This week in history: January 30, 1925

From the archives of the River Murray Advocate...

St Joseph’s Convent opened by Archbishop Spence

Sunday marked an epoch in the history of the Roman Catholic Church at Murray Bridge, the occasion being the opening of the new St Joseph’s Convent, opposite the Catholic Church on Railway Terrace.

The opening ceremony was performed by His Grace the Archbishop of Adelaide, Dr L. Spence.

Among the others present were Sister Marion, Sister Carolus and Sister Francis Raphael of the Order of St Joseph, who will be the permanent teachers at the convent, and Sister Mary Claude, provincial of the order, and Sister Teresa.

Reverend Father O’Connell, priest in charge of the parish, and his assistant, Reverend Father Gatzemeyer, were present in their official capacities.

The proceedings commenced with a brief service in the church, after which the congregation, led by the altar boys, adjourned to the convent, where the Archbishop formally blessed the institution.

The school opened on Tuesday with 84 scholars.

What is the meaning thereof?

When an appeal was made to Murray Bridge residents to subscribe funds to enable the families of our rowers to be maintained while the rowers themselves were in Paris, the public subscribed magnificently, and the result was that the men were able to make the trip knowing that the requirements of their families would be met and attended to during their absence.

Since the men have returned, however, they do not appear to have given that support to the club, and the young rowers, that they were reasonably expected to do.

The result of this neglect was seen on Saturday last, when our representatives were only able to annex one first prize at their own regatta and, most astounding of all, the club was unable to place a senior crew on the river.

Residents and visitors alike were loud in their condemnation of the lack of public spiritedness which the veteran oarsmen have exhibited.

Undesirables moved on

Undesirable persons are finding Murray Bridge a very unhealthy place to indulge their vicious habits, as police are keeping a vigilant eye on their movements.

Charles Bloomfield, who gave vent to his feelings on East Terrace and used lurid language, had the pleasure of having his misdeeds recounted to Messrs F.W. Lehmann and A.W. Pugh in the Murray Bridge Police Court, and was fined £3, with 15/ costs, or in default one month’s imprisonment in the Adelaide Jail.

Robert James and William Gallagher Crawford were presented at the same court and were adjudged to be idle and disorderly persons, and were each ordered to retire from the public gaze for a period of one month.

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• Read more: trove.nla.gov.au.