On 12 January, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China, who had initially come to the attention of the WHO on 31 December 2019. On 3 March, the Reserve Bank of Australia became the first central bank to cut interest rates in response to the outbreak. Official interest rates were cut by 0.25% (25 base points) to a record low of 0.5%. On 12 March, the Federal Government announced a A$17.6 billion stimulus package, the first since the 2008 GFC. he package consists of multiple parts, a one-off A$750 payment to around 6.5 million welfare recipients as early as 31 March 2020, small business assistance with 700,000 grants up to $25,000 and a 50% wage subsidy for 120,000 apprenticies or trainees for up to 9 months, 1 billion to support economically impacted sectors, regions and communities, and $700 million to increase tax write off and $3.2 billion to support short-term small and medium-sized business investment. On 16 March, Premier Dan Andrews and Minister for Health Jenny Mikakos declared a state of emergency for Victoria for at least four weeks. On 19 March, the Reserve Bank again cut interest rates by a further 0.25% to 0.25%, the lowest in Australian history. On 22 March, the government announced a second stimulus package of A$66bn, increasing the amount of total financial package offered to A$89bn. This included several new measures like doubling income support for individuals on Jobseeker's allowance, granting A$100,000 to small and medium-sized businesses and A$715 million to Australian airports and airlines. It also allowed individuals affected by the outbreak to access up to A$10,000 of their superannuation during 2019–2020 and also being able to take an additional same amount for the next year. on the same day Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced on 22 March that the state will bring the school holiday forwards to 24 March from 27 March. On 30 March, the Australian Federal Government announced a $130 billion "JobKeeper" wage subsidy program offering to pay employers up to $1500 a fortnight per full-time, part-time or casual employee that has worked for that business for over a year. For a business to be eligible, they must have lost 30% of turnover after 1 March of annual revenue up to and including $1 billion. For businesses with a revenue of over $1 billion, turnover must have decreased by 50%. Businesses are then required by law to pay the subsidy to their staff, in lieu of their usual wages. This response came after the enormous job losses seen just a week prior when an estimated 1 million Australians lost their jobs. This massive loss in jobs caused the myGov website to crash and lines out of Centrelink offices to run hundreds of metres long.The program was backdated to 1 March, to aim at reemploying the many people who had just lost their jobs in the weeks before. Businesses would receive the JobKeeper subsidy for six months. Victoria's "Second Wave" from Ballarat Courier, 05 August 2020 Wednesday, August 5: 725 cases, 15 deaths. A record figure reached yet again. Tuesday, August 4: 439 cases, 11 deaths. New fines introduced for COVID-infected people who aren't home. Monday, August 3: 429 cases, 13 deaths. Premier details mass industry shutdowns in Melbourne. Sunday, August 2: 671 cases, seven deaths as harsh new statewide lockdowns are announced Saturday, August 1: 397 new cases, three deaths Friday, July 31: 627 new cases, eight deaths. Premier says one in four Covid cases not home when checked. Thursday July 30: 723 cases, 13 deaths. Just when it was looking promising, alarming new record set. Wednesday July 29: 295 new cases, nine deaths as new cases drop below 300 for first time in nine days Tuesday July 28: 380 new cases, six deaths as aged care outbreaks continue to climb Monday July 27: 532 new cases as daily cases hits 500 for first time, six deaths Sunday July 26: 459 new cases as double-digit death toll is recorded for first time with 10 deaths Saturday July 25: 357 new cases, five new deaths Friday July 24: 300 cases, six deaths, ADF role expanded to help with contact tracing. Thursday July 23 - 403 cases, five deaths, worst day for fatalities in any state, masks now mandatory Wednesday July 22 - 484 cases, two deaths Tuesday July 21 - 374 cases, three deaths Monday July 20 - 275 cases, one death Sunday July 19 - 363 cases, three deaths, notice that masks will become mandatory in lockdown areas Saturday July 18 - 217 cases, three deaths, final Melbourne public housing tower released from hard lockdown Friday July 17 - 428 cases, three deaths Thursday July 16 - 317 cases, two deaths Wednesday July 15 - 238 cases, one death Tuesday July 14 - 270 cases, two