Friday September 6,1918 AVENUE OF HONOUR TREE PLANTING AT BOOROOPKI Although in the morning the weather was inclement, the afternoon of Wednesday, 28th August, the appointed day for Booroopki and district's worthy recognition of the incalculable and valorous services of her soldier sons, saw much improved weather conditions and a large representative gathering. After the singing of the national anthem, proceedings were opened by Mr C.D.BLOCK, who, in the course of his address spoke of the worthy cause which had brought all together. It was some minute practical appreciation of the manly services of their soldiers, in as much as, years after the war when the fickle human mind would fast let these services sink into oblivion, in Booroopki towering evergreens would stand aloft in their dignity, forcibly recalling to the aged and strikingly teaching the young the spirit of the times in which they were planted. The Hon. Secretaries, Messrs A. F. CARRACHER and M. F. MORRIS, than read apologies from Messrs A. S. ROGERS M.H.R., W. SLATER, M.L.A., H. G. HILL and J. A. BULL and Crs. A. W. STEPHENS and P. J. CARRACHER, followed by the procedure of the planting. Thanks to the industry and energy of all, and to the generosity of Mr. F. A. CRABTREE, who donated the timber, the tree guards were all erected, and the plots were dug beforehand, through the agency of several working bees. The planting of the trees to the memory of the deceased soldiers, viz., Ptes J. R. GARDNER, C. F. PATCHING and P. BRENNAN, took pride of place. They were planted by Mrs Geo GARDNER, Miss R. A. CARRACHER (on behalf of Mrs P. J. LAVERY) and Mr W. JONES respectively. After this planting Mr C. D. BLOCK, in a few well chosen words, paid tribute to the deceased. During the afternoon, lunch, which was provided in their usual excellent way, by the ladies of the District, was partaken at the residence of Mrs C. WONG, who kindly provided all necessary crockery. Delicacies to suit the taste of the most fastidious were provided, while the attentiveness of the waitresses was the embodiment of efficiency. Proceedings were terminated with speeches by Messrs. C. D. BLOCK and B. LAVERY. The latter, speaking as an outsider, complimented Booroopki and district on having taken the initiative, among the many townships in the wide spreading limits of the prosperous Kowree Shire, in perpetuating the memory of those boys who have sacrificed all to do battle for the liberty and freedom which we all cherish. The National Anthem and God Bless Our Splendid Men were then sung, followed by three ringing cheers for the boys at the front, after which an adjournment was made for tea, which was again in the capable hands of the ladies. After tea all proceeded to Mr D. CARRACHER'S storeroom in which the ever welcome dance was held. The "light fantastic toe" and "jest and youthful jollity" continued well into the early hours of the morning. The ladies, leaving no stone unturned, capped their unequalled generosity by providing the dancers with refreshments, inconsiderate of the fatigue which their arduous day must necessarily have incurred. During the evening Messrs. B. LAVERY, and W. ABERLEY favoured the assembly with fine exhibitions of step-dancing. The M.C., Mr Jack CARRACHER jnr, was at his best, while excellent music was provided by Messrs. F. HINCH, Leo BULL, and W. ABERLEY. Thus concluded a happy day for Booroopki and district, with the residents feeling an inward satisfaction that within one little corner of the vast area of appreciation applicable to our soldiers, there had been sown a kindly remembrance, a honourable tribute and a glowing pride, coupled with a keen recognition of Lawson's lines, wherein "The better part of the people's life is when the storm comes upper most". Planting was proceeded with alphabetically, thirty five trees being planted in all. The following is the personnel of the planting:- Soldiers Name Tree Planted By Pte J. BRENNAN-----------------------Mrs. C. WONG Pte C. BRENNAN----------------------Mrs. C. WONG Pte J. BIGGIN (Jack)-----------------Miss Gwen BULL Trpr A. S. BULL (Dick)----------------Mrs.J. WATSON Pte C. H. L. CRABTREE-------------Mrs. D. CRABTREE Pte W. CAMERON---------------------Mrs. C. WONG Pte H. G. CRABTREE-----------------Mr. F. CRABTREE Gnr E. C. CARRACHER--------------Mrs. D. CARRACHER Gnr J. D. CARRACHER---------------Miss C. CARRACHER Pte P. DOWLING (Peter)-------------Mr. C. D. BLOCK Pte T. DOWLING (Tom)---------------Mr. C. D. BLOCK Pte J. DELANEY (Jack)---------------Miss D. GARDNER Pte T. DELANEY (Tom)---------------Mr. F. SCHUMANN Trpr F. J. FORSTER--------------------Mr. F. FORSTER Pte G. A. FORSTER-------------------Mr. F. FORSTER Pte W. G. V. GARDNER-------------Miss D. GARDNER Sgnr E. HINCH--------------------------Mr. F. HINCH Pte L. G. HAMILTON------------------Mr. C. SCHUMANN Air Mec C. J. KERR--------------------Miss C. JONES Lient J. M. LEYDEN--------------------Mrs. J. H. HARVEY Segt. C. T. MOODEY------------------Miss Glad BLOCK Pte J. T. W. MAJOR--------------------Mr. A. C. ROBINSON Pte J. W. S. McDONALD-------------Mr. F. SCHUMANN Pte J. T. O'BRIEN------------------------Mr. F. HINCH Pte Jas O'BRIEN-------------------------Mrs. J. CHASTON Pte H. B. PHILLIPS---------------------Mr. M. F. MORRIS Pte O. PRITCHARD---------------------Mr. J. H. HARVEY Pte H. B. SCHINCKEL-----------------Miss E. SCHINCKEL Pte J. D. SCHUMANN------------------Mr. F. SCHUMANN Pte A. E. STEHN-------------------------Mrs. C. W. STEHN Pte J. J. WILSON-------------------------Mr. A CARRACHER Pte P. L. WILSON------------------------Mr. W. M. JONES Daryl Crabtree Gladstone C.Qld Australia West Wimmera Mail extracts are on the Web www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/goroke/index.html