Let’s keep history alive

By Jessica Howard

Local historians are seeking information on Honour Boards and memorials relating to those who served in the First World War.

The information will help chronical the stories of over 460 servicemen with ties to the Moorabool region.

Relevant memorials can include Honour rolls, parks, gates, church windows and obelisks in areas such as Myrniong, Coimadai, Rowsley, Balliang, Merrimu, Greendale, Toolern Vale and Bullangrook.

The information will be compiled into a book written by the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society.
President, Bruce Carboon said the project had been an interesting and exciting journey so far.

“Katrina Bradfield and Katrina Lyle, along with a number of other society members such as Chris Bronchinetti, have been working tirelessly together to gather as much information as possible,” he said.

“We are now at the point where we are looking at appendices and trying to locate all of the memorials and Honour rolls, or anything that has been placed in the community as a reminder of the soldiers who served in the First World War”.

Mr Carboon said while a number of discoveries have been made, there were still unanswered questions.

“It’s been a bit of a discovery process as we have found that some things have been lost. For example, we found a photograph of an Honour roll for the Bacchus Marsh Concentrated Milk Company, which was once located where the shopping centre now stands.

“The photo is of this big beautiful wooden Honour roll with 40-plus names on it, but now that the whole factory is gone; so has the Honour roll. All we have is the photo and that is something that we’d like to [show] to the public to see if they know anything about it”.

Society member, Katrina Lyle said another discovery included an old Honour board painted on the wall of the Australian Natives Association (ANA) building (154 Main Street Bacchus Marsh).

The Honour board commemorated a number of soldiers, including Mr William James Tregoning, who was killed in action on May 3 1917.

The well-known community member was the owner of a local boot-making business, the choirmaster at the Presbyterian Church, a member of the local fire brigade and a keen cricketer.

Mr Carboon said each and every story is “very personal”.

“We are slowly building up a portfolio and this is a plea for more information, as the greatest asset we have is the memories of the people in our community,” he said.

“If you believe there’s something in your garage or shed, or left behind at a business, we’d love to get in contact with you and locate the item, or at least make a record of where it is and the people’s names on them”.

For more information, or to offer information to the Bacchus Marsh and District Historical Society, contact 5367 9336 or [email protected].