deaths Monday July 13 - 177 cases Sunday July 12 - 273 cases, one death Saturday July 11 - 216 cases, one death Friday July 10 - 288 cases, a national daily record at the time Thursday July 9 - 165 cases, eight of nine Melbourne public housing towers released from hard lockdown Wednesday July 8 - 134 cases, new stage-three restrictions announced for metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire Tuesday July 7 - 191 cases Monday July 6 - 127 cases, two deaths, NSW border closed Sunday July 5 - 74 cases Saturday July 4 - 108 cases, immediate hard lockdown of nine Melbourne public housing towers Friday July 3 - 66 cases Thursday July 2 - 77 cases Wednesday July 1 - 73 casesColour photographs of social distancing signs during the Covid-19 Pandemic, on Chemist Warehouse in Sebastopol. On 06 April 2020 a maximum of 75 people were allowed in the chemist at one time, and those with syptoms of Covid-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) were asked to not enter without phone contact. Upon entering customers were directed to use hand sanitizer, and 1.5 metre markings were placed on the floor to enable legal social distancing.covid-19, corona virus, pandemic, chemist's warehouse, sebastopol, social distancing

"ARARAT WAR MEMORIAL.- Remarkable simplicity and beauty are combined in the Ararat war memorial, which will be unveiled by Senator H.E. Elliott to-morrow. The monument is a simple rectangular stone mass, 12ft in length, 6ft in width, and 18ft m height, standing on a bluestone platform of three steps in the centre of a formal garden Surrounding the memorial is a bronze frieze, conceived from the classic frieze of the Parthenon in Athens depicting incidents in Australian engagements overseas. The frieze took the sculptor (Mr Wallace Anderson) two years to complete. The memorial was designed and supervised by Mr A.S. Hall. Photographs of the memorial are included in the collection at the architectural exhibition it the Town Hall." (The Argus, Friday 8 August 1930) A number of colour photographs showing details from the Ararat War Memorial.ararat, ararat war memorial, ararat cenotaph, wallace anderson, a.s. hall, world war, nurse

Photograph. Mass of thanksgiving for Neil Frederick Talbot who passed away 15th October 2016. St. Kilian's church, Friday 21/10/2016.photo, person, neil talbot

The St Brigid statue was presented to the church by Fr Kerin in 1915. "CROSSLEY. (From Our Correspondent). At the Crossley hall, on Thursday evening last, a meeting was held for the purpose of forming a Catholic Debating Society. There was a splendid attendance, Rev Fathers Kerin and Phelan being present, both of whom explained the advan tages to be gained by such a society. After the matter had been dis cussed, it was unanimously de cided to form a Crossley Debating Society, the election of officers re sulting as follows-President, Rev Father Phelan ; secretary, Mr S. Shanley ; assistant secretary, Mr P. Farley ; vice-presidents, Messrs L. Dwyer and P. Wall; treasurer, Mr D. Lane ; auditors, Messrs F. Shanley and M. Foley ; press correspondent, Mr P. Crowe. A com mittee of 12 was elected, and a sub committee was appointed to draft rules governing the society. It was decided to hold meetings fortnightly, Friday evenings being the choice for meetings. Immediately before 11 o'clock Mass at St. Brigid's R.C. Church, Crossley, on Sunday last, the Rev Father Kerin blesssed und unveiled a beautiful life-size statue of St. Brigid. The rev gentleman, in a lengthy discourse, dwelt on the life of piety led by the saint. He expressed a wish that in passing by the statue it would be a reminder to them that their church and school were dedicated to this saint. {Port Fair Gazette, 19 April 1915.}Colour photograph of a papier mache statue of St Brigid, photographed at St Brigid's Crossley.st brigid statue, st brigid's crossley, d'aprato statue co., st brigid

"Centenary of Fnrst Mass at Ballarat Friday last marked the centenary of the arrival of the first priest and the celebration of the first Mass in Ballarat. The Rev. Patrick Dunne reached the diggings on October 17, and on Sunday, October 19, 1851, in a bark hut near Brown Hill, he celebrated Mass. Worshippers had to kneel on quartz gravel. The weather had been the worst experienced in Victoria for a number of years, and most of the creeks between Melbourne and Ballarat were flowing torrents, but Father Dunne (who came from the Coburg mission), carrying the barest necessities and the sacred vestments, set out for Ballarat on horseback. He had to ford and swim his horse across the creeks. When most of his congregation left for the Castlemaine diggings Father Dunne