horsedrawn

Au centre de la photo on voit la première Erskine Scottich Church. www.flickr.com/photos/urbexplo/5015402683

Sir Douglas Fraser ISO, President of the QATB State Council performed the official opening on 4 April 1969 before a crowd of about 250 people. In outlining the history of the QATB in Bundaberg the Committee Chairperson (Ald D.G. Rattray) said that the original building catered for a population of 10,000 when it was constructed in 1913 and that in 1969 the Centre had to meet the needs of a district population of 48,000. The Committee had arranged the manufacture of a specially-built sulky to trail the litter. The late H.R. Lassig donated a pony to draw the sulky. This turnout - horse, litter and officer - allowed speedy travel to the scene of accidents or the sick and needy. The patient would be placed on the litter and, on the return trip, the officer was compelled to push the litter and travel on foot. The pony was trained to follow the officer who was pushing the litter. The next step of progress was in 1912 when a four-wheel ambulance field wagon pulled by two horses and complete with two stretchers was acquired. The splendid service of the QATB by this time had been worthily recognised by the public of Bundaberg and district with their most generous financial support to the extent that the Committee in 1912 decided to build a new Centre on land that had been acquired in Maryborough Street. Source: www.ambulance.qld.gov.au/docs/history/Bundaberg.pdf

This is a particularly happy discovery for me as it shows my mother, Nancy Manders, with one of her younger brothers, probably William in front of my grandfather George Manders` living wagon. George along with brothers Albert, Joseph and sister Ellen traveled Manders Grand Star Menagerie from about 1912 to the early 1930s. Their parents Joseph and Ellen Manders had created the menagerie in the latter part of the 19th Century after the demise/sale of William Manders Grand National Star Menagerie. We have very few photographs from that time, so this is an amazing find.

Do you know that there is a Book , Called Manders Menagerie , with lots of photo’s in it , you can buy it on Ebay , or Amazon .

LuckyLady777 Yes... I do have it and it is a wonderful archive of the Manders family shows and menageries. The author was able to use excerpts from the short biography of my mother's childhood that I wrote for her in the section devoted to Manders Grand Star Menagerie.... so pleased about that :)