IDYLLIC SCENE?
It looks like an idyllic picture—however, it was from 1939 as the storm clouds of World War II gathered across the UK and Europe. The terrible six years that followed saw millions of casualties, cities, towns, and villages obliterated, and death and destruction everywhere. More than 100,000 Australians were killed in the two ‘great’ wars, and more than double that number maimed and wounded. It is evil leaders and wealthy industrials who cause wars. Ordinary people never want war —they just become the casualties. Many knowledgeable war correspondents believe the signs today are similar to the late 30s and only a miracle will avert the third world war. Australia is a divided nation today, far different from former eras. In 1914, the nation’s population was under 5,000,000 and more than a 10th of that number fought for freedom. In 1939, the population was only 9,000,000 but almost a million of war men and women served across the next six horrid years. Pundits have raised the question—given the different nation we today reside in—how many would answer the call if it comes in the near future? From wherever they are in Valhalla, there must be untold millions forever young shaking their head, asking ‘Why did we bother?’, when they see the decline of morals, principles, integrity, and faith in the corridors of power and greed in high places.
YOUNG MEN OF HOPE
Young men, products of the sunburnt country and wide blue skies of the Riverina, take a brief rest as they ponder what this summer and beyond brings. In the vast acres of outback Australia, you will still find the men and women of tradition—not far removed from the inhabitants of Mary Grant Bruce’s renowned Billabong novels, or the writings of legendary bush writers such as Ion Idriess and Frank Clune. This nation has ever been a land of droughts, flooding rains, and bushfires, and it’s the tough and resilient who survive best. Read Dorothea Mackellar’s classic My Country poems penned in 1904 to get a picture of how little has changed over the generations, maybe the centuries.
KILMORE CRICKET CLUB
The historic club is one of the oldest sports clubs in Australia. Situated at its picturesque venue in Hunts Road adjacent to the racecourse, it has gone well beyond a century and a half. Now affiliated with the Gisborne and District Association, the club fields five teams at senior level and five at junior, plus the ‘Blast’ for youngsters aged 5–8. Their hardworking secretary sent me some current photos of teams and players as follows:
