VALEDICTORY

Valedictory

Valedictories were organised for popular people who were leaving town due to a work promotion or to retire elsewhere. They celebrated the time a person had spent in Katanning. People spoke in glowing terms about their effect on the community, the groups they belonged to and the fact that Katanning was a better place due to their time in town. Sadly, this recognition of people has long disappeared.

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Valedictory.

Great Southern Herald
10 September 1919 – P3

MISS MAHER

On Friday evening last a large number of friends gathered in the Katanning Parish Hall to bid farewell to Miss Maher on the eve of her departure from the district. During her three years residence in Katanning, Miss Maher was employed by Messrs. W. J. Rogers and Sons., where she became very popular among the townspeople.

The send-off took the form of a social and dance, vocal items being contributed by Misses. M. Gill, and D. Richmond, accompanied by Misses D. Purkiss, A.C.L.M., and G. Rogers.

During an interval between the dances Mr. F. Hawtin presented Miss Maher with a handsome dressing case, as a token of esteem from her many friends in Katanning and wished her every prosperity in her new surroundings. Mr. J. Farrell suitably responded on behalf of the departing guest, after which dancing was resumed until a late hour when the proceedings terminated with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

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Valedictory Social

Great Southern Herald
5 August 1925 – P2

W. J. HORRIGAN HONORED.

On Friday evening last a large and representative gathering took place in the Town Hail, the occasion being a valedictory social tendered to Mr. W. J. Horrigan, who has been appointed to the position of postmaster at Claremont.

Mr. R. L. Richardson, Chairman of the Road Board, in speaking on behalf of the townspeople, expressed regret at the transfer of Mr. Horrigan from Katanning and spoke of the good work done both as a citizen and a postmaster during his seven years of service in this town. On behalf of the residents of Katanning, Mr. Richardson presented Mr. Horrigan with a wallet of notes, expressing the hope that he would find his new position both congenial and beneficial from a business point of view.

Mr. R. Cobham supported the remarks made by Mr. Richardson and on behalf of the Katanning Tennis Club, presented Mr. Horrigan, the late captain, with a tennis racquet.

A further presentation, in the form of a wallet of notes, was made by the Roman Catholic community, through Father Reidy, who, in a short address made reference to the sterling qualities of Mr. Horrigan as a churchman, sport, and citizen.

Mr. A. G. Hobbs, president of the Board of Control, Mr. W. P. Bird, and Mr. Stewart, for the Parents’ and Citizens’ Association of Katanning, and the Rev. J. Smith, as Secretary of the University Extension Lecture Committee, also spoke of the good work done by Mr. Horrigan during his term of office in Katanning and expressed the general regret felt at his leaving the town.

Mr. Horrigan, in a few well-chosen words, thanked the speakers and all present for the kindly thoughts expressed and the townspeople, church and tennis club for their presentations.

During the evening musical items were rendered by Mrs. J. Baker, Miss Ives and Mr. R. Scott. Miss E. Sheridan acted as accompanist. At the conclusion of the musical programme supper was handed round and Mr. Horrigan took the opportunity of wishing his many friends “au revior.” Accompanied by his daughter, Mr. Horrigan left for the metropolis by the midnight express on Friday.

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Valedictory

Great Southern Herald
7 July 1926 – P5

MR. and MRS. H. P. JAMESON AND FAMILY.

At the Parish Hall, Katanning, on Wednesday night, the 30th of June, the friends of Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Jameson gathered to the number of sixty, to tender them every good wish and prosperity. The farewell took the shape of a social evening, and the organisers have every reason to feel pleased with the happy and most excellent result achieved.

The guests of the evening were met at the hall door by the whole company singing “For they are jolly good fellows.” Then followed a grand chain and games under the direction of Mr. E. C. Stewart.

Great excitement and enjoyment were derived from the antics of the competitors in a relay walking race, between two teams of nine a side, whose efforts to keep their equilibrium on the slippery floor were conducive to hilarity on the part of both spectators and competitors. Dancing and musical items etc., were interspersed with further games until supper time was announce.

At the conclusion of supper Mr. W. P. Bird, in felicitous terms, conveyed to the guests of the evening the regrets of the assembled company, occasioned by their departure from Katanning. He then called upon Mr. F. Freemantle to speak on behalf of the ladies and to present Mrs. Jameson, Daphne Jameson and Mr. Jameson respectively with small tokens of the esteem in which they are held. Mr. and Mrs. Jameson responded with delightful speeches, expressive of their thanks and regrets at their impending departure from Katanning.

Dancing was resumed with Mr. S. Squirrel at the piano and, at a late hour, the whole company joining with the guests in singing of Auld Lang Syne, bringing to a conclusion a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment.

