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20 Pages·2017·3.41 MB·English

February/March 2018
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ARPA NEWS
Contents
2 News/contents
3 News
4/5 Our History
6 Diary Dates
7 In Proflie
8 Now Showing
9 Council matters
10/11 Railway history
12 Puzzles and games
13 Books
14 Green Fingers
16/17 Activities
18 Classifieds
Editor: Sheila Duncan
Level 4, 25 Leigh Street, Adelaide 5000
Front Cover: Watch your step! Bushwalkers on a B walk in the
PO Box 8247 Station Arcade SA 5000
Sturt Gorge in December
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ABN: 93 661 993 592 New Members’ Meeting
Disclaimer: ARPA takes all care but All new and current members are welcome to attend a new members’
no responsibility for the accuracy of meeting at the ARPA office, Level 4, 25 Leigh Street on Thursday,
information contained in the ARPA News.
February 22 at 2:00pm.
It does not necessarily endorse products or
services advertised, nor necessarily agree Find out about the Association and discover the wide range of groups on
with opinions expressed. offer. Please contact the office to confirm attendance – phone [phone]
© Copyright 2018 ARPA News or email [email protected]
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ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 2
News
ARPA Light Orchestra ARPA BUSH BAND
The old year finished with a lively concert in which the T he ARPA Bush Band was founded in 1986 by a group
Orchestra joined with the music students from Brighton of Bush Walkers at a bush walking camp. Bill Kelly
High School. Together we played a movement from was the guiding light at the time. Cath, one of the originals,
Schubert’s Unfinshed Symphony and then the Allegro from player of the piano accordion, retired from the band only
Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in C Minor with Geoffrey recently and we wish her well.
Kong on the BHS Steinway. On their own, under the
Our Bush Band covers the metropolitan area from Salisbury
baton of Roland Dankbaar, the ARPA players launched
Downs in the north to Belleview Heights and further in the
into a dynamic interpretation of music from Mama Mia,
South. Some of us get lost beyond Salisbury or in the South,
before moving on to a sensitive treatment of the theme
but eventually we find our way to the concert site.
from On Golden Pond. This was followed by, among other
Concerts comprise approximately 20 songs of Australian
pieces, the haunting film music from Gladiator. The bracket
background from I am Australian to Gum Tree Canoe or the
concluded with a rollicking Bugler’s Holiday which featured
Bullockies Ball. A few solos are interposed by a variety of
the trumpet players. This concert was the fifth in the 2017
instruments and singers. We have the standard instruments;
series. Preparations for 2018 are in full swing.
guitars played by Jo, Ron and David. Nell provides a classic
If there are any musicians out there who’d like to join in, sound on the violin. Lorraine provides an unusual sound
you would be most welcome. We meet every Thursday with the Auto-Harp. This is a great favourite with our
morning between 10am and 12 at the newly renovated audiences. Also sought by audiences is David who plays river
Cumberland Park Community Centre, 390 Goodwood gum tunes on the harmonica or the banjo mandolin. David,
Road. It’s an excellent facility courtesy of the Mitcham a walker in ARPA for many years, keeps us in time with
City Council. There are plenty of parking spaces. A cello his variety of drums. Supporting singers throughout the
player retired recently, we need an oboe player and there programs are Edna, Jo and Denis.
are always vacancies for strings. If you are tempted to play
Generally we provide one concert per month with practice
music with us call the Coordinator, Bill, on 8278 7958 to
on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at the Eastwood Community
find out more. Bill is one of the flute players.
Centre, Glen Osmond Road.
Arrangements for concerts are handled by our Booking
Officer, Jo, who liaises with representatives from those
Tapliners and Variety Group
requesting concerts.
We are looking for new talent.
If you are interested in joining the band either as a singer or
Are you a fun person that enjoys putting a smile on peoples
musician, come along on one of our practice days, or ring Jo
faces?
on 8261 9056 or Denis on 8242 3565.
Can you sing, mime, play a guitar, a keyboard or perform
a comedy act?
Do you have hidden talents that are just waiting to jump Membership Renewal
out and entertain people?
