WOODANILLING AGRICULTURAL HALL Lost Katanning

Woodanilling Agricultural Hall

The hall was built to the west of the railway line and on the north side of Robinson Road. A plaque marks the site of the original building. Being in the valley of the Boyerine Creek its low lying position made it vulnerable to flooding.

The hall (40 feet x 20 feet) with a gable iron roof was made of stone. When the new hall was built east of the rail siding in 1922 tenders were called for the removal of the old hall. This was sold for 20 pounds as well as taking over the debt of 102 pounds existing on it. Frank Carter bought the building and sold it to the Co-op who pulled it down and used the stone for building the new store.

The Woodanilling Agricultural Hall c1906

HISTORY
In 1901 the little community commenced building of an agricultural hall with financial assistance from the Government. Stone was carted by farmers from ‘Jam Hill’ (about one mile north of the town), but one serious accident was to occur in November 1901. Ted Wilhelm was descending a hill when the shafts of the dray broke under the load. Wilhelm was thrown from the dray and had his leg badly broken in several places when the load of stone crashed onto him.

On 16 April 1902, the largest crowd ever assembled at Woodanilling, gathered for the opening of the hall. To coincide with this event a cricket match, picnic and dance in the evening were organised.

At the official opening at 4pm, Elijah Bell, in proposing the toast to Parliament, spoke for all those present when he drew attention to the wants of Woodanilling. Bell focused on the need for a school, a Post Office and a separate Road Board for Woodanilling. These remarks were reiterated by Messrs. Mouritz and Keirle. Keirle went on to say he thought that within a radius of ten miles of Woodanilling, the farm settlement was larger than any other portion of the Great Southern Line.

When the Member for the district, F. H. Piesse, officially opened the hall he reminded those present that in the early days when he used to travel over those parts, he had no idea that fine halls of this description would be erected today. He said that there was no one who was so well acquainted with the district as himself and how he helped clear a piece of land, near where the present railway siding is, for the purpose of stacking sandalwood.

The management of the Woodanilling Agricultural Hall was taken over by the Road Board in 1910. Apparently however, it became neglected and in 1915 a Hall committee again became active and took control of the hall.

During the First World War, Edna Bell produced concerts in the old hall to raise money for the war effort; a lot of finance being collected. Dances were held regularly in the hall, the popular ones being The Garden Waltz and square dances such as the Quadrill, Lancers and the Alberts.

IN THE NEWS

From the newspaper report of the following meeting it seems that this was quite fiery and, it appears, it all started because of a missing key!

WOODANILLING AGRICULTURAL HALL
Mr Mouritz re-elected on the committee.
The key mystery discussed.
Lively interjections

Great Southern Herald
25 June, 1904

Perhaps never before has a meeting created such excitement at Woodanilling as that held last Saturday evening when members of the local Agricultural Hall were asked to elect a committeeman in consequence of the resignation of the chairman Mr J. J. Mouritz) who, however, offered himself for re-election. During the few weeks previous Mr Mouritz had been subject to severe criticism by correspondents of this paper, and, as he had so far kept a silent tongue, it was natural that great interest should have been manifested as to whether he would refute the charges made against him.

The meeting did not commence until nearly 9.30 p.m. as it was thought necessary to await the arrival of Messrs Mouritz and E. R. Bell who had attended the meeting of the Katanning Roads Board during the afternoon. When these gentlemen at last put in an appearance, they were greeted with loud cheers by their respective supporters, and shortly afterwards Mr H. S. Oldrey, who was elected chairman, walked towards the platform, and having explained, amidst loud cheering, the purpose of the meeting, remarked that he would be pleased to receive nominations.

Mr H. Trye thought that as several accusations had been made against Mr Mouritz it would be better to discuss the matter in dispute before the election of a new committeeman took place so that nobody need be prejudiced. The chairman said that the meeting had been called only to elect a member on the committee, and consequently that was the business to be now dealt with.

Mr E. It. Bell: Will you give me the dates when Mr Mouritz handed in his resignation and when the committee dealt with it?
The Chairman: Mr Mouritz sent in his resignation on 9th inst., and it was accepted by the committee on 25th inst.

Mr Bell: Well you hadn’t dealt with the resignation when the advertisement with regard to this meeting appeared in the “Great Southern Herald.”
The Chairman: When Mr Mouritz handed in his resignation it was found impossible to get a meeting of the committee before 15th inst., but the committee endorsed the secretary’s action in sending in an advertisement. (Loud cheers).

Mr E. R. Bell: There is no doubt this meeting is illegal. (Interruption.)
The Chairman: The secretary took it upon himself to call the meeting, and the committee endorsed his action. (Cheers.)

Mr A. Errington then proposed that Mr Mouritz be re-elected. (Loud cheers and groans.)
Mr G. Wilson seconded the motion.

