A complimentary smoke night is being tendered to Mr. George Elletson, vice-president of the Moonee Ponds branch of  the National Federation, prior to his departure on active service with the A.I.F. The function will be held at the Town Hall, Moonee Ponds, on Saturday, 2nd February, at 8 p.m.

ROLL OF HONOUR. (1918, January 24). The Essendon Gazette and Keilor, Bulla and Broadmeadows Reporter (Moonee Ponds, Vic. : 1914 - 1918), p. 2 Edition: Morning. Retrieved June 3, 2012, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article74604916

JOINED THE COLOURS

NATIONALISTS' FAREWELL TO [GEORGE] ELLETSON  

AN ENTHUSIASTIC GATHERING

Unmistakable enthusiasm ........ smoke social held at the Moonee [Ponds] Town hall on Saturday last is [au] revoir to Mr. George Elletson ..... union was promoted by the .... branch of the National Federation, which body the guest of the evening ... been vice-president since its .....   Mr. Elletson, who is leaving a [family of] five children, has enlisted for military [ser]vice, and is due to leave for the [front at] and early date.  

The chair was occupied by Cr ..... who was supported on either side .... guest and Mr. T. Ryan, MLA. After the usual loyal toast, Cr .... (Footscray) proposed "Success to [the Nat]ional Federation." He said he ..... of those who seceded from the .... Party because he he put Empire before [poli]tics. He had been for 36 .... with Labour movements, and ... had the courage of his opinions ... wife and daughters had been .... most despicable insults by men ... led to destruction by their ..... (Shame.) He was of opinion that .... to 55 years of ago should be .... service and such men could at ... valuable work behind the lines. ... sorry for the men who said they .... not fight till the Huns came to .... He had witnessed the landing ... of Belgian refugees in England, and .. condition was such that it made a man's blood boil, and was sufficient [it]self to render the speaker as ..... conscription. (Applause.) He ... of the excellent work of the ... branch of the National Federation... hoped it would be continued with ... of a largely-increased membership. Mr. Hall responded on behalf of [the Fed]eration, and expressed the pleasure ... him to be present to say goodbye [to Mr] Elletson, who was so nobly doing ... to King and Empire. The .... Federation was not merely ... had a wider significance, and ... encen was working unseen through ... tralia today, and, at a time .... cal turmoil was turning affairs .. turvey, was the factor that was ... to the fore the best men - the ... pared to make sacrifices. (Cheers.) ... bers had to face many disapp[ointments] and suffer much traducing, .... these obstacles they must "stick ... and continue the fight. (Applause.) ... might drop out of the ... but it was for those who .... carry on like the faithful few who ... inception of the war stemmed the ... Belgium. (Cheers.) The speaker ... the great work achieved by the ... in the Corio electorate, which ... "Yes" majority for conscription and established a fighting fund to ... National aspirations. If the .... similarly carried on all round ... win through in the end and ... tralia successfully through the [present] crisis. (Applause.)  

Mr. T. Ryan, MLA in proposing a toast of "Our Guest," thanked [those pre]sent for their cordial reception, [which] was in keeping with the kind .... he had received from constituents .. ally since his election. They had ... gether to say au revoir to the .... dent of the local branch of the ... tion-to wish him God speed and ... Mr. Elletson was worthy of the .... and the cause was worthy of the .... (Applause.) To leave a wife and [family] of five in order to go to the front .. honour to any man, but it was a ... to this country to realise that ... 280,000) men of military age here ..... out kith or kin- who turned a deaf ... the National call of "Fall in" .... Their guest, despite his obligations .. heard the call and come forward ... the place of one of these, and he ... that God would guard him and ...   back to his friends and relatives. [(Ap]plause.) Mr. Elletson might be ..... to uphold the banner of Imperial... the front as well as he had at ... But the position was this - that ... constrained to go because so many were not conscious of the privilege ... enjoyed that they failed to see the ... sity of fighting for them. (Hear.....] He felt certain that within the .... months Australia would be in the ... of a great industrial upheaval ... would check the development of .... try. He had outlined a Bill to ... dustrial peace, and was of opinion .. making of a strike should be ... an act of treason, and those .... punished by forfeiture of their rights .... citizens. (Cheers.) Another cloud ... over Australia was the depression .... ness and unrest of the workers. ... circumstances retrenchment and .... of staff was not advisable The aim ... be to increase our earnings and ... men to give full value for wages ... (Applause.) There must be some ... to definitely settle disputes if ... ditions, were to be improved.. (Hear ... ....ing to the toast, he said   .. had left Essendon with ... felt wishes for his welfare and ... those he was leaving at home. Mr. J. F. Henderson here read ... from Mr. W. J. Sennitt, Mr. Elletson's [em]ployer, who apologised for his [unavoid]able absence. The writer referred ... guest of the evening as an honourable ... who was answering the call of ... expressed a hope that fortune .... tend him in his military career. The chairman asked Mr. Elletson [to ac]cept an illuminated address and... watch as a mark of esteem from ... bers of the branch. Mr. Elletson, who was received [with pro]longed cheering, said he was si[mply one] of the great army of many thousands [who] had felt it their duty to go to the ... and he found some difficulty in ex[pressing] his thanks for the kind remarks ... friends and their handsome gifts. ... one of the first members of the ... branch of the National Federation ... severed his connection with the .. Labour Party when they opposed ....   scription issue-a step for which ... not an atom of regret. (Applause) ... regarded the matter as one .... science, and if a man possessed ... National spirit it would find him ... .a crisis. Had occupied ... five positions.. in several ... and took credit for invariably endeavouring to create friendly .... between employers and employees, ... result that strikes were unknown .... hear.) Much of his time had been ... in West Australia, a State which ... alone as free from labour troubles ... reason that the penalty clause ... forced in case of strikes occurring. (Applause.) As a citizen, he had en... to leave the world better than .. found it, and could thus look ... pleasure and pride to the work ... accomplished. His resolve to enlist ... not made without due consideration .. not till he had realised his duty...   family and the Empire had he [taken the] oath. (Cheers.) He had on the ... day witnessed a regrettable incident .. camp, when a man was drummmed ... the Army. Rather than sacrifice ... our in such a fashion he would ..... where he stood. (Cheers.) He ag... pressed his gratitude for the comp[liment] paid him, and if it was willed ..... should not return they would be .... thing for his wife and family .... and feel proud of. He was proud ... been associated with the members ... Essendon branch. He hoped that Mr   would retain the Essendon seat, ... it would never go back to a renegade   disloyalist. (Cheers.) He intended ... honour to his uniform, and hoped... a victorious peace was declared to ... pleasant associations with his friends ... Essendon, who, he felt sure, in .... sence would "keep the home fires [burn]ing." (Loud applause.) Mr. J. F. Henderson proposed "Our Boys at the Front," recalling the large ... of local lads who had made .... themselves and Australia in the .... Unfortunately, of the noble band that [left] here early in the war few remained ... majority had either paid the [supreme pen]alty or returned broken in health ... maimed.   The audience, led by Sergeant .... here rose and sand "Australia will Be There". The other toasts were- "The Press", [pro]posed by the Chairman and responded br Mr. J. McJunkin, and "The P... ers," given by Cr R J Gilbertson .. replied to by Cr. J. Goldsworthy, ... ed as accompanist during the evening ... contributed a highly enjoyable .... entertaintment to the program ....   McDonald, Jones and Hill and Sergeant Hughes also adding popular songs.... each receiving flattering encores.