song

Ballarat Orphanage history in brief In 1865, the Ballarat District Orphan Asylum was a non-denominational children’s home for up to 300 children of both sexes aged four to 16 years. In 1909, it became the Ballarat Orphanage. In the late 1920s, a Boys' Hostel and new Toddlers' Block were established. Capacity was never reached. In 1953, there were 198 children, 144 of whom were state wards. In 1998, the organisation became Child and Family Services Ballarat Inc. In 2015, Child & Family Services Ballarat (CAFS) celebrated 150 years of supporting children, young people and families. In 2000, the Heritages Services Program was established to support past residents of the orphanage and children’s homes. Source: www.findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au/collectionresultspage/...

Most widely held works by Ernest H Grenfell Hinkler: one step Ballarat the fair; Back to Inverleigh: re-union song 1930; Slumber-land: a lullaby, published in 1931 La mort, 1931 For God so loved the world: St. John 3 ver. 16-17, 1931 Jes' joggin' along, 1929 Subjects associated with Grenfell's work: Air pilots, Death, Hinkler Bert, Lullabies Queensland Sacred songs. Source: worldcat.org/identities/np-grenfell,%20ernest%20h/

It seems the song has some association with Berth Hinkler a pioneer Australian aviator (dubbed "Australian Lone Eagle"[1]) and inventor. He designed and built early aircraft before being the first person to fly solo from England to Australia, and the first person to fly solo across the Southern Atlantic Ocean. He married in 1932 at the age of 39 and died less than a year later after crashing into the remote countryside near Florence, Italy during a solo flight record attempt. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Hinkler

Leila Ruth Rowland was a pianist born in the family home on Bazaar Street in Maryborough, Qld on 23rd September 1879. She was known for her Burnett Waltz for piano. Source: "A Chronological History of Australian Composers and Their Compositions 1901 ..." By Stephen Pleskun, 2021

The Sunshine State by prolific Queensland composer Clyde Collins was written for the centenary of Queensland in 1959. It is still performed regularly by bands and choirs, especially on Queensland Day, 6 June. The State Library owns the Clyde Collins Papers, a collection of his musical compositions, arrangements, and writings. Songwriter, harmonicist, and clarinetist Horrie Dargie (1917-1999) recorded the song in 1959 with the famous Horrie Dargie Quintet. The quintet’s farewell concert in Sydney Town Hall before their tour of England (1952) became Australia’s first Gold Record, selling 75,000 copies. Source: www.slq.qld.gov.au/blog/sunshine-state