Big occasion for Toolleen in October 1975
Cr. Ron Hickson opened the new Toolleen Sporting Centre, which had been a big achievement for a small district. The multi-purpose pavilion was to become the hub for local sporting clubs, community groups and for public meetings. A series of grants and ratepayer contributions had combined to enable erection of a brick building of 28 squares, at a cost of just on $62,000.
A big crowd attended the opening in the evening of Saturday 18 October, including local MPs from State and Federal Parliaments, with the main address by the Hon. Jock Granter, Member of the Victorian Legislative Council.
On behalf of the community, resident Mr Michael Ryan expressed thanks to Cr. Hickson as the driving force behind the project, before a supper dance in the new facility.
(Many of us remember the old change-rooms when playing footy against Mount Pleasant. A small corrugated iron shed divided by a wall of the same iron, with a concrete floor, and some very average showers down the south end. Around the walls were nails to hang your clothes. From memory, after the new pavilion came into operation, the dividing wall was taken down so that visiting footy teams had use of the whole shed.)
Crime
Shepparton C.I.B. and Rushworth police were investigating after 150 posts belonging to Eddie Gleeson were stolen from the forest road leading to the old Buffalo diggings. Tools had been stolen and a tractor damaged while being used to haul the robbers’ vehicle out of a bog. Mr Gleeson offered a reward for information.
Senior Constable Hromenko had been busy, handing out invitations to speeding motorists to attend the Court House. One was an Army cook based at Puckapunyal, using a NSW driving licence as his Victorian licence had been cancelled!
Fines and loss of licence arose for two local men found driving over .05% blood alcohol, while another was convicted of driving an unregistered truck on the Midland Highway near Stanhope. The defence in the latter case was that he had to feed cattle on his own land, but could only get past floodwaters via a gateway on the highway.
Shire of Waranga
The Stanhope tip was closed due to flooded roads.
A part-time vacancy as Kindergarten Directress was advertised over the name of Terry Larkins, Shire Secretary.
Two senior officials from the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission (remember the Commission?) spoke to a Council meeting, outlining plans to hand over leasehold land around Waranga Basin for Council control, as part of a general policy to give local communities a greater say in land use on the margins of the water. The Commission planned to stay involved and to provide grants for specified works. The plan would exclude Crown Land, such as the Basin caravan park.
Farming
President of the Victorian Farmers Federation, Jim Heffernan, visited Colbinabbin, welcomed by local VFF branch president Ernie Chiswell and secretary Ian Laurie. In a time of rampant inflation, farmers were faced with massive stock culls and minimal prices at wool sales, and these topics dominated Mr Heffernan’s address.
Mr Heffernan, a woolgrower, travelled from Apsley near the South Australian border. He spoke and answered a series of questions. Mr Chiswell called on Norm Wright to move a vote of thanks which was carried by acclamation.
Haymaking services were offered by Tom Morgan (Colbinabbin), Don Sefton (Girgarre) and Russell Hacon (Rushworth).
Community
The Seymour Band entertained members of Rushworth Old Boys and Girls Association at their annual get-together, transferred to the Shire Hall from Whroo due to wet weather. Photographed were Jack Barry (President) and Bill Nurse (secretary), chatting to Jim Service. Also smiling for the camera were Mrs Jack Hawking of Boronia, Mrs Bessie Hawking of Rushworth and Mrs Garvin of Stanhope.
The Apex Club of Rushworth and Colbinabbin hosted a successful gymkhana at Colbinabbin Recreation Reserve, which drew contestants from around the state. Local riders doing well were Len Tennant of Stanhope South and Karen Bennett of Stanhope. Concerns that rain would make the oval difficult for the horses were unfounded, with competitors reported as pleased with the surface.
Rushworth Country Womens’ Association ladies performed at the Shire Hall for the local Senior Citizens Club. Doreen Fenton, Heather Jones, Mary Beck, Norma Bolden, Peg Taylor and Joyce Kolenaty sang songs while dressed as the popular television characters, the Black and White Minstrels. Outfits included blackened faces, white blouses and black slacks. (There may be sensitivity to the blackened faces if a similar concert was given today.)
People
Don and Florence Perry hosted a big party in the Shire Hall to celebrate the 21st birthday of twins Dianne and David (Pluto).
Allan and Lynette Breen (nee Auld) welcomed Daniel Allan at Kyabram Hospital.
Rushworth’s Ron Pearce, known as Johnson Pearce, died at Kyabram. Also passing was Mrs Bridget Bailey of Rushworth, aged just 71. She was the mother of Clarrie Bailey, a well-known supporter of the local RSL.
Gladys Newton, formerly of Murchison and mother of Gordon, died at Mooroopna.
Bowls
Heavy rain washed out most district bowls, but Tuesday pennant for the Associates saw Stanhope ladies 88, way ahead of Rushworth on 40. Mavis Meadowcroft, Nancy Tudor and Jean Roulston were the successful skippers, over Dot Aitken, Florence Perry and Anne Pearce.
Runners-up at a bowls day in Shepparton to support Legacy were Jack and Elsie Laurie and Ted and Joan Whitehead.
Bowls were very popular in 1975, the newspaper publishing full results in most editions, naming all the players. Teams selected for the following Saturday were also in the Chronicle each Thursday.
Tennis
The newspaper left out one of the men in the Rushworth 1 team in A-grade tennis, naming Alan McLean (the other one), Graeme Bolden, Mark Mackinder, Nan Jessup, Beryl Home, Norma Bolden and Cheryl Hawking. (I will guess at Colin Barlow as the missing man.)
Wanalta and Colbo people made up most of Rushworth A3 team, being Ian Reid, Rob Ryan, Trevor Branson, Neville Thompson, Sandra Wallace, Shirley Raglus, Nola and Valma Pepperell.
Junior A-grade team was Wes Draper (c), Wayne Raglus, Gillian Risstrom (to play as a boy, as numbers were short), Carolyn Home, Elizabeth Caygill and Isabel McLean.
Waranga Boat Club
Winners at a weekend regatta included locals Byron Gray of Rushworth in the Pacer class of yachts and Colin Walker of Stanhope in the Mosquito class.
