Historical information

Eureka is a significant event in Ballarat's History

Physical description

3 page handwritten document

Inscriptions & markings

3pm 3 December. Speak up, Mr Speaker ! Ballarat is calling! 100 years have gone by - Celebrations are at hand.. . but lo! there is no speaker 3 O'clock has past and gone, the official party to open the centenary celebrations of Eureka has not arrived. Of course the programme has been changed so often and so much that a little event like this wouldn't even matter. Only Peter Lalor might mind; he's been waiting since 18 to see this anniversary. He's not even cold but my, is he wet!
Time 3.15 pm, still no sign of the elusive meeting and commemoration; only a few stalwarts are waiting now... What Rain! Plenty of it but just then a glimpse of brightness appeared under the western sky. Tho' warming up perhaps Peter's cold .... Its' Ballarat, we know , but are you referring to the weather or public spiritedness. Perhaps there have been too many partisan influences in the great Australian event at Ballarat and the tacit official attitude. Very hard for them to eat their cake and give it to us too!
3.30pm The appointed hour has dragged on... the possibility of paying a commemorative respect to a fine, hard thinking flesh and blood builder of Australia and particularily Victoria has lapsed. We wonder whether such things as races, the dogs and beer are worth more nowadays? Oh well got to push on , but we remebered at least Peter!