Historical information

This trophy was awarded in 1933 as a championship cup by the South Western

District Rifle Clubs Union. Rifle Clubs have been operating in Warrnambool since

1860 and in 1904 the South Western District Rifle Clubs Union was formed. The

donor of the trophy, James Fairbairn (1897-1940) was a pastoralist, aviator and

politician. He served with the Royal Flying Corps in World War One and was injured

and captured by the Germans. When he returned to Australia he acquired Mount

Elephant Station near Derrinallum, Victoria and continued his interest in flying,

becoming an expert on aviation. In politics he was firstly the member for

Warrnambool in the Victorian Legislative Assembly and then held the Federal House

of Representatives seat of Flinders. He was the Minister for Civil Aviation and in

1939 became the Minister for Air. He was killed in an aircraft accident in Canberra in

1940.

Significance

This trophy is of considerable interest because it is a 20th century memento of the

rifle clubs in the Warrnambool district and because of its association with James

Fairbairn, a notable Western District personality in the first half of the 20th century.

Physical description

This is a silver-coloured metal bowl soldered on to a supporting stem on a circular

base. There are two handles on each side of the bowl. The top of the bowl is covered

with wire mesh with the original idea that the bowl could hold flowers (hence the

name ‘rose bowl’). The bowl is inscribed on one side. The item is very tarnished.

Inscriptions & markings

‘Paramount Plate Regd. EPNS Quality Plate Warranted Hand Soldered’

‘Championship Cup No 12. South Western District Rifle Clubs Union’

‘Presented by J. V. Fairbairn, Esq. M.L.A. 1933’