Mr H. Pittelkow: Has Mr Mouritz stated his reasons for resigning?
The secretary, having been called upon by the chairman, read Mr Mouritz’s letter which stated that he thought it advisable to resign in consequence of the accusations made against him in letters in the “Great Southern Herald.”

Mr Mouritz: When I asked Mr Pittelkow to make the charges against me at a meeting recently, he refused to do so. Mr Mouritz then began to explain his position but the chairman ruled him out of order and asked if there were any further nominations.

Mr H. Trye was nominated, on the motion of Mr Luke Bell, seconded by Mr. C. Haddleton.
Mr W. Ferors: I wish to nominate Mr Keirle.
Mr Keirle: I beg to decline, (Cries of “No, don’t you.”)

Mr E. Wilhelm: Things have been working under a blanket, and things worked under a blanket are no good. – Tremendous cheering. – It is no good working points. – Hear, hear. –
If you are going to work points.

The Chairman: You are out of order.
Mr Wilhelm (excitedly): Let me speak!
The Chairman: You are not a member of the Hall and cannot speak.
Mr Wilhelm (warmly): Well then, throw me out. – Interruption.
The Chairman: I will close the meeting if order is not kept. – Wild confusion.
Mr Wilhelm: If we don’t hear both sides of the question we are in the dark. This is no meeting at all.
The Chairman: It is out of all reason
Mr Wilhelm: It is for you to reason. – Interruption.
Mr Wilhelm: Mr Mouritz has a clean sheet.
Mr B. Bell, senr.: That’s more than I have. – Loud laughter.

Mr Pittelkow moved that the chairman leave the chair.
Mr Bell, senr.: Yes, out you go.
Mr Ferors seconded the motion which, being put to the meeting, was lost, and the chairman consequently remained in his seat.

Mr Wilhelm: If you don’t go out, we will jolly well pull you out. The public will be the members. – Cheers
You have no right to be in the chair. You are neither a he, she, it or a tom cat. – Loud laughter.
A Voice: Oh, sit down
Mr Wilhelm: Shut up. I want to vote, and I will vote.

Mr E. R. Bell thought that they should obey the chairman “instead of making a fool of the whole thing.”

Mr Wilhelm rose to speak but was interrupted by Mr Trye who, turning round in a defiant manner, said “That man”
He could not finish his sentence, however, for a gentleman nearby inconsiderately gave his coattail a severe tug with the result that Mr Trye found himself suddenly deposited into his seat again. He immediately rose in a fighting attitude but discovered that he was about to chastise the wrong person, and sat down.

Mr E. R. Bell said that Mr Wilhelm had given a deal of money to the Hall and should be considered.
Mr Wilhelm: I want to say that if you have the meeting first, you might be sorry who you put in.

The Chairman: If the meeting desires it I will let it thrash the matter out. – Loud and prolonged cheering.

Mr Mouritz said that he might have made some explanation had Mr Pittelkow kept to the point at issue instead of jumping from one thing to another. In the first place he was accused of telling a lie.

Mr Bell, senr.: Quite right. – Interruption.

The Chairman: Mr Mouritz I must call you to order. I have received two nominations.
A Voice: Will you take new members?
The Chairman: Yes, new members can be enrolled, and will be entitled to vote.
Mr R. Bell, senr.; How much is it?
The Chairman: Five shillings.
Mr R. Bell said: Oh, my God, too much, too much! – Loud laughter.
A few new members were then enrolled. Subsequently Messrs Mitchell and Pittelkow were appointed scrutineers.

After about ten minutes the chairman announced the result of the ballot, viz., Mouritz, 16 votes; Trye, 8; and stated, amidst the wildest confusion, that, if the members would like to thrash the matter in question out now, they would be enabled to do so.

Mr. Mouritz who was received with loud cheering and groans, returned thanks for having been re-elected. He had resigned owing to the letters which recently appeared in the “Great Southern Herald” concerning him. He had thought it best to say nothing, but, as a protect against the almost criminal libels which, would not have been made by any man worth coming at, he had resigned.

Interruption. He was accused of telling a lie.
Mr R. Bell, senr.:. Quite right, I say.
Mr Mouritz: I wanted Mr Pittelkow to produce evidence at the meeting.
Mr R. Bell, senr.: He’s prepared to do it.
Mr Mouritz: We met to discuss the question in a friendly way.
Mr E Bell, senr.: Now then, unfriendly, unfriendly!

Mr Mouritz: At the meeting Mr Pittelkow refused to produce evidence in support of his accusations; and consequently he (the speaker) had considered it better to treat the matter with silent contempt. – Hear, hear. As a public man he knew that the publication of the dispute had done Woodanilling a great deal of harm, and he had been told that they were the most quarrelsome lot of men on the Great Southern Railway.

