The Governor-General’s Visit to Doncaster (1920)

In February 1920, the Governor-General of Australia Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson and his wife Lady Helen visited Doncaster to meet orchardists and view and hear about the fruit-growing activities in Doncaster. 
Sir Ronald was the sixth Australian Governor-General. Before accepting this post in February 1914, he had served in the British army and been a member of the British parliament. His term of office in Australia lasted from 18 May 1914 to 6 October 1920. [1]
A number of newspapers including “The Reporter (Box Hill)”, “The Argus”, “The Age” and “The Australian” all provided a detailed account of the visit which included meeting shire and government representatives, prominent citizens, orchardists and school children. There was also a visit to orchards and the central cool-store, along with an afternoon tea at Shire President Councillor John Tully’s residence. 
“The Reporter (Box Hill)“ newspaper of 20 February 1920 reported on the Wednesday 18th February visit as follows [2] :-

The Governor-General and Lady Helen Ferguson visited Doncaster on Wednesday. The visit being an unofficial one was not previously announced. Notwithstanding this the residents assembled in goodly numbers, and the school children gathered in orderly file to worthily greet the vice-regal party. Their excellencies, who were accompanied by Mr. Cronin, director of the Botanical Garden, Melbourne, were welcomed on arrival by the president of the shire (Cr. J. Tully), Mr. W. H. Everard, M.L.A., the member for the district, Cr. H. J. Clay, Mr. R. A. Simmons (shire secretary and engineer), and other prominent citizens. The school children sang the National Anthem, and were thanked by the Governor-General. 
The visitors were then piloted over the settlement by the leading residents, including a number of local ladies. The orchards of Mr. W. A. Webb and Mr. August Thiele are typical samples of the district's productive power, and the enterprise of its people. An opportunity was afforded in Mr. Webb's orchard to witness the provision made to meet dry periods, from which the Doncaster district is not exempt, by storage of supplies of water secured by surface catchments in the rainfall season, the water being conveyed as required to the various levels, for distribution, when, required by electric power drawn from the council's supply. The feature in Mr. Thiele's orchard is a fine plantation of oranges and lemons, which has already yielded abundantly, and grown on soil that a few years ago was amongst the despised allotments of the district, forming yet another demonstration of how a maximum of production may be obtained from soil of a very average quality by the application to it of intelligence, industry, the latest methods of drainage, soil tilth, and judicious manuring. 
The central stores were visited, and the process explained by the engineer, Mr. J. Hewish. At this and the orchardists' store the governor-general was shown over the building by the engineer in charge, Mr. Sutherland, and indicated his interest and practical knowledge of these various methods of fruit storage and conservation. The central store, it might be observed, was built and for some time managed by the Government. Finally, it was purchased by the growers, and a non-paying incubus converted into a paying concern, and on a basis of low storage charges, securing a double advantage to the producer. The latest and largest store visited is a fine example of co-operative enterprise. It possesses a store capacity in cold space for over 70,000 cases, and in which is installed one of the finest machinery plants in the Commonwealth. Well might the growers feel a pride in this and other, extensive storages distributed over the settlement. Doncaster has proved that the growers can store and market their fruit as well as grow it. The extension of this thoroughness in preservation and marketing of the fruit locally will, it is hoped, find its way to an equally successful operation in the markets of the world. 
Doncaster East school was passed, and their excellencies greeted by the scholars with cheers and song, under the guidance of the head teacher, Mr. R. R. Hobbs. 
An adjournment was then made to the residence of Cr. Tully, where a dainty afternoon tea was provided. Miss Tully, in the absence of Mrs. Tully, entertaining their excellencies. Before the departure of the visitors, Cr. Tully expressed the pleasure of the residents in being favored by visit from such distinguished guests. Australia had had several governor-generals, but Sir Ronald Ferguson was the first to honor Doncaster with his presence. This visit, he could assure their excellencies, was much appreciated and esteemed, and would live-long in their memory. They all knew the interest his excellency had taken in agriculture generally. Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson had travelled extensively over Australia, and had not only fulfilled the high duties of his office, but had made himself acquainted with Australian resources and enterprises, while Lady Helen Ferguson had led the patriotic efforts of Australia during the war. 
The Governor-General congratulated the growers on the firmly held and advanced character of their excellent orchards, and their efficient system of fruit storage. While they were close to a fine market in Melbourne, and that was a real advantage, he understood they were also sending fruit to Sydney. With the age of motor traction and good roads transport was made more and more easy of negotiation. In the North of Scotland, where he was interested, they had originally placed their butter factories adjacent to railway stations, considering this essential to safe, cheap and expeditious transport. Subsequently they quarrelled with the railways, with just cause, and were forced to resort to motor and other means of carriage. This proved so satisfactory that they afterwards placed their factories in the most convenient centres, and did without the railways by arranging their own road transport. Doncaster had grown under road transport methods. 
Whilst he realised the national value in the north and drier areas of the conservation, by the State, in large water storages, and the distribution of the water to the extensive irrigation areas served, he could not help feeling greatly impressed with the high development and success of the Doncaster settlement under a system of purely, self-help and individual self-reliance, the holdings, the process of storage, and individual question being apparent in the separately owned and managed marketing being successfully handled by co-operative effort in the interest of the individual as well as the community. All this had been done without outside assistance. 
Doncaster had done its duty during the war in soldiers, and the women in patriotic effort, and now that victory had been achieved essential production was being continued with increased energy. That was as it should be. He thanked them for their welcome and for their references to Lady Helen. 
Mr. Everard, M.L.A. proposed a vote of thanks to Cr. Tully for the manner in which the company had been entertained, and to their excellencies his obligation for having graciously visited that important portion of his electorate. His excellency by reason of his extensive travel in Australia would be able to speak with authority on his return to Great Britain on our vast timber and other primary as well as secondary industries, while the work of her excellency would live long in the heart of the Australian people. With the abundance of fruit already being harvested locally, 
All would remember the visit of the vice-regal party. Mr. Tully suitably responded to the vote, which was heartily carried. The children were granted at the request of the Governor-General a half holiday, an announcement that was unanimously endorsed by the school.   Source: “The Reporter (Box Hill)” newspaper account - 1920 'THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT DONCASTER.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 20 February, p. 2. , viewed 19 Jul 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257153519 

