Film - MacRobertson Girls' High School, 2015, History Teachers' Association of Victoria

DR. TONI MEATH:

Our school began in 1905 as the Continuation School. It was the first school in Victoria, government school, to extend beyond year eight.  It was a co-educational school and it was set up as an entry to, basically to the Faculty of Education for the University of Melbourne.

In 1927, the principal of the day decided that boys needed to be educated separate from girls, and so there was a new school built on Forest Hill in South Yarra and he symbolically marched the boys up to that school. The Continuation School at that stage was called Melbourne High School and was in Spring Street in the old Surgeons’ building, and he left the girls behind in the building, which was crumbling and deteriorating. And so our school became Melbourne Girls High School, but we were actually homeless for multiple years, we, our school went from Government House to other locations.

Until in 1933, Sir Macpherson Robertson, in a very munificent gift to Victoria included in that gift £40,000 for the establishment specifically for a girls’ school.  They looked for a site for this school and they identified where we are geographically now as the site. There was a competition for the building, and we are one of the very first Art Deco buildings in Melbourne and Sir Macpherson Robertson funded that.  As a philanthropic gift it’s amazing, because the girls would not have school today if he hadn’t have contributed that money.  So in honour of that gift the school was named Mac.Robertson Girls’ High School, fondly known as MacRob. And in the very first week of September we have MacRob week and we celebrate everything MacRob, from tying chocolates to the bannisters of the staircases, to people dressing up like Macpherson Robertson, to doing quizzes etc.

Today MacRob is quite a curious school and it’s interesting that our alumni are spread geographically all over the world and there’s an eccentricity to our students. And I think this reflects Macpherson Robertson as well – that sense of comfort in one’s own skin, entrepreneurial self, and ability to see the world with bright eyes. Our motto at MacRob is “Potens Sui” (mastery of self) and Macpherson Robertson showed great mastery of self, and our values and guiding vision of the school also reflect the kind of life that I, in my understanding Macpherson Robertson led.

Film - MacRobertson Land, Antarctica, 2015, Contact History Teachers' Association of Victoria

PROF. HOWARD FREDERICK:

Some of his most famous philanthropic work have to do with the expeditions that he financed to Antarctica.  He financed the 1934 Antarctic expedition by the famous explorer Douglas Mawson, for which MacRobertson also received his knighthood.   The curious story is that Douglas Mawson named a large portion of Antarctica after MacRobertson, it was named MacRobertson Land and you can still see it on a map.  If you log into Wikipedia you will see a very arcane discussion in the footnotes about whether it contains a dot, or a period, ‘Mac.Robertson Land’ is what it was named. The curious thing is that Mac always spelt his name M-A-C-full-stop, because it was an abbreviation. His name was not MacRobertson. His name was Macpherson Robertson.

DAVID THOMPSON:

Macpherson Robertson was keen to sponsor the expedition to Antarctica partly I think for the glory and publicity associated with being associated with the expedition but also I think he was quite a proponent of expanding the British Empire and establishing a claim for territory in Antarctica which at that stage still large parts of it were unexplored. 

It later transpired that, after the expedition when he was on another tour of Europe and the UK in 1935, he was pushing very strongly for the establishment of a whaling industry, an Australian, possibly an Australian-British combined, whaling industry in Antarctica with a view, as he said in one of his statements, to keeping the Japanese out. 

The material that we’ve got in the collection to do with Antarctica consists of… we have, for example, a letter from Sir Douglas Mawson thanking Macpherson Robertson for his contribution to the expedition.  We also have some paperwork associated with the accounting of the expedition, and how the funds Macpherson Robertson provided were in fact used. We also have several images of the ship that was used to take the expeditions to Antarctica, and some newspaper cuttings showing Macpherson Robertson and Douglas Mawson together. 

Film - Archive footage of the MacRobertson Trophy Air Race, Old Gold Airplane, 1934, David Robertson Private Collection

THE GREATEST AIR RACE

[Musical introduction]

[COMMENTED AND COMPERED BY IVAN RUTHERFORD SCOTT]

Mildenhall, Suffolk. Here preparations are being feverishly rushed to complete the erection of hangers and the levelling of the fields for the take off in the Great London to Melbourne Air Race on October the 20^th.  As a matter of fact the aerodrome has to be ready a week earlier for the reception and accommodation of the machines and their pilots who are due to report on October the 13th. 

