State: Victoria, Australia
Issued on: Return
Date of presentation: 07/03/1901
Number issued: 1
Gold locket & albert, suitably inscribed, to:
LOYAL DEVONSHIRE LODGE, I.O.O.F.
A special meeting of this Lodge was held last night at Rasmussen's dining rooms to make a presentation to Private J. DUGGAN, who has just returned from South Africa, where he served with the first Victorian Contingent.
Mr E.D. Williams, M.L.A., presided, and presented Bro. J. DUGGAN — who has been a member of the Lodge for 14 years — with a very handsome gold Albert chain and locket, suitably inscribed.
Mr Lawson, M.L.A., was also present, and made an excellent speech in praise of the contingent which left Castlemaine, of which Private DUGGAN was a member. They had done well, and were entitled to all the honors which had been showered upon them. He was pleased to be present on the occasion of such a worthy gathering.
Bro. DUGGAN thanked his brother members for their kind present. He had been 14 years in the Lodge, and hoped to be with them for many years to come. Bro. Bower, in an appropriate speech, proposed the health of Private DUGGAN's comrades, who had fought and returned with him from South Africa.
Sergeant HUGHES, one of the returned warriors, in a capital speech, returned thanks. They had done their best for their Queen and country, and they were pleased to think that Australians, as well as Britishers, had appreciated their services. If the Empire required their services again they would be ever ready to respond. Private DUGGAN had been a great favorite with the whole of the first Victorian Contingent, and they would all be pleased to hear of the presentation made to him. (Cheers).
