View source for 1908 Visit of the Governor of NSW

[[File:1908_Welcome_TP2107_(2).jpg|thumb|300px|Governor's Tomerong Visit 1908]]

'''IN''' November 1811 the New South Wales Governor Lachlan Macquarie was sailing from Sydney to Van Diemens land when a strong southerly wind necessitated the brig ''Lady Nelson'' to take shelter in Jervis Bay. Macquarie was impressed by the Bay and later dispatched the Assistant Surveyor, George Evans, to explore the area.<ref>Journal of the Royal Australian Historical Society TP2494+.</ref> Almost a century later the NSW Governor would visit Tomerong.

Sir Harry Holdsworth Rawson GCB GCMG (1843–1910) was the popular Governor of NSW from 1902-1909 and visited Tomerong as part of a south coast tour in October of 1908. Rawson joined the Royal Navy in 1857 and was a participant in the Second Opium War, against China, before commanding HMS Minotaur of the (English) Channel Fleet. He served with the Mediterranean Fleet and was the Commanding Officer of the shortest war in history; the Anglo-Zanzibar War, that lasted for 38 minutes. After commanding the Channel Squadron he arrived in NSW as Governor in 1902. His wife returned to England because of poor health in early 1905. He later joined her, but she passed away on their return voyage and was buried at sea. 

On his south coast visit Rawson was accompanied by his daughter, Alice, and his aide-de-camp, British Royal Marine Leslie Wilson (1876-1955). Prior to becoming Rawson's assistant (1903-09), Wilson  had served in the Second Boer War and later returned to England to serve in WWI, including at Gallipoli. 

The Governor left Sydney on 14 Oct 1908 for their ten day tour of the NSW South Coast. This was a major event for the villages along the way as they had probably never had such an important visitor pass through their locality. The party spent the first evening at Coolangatta and they arrived at Tomerong on Thursday Oct 15 at 5pm. ''The village was gaily decorated in honour of the occasion.  An arch was erected across the roadway, composed of ferns and greenery, with the word "Welcome" conspicuously worked in Waratahs across the front, and flags and bunting in profusion surrounded the arch. When the vice-regal party arrived opposite the school, the motor was stopped, and the children from the Tomerong, Jannung, Falls Creek and the Inlet schools, who had assembled there, saluted the Governor, and sang the National Anthem.  His Excellency spoke very nicely to the children and in praise of the decorations. Miss Dulcie Sullivan presented Miss Rawson with a beautiful bouquet of roses. His Excellency gave the children a holiday, and on Friday a picnic was held in the school ground, the combined schools participating, and everything passed off splendidly.''

Dulcie was the six year old daughter of the Tomerong '''[[School]]''' Teacher Thomas Lawson Sullivan<ref>Lawson (1863-1943) would also fulfil the duties as the Tomerong '''[[Post Office|Postmaster]]'''</ref>. Further south they ''had the road strewn with lovely wild flowers and a couple of bouquets ready to toss... the car was suddenly brought to a standstill and the Governor and Miss Rawson delightedly shook hands with and thanked the girls for their kindness''. The party arrived at Conjola at 6.15pm and, similar to Tomerong,  the school was decorated with flags, ferns and flowers before the party arrived at Milton at 7.30pm. The party left for Ulladulla the next day at 1pm and visited Mogo, Moruya, Bermagui, Cobargo, Bega, Pambula and Eden. They returned via Bombala, Cooma and Queanbeyan.<ref>ST 21 Oct 1908 TP379.</ref>

Vice-Admiral Rawson died in London in 1910 after an operation for appendicitis. After WWI, Leslie Wilson became a British politician before being appointed Governor of Bombay (1923-26), and then Governor of Queensland (1932-46). Wilson died in Britain in 1955.<ref>Wikipedia various.</ref>

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=Notes and References=
<references/>

=Images=
*[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=521681264551193&set=a.521680331217953 Welcome to Governor 1] TP2107.
*[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=521681194551200&set=a.521680331217953 Welcome to Governor 2] TP2138.
*[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=521681364551183&set=a.521680331217953 School Garden] TP2122.
*[https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=521680764551243&set=a.521680331217953 School Building] TP2103.

=Links=
# Tomerong Local History Web Page- [https://tomeronghistory.com/ tomeronghistory.com]
# Tomerong Past Facebook Album- [https://www.facebook.com/TomerongPast Tomerong Past Facebook] This site may provide more information relative to this institution, business or location. Check the appropriate album; e.g. Village, Sawmills, Clyde Shire etcetera.
# Tomerong History- [https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/32661245?keyword=from%20bullocks%20to%20bypass/ ''From Bullocks to Bypass'']

[[Category:Events]]