P/S.002D/N.004
The Charlton Tribune, Wednesday October 8 1941
Through the dramatic happenings in the Federal Parliament last week, Mr John Curtin now holds the most honorable and most responsible position that the people can give him.
As Prime Minister in a period of stress and anxiety, such as we have never before known, he carries a heavy burden and deserves the best wishes and most active help that can be afforded him. His association as a lad with Charlton makes his rise to high office of particular interest to some of the older residents of this district.
Perhaps the man who has most reason to be pleased and to feel proud is his cousin, Mr Con Bourke, with whom he was always on happy terms and for whom Mr Curtin was best man when he was married.
Mr Curtin has often re-visited Charlton.
He was secretary of the "No Conscription Fellowship" and addressed the largest political meeting ever held in the Victoria Hall. His last visit was in 1931.
Another resident who recalls his boyhood association with Mr Curtin is Mr Jim Spain. They were at school together and were mixed up in many a scrape. On one occasion they visited a Chinaman's garden coveting, as any boys would, the appetising apples that were ready for eating. They spoke to the Chinaman, asking him for something they knew he would not have and then, when leaving, proceeded to get the apples, but the Chinaman had watched them and on his appearance the boys made a quick exit. John Curtin had been under treatment for an injury to his leg, sustained at football, but despite the handicap, it is said he did the smartest sprint of his life. He was a popular lad, states Mr Spain, and during the four or five years he attended Charlton school he was prominent in all the sport that was played among the boys. (Later he played football with Brunswick).
John Curtin's father was licensee of the Golden Fleece Hotel, which occupied the site on which Dew's Victory Garage now stands. He was not born in Charlton, however, but in 1885 at Creswick.
"I smoke only on rare occasions, and that is due to Mr Curtin," Mr Spain continued. "I told him about it when he visited Charlton, and he replied: "I did you some good then." The two boys tried out some cigars that John Curtin had obtained and the effect on young Spain was such that he never again felt any eagerness to become a smoker.
Among the teachers at Charlton school about the time when he was a pupil were Messrs Appleby and Phillips, and the late Mr Charles Curnow and Miss Haskett (Mrs Serpell). His brother George and his sisters Mary (Mrs White) and Francis (Mrs P. Curtin) reside in Brunswick.
His first job in Melbourne was at the office of the "Rambler", a paper published by Norman and Lionel Lindsay. The late Mr Frank Anstey took a great interest in him and it was through Mr Anstey that he developed as a worker for the Labor cause and eventually entered Parliament. His association with journalism, as editor of the West Australian [sic] Worker, led him to being elected president of the Australian Journalists' Association.
Charlton schoolboys of today should find inspiration in the knowledge that among those who secured the foundations of their education at their school are the Prime Minister and a Rhodes Scholar (Mr Merrylees). An excellent photograph of Mr Merrylees hangs in the school office, perhaps one of Mr Curtin will be placed with it.