Mildenhall Aerodrome has been chosen for the take off on account of its size and will afterwards become a Royal Air Force station.  It is evidence of the interest of the Air Ministry that a Service aerodrome has been leant for the purposes of this spectacular contest, which was initiated and sponsored by a public-spirited Australian citizen, Sir Macpherson Robertson. 

[MACROBERTSON]

‘I have been asked on many occasions if I would ventilate my reasons…’

[MacRobertson’s voice fades out]

[COMMENTATOR]

Sir Macpherson Robertson from his desk in Melbourne exhibits the prizes, and talks about the motives which induced him to originate this project in connection with the Melbourne Centenary celebrations.

[MACROBERTSON]

‘Well there are many reasons, but three might suffice.  First to improve and sustain aviation; secondly for stimulating the British aeronautical activities; and thirdly for making Australia more broadly and practically air-minded.  Australia’s geographical position is a commercial problem, and always has been from a distance standpoint, but it’s one that I believe aviation can and will solve, or considerably improve.  Incidentally there are two races, one known as the Speed Race, the other as the Handicap Race.  Now in the Speed Race the first prize is £10,000 and this gold cup, value £650; the second prize is £1,500; the third prize is £1,000.  In the Handicap Race, the first prize is £2,000; the second prize£1,000.  These prizes are sufficiently alluring to have tempted the best brains in aviation to compete, both from the plane builders standpoint and from the point of the pilots.  And I hope when the race has ended that I will have the pleasure of presenting this cup to the winner, who may be a Britisher and a British plane.

[COMMENTATOR]

Now for a glance at the route, which the competitors in the Speed and Handicap races will have to follow before any one of them can call himself the winner. Undoubtedly great risks will be taken in the speed section of the contest, for a shortcut over desert or mountain may easily mean the difference between first and second place. 

The triangles on the map indicate checking points where landing is optional and the fast machines will land as seldom as possible.

The first compulsory stop is Baghdad, marked by a square, indicating that landing is compulsory.   This first stage, being the most familiar, may well be the easiest. 

The second stage is to Allahabad marked by another square and about 5,000 miles on the way. Here landing is again compulsory and to reach it arid deserts and difficult mountains have to be crossed, while the route skirts the country, which has always set difficulties in the way of foreign aviation, Persia.

After Allahabad the next control point is Singapore and the first part of this stage is of course over British India. But where the machines start to veer south to Singapore, they will begin to fly over vast jungle where there can be little hope of succour in the event of accidents and they may run into squally weather, so the pilots will be relieved to sight Singapore.

Fourth stage: Singapore to Darwin.  The route follows the Dutch East Indies where interest in the race will probably be very acute, for the Dutch machine is the favourite and Holland of course runs a regular air service from Amsterdam to Batavia.   The last part of this stage is the dreaded hop across the Timor Sea to Darwin, 511 miles of shark-infested waters.

Fifth stage, we are in Australia but not home.  Northern Australia is in itself a trackless desert territory and the pilot who takes off first from Darwin may find someone else ahead of him before he lands in Charleville*, New South Wales, the last control point.

And if any two or more pilots arrive in Charleville about the same time, what a race it’s going to be over the Southern Alps to Melbourne and glory! Where Movietone will be on hand to greet the winner and send back first pictures of his arrival to the Movietone News Theatre.

Now for some of the personalities entered in the race.

[Sound of plane engines and cheering crowds]

Prominent among Americans is the holder of the Coast-to-Coast record, Colonel Roscoe Turner, who landing after his most recent achievement, had something to say about his plans for the race:

[Crowds calling out and cheering]

[ROSCOE TURNER]

‘As you know we are going over to London to participate in the MacRobertson International race from London to Australia… This race of course is the longest race ever conceived in history and there will be competitors from practically all nations and it is our intention naturally to uphold the reputation of American aviation… The planes in this race cannot be racing planes, they must be stock aeroplanes, and that is why we have selected this standard Boeing plane because of its dependability, its speed and its durability.   Of course you know there were 22 American entries in this race to begin with, but it has now dwindled down until there will be very few American planes in this race…  This race was conceived by Sir Macpherson Robertson of Melbourne Australia, and it will be the greatest race in history… This is one time when weather will not get any consideration – when we start we have to keep going.

[sound of plane engines]

[COMMENTATOR]

Colonel Roscoe Turner’s co-pilot is Mr Clyde Pangborn.

