1963 at Stanthorpe saw a storm at Cottonvale and Dalveen where 20,000 to 30,000 bushels of apples were lost and multiple players injured in Rugby League matches between Warwick Collegians and Stanthorpe and a historic homestead was lost to fire.
January 3
• Fewer Hepatitis Cases
There has been a marked diminution in the number of hepatitis cases during the past three weeks. The Stanthorpe Shire Council Health Inspector, Mr. L.J. Rigg reported that three weeks ago there had been one case, none the following week and only two last week. There had been about 70 victims of the outbreak since the first case was notified last April.
January 10
• Presbyterian Church To Be Moved
A congregational meeting was held in St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church on Sunday night, January 6, when it was decided to take steps to move the present church in Railway Street to a site near the Manse in High Street.
After the new church has been built the old church will be used as a church hall.
February 21
• Proposed Cider Mill Tenterfield fruit grower. Mr. G.J. Sommerlad believes a cider mill could be established on the Northern Tablelands to handle the large output of second grade apples from orchards in the area.
March 7
• Obituary: Mrs. C.A. Stewart
March 14
• New Council Chambers – Correspondence I note in the Border Post that the local Council intend to go gaily ahead in the matter of borrowing £80,000 for a Civic Centre, embracing shops, library, new Council Chambers etc. Whey there are enough shops in town as present and there is also a Council Chambers building. Will the Council give ratepayers an opportunity to vote for or against the proposal to borrow a large sum of money.
March 26
• Lions Club Offers Building to Show Society The Lions Club of Stanthorpe have adopted as their project for this year the erection of a pavilion for the Stanthorpe Show Society to house horticulture, art and photographic sections.
• Five Injured at Football
5 players injured in Rugby League matches between Collegians (Warwick) and Stanthorpe.
April 9
• Tossing the Caber at Stanthorpe. The ancient world-renowned sport of brawny Scotsmen of tossing the caber will be one of the attractions at the sports which will conclude the Queensland Pipe Band championships at the Highland Gathering at the Stanthorpe Showgrounds on Easter Saturday.
April 16
• Vandalism at War Memorial
April 30
• Man Detained At Gunpoint. A man was detained at gunpoint by Warwick detectives in Maryland Street, Stanthorpe, at about 4.45 pm yesterday. He was later questioned in connection with the bashing and robbery of a pay clerk at Moorooka.
• New Police Station Plans Approve The estimated cost if £14,641. It is anticipated that the offices now occupied by the police in the Court House building will be taken over by some other government department housed in the building.
May 14
• Obituary: Frederick Arthur Thompson
• Fruit Train Shows Good Profit
May 21
• Rabbit Inquiry Committee Evidence The Rabbit Inquiry Committee appointed by the Queensland Government to inquire into the retention of rabbit fences, sat in Toowoomba. Evidence was strongly in favour of retaining rabbit fences and keeping rabbits out of Queensland. (Evidence of rabbits at Cottonvale in the 1930’s – William Herbert Shatte).
May 30
• Stanthorpe Police arrest youths at gunpoint
June 20
• Make District Attractive Instead of spending £100,000 on the proposed Civic Centre, why doesn’t the Council spend instead a fraction of this amount to make the Granite Belt what it could well be – something of a tourist attraction? F.J. Siviter
• McKechnie Wins by 683 With the distribution of the preferences of the Australian Labor Party candidate, Mr. HA McKechnie, candidate for the Country Party, won the Carnarvon seat by a majority of 683.
June 25
• Pikes Creek Dam Proposal A proposal for the construction of the dam on Pikes’ Creek to provide water to irrigate 30,000 acres of rich river flats of the Dumares River as far downstream as Goondiwindi is to be placed before the Federal Government by the Governments of Queensland and New South Wales, inviting the Commonwealth Government to participate in the joint construction of this and other dams in the district.
• New Presbyterian Church Laying of Foundation Stone of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. The church in Stanthorpe would be one of the monuments which would mark the Centenary Year of the Presbyterian Church in Stanthorpe. The new church is to be a brick structure and the contract price is £16,219. (History of Presbyterian Church in Stanthorpe; Church first near Court House, later in Railway Street)
July 4
• Death of Mrs. Mary Jane Gleeson The late Mrs. Gleeson was one of the last of the original business people of Stanthorpe and leaves behind her grateful and affectionate memories in the minds of Many people of the Granite Belt.
