As part of our collection we have newspaper cuttings from 1922/23 donated to us by Tasman Noel Garnett.
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He was a Statistical Officer employed by the railways and as a sideline was a local correspondent for the Border Morning Mail.
The collection includes a letter he received from the newspaper with instructions.
Political reports were to be confined to a quarter column full of meat, with preference to advertised meetings. Police court reports were to be summarised, and no notifications of concerts, lectures etc. unless advertised.
Garnet was paid by the column inch and the town's new water supply provided a good income.
Garnett reported the rainfall according to the gauge at the Wodonga Post Office.
In May 1923 he reported steady showers immediately preceded by a striking display of the Aurora Australis, playing near a large bank of black clouds, the display moving about a quarter of an arc along the horizon.
Garnett was paid by the column inch and the town's new water supply provided a good income.
The proposed water scheme went to a referendum; rate payers were encouraged to vote, with motor cars available for transport for those that needed it to the polling place. There were 320 votes cast with 290 in favour.
This led to the erection of our well-known landmark, the water tower.
Another lengthy, therefore well-paid, article was about the opening of the new Number 5 bridge over the Wodonga Creek, replacing an earlier one built "at least 50 to 60 years ago".
That then left three more bridges on the Wodonga to Albury road to be renewed; the Union bridge, known as No.1 bridge, those at the wool scour and Half-Way Hotel, known respectively as No.2 and No.3.
Plans were ready for their reconstruction as soon as funds became available.
Wodonga Shire engineer was quite in accord with the effort to secure financial assistance from the Government, but he was afraid that without an alteration of the Federal Constitution the Government had no power to grant any such assistance.
The position was that the Commonwealth could aid only in the event of the work declared necessary for defence or some other purpose over which the constitution gave it jurisdiction.
Take a look at the society's new online exhibition Impact of the Second World War on Wodonga and its Surrounds on its website.
The society meets on the first Tuesday of each month (except January), at 2pm, Wodonga Football Club Rooms, Vermont Street, Wodonga. Visitors welcome.
