliberately unintelligible held popular sway [https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone_game]. Geneticists have used the same concept [minus the racial overtones] to demonstrate the imperfect transmission of genetic code that can occur across multiple generations.

How on earth, then, can this odd introduction have any bearing on the title of this article: ‘Vera Lynn and Shelley Beach’?

A similar ‘morphing’ process has impacted both the spelling and the siting of Lorne’s original Shelley [now mis-spelt as Shelly] Beach.

The original Shelley Beach—NB: ‘Shelley’ always was its original spelling, and still should be—is not where recent signage wrongly places it below the access steps to the beach overlooked by Rosie Ramsay’s seat. In truth, it lies three sandy coves to the southwest of Vera Lynn Bay. The shells strewn about at the now so-called ‘Shelly Beach’ are but a faint echo of those found at the actual Shelley Beach, though it takes a bit of a walk [and best not at full tide] to reach the original.

On Friday, 3-12-1926, an article appeared in Melbourne’s ‘Argus’ titled Lorne: The Beauties of Land and Sea. Waxing lyrical—as the Argus was known to do—it effusively describes Lorne’s attractions, including, among many, Shelley Beach [note the spelling] along with the St George River, the She-Oak falls, and the nearby Swallow Cave. Many other earlier references before 1980 also spell it correctly.

Shelley Beach [proper] is just a little further on towards the George River mouth past the two breaks known by local surfers as Weeds and Barrels. It is marked by the slowly disappearing but still discernible ruins of ‘Strib’s Folly’ [my name]—a summer house built by Hector Stribling in the 1930s that once nestled back against the cliff face. The story goes that Strib [or ‘Pa’, as he was affectionately known to his family] built the summer house as a shelter for shell seekers to use as they explored the rock pools and shell drifts along the rocky shore towards the George. Family sources report that he even installed a bucket system for ladies to use if ‘caught short’!

Sadly, the summerhouse was largely destroyed by a cyclone—described by Doug Stirling and other locals as a ‘tornado’—on 27.2.1946 [see Trove: https://tinyurl.com/56bwztbw]. The freak storm also significantly damaged the blue gums of Scotchman’s Hill, the iconic mansion ‘Jura’, blew off the turret top of the Grand Pacific, and wrecked Strib’s boathouse at the pier.

Perhaps the coincident devolution of foreshore management from local Lorne to distant Torquay, plus the digitisation of locally-known sites to global platforms like Google Maps and TripAdvisor, has led to a disregard for local spelling and a misplacement of map references for the digitally savvy tourist. The ‘Shelley Beach’ of the past sadly seems forgotten as it has been ‘whispered’ to Vera Lynn Bay [courtesy of global map referencing and administrative error] and no longer sports its unique second ‘e’ in its spelling.

As for the small cove [or bay] locally known as Vera Lynn, it appears to have earned its name during the Second World War. Here, the Stribling family again plays a part in the story. Hector Stribling’s father built the family’s first holiday home, “Morva”, in 1914 at 22 Ocean Road South on the corner of Topp St and the Great Ocean Road.

 

Later, when the family moved to “Yuruga” on land adjacent to the Pacific Hotel, Morva went through several name and purpose changes from a guest house to a tearoom and still later to Café Elate.

During WWII, when it was a popular Devonshire tea house, the then-proprietors would play Vera Lynn songs—loudly, day in, day out— on a wind-up gramophone: ‘We’ll meet again, don’t know where, don’t know when …’ was a daily favourite and #22 quickly became known as the Vera Lynn tea rooms. As a small boy, I recall their yummy scones brimming with strawberries and cream, the latter whipped from unpasteurised milk provided daily by Mr Clarke’s farm [Lorne’s milk supplier] that occupied the sloping open fields above the south-western end of Eastern View beach.

The name Vera Lynn stuck, even after Morva’s tea room phase morphed to other purposes. While 22 Ocean Road South is now occupied by a pair of modern slate-grey homes set back from the road, I swear that on a still day, one can still hear ‘The White Cliffs of Dover’ and ‘A Nightingale Sang in Berkley Square’ wafting out over Rosie’s Seat to the Vera Lynn point beyond.

