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From the Past This article (notes) is retrieved from The Reverend George Cox, Notes on Gippsland History, Volume V, Alberton District From 1844 to the 1850s, Article 44, April 29 1914, “Travelling to Gippsland” Contributed by Yarram & District Historical Society

A Difficult Journey The following is an account taken from the Port Phillip Patriot, December 28, 1843.

SEVEN men were engaged by a par ty in Melbourne to proceed to Gipps Land to strip bark and were duly shipped off for that purpose. Upon arriving at what was to have been the scene of their labours they discovered after close inspection that the staple of the country was not wattle bark but *** savages and native dogs, and therefore were anxious to return as they could not obtain a day’s work in the place, and at the same time were getting into debt for rations. They, therefore, applied to the party to whom they had been consigned to ship them back to Melbourne, but this was re fused, and at the same time they were told that if they crossed the Albert they could reach Western Port in seven days, and they were welcome to a week’s provisions. Rather than lose any more time they ac ceded to the proposal, and received the ra tions, giving to the boatman the tools they had brought with them for putting them across the river. Each of the party was provided with a gun and ammunition, and they had also with

consequence of their shooting a brace of redbills on the beach, having struck the coast that day. The following morning, they shot a native bear, which afforded them a glorious repast, besides food for the two following days. Then on the eleventh day from their leav ing Gipps Land they reached Mr Chisholm’s station at Wester Port, completely worn out and exhausted. During the journey they encountered heavy rains for two or three days which add ed much to their discomfort, and one eve ning when they had assembled at their biv ouac a numerous party of natives sat down within a few hundred yards, made large fires and commenced singing their war songs, upon which the travellers fired several vol leys into the air which it subsequently ap peared had a terrifying effect, for upon vis iting their camp on the following morning they found that the natives had decamped leaving behind them their war implements. Yarram & District Historical Society ex hibition rooms are open to the public each Wednesday from 10 am till 3 pm.

described as being most sterile, and neither bird not beast to be seen. The following morning an eagle-hawk hove in sight, probably aware with the in stinct natural to the bird that the travellers were in a dilemma and that he would short ly have the picking of their bones. In this case, however, the tables were turned, for the whole seven, determined not to lose their prey, discharged their pieces simulta neously and the king of the air was speedily extended to the earth, although not particu larly tasty food was on this occasion paid as much respect to as if it had been a joint from the shambles. Thus, invigorated they continued their journey, but the eighth day the dog was again sentenced to die, but reprieved in

them a dog. Everything went on right until the fifth day, when, notwithstanding the rigid econ omy they had used, their rations were totally exhausted, and to add to their difficulties, the scrub, interwoven with vines, which they now encountered rendered their advance a matter of extreme difficulty and exhaus tion, so much so that they were obliged to force their way through by walking in what is termed ”Indian file”, the leading man when knocked up falling to the rear. The sixth and seventh days were thus occupied but without a particle of food, and a council of ways and means being called it was determined that the dog should be sac rificed in the evening if nothing turned up. The country where they were at this time is

Busy time at Woodside Primary The new prep students, grade 1 and 2 students enjoyed playing in the playground at morning recess.

Woodside Primary principal Daniel Phelps had a busy morning on Mon day morning welcoming not just the new preps on their first day but also welcoming the many new families who have moved to the area and whose children are now attending Woodside Primary School. Staff numbers at the school have also increased with four teaching staff, two train ees and two support staff and an office manager. “We have lots happening at the moment, we are waiting for our new playground shade sail to arrive, which we hope will be later this

week,” he said. “We have our annual water safety day at Loch Sport coming up later this month and we have the district swim sports on Febru ary 24 and the district Athletics in March.” The new school bus has also arrived and will be operational in the coming weeks. “We still have a couple of things to tick off for the bus however our afterschool transport into Yarram after school care is available now,” he said. “We are also celebrating our 150th birth day and have plans for a big Back to cele bration later this year. We would like to invite anyone who has photos or information of the school over the years to get in touch,” he said.

Woodside Primary School welcomed five new preps to their school this year.

Page 12 - THE BRIDGE - Wednesday, February 1, 2023