returned to Melbourne. In August, 1852, Rev. Matthew Downing became Ballarat's first resident priest. He built a large wooden structure with a canvas roof which served as a church, but later erected at the Gravel Pits the first permanent church. This church was the largest of any house of worship on any goldfield in the colony. It cost £ 100, contributed solely by Father Downing and his flock. Soon after he got the authorities to survey a large piece of land at the back of the township as a burial ground and procured a grant of £500 for fencing it. A grant of £250 was also obtained for the improvement of the chapel and fittings of a school, where Michael Campion Carey opened the first school. Rev. Patrick Smyth succeeded Father Downing, who was followed by Rev. P. Madden, who in 1857 began to plan the erection of St. Patrick's Church. The foundation stone of this was laid by Bishop Goold on February 12, 1858, and the church was opened for the first time on November 8, 1863." (Melbourne Advocate 25 October 1951)Two colour photographs showing the St Alipius' Catholic Church flag - a blue cross and border on white. st alipius, church, ballarat east, flag

The Dunolly World War One Memorial Pillar, located in front of the Town Hall on Broadway Street, and was unveiled on November 18th 1921. The pillar is topped by an urn and rests on a square concrete plinth, which lists the names ninety-four locals who died serving during the First World War. On Friday afternoon the Premier, accompanied by Messrs. Pennington and Groves, M's.L.A., visited Dunolly, and unveiled a soldiers' memorial — a polished granite column on a square base, erected by the residents at a cost of £300. It bears the names of 94 district soldiers who were killed in action. The Premier, who is a native of Dunolly, referred to his early associations with the town and district. Speaking of the valiant service rendered by the Australian soldiers in the great war, he paid a tribute to those who enlisted from the country districts. He was not one of those who would withhold national memorials to the fallen because provision had not been made for all who had returned. It was right and proper to have these memorials as silent reminders of the great sacrifice made by the many as a lasting tribute to their memory. Messrs. Groves and Pennington and local clergymen also spoke. The school children sang O God, Our Help in Ages Past, and a bugler sounded the Last Post after the unveiling. The shire president entertained the visitors and committee at dinner. The Age (Melbourne), 19 November 1921. Colour photograph of the Dunolly War Memorial. Front Inscription "Erected by the Shire of Bet Bet and Dunolly Borough To the memory of the brave and noble men who fought and died for the Empire and our freedom in the Great War 1914 - 1918. Pass not this stone in sorrow but in pride, and may you live as nobly as they died." "Private L. Polinelli has written several letters to his mother at Dunolly, dated from from Tel el Kebir from January 13th till the 22nd. He had written every day or two, and this example, is a very fine one. He explains why there was an interval some weeks during which he sent no letters. This was just before the evacuation of Gallipoli, and no-one was permitted to send letters at such a critical time, as there were fears that carefully arranged plans might leak out in some way. Gallipoli had been evacuated on the 19th December, which happened to be Private Polinelli's 24th birthday, and he has cause, he says, to remember that birthday particularly, when this important movement, in which he participated, was so success-fully carried out. He was in the best of health. They had been on Lemnos Island for two weeks after leaving Galilipoli, and while there they got billeted and numerous gifts from Australia, which gave great delight. He (Private Polinelli) had got a big mail - 35 letters and a number of parcels. Both Norman Watson and himself were feeling well, although they had a pretty rough time at the front, but they were feeling better every day. Further letters speak of the arrival in Egypt and the Australian being encamped at Tel el Kebir, 40 miles from Cairo. He states that W. Lyndon had returned from England and was with them. He (W. Lyndon) looks splendid and had had a splendid time in England and Scotland. He saw Jack Lewis in England, and thinks he was to return to Australia. Reference is made to the Rev. Father Goidanich who was with their brigade, and who had been wounded at the front, but was all right again. Father Goidanich is well-known in this district. The letters were written in good spirits and many references were made to friends in