Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 1

Boys Camp - Noojee ….

Thursday 8 August 2019 During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Forests

Commission ran a large unemployment program of

firebreak slashing, building roads, erecting fire towers,

silvicultural thinning, firewood cutting, weed spraying,

soil erosion works and rabbit control. Importantly,

most of the work was in country areas.

By 1935-36 almost 9000 men were employed for

periods of up to eight weeks at a time. Their bush

camps generally comprising 25 men with two-thirds

being from the city. And despite the blisters, many

remained in the country to make their future.

The Country Roads Board, State Rivers and Water

Supply Commission and Melbourne Metropolitan

Board of Works also employed large numbers of men

known as a sussos, which was slang for sustenance

workers.

However, there was a special need to provide

opportunities for young people.

Newspapers warned of long-term consequences of

enforced idleness of youth of the Nation, claiming that

if nothing was done “many would become

permanently unemployable and would settle down to

a life on the dole or turn to crime.”... sound familiar ???

With the support of two prominent Melbourne

businessmen and philanthropists, Herbert Robinson

Brookes and George Richard Nicholas (of Aspro fame),

together with Forests Commission Chairman, A. V.

Galbraith and the Minister for Forests, Sir Albert Lind,

a unique and enterprising “Boys Camp” was

established at Noojee in 1933.

The Commission provided a timber hall and other

facilities, but the boys camped in tents and there was

initially no electricity. Commission officers also

supervised thinning and ringbarking of young stands of

messmate, silvertop and mountain ash together with

fire protection works on the 2000 acres of private land

purchased and donated by Brookes and Nicholas.

Groups of about 30 young boys, aged between 16 and

19, were at the camp at any one time and were paid at

rates applicable to Forests Commission workers, but

money was deducted for food, accommodation and

medical support. And if they didn’t work… they didn’t

get paid.

The idea was extended across Victoria to another 15

sites including a second camp at Noojee and 1276 boys

had passed through the program by 1936.

For many, it was their first experience of country life

and Boys Camp proved one of the success stories of the

1930s and it was later reported two-thirds of the boys

found employment.

With the outbreak of the War in September 1939,

there was no longer a need for an unemployment

program so the camp was used by high school and

university students to produce emergency firewood for

Melbourne until 1942.

After the War, the Noojee camp was once again

occupied as a temporary home for immigrants fleeing

Europe. But all trace was gone by 1988.

https://www.victoriasforestryheritage.org.au/images/

external%20articles/boyscampnoojee.pdf

The first batch of 30 “lads” departed by train from Flinders Street for the new Boys Camp at Noojee on 21 June 1933 but cold

weather and winter rain in the wet forests hampered the camp’s establishment. Local community people supported the boys.

Source: FCRPA collection.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203818931

Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 2

Groups of about 30 boys were at the camp at any one time. They were paid rates applicable to Forests Commission workers of 4/1 for boys of 16 years and 10/10 per week for those 21 years old.

But money was deducted each week for food, accommodation and medical support. And if they didn’t work they didn’t get paid.

Source: Philippa Watt.

Richard (Dick) Mumford (in apron) was the popular cook at Noojee. He and his wife later lost everything in the 1939 bushfires.

Photo supplied by his great-grandson, Wayne Mumford. Circa - 1936.

The idea proved a success and was extended across Victoria to another 15 sites. Boys Camp at Powelltown. Source: FCRPA

collection.

Some 1276 boys had passed through the camps by 1936. The Forests Commission provided a timber hall and other facilities but

the boys camped in tents and there was initially no electricity. Commission officers also supervised thinning and ringbarking of young stands of messmate, silvertop and mountain ash together

with fire protection works on the 2000 acres of private land purchased by Brooks and Nicholas. Source: FCRPA collection.

The initial funding request of £14000 for the program was refused but the Victorian Premier Sir Stanley Argyle and Minister for

Forests Sir Albert Lind proved influential and £600 was eventually secured for a 3 month trial at Noojee from the Employment

Council, the Federal Government body administering relief funds. The idea proved a success and was extended across Victoria to

another 15 sites. Source: FCRPA collection.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11010400

Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 3

With the outbreak of the War in September 1939, there was no need for an unemployment program anymore so the camp was

used by high school and university students to produce emergency firewood for Melbourne. In 1942, over 200 boys from private

Melbourne schools like Wesley and Scotch College worked on a National Service Program during their school holidays earning 4/3

per ton of firewood. By 1943 the program had ceased. Source: Philippa Watt.

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the Forests Commission undertook a large unemployment program. By 1935-36 almost 9000 men, or susso’s, were employed doing firebreak slashing,

silvicultural thinning, weed spraying, firewood cutting and rabbit control. This photo is from around Rheola/Bealiba in Central

Victoria. Source: Lost Tarnagulla.

https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/4458832

Sir Albert Lind was the local Member of Parliament and forceful advocate for East Gippsland from 1920 to 1961. During that period

he held many senior roles including Minister for Forests and Deputy Premier. He was a major force behind the boys camp

scheme.

In 1926, two National Parks east of Orbost, Albert and Lind, were named after him.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/lind-sir-albert-eli-7198

Celebrating the history of forest and bushfire management in Victoria – (Peter McHugh – 2018-19) Page 4

Alfred Vernon (A. V. ) Galbraith was the Chairman of the Forests Commission from 1927 to 1949 and was instrumental in

establishing large unemployment schemes during the Great Depression of the 1930s. He enjoyed the support of the Minister

for Forests, Sir Albert Lind and two prominent Melbourne businessmen and philanthropists, George Nicholas and Herbert

Brookes, to establish Boys Camp at Noojee in 1933.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Vernon_Galbraith

Melbourne businessman, George Richard Nicholas (1884–1960), of Aspro fame, was one of a rare breed of philanthropist.

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/nicholas-george-richard-8497

One of the men who made Noojee happen… Melbourne philanthropist, Herbert Robinson Brookes (1867-1963).

http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/brookes-herbert-robinson-5372