Ipswich in England is one of the oldest towns in the United Kingdom, being continuously inhabited from about 450. It shares a curious tradition with its Queensland namesake that began one hundred and sixteen years ago, and then ceased to be. I told a version of this story on West Bremer Radio.

Ipswich in Queensland was initially named “The Limestone Hills” and then shortened to “Limestone”. In 1843 it was renamed by Sir George Gipps, the governor of New South Wales, after the town of Ipswich in England.

Ipswich Queensland was proud of its association with its England sister city. In 1908, the chairman of the Harrisville Farmers Progress Association, Bryan Wells of Mutdapilly, was visiting the old country. He was entrusted with handing over to the Central School in Ipswich England a flag that was a gift from the Boys’ Central State School in Ipswich Queensland.

This was organized by the head teacher Major Charles Watson. He was an Officer of the 1st Queensland (Moreton) Regiment, Ipswich scoutmaster, and would later be the chief marshal of probably the longest parade ever seen in Ipswich.

On the occasion of the flag-gifting, a letter from Major Watson accompanied a Union Jack flag to be delivered by Mr Wells to Ipswich England. The flag’s arrival caused great excitement. A huge school assembly was arranged in England which included privy councillor Sir Daniel Goddard, mayor Harry Raffe, the deputy-mayor and it seems half the city aldermen.

This momentous 1908 flag-giving event by the Ipswich Queensland school started a tradition that it seemed would go on forever.

The very next year in 1909, Major Watson received a gift of two flags from the Ipswich Central Council Schools England for presentation to his school. One was a Union Jack from the boys of Ipswich England, and the other was an East Anglian flag from the girls.

Then in 1911, a flag was sent from the Girls’ Central School in Ipswich Queensland to the Girls Central School Ipswich England, and it was again received with great ceremony.

This reciprocal gift-giving continued for years. But in 1930 it went from the sublime to the ridiculous when the council of Ipswich Queensland joined the party, but departed from the traditional flags, postcards, and letters. It sent a case of pineapples. This seemed to stop the interest in gift-giving in its tracks.

However, hope springs eternal, and twenty years later in 1950, the Australian Broadcasting Commission organised an Ipswich Queensland to Ipswich England broadcast. ABC representatives were in the Queensland city for months preparing, and after interviews, tests, recordings, and consultation with a representative of the British Broadcasting Corporation, it was ready to go.

Three people were selected to speak on behalf of Ipswich Queensland. They included Mrs Gwen Foggon who was a first-class Ipswich producer and actress and was on the ABC’s panel of radio actors. Then there was Vince Hall who was the chief mechanical engineer and railway workshops superintendent. The third was Ern Patrick, a voice of the people, and president of the Ipswich Rugby League.   

The Australian end of the broadcast was compered by the ABC’s Keith Smith who was very popular for his Pied Piper programme. The Ipswich-to-Ipswich show was reportedly good listening and so deemed a success.

It was so good that the pineapples were forgotten. Three years later in 1953, Ipswich’s own Doctor Don Cameron OBE visited to make peace with the England town. He was a federal minister in the Menzies government.

Dr Cameron was greeted by the mayor of Ipswich England. He was shown a portrait of a former mayor of Ipswich Queensland, Major Watson, that had been presented with the flag to Ipswich England back in 1911. The meeting received extensive media coverage.

Perhaps it’s time we restart this city sisterhood and get someone from Ipswich England to make a contribution to a story for Ipswich Queensland.

Monty’ Python’s Dead Parrot sketch (see photo top of page) was set in Ipswich, England. Maybe John Cleese or Michael Palin will phone in.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO A VERSION OF THIS STORY TOLD LIVE ON RADIO.

Photo credits:
Monty Python Dead Parrot sketch performed by Michael Palin and John Cleese – Allstar BBC.
Major C.A.H. WATSON – Queensland Times, Ipswich, 24th March 1910, page 6.
Sir Daniel Ford Goddard (1850-1922) photographed c1911 – Wikimedia Commons.
East Anglia flag – theflagshop co uk.
Keith Smith Cake walk a Word from Children turns two – Norman L. Danvers via Sydney Morning Herald, 2011.
Ipswich England mayor showing Dr Cameron MHR and Mrs Cameron 1911 Ipswich mayor photo – Queensland Times, Ipswich, 7th August 1953, page 1.