Dunolly and district. A friend in Dunolly has received a letter from Private L. Polinelli, which is dated February 3rd, and written 'from the Arabian Desert.' This covers a vast extent of country, so that there is no use in speculating as to the locality, and portions of the letter which possibly would have given some indication have bean 'censored.' Private Polinelli wrote that Norman Watson and Himself were in the best of health and have stook the life well. They are right out of civilisation at time of writing. He referred to their Dtsojourns at Lemoos Island, where Christmas was spent, and where the billies and puddings assisted much in their enjoyment. But they were glad to leave Lemnos Island. After being in camp at Tel el E-bir for two weeks they were sent to where they were at the time of writing, all being in good xxxx and the open country suiting them well. He speaks with admiration of the desert work done by the camels so very largely used. The censoring was very strict so that he could not give much news. After alluding to the return to splendid health of W. Lyndon from England, he says he saw a lot of others from round Dunolly on returning to Egypt, including Tom Fishlock, R. Johnson, and J. Taylor, and some others from Betley, and all looked well. He had also seen Erie Williamson a few times, and he looked splendid. He concludes with remembrances to friends, and from himself and Norman Watson to the Loyal Prince Alfred Lodge." (Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser, Tue 14 Mar 1916) "SOLDIER'S LETTERS PRIVATE L. POLINELLI A friend in Dunolly has received another interesting letter from Private L Polinelli, son of Mrs J Davis, South Dunolly. It is from "Somewhere in France," and is dated July 23rd. He remarks with regret that a good deal of the soldiers' mail from Australia went down in the Arabia, and then goes on to say:- "Norman is back here with us again now and looking well. He had a splendid time over in England after he was able to get out of bed. It was two years on the 18th of this month (January) since Norman and I enlisted, and we celebrated the occasion by having a bit of an evening out. I am very pleased that he is back; we spend most of our time together. We are at present out of the line having a spell in a village, so we are not having a bad time just now but we will soon be going into the trenches again. I met Wally Bell a few days ago; they were going into the line to relieve our brigade. We did not have time to have a long talk. He looks rather thin, but he was always that way. He is feeling well, and wishes to be remembered to his friends in Dunolly. I also met C. Game the same day; he looked well but, as he was also going into the line, we could not have much of a talk J. Hughes and C. Atherton are also over here now; I often see them. W. Lyndon and T. Miles are well ; I was speaking to them yesterday. We are having very bad weather over here now ; it is either raining or snowing every day. The snow was about a fool deep a few days ago. When the rain comes after it, it makes things muddy, The mud is very bad over here; it takes us all our time to struggle through it in places. We will all be very glad when the winter is over. I was over in England on furlough last month, and had a splendid time. The people over there do all they can to give us a good time. I had several invitations to visit different people, and those that we did visit gave us a splendid time. At the place where I was staying they always had a guide waiting of a morning to show us any place of interest that we wanted to see. There was also always a supply of free tickets to the different theatres if we wanted them ; so you see that they go to some expense to give ns a good time. When they know yon are from France you are sure of a hearty welcome. was up in Scotland, and spent five days in Edinburgh. It is a very pretty place, especially when it is seen from Edinburgh Castle, which is on a high bill overlooking the place. We veil through the Castle; also Holyrood Palace. There are a lot of interesting things to be seen in the two places connected with the history of Scotland. It was snowing very heavily while v« were in Scotland, and we bad some fine snowballing with the Scotch people. I greatly enjoyed the trip to Scotland. It would take a very long time to see all round London. I saw a lot of the old historical places there, which were very interesting. The fogs are very bad in London. I had an experience of a London fog one day; it was the heaviest they experienced for a number of years. We could only see a few yards ahead of us. Nearly everyone carried torches; it looked very funny. . . . There