OVER 30 people packed the Wonthaggi and District Historical Society Railway Museum presentation room last Thursday.
It was the third last 15 Minutes of History talk hosted by the Society and numbers always exceeded 30, closer to 50 at times, as 15 talks on a variety of topics were presented over the two-week period commencing Saturday January 6.
Presented by Kate McNish (nee Gannon), daughter of Tom Gannon (the second Tom Gannon involved in the Powlett Express, otherwise referred to as Tom Gannon Jr., not to be confused with Tom Gannon Sr. or Tom Gannon the son).
Fondly known as TJG, Kate reminisced on life with the Powlett Express. Memories and gratitude flowed, painting a vivid picture of life at the centre of the newspaper.
Kate opened recounting the early days, when the newspaper’s office and the family home were intertwined, creating a unique atmosphere of bustling activity – formerly on the site where Maria’s Bridal now sits on McBride Avenue.
TJG’s commitment to journalistic integrity was unwavering. His insistence on accuracy and truth in reporting left an indelible mark on the community. Kate reminisced about her father’s unwavering pursuit of the truth, even when it meant facing consequences or dissolving friendships.
“Tom was a stickler for accuracy,” Kate said.
“Whatever he did, and whatever he printed in his beloved Express had to be right. That was what he strived for. We all knew he told the truth, but not everyone enjoyed reading about it.”
The audience was transported through time as Kate shared glimpses of family
history, from her parents’ courtship in 1948 to the bustling household on McKenzie Street. The phone calls to the Herald, the ABC and Gippsland papers as the kids watched television.
“The phone was placed in a very logical place in the 1960s in between the kitchen and lounge where the vinyl meets carpet, in a corner just behind the durable kitchen laminex table and behind the chair that mum generally sat in at the end of the day… It was here that dad would relay the stories…”
The Gannon family home was the hub of the Powlett Express. From the clattering noise of printing machines to the meticulous process of developing photos in the bathtub and knocks at the backdoor.
“Developing meant running water at a consistent temperature and flow. Every tap in the house, outside as well, and flushing toilet would have an A4 piece of paper stuck on it as a reminder not to turn the tap on and heaven help the person if they open the bathroom door whilst dad was working…”
Kate also shed light on the challenges faced by the Gannon family, from the impact of front-page stories destroying friendships to sacrifices made by Kate’s mother, who managed a bustling household.
There were also the memories, which have little changed in the world of journalism – those of reporting on a fire, which drew much laughter from the crowd.
“A fire would see dad rushing as much as a fireman – stop signs and speed limits ignored.
“Simply picking up the phone and asking the operator ‘Where’s the fire?’ was a method used to know its location and off he went.
“Also, along with my brothers at times, running outside to climb on the washhouse roof to get onto the house roof to direct dad where the smoke was coming from to get there even quicker.”
As the narrative unfolded, it painted a poignant picture of a family that, through the pages of their newspaper, etched itself into the heart of the community—a legacy that lives on in the cherished memories of Wonthaggi’s residents.