[sound of plane engines]

[CLYDE PANGBORN]

We are supposed to start from London at 6:30 in the morning of October the 20^th, and if all goes well we hope to bring back the bacon for the United States.

[COMMENTATOR]

They take off for a test flight in their two-engine standard Boeing plane.

[Sound of plane engine as they take off]

In parenthesis, it is regrettable that an accident to his machine has kept out of the race Mr Wiley Post, here seen trying on his suit for a forthcoming attempt to fly into the stratosphere.  Mr Wiley Post, with his two round-the world records, would surely have been one of the favourites for the speed trophy.

There is an Irishman in the race, Col. Fitzmaurice, who poses good-naturedly for Movietone in the rain aboard the Bremen, off Southampton. His Bellanca machine, which he has named ‘Irish-Swoop’, is a new one and was only tested just before he sailed from America, so that neither he nor his fellow pilot, Mr Eric ‘Jock’ Bonar, know its capabilities.  They have entered for both the speed and the handicap races.

Col. Fitzmaurice will be remembered as one of the three men to accomplish the first east-to-west crossing of the Atlantic in 1928. 

Our British pilots will be flying new machines too, and here is C W A Scott’s De Havilland Comet, being christened for him by Mrs Linton, wife of the Agent-General for Victoria.

[MRS LINTON]

I name this Grosvenor House!

[SOUND OF BREAKING GLASS AS CHAMPAGNE BOTTLE SMASHES]

[CROWD EXCLAMATIONS]

Oh!

Well done!

[APPLAUSE]

[COMMENTATOR]

C W A Scott is of course the former record holder for the Australia-England flight. Here are his remarks about the race.

[C W A SCOTT]

**...get there first and we think we have the right type of machine for this particular race. Obviously the race must be set about by a good team and a good machine, and I’m very very glad to have Tom Campbell Black with me as co-pilot on this race starting in three weeks’ time.

[COMMENTATOR]

Jim Mollison and his wife will also be flying a De Havilland Comet, which at the time of printing is not yet completed. 

[JIM MOLLISON]

…as much a matter of luck as anything else.

[COMMENTATOR]

Amy Mollison is –well known as- one who has made her name over this very route has been getting practice by acting as a regular pilot on a cross-Channel service.

[AMY JOHNSON MOLLISON]

Yes I’m doing this flying because I want to get a lot of practice in for this Australian race. You see as a private pilot, well I just choose my weather but as a pilot on Hillman Airlines, just believe me I’ve got to go no matter what you get!

[COMMENTATOR]

The speed section of the contest will probably have most of the limelight, but it is not always the most spectacular achievement which has the greatest consequences.  It may well be that the Handicap race proves the most beneficial to aviation. 

In this connection we count on that young Mr Melrose, who arrived casually from Australia the other day to compete in the Handicap race having beaten the Australia-England flight record in his small Puss Moth. 

[MELROSE]

…than I have coming over,  it’s far too strenuous, I shouldn’t leave it to stand for long as Sir Charles Kingsford Smith is leaving Australia in a few days, if he has not already left, and that record will be broken, properly I should imagine!

[COMMENTATOR]

Mr Melrose mentioned Sir Charles Kingsford Smith…

[KINGSFORD SMITH]

…I would like to thank you for your kind wishes Mr Mayor and to show you that while the Spirit of ANZAC is alive and we’ll do our damnedest to put it in the front line.

[COMMENTATOR]

And what a disappointment it is that the greatest aviator in the world today has been frustrated in his intention to take part in the race, in which, as an Australian, he is peculiarly interested.  

Here is the delivery in Sydney of the machine, which he bought especially for the flight.  Since this picture was taken, Smithy has had to withdraw.   He set out for England hoping to create a new record incidentally, but experienced trouble over Queensland and was compelled to return to Sydney.   However he will probably be heard of again.

The pilots have/pilot has asked Commander Perrin, the popular secretary of the Royal Aero Club, to sum up with some words about the flight.

[COMMANDER PERRIN]

In the early hours of Saturday the 20th of October, at 6:30 AM to be exact, the greatest race in the history of aviation will be started from Mildenhall Aerodrome, Suffolk, England to Australia, a distance of 12,000 miles.  I’m quite sure that even Sir Macpherson Robertson, when he offered the prize of £15,000 for these races, hardly realized the commotion he would stir up in aviation circles in nearly every country throughout the world.  

