Sydney Morning Herald
31/ 7/1915
... part of the KellyGang story
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GOOD RESPONSE IN VICTORIA
MELBOURNE , Friday
From early dawn till evening the familiar - rattle of coins in tin boxes was the under-tone of the city's business. At every street corner, in every doorway, in every shop on tram or railway station the generous populace bought golliwogs, Hags, painted gum leaves, patriotic buttons, flowers, sweets, little boomerangs, and other things; but nobody grudged Is for an article that was only worth ½d, for it was Australia Day. The weather was fine and the streets were I crowded. It was in the afternoon that the real interest began, when the procession organised by the Victorian Artists' Society went through the city. It took the form of a historic review of Australia . The idea was very thoroughly carried out. In the mining section walked Mr J Hodges, "Eureka Jim," who is said to have actually hauled up the Eureka flag (now in the Ballarat Museum ). One of the- finest exhibits was an old coach of Cobb and Co., with its escort of mounted troopers, and its passengers in crinolines on the box seat, and after this coach and escort passed some grim actual relics of the past. These were the armour, made from the mould boards of ploughs, which the Kelly gang wore to protect themselves from the bullets of the troopers., The armour of Ned Kelly was worn by Mr Russell. It was lent for the occasion by Mr Russell Clarke. That of Dan Kelly was lent by the Chief Secretary, and that of Steve Hart by the Exhibition trustees.
The actors and actresses who did not take part in the matinee in Her Majesty's Theatre made up concert parties, and performed throughout the city. The matinee realised about £2000. Several of the city shops had displays appropriate to the day. In the kiosks during the afternoon many leaders of the Women of Victoria sold flowers. Lady Stanley was at the corner of Exhibition-street and Bourke-street. His Excellency the Governor visited the kiosks during the afternoon, and watched the procession from the Melbourne Club
Melbourne 's contribution was £7434.
The suburban collections so far announced amount to £5670, and country to £5649, bringing the total to £154,095.
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