Hannah at Semaphore

Hannah at Semaphore

My mother at the beach

This photo from the O'Dea family photo album is labelled Hannah at Semaphore.

In 1923 Georgina Ellen O'Dea had moved to Hamley Bridge after the death of her husband in 1919. Her third daughter Hannah was 11 at the time of the move.

Two years later there is a report in the Port Adelaide News of a picnic to Semaphore beach. Could it be this picnic that my mother was attending? There is no date on the photo but is it possible that she is about 13 here?

COUNTRY PICNICS AT SEMAPHORE

The Midland District annual picnic, which embraced residents from Tarlee, Saddleworth, Riverton, Stockport, and Hamley Bridge; was held at Semaphore on Saturday. This was the fifteenth annual picnic, from the Midland District, and it is claimed that the district was the first country district to organise an annual picnic to the seaside.

It originated as a combined picnic of the Sunday schools of the district, Mr. D. L. Striibling, then of Tarlee, and now of Henley. Beach, being responsible for the innovation. Two or three hundred persons attended the first picnic, which, year by year, has gathered popularity, until on Saturday fully 1,700 adults and children participated, and two very long trains were necessary to convey them to the beach. Oh arrival at Semaphore they were welcomed by the Mayor of Port Adelaide, who informed the committee that the beach officer would do all in his power to make the visit an enjoyable one for them. 

After the previous day's downpour model picnicking conditions prevailed. Many of the visitors availed themselves of the opportunities given for sea bathing, while others found enjoyment among the beach amusements or in talking with city friends who had come to Semaphore to spend the day with them. The president of the central committee was Mr. E. A. Gray (Riverton) and the secretary, Mr. J. O. Taylor (Tarlee). The secretaries of the committees of the various centres were:—Riverton, Mr. E. A. Gray; Stockport, Mr. G. H. Weste; Hamley Bridge, Mr. H. N. Ellis; Saddleworth, Mr C. H. Roberts; Tarlee, Mr. J. O. Taylor. 

 1925 'OUR MAGAZINE SECTION', Port Adelaide News (SA :1913 - 1933), 13 February, p. 1. (OUR MAGAZINE SECTION), viewed 01 Oct 2019, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212958143



This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin