General News
22 April, 2024
A brief shining light
Warracknabeal's Molly Taylor Memorial Kiosk will mark 100 years of history this Anzac Day, forever etching its place in the memories of many past and present residents.
Warracknabeal's Molly Taylor Memorial Kiosk will mark 100 years of history this Anzac Day, forever etching its place in the memories of many past and present residents.
She was born in Warracknabeal in 1891 and lived a brief but shining life in the spotlight.
From an early age, she often appeared on stage as a singer and dramatic actress, performing with groups such as Julius Knight's Dramatic Company, and in stage performances with Canadian actress Muriel Starr between 1913 and 1916.
During World War I, Molly toured Australia with Nellie Melba, raising money for charities such as the Red Cross.
Nellie Melba (born Helen Porter Mitchell, in Richmond Victoria, 1861-1931) went on to raise almost £100,000 for charities, and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in March 1918, "for services in organising patriotic work".
Molly married William Tatnell in 1914 in Melbourne, but continued to perform under her maiden name until her career ended in 1919 when she contracted tuberculosis.
Molly died at a private hospital in Portland on March 21 1921, aged 29, and was brought home by her parents to be interred with the rest of the Taylor family at Warracknabeal cemetery.
She was the only daughter of Mr and Mrs J R Taylor, and the grieving couple saw fit to gift the kiosk, opened on April 25 1924, to the returned soldiers in memory of their daughter.
Mr E J (Ern) Devereux was president of the local Returned Sailors and Soldiers Imperial League of Australia branch at that time.
Upon accepting the gift, he presented Mrs Isabella Taylor with an inscribed gold key and asked her to open the kiosk, which had cost £1000 to construct.
The dining room of the original kiosk measured 58 feet by 28 feet, featured 13-foot high walls, eight large windows facing out to the oval, and linoleum floors.
It contained forms and tables capable of seating a large number.
The main door on the west wall faced the grandstand, and coat and hat pegs ranged around the walls.
The kitchen measured 28 feet by 16 feet, with 11-foot high walls.
It as equipped with two coppers in a specially-constructed recess, cupboards, benches, tables, and crockery.
Over the past 100 years, many community groups have used the Molly Taylor kiosk as a venue for their social functions, including dances, sports events, weddings, birthdays, and meetings.
Warracknabeal's annual Anzac Day service was held at the kiosk until recently, and for many years Lynne Johns and Kelly Schulz conducted dance classes in the space.
Today, the kiosk is home to 24 Honour Boards commemorating the service of local soldiers, many of whom were students of now-closed school districts, and parishioners of congregations that no longer exist.