Mr Pittelkow: Mr. Mouritz has said that I am an irresponsible person and I think he was hardly right in that he has left alone the serious accusations which I made against him in the local press. With regard to the lock Mr Mouritz stated he never had a letter from the Education Department. I would like the chairman to read this (producing a letter from the Inspector-General of Schools amidst great cheering on the part of his supporters).

The chairman then read the communication, viz: “Education Department, Perth, April 29,1904. For head teacher, Woodanilling. I am informed by the Commissioner of Police that the statement which you made to me to the effect that the lock of your desk had been forced open is quite incorrect. He states that the lock is defective, and the desk will open on receiving the slightest jar. I regret that apparently you are not on good terms with the Hall committee. They inform me that a letter was delivered: to you on the last school day before the Easter holidays instructing you to hand over the key of the Hall to the committee, but that you did not comply with the request and that you took the key away with you during the Easter vacation.

They also inform me that during the Christmas vacation the committee were obliged to take the lock off the door because you did not leave the key with the secretary. You must understand that it is your duty to treat the committee with proper courtesy and consideration and hand over the key to them when required.

I understand that the committee naturally feel aggrieved at your bringing forward a charge which proved to be without foundation. It would be well for you to see the secretary on the subject. I understand that if you are prepared to treat the committee properly, no objection will be raised to your being provided with a separate key. Until this is done you must fall in with the arrangements proposed by the committee and, if necessary, you must call at the station master’s house for the key and return it to him after school.”

Mr E. R. Bell said that some time ago there was much agitation to get the school going. It was found that there was not a sufficient number of scholars so they formed a committee to watch over the school and make up any deficiency in salary, and this committee had written stating that there was not a word of truth regarding the teacher’s refusal to give up the key.

Mr Errington said that he had never denied publicly or otherwise that a communication had been forwarded to the Education Department stating that in consequence of the teacher’s not leaving the key with the secretary the committee had to take the lock off the door. As a matter of fact, such a communication authourised by the committee had been sent. The Department had been informed to that effect, and the speaker read a copy of the letter forwarded to it.

In Mr Pittelkow’s letter in the local press he stated that the Department had been informed that the teacher declined to hand over the key, etc. This was simply throwing dust in the eyes of the public as no such word as declined had passed from the committee to the Department. The Department was informed that the teacher did not leave the key with the secretary.

Mr Pittelkow: May I ask you when you took the lock off?
Mr Mouritz said that, when the schoolteacher went away, she left the key with Mrs Stevens to give to his son, who, a few days subsequently, told him of the fact that he had it. He (the speaker) told him to deliver up the key to Mr Errington at once. The key which his son then produced seemed to him a different one.

Mr B. Bell, senr.: I beg to differ.
Mr Mouritz (continuing): Afterwards my wife found the key in a place where we keep papers and other things.
Mr B. Bell, senr. (nudging the person next to him and laughing loudly): Listen to him!
Mr. Mouritz: The teacher never refused to give the key up. It was clearly her duty to hand over the key to Mr Errington, not Mrs Stevens.

Mr Pittelkow: Did not Miss McMahon tell you that she was going to leave the key at the post office for you?
Mr Mouritz: No; I, didn’t want the key.
Mr Pittelkow: Well, how could you get in?
Mr B. Bell, senr. (laughing); How could you get in?
Mr Mouritz: I would have seen the secretary.

Mr Pittelkow then put several questions to Mr Mouritz, until the latter gentleman said he was beside the question.
The Chairman: I think that is all unless Mr Pittelkow has anything else to say.
Mr R. Bell, senr.: Speak up.
The Chairman: I would want a 100-power voice to speak against you.

Mr E. H. Bell said that in his opinion an injustice had been done to Miss McMahon. He would like to move, “That this meeting regrets the paragraph, which was sent to the Education Department, viz., That in consequence of the teacher not handing over the key to the secretary when going on the Christmas vacation, the committee were compelled to take the lock off the door, and it be erased.”
Mr Pittelkow seconded the motion.

In answer to a question the chairman remarked that he now regarded the meeting as a public one.

Mr. E. Wilhelm: I quite understand now that I was in the wrong. I didn’t want to do anybody any harm, but I thought things ought to be thrashed out, and I hope you will take back the words I said.

Mr Mouritz said that the committee, after due consideration, had written to the Department which replied that it was glad the matter of the key had been settled.
Mr B. Bell, senr. Rot!
Mr Mouritz: I do not think Miss McMahon had a stronger supporter than.
Mr R. Bell, senr.: Rot!
Mr Mouritz: But I do not think the letter should be altered. I will move an amendment, “That this meeting do not take any farther action in the matter.”

This was seconded by Mr B. Wilcox and carried, amidst tremendous cheering, by 27 votes to 13. The meeting then terminated.

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