Your ARPA membership renewal can be paid on-line via
If you are interested or would like more information please ARPA’s secure website portal at www.arpaactiveover50s.
phone Lorraine on 8269 3915 or 0409 691 331 com.au
Click on online shop and select Membership Renewal
We are all volunteers and apart from giving people a lot of
Cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
pleasure we have a lot of fun.
Buying or Selling
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2017 BY:
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ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 3
Our History
THE ROAD TO FEDERATION a brand new constitution. The South Australians were led
by ‘Honest Tom’ Playford, the premier, his sidekick was
T he nation we call Australia did not officially exist in
John Cockburn, among the others were Charles Kingston
the nineteenth century, though the word itself was
and Sir John Downer and Kingston in particular was to
always used to describe the land by its inhabitants. What
play a major role in the proceedings. The future first Prime
did exist by the end of the century were six separate British
Minister of Australia, Edmund Barton, was one of the
colonies which had by now buried their convict past (the
NSW delegates. Kingston and Downer were appointed
last convict ship arrived in WA in 1868). They competed
to the committee that finalised the eventual draft which
fiercely for new trade deals, new markets and new settlers,
the delegates all took home to get adopted in their own
and imposed trade restrictions and customs duties on each
colonies. But trouble began immediately. NSW again threw
other, and the idea of federation, though mentioned at
a spanner in the works by setting up a sizeable opposition
times at inter-colonial conferences, was not taken seriously
group headed by Sir John Robertson who claimed that
by politicians throughout most of the century.
Federation ‘would destroy our nationality’, and that ‘it is as
THE FATHER OF FEDERATION
dead as Julius Caesar’. Queensland was lukewarm, and the
The ‘father of federation’ was a larger-than-life character,
WA premier John Forrest said he ‘failed to look hopefully’
(Sir) Henry Parkes, five times Premier of NSW, three times
on federation unless his colony was ‘especially favoured’.
married, and seventeen times a parent. At an inter-colonial
The Victorian parliament debated the constitution bill but
conference in Melbourne in 1867 he was the after dinner
then let it lapse, as did Tasmania, and the South Australian
speaker at the official dinner at which he unexpectedly
parliament sent it to be examined by committees where it
made the first ever public speech in favour of federation: ‘I
also went no further. The various colonies felt stymied by
think that the time has arrived when these colonies should
the lack of commitment from NSW.
be united by some federal bond of connection…….a more
At this point the citizens took a hand.
permanent federal understanding.’
FEDERATION AND THE PEOPLE
Then other issues intervened and it was not
Public enthusiasm for federation was
until 1881 that Parkes, at another inter-
constantly growing and now it was the people
colonial conference, raised the subject of
who took steps to further the cause. A number
federation again, this time more specifically:
of ‘Federation Leagues’ were formed and in
‘the time is come for the construction of a
1893 a Federation League conference was
federal constitution with an Australian Federal
held in the NSW town of Corowa, where
Parliament…..’
the 72 delegates passed motions calling for
In 1883 a Federal Council of Australia was
federation, and the organiser, John Quick
formed, but NSW refused to join (Parkes
put forward a ‘Corowa Plan’. This proposed
was out of office at the time) so although the
that elections be held in each colony for the
Council continued to meet it achieved little Sir Henry Parkes
public to choose delegates to design a new
without the inclusion of the biggest state. The
constitution on which the public would then vote. Quick
move towards federation was proceeding very slowly.
then returned home to Bendigo and drafted an ‘Australian
The centenary celebration of 1888 was overly focussed
Federal Congress Bill’ which spelt out the Corowa Plan
on Sydney which caused much resentment in the other
and which he presented to the Central Federation League
colonies who were not inclined to listen to any proposal
in Sydney. Thus the initiative passed from the politicians to
emanating from NSW, but the following year Parkes,
the people but when the former realised how strong public
the consummate political operator, who was once again
opinion was, they quickly took it back again. In January
NSW premier and who was by now wedded to the idea
1895 the moribund Federation Council was revived with
of federation, managed to persuade the other colonies
even NSW joining in, and the Council voted in favour of
to send representatives to ‘an informal meeting of the
the popular election of delegates with only WA dissenting.
