July2015_DAYBORO DISTRICT HISTORICAL SOCIETY INC
Est. 2004
Dayboro Remembers: Private Donald Archibald Bond
Donnie was born on the family farm at King Scrub on 21 October 1894 to parents William Henry and Annie (nee Hamilton) Bond, the 6th of their 8 children. He enlisted at Brisbane on 29 September 1915, the 2nd of the 4 Bond brothers to do so. Fred enlisted on 25 August 1914, Winsley on 3 January 1916 and Tom on 20 August 1917.
His uncle Thomas Joseph Brundrit was already serving on the Gallipoli peninsula (KIA 8 November 1915 – see April Grapevine). Two of his Hamilton cousins also enlisted, Donald Alexander just a few weeks before on 9 September 1915, and Hugh on 14 August 1916 (DOW 20 August 1918). Donnie embarked on 28 March 1916 aboard “HMAT Commonwealth” and finished his training in Egypt. He then proceeded to France where he joined the 15th Battalion in early October. He was killed in action on 19 December 1916 at Bernafay Wood during the Battle of the Somme. He was buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban, Somme France, aged 22. In a letter to his sister-in-law Jean, written only one week before he was killed, he said “We are having very cold weather over here Jean. It was snowing this morning and its raining cats and dogs now. Just picture me mooching about among the snow…I often wish I was back in sunny Q’land. I have been in a good few places but I have never found one to beat it yet…It is only a fortnight till Xmas…I suppose this time I will be listening to Fritz sending over shells. I hope I am over there for the next one.” Sadly that was not to be.
Dayboro Anniversaries:
There were two recent anniversaries in Dayboro’s history, although not really ones to be celebrated:
30 June: 50 years since the closure of the Dayboro Butter Factory in 1965
1 July: 60 years since the closure of the Dayboro Railway Line in 1955
Dayboro Co-Operative Dairy Association Ltd
On 14 September 1903 His Excellency the Governor Sir Herbert Chermside opened the new Silverwood Dairy Company butter factory at Terrors Creek. The company was congratulated on having a factory which was stated to be the most up-to-date in Australia. By 1906 there were 170 local suppliers of cream. In 1916 local farmers formed a co-operative to take over the Silverwood Butter Factory. The factory building burnt down in May 1929, was rebuilt and opened again by 1930. The factory closed on 30 June 1965. A newspaper of the day stated:
“…They [the Directors and a big majority of suppliers] felt that the factory had outlived its usefulness. It had become a depot for milk for the Brisbane market and caused double handling. Most of the factory’s 90 suppliers now had their milk taken direct to Brisbane…Thirteen employees at the factory had found new work.”
Enoggera-Dayboro Railway
It was announced in January 1955 that the section of the railway line from Ferny Grove to Dayboro was to be closed, along with 5 other branch lines, because of operating losses and a relatively small amount of traffic.
Some people seem to believe that the line was closed because of the Camp Mountain crash which occurred on 5 May 1947. The Camp Mountain train disaster is still the largest loss of life in a rail accident on the Queensland railway network with 16 fatalities, including both the driver and fireman of the train; 38 were injured. However it was not the reason for the closure of the line. This accident occurred almost 8 years before the decision was made to close the line. The line was closed on 1 July 1955.
Carmel Bond, President – Ph: 3425 1717 (h) or 3425 2032 (Dayboro Cottage)
Email: carmel.bond@bigpond.com or ddhs4521@gmail.com
