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Karlie McDonaldPrint Page Print this page

Karlie McDonald : 20-September-2012
Karlie McDonald : 20-September-2012
Karlie McDonald Clock : 28-December-2010
Karlie McDonald Clock : 28-December-2010
Karlie McDonald : 20-September-2012
Karlie McDonald : 08-June-2013
Karlie McDonald : 08-June-2013

Photographs supplied by Kent Watson / Arthur Garland

The Karlie McDonald Memorial Clock Tower was erected in 1933 to honour the death of the Kerang High School Teacher who gave her life to save students from drowning in the Loddon River during swimming training in March 1927.
 

Wednesday. Miss Karlie McDonald, aged 26 years, senior mistress at the Kerang Girls' High School, was drowned in the River Loddon this afternoon. With Mrs. Thompson, another teacher at the school, who is an experienced life saver, she took a party of girls from the school for swimming practice. Miss McDonald was accompanying six girls in a swim over a distance of 50 yards, but when half the distance had been covered, three of the girls got into difficulties, and caught hold of Miss McDonald. She attempted to free herself in order to assist the girls, but they dragged her under the water and struggled until Miss McDonald was exhausted. In the meantime, Mrs. Thompson had noticed the plight of the swimmers, and she rescued the three girls, who were exhausted. Miss McDonald sank before the life saver could make another trip. The body was recovered three hours later in about 12 feet of water.
The Maitland Weekly Mercury (NSW), 2 April 1927. 

One of the most attractive features of the Victorian township of Kerang is a tall and imposing new clock obelisk that commemorates the plucky, but ill-fated, action of a local school teacher named Karlie McDonald, a lass who was drowned while saving the lives of several pupils who got into difficulties during a learn-to-swim campaign. The late Miss McDonald, an extremely popular girl in the district, was only 26 years of age when the tragedy occurred. Already she has become the departed heroine of Kerang, and the fine modern clock tower erected to her memory is pointed out as the 'Karlie McDonald Clock.' In addition to being a monument it is a township asset that is greatly appreciated by the local community.
Sydney Mail (NSW), 13 December 1933. 

Location

Address:Wellington & Victoria Streets, Kerang, 3579
State:VIC
Area:AUS
GPS Coordinates:Lat: -35.735041
Long: 143.920306
Note: GPS Coordinates are approximate.
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Details

Monument Type:Structure
Monument Theme:People
Sub-Theme:Tragedy
Actual Event Start Date:30-March-1927
Actual Event End Date:30-March-1927

Dedication

Approx. Monument Dedication Date:1933
Front Inscription

THIS MEMORIAL TOWER
       Is A Tribute To
The Imperishable Memory
               Of
KARLIE McDONALD MA
Who Gave Her Life
In The Rescue Of
One Of Her Pupils
From The Loddon River
30th March 1927.

One Who Was Beloved,
And Honored By All Those
Who Were Privileged
To Know Her.
Finis Coronant Opus

Source: MA,VMR,RHSV
Monument details supplied by Monument Australia - www.monumentaustralia.org.au