colonies for the purpose of preliminary consultation’ on
But again nothing further happened until November 1896
the process of setting up federation. This happened the
when the Peoples’ Federation Convention in Bathurst again
next year in Melbourne and each colony sent two delegates
urged action, and within weeks four colonies committed
who decided unanimously to agree to an ‘early union’
to holding the elections, with only WA and Queensland
under ‘one legislative and executive Government’ and that
objecting. (WA insisted that its parliament choose the
the following year each colony would send up to seven
delegates).
delegates to a national convention to design a federal
In 1897 fifty delegates from five colonies, including WA
constitution. The nation was on its way. Maybe. Or maybe
but excluding Qld, met in Adelaide. The SA team was led
not.
by Charles Kingston but there was tension between him
1891. Forty-five delegates assembled in Sydney to create
and another member, Richard Baker, whom he had earlier
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 4
Our History
challenged to a duel after a public exchange of insults. The anomaly in that in several states women could vote in one
delegates used the 1891 draft constitution as a starting kind of election (federal) but not in another (state). The
point and eventually finalised a new draft to take home to anomaly was soon corrected by the states: by 1908 all adult
their respective parliaments for ratification and voting by Australian women (except Aboriginal) could vote in all
the general public. Referenda were called in four colonies, Australian elections, making it one of the first countries
with WA and Qld still dissenting, but for the third time in the world to give all adult citizens the vote (except
the NSW parliament held up proceedings, this time by Aborigines).
requiring the Yes vote to exceed 80000. This it failed to OFF TO LONDON
do, but the other three colonies endorsed the constitution In 1900 the premiers took their hard won constitution to
by generous margins and in a second round of referenda London. They wanted it accepted by the British parliament
the following year NSW dropped the 80000 requirement without amendments but the latter insisted that the highest
and the colony fell into line. Queensland at last decided appeal court should remain the Privy Council not the High
to hold a referendum and now only WA was holding out. Court of Australia as the premiers wanted. With this change
Federation seemed to be on its way. the parliament passed the necessary legislation in July 1900
The political classes cut a sorry figure at this to accept the constitution and put an end to
time. Even though for years they had been Australia’s colonial existence and set up its
seriously worried about the country’s defence future as an independent nation. And WA
in the light of encroachment by France and finally capitulated and held a referendum on
Germany in the Pacific, they could not put 31st July 1900 so that it too could be part of a
aside their differences – Queensland continued united Australia.
to be reluctant, WA entirely dismissive FEDERATION AT LAST
and NSW intermittently obstructive about
On 1st January 1901 the Commonwealth
federation, and it took the actions of the
of Australia came into being, one of the few
citizens to force them to come together to
nations in the world founded by the free vote
further the cause.
of its citizens. It did not have a currency, a
VOTES FOR WOMEN Charles Kingston flag, an anthem, a national capital or even a
Women’s suffrage became part of the Federation story, Parliament House, but all of these would be forthcoming
mainly because the SA parliament had set the ball rolling in due course (even if some of them were a long time
by passing legislation in 1894 to give women the vote. WA a-coming). It must surely have been an exciting time to be
followed in 1899 so that when it was decided that voting for an Australian.
the referendum should be in accordance with each colony’s Frances Dudley
normal voting system these two colonies were the only REFERENCES
ones that allowed women to participate. Then in 1902 the Under the Burning Sun: R. M. Gibbs 2013
new federal parliament passed legislation giving all adult The Making of Australia: David Hill 2014
Australian women the vote, which created an immediate Australian Dictionary of Biography 1983
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 5
Diary Dates
Frankenstein
Saturday, April 14, 2018 at 2pm
Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
Tickets $17 available from level 4, 25 Leigh
Street, Adelaide or see tear off.
Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in
appearance, Frankenstein’s bewildered Creature
is cast out into a hostile world by his horrified maker. Meeting
with cruelty wherever he goes, the friendless Creature, increasingly
desperate and vengeful, determines to track down his creator and
strike a terrifying deal.
