Lively football discussion continued in October 1975
Lively football discussion continued in October 1975
The well-attended Annual General Meeting of Rushworth Football Club at the former fire station (next to the Presbyterian church) came to a unanimous decision, rare in most footy clubs. Unless the Heathcote District League confirmed eight clubs for season 1976, the Tigers would seek to join another league.
Re-elected as President for 1976, Don Perry had Ray Cheatley and Doug Poulson as vice-presidents, Matt Kennedy as secretary-treasurer. Speakers for a move to another league included Rob Betson, Maurice Clarke, Les Hoyling and John Bianco. Don and Eddie Gleeson were appointed club delegates to take this bad news to the league.
The following edition of the Chronicle issued a correction. The decision had not been unanimous after all. Failing to vote one way or the other were Alf Raglus, Chief Perry and Eddie Gleeson, and Ray Cheatley was apparently out of the room when the vote was taken.
Shire of Waranga
Shire Engineer Max Richards told Council that the new drainage system fitted in Stanhope at a cost of $130,000 had coped well with recent rainfall, as had the newly-created stormwater storage dam. A pump had been installed near the Midland Highway corner with the Rushworth Road.
Enlargement of a drain outside Hawkings’ Self Service Grocery store in Rushworth (now the bakery) had also proved useful, tested severely by recent downpours.
Schools
The High School held a big fete, despite heavy rain on the Friday afternoon. The frog race was won by Johnathon Branson, racing a frog trained by Biddy Pearce. The Iron-Man eating contest was awarded to Ian Sheers. Other prizes went to Roy Barrett, proud winner of a jar of lollies. Robert Kaldor-Bull (a doll), Wendy Stokes (baking scones), Kerrie Brown (biscuits), Jenny Burrows (sponge), Mrs Nancy Wilson (pendant), and Wendy Jones (a sheep!)
A darts competition was won by David Francis, the hookey by Wesley Draper, mini-golf by David Wood, and a navigational mystery tour was won by Ron Hawking, who died in May this year.
Community
Stanhope Lions Club’s Bob Gregory, Bruce Spiby and Bernie Dreher led club members in creating a massive bonfire at the recreation reserve, in recognition of Guy Fawkes Night (though few may have known that Guy Fawkes was a terrorist who prepared a plot to blow up the British parliament in 1605).
Rushworth Lions, headed by President Geoff Durston, took on a project taking schoolchildren to a special clinic in Shepparton, to be assessed for a condition known as Lazy Eye. Lions also travelled to Shepparton to donate at the Red Cross blood bank.
Postmaster Bruce Carrotte got busy with a spade outside the Post Office, bringing an end to the career of a 5-foot brown snake resting in the gutter. The Chronicle had a photo of Post Office employee John Raglus holding the dead reptile by the tail.
Rushworth and Colbinabbin Senior Citizens Club members were preparing to welcome Mr Peter Ross-Edwards, Member for Shepparton, coming to town to open the new clubrooms; the finalisation of a three-year project initiated by the Apex Club. Mentioned was a donation to the club from the High School - an old piano.
People
Leslie Phillip Francis, known to all as Joe, died in late October. His wife was Gladys and they had seven children, including today’s local residents Les Jnr. and David Francis.
Pat Lorenz of Girgarre advertised his photographic services, offering to take family photos in people’s homes. Wedding photo service was also available, phone Girgarre 133.
Tennis
Serving it up in B-grade tennis were Gerard McArdle, Chris Geisler, Geoff Burge and Rob Raglus, joined by Doreen Wall, Margaret Jones, Pauline Wooton and Margaret Hoelter.
Junior tennis teams of six continued to have four girls and only two boys, one of the girls competing against a boy in opposing teams.
Bowls
Non-residents were active in Rushworth bowls pennant teams. The B2 team was Ron Risstrom, Laurie Tuohey, Jim Service, Ken McIntyre, Jim Hamilton, John “Tacky” Borger, Sam Jessup, Charlie Jackson, Ian Anderson, Jim Phelan, Ern Faravoni and Jack Laurie. Three of the first five pennant matches were all abandoned due to heavy rain.
Associate bowlers had a pennant round washed out on a Tuesday. On a dry Tuesday, Rushworth associates were beaten 84 – 54 by Kyabram, despite the efforts of Adele Home, Lottie Kennedy, Jean Jessup, Florence Perry, Mary Furphy, Jean Laurie, Audrey Clarke, Val McArdle, Dot Aitken, Anne Pearce, Kath Heath and Mary Beck, the sole surviving member of that team.
Murchison Gold bowls pennant team had players Vic Hammond, Ern Hammond and Jim Hammond. Green team only had Bill Hammond.
Football
The Heathcote Football League held its Annual General Meeting at the Brolga reception centre at Lake Eppalock, surprising Tom Morgan (Colbinabbin) and Eddie Gleeson (Rushworth) with Life Memberships, for various contributions to the operation of the league over long periods of time. In attendance were delegates from the Tooborac club which had not fielded a team in 1975. Was the club about to be re-activated for 1976? The story has scarcely started as yet.
Rushworth Auto Club
The Auto Club was struggling. Office-bearers and Chronicle editor Peter Davidson (a motoring man) all pointed out that club events benefitted local cafes, hotels, service stations and caravan parks, bringing visitors to the town. The club wanted more active involvement from local people. Peter wrote that if the club folded “it would be just another nail in Rushworth’s coffin”. (Cheap shot. Rushworth wasn’t even dead!)
Waranga Boat Club
A regatta involving 120 yachts on the Basin must have been quite a sight, but of course not all yachts were in action at once. The Victorian State Championships for the Fireball class was a feature event. With the Basin full of water, club races were held for boats in each particular class. Colin Walker of Stanhope had more success in the Mosquito class, with his cleverly-named yacht Repellem.
Races were held most Sundays when yachtsmen came from Kyabram, Shepparton, Echuca, Tongala, Wyuna and further afield.