The thanks of the organisers are specially extended to Mrs. Bartlett, Miss Gorman and Messrs. Bird, Stewart and Squirrell.

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Valedictory.

Great Southern Herald
18 August 1926 – P2

MRS BASHAM

The valedictory social organised by the Church of England Ladies’ Guild and friends in honor of Mrs. Basham, who leaves Katanning for the metropolis this week, proved a very successful function.

The Rev. A. D. Webb referred in eulogistic terms to the excellent services rendered to the Church and Parish Hall by Mrs. Basham and called upon Mrs. F. H. Piesse to present the guest with a handsome bag, containing a roll of notes.

Musical selections were rendered by the Kobeelya. Girls’ School orchestra, under the guidance of their teacher, Mr. Montague Wilson, and vocal items by Miss Claire Solly and Mr. W. J. Leonard. Miss Edwards and Mr. S. Squirrell acted as accompanists to the singers. A very dainty supper was partaken of and the singing of Auld Lang Syne brought a very enjoyable evening to a close.

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Valedictory

Great Southern Herald
31 May 1930 – P2

FAREWELL TO MR. AND MRS. J. C. GOMM.

On Monday evening last a large number of friends of Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Gomm assembled in the Baptist Church Hall, when opportunity was taken to bid them farewell on the eve of their departure to Perth after a long association with the town and church.  The hall was prettily decorated and the Pastor, the Rev. F. Potter, presided over a representative gathering of the Baptist community and friends of other denominations.

Mr. S. H. Dale expressed the appreciation of the church officers and members for the excellent services which had been rendered by the departing friends and referred to the great loss the church had sustained in their removal.

Pastor H. Law Davis (Woodanilling) and Mr. G. Jefferies (Cartmeticup) endorsed the remarks and expressed their indebtedness to Mr. Gomm for the help he had always rendered in local preaching.

The Presbyterian Church, through its Minister, presented a parcel of books, together with a fountain pen, and referred to the loss the community had sustained in the departure of such a worthy citizen.

The Methodist Church was represented by the Rev. R. C. Mason, who thanked Mr. Gomm for bis valued help. Mr. Benger spoke on behalf of the Bible Society, and Miss Cornelius, in a fitting manner, voiced the good wishes of the young people.

A fine vocal and instrumental programme was presented, items being contributed by Rev. Law-Davis, Messrs. J. F. and Herbert Wanke, Faber, G. W. Beeck, Miss Thelma Wanke and Mrs. J. F. Wanke.

The Pastor, on behalf of the church and district, presented the guests with a parcel of cutlery and a wallet of notes as a tangible expression of esteem, and referred to Mr. Gomm as “a consistent Christian between Sundays.”

Mr. Gomm, in a very fitting manner, responded and thanked all present for their kindly thought and expressions of goodwill, assuring his friends that he was very disappointed in having to leave Katanning. After the singing of “Blessed be the Tie that Binds“, the ladies served a dainty supper.

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Valedictory

Great Southern Herald
Thursday 24 December 1931 – P2

MR. W. MUGGRIDGE HONOURED.

On Wednesday evening, in the Katanning Town Hall supper-room, a number of representative citizens met to wish Mr. W. Muggridge, of the W.A.G.R., the best of luck prior to his transfer to Narrogin.

Mr. F. W. Cox, chairman of the Unemployment Relief Committee, who presided over the gathering, said that when it became known that Mr. Muggridge had received notice of transfer to Narrogin, those who had been associated with him in various public movements decided to make a public expression of gratitude to Mr. and Mrs. Muggridge for the manner in which they had helped in raising funds for charitable objects and in organising assistance for the unemployed of the town during the past 18 months. In many ways their guest and his good wife had proved their worth in helping others and he, personally, deeply regretted their impending loss to the town. He read apologies from Sgt. Timms, Percy Thomas, “Plum” Thomas, Steve Smart and others.

The Hon. Alex. Thomson, M.L.C., called upon to propose the health of the guest of the evening, said too often it occurred that, the value and worth of a person was not realised, or at least not expressed, until departure made their loss imminent.

It was not quite so in this case, for he believed Katanning was bidding au revoir to Mr. Muggridge rather than definitely farewelling him. The transfer to Narrogin meant, promotion, and in that they congratulated Mr. Muggridge, but at the same time, as Mrs. Muggridge was not breaking up her home in Katanning, they all hoped the occasion would speedily arise when a vacancy in the proper grade would occur at the Katanning railway station, which would offer Mr. Muggridge a re-transfer to the town.

Mr. A. P. Watts, deputy-chairman of the Katanning Road Board, seconded the toast, supporting speakers being Messrs. Synnott, Carl Dilworth, Alf. Bunes and W. Collingwood, each representing a different public body.

