New Year’s Happenings in Gympie – 1874

The Oddfellow’s Sports was a regular New Year’s event from 1874 until at least 1910.  The following is the Newspaper report from the first New Years event to be held.  

“UNITED ODDFELLOW’S DEMONSTRATION.
The United Oddfellows’ second demonstration was held on New Year’s Day. The first demon stration, which took place on Easter Monday, was, it will be recollected, mainly for the purpose of directing public attention to the excellent principles of the Order. This object has been fully attained, as both lodges have received a large increase of members since then; and as there is sure to be a further accession to the ranks of each it may be expected that on the next occasion the Oddfellows march in procession they will have even a more creditable turn out than that of Thursday. In accordance with the advertised programme the members of both Lodges — The Star of Gympie and the Loyal True Friendship — assembled in the police yard shortly after nine o’clock; at about ten o’clock, everything being ready, appropriate addresses were delivered by the respective Field Marshals, Messrs. A. H. Zillman and Mant, and three cheers having been given for the Queen, the procession began to move, being preceded by the Brass Band.

At the foot of Caledonian Hill and at the Red Hill halts were made to enable members to fall in. It is computed that fully two hundred Oddfellows took part in the procession, and as they were all dressed in their regalia they presented a very gay and creditable appearance, The Star of Gympie Lodge carried, it may be mentioned, a fine banner, which was made by Mr. Telford, and which, as a specimen of local talent, is much to be commended. On arriving at the appointed spot — Mr. J. Healey’s paddock, near the Deep Creek — cheers were given for Mr. Healey for his kindness in granting the free use of the paddock, and for each Lodge. The sports of the day then commenced. The ar rangments for their carrying out were, as on the first occasion, really excellent, and enabled the committee to get through the programme in good time. Without drawing any invidious distinction, we may state that the judges and the different members of the committee exerted themselves to the utmost, and the result was that the whole affair passed off with the greatest harmony, and was, as already mentioned, a thorough success.

The attendance from the outset was good, but in the afternoon it greatly increased. It is estimated that at one time there were from 1300 to 1500 persons present — the largest number yet seen at any similar gathering which has taken place on Gympie. The weather was exceedingly fine, being for the season of the year very mild. In the early part of the day the ground, owing to the rain which fell on the preceding two days, was a trifle too soft, but in the afternoon it was in excellent condition for the sports. A couple of swings were provided for the amusement of the visitors, and were engaged the whole day; at future gatherings, however, more should be put up, as two were hardly sufficient. We also noticed that dancing was indulged in by some of the younger folks, and that an “Aunt Sally” was established by an enterprising individual for those who wished to enjoy themselves at that kind of sport.

The Grand Stand was again well patronised, chiefly by the fair sex; the lessees of the booths underneath, Messrs. Lynch and Cahill, seemed to be doing a good trade, as did also the owner of the fruit stall —Mr. Eaton. Whilst on this subject it may be observed that much disgust was felt at the meanness of two persons who erected booths just outside the entrance to the paddock. The Band was stationed on the grand stand and played at intervals during the day, thus adding greatly to the enjoyment of the proceedings When the programme was got through, the Oddfellows re-formed and marched back to the old Hall, near Nash’s Bridge, halting several times on the way to enable members to fall out. On arriving at the Hall cheers were given for the judges and the sports committee and by each Lodge for the other, and the procession dis banded.

Appended is a detailed report of the sports: —

1. BOYS RACE, for all Boys under 15 years of age; distance, 100 yards. 1st Prize, 10s.; 2nd., 7s. 6d. ; 3rd. 2s. 6d. Entrance, 1s. — Messrs. Chapple and Elford Four entries. — Scott, who was handicapped to give his opponents one yard, won easily, Andrews second, and M’Kay third.

2. THREE STANDING JUMPS. 1st. Prize, £1; 2nd., 10s. Entrance, 2s. — Messrs. A. Cockburn and M. Curtis. Four entries also — J. Sweeney, W. Dowd, J. Healey, and M. King. The last-named won, jumping 32 feet 4 inches. Sweeney secured second prize with 32 feet 3 inches.

3. RUNNING HIGH JUMP. 1st Prize, £1; 2nd., 10s. Entrance, 2s. 6d. — Messrs. M’Cowan and Mills. A. Cowan, J. M. Heilbronn, M. King, and J. Dalton competed. The two last-named each cleared 4 feet 8 inches; but as neither could jump any higher they agreed to toss up, Dalton winning first prize and King second.

4. MEMBERS RACE of 200 YARDS. 1st. Prize, £2; 2nd., £1. Entrance, 2s. 6d. —Messrs. Elford and Curtis. Five entries — Godfrey, J. Chapple, C. Douglas, J. M. Heilbronn, and Hugh Bradford. This promised to be a very interesting race, but unfortunately a number of mishaps occured. First of all, Douglas fell, and Godfrey, who was a few yards behind, tumbled over him; and a short distance further on Chapple, who had a slight lead, came down. Bradford won easily, Heilbronn being second.

