School enrolments of great interest in February 1976
Rushworth Primary enrolments were up as the school year started, boosted by 23 new starters in Preps. Mrs Jeanette Murray was a new librarian two days per week.
The largest local primary school was Stanhope with 168, reported by headmaster Bernie Dreher. New teachers included Alan Calder, Mrs Georgina Wallace, Mrs Kate Sellars and Mrs Margaret Hoelter. Continuing was Mrs Noela Barlow. A new portable classroom, requested back in 1973 had still not arrived and 28 pupils were crowded into a room which had previously been the Whroo school. (Fifty years later in 2026, that room is still in use at Stanhope, having been relocated from Whroo in 1934!)
Murchison was also short of a still un-built room for its growing enrolment of 137, and welcomed Mrs Worboise, Mrs Weeks of Toolleen and Miss Phillips. Colbinabbin was down two students, on a total of 50.
Rushworth High School had 20 extra students, within the total enrolment of 245. (What are the equivalent enrolments across the district today? I doubt Stanhope has 168.)
New High School teachers were Mrs Lee Crosbie (library assistant), Miss Sheila O’Leary (Arts, Graphic communication), Graeme Viney (Maths, Science), Dale Harty (Chemistry, Science, Maths), Robert Newton (Maths, Chemistry, Science), Cecil Constable (Economics and Commerce), Miss Ann Stanistreet (English, History), Miss Colleen Dew (Graphic communications, Art), Miss Lynda Evans (English, History) and Mr Gary Danson (Economics and Commerce). (New teachers usually struggle to learn student names. In this case the students had a big task to learn all the new teacher names!)
Court
A female unlicenced Rushworth driver picked the wrong car for a collision in October 1975. Her ute had three bald tyres when it collided with a police car driven by Sergeant Durston, and she was $200 poorer for the experience after her February 1976 court appearance.
A Colbinabbin man was gaoled for a month and disqualified from licence holding for three years after driving while unlicenced. A Stanhope woman was found to have taken insufficient care when turning, as a motorcyclist broke his leg in the resultant collision.
Theft of a muffler and rope from the Humbug gold mine off the Rushworth – Murchison Road saw two Tatura youths placed on $100 12-month bonds, with orders to pay a further $50 each into the court poor box. The defence was that they thought the mine was abandoned.
Not yet before the magistrate were local vandals who had damaged the clock on the war memorial. Known to the Shire engineer, the youths were pursued for the costs of repairs.
Community
Julie Hogan and Carolyn Watson enrolled in Murchison Rangers joining six colleagues for a camp beside the Goulburn River.
Rushworth Historical Society advanced plans to build a vehicle shelter. The Society also wrote to the Council to protest “the destruction of character and atmosphere of this old mining town due to recent house demolition orders”.
District fruit-growers were struggling under the weight of over-production and poor export market opportunities. This led to a sad phase of tree removal in the Goulburn Valley.
A furnished house in Colbinabbin, “Loomea”, was offered for sale, asking price $12,500.
People
Charles Blake of Murchison passed away in January, aged 73. His widow had been Doris Colliver of Rushworth, prior to her marriage. Peggy Thomson, a former Girl Guides Commissioner of North Murchison, died on 6 February.
Jennifer Polkinghorne of Murchison married David Duff of Mt Martha.
Mrs Gladys Eldridge of Murchison and two cannery workmates shared a Tattslotto prize of $99,000.
John Matthey of Murchison was fortunate to escape a bad crash as his car was written-off having overturned and wrapped around a sapling when driven near Dhurringile.
Mrs Matthey had worked at Murchison Newsagency for 34 years, and welcomed new proprietors Terry and Margaret Osmond, the sixth owners in her long career.
Jim Dettmann of Stanhope thanked customers after selling his shop to David and Val Lupton.
Michael Perry joined his sister Kathryn and parents Les and Cheryl at Rushworth, where local watchmaker and jeweller Carl Williams celebrated his 80th birthday at his McDonald Street home.
George Kolenaty published a short autobiography, outlining his escape to Australia in 1949 after the Russians invaded Czechoslovakia. Entitled “Preservation of the Faith”, copies were available for just $2 at Rushworth Newsagency, owned by Ivan and Peg Jell.
Bowls
Stanhope was in the middle of Division A-One ladder, Rushworth on top in Division A-Two. Rushworth had an unbeatable lead in a home game but had to share the points when a heavy thunderstorm washed out the last few ends.
Rushworth A-Two then ended a 35-year drought, taking the pennant over Merrigum, 89 shots to 80. Skippers were Jack Borger, Vic Cruz, Geoff Beck and Jack Pettifer, joined by Cliff Johnson, Ron Laurie, Jeff Geddes, George Kolenaty, Bruce Laurie, Ted Whitehead, Don Perry, Alan McMurtrie, John Aitken, Bill Furphy, Fred Parrott and Cec Bradley.
John Dunlop took his first Murchison club championship, 32 -18 over Ern Jackson.
Tennis
Rushworth 1 Sat fourth on the A-grade ladder, with Nan Jessup, Beryl Home, Ann Brown, Cheryl Hawking, Herb Barlow, Mark Mackinder, Glen Rathjen and Alan Curnick doing well. C-grade players were Peter Davidson, Geoff Burge, Anthony Fullarton, Geoff Taylor, Meredith Heily, Judy Raglus, Yvonne Laurie and Karyn Oliveiri.
Cricket
Dropped second ball after coming in at 6/89 chasing Tatura’s 175, according to the Chronicle Ross Williams belted 62 runs (eight fours and a six). His partnership with Graeme Johansen (45 run out) helped Rushworth reach 196 for a good win.
In the next match, Charles Potter took 4/21 as Rushworth dismissed Stanhope for 87. Bruce Milthorpe top-scored with 24. Rushworth declared at 9/148 (Alan Mee 55 and Fr. Steve Bohan 38). Stanhope were then skittled for 61, no match for Geoff Hawking’s bowling of 6/36. The little chase for the one-run outright win was handled by the in-form Ross Williams who hit a two off the bowling of Bill McGrath.
In B-grade, Alan Hawking starred with 5/42 as Tatura made 169, but Rushworth crashed to 4/19 and went down on the second day.
Junior stars Craig Beck, 73 runs and 4/54, and Danny Forte 30 and 2/25, helped Rushworth 5/149 beat Kyabram Methodists on 132.
Appeal
The ragged old Rushy Chronicles of 1976 aren’t giving me much material to include on this page. If you have an old school class photo, from any era but preferably with names, please track me down. You will be helping me, and it will lift this page. Readers will be interested.