A Little Night Music
Saturday, April 28, 2018 at 1.30pm
Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
Tickets $33 available from level 4, 25 Leigh Street,
Adelaide or see tear off.
A Little Night Music is a tangled web of romantic involvements
that continue to surprise us with their twists and turns. Featuring
the song, ‘ Send in the Clowns’ and a beautiful lush score. A Little
Night Music is a story of love, nostalgia, regret and the magic of
music on a summer’s night
High Society
Saturday, May 19 at 2pm
Arts Theatre, 53 Angas Street, Adelaide
Tickets $28 available from level 4, 25 Leigh Street
or see tear off.
Based on the play ‘The Philadelphia Story’ and the motion picture
‘High Society’.
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 6
In Profile
Mary Lorna Linn an address. Mary became involved with the Pioneers
Association while doing research for the Jubilee150. In
At a St Johns Ambulance Parade in
1990 Mary was council delegate to the Thebarton History
1981 Mary received a Priory Vote of
Advisory Board and was also a council delegate to the
Thanks signed by His Excellency the
Hospital Board. She served on council for three terms (six
Governor General of Australia, The
years).
Hon Sir Zelman Cowen, and presented
Mary is now Secretary of the Mile End Church of
by the Governor of South Australia,
Christ and also is Secretary of Cooperating Church’s of
His Excellency, Sir Keith Seaman for
West Adelaide consisting of the following Churches:
Services to St. Johns Ambulance. For
St. Richard & St James Anglican, Mile End, Brooklyn
14 years she was Secretary/Treasurer of Thebarton/West
Park and Cowandilla Churches of Christ, Lockleys and
Torrens St. John Auxiliary that raised funds for uniforms
Richmond Baptist, St. John Bosco and Queen of Angels
and equipment and she was a member for 18 years.
Catholic Churches, St. Marks Lutheran and Adelaide West
In 1981, Mary was voted Australia Day Citizen of the
Uniting Church. Cooperating Churches of West Adelaide
Year (Town of Thebarton). She served on the Thebarton
facilitate Chaplains in schools and present events for
Voluntary Agencies committee with Cordelia Allen. This
the community. For 14 years Mary has organized “Back
committee raised funds for the first Thebarton Community
to Bethlehem” a free of charge event for families in the
Bus.
Community and this year helped to organise the Carols
In 1985 Mary Joined the Thebarton Council and served at Mellor Park, an event that was previously organised
on the committees of community development and history by the Apex Club and also organises ‘National Day of
research. She was council delegate for the Jubilee 150 Thanksgiving Service’. ‘Back to Bethlehem’ won the
committee and designed the Jubilee Thebarton Logo that Australia Day Community Event of the Year award 2009.
was used for the celebration. Mary also helped to organize
Since retiring in 2001, Mary has been a membr of ARPA
the Bicentenary Celebrations for Thebarton. In 1989 for
Active Over 50’s Drama Group. Members of ARPA Players
the Pioneers Association of South Australia and while still
are volunteers who present free of charge Comedies,
a councilor, she worked with Mr. Patrick Keefe, President
Melodramas and Skits at Retirement Villages, Nursing
of the Royal South Australian Regiment Association. Mary
Homes, RSL Clubs, Senior Citizens Clubs, Charitable
organised the Sesquicentenary (150 years) of Colonel
Organisations and for Fundraisers thus bringing laughter
William Light’s death. Participants were 10/27 RSAR Band,
and comedy where it is needed. Mary is Secretary of the
RSAR Regiment Association, Adelaide Royal Marines
group and has also carried out volunteer artwork for the
and the Historical re-enactment group that marched from
group and others.
Torrens Parade Ground to Holy Trinity Church for a
From 2001 – 2009 Mary cared for both her parents. Her
Memorial Service conducted by Rev Reg Piper. This was
father passed away May 2008 and her mother passed away
followed by a wreath laying ceremony by various people
April 2009.
including members of State Government and Opposition,
Using her God-given talents and gifts and skills, Mary has
Adelaide City Council, Thebarton Council, etc. at Light
dedicated her life to serving people in the Community in
Square, musket volley, Reveille and Mr. John Porter, the
whatever way possible.
then Surveyor General unveiled the plaque and gave
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 7
Now Showing / Giveaways
Summer Movies
Come along for a bit of old world
atmosphere and see the organ rise out of
the stage and play in the evening session
on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday evenings,
15 minutes before the scheduled screening
time.
