Shire-wide news extracts from the Moruya Examiner of 28 June 1919, provided by the Moruya & District Historical Society:
‘FLU EPIDEMIC. – As was expected, the ‘flu epidemic has broken loose, and is travelling like wildfire throughout country towns as well as in the big centres of population such as Sydney. We are pleased to say, however, that so far there is no necessity for our people to lose their heads or become funky as Moruya, as far as we know, has not yet had any cases of an alarming nature, the local outbreak being influenza of the common or garden variety. Influenza is a most catching complaint, and it is the duty of those who become victims of it to notify the Health Board and isolate themselves as much as possible. The following places have been quarantined:- Mr. A. M. Garrard’s residence, Ryan’s Club House Hotel, Mr. R. Knight’s residence, Mr. F. Staunton’s residence at Mullenderree: and the Police Station, Bill’s Hotel and Post Office at Bateman’s Bay. Messrs. W. Simon and J. Rogers and Miss Nellie Ivers were removed to the Hospital on Thursday.
DEATHS. – Since our last issue a number of deaths have occurred from Pneumonic-influenza of persons who will be greatly missed, many of whom are well known to residents of this district. Following is a list of a few who have passed away as stated:- Mr. George Veitch, of Mogo, who when in Sydney in connection with the establishment of a saw mill in his district, contracted the disease and passed out at Paddington Emergency Hospital, Sydney, leaving a widow and seven young children. Mrs Parkes of the Prince of Wales Hotel, Nowra, who took her clever little girl to school in Sydney and returned to Nowra on Thursday of last week, contracted the disease on Saturday and died on the following Wednesday. Constable Smith of Bermagui Police Station who is said to have contracted the disease in a virulent form on board a launch, also died on Wednesday. Another death from the same cause carried Miss Louis of Wallace Street, Braidwood, off early in the week. Mr. Wilson, Forest Guard, died at Bermagui on Monday after a short attack of influenza. He was a returned soldier.
WEDDING. – A very large gathering assembled at the Methodist Church, Bateman’s Bay, on Tuesday morning last to witness the marriage of Mr. Ray Guy and Miss Dorothy Ladmore. The church had been artistically decorated by the friends of the bride, a large wedding bell, filled with confetti, being suspended above the heads of the bridal couple. The bride, who entered the church upon the arm of her father, was daintily attired in a skirt of white crepe-de-chine, with a georgette blouse. She wore a wreath and veil and carried a bouquet of arum lilies intertwined with the battalion colors of the bridegroom, who is a returned member of the AIF. The happy couple left per car for Moss Vale, where the honeymoon will be spent, the travelling dress of the bride being navy blue serge costume, with set of fox furs, the present from the bridegroom.
ACCIDENT ON MORUYA BAR. – A very serious accident occurred on the Moruya Bar between 7:30 and eight o’clock on Saturday night owing to Rose’s motor launch being swamped by a heavy sea. It appears that a number of young men, mostly employed on the Narooma breakwater works – seven all told – left that port at 2 p.m. on Saturday last for Moruya. Owing to the boat’s engine running hot the pilot, Douglas Rose, occasionally stopped it order to cool down, meanwhile allowing the boat to run under canvas. This caused considerable delay and by the time the Moruya Bar was reached it was quite dark and the proper entrance hard to locate. The helpless craft was driven over against the northern breakwater, and Dave Mison and Jack Pollock managed to jump onto the stones. The boat was again being washed out to sea when a rope was thrown ashore a seized by the two men, who dragged the boat in and along the stone wall where she became jammed and the rest of the crew waded or scrambled to safety.
Twenty 100 years ago booklets containing articles for the years 1899 to 1918 are available ($5 ea) from the Society’s rooms. Copies of local newspapers from the 1860s to date can be viewed at the Society’s Family History Research Centre (Ph 4474 3224) situated at the rear of the Museum in Campbell St. Moruya (www.mdhs.org.au).
