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House of Assembly - Fifty-Third Parliament, Second Session (53-2)
2017-11-15 Daily Xml
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Victoriana Society of South Australia

Ms BEDFORD (Florey) (15:22): Today, I would like to put on record my appreciation of the Victoriana Society of South Australia, my involvement with them and theirs in so many events in this state. I first became aware of the society when I saw some of their members at the Old Highercombe Museum in the old part of Tea Tree Gully, known to you, sir, now under the care of the National Trust. I must also acknowledge the dedication and contribution of the friends of the museum and the many volunteers who maintain it.

The costumes I saw that day at the museum were exquisite and evoked the spirit of the early days of South Australia. The importance of people wearing appropriate period-specific costuming cannot be overestimated in creating the atmosphere for events. Cultural tourism is brought home vividly by characters who come alive and I witnessed this at Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London and more recently at Hever Castle. I know from personal experience, dressed as Muriel Matters, how much easier it is to bring home the importance of parliament for present-day electors and students throughout the state while also advocating the value of the vote.

The Victoriana Society was integral in making sure my Muriel costume was period accurate. I am indebted to Teri and Wendy at Dragon's Blood for my original outfit, and also Jayne and Linda and many other Victoriana Society members and most recently Lynne for her assistance with a new outfit I have from the 1860s. This new outfit allowed me to join the Victoriana Society members at several recent events. One was to celebrate the unveiling of the replica coat of arms now proudly affixed to the clipper ship, City of Adelaide. Lord Mayor Martin Haese was with us at the Port that day, as was Mayor Gary Johanson.

Victoriana members really made that day, as so many early South Australians, looking just as they did, would have been on the clipper ship. I acknowledge Peter Christopher and all involved in saving this grand old lady of the sea, soon, we all hope, to be the centrepiece of a maritime village at the Port. Later that day, Victoriana Society members went to Fort Glanville to be part of a big community event. Many groups were there taking part with vintage vehicles and re-enactments, the most notable of which was the firing of a cannon.

Again last Sunday, there was a lunch with a larger group of Victoriana Society members at the Town Hall, hosted and attended by the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress with the Mayor of Burnside, David Parkin, and Mayoress Jayne Kader, who happens to be a Victoriana Society member. The MC was our president, Linda Russo. Both Linda and Jayne were exquisitely attired, as were all other members in many elaborate outfits, some newly made specifically for the event.

It was to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Alfred to Adelaide as part of his national tour in 1867. It was my pleasure to be seated with reps from the Pioneers Association of South Australia, King's Baptist Grammar in Wynn Vale, Prince Alfred College headmaster, Mr Bradley Fenner, and Mrs Fenner and St Peter's deputy head, Mr Ben Hanisch. Prince Alfred College recently celebrated the sesquicentenary of the laying of their foundation stone by Prince Alfred on that trip.

There were many highlights at the luncheon. An address was given by Stephen Measday, an internationally and nationally recognised and award-winning author who has recently written about the prince's tour. We are now on the trail of the ceremonial trowel used to lay the stone at Prince Alfred College. St Peter's hosted the prince for a tree planting as the school was founded in 1847. No-one seems to know how to go about locating the ceremonial spade from that day—yet.

Both schools are to be commended for their achievements and vast history entwined with the establishment of South Australia. In this, the 99th year since the silencing of the guns in World War I, the contribution of their boys is being remembered at St Peter's by the marvellous book Fallen Saints by Robert Kearney of Virtual War Memorial fame. I believe that Prince Alfred College will soon have a similar publication. The Town Hall lunch concluded with the loyal toast and songs from the wonderful Adelaide Liedertafel Choir, which was founded in 1858, so their forebears no doubt entertained Prince Alfred while he was here in South Australia.

Prince Alfred was the fourth child and second son of Queen Victoria. He arrived in Adelaide at Glenelg on 31 October on the Galatea. This was the first royal tour to Australia. The Galatea was a triple-masted vessel that also sailed with the benefit of steam engines. The Duke of Edinburgh, as he was then, also laid the stone for our GPO. The City of Adelaide was bustling with excitement and decorated with flags, bunting, flower garlands and arches and gas lights throughout the city along the streets and on the buildings. A grand ball was held at the Town Hall, then and arguably still the most grand town hall of its kind in the nation.

Adelaide was the best part of the Australian visit for the prince. Other cities saw riots and even an assassination attempt on him in 1868, which saw the prince recuperating after a bullet wound before he departed for home in April 1868.

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