Why not visit us, we are the only cinema proudly stocking Haigh’s
Chocolates at the Candy bar, along with hot popcorn and a selection
of wines & beer for you to enjoy.
Here are some of the movies coming soon, check the website
(http://www.capri.org.au/) for all sessions times and updates.
Darkest Hour (PG), Molly’s Game, Fifty Shades Freed,
Black Panther, Finding Your Feet.
Take a walk down Rob’s musical Memory Lane.
Enjoy a wonderful mix of Sigmund Romburg, Disney
favourites and other popular pieces.
Rob Richards is house organist at Disney’s El Capitan
Theatre in Hollywood, a position he has held for around
19 years. His concerts include something for every musical
taste. His playing demonstrates his love of the music he is
playing. He has played concerts in Australia on several visits
and we welcome him back in 2018.
BOOK EARLY! Don’t miss your chance to be entertained
by this exciting performer. From page 11
IMPORTANT NOTE: The maps and tables that accompany
1. Film Pass Giveaway these articles can be viewed on the ARPA Active Over 50s
website (www.arpaactiveover50s.com.au) by logging into the
Members’ Area and opening the magazine page. Explanatory
Thanks to our Friends at the Capri Theatre,
notes are provided.
we have a limited number of double passes to
give away to a Summer Movie of your choice.
2. Concert Pass Giveaway References
Broad Gauge Steam: The Final Decades, by Kenn Pearce (Railmac
Thanks to our Friends at TOSA, we have a
Publications, 2012)
limited number of double passes to give
The Long Haul: Australian National 1978-1988, by Peter Donovan
away to the Rob Richards Concert at the and Bernard O’Neil (Focus Books,1991)
Capri Theatre on Sunday, March 18. Riders of the Steel Highways: The History of Australia’s Commonwealth
How to win a double film Railways 1912-1975, by Monte Luke (V M & B M Luke, 1997)
Railway Facts (SA Railways, 1929)
or concert pass
Annual Reports (South Australian Railways) – various editions
A History of South Australian Railways: Vol 5, Controversy and Mr
To go into the draw for a double pass to either event:
Webb, by Ron Stewien (Eveleigh Press, 2011)
• phone the ARPA Office on 8211 9711 between 10am
W A Webb, by R I Jennings (Nesfield Press, 1973)
and 12 noon only on Wednesday, February 14 or
Official Year Book of Australia: various editions (initially Ministry of
• email ARPA at [email protected] or
Home Affairs, later Australian Bureau of Statistics)
• write to ARPA at PO Box 8247, Station Arcade,
Locomotives of Australia, 1850s-1980s, by Leon Oberg (Reed Books
Adelaide, SA 5000.
Pty Ltd, 1984)
Note: Letters / emails to be received by Thursday, February South Australian Year Books, various editions (Australian Bureau of
15, Close of Business at the latest. Statistics)
All photos c/- State Library of SA: PRG 1316/12/219 and PRG
Winners only will be notified by mail by
327/24/69
Friday, February 23.
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 8
Council Matters
From the Council
Walk the Heysen Trail with
This the first edition of ARPA News started the income from membership ARPA Bushwalkers
for 2018. Each edition carries a fees has not covered running costs. The Heysen Trail is one of
lot of news and articles about the With income from other sources Australia’s best known long
activities of ARPA Active Over (particularly investments with high distance walking trails. It runs for
50s. The content relies on groups returns) this works. But in recent approximately 1200 km from Cape
and individual members sending years returns have dropped markedly Jervis in the south, the Barossa
us stories and photos about group over recent years. Council has Valley and Mid-North to the
activities. Thanks to everyone worked hard to reduce costs in many Flinders Ranges before finishing at
providing ARPA News with items in areas but costs have risen in others Parachilna in the north.