are nearly always as many women drinking in the bars as men; it struck me as being very strange, a bit different to what we are used to in Australia, a trip through some parts of London is a real eye-opener to us. It is interesting to watch the traffic in some of the business parts of London it moves along in one big mass. It is a wonder that a lot more accidents do not happen. I saw Australia House, where the High Commissioner has his office, in the Strand. It is not yet finished. It looks a very fine place, and when completed will be 'some' place. Both Norman and I are well, and send remembrances to friends." (Since this letter was written we have had the sad news of the death from wounds of Privates Atherton and Hughes, and that Sergeant Miles and Corporal Norman Watson have been wounded.) (Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser , Friday 13 April 1917, page 2) "Private L Polinelli, from some of whose previous letters we have published interesting extracts, has written to a friend in Dunolly, the letter being from France, and dated April 28th. Private Polinelli says among other things, "I am pleased to say that, Norman (Watson), Les (Anderson) and myself are in the best of health. We now have been in France some time. It is a terrible place for rain ; It has been raining all the time we have been here. It has also been very cold, snowing at times, but it is starting to "fine up" now, and the last few days have been splendid. I hope it keeps like that for a while, as it makes things very miserable in the trenches when it is so wet. We get a few days spell out of the trenches every now and again; so things are not as bad here as they were at Gallipoli. It is not so lively here so far as it was over there either. I am sorry to say that Jack Sanderson, who had been Will Lyndon's mate since they joined the forces, got killed during a bombardment last night. He was terribly knocked about with a shell. I saw W. Lyndon to-day and he was telling me all about it. He seemed terribly cut up over it, and so am I, as I was with Jack a lot over at Gallipoli after Will got sent away sick. He was always bright and cheerful, always had a smile up whenever I met him. I feel very sad about it. We will do all we can to make the Germans pay for it. You will most likely know him, as be used to live in Dunolly before going to Bendigo. Will Lyndon had a narrow escape also, as he was not very far from where the shell burst. He escaped with a bit of a shock, otherwise he is in the best of health. We have a good time among the French people when we are out of the trenches. They do all they can to make us feel at home. I am getting quite expert at speaking French. They smile at us a treat trying to speak French, but we generally make ourselves understood and have a good time among them. It is very rarely we see a young Frenchman, they being all away fighting. The women do all the work on the farms themselves, and deserve every credit for it. . . . I was sorry to hear about the death of Nurse M'Mahon; she was a grand old nurse. I heard that her daughter Nelly was nurse in a hospital on Lemnos Island, and when we were there I went to two of the hospitals to try to see her, but she did not happen to be at either, and I had no time to visit any of the others, so I did not see her. I was also sorry to hear about Mrs Rokahr, as she has left so many little ones behind. (Reference is made to other happenings in Dunolly.) So far I am pleased to say Norman and I have had the luck not to have had a day's illness; I think we are very fortunate, as such a lot get sent to the hospital ill. We are also lucky to have escaped the bullets and shells so far. I hope that luck sticks to us. I am sorry that, owing to the censorship, I cannot give you any interesting news of our trip over to France and the places we have seen. I will have to keep that till I get back to Dunolly again. . . . I have just heard that the battalion that Teddy Game is in has arrived, so I am going to look him up first chance I get." (The letter concludes with remembrances to members of the Lodge and other friends.) (Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser, Tuesday 13 June 1916, page 3) "PRIVATE L POLINELLI Another very interesting letter has been received by a friend in Dunolly from Private L. Polinelli, from France dated May 4th, 1916- Private Polinelli says-" I was glad that you got the letter I wrote from the Arabian Desert. The Censor must have crossed a good deal of it out. They seem to cross out a lot more than is really necessary. We left out there all of a sudden, and in a very short while found ourselves over here. It does not take