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| 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 SEMAPHOREThe 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.
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-article212958143After 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.
This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin
How interesting. I can't imagine 1700 people arriving at Semaphore all at once. It must have been a very special for those children from the country.
ReplyDeleteOne imagines very noisy carriages packed with folks and picnic baskets. I think it would have been her first experience of the beach and the costume looks like a knitted one. No doubt there were many fractious children and teens on the return trip, sticky with sand and sunburn 🥵
DeleteCongratulations! Your blog has been included in INTERESTING BLOGS in FRIDAY FOSSICKING at
ReplyDeletehttps://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2019/10/friday-fossicking-11th-october-2019.html
Thank you, Chris
Apologies.. incorrect link posted previously..
ReplyDeletehttps://thatmomentintime-crissouli.blogspot.com/2019/10/friday-fossicking-4th-october-2019.html
I admire people wo can research their families so well. I have moments of getting hooked but then I give up.
ReplyDeleteAs with many hobbies, my interest comes and goes but photos often provide the motivation to learn more.
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