January 11
• Rockets & Hail – Campaign to Be Continued – Prevention Committee’s Plans
The Stanthorpe Hail Prevention Committee is so well satisfied with the results of rockets in dealing with hail storms that they proposed to purchase more rockets and farmers are to be given the opportunity of placing orders for them for use in protecting the orchards. The French consul in Brisbane has made an offer to the Hail Committee to facilitate the transport of special hail rockets from France to Stanthorpe.
January 13
• Firing of Rockets
As the meeting of the Warwick City Council, Alderman E.S. Flitcroft made the suggestion that the firing of rockets on the Granite Belt by orchardists might be having an effect on the Warwick Rainfall. Alderman Flitcroft declared that according to information he had been given, Stanthorpe people were of the opinion that some of the orchardists were “rocket happy“. “If people indiscriminately fire rockets at storms and if these rockets break up these storms, Warwick will eventually become a dust bowl.”
• Canning Peaches – Experimental Pack
• Rockets & Weather: Hail Storms Only Affected – Warwick Statement Refuted
January 18
• New Fire Engine Delivered to Stanthorpe
The Stanthorpe Fire Brigade on Monday took delivery of its new fire engine. This is a three ton Dodge equipped with an auxiliary tank, fire engines, pumps and hoses. A section of the brigade has been formed at Wallangarra under Mr. Sugden.
• Navigator kills- ejected from jet bomber- air force tragedy at Liston
When his parachute failed to open after being rejected from a Canberra jet bomber a young RAAF navigator was killed at Liston. The bomber was on a training flight to Stanthorpe and was flying low at the time the accident happened. An eyewitness to the accident was Mrs. Harry Burton, who husband owns the property, and Horace Beddow, a neighbour.
January 25
• Blessing and official opening of new St. Joseph’s Convent School
February 1
• Wallangarra Voluntary Fire Brigade formed
February 3
• Carnarvon Bridge- move for widening- local authorities support
February 8
• Official opening of Show- PJR Hilton
• Stanthorpe 75th annual show- included in the program was the firing of two rockets on Friday and Saturday afternoon by Peter Wilmot- exploded 6000 feet in the air.
February 9
• Hail Prevention- review of last season
By Tom Archer, Secretary
Editorial “Case leans heavily on the side of the rockets being beneficial in fighting hailstorms.“
February 15
• Anti Hail Rocket- Danger to Aircraft
“When nearing the Granite Belt as a passenger in the plane, each and every cloud is viewed by me with considerable apprehension lest some zealous orchardist may decide that such clouds contain hail. Having seen for the first time these mighty rockets fired into the upper air at the Show, I have decided to use the bus service until I am assured that suitable care is taken by these rocket firers to ascertain that no planes are in the vicinity above those low lying possible hail clouds.“
February 17
• Anti Hail Rockets- growers form groups
Growers are banding together to buy anti hail rockets
February 24
• Pillar Hydrants to be installed in Stanthorpe’s main street
March 8
• Price of apple may reach record high
April 2
• DSGC proposal rejected (anti hail rockets)
May 3
• One million new Australians (new settlers league in Queensland)
May 17:
• Coastal committees report on anti-hail rockets
Owing to the publicity given to the use of rockets against local hail storms on the Granite belt, growers in Rochedale, Sunnybank, and Eight Mile Plains area south of Brisbane have decided to take steps to protect their orchards and crops against hail damage.
May 24
• Graziers stand on dingo fence
Stanthorpe graziers oppose Dingo fence including any part of the Shire
May 26
• Apple Blossom Festival to be held
• Tossed coin for office
Cr. Rep of Division 3 on Fire Board is decided by a toss of a coin- Cr. Les Atkins elected Deputy Chairman
June 2:
• Suggested town plan for Stanthorpe
Civic survey, rural and industrial importance of Stanthorpe Shire, increased population of built up area, land sub-division, street plan
June 7
• Telephone exchange for The Summit
June 14
• Plans for Apple Blossom Week
Boxing tournament, aerial pageant, storm king dam regatta, fashion parade, tennis
June 23
• Film producer (Chauvel) visits Stanthorpe
June 28
• Council decided to have town plan for Stanthorpe
Children’s playground opened at Dalveen
July 19
• Moved to form Apex Club
August 2
• Jaycees in Stanthorpe
A move has been made to form a branch of Jaycees (Jr Chamber of Commerce) in Stanthorpe
• Meeting to form Apex Club
• Storm King Dam full
August 9
• Stanthorpe Apex Club formed
• Coin decided election of DSGC Chairman
Mr. DGT Gow elected over Mr. HE Phillips on the toss of a coin after a five all vote
September 20
• Air passengers to and from Stanthorpe
108 in, 109 out (August)- all time record
September 29
• Stanthorpe has worst hail storm in history
Only one comparable in 1901. Stanthorpe was white with hail but fortunately it travelled in a narrow path and the vast bulk of orchards escaped damage. Premises flooded as hail built up in gutters and the storm continued for over an hour. electric festoons placed on the street for Apple Blossom week were smashed. Efforts were made by some growers to attack the storm with rockets from Applethorpe and Broadwater.
• Apple Blossom week proving big success
10,000 at regatta at Storm King Dam. Other festivities includes a boxing tournament, model flying club display, field day at CSIRO Station, Applethorpe, monster street carnival, sporting fixtures, tug-o-war, and car trial.
October 11
• Ballandean electricity turning on ceremony
October 13
• Anti-hail rockets distributed
850 rockets- 3 pound each
• Another damaging hail storm
Districts struck were Amiens, Pozieres, Bapaume, Cottonvale, and Dalveen. Zanatta Bros fired rockets without success.
October 20
• Applethorpe hail prevention group formed
October 26
• Severnlea CWA rest room opened
• Summit Methodist hall opened
November 8
• Hailstorm and rockets at Pozieres
Reports by H.E Franklin on October 18 storms
Rockets fired from 10-14 posts at half mile intervals- in all 23 rockets fired, damping of igniting equipment by heavy falls of rain, Zanatta Bros sent up 11.
November 10
• Sir Arthur Fadden’s policy speech- Country Party to open campaign in Stanthorpe
November 17
• Sir Arthur Fadden opens campaign in Stanthorpe
November 29
• Apex Club inaugurated
December 13
• Sir Arthur Fadden wins easily in McPherson
December 15
• Border Post to cost 3d