Mr. Muggridge, who was greeted with applause, said he was honoured at receiving such expressions of appreciation of the help given by Mrs. Muggridge and himself. What they had done was done with a desire to make the lot of less fortunate individuals a little easier, and the work itself was full reward for any effort expended. Both Mrs. Muggridge and himself had been very happy at Katanning and it was with regret that he had received his marching orders – regret because it meant leaving so many good friends, but not because his work called him elsewhere.

Like a soldier, he was under orders, and obeyed without hesitation. He sincerely hoped the occasion would arise when he might be called upon to fill a vacancy again at Katanning, particularly as he was still keeping his home here, and his wife and family would remain when he left. He thanked members of the Unemployment Relief Committee and others for their kindly thought in arranging a function for him, and deeply appreciated the honour.

During the evening Mr. A. Thomson, M.L.C., exhibited a moving picture taken by him of the opening of the Katanning Aerodrome, which proved very interesting.

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Valedictory

Great Southern Herald
2 November 1938 – P4

Mr. HARRY BURNHAM
R.S.L. KATANNING SUB CENTRE

At the conclusion of business, Captain Fred Cox asked members to drink a health to Mr. Harry Burnham, who was leaving shortly for the metropolis.

Captain Cox stressed the good qualities of the guest, who had not only been a good R.S.L. man but a good citizen. He congratulated Mr. Burnham upon his advancement and hoped that he would become associated with a metropolitan sub-branch and carry on the good work.

The president, Mr. H. W. A. Tylor, then handed to Mr. Burnham a handsome cigarette case, which, he said, carried with it the very best wishes of members. Mrs. Fred Higman, as well as decorating the club room for the occasion, had sent along a beautiful bouquet, which the president asked Harry to present to his good wife with the compliments of the sub-branch and Mrs. Higman.

Replying, Mr. Burnham said the two years he had spent in Katanning had been very happy ones. He liked the town, and he liked the people. He had done what he could for the sub-branch and would be only too pleased if he could render further assistance whilst he was in the city. He was going away, but nothing would stop him from coming back to the Diggers’ Golf Day next year. Also, he hoped to meet a lot of Katanning Diggers on the New Zealand tour in 1940. He thanked members sincerely for the handsome souvenir, which he would treasure very much.

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Social Evening

Tambellup Times
1 March 1919 – P2

MISS NELLIE ROGERS.
Social Evening

On Thursday a social evening was tended to Miss Nellie Rogers, fourth daughter of Mr. W. J. Rogers of Katanning, by her friends, on the eve of her wedding with Lieut. Hector Haslam. The function was held in the Baptist Church Hall, which had been prettily decorated for the occasion by Miss Gladys Seaborne, the chair being occupied by the Rev. A. H. Potter, M.A. The evening was pleasantly passed in games, after which Mr. Potter, having apologised for the absence of his wife and also Mr. J. F. Wanke, presented the guest of the evening with a handsome silver egg and toast cruet, from her friends of the Baptist Church in token of her valuable assistance with the Church, Choir and Sunday School.

Mr. W. J, Rogers responded on behalf of his daughter and apologised for the unavoidable absence of the bridegroom-elect. The evening terminated with the singing of Auld Lang Syne.

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Valedictory.

Tambellup Times
1 March 1919 – P2

MR. R. SNELLING.

On Thursday night, at the Royal Exchange Hotel, the friends of Mr. R. Snelling met to bid him farewell on the eve of his departure from Katanning, which he is leaving owing to health and business reasons.

Mr. J. Mouritz, who acted as chairman to the gathering, stated he expressed the feeling of those present when he said that Mr. Snelling’s departure would be a loss to the town. Their guest had always been willing to help in any public matter and was a good sportsman. The chairman’s remarks were supported by Messrs. E. Joy, J. Keeley, Sergeant. Purkiss, S. Woodcock, J. Stanford, and Constable Polak.

Mr. C. Gray, secretary of the Returned Soldiers’ Association, Katanning Branch, said their association had much to thank Mr. Snelling for, as it was through his good offices that the club had received the gift of a piano from Mrs. Adair. The Recruiting Staff at Katanning had also received valuable assistance from Mr. Snelling.

Mr. Andrews, manager of the Industrial Branch of the A.M.P. Society also spoke highly of the good qualities and business acumen of their guest, who had been the company’s representative in Katanning.

The chairman, Mr. J. Mouritz, then made a presentation of a purse of sovereigns to Mr. Snelling as a small mark of esteem, and wished him prosperity and health in his new sphere.

Constable Polak also received a vote of thanks for the manner in which he had organised the send-off, and with votes of thanks to the chairman and singing of Auld Lang Syne and the National Anthem, the gathering dispersed.

Valedictory. Valedictory.