Sometimes I spend hours, even days, compiling information about pioneers but unless it has been published as, rather than in, a F.T.C. JOURNAL, the information can be difficult to relocate. The son's history of the Mornington Peninsula is as rare as hen's teeth and is NOT FOR LOAN from the Mornington Peninsula Library, being sensibly archived. Yesterday, I spent hours in the Local History Room (which to me is like a jail)when I should have been at the beach, researching rate records in relation to James Cosmo Newbery and Dr. Charles Weld.When I finished,and switched off the microfiche machine, I could hardly walk.

I am often asked to recommend books with information about a particular Mornington Peninsula pioneer such as Blooming Bob White. Usually there aren't any, the only way to access the information being to type the pioneer's name and itellya in the search bar. Then that person, such as toolaroo, in this case, can communicate with me via FTC private messages, later email, being provided with rates information and so on,FROM THE COMFORT OF HOME until a family history can be written, in this case, Stephen Lynch's PIONEERS OF THE PENINSULA.

As toolaroo lives in New South Wales, it would be a bit much to have to travel to the local history room at Rosebud to read Hunter's history and probably just as expensive to buy a rare copy of the book. Therefore, I wrote an email to the M.P.S. LIBRARY requesting a special loan of the book so I could write a review (as I had for Susan Peatey's rare book) detailing information about pioneers that was not available from countless other sources.

I supplied information about the Rogers family which I will copy below. The reply was an invitation to spend up to the required two weeks in what is to me, a jail.

G.HUNTER ROGERS' "THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA". (Permanent Post.)
Lynne Luscombe. The illustrator of the sketches you posted was the son of the Dromana State School headteacher mentioned by Margaret Storey. His parents were married during his father's tenure at the school and the newlyweds' arrival at Dromana provoked a chuckle or two.

ROGERS-STIRLING.-A pretty house wedding was
solemnised at Winchelsea on Easter Monday, when
Miss Minnie Stirling, eldest daughter of the late
Mr. W. Stirling, was united to Mr. George Hunter
Rogers, son of Mr. James Rogers, of Bendigo, and
schoolmaster at Dromana. The wedding, which was
celebrated by the Rev. Colin Robertson took place
at the residence of the bride's mother, Winchelsea*.
It was very quiet, only relatives and most intimate
friends being present. The bride was married in
her travelling dress of brown cloth, which was
trimmed with velvet. She wore the orthodox tulle
veil and coronet of orange blossom, and carried a
lovely shower bouquet. There were four brides
maids in attendance, the Misses D. and F. Stirling,
who were gowned in blue cloth with relief of white
cloth and gold braid, and the Misses Daisy Stirling
and Elva Rogers, whose blue serge costumes were
trimmed with blue velvet. They all cariied shower
posies with ribbon streamers. The two elder
bridesmaids wore gold amethyst bangles, souvenirs
from the bridegroom, the younger bridesmaids' gifts
taking the form of crescent brooches set with
amethysts. At the conclusion of the ceremony a
light dejeuner was served. Later in the afternoon
the bride and bridegroom departed for Melbourne,
where a short honeymoon was spent at the Grand
Hotel. The travelling costume was completed by a
smart little toque of brown velvet with a touch of
pink.

They arrived at Dromana on one of the roughest
days of the season, so that passengers had
some difficulty in landing from the steamer, but as
soon as the large number of people who had
gathered on the pier to witness their arrival caught
sight of Mr. Rogers, he was literally showered with
rice. Nature, not to be out-done, added her quota
to the proceedings, and he was immediately drenched
by an extra big wave. The rice adhered to the wet
hat and garments, and caused much amusement.
The bride escaped most of this reception, as she, of
course, was not at once identified. The passengers
on board, as well as the folk on the pier, thoroughly
enjoyed the incident. (P.12, Table Talk, 3-5-1895.)

*The birth of a son (possibly the illustrator/ historian) at a hospital in Geelong, indicates that Minnie spent her confinement at her parents' residence.

Minnie's husband was involved in the leadership of many community organisations* as well as making the school's garden one of the best in the state. Minnie was a keen writer.**

* DROMANA.
At a meeting of residents held in
the Dromana Hall on Monday night it
was unanimously agreed to tender Mr.
G. H. Rogers a farewell social on
Wednesday night, the 16th. inst, prior
to his departure for McArthur, and to
make both Mr. and Mrs. Rogers the
recipients of some souvenier as a mark
of esteem. During the twelve years
Mr. Rogers has had charge of the local
State school, he has identified
himself with many progressive move-
ments for the advancement of Dromana
and district, and has filled both
creditably and satisfactorily the
positions of secretary of the Kanger-
ong Agricultural and Horticultural
Society and of the Dromana
Mfechanics' Institute and Free Library.
Mr. and Mrs. Rogers have always
cheerfully and willingly assisted at
numerous entertainments in aid of
various charitable movements through-
out the Peninsula. A strong com-
mittee has been formed to carry out
all necessary arrangements, and lists
are to be circulated in the district for
the convenience of all who are disposed
to contribute
.(P.2, Mornington Standard, 12-1-1907.)

