The races and events like the Bun and treacle race, Biscuit and whistle race, wheelbarrow race, football kicking, are evidence of that old saying that "they made their own fun."
No need or possibility of fancy expensive sports equipment, let alone iPads and laptops in classrooms in 1949. Television was still 13 years away. In the memoir, The Sausage Tree, written by Rosalie Medwin and Valda Gee (both nee Johnson), the Anzac races were a favourite time for the twins Barbara and Rosalie, a time to shine.
Many old Lilydale family names enter the field, Kettle and Kelp, Dornauf and Arnold, Franklin Kerkham, Johnson, Barrett, Shegog, Hammersley, Hodgetts, Sims, Sulzberger, Venn and more.
Some children here are still with us in 2019, like Ian Dornauf, son of one-legged-Anzac and butcher Les Dornauf. Ian is now on a "robot dairy farm" at Elizabeth Town where his family also established and operate the Christmas Hills Raspberry Farm.
Mr and Mrs Geoff Johnson celebrate birthday after birthday on the West Tamar and I believe his sister Rosalie is as hale and hearty as ever at Ulverstone. Still making their own fun.
GALA DAY AT LILYDALE
A comprehensive sports programme for children was carried out at Lilydale on Anzac Day. Results:--
Girls, 100yds. 14-16yrs,--B. Johnson, R. Johnson, 2. N. Venn, 1; G. [...]ming, 2; 75yds., 12- 14yrs.--D. Hodgetts 1; F. Brookes, 2.- 11-12yrs.--E. Franklin, 1; D. Hodgetts, 2. 8-10yrs. S.Franklin, 1; J. Shegog, 2.
Track race--L. Watts, 1; J. Shegog, 2.
Three legged race-D. Hodgetts-N. Franklin, 1; R. and B. Johnson, 2.
Wheelbarrow race-S. and E. Franklin 1; R. and B. Johnson, 2.
Biscuit and whistle race-N. Franklin-R. Johnson, 1; L. Watts-J. Shegog, 2.
Threading needle race-Elaine Franklin-Shirley Franklin, 1; Gay Kirkham-Gaye Arnold, 2.
High jump-F. Brookes, 1; B. Johnson, 2. Boat race-F. Brookes-S. ArnoId, E. and S. Franklin, G. Kirkham.
Boys, 75yds., 12-14yrs.-N. Venn, 1; Sulzberger, 2. 10-12yrs.-K. French, P. Bennett, 2. 8-10-M. Hammersley - G. Sims, dead-heat, 1, G. Taylor, 2.
Track race, 12-14 - Pat Barrett, 1; David Wilson, 2. 10-12-Glen Shegog, 1, Ron Youl, 2.
Three-legged race-K. French-N. Cordwell, 1; G. Shegog-1, I. Dornauf, 2.
Bun and treacle race, 12-14--P. Barrett 1; D. Wilson, 2. 8-10--M. [Wallac]e, 1; P. Jacobson, 2. Wheelbarrow race-K. French-N. Cordwell, 1; P. Barrett-D. Wilson 2.
Biscuit and whistle race-P. O'Toole-P. Bennett, 1; H. Cordwell-R. Hammersley, 2.
High jump, under 12-P. Bennett, 1; Atkinson, 2. Under 15--G. Venn 1, H. Cordwell, 2.
Kicking football, Under 12-P. Bennett. Under 16--B. Kelb. Drop-kick-G. Sulzberger.
Infants' race-D. Prince, 1; B. Kettle and C. Shaw, dead-heat 2.
Boat race--M. Bennett, J. Penfold, Franklin, D. Chick, D. Taylor, 1.
Anzac Memorial Shield race was won by Lilydale Area School (N. and H. Cordwell, A. Dolbey, Bill Kelb).
GALA DAY AT LILYDALE (1949, April 27). Examiner (Launceston, Tas. : 1900 - 1954), p. 18. Retrieved April 5, 2019, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article52675147
See also LILYDALE'S ANZAC DAY LEAD 28 April 1949 which acknowledges the organising work of RSL stalwart Eddie Weston. Original from The Mercury at Trove.