The work of organizing this race has been colossal and the largest proportion has necessarily fallen upon the Royal Aero Club of which I happen to be the unfortunate secretary. The club has however received the greatest possible assistance from all governments on the route.  This has made our task much easier, and we are now quite satisfied that the arrangements for five controls and nineteen checking points are quite satisfactory.

Everyone is naturally disappointed that several prominent aviators from all over the world have had to drop out at the last moment, but there is still a large entry, fully representative of the greatest pilots of all nations.

[COMMENTATOR]

And so all seems set for the zero hour at Mildenhall in a few days’ time.

[Sound of plane engines]

* * *

MOVIETONE NEWS PARAGRAPHS

MILDENHALL LINE-UP

[Musical introduction]

[COMMENTATOR]

The three Comets, specially built for the Great Air Race to Melbourne are on their way to Mildenhall Suffolk for the line-up preliminary to the start on the twentieth.

The first Comet to arrive is being flown by O. Cathcart Jones and K F H Waller.

[Sound of plane engines]

The second by C W A Scott, a former record holder for the route and T Campbell Black

The third by Jim and Amy Mollison, both with countless aviation feats to their credit and providing a formidable combination

Other prominent competitors are: flying a Klemm Eagle, Flight Lieutenant Shaw…

[SHAW]

I wish everybody the best of luck.

[COMMENTATOR]

The Americans, Wright and Polander with ‘Baby Ruth’ their Monocoupe machine.

[Sound of plane engines]

A Fairey 3F is being flown by Flying Officer Davies and Lieutenant Commander Hill.

Young Mr Melrose is piloting his Puss Moth in which he recently broke the record from Australia.

Squadron Leader Stodart and K G Stodart are flying an Airspeed Courier

And an Airspeed A S 8 will be raced by Captain Neville Stack and Mr Turner.

* * *

MOVIETONE

THE START OF THE GREATEST AIR RACE

[Musical Introduction]

[COMMENTATOR]

On the eve of the start of the Great Race to Melbourne, the Prince of Wales arrives in his plane at Mildenhall and walks around the aerodrome meeting, among other competitors Mr C W A Scott.

[A woman’s voice on loud-speaker can be heard in the background]

[COMMENTATOR]

The Prince leaving one of the Dutch machines

The King and Queen also visit Mildenhall to see the closing phase of the preparations for the race.

In the grey light of dawn all is set for the start at 6:30. Jim and Amy Mollison, flying their Comet ‘Black Magic’ are the first to leave.

The flag drops, they’re off! The race has started.

[Sound of plane engines starting up]

[Sound of car horns]

[Plane engines continue]

[COMMENTATOR]

The remainder take off at 45 second intervals.

Cathcart Jones and Waller in another Comet.      

[Plane engines, and calls from crowd]

[COMMENTATOR]

The Dutch Pander flown by Asjes and Geysendorffer are next.

[Plane engines continue]

Another Dutch entry, Parmentier and Moll in the KLM Douglas.

Jacqueline Cochran in her Granville monoplane.

A Fairey Fox flown by Parer and Hemsworth.

The Miles Falcon is piloted by Brook who is taking a lady passenger.

Melrose, who recently broke the record from Australia, is using the same Puss Moth.

Captain Stack in his Airspeed Viceroy.

And finally the Stodart brothers in an Airspeed Courier.

* * *

[MOVIETONE]

[Title: WEEK OF AMAZING AERIAL TRIUMPHS]

[Musical Introduction]

[COMMENTATOR]

Great aerial achievements shot by Movietone.

The Mollisons arrive in their Comet ‘Black Magic’, first in the field at Karachi having made wonderful time in the Melbourne Air Race and setting a record of 22 hours 13 minutes to India. Wearing tropical kit, Jim and Amy stayed 3 hours and then…

[Plane engines starting up]

[COMMENTATOR]

off again.

[Sound of plane engines]

But at Allahabad Scott and Black have taken the lead. And are the first to land in their Comet ‘Grosvenor House’. 

[Plane engines]

[COMMENTATOR]

During their brief halt of an hour, Scott chats with officials.

Then on to victory at Melbourne.

[Plane engines]

[COMMENTATOR]

The Mollisons are dogged by bad luck, and Allahabad is destined to be the end of their endeavor, engine trouble putting them out of the race.

