Tragedy on water and roads to start 1976
A Sunday afternoon cool change roared across the Basin, damaging yachts and campsites on the shore. Later in January, a Shepparton man was drowned at Greens Lake, Corop, after a squall capsized a 12-foot (3.5 metre) fibreglass boat. Three passengers in the boat struggled ashore to raise the alarm. No other boats were on the lake, so external assistance was needed.
The tragic loss to two Melbourne men arose from a road smash about three kilometres south of Murchison on Weir Road.
Schools
The High School reported passes in five subjects for Brett Cheatley, Trevor Johnson, Ken Wilson (all of Colbinabbin), Malcolm Wall and Graeme Wastell. Others awarded their Higher School Certificate were Kerryn Beck, Geoff Burge, Pam Hancox, Trevor Hawking, Meredith Heily, Debra Holschier, Malcolm Home, Karyn Oliveiri, Catherine Poulson, Linda Taylor and Noel Tuohey.
Education Department teaching scholarships were offered to Kerryn Beck and Brett Cheatley.
Starting HSC in 1976 with a Shire scholarship of $40 was Rushworth’s Noel Perry.
Shire
Bruce Brisbane of Murchison replaced Cr John Hammond on Waranga Shire Council, after Mr Hammond moved from the district. At the first meeting of the year, Councillors were handed their rate notices. (Saving postage.)
Council hosted a citizenship ceremony for Michael Awadulla of Stanhope. He was a chemist at Ibis Milk Products.
The Shire planned to investigate a possible new playing surface for Colbo oval. (New topsoil was planned, but Frank Stewart will tell you that a serious revamp took about another 40 years.)
The Shire awarded $200 to cemeteries at Corop and Whroo to help meet maintenance costs. Income the previous year at Whroo cemetery was $11.51, at Corop $14.13.
Crime and punishment
A Stanhope man failed to understand that licence disqualification required him to desist from driving. He was gaoled for two months to learn the rules.
A Rushworth youth travelled at 150 kph over a distance of 18 kilometres. Sen. Constable Hromenko and Magistrate Curtain called him a menace on the roads.
Rupert Hoyling’s car was stolen from the yard of the Criterion Hotel, recovered in swampy ground off the Stanhope Road, with several valuable items missing. From the front of the same hotel, thieves lifted a 12-foot aluminium boat off roof-racks of a parked car, taking a dozen bottles of beer from the rear seat.
Community
The Christmas Eve Fire Brigade fete was reported as a success, the little train operated by Stanhope Lions Club proving popular.
Rushworth CWA led celebrations for Australia Day, singing Click Go the Shears, and Botany Bay. (Are these great folk songs taught in schools these days?)
Day’s Mill south of Murchison was added to the Victorian Historic Buildings Register.
Mrs Libby Gregory of Stanhope took over as leader of local Cubs, after retirement of Mrs Greta Barrette.
Rushworth pool roster listed Bill Cruz, Aub Geisler, Margaret Damon, Marj Morgan, Mrs Atkins, Joyce Kolenaty, Joyce Heily, Ross Coye, Stewart Nurse, Bev Hitchcock, Lucy Caygill, Rosemary Hawking and Mrs Goodwin.
People
Robyn Lambden of Rushworth became engaged to John Phillips of Essendon.
A 21st birthday party was reportedly held for Herb Barlow in December 1975 at his parents’ home in Phillips Street, deferred from October 1975 when he was doing his dentistry exams at Melbourne University. (Herb died in August of last year, aged just 70.)
Great photo of Colleen Draper (nee Schade) holding newborn Scott, while Peter was home looking after Hayden and Jason. Margaret Perrett (nee Jones) was shown with Nathan, a new brother for Jodie and Breen. The babes were born in December 1975.
Ron and Noelle Grinter added Vincent to their clan, and Graeme and Robyn Campbell (nee Baker) welcomed premature twins Glenn and Andrew. Jason Raymond Betson arrived for Rob and Kay.
Debbie Watson was given a kitchen tea at the home of Mrs Florence Perry, prior to her marriage to Rod Lockwood. Alan “Buster” Hammond of Colbo and Jenny Griffiths of Rochester were married in January. (Golden wedding anniversary just celebrated!)
Peter and Nance Meagher thanked local brigades after a fire at their property.
Monsignor Michael Bowman thanked all who had commended his 50 years as a priest.
George Burls, 81, died, having lived at Murchison all his life. Others passing were Ian Cameron, son of Mrs Cameron of Rushworth, and Mrs Gertrude Schumann, wife of Herbert.
Cricket
Rushworth A-Grade’s 9/103 (Steve Bohan 35) was no match for Kyabram’s 4/110 (Bohan 2/29). (This was Fr. Bohan, the young local priest.)
In B-grade, Girgarre’s Barry Linford took 9/13, sending Rushworth out for 39. The name R. Williams was listed twice in the same innings, once bowled for 17, and then caught and bowled for 6. Noel Lloyd was 3 not out. Laurie Casey got 81 of Girgarre’s 9/169. Charles Potter took 5/18, Rob Hageman 3/35 and gun bowler Lloyd 1/9. Rushworth’s second innings was better, Tony Hatters adding 57 of 149, but Girgarre lost just three wickets making the 22 runs to win outright.
Under-15 stars Paul Gleeson 3/33, Don Potter 46 runs and Craig Beck 35 combined to help Rushworth 112 beat Merrigum 89.
Tennis
Rushworth A-3 team: Trevor Branson. Rob Ryan, Alan McLean (the other one), Ian Reid, Sandra Wallace, Noela Barlow, Nola and Valma Pepperell.
Bowls
George Kolenaty defeated Bruce Laurie to become Rushworth club champion, after they had beaten Geoff Beck and Don Perry in semi-finals.
A big January club tournament saw locals Jack Borger and Don Perry win the pairs event, over Bruce Laurie and Jack Pettifer.
Stanhope held a three-day tournament attracting many district bowlers. The triples event was won by Arch Currie, Neville Hepples and Bruce Emmett, over other locals Wal Adams, Syd and A. Linford.
Football
Heathcote District Football League elected Colbinabbin’s Sam Cheatley as president for the 23rd consecutive season, after John Holmberg (Elmore) and Tom Morgan (Colbo) declined nominations. David Roulston (Mount Pleasant) was to continue as secretary, but would Tooborac re-form as a club and enter a team in 1976?
Footnote
I have been asked why my mugshot appears on this page. Initially it was to follow suit with Rogie’s pic when he used to do the opposite page. It has now become more useful. When I visit Rushworth, a complete stranger sometimes approaches, saying “Are you the man who writes the Fifty Years Ago page?” When I plead guilty, the stranger will generally ask if I can help with some history enquiry. The mugshot does nothing for me, but perhaps it helps others.
