December Show & Tell
At the Society’s December meeting, members were treated to three engaging presentations that celebrated the richness of local history and the joy of shared discovery.
Peter Mackinlay’s vivid recollections of East Geelong in the 1940s brought childhood adventures to life with humour and warmth. Harry Roberts revisited the excitement of Queen Elizabeth II’s 1954 visit, drawing on archival detail his talk resonated with the personal memories of many of those present. Michael O’Donnell’s search for J.B. Leitch turned a simple enquiry into a digital detective story, showcasing the power of the Society’s website.
Together, these talks highlighted the value of curiosity, storytelling, and community in keeping history alive.
You can listen to a reading of this article by clicking the link below:
Queen Elizabeth II’s Visit to Geelong – March 6, 1954
By Harry Roberts
On 6 March 1954, Geelong witnessed one of the most memorable civic occasions in its history: the visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II during her first Australian tour. As Harry Roberts outlined in his recent presentation to the Society, the event was a defining moment for the city, remembered vividly by many residents even today.
The Queen’s eight‑week Australian tour was unprecedented, covering 57 towns and cities in just 58 days. Geelong’s preparations reflected the magnitude of the occasion. Local councils distributed flags to schoolchildren, shops decorated their windows in red, white, and blue, and arches bearing “E II R” and Union Jacks were erected along the route. The Geelong Advertiser reported that the city’s population swelled from 75,000 to nearly 200,000 as visitors poured in by car and train. More than 500 police officers and 1,500 guards lined the streets, ensuring order and safety.
Arriving from Ballarat by train at 1:10pm, the Queen stepped onto the red carpet at Geelong Railway Station before embarking on a motorcade to City Hall. Crowds lined the streets, eager for a glimpse of the monarch. At City Hall, Mayor Cr Jacobs welcomed Her Majesty, and the Royal Standard was raised for the first time in Geelong’s history. The singing of the National Anthem by thousands of voices created a stirring atmosphere. A poignant highlight was the presentation of a bouquet by eleven‑year‑old Suzanne Moody, a Junior Legacy girl whose father had died in service during the Second World War.
The Geelong Advertiser captured the day with the headline: “120,000 GAVE ROYAL WELCOME TO BELOVED QUEEN.” Photographs and film footage recorded the scale of the crowds and the excitement of the occasion. Radio stations broadcast live commentary, ensuring those unable to attend could share in the moment. While Adelaide’s Mail newspaper noted some challenges, including sand blowing into the Queen’s eyes and gaps along the long route, the overall impression was one of warmth, loyalty, and civic pride.
By 2:25pm the Queen departed Geelong, bound for Melbourne, leaving behind indelible memories. Memorabilia such as inscribed goblets were produced to commemorate the visit, but the true legacy lies in the collective memory of a city united in celebration.
The talk itself sparked animated discussion among members: Heather Anderson recalled the excitement of the day, Jennifer Bantow spoke of the crowds and the transformation of the town, Peter Mackinlay offered humorous insights into youthful plans that amused only themselves, and Dorothy Trezise remembered camping out with friends to secure a vantage point. These recollections underscored how deeply the visit remains woven into Geelong’s story.
Growing Up in East Geelong in the 1940s and 1950s
By Peter Mackinlay
At the Society’s December meeting, members were treated to a lively and nostalgic presentation by Peter Mackinlay, who shared his childhood memories of East Geelong in the 1940s and 1950s. His talk painted a rich picture of everyday life in the district, blending humour, detail, and affection for the community that shaped him.
Peter began with Ormond Road, where his family lived in a modest weatherboard house beside the Melray grocery store and the Grays’ home. He recalled the bluestone gutters, horse‑drawn deliveries, and the bustle of local shops – from Bendles Butchers to Vic Lloyd’s barber, where comics were provided to keep boys entertained while waiting for their sixpenny haircut. Garden Street too was alive with familiar faces, including Bell’s Newsagency, complete with billiard saloon and Saturday night Herald distribution.
Family connections featured strongly. Peter remembered visiting his grandfather James McMahon in Anderson Street, where a childhood prank with a fire alarm led to an unexpected encounter with the fire brigade – ending with him perched on a fireman’s lap, helmet on head, sipping tea. Such stories captured the innocence and mischief of youth in a close‑knit neighbourhood.
Social life was not without its dramas. Peter recounted skirmishes with the Henry Street gang, resolved with homemade rubber coshes, and the eventual calming influence of his time in the Boy Scouts. Colourful local characters also came to life, notably Horrie Riddett, who carried groceries in a hessian sack, shared lollies and magazines, and lived in a humble shack near the Salt Works.
Recreation was another highlight. The “Switchbacks” at Limeburners Point provided thrills for young cyclists, though motorbike riders often came to grief. Peter’s recollections of trams stopping outside his door, tuppence fares into town, and treasured comics like Captain Marvel and Felix the Cat evoked a time when simple pleasures defined childhood. Even his first tentative cigarette at the Racecourse was remembered with wry humour.
Through these anecdotes, Peter conveyed the texture of everyday life in East Geelong – the shops, the streets, the characters, and the adventures that made growing up in the 1940s and 1950s both challenging and joyous. His talk reminded members that history is not only about grand events but also about the small, personal stories that give a community its character.
A Journey in Search of J.B. Leitch
By Michael O’Donnell
At the December meeting, members were given a third presentation that began with a simple enquiry and unfolded into a fascinating piece of historical detective work.
The spark was an email asking whether the Society held a photograph of J.B. Leitch, Vice‑President of the Victorian Scottish Union in 1910–1911. The correspondent explained that his search was inspired by a gold pendant gifted to him by his mother in Beirut during the 1940s, inscribed with Leitch’s name.
Initial searches revealed no photograph, but curiosity soon led to the identification of John Black Leitch, a Geelong veterinarian who had served in both the Boer War and the Great War, and who was active in many local organisations. With interest piqued, the hunt moved deeper into the Society’s website archives.
A site‑wide search produced limited results, but the Publications menu offered richer rewards. By keyword searching the Investigator magazines (1965–2009), a 1986 article on the history of veterinary surgeons in Geelong was uncovered. Within it, three photographs of Leitch appeared, though not all bore a strong resemblance to one another!
The presentation was not only about Leitch himself but also about demonstrating how members can use the Society’s website to pursue their own research. The process of navigating the site and using the different tools to locate the article, was explained step by step: Members were shown how to navigate the home page lists of articles, how to access audio files to listen as well as read, and how to explore the growing collection of podcasts.
The talk tried to demonstrate the value that persistence and curiosity in historical research brings. What began as a query about a pendant inscription became a journey through archives, publications, and digital tools, revealing both the story of a distinguished Geelong figure and the practical ways members can engage with the Society’s resources.
In the end, the search for J.B. Leitch offered more than photographs; it provided a case study in how history can be rediscovered through careful use of our online archives. The presentation reminded members that the Society’s website is not just a repository but a dynamic tool for exploration, enabling anyone to follow their own lines of enquiry and uncover stories that connect Geelong to the wider world.