[Sounds of people talking in the background]

The Dutch plane Pander S4, which crashed on landing, shows the damage that prevented further flight.

[Sounds of people talking and machine noises in the background]

[COMMENTATOR]

An outstanding triumph of aviation, overshadowed by the…

[audio cuts out.]

* * *

BRITISH MOVIETONE

[Title: SCOTT WINS THE GREAT AIR RACE]

[Musical introduction]

[COMMENTATOR]

The winner of the Greatest Air Race, C W A Scott, who with his co-pilot, Tom Campbell Black, is the first to reach Melbourne.  They have pushed their DH Comet along at record-breaking speed over the 12,000 mile course. Hear what Scotty had to say about his chances just before leaving:

[C W A SCOTT]

We like the machine tremendously and we hope a great deal for the machine because we think it’s capable of quite a lot. We haven’t done very many tests on it yet, but we’re very full of hope.

[Sound of plane engines humming]

[COMMENTATOR]

And to think it was only at 6:30 AM on Saturday the 20th that the British airmen took off from Mildenhall for Melbourne.

[sound of plane engines]

[COMMENTATOR]

After over nine thousand miles of desperate battling, Darwin is sighted, the first glimpse of Australia that competitors get after their bullet-like flight half way around the world. 

Now with the dreaded Timor Sea left behind, they only have one more port of call.   And Scott and Black, carried all the way from Darwin on their starboard engine only, can be seen landing their grand little Comet at Charleville, where they are checked in by the official, who marks them down No.1.

[Sound of plane engines, and crowds cheering]

[COMMENTATOR]

Scott now has a clear lead of twelve and a half hours from Parmentier, but is desperately tired and limps as he is escorted to the tent for food.  Although worn and haggard, Bulldog determination is seen on the faces of these heroes, as they -tremulously tell Australians some of their experiences. 

Meanwhile skilled mechanics are hurriedly attending to the damaged motor, hoping against hope that adjustments can be made to cure the trouble that was first noticed when Scott saw the oil pressure gauge drop when over the Timor Sea.   

Petrol pumps are forcing fuel into the tanks… and now all is ready for the last thrilling dash, as Scotty says, “We’ll get to Melbourne if we have to stagger the rest of the way on one engine!”

[Sound of plane engines]

[Crowd noise, someone speaking over a loud speaker, applause starts up, cheering and whistling]

[Plane engines]

[Band plays as Scott and Campbell Black arrive at the podium]

[Crowd gives three cheers]

[MASTER OF CEREMONIES - Premier?]

Mr Scott and Mr Campbell Black, on behalf of the Government of the State of Victoria, and of the people of the state, I desire to extend to you the warmest of welcomes and the heartiest congratulations on your wonderful flight from England to Australia and to Melbourne. The whole civilized world has looked upon with admiration and with a degree of anxiety while you progressed across the face of the globe to reach Melbourne today.

[COMMENTATOR]

Sir Macpherson Robertson at the present moment is shaking hands with the aviators, is now about to speak.

[MACPHERSON ROBERTSON]

Mr Scott and Mr Black, you have made a most gallant and a heroic effort to win this all-important International Centenary Air Race – a flight of over 12,000 miles, through most severe and ever-changing climatic conditions.

Speeding on high

In peace like the dove

Brave humans fly

Through the regions above

The space once reserved

For the eagles alone

Is now filled with heroes

Our own flesh and bone

[Crowd cheers]

[MACPHERSON ROBERTSON]

It is appropriate that at Melbourne now celebrating a great achievement over its first hundred years, you have achieved such a remarkable triumph for aviation, should be receiving the first of the plaudits that you have so nobly merited from the whole civilized world.

[Crowd cheers]

[C W A SCOTT]

A very short time ago I was sitting in the cockpit of an aeroplane flying towards an almost mythical place called Melbourne… [Crowd laughter]

It had seemed to us that we started about five centuries ago… [Crowd laughter]

and that, Melbourne, as soon as we caught up one mile we ceded two, so that made our journey very much longer than we had previously supposed. Particularly it seems remarkable that only two hours ago one was in such a mental state and now one is in a very different mental state, terribly embarrassed by your enthusiasm and yet very gracious to you indeed for being so kind and welcoming to us this afternoon.  Actually I wouldn’t know I was here, only somebody gave me a ‘paper and I see that my name is in it… [Crowd laughter] and of course we all know the press never lies… [Crowd laughter]  I don’t think I’d better say any more, because I’ve been talking too much to Campbell Black the last three days I’ve got quite husky, I’ve been roaring at him.   He hasn’t been roaring quite so much, so I’m going to get him to talk.

