Balaclava Mine at Whroo.
Officials from the Mines Department, the Lands Department and the Shire of Waranga met to seek common ground to achieve the preservation of the Balaclava Mine at Whroo. Mr Les Garraway from Echuca, on behalf of the Tourism Department, addressed the meeting enthusiastically about preservation, in stark contrast to a report a few years earlier from the Mines Department which had declared “the mine should be blown up”. Mr Garraway planned to meet with the Forests Commission and the Land Conservation Council, to seek an overall State Government view on preservation. (Sounds like a case of too many departments spoiling the mine.)
Shire of Waranga
After an approach from the Murchison Public Hall Committee, the Shire decided to seek grants or subsidy to build a pre-school at Murchison. Rather optimistically, it was hoped that Goulburn and Rodney Shires might contribute, as well as other community organisations in Murchison.
Community
Service clubs were in collecting mode, with Rushworth Apex gathering empty beer bottles placed on footpaths, and Rushworth Lions collecting 1150 bales of hay.
Stanhope Apex contacted the Shire, offering to assist in construction of a proposed children’s playground in Railway Street.
Youth Club President Ted Whitehead was concerned that with the long-discussed community centre for Rushworth having failed, the club was still in the derelict RSL Hall. He proposed that the Shire should consider some fittings and equipment to be positioned in the Shire Hall, on a temporary basis.
The Anglican Ladies Guild at Murchison held a big fete and extended thanks to their counterparts from Rushworth who had donated, attended and patronised the neighbouring event.
Excitement over the opening of the new rooms for Rushworth - Colbinabbin Senior Citizens had continued after opening celebrations were marred by wet weather. Donations were appreciated, with some confusion over whether an old piano had come from the High School or the now defunct Choral Society in the town, or possibly both! Meals-on-Wheels service was growing thanks to a band of volunteer drivers distributing meals prepared at the new centre.
Murchison Senior Citizens discussed the prospect of buying a set of indoor bowls, while anticipating the forthcoming Christmas luncheon ay the Murchison East Motel. Ian Hammond addressed the meeting on first aid for the elderly.
AGM of Rushworth Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary elected Marj Morgan as President, Nancy Cruz as vice-president, D. Lloyd as secretary and E. Hawking treasurer. (Marj and Nancy will enjoy reading this.)
People
Greg and Denise Muir announced the purchase of Caygill Motor Engineering Works from Charlie and Lucy Caygill. (The business was on the property now occupied by the service station.)
Miriam Poulson of Rushworth and David Fisher of Ocean Grove, together with the four parents, announced their engagement.
Mrs Constance Heily, 87, had died in her sleep at Rushworth. She was the widow of Bruce Heily, who was a son of the prominent Dr. John Vickers Heily, who had served the whole district for over forty years in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Noel “Hoppy” Merryfull was photographed at the Criterion Hotel, trying to find a tune on bagpipes belonging to Jack Wylie. Apparently he did not have enough wind.
A kitchen tea was announced for Miss Lynette Perry, ahead of her marriage to the other Alan McLean.
Football
At Elmore, a meeting of the Heathcote District Football League welcomed delegates from Stanhope Football Club who delivered a letter seeking affiliation with the league, subject to gaining release from the Goulburn Valley League. The meeting also learned that Tooborac expected to be able to field three teams in 1976, which would make a seven-team league if Rushworth continued to play. This put Rushworth delegates in an awkward position, having to report a club decision of “eight teams or go elsewhere in 1976”.
Cricket
Batting by Rushworth A-grade was described as “pathetic”, making just 54 in reply to Lancaster’s modest 106. One unnamed player made it to double figures. Bowling a second time cousins Graeme Hageman (2/3) and Chris Hageman (2/7) did well to have Lancaster 7 wickets for 63, but Rushworth’s batsmen cost then the match.
In junior cricket, Rushworth’s 65 runs were no match for Tatura’s 97. Craig Beck made 33, half the score for the Tigers, G. Pearce (Graeme or Geoff?) adding nine. Bset bowling came from Paul Gleeson 3/26, Pearce 2/4 and Donald Potter 2/12.
Tennis
Just after the end of World War II, Rushworth Tennis Club had held an annual Easter tournament, with great success and many visiting participants, despite the absence of changing rooms and showers. A club meeting decided that it would not hold a tournament in Easter 1976. Rain in the 1975 spring meant that the replacement of one bank of courts had not been successful, and they would not be up to scratch by Easter.
Over the Christmas – New Year period, there were to be tournaments and coaching class opportunities at Kyabram and Shepparton.
Bowls
Associate A3 team at Rushworth lost to Hill Top, though Elsie Laurie, Mabel Boundy, Joan Whitehead and Carrie Johansen formed a winning rink. Peg Jell, Vera Pettifer, Mary Bradley, Lucy Munsey, Jean Branson, Doris Barlow, Linda Duke and Jean Laurie were not quite so successful. (Miss Munsey is Mrs Harper and lives in Tatura, and is a keen reader of Waranga News.)
Stanhope men were not bowling well enough to beat Tatura Gold in A1 pennant, though Aub Downing’s rink and Norm Hadfield’s four had finished ahead of their opponents.
Stanhope A2 had a narrow 101 to 100 victory over Murchison Gold, with only John Stokes’s rink successful. The margin of that rink covered the losses of the other three.
Mixed social bowls at Stanhope were won by A. Vaughan, I Junge, M. Flanagan and E. Milthorpe.
Auto Club
Arthur Garvey and Peter Davidson backed off their criticism of Rushworth traders for failure to support the Auto Club. Their complaints were revised to say “some” traders, acknowledging that support had been received. (And no doubt some earlier criticism of his initial remarks.)
The club announced an Old Time Dance in the Shire Hall, with music by Emms Orchestra, entry $1.
