Dr Brownrigg, who was a former Head of Research and Information at the National Film and Sound Archives in Canberra, shared his memories to local residents at the Pioneer Museum on Friday, July 28, presenting a fascinating talk accompanied by slides about his childhood in Mulwala.
He expressed much gratitude to the principal and staff of the Mulwala Public School, noting the influence of Frank and Mary Walker on the future directions of his life. His grandmother May Dwyer was another mentor.
Jeff’s childhood friend was the son of the Mulwala Station caretaker, so the boys often visited 90-year-old Miss Lucy Sloane. She instilled a great sense of history in the young Jeff.
The audience resonated with many of Jeff’s memories, including Nicholl’s bus which collected residents around the town, then took them to the Yarrawonga Shire hall for the Open Air Theatre to watch movies. Don Forbes, the manager, made a grand figure in his suit and bow tie. Several of those present contributed their own memories.
Jeff’s father Harry was a motor bike racing enthusiast. He and Jimmy Orr often participated in races at Keenan’s paddock. Harry was on the final trip by the Paddle Steamer Australien, when it made a circuit of Lake Mulwala, then beached itself in the sawdust from the King & Jones Sawmill near the Mulwala end of the traffic bridge. Over the years it disintegrated somewhat, but now under restoration in Echuca.
Jeff noted the efforts of two local delegates to the 1893 Corowa Federation Conference, James Sloane and Mr McGeogh. The Mulwala Federation League held regular meetings in Tom Savage’s shop, now an Op Shop, adjacent to an historic Morton Bay Fig tree which dates back to the 1890s and should be preserved.
Over the past weekend, Jeff joined other historians to present talks and displays to the residents of Corowa, during their commemorations of the 130th anniversary of the original Federation Conference.
He paid tribute to the Pioneer Museum, a project of the Yarrawonga Mulwala Historical Society. He recommended to all present that they record their own stories by oral or written methods, so that a knowledge of our past will direct the best for the future.
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