• Mrs. Gleeson in the hard days of the 1920’s and 30’s was actually the saviour of many orchardists by the consideration which she extended to them in those difficult time. Without that kindness in supply them with the necessities of life on extended terms, many people who today would have lost their properties and the district as a whole would have suffered severely in consequence.“
July 9
• Hotel Fire: Tribute Paid to Firemen O’Mara’s Hotel Fire – Brigade arrived in eight minutes
July 11
• Farewell to Mr. and Mrs. PJR Hilton Mr. Hilton came to Stanthorpe in 1921 at the age of 21 years and was first elected to Parliament for the Carnarvon electorate 28 years ago in May, 1935. He represented the electorate continuously from that date until defeated at the recent election. Mr. Hilton rose to ministerial rank in the Labour Government, holding the portfolios of Housing and Lands.
July 30
• Council to Press for Apology Stanthorpe Shire Council demanded an apology from Courier Mail for statements made by Dr. Joan Tully in an address on Participation of Migrant Youth in the Social and Cultural Life, made to the Citizenship Convention on June 4, 1963. Dr. Tully concluded her address with these words.
“In other similar communities where no such conscious effort has been made to break down these prejudices and reduce hostility, the position has remained the same as it was on the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area ten years ago.
In Stanthorpe, for instance, Italians came to town to shop on Thursdays and Australians on any other day. “
So, it seems that even where prejudice and hostility between communities in preventing the participation of migrant youth in the social and cultural life of the Australian community, this can be overcome, given time. it take skilled leadership, initiative and imagination, but does not need many people do it. it can be done but only on a community basis. Cr. Rogers said that Dr. Tully’s statement was “silly and malicious.“
August 6
• Pikedale Homestead Burnt to the Ground £50,000 loss in fire. Eighty years old Pikedale Station homestead, situated 21 miles south west of Stanthorpe on the Stanthorpe Texas Road, was completely destroyed by fire early on Sunday morning. At sunset, all that remained of the 54 roomed building was a gaunt, glowing skeleton of stone and cement. Owner of the homestead is Major Harold de Vahl Rubin of Toorak House, Hamilton, who brought the property six years ago. (Pikedale Station History)
• Official Opening of International Club “The Stanthorpe shire owes a great deal to the Italian community who are increasingly playing a greater part in the public affairs of the district. There are four service club sin Stanthorpe and all number Italians among their members. Italians are prominent in the Stanthorpe and District Choral Society and the Stanthorpe Repertory Society and area making good use of their undoubtedly fine talents. They are also prominent in sporting activities and they are taking an increasing part in various other enterprises in the district.“ Editorial
August 13
• Explosion a Mystery Corner of Folkestone & Symes Street Within minutes, scores of people carrying torches and many dressed only in pyjamas and dressing gowns were cautiously searching the paddock for the cause of the explosion. The blast apparently originated from exploding gelignite at the roots of a large tree which has only recently been blown from the ground.
August 27
• Coolmunda Dam Approved
September 5
• Dr. Joan Tully’s Denial The Stanthorpe Shire Council at its meeting held on Monday, September 2, received a letter from the University of Queensland which stated that Dr. Joan Tully denied stating that she said in an address to the Citizenship Convention held in Canberra that Italians shopped on Thursdays and Australians on other days in Stanthorpe. Portion of speech was cut due to lack of time.
October 3
Romantic Story of Fruit Industry History of the Stanthorpe Fruit Industry, by H. St. John Pratt (Cool Storage, First vegetable grower on large scale, Fr. Davadi, Growth of Industry, Soldier Settlement, Use of DDT on fruit fly)
• First Discovery of Tin Early Mining, Thunderbolt – by A.E. Bateman
• Obituary: Stanley Bamberry
• First Sewerage Connection Next Monday The first connection of Stanthorpe’s £600,000 sewerage scheme is expected by made in Thorpe Street
October 15
• Turning on Ceremony Sewerage and water augmentation schemes The Minister for Local Government and Conservation, Mr. Harold Richter, performed the turn-on ceremony for the Stanthorpe sewerage scheme, estimated to cost over £600,000 and the water augmentation scheme which has cost £42,000. “The scheme would improve the health standards of the town and remove the waste domestic waters and solve many problems for householders and for the local authority.“ The first connection had been made the previous Thursday and this was the home of Mr. Mrs Munnings. Mr. Richter pressed a button which automatically fired a shotgun which unveiled a plaque commemorating the event. (Council Park, Marsh Street). At this stage, considerable humour was introduced into the proceedings when a lavator on a truck was driven round by Mr. Gino Zanatta on a tractor. Gino was dressed as an undertaker and leading the way was Mr. Ken McPherson dressed as a parson. On the front of the “Little House“ was RIP, and at the back the words, “Not a Sad But A Glad Goodbye“.
November 19
• Texas Hall Case Privy Council Rejects Appeal
The Privy Council rejects an appeal by Inglewood Shire Council against a judgement of the Australian High Court in what has become known as the Texas Hall Case.
November 26
• Civic Library Will Cost £17,739 Council accepts revised tender for library to be incorporated in the Civic Centre
December 24
• Obituary: Mr. R. G. Newlands
