Patriotic Committee formed at Homebush

Homebush Lower was four miles north-east of Avoca. Today only the school building remains but it was still a small town during World War I. The towns of Homebush and Homebush Lower, also known as Lower Homebush, were founded on gold mining in the 1860s and in the 1880s were at their peak.

On 10 September 1914 a meeting was held at Homebush to discuss and raise funds for the Patriotic Fund.

HOMEBUSH, LOWER. (1914, September 16). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151625374

Messrs Samers, Deeble and Wood travelled from Avoca to address the meeting.

A Patriotic Committee was formed with Mr W. Miller elected the president and Mr C. H. Squires, the secretary and treasurer. Mesdames Garner and Barry were appointed to collect the funds for Homebush Lower and Miss M. Shiell for Upper Homebush.

Lennox, Lindsay & Gray, Stanhope (1890). Scarlet and blue. W. Paxton & Co. ; Melbourne : E.W. Cole Book Arcade, London

Patriotic songs were sung during the evening including:

• "Red, White, and Blue"
• "Scarlet and Blue"
• "Australia"
• the National Anthem, "God Save the King"

The "Red, White and Blue" was written in 1852, nine years after the very similar "Columbia, the Gem of the Ocean", a United States patriotic song.

Britannia, the pride of the ocean, The home of the brave and the free, The shrine of the patriot's devotion, No land can compare unto thee: Thy mandates make heroes assemble, With garlands of glory in view, Thy banners make tyranny tremble, When borne by the Red, White and Blue. Refrain: Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue, Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue, Three cheers for the Army and Navy, Three cheers for the Red, White and Blue,

When war spread its wide desolation, And threaten'd our land to deform, The ark, then of freedom's foundation, Britannia rode safe through the storm: With the garlands of vict'ry around her, So nobly she bore her brave crew, Her flag floating proudly before her, The flag of the Red, White and Blue. Britannia, the pride of the ocean, And so of a truth shall she be. While true in her loyal devotion, To all that is noble and free: The fire that glows in her story, Still burns in the hearts of her sons, And her flag shall still lead her to glory, When duty shall march with her guns.

The "Scarlet and Blue" song was composed in 1890.

Grand Patriotic Ball at Lamplough on 11 September 1914

The Grand Patriotic Ball at Lamplough was advertised on 9 September in the Avoca Free Press and held on Friday 11 September 1914.

Advertising. (1914, September 9). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 3. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623123

There was a brief report of the ball in the Avoca Free Press of 16 September.

No title. (1914, September 16). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 16, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151625353

When the Avoca and District Patriotic Fund met later in the month, J. Curtis was present representing the community of Lamplough, and Lamplough was reported as contributing £3 13s 6d towards the district grand total of more than £300 raised overall. (AVOCA AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC FUND. (1914, September 23). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151622483)

The Avoca and District Patriotic Fund had been formed at a meeting on 18 August. A committee was formed with the purpose of raising funds towards the Victorian Patriotic Fund organised for the relief of the troops. The Patriotic Fund was formed in Melbourne on 8 August by the Lord Mayor to enable men to do their duty without anxiety for their families. 

At the meeting on 18 August at Avoca, Councillor Paten was appointed chairman with Councillors Samers and Thomas as Vice-Chairmen; Mr J. H. Deeble was appointed secretary.

The following  ladies and gentlemen were appointed to the committee: — Mesdames A Snell, Brown, E Paten, Chandler, Samers, C Reed, J Reid, Currie, Robinson, Wood, Classen, Thomas, B Snell, Chellew, Deeble, A F Paten, Stavely, Hardy, Johnson, Misses Johns (2) and Grimmer, Messrs G T Wood,  J H Moyle, J Chandler, A G Cust, S G Mitchell, R Stavely, F Knuckey, A G Lalor, G. Downton, J C Wilson, A Wilson, J H Benjamin, J Hempseed, Jno Mackereth, A C: Henderson, C Wolfe, T Simmons, B D Snell, W F Hardy, A Ahpee, W M Chellew, F Wiltshire, Revs. Robinson, Reed and Currie, and Drs Johnson and Grimmer. (The War. (1914, August 22). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151623260)

Subscriptions were collected the following week, raising more than £50. The Australian Womens' National League (AWNL) made a contribution and also donated thirteen dozen handkerchiefs. Progress was reported in both local newspapers and also the Ballarat Courier.

ACTION IN COUNTRY. (1914, August 26). The Ballarat Courier (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 4 Edition: DAILY.. Retrieved August 25, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73317026

AVOCA AND DISTRICT PATRIOTIC FUND. (1914, August 26). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151621949

The £300 raised by the Avoca and District Patriotic Fund by mid September can be put in some perspective compared to the funds raised at the 1914 football semi final between South Melbourne and Carlton. More than 20,000 attended the MCG and the gate takings were £863 of which £252 went to the Patriotic Fund. (No title. (1914, September 23). Avoca Free Press and Farmers' and Miners' Journal (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2. Retrieved September 11, 2014, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article151622490)

Joseph Dillon Hanly

Joseph Dillon Hanly, a bank clerk at with the Bank of Victoria at Avoca, enlisted at Maryborough on 18 September 1914. He was twenty years old.

Hanly had been born in Liverpool England. On his attestation form he listed his next of kin as father J. J. Hanly, Howard, Queensland, and mother W. M. Hanly of Jolimont in East Melbourne. (National Archives of Australia: Australian Imperial Force, Base Records Office; B2455, First Australian Imperial Force Personnel Dossiers, 1914-1920; HANLY Joseph Dillon : Service Number - 872/Lieutenant : Place of Birth - Liverpool England : Place of Enlistment - Maryborough VIC : Next of Kin - (Mother) HANLY W M.)

He had received his father's permission to enlist. (NAA, B2455, Hanly J D, pg 52)

Hanly sailed for Egypt as a private on 2 February 1915 with the 3rd Light Horse Field Ambulance on HMAT A51 Chilka.

In 1918 Hanly joined the Australian Flying Corps and he returned to Australia in 1919.

Joseph Dillon Hanly in 1918 as a trainee pilot with B Flight, No. 8 Training Squadron of the Australian Flying Corps (AFC) at Leighterton, Gloucestershire, England. Australian War Memorial ID number D00127 retrieved from http://www.awm.gov.au/collection/D00127/

On Wednesday 23 September 1914 a farewell was held for Joseph Hanly, hosted by Mr J. H. Deeble, manager of the bank, and his wife. Afternoon tea, eatables, wine and cigars were served. Mr George Downton presided, proposing a toast. Among others, Councillor Paten and Mr G. Woods spoke at the function. The National Anthem and "Auld Lang Syne" were sung.

A full report of the farewell appeared in the Avoca Free Press on 26 September 1914.