labourday

In North Queensland in the early 1900s, the Eight Hour Day procession, or “demonstration” as it was called, was a precursor to later Labour Day parades and was designed to celebrate the attainment of the eight-hour working day in Queensland in 1856. Early processions involved elaborately decorated floats showcasing union banners and working trade displays, which made their way through main streets, and were followed by a competitive sports carnival that was open to all. The day was just as much about unionists displaying pride in their trade or occupation as it was about a show of industrial solidarity. In most towns throughout the north, Eight Hour Day processions were celebrated with gusto, and in 1914, the Charters Towers newspaper The Evening Telegraph, reported on the largest Eight Hour Day Parade the town had seen so far. The Engine Drivers’ Association had their fine banner erected on a four-horse lorry, with about 50 members in attendance, and the Typographical Union had a number of printers at work on a two-horse lorry, issuing copies of the “Eight Hour Day Times” as they proceeded. Source: northqueenslandhistory.blogspot.com/2019/05/labour-day-ei...

“Monday morning broke fine and clear for the celebration of Eight Hour Day on Charters Towers. The day was observed as a general holiday, and at an early hour, people flocked to the main street to view the procession. Larger crowds turned out than for any previous May Day, and both sides of the streets along the route of the procession were densely crowded with spectators. The long procession started from the Union Hall shortly before 10 am, with the Fire Brigade Band marching at the head of the procession.” Following behind were a variety of trade unions, including the Bakers float, which had a representation of a brick oven and a number of bakers on the lorry who were engaged in the operations of their trade. At places along the route they handed out buns to the people lining the streets. Source: northqueenslandhistory.blogspot.com/2019/05/labour-day-ei...

Rose Harris Park was named after the local Rose Harris, a female saddler. She is not only credited with being one of the only female saddlers of the time, but also during the 1916 Clermont floods having saved at least six lives, by tying together bridles and horse-ropes to throw to people being pulled away by the floodwater, and pull them to safety. In honour of this, the Rose Harris park was given her name.​ Rose earned the title of 'hero' for saving the people. Rose was a saddler in Clermont from around 1918 until her shop burnt down in 1948. Her shop was located across Capella Street opposite the park that bears her name between the current 'Salon in Main' and 'Paris Cafe.' The local Clermont markets are held in the park on the first Saturday of each month. Rose, the only woman saddler in Australia at the time, is working on a saddle at ​William T. Harris's (her father's) Saddlery at Clermont. Various tools appear in the 1918 photograph. The words “Waiting for the boys of the A.L.H. presumably refers to the Australian Light Horse during World War 1. Rose Harris b. 5 May 1895, d. 21 June 1977 at age of 82: she was unmarried, daughter of Emma and W.T. Harris. Source: www.ccbg.com.au/rose-harris/

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