Coronation Celebrations - 1902 Style

King Charles was not the first monarch to serve a long waiting period - 74 years -  before feeling the weight of the crown.

His ancestor Prince Edward waited 60 years before ascending the British throne after his mother, Queen Victoria, made the position available.

He became Edward Vll.

The good folk of this colonial neighbourhood joined in the somewhat delayed festivities.

Mercury and Weekly Courier, 15.11.1902, Page 2
School Picnic.
The children attending school in Alphington, Ivanhoe, and Heidelberg were given a picnic in the Heidelberg park on King's birthday.

It was originally intended to hold the picnic in connection with the coronation celebrations in June last, but it was postponed owing to the King's unfortunate illness.

In order to keep as near as possible to the idea of making the outing an expression of loyalty to the throne by juvenile rejoicing His Majesty's birthday was substituted for his coronation day.

The medals which had been ordered commemorating the coronation were distributed in the schools, and on Monday afternoon about 400 children congregated in the northern portion of the cricket ground. The Heidelberg cricket club played a match on the ground proper, and utilised the pavilion.

The picnickers, in consequence, had to improvise accommodation for their food supplies and toys, and this they did by bringing into requisition the large waggon of Mr T. Wall.

The afternoon passed away quite pleasantly. The weather was lovely, with a refreshing south breeze blowing. A programme of races, tugs of war, skipping contests, &c., was gone through, whilst at intervals Messrs French and Angelo amused with punch and judy, a live dog toby, and the comicalities of two clowns with flying hats, and so forth.

At half-past four the children were seated in circles and helped with cake, biscuits, lollies, tea, milk, and other delicacies. Subsequently they were given packets of MacRobertson's sweets.

During the afternoon over 500 toys were distributed among the little ones, who all enjoyed themselves thoroughly.

(Courtesy of the keen eye of Nilss of Innsbruck)

Curious that the Heidelberg Cricket Club played a commemorative cricket match on a Monday back in 1902, pushing the school children into "make do" arrangements.

At the Chelsworth Ward Meeting conducted by Deputy Mayor Alida McKern on May 11 (well attended, well conducted) this topic came up.

A question was submitted about the Council role and attitude to the annual Boulevard Xmas lights (60 years strong) - and the annual Xmas Carols, formerly of the adjacent Ivanhoe Park.

The answer included the surprising but no doubt genuine comment that the turf wicket on the ground needed to be rested.

Apparently the turf wicket there is one of a few only in Banyule, and is key to the grade Ivanhoe Cricket Club can compete at in suburban grade cricket.

But the annual very popular Carols having to be shifted? - roping off?, plywood sheets and fake turf for a day?

A strong cricket club our Ivanhoe, promotes junior cricket, has been a feature of the local sporting scene for over a century.

The underlying issue is the dedication across Banyule (and other metropolitan areas) of so much finite public open space to nominated sports with very low participation rates.

All well and good to point to sports participation equals health etc - consider the actual participation rates in the sport, and the % time of daylight use of reserved space.

And the sports activity - the health giving bit - comes with the allied cost of multi-million dollar stadiums (or is it stadia?), parking, lighting, roads.

Regular suburban rates-paying residents can whistle, campaign, agitate, petition, organise to pursue much more modest community built facilities - without success.

But suburban "amatuer" sporting clubs - with sponsorships, annual membership fees, gate-takings, fundraising arms, bar sales, advertising etc - get the Welcome mat and the red carpet to the Council Treasury.

"Why is it so?" as Professor Julius Sumner-Miller is alleged to have asked.