[Crowd laughter, cheering and applause]

[CAMPBELL BLACK]

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve never made a speech in my life, and even if I had one to make now, I am so overwhelmed with the reception we’ve got that I can only say, thank you!

[laughter and cheering]

* * *

[TITLE: AIR RACE VICTORS REPLY TO OVATION IN THE ONLY SOUND RECORD OF FINISH]

[Musical introduction]

[COMMENTATOR]

Passing the finishing line at Flemington Racecourse at 200 miles an hour, the Melbourne Air Race winners land at Laverton.

They are escorted back to Flemington for their welcome by Sir Macpherson Robertson, sponsor of the race.

Movietone presents the only sound film record of the replies by Scott and Black.

[MACPHERSON ROBERTSON]

It is appropriate that at Melbourne now celebrating a great achievement over its first hundred years, you have achieved such a remarkable triumph for aviation, should be receiving the first of the plaudits that you have so nobly merited from the whole civilized world.

[Crowd Cheering]

[C W A SCOTT]

[C W A SCOTT]

A very short time ago I was sitting in the cockpit of an aeroplane flying towards an almost mythical place called Melbourne… [Crowd laughter]

It had seemed to us that we started about five centuries ago… [Crowd laughter]

and that, Melbourne, as soon as we caught up one mile we ceded two, so that made our journey very much longer than we had previously supposed. Particularly it seems remarkable that only two hours ago one was in such a mental state and now one is in a very different mental state, terribly embarrassed by your enthusiasm and yet very gracious to you indeed for being so kind and welcoming to us this afternoon.  Actually I wouldn’t know I was here, only somebody gave me a ‘paper and I see that my name is in it… [Crowd laughter] and of course as we all know the press never lies, so… [Crowd laughter]  I don’t think I’d better say any more, because I’ve been talking too much to Campbell Black the last three days I’ve got quite husky, I’ve been roaring at him.   He hasn’t been roaring quite so much, so I’m going to get him to talk.

[Crowd laughter, cheering and applause]

[CAMPBELL BLACK]

Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve never made a speech in my life, and even if I had one to make now, I am so overwhelmed with the reception we’ve got that I can only say, thank you!

[laughter and cheering]

[COMMENTATOR]

After Scott and Black come the runners up, the Dutchmen, Moll, and Parmentier who says a word about the flight:

[PARMENTIER]

We had a very good trip all the way except for last night when we were, I should say, pitched by thunderstorms and couldn’t reach Melbourne.  But anyhow we arrived here a little later.

Third in the race come the Americans, Roscoe Turner and Clyde Pangborn and their wireless operator.   They too face the microphone on arrival. They’re tired but cheerful.

[TURNER]

We’ve had a great flight, and I’ll let Mr Pangborn and Mr Nicholls speak for themselves as to what they think about it, but I don’t want to make another one right away, I thank you.

[PANGBORN]

…came here and had a glass of beer…

[TURNER]

Did you shave?

[Crowd laughter]

[PANGBORN]

Yes, I shaved!

[laughter]

[NICHOLLS]

It’s been a long trip, very tiresome, I’m glad it’s over, and I don’t think I’d like to make another one right away.

[COMMENTATOR]

And now Melbourne accords the heroes of the Air Race a triumphal procession through the city. A hundred thousand people are in the streets to cheer the aviators whose feats have thrilled the world.

[Crowd cheering]

[COMMENTATOR]

First the winners Scott and Black.  A fair admirer breaks through and shakes Scotty by the hand.

[Cheering and whistling from the crowd]

Parmentier and Moll also get an enthusiastic reception from the crowd.

Then the Americans Turner and Pangborn, to whom the scene must be reminiscent of New York.

McGregor and Walker the New Zealanders.

Last comes Melrose, the young Australian. His mother can just be seen, but the police on the car prevent a view of the aviator himself.

A wonderful day for Melbourne founded only a hundred years ago.

PLEASE NOTE:

*The commentator says the last control point in the race is  ‘ Charleville New South Wales’. Charleville is actually in Queensland.
**first comments of C W A Scott are obscured by Commentator