5. VAULTING WITH THE POLE. 1st. Prize £1; 2nd., 10s. Entrance, 2s. — Messrs. Budge and Smyth. First prize won by W. Dowd, who cleared 8 feet 4 inches; second prize by H. Mortimer, who vaulted 8 feet 2 inches. B. Gerler, J. Healey, and J. Kildee also competed. The vaulting of Down, Mortimer, and Healey, parti cularly of the first two, was very neat and clean, and was frequently applauded.

6. RIDING THE BARREL ON THE GREASY POLE. Prize, £1. Entrance, 1s. —Messrs. Budge and Ashford. There were fifteen entries. This event, as usual, caused much amusement. T. Durham and Greig (the winner at the first demonstration) were the only two who managed to “ride the barrel”; the former won.

7. STILT RACE, 100 yards. Prize, £1. Stilts not to be lower than 2 feet; competitors to bring their own stilts. Entrance, 1s. —Messrs. Trueman and A. Cockburn. Deboole, Huggins, Dowd, and Grant entered. Gran and Huggins raced well, the former winning. The other two competitors came to grief immediately after starting.

8. FLAT RACE, 100 Yards. 1st. Prize, £1; 2nd 10s. Entrance, 2s. —Messrs. Zillman and Elford. There being ten entries, the race was run off in two divisions. In the first Godfrey, J. Chapple, Dowd, MacDonald, and Stone ran. Chapple coming in first, Dowd being a good second. For the second division Taylor, Stumm, Heilbronn, Healy and Clarke were drawn. Heilbronn won, Taylor being second. Stumm, who was left at the post, protested against the start, and the committee decided to permit him to compete in the final heat with the other four. The heat was won by Dowd, who consequently obtained the first prize, Stumm securing second money after a close contest with Chapple.

9. BLINDFOLD WHEELBARROW WALK. Prize, £1; distance, 50 yards. Entrance 1s. — Messrs. Ash ford and Ambrose. There were thirty entries. Much laughter was indulged in by the spectators at the expense of the majority of the competitors. E. Brodie gained the prize, wheeling his barrow very close to the goal.

10. TILTING THE RING. 1st. Prize, £3; 2nd., £1. Entrance, 5s. — Messrs. M’Cowan, Curtis, and Elford. Seventeen entries. A. H. Zillman obtained the first prize with five rings. For the second Gerler, R. Clarke, J. Healey, Goodworth, and Wessels tied with three rings each. They com peted again, and Wessels, Gerler, and Healey tied for the second time. At the third contest Healey won.

11. FLAT RACE (handicap), 300 yards. 1st. Prize, £2; 2nd., £1. Entrance, 2s. 6d. —Messrs. Budge and Chapple. Four entries —Godfrey, Stumm, Douglas, and Bradford. Douglas and Bradford were respec tively handicapped seven and five yards back. The race resulted as follows: — Stumm, 1; Brad ford, 2; Douglas entered a protest against Godfrey for justling him off the course; the judges administered a caution to the letter.

12. WHEELBARROW TILTING MATCH. 1st. Prize, £1. Entrance, 1s. — Messrs. M’Cowan and Curtis. There were fifteen entries. Each competitor sits in a barrow, and whilst being wheeled at a trot tilts at a ring which is hung on a piece of wood nailed to a cross-piece; to the cross-piece is again fastened a dish containing water, and at the slightest touch the water is all spilled over the unfortunate tilter and the man wheel ing the barrow. As each competitor got a sousing a roar of laughter proceeded from the spectators. E. Quinlan, who obtained two rings, gained for prize.

13. WALKING MATCH, 1 Mile. 1st. Prize, £3; 2nd., £1. Entrance, 3s. — Messrs. Elford and M’Cowan. Godfrey, Smyth, and Stitt entered for this event. Godfrey passed the winning post first, but was very properly declared distanced, his walking (?) being considered unfair. The first prize was awarded to Smyth, and the second to Stitt. Walking matches are not successful on Gympie, and at future demonstrations the committee would do well to substitute some more attractive event.

14. THROWING THE HAMMER. Prize, £1. en trance, 2s. —Messrs. Cockburn and Trueman. No proper arrangements for the carrying out of this event having been made, and J. Sweeney being the only competitor, the committee de cided upon paying half the prize over to him without calling on him to throw the hammer.

15. JINGLING IN THE RING. Prize, £1. En trance, 1s. — Messrs. Trueman and Budge. Eleven entries. The competitors are all placed, blindfolded, within a defined piece of ground and the money is awarded to the one who first succeeds in catching the jingler; should the latter not be caught within ten minutes he receives the prize. E. Quinlan, however, quickly proved the winner.

16. FENCING. with Foils and Masks; 3 points out of five. Prize, £1. Entrance, 2s. 6d. —Judge, Mr. F. D. Mant. Stockley, Gaynor, Griffiths, and Streit en tered; Gaynor won. 17. FLAT RACE (handicap), 1st. Prize, £3 2nd., £1. Entrance, 3s. —Messrs. Chapple and Badge. There were six entries — Douglas, Bradford, Godfrey, Hollingsworth, King and Casey. The first two were handicapped to give their opponents 4 yards each. Douglas won in fine style amidst much applause, Bradford being a fair second.

The prize of £2 for the best-dressed athlete was awarded to W. Smyth.”

This story was compiled by Kathy Punter

Sources:  Trove; GFHS Record Collection;