This week we revisit the “Back to Henty Week” celebrations of 1947.
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The 170 points of rain on Saturday, May 29, were welcomed for the beginning of the Back to Henty Week celebrations.
Work had been put into the sportsground, golf links, bowling green and other works, but the dry ground needed a good watering to bring out the colour around the town.
The festivities were started with a monster card party in the School of Arts on Monday night, May 31, followed by a Back to Henty ball on Tuesday and a Back to School on Wednesday afternoon.
Pictures (movies) were held every night and Thursday night was a monster children’s ball.
On Saturday, April 5, an Australian Rules Football knockout competition was held.
Teams competed for a £20 trophy.
Sports entertained the crowd during the rest of the day, and the various ring events, tug-o-war and displays of captain ball and medicine ball by the school children.
The Rural Queen, Miss Esme Doig, organised a poultry tea in the School of Arts, after the sports meeting, and celebrations continued on into the night.
Easter Monday was the concluding day and was a big day for the town.
The golf club opened its 1947 season with handicap, scratch and mixed foursome events.
The president of the War Memorial Hall Funds Committee introduced the Culcairn Shire president, Councillor Allister Ross.
Councillor Ross performed the official opening ceremony at the sports in the afternoon and extended a civic welcome to visitors to the Back to Henty celebrations.
Councillor Ross also used the occasion to outline the objects of the Memorial Hall Committee.
He said it was proposed to raise money to construct a fitting memorial, in the shape of a Memorial Hall, to the men who fought in both wars.
These men, he said, had performed their duty in a manner equal to the world’s best, and the people there that day should show their gratitude by their generosity.
Cr Ross also referred to the pioneers whose great courage and tenacity opened up districts such as Henty.
Some of those pioneers returned for the Back to Henty Week celebrations and were warmly welcomed by the township.
The people of Henty were congratulated on the good job they had done preparing facilities throughout the district.
After lunch there was a fancy dress procession through the town to the Henty Showground where a monster sports carnival was held with ring and pedestrian events.
This was followed at night with a carnival, and the crowning of the Queen ceremony and concluded with a coronation ball.
All events were held to raise funds for the Henty War Memorial Hall, and was organised by volunteers from the various queen committees, sporting bodies and War Memorial Hall Fund Committee.
- Anyone interested in this story, or another piece of local history, can contact the Henty Historical Society on 0448 490 880.