2017 and this issue. (particularly power and postage).
In most cases the trail begins with
Council thanks Sheila and Roger New and different sources of income day walks around the Adelaide Hills
who, with help from Linda, have are being considered. You will have and once easily accessible areas are
produced is issue of ARPA News noticed new sponsors and increased completed, the rest of the trail is
while Mark is on holidays for a few advertising in ARPA News – this walked on approximately weekly
weeks. helps control the cost of the magazine trips over a period of 2 to 3 years.
which is an important way to Each walk is typically 15 to 20 km
During Mark’s holiday members of
promote ARPA Active Over 50s and long though in more remote areas
Council are acting as Office Manager
to keep you informed. longer days are unavoidable.
– a chance to learn the detail of
If anybody is interested in joining
running and what goes on in the Council will also be considering
another group, Heysen 15 will start
Office and providing each of us with membership as our current
in 2018, please contact Stewart
challenges. membership is aging we need to
at: [email protected]
look at what is of interest to people
There are many volunteers who
or phone [phone]. If there is
in their 50s and 60s and how to
work in the Office answering
sufficient interest a preliminary
attract them to become and remain
phones, dealing with your questions,
meeting will be held on February
members of ARPA Active Over 50s.
maintaining our membership list
18.
These are only two of the challenges
and much more. Welcome back for
facing your Council this year. We
2018 and thanks for your ongoing
look forward to your help and
efforts. I would especially extend
continued involvement.
Council’s thanks to Milton who has
just “retired” after many of dealing Welcome to ARPA Active Over 50s
with our banking and helping with for 2018; I hope it is a great and safe
finance records. year for all of us.
Two major issues that will be the David French
focus of and challenge to Council
President
in 2018 will be fund raising and
membership. Virtually since ARPA
Welcome
ARPA would like to extend a warm welcome to the following new members who joined
our Association during November and December 2017.
Robert Adams Stewart Gilles
Terree Barber Sue James
Donato Boffa Allan Jeffs
Ilona Bresca Garry Harris & Susan Kay
Carol & Stuart Cameron Anton Lucas
Josephine Chesher Linda Morton
Sandra Cole Susan Nancarrow
Christine Congdon Robert Penny
Eike Elliott Horst Schwanke
Judith Fabry Eric Totty
Mary Fairweather Audrey Vaughan
Robert & Pamela Fox
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 9
SA Railways History
SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S RAILWAYS (broad-gauge), Melbourne-Adelaide experiments were conducted with
IN THE 20TH CENTURY (BG), Adelaide-Terowie (BG), Terowie- railcars powered by internal combustion;
Port Augusta (narrow-gauge), Port they proved unsatisfactory. Serious
1901-1930: From expansion at all costs
Augusta-Kalgoorlie (SG), Kalgoorlie- proposals were made to build some new
to a ‘Golden Age’
Perth (NG). rural lines at 2ft 6in gauge (762mm) in
In 1901 there were 21,690km of
Meanwhile in SA, expansion at all costs! the Riverland, but fortunately dismissed
railway track in Australia, of which
as preposterous. Another was to build a
approximately 26% was broad-gauge In 1901 there were 2,777km of railway
new standard-gauge line from Tailem
(5ft 3in, mostly in SA and Victoria), track in South Australia, one-third broad-
Bend to Paringa; this was deemed
51% narrow-gauge (3ft 6in, in WA, gauge (5ft 3in) and two-thirds narrow-
to exhibit “remarkable foresight, but
Qld and SA) and 23% standard-gauge gauge (3ft 6in). In the period after
appalling logic”, given that all the
(4ft 8½in, all in NSW). The symbolic Federation the SA government focused
connecting lines were broad-gauge.
transcontinental standard-gauge link on immigration, settlement of Crown
Lands, railway construction and water Further proposals included: very light-
Proposals to unify the colonies’ diverse
conservation. The blind pursuit of the weight rails compared with the usual
railway systems by standardisation had
last two objectives (in order to satisfy the standards; unballasted lines, on which
long been stymied by parochialism, lack
first two) led to the accumulation of huge track stability would be “non-existent”
of finance and geographical problems.
interest debts, which would hang around (while the cost of lifting locomotives
The proposal for a transcontinental
the necks of future governments (and and renewing tyres would be “financially
railway – connecting Western Australia
taxpayers). Thus began the second era of suicidal”); new lines that would
with SA, Victoria and NSW – became a
SA rail construction between 1906 and follow land contours, thus producing
symbol of the unification of the country.