them very long to make a move. I was saying in the last letter that I was going to try and find " Teddy " Game. I met him a few days ago and had a good yarn with him; he looks real well. I also met S. Prew, and "Ted" Smyth and his son Ernie. They all looked splendid, and are in the same battalion. "Ted" Smyth sticks to it well, and looks better than he ever looked. They will be under fire for the first time in a few days. S. Prew was hit in the landing at Gallipoli, but be is quite well now. W. Smythe, who is in our brigade is well ; I see him very often. " Les " Peart is not with us now; he has joined a Pioneer battalion, and I have not seen him since he joined it. I gave all the Dunolly boys your best wishes and they all wish to be remembered to you— also the same remembrance from Dave Millar, who used to play football for Dunolly from Moliagul. He is in our battalion, having come over with reinforcements. I see him every day and he wished to be remembered to you. A brother of Mr A. J. Williamson, manager of the Bank of Victoria, Dunolly, is also in this battalion. He is a great friend of mine ; we often have a talk about Dunolly. He was not well a little while ago, having to go into a hospital, but is all right again and is back with me. Eric Williamson, son of Mr A. J. Williamson is over here ; Norman (Watson) saw him a few days ago and said he looked well. Norman has been a corporal for some time. I was also offered stripes lately, but preferred to remain a private. There is a lot of worry and running about when you are an N.C.O., so I think I will remain as I am. ... So football is about done this season. I don't think they should cut it right out. I suppose some of them have to stay at home, so they ought to have some amusement. I would very much like to have a game, but I think I would just about forget how to play now. It is very amusing for us to read some of the soldiers letters in the Australian papers. . . l told you in the last letter about xxx young "Jack "Sanderson ; I was terribly sorry about him." Private Polinelli mentions in a letter to his sister in Dunolly that he happened to be beach at Gallipoli where the late Lord Kitchener was xxxxx addressed the' soldiers and' xxxxxx to them the message from the King. Private Polinelli states that he was very proud to have been one of those addressed by the great man. He and Norman Watson have never been a day out of the lines since arriving first in Egypt. It is intended to grant special leave to all those who have been kept so close to their posts xxx three months, and they are looking forward to this relaxation with keen anticipation, hoping to visit England and Scotland. (Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser, Tue 27 Jun 1916) "SOLDIER'S LETTERS. CORPORAL L. POLINELLI. Two letters have been received by Mrs J. Davis, South Dunolly, from her son, Corporal L. Polinelli, both written subsequent to the time when he was wounded, as reported when word was received at the time. Corporal Polinelli writes from No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen, France, and his first letter is dated 7th May. He stated that he was in hospital, he having been wounded in the arm and shoulder on 3rd May. He continued— " It is not a bad wound, and will not take long to heal up, as it is a clean wound. I was very lucky to get out of the fight alive, as I was buried by a shell explosion about an hour before I was wounded. It was very rough, and the noise of all the shells was terrible. Four men were killed by the same shell that wounded me, so I was fortunate. I am feeling a bit " shook up," and my head is aching from the concussion of the shells, but after a few days' spell in bed here I will be feeling just the thing again. So you need not worry about me ; a week or two will see me quite right again. We are having very nice warm weather just now-pleasant change after all the bad weather we have had." The second letter is dated May 12, Corporal Polinelli saying— "I am getting along splendidly ; the wound is healing up fast, so it will not be very long before I am quite right. The doc-tor, the other day said it would be better not to take the piece of shell out of my shoulder yet, and that it would not interfere with me in any way ; so perhaps l will always carry it about with me. He feared lest taking it out at that time would interfere with an artery. Rouen, where the hospital is, is a very pretty city. They give us leave to visit all the places when we are well enough. It is a nice spell here, away from the firing line. We have nothing to trouble us at all, so I will soon be just the thing again. When I got buried by a shell it shook