** Minnie's THE JUMBOREE TALES, published in Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney) in the early 1900's, are like the children's tales written by Mrs Evelyn Gough (nee Rigg) of Rosebud, in that they are based on family members and their peninsula localities. Minnie's story about the golfers mentions one golfer still dressing as a footballer, a reference to her husband, and might have been inspired by a game on Dromana's original golf course (shown on Melbourne Brindle's map.) It would not surprise me if both Evelyn and Minnie's stories, like many of Roald Dahl's, originated as bedtime stories for their own offspring.

This sample involves the former ti tree swamp below the present Dromana Bowls Club. Ned Williams was said to have cut a road around Anthonys Nose (the rocks) in the mid 1880's and the spring's output now fed into a horse trough. No doubt it overflowed at times, causing a pool by the road.

"Beside the road leading to the Rocks is a long,
shallow pool, prettily fringed with soft green
grass, where llve hundreds and hundreds of
frogs.
They are very clever fellows, and sing part
songs and choruses all night long.
Coming home one night along tho road, Hun-
ter's father aud mother stopped to listen, and
enjoyed the music very much. Next morning
they told Hunter and his brother Stirling all
about it, and the little boys were delighted when
an invitation came for them "and their friends"
to be present that night at an entertainment
given by tho Frogs.
(Princess Spinaway's Department. The Jumboree Tales. III.—THE FROG'S FROLIC.
Australian Town and Country Journal (Sydney, NSW : 1870 - 1907) Wednesday 23 September 1903 p 38 Article)

G.HUNTER ROGER'S HISTORY.
This was written by Minnie's son Hunter, (who, with his brother Stirling, was a character in many of Minnie's stories.)

At the time he wrote this history, there was no internet and research would have involved perusing old copies of the Peninsula Post and interviewing descendant of pioneers. Another source may have been the multitude of articles published in 1934 to provoke interest in the centenary of Victoria's permanent settlement.

His illustrated map of the Mornington Peninsula shows the extent of his research such as in the detail of the King run in the parish of Tyabb but also misunderstanding of oral history, such as Polly Wells (Mrs David Kelly) being born in 1803; she was actually born on the site of the present Koonya Hotel at Sorrento in 1841* when Henry Cadby Wells and Robert Rowley were burning lime together, Polly having travelled from Melbourne in her mother's womb. The map also implies that Henry Tuck took up the Mantons Creek Run in 1843, at which time he was building the Arthurs Seat Homestead, his son, Henry Jnr. (the poet) being born there.

*Golden Wedding. FRANKSTON RESIDENTS.
Mornington Standard (Frankston, Vic. : 1911 - 1920) Saturday 8 February 1919 p 1 Article
POLLY'S ACTUAL NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH from THE WELLS STORY.
It is believed that after a short stay in Frankston, Henry and Hannah made their way down to Sorrento, they known as Point Nepean. They were blessed with another daughter, Mary Louise Wells, also nick-named 'Polly', born 7-6-1841 at Sorrento and Baptised in the Church of England, Parish of St. James on the 10-10-1841. Polly was the eldest of 13 children, having 12 brothers ! ! Polly is believed to have been the first white baby born to permanent settlers of the Mornington Peninsula.

Unfortunately, these misunderstandings and other errors are likely to become accepted history, having been quoted in later histories.Two others that spring to mind from the map are the steel lighthouse at McCrae dating from 1874 (the year it was fabricated) and the wooden lighthouse it replaced being itself replaced as the Arthurs Seat Lookout in 1920 (actually 1934.)

I feel a duty to examine the map and book to point out any further errors but the CHRONOLOGY OF BURIALS AT DROMANA must remain my chief priority. If I do find time, this will be done on the PIONEERS OF THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA page.

Hunter Rogers - AustLit
www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A48305
Hunter Rogers i(3 works by) (a.k.a. George Hunter Rogers; H. Rogers; see more)
Also writes as: Bunty
Born: 16 Jan 1896 Dromana, Victoria ; Died: 1985 Mornington, Victoria
Gender: Male

AUTHOR
Works By (3)
Works About Author (1)
This Author in Trove
Biography
George Hunter Rogers enlisted in 1915 and was a Private in the 6th Field Ambulance where he served as a stretcher bearer at Gallipoli. He also became a draughtsman to the Chief Engineer, 2nd Anzac Corps. He was repatriated to Australia on 1 April 1919. In civilian life Rogers worked as an engineer with the Public Works Department, Victoria. Rogers also wrote The Early History of the Mornington Peninsula (1960) and a History of the 'Woodlands' Golf Club [1984?]

THE MORNINGTON PENINSULA HISTORY MAP.
Illustrated map of Mornington Peninsula with historical an… | Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/39368267@N02/8742906186

VICTORIAN BDM was offline for scheduled maintenance when the above was written.
EventMarriage Event registration number2892 Registration year1895
Personal information
Family nameROGERS Given namesGeo Hunter SexMale Spouse's family nameSTIRLING Spouse's given namesIsabella Wina

ROGERS—STIRLING.—On the 15th inst., at Winchelsea,
by the Rev. C. Robertson, George Hunter, second
son of Jas. Rogers, Bendigo, to Minnie, eldest
daughter of the late Wm. Stirling, Winchelsea.
(P.1, Argus, 27-4-1895.)