Item MM 111176 Digital Photograph - Holden Brothers Circus, Tractor attempting to Tow a Dead Elephant with Crowd Watching, Casterton, early 1940s

Description of Content

A tractor attempts to tow a dead elephant, with a crowd watching behind. This photograph shows members of the Ashton's and Holden Brothers Circus attempting to dispose of a dead elephant by towing it a away with a tractor, Casterton, early 1940s. According to the family: 'While the Holdens were travelling with Ashton's Circus in the early 1940's, an elephant from Ashton's Circus died in Casterton, Western Victoria. The circus gang are in the background, and they're towing the elephant with a Case tractor.' Melba's mother Doris Holden didn't tell Melba what had happened to the body at the time, but later told her that the circus had had to engage the local butcher to take the body apart to be buried. The circus workers in the photograph are mostly from Ashtons' Circus. 'Dudie' Ashton, the only recognisable face to Melba, did a trapeze act. She is visible in the photograph, above the elephant's head.