1928, purely to encourage agricultural “switchback” gradients such as 1:45
Until Federation on 1 January, 1901 the
settlement – after all, it was argued, “a (likely to cause “severe damage to rolling
potential benefits of a uniform gauge
railway always enhances land values”. stock”). When the SAR Commissioner,
had not been foreseen by passengers used
Hundreds of kilometres of railway were Alex Moncrieff, complained it would be
to customs and immigration formalities
effectively “jerry-built” in a mad dash to impossible to run heavy rolling stock on
at inter-colonial borders. But, once
open up virtually empty areas of the Mid- the proposed Eudunda – Robertstown
free trade was conducted between the
North, Barossa, Riverland, South East line if it were built with 15lb rail and
newly-formed states, the impediment of
and Eyre Peninsula. 3in unballasted sleepers, the MPs who
different gauges became more obvious.
authorised the scheme called him “a
William C Kernot, Melbourne’s first Many lines would be routed through
liar” and demanded his dismissal.
professor of engineering, described third-rate countryside, often over sandy
(Moncrieff survived to retirement at age
breaks of gauge as “the most lamentable soil covered by scrub vegetation. Such
70.)
engineering disaster in Australia”. areas could not be developed without
railways. Yet it would prove impossible Another factor came into play. The
After Federation the subject was
state government introduced
repeatedly raised at Premiers’
the Guarantee Principle, which
conferences, meetings of state
allowed residents demanding a
railway commissioners, a Railway
railway to accept responsibility
War Council and in reports by
for deficiencies in constructional
railway engineers, ministers and
costs and working expenses – in
commissioners. In 1910 even
other words, to undertake that
Britain’s Field Marshal Lord
the line would not be a burden
Kitchener regarded the Australian
to the taxpayer if it proved
railway network as “more favourable
unprofitable. MPs, who still
to an enemy than to the defence of
believed that railways really could
the country”.
make money, authorised six “GP”
In 1912 work began on the new, lines to be built. Only when the
1,700km standard-gauge Trans accounts were completed was
- Australia Railway between it evident that almost any line
Kalgoorlie (WA) and Port Augusta could appear profitable through
Adelaide Railway Station, 1927
(SA); on 22 October 1917 the first creative accountancy. For example, if a
train arrived in Port Augusta. It could consignment of fruit were transported
for these lines to be profitable for various
not have travelled further, since the line 222km from Angaston via Gawler to
reasons: the seasonal nature of traffic,
connected with narrow-gauge systems at Booleroo Centre (between Gladstone
light business and lengthy haulage – all
either end; both termini became break- and Wilmington), 50% of the cost
these factors exacerbated by poorly-
of-gauge stations, but it was a symbol of carriage would be credited to
constructed tracks subject to substantial
of the new country’s future plans. Gawler-Angaston (40km) and 50% to
maintenance and running costs.
Nevertheless, for some time to come Gladstone-Booleroo Centre (48km),
The quest for “dirt-cheap” railways
long-distance passenger travel would while the intermediate journey between
encouraged politicians to formulate
be an ordeal rather than a pleasure. Gawler and Gladstone (167km) would
increasingly bizarre proposals. For
For example, in the 1920s a journey be completely free. The result: a profit
example, a portable monorail system,
from Sydney to Perth would involve for the Booleroo Centre line of £415,
tested near Renmark, cost £200 per
six changes of train: Sydney-Albury when it actually lost over £6,000! The
1.6km, plus extra whenever it was
(standard-gauge), Albury-Melbourne Guarantee Principle was eventually
moved; it performed poorly. Elsewhere,
ARPA News February / March 2018 © - Page 10