Innisfail & District Historical Society

As the 100th anniversary of the huge cyclone which devastated Innisfail and the surrounding areas in 1918 will soon be here, the Innisfail & District Historical Society is planning to issue a booklet of photographs and stories commemorating this event.  To this end they are wondering if anyone has copies of any old photos and/or stories in your archives which could be passed on to the Society for possible inclusion in this publication.  If you are able to assist would you please furnish them and to save on cost they could be e-mailed.  The group will be telling stories of the people who lived through this and showing photos on the big screen documenting the devastation that occurred.  This is still thought to be the biggest cyclone to hit the Queensland coast.  A hundred years ago, they had no emergency services or armed forces to come immediately to their assistance - they were on their own.  Also, most of the young men were away fighting in the Great War while here in Innisfail their people at home were fighting a battle of their own.  In addition, the Society will be marking this historic event with the launch of this booklet with a function.  There is a change of venue for the event, instead of the first planned Warrina Lakes venue it is now to be held in the Shire Hall.  Write it in your diary now!  Saturday 10th March 2018 at 7pm.  The CCRC are assisting with this event and it is going to be big.  Watch for the publicity posters etc.  Hope to see you there.  Also, the winner of the Giveaway at the High Tea competition was Mrs Margaret Fontana with the only correct guess for the spaghetti machine.  People were really puzzled this time and it was interesting to listen to people discussing the object and trying to work out what it was.  With the new year here, check out the Society's Calendar for 2018 with the theme 'Life on our Waterways'.  At only $10 and with lovely photos from the past, it would make a good gift.  You can buy them at the Innisfail museum in the old School of Arts building.