A History of Labour Day happenings in Gympie

On this Labour Day weekend, we thought we should take a look back at what our Ancestors and their family members may have been doing on this weekend in Gympie in years past, however, we should first look at some of the history of why we celebrate Labour Day.

Why do we have a holiday for Labour Day? Labour Day commemorates the granting of the eight hour day for Australians and it recognises all workers for their contributions towards the nation’s economy. Labour Day has been an official public holiday in Queensland since 1912 and it is normally celebrated on the first Monday of May. Prior to that, the day was generally called Eight Hours Day and had been celebrated since the 1860s when public parades were held, however, in those early days the celebration was held in March which coincided with when the first Queensland workers achieved the eight hour day. The celebrations were moved to May in 1893 to coincide with the anniversary of a large procession in Barcaldine in 1891 which was the start of the famous ‘Shearers Strike’

Eight Hours Day or May Day is observed in many countries and it’s origins date back to 16th Century Spain, however, it took the Industrial Revolution in Britain for a push for a regulated eight hour day to gain momentum in the 19th Century and gradually this was adopted around the world.

Sports days in Gympie were held on many holidays and many mentions can be found in the Newspapers of them being held at Easter and the Queen’s Birthday so it is no surprise to find reports of instances of Sport’s Days in May as well. One of the first Newspaper mentions of a Sport’s Day held in May is 1899, however, it was not always held on the First weekend of May. The first annual Miners Union Sports day was held in on May 6th of 1907, and in the following year they were held on May 25th when the Brisbane Courier reported “The second annual sports of the Gympie Miners’ and G.M. Union were held to-day, and was one of the most successful meetings ever held here.”

Although there was not an official public holiday until 1912, there is mention in the Brisbane Courier of a holiday being declared for the first Annual Gold Union Sports Meeting in Gympie held on May 16, 1910 and this is that report.

“GYMPIE EIGHT HOUR SPORTS.
A SUCCESSFUL GATHERING.
GYMPIE, May 16.
The Gympie Amalgamated Eight Hour Union’s first annual demonstration sports and art union drawing were held on the One Mile Recreation Ground today. The assemblage of all trades lined up at The Post Office and formed a procession. Splendid weather prevailed, and there was an exceptionally large attendance, especially of miners as the day was proclaimed a holiday. There was a large influx of country visitors.

The procession was headed by the mounted police, and the Model Band under Bandmaster Clark, and then came the executive of the Eight Hour Committee, the enginemen and firemen on a lorry with an elaborate banner draped in purple and black, the fire brigade and boys’ fire brigade, the Gympie Miners’ Union, extended Gold Mining Co, with men as operative miners, the City Band, the carriers and drivers, with a handsome banner, gold fringed, local storekeepers’, grocers’, drapers’, bakers’, and butchers’ employees, actively engaged in their individual callings, the engine drivers and boiler cleaners, and Superintendent Roffe and the Am-bulance Brigade. Many private vehicles followed the procession to the Recreation Grounds The display compared favourably with parades in manv larger cities. The results of the sports were as follows –
Eight Hour Handicap, 130 yards-Cooper, 1, A Gibson (Gympie), 2, Dancey, 3
75 Yards Handicap-Pascoe, 1, F Roberts, 2
Mile Bicycle Handicap – M’Garry, 1, Hitch, 2 Coroneo, 3
Committee Race, 75 yards-Datson, 1, Alder, 2
Halfmile Handicap, of £20-H Cantwell, 1; P Russell 2, F W Chippendale, 3
Three Mile Bicycle Handicap -H Bowman 1, .B Fitch, 2 M’Garry, Dwyer, Fitch, and Euston fell in the last lap. The stewards investigated M’Garry’s riding and recommended that he should be disqualified for three years for foul riding.
220 Yards Handicap -W Currie, 1 , V A Stendrup, 2, F McLaren 3
One Mile Handicap – H Burrows, 1, E J Ubank, 2.
At the luncheon held in the marquée on theground the president (Mr Mohr) presided. Speeches were made by Messrs Llewellyn Walsh (Marvborough), Stundell (Brisbane), Alderman Burbidge (Mayor of Gympie), Hon F I Power, MLC, Messrs C B Steele, Mulcahv, and Nash (discoverer of Gympie)”

In 1918, the Gympie Times and Mary River Mining Gazette reports that 8 hour Celebrations were held at Imbil.

“A SUCCESSFUL PICNIC AT IMBIL.
The Gympie Eight Hour Day celebration committee this year decided upon holding an excursion to Imbil and a picnic instead of the usual procession and sports meeting. This took place Yesterday when 305 adults and 105 children left by special train leaving Gympie at 9.40 o’clock and arriving at Imbil well on time.

The day was beautifully fine and ideal for an outing of this kind. Among those present were Mr. T Dunstan M.L.A.. and the following delegates – Messrs. M. J. Demaine (Maryborough), M. Farr (Brisbane), J. Lawson (Federated Carters’ Brisbane), and D McArthur (Bundaberg). An apology was received from Mr. H. F Walker M.L.A.

On arrival at Imbil, the picnicers wandered off in parties along Yabba Creek and thoroughly enjoyed an al-fresco lunch on the green. The committee entertained the visitors at lunch at the Imbil Hotel. There were no speeches. After lunch an impromptu sports programme was carried out on the flat near the School of Arts. A large number of residents joined the visitors and the various events were watched with interest. Mr. G. Webster acted as starter and Messrs. Demaine and Lawson judges and although there were many close finishes, their decisions were received with approval.

The Committee and Mr Webster (the President) are to be congratulated on the success of the outing and the excellent way the day’s arrangements were carried out. A start was made for home about 5 o’clock and Gympie was reached at 7 o’clock.”

The Telegraph Newspaper reported on the 7th of May 1924 that “Labour Day in Gympie was celebrated quietly, The local Labour council held it’s annual picnic to Cooran, about 300 persons taking part in the railway excursion”. In 1925, there is a report in the Brisbane Courier stating that an excursion was run from Gympie to Cooran for a day of picnicing and Sports and that it was well patronised.

In 1932, The Telegraph, reported a Bushman’s Carnival “Labour Day Sports. Gympie May 3 A Bushman’s Carnival under the auspices of the Gympie Show Society was held yesterday at the Show Grounds.” The results reflect that the programme was all horse related.

In 1939, the following appeared in the Gympie Times and was written by D Brophy, Great May Day Demonstration Organiser. “I returned to Gympie for Labour Day. The observance of Labor’s day of days was for some years allowed to languish in Gympie. Some of the enthusiasts decided on a revival this year, and their efforts were crowned with success. There was no stiff and formal demonstration but a friendly free for all sports gathering and picnic at which Labor men and women and their children gathered in fun at Widgee Crossing. Many events were held, some useful tropheys won, old Labor friends met again in the wholesome atmosphere of bush surroundings, and most important or all, the children were well catered for with generous donors and supporters of Labor. My congratulations to organising committee of the A.L.P. which restored Labour Day for Gympie”

By 1951 the Sports and Procession must have been doing very well once again as the Nambour Chronicle of 27th of April 1951 reported “A special train will run Labour Day to Gympie for Sports and Procession. Enquiries as to fares and time-table at Nambour Railway Station.”

This story was compiled by Kathy Punter

Sources: State Library www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/labour-day-history-pictures;
Trove; Wikipedia;