Changes happen. Change is part of progress. Change may also be for the better—as with the welcome disappearance of pejorative terminology. But when change occurs—like the morphing example of classroom whispers—from laziness, a lack of appreciation for the past, or just plain ignorance, then that is sad.

Lorne’s history should be cherished and remembered through rightful appellation and correct positioning. Shelley Beach and Vera Lynn are two examples where, with a bit of time and effort, it would not be too late to respect their township origins.

John Agar
Feature Writer

 

A word from the chairman

Hello
Last week our Op Shop held its official opening. It was a great community celebration attended by some 70 members and representatives of organisations which had provided support during the relocation and return, who were acknowledged and thanked for their assistance. Congratulations to President Janet Goud and her team for completing such a successful project on time and within budget.

*****
As we head into autumn and the last long weekend of our extended summer, there is plenty to do in Lorne. On Friday night the Aquatic Club is holding its annual Home-Grown Tomato Competition with prizes in multiple categories. Come along and enter your fruit or just enjoy the entertainment and company. Being the first Friday of the month, it is also Snappers Night at the Club where our female members and guests gather to socialise and welcome visitors and newcomers to town. All are welcome.
On Saturday, our cricketers head to Western Reserve, Colac, to face Carlisle River in their second Grand Final in two years. The boys are primed and ready to go one better than last year and bring home the silverware. Get there if you can from 12 noon to cheer the boys on. And if you can’t make it to Colac, get up to Stribling Reserve from 7pm for a barbecue to congratulate the boys on their season and hopefully welcome the silverware. I think a space has been cleared in the display cabinet already!
On Sunday, the Aquatic Club is holding its Major Fishing Competition number two, with prizes for seniors and juniors. Come down and check out the catch. Sunday afternoon sees the return of live music to the Club with the fabulous Vulkans for the last time this summer from 4-7pm.
On Monday, head down to the Swing Bridge for the Men’s Shed model sailboat regatta starting at 10am. It is a special treat for young and old to see these handcrafted yachts skippered by the cream of our town.
So much to do!

*****
Finally, a thought to leave you with. As we watch world events with a mixture of shock, disbelief, dismay and fear, this is a pivotal time in the history and future of the world, for better or for worse.
Is it a time to “stop beating around the bush” and start “talking straight”? Has “diplomacy” become a cover for indecision, weakness and subjugation? Are we now paying the price for past complacency and convenient dependence?
So, what does this have to do with us in quiet, comfortable Lorne? As a rule we are pacifists, not wanting to “rock the boat” but trying to achieve “mutually agreed” outcomes. But does this work, or is there a better way? I am not suggesting we take a lesson out of DT’s book, but maybe we need to be prepared to stand up and fight for what we believe is good and right for our community. Just a thought!

Cheers

John

Lorne Ward Events Calendar

March

1-30 – Lorne Sculpture Biennale, on the Lorne foreshore.  www.lornesculpture.com

9 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club – Major Fishing Competition No 2, Weigh cut off 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.     

10 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club Yacht Regatta, at the Swing Bridge 10am

10 – Monday Night Market, food, produce, plants, books & more at Lorne Bowls Club 5-8pm

17 – Monday Night Market, food, produce, plants, books & more at Lorne Bowls Club 5-8pm

30 – Deans Marsh Festival, Live music, local harvest, market stalls, dog jumping, kids events and much more. 10 am – 6pm at Deans Marsh Reserve.

April

17 – Photographic Exhibition Opening night, @ Lorne Community Connect Thursday 17 April 6 pm – 7.30 pm.             

18-28 – 2025 Photographic Exhibition Routine and Ritual. Info: lornecommunityconnect.com.au

19 – Lorne Market, 9-3pm www.lornemarkets.com/

20 – Lorne Aquatic & Angling Club – Major Fishing Competition No 3, Weigh cut off 12.30pm. Free roast lunch for competitors, $10 non-fishing members.

May

4 – LAAC Winter Comp No 1. lines down after 6am, weigh in at the Lorne Aquatic and Angling Club at 12:30 followed by BBQ lunch.