me up a good deal. I felt it far more than the wound I got after; but it has not done me any harm, as I feel hardly any effects now. My good luck sticks to me in getting out of it so lightly. I hope you are not worrying at all about me, as I am all right. We are having beautiful weather over here— sunny days just like the Australian spring. . . . The sisters in the hospital are very nice, and treat us well. They have a lot of work to do, as a good few men have been wounded lately. I would have liked to have been sent over to England, but they are not sending many over there now. They treat as many as they can in France on account of attacks on hospital ships. I would have been able to have a good time with Norman (Watson) had l got over. He was just about all right when I heard from him last." Corporal Polinelli sends kind remembrances to friends." (Dunolly and Betbetshire Express and County of Gladstone Advertiser, Friday 6 July 1917, page 2) "SOLDIERS' LETTERS. CORPORAL L. POLINELLI. The following letter, dated from London on December 27; has been received by a friend in Dunolly from Corporal L. Polinelli (son of Mrs J. Davis, South Donolly), who, at the time of writing, after long and hard service at the front, was on furlough in England. After an introduction he says:— I am having a very good time. I went over to Ireland for five days, spending the most of the time in Dublin. I like the place very much. War appearances are not so conspicuous in Ireland as in England. The hotels are open all day, and a good meal can be obtained anywhere, which is more than can be got in England. The war seems to be making things very bad in England. It is very hard to get a good meal in London ; everything is so restricted. The only way to get a good meal is to go into two places. The people have to line up outside the shops for hours to get sugar, tea, and butter, and then they sometimes fail to get any. So many of our boats getting sunk is the cause of it. If things continue to go on in this way I am afraid that there is a very hard time in store for the people in England. Several people that I have spoken to say that they are just beginning to feel the pinch now. I was in London while an air raid was on a few days ago; it caused a lot of excitement among the people. Ten were killed and 70 wounded in the raid. I was about half a mile from where the bombs fell, so I was pretty right. I thought I had left the war behind in France, but it seems to be on over here at times also. I spent Christmas day with a family at Grantham, a town between London and Newcastle; they were very nice people. I had a very enjoyable time with them. I went to a dance in the evening and enjoyed it very much. It was a bit strange for a start, as it is the first dance I have been to since Norman and I had the send off at Dunolly in January, 1915. They do the dances a bit different over here to what they are done in Australia, and that made it worse still. I went through Guinness's Brewery while I was in Dublin. It is a wonderful place, and covers 55 acres of ground. I got a great surprise when I was starting on my leave in France. We were taken to the station we had to start from in a motor lorry, and who should the driver of the lorry be but Syd. Richards (son of Mr W. Richards, South Dunolly), who used to work at the Post Office in Dunolly. I rode on the front with him, so we had a good yarn. I did not know that be had joined, so was surprised to see him. He has grown a lot since I saw him last, and is looking well. Norman and Bill Lyndon were both well when I left France. We had been having a good spell near Messines, in Flanders, but they will be in the trenches by now. We have been round about Ypres for this last four months, and had some pretty rough times there. dunolly, dunolly war memorial, l. polinelli, bet bet, world war one, world war two, j. deledio, b. battilana, c. fitzgerald, f.s. kendall, j.h. hogan, p. zampatti, louisa davis, louisa gervasoni, bill lyndon, norman lyndon, sydney lindsay

The Altar at Colac decorated for Holy Thursday 1934. Prior to the 1955 reforms of Pope Pius XII the Mass of the Lord's Supper and the Easter Vigil were celebrated in the morning of Thursday and Saturday respectively, and Holy Week and Lent were seen as ending only on the approach of Easter Sunday. The Altar is highly decorated and the ceremony focused upon as following the Mass of Holy Thursday Mass is not celebrated on Good Friday and the communion distributed at the Celebration of the Lord's Passion on Good Friday is consecrated on Holy Thursday.Caligraphy to board "St Mary's Colac Holy Thursday 1934".holy thursday, st mary's colac, easter, 1934.