Review written by:  Ena Garden

In the final presentation for this semester, Ron covered the years 1909 to 1910 in Australian history. He enjoyed the enthusiastic response he got from the members present.

History repeats itself - in 1909 all the wharves in Brisbane were under water and Broome was hit by storms when 50 people died and many were missing. In August, the site for Canberra was finally decided. The U.S. fleet arrived in Sydney to a great welcome, the first cross-Australian car trip went from Adelaide to Darwin, and the Boy Scouts were introduced in Sydney.

In 1909 police broke up a strike at B.H.P.  Eleven non-strikers were injured and one died.  B.H.P. refused to contribute to the funeral so the strikers covered the cost. Belatedly, horse cab drivers formed a union to counteract the motor car. Shearers too formed a union and electric shears were introduced.

Houdini came out to be the first man to fly in Australia, (pictured) but he was thwarted by Colin Defries who flew for 3 seconds at a height of 15 feet to beat him.  In the following year, the speed of cars could reach 50 miles per hour because of the new rubber tyres. A motor traffic act was introduced to control speed. Compulsory military service was obligatory for boys and men aged 12 to 20. Most schools had cadet forces. Women played sport in long skirts, there were floods in Queensland, Haley's Comet came close to the earth and suburbs of Melbourne introduced trams.

Ron left the meeting to catch a plane to London where all government workers were on strike!!!

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