5. Farming, Cricket and Football
| Farming (continued) Wadey and the Flax Experiment In the late 1890's or early in 1900 an ambitious scheme to grow flax at Clyde was attempted by a man named Wadey on what is now Mrs Roberts farm in Tuckers Road. The whole place was "mole drained" and channels dug to carry away water. The earth from the channels was used to build sod fences. In addition, two large dams were constructed to supply water for "setting" the flax in preparation for manufacture. The scheme was a failure. The two dams now filled with rushes are all that remain. Super Farming Results in 1920s It was in the late 1920's that real progress increased production and higher stock carrying capacity began. Although prior to that, sub-division into smaller paddocks, and sowing down with English Rye Grass and Clover, had been replacing the native Kangaroo Grass with consequent better returns from live stock, but the practice of top-dressing with Super Phosphate had most spectacular results to the extent of raising carrying capacity by 100 percent and more. End of the Hardy Era William Hardy died in 1941. John Frank and Elizabeth Hardy had died earlier. After my father's death the property came under my control which continued until 1960 when it was sold, and thus ended a 105 year occupancy by one family. My mother died in 1952.  John and Sophie Hardy 1917 They were then in their early sixties John Hardy was the eldest son of Embling and Emily Hardy |
Sporting Activities and Agricultural Shows During the above period, sporting activities and competitions such as agricultural shows continued in Cranbourne, Clyde and Berwick districts from quite an early date. What is now known as the Berwick Show commenced in Cranbourne and continued there for a number of years, when it alternated "year about" with Berwick, and eventually going to Berwick permanently.Plowing matches at that time were very popular. Two noted plowmen of that period were Mr Wenn of Cardinia and Jas O Hara of Clyde. Football and cricket was played from a very early date. William Hardy, Harry Sharp, Jennings and other Clyde men played football with Cranbourne.John Hardy's sons at a later period were all well known footballers with Tooradin. It seems that while a number of Clyde men played football with Cranbourne, quite a number of Cranbourne men played cricket with Clyde Club, which for many years was outstanding as a country team; and had several records to its' credit. A record which stood for many years and may still do was against Frankston when Clyde scored 666 runs for six wickets. They also scored 440 against Dandenong in one afternoon. George Churchill had a record at some time; having taken the whole ten wickets in one innings, for two runs, playing against a Cardinia team. W Hardy was a very successful medium pace bowler with the Clyde Club for a number of years up to about 1908. Other names which come to mind are Alex Duff, W Mc Leod, Fred Poole, H White, Tom Jones, G Stewart, Reverend Gates, Ted Healy. All Cranbourne men who played at various times. Clyde players who I can remember were Guy Hobart, Bill Davenport (Station Master) Clarence Twyford, T McKay, G Churchill, G Manks, Jim Stick, J Schmidt, Harold Hunter, Mervin Leskie, H G Percival, C McMeekin, C Drew. In season 1907-8 and 1908-09 the Clyde team did not lose a match. A few batting and bowling averages are interesting. 1907-08 Batting Average A Duff 162.42, G Hobart 68.5, C Twyford 43.33. Bowling C Stewart 8.76, A Duff 10.7, C Twyford 11.0 Season 1908-09, A Duff 61.42, G Hobart 54.65 and C Twyford 31.75. Bowling C Twyford 9.00, H White 11.5, and W McLeod 11.08 [16.02 |