100 YEARS AGO
Looking into our past…
Australians on Guard - March
of the 76th, Patriotic fervours
The District Headquarters Staff are moving
rapidly in completing arrangements of a
precautionary nature to meet any case of
emergency. All sections detailed for guard
duty at the Dry Creek explosive magazines, the
wireless station, and the cable station at the
Grange were posted last night, and the 76th
Infantry Regiment are now on garrison duty at
Port Adelaide.
The headquarters of the regiment is at
Southwark, and the three companies from that
centre commenced their march along the Port
Road at a quarter to 9 on Thursday morning.
They were joined by the Kilkenny, Grange,
Port Adelaide, and Semaphore companies
along the line of the route. The 10th Garrison
Artillery, ‘’A” Section of the Army Medical
Corps, and a section of the Army Service
Corps are also under canvas in the same camp.
The mobilization of the 76th Infantry and the
subsequent march of the troops down the
Port road and on to Fort Largs evoked several
outbursts of patriotic fervour. Hearing that
the various companies were on the march
down the Port road, ex-Mayor J W. Caire, with
his customary energy and imbued with the
spirit of patriotism, which is such a strong
characteristic with him, visited the Port Adelaide
and Alberton public schools and suggested to
the head masters Messrs. W. F. Bennett and A.
Hardy respectively, that they should permit the
school children to parade near the line of the
march and get the school band to play a few
airs. His suggestion was adopted. Mr. Hardy
had his scholars and band ready at the side of
the Port Road, and as the battalion approached
the band played the ‘Song of Australia’, whilst
other children waved the Union Jack and at
the same time cheered lustily. The outburst
received a ready response from the khaki-clad
men. The Alberton School Drum and Fife Band
then headed the marching body and led it to the
vicinity of the Rechabite Hall in Portland where
the Port Adelaide detachment was stationed in
readiness to join in the march to the stirring
tune of ‘Onward, Christian soldiers”.
Many of the spectators who witnessed the
spectacle gave vent to their feelings in a cheer.
As at Alberton so at the Rechabite Hall, the
marching body received an ovation. The Port
Adelaide school children cheered lustily and
waved their arms whilst the band struck up a
lively tune.
7 August 1914,The Register
Book Clubs at the Library
The Library Service hosts a number of book clubs and
welcomes inquiries from people interested in joining a group.
If you enjoy reading, meeting people and discussing books in a
relaxed and informal atmosphere, then a book club may appeal
to you. Groups meet once a month at each of our libraries.
• There is a maximum of 10 members per group.
• Books to be discussed are supplied by the Library Service.
• Light refreshments are available at the meetings.
• Membership is free!
In August, the Port Adelaide Library will introduce a new book
club, to be held on the last Thursday of each month between
6.30-7.30pm. Register your interest for any of our book clubs
by contacting the library on 8405 6580.
RFID for Library material
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is an automatic
identification method that relies on storing and remotely
retrieving data from RFID tags without the need for line-of-
sight. RFID technology provides benefits to customers and staff
alike. It is quick and easy, frees up staff to provide more valued
services to library users, while also reducing manual handling.
Libraries across the country are experiencing a trend of more
people visiting the library, staying for longer and yet not
necessarily borrowing more material. The role of libraries is
evolving from the more traditional provision of recreational and
educational reading material. The challenge for libraries is to
manage resources to provide services that often require more
staff time and participation.
Implementing RFID technology to our library service is one way
we are embracing this change. Since June, a dedicated team of
volunteers and staff has been applying and activating RFID tags
to convert our collection of around 200,000 items.
New RFID equipment is being installed at each of our library
locations, replacing machines that are approaching end of life.
This equipment includes RFID self-service kiosk models that
are new to South Australian libraries and provide an innovative
and faster way of borrowing items. Multiple tags can be rapidly
processed, enabling many library items to be checked out at the
same time. Staff will continue to be on hand to assist customers
using the new self-service kiosk or other services.
RFID tagging volunteers
Emma and Karen
