Formed in 1900 by a keen group of local men, it became a club that fostered recruitments in the First World War. Morris tubes were used to modify normal government issued rifles, allowing the use of miniature ranges and cheaper cartridges in practice. They had shooting ranges set up in Cheltenham Park and Charman Road, Cheltenham at different times.
Leo Gamble tells of how a swampy area in Mentone, prone to flooding, was converted into an athletics training track and why it was named Dolamore. It was where, in 1965, Ron Clarke ran a world record for the ten mile event, completing the run in 47 minutes 12.8 seconds. Today it continues to be the home of the Mentone Little Athletics Club, the Mentone Athletics Club, and the Mentone Masters,.
This article concludes the story previously posted of Claude Nuttall, a Cheltenham boy. He joined the Australian Army as a twenty year old and served in France, where he was awarded the Military Medal and later wounded. Claude met an English girl while in hospital and married her in a small village church. He later returned to France, where he was killed. For some time he wrote a diary in which he described some of the actions on the Western Front. Read how this diary was returned to the family in Australia.
Leo Gamble tells of the early years of the Mentone Station, the creation of the subway, fire and tragedy, and the arrival of electric trains. Can you remember the ‘red rattlers’?
Leo Gamble writes of a railway siding that no longer exists at Mentone Station. It was a focus of attention for several businesses, where materials like coal, briquettes, and building supplies were delivered. It was from this siding that a spur into Caudwell’s timber yard and joinery was constructed in 1913, and trains bringing spectators to race meetings were parked.
Nathaniel Levi's dream was to drain the Carrum Swamp, plant sugar beet, manufacture gin, and employ 1500 individuals. Nathaniel Levi’s dream was not realised, but for a time local residents and people trying to earn a living on the swamp were enthusiastic about the proposal.
A very long title which still did not cover all the events that took place at the show. Check out some of the people who attended, the winners, and where the show was held from 1897 to the 1920s.
Leo Gamble writes of the tussle between Mordialloc Council and Albert Lydford in his desire to build a grand theatre at Mentone. It was finally built on the corner of Point Nepean Road and Balcombe Road in 1928. He built other properties in Mentone but his entrepreneurial activities ceased when he became financially bankrupt after the Great Depression. He died at his home at 60 Balcombe Road Mentone in 1946.
Tom Sheehy wrote the story of the Keys family in 1979. He tells of the careers of members of the Keys family, who were early pioneers in what became Keysborough. John Keys, a son of George, was an engineer for both Moorabbin and Dandenong Shires and became a member of the State Parliament. Some of the land owned by members of the Keys family became part of Braeside Park.