The photograph below shows the Vice Regal party at Cr. Tully’s residence. Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson is the gentleman in the light-coloured suit towards the right of the photograph, Lady Ferguson is to his left and Cr. John Tully is in the dark suit in centre.

Vice Regal Party at Shire President Cr. John Tully’s residence at Doncaster – 18 February 1920 [3]. DP0297

Back of the photograph listing the names of the people in the picture [4].   DP0297-A

The back of the photograph also has the names of the people in the picture that were later identified by Mr P. Whitten and are as follows:
Back row – Reg Simmons, R.J. Thomas, Fred Thiele, Richard Clay, Rosamond Webb, Dorothy Webb, Nellie Stewart, Harry Clay, Nell Cameron, Tom Petty, Mrs Everard, Henry Petty, W.A. Webb.
Front row - Marjorie Webb, Elsie Edgoose, Phyllis Webb, Lily Petty, Alma Thiele, Rose Clay, John Tully, Elsie May, Lady Munro Ferguson, Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, Eliza Petty, Belle Petty, John Petty.
Note: Some people not identified on back of photo but are thought to include Leslie Cameron (the child), W.H. Everard, August Thiele, Everard Thiele.

A question that could since be asked – “Was this visit by the Governor-General the most “high-powered” visit to Doncaster by a person in such a high-level Governmental position.

Sources
[1] Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson – National Archives of Australia - https://www.naa.gov.au/students-and-teachers/learning-resources/learning-resource-themes/war/world-war-i/australias-governor-general-during-world-war-i-sir-ronald-munro-ferguson
[2] “The Reporter (Box Hill)” newspaper account - 1920 'THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL AT DONCASTER.', The Reporter (Box Hill, Vic. : 1889 - 1925), 20 February, p. 2. , viewed 19 Jul 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article257153519 
[3]  Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society photographic collection – Photo Ref: DP0297
[4]  Doncaster Templestowe Historical Society photographic collection – Photo Ref: DP0297-A

Further Newspaper Report (and other newspapers have the same report copy)
1920 'FRUITGROWERS' SELF HELP.', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957), 19 February, p. 6. , viewed 20 Jul 2023, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1677985 
Source: Ian Schafter writing for DTHS – July 2023