Various social media posts made by Leeton Shire Council last week proclaimed it to be Leeton’s 105^th birthday on Thursday, July 13. 

However, the Leeton Family and Local History Society said this wasn’t correct. 

Centenary celebrations on that date five years ago marked the turning on of the water for Leeton and the MIA. 

However, it was not Leeton’s official “birth date”. 

Leeton was formally gazetted as a town on January 22, 1913. 

The turning on of the water was obviously a huge starting point, but not the official creation of Leeton as a town. 

Therefore, Leeton’s “105^th birthday”, will actually be marked on January 22, 2018. 

It should also be noted, towns don’t actually celebrate birthdays, rather it is an anniversary. 

Society secretary Wendy Senti said it was important to clarify the difference between the two dates. 

“The turning on of the water was certainly an important event and it was marked by celebrations five years ago … but that date isn’t Leeton’s ‘birthday’,” she said. 

“The centenary celebrations five years ago in July were actually hosted by Murrumbidgee Irrigation, not Leeton’s centenary committee. 

“We did help out and there were plenty of other events, but there is a big difference between the two dates.”

Leeton’s 100^th anniversary was formally marked on January 22, 2013 with the cutting of a cake and a celebratory barbecue at the Rotary rotunda in Chelmsford Place. 

“I think it is important for the distinction to be made,” Mrs Senti said. 

“Otherwise someone might get hold of that information and years down the track it eventually becomes the ‘truth’. 

“We’ve put out a special book marking the centenary. All of the dates are in there.”

The book is titled Leeton 100 years: Thanks for the Memories.