1930's.
This bloke was a champion, and that's no joke,
At footy and cricket; his name, Fred Volk.
Red Hill thrashed Hastings and Fred kicked eleven;
Then Tyabb-Hastings had revenge. Fred kicked 5 out of 7.

Captain at both summer and winter game,
Fred led the '37 cricketers to ultimate fame;
Forgoing celebrations and a well -earned rest,
He took the field at footy and was one of the best.

1939.
In 1919 the Lessings bought 70 acres and Alf Hanson's Alpine Chalet
At Red Hill where Mont Rouge and 105 Tucks Rd are today.
The family of 13 had the area's second International truck
Which reached the Vic. Market in four hours with a bit of luck.

The family came from Carrum Downs and one son, Eric, became a neighbour
Of the Andersons near Heatherton's Five Ways, but Ewald did farm labour;
Ivy Thompson, 19, loved Ewald Albert Lessing, almost twice her age,
And they planned to marry but her parents flew into a rage.

They met secretly but Ivy's parents twigged and gave her an ultimatum,
"You'll go into a convent if you don't end this association!"
Ivy told him they could not marry as there was for them no hope
But Lessing hatched a plan that they could still elope.

A few days later while he hunted rabbits they chanced again to meet
And he made one last attempt her parents' obstruction to defeat.
"Marry me," he pleaded as he held her by the arm.
She brushed him off, the gun discharged. Romeo had done his Juliet harm!

A second shot came a moment later; he tried to do himself in.
He fired his gun with the muzzle placed underneath his chin.
He lived, and was found not guilty, but with his hopes evaporated
And Ivy's hand, in which she was shot, had to be amputated.

(Hec Hanson's MEMOIRS OF A LARRIKIN and countless court reports.)

1951.
DEATHS.
ARKWELL.--"On August 4, Clara Arkwell of Red Hill aged 81 years
-Last of a family of pioneers."
(P.15, Argus, 6-8-1951.)
As indicated by the quotation marks, the death notice was already a poem.

2004.
Red Hill - Victoria - Australia - Travel - smh.com.au
www.smh.com.au/news/Victoria/Red-Hill/2005/.../1108500207261.html‎
Feb 8, 2004 - The first white settlers at what is now Red Hill were James Wideman and John Arkwell who arrived in 1862.


Only 50 yards from the old Red Hill school site
In his blacksmith shop, with muscles tight,
A fine gentleman with foot-long whiskers white
Whose daughter, Jean, sold Northern Sky apples with a taste just right.(1)

His shoulders were probably broad, Fairfax Media,
Rather than being narrow and weedier.
But the pioneer there when Red Hill began
Was a Wiseman, not a Wideman!

(1) Memoirs of a Larrikin by Hec Hanson.