90 years up for Fire Brigade, August 1974
90 years up for Fire Brigade, August 1974
A banquet for 80 people was held in a packed Fire Brigade hall, to acknowledge the work done since 1984. Attended by the top brass from the CFA, ex-captains Mal Reid and Charlie Boyson were also welcomed. Only two men from the 1914-16 era were present, with Sid Hunt the oldest at 82.
Former firemen Albert Jones, Vic Medhurst, Les Parrott, Ray Locke, Les O’Donnell, Ray McArdle, Ken King, Charlie Curtis, Ron Risstrom, Don and Bill Raglus, Ray Lloyd, Doug Poulson, Graeme Collard and Reg Pearce also participated.
Receivers were called in to administer Mitchelton Winery. Liquidity issues were explained to staff as the business continued to trade after serious flooding had added far too much liquid.
New Rushworth policeman travelling daily from Tatura was Senior Constable Peter Hromenko.
Shire of Waranga
There were free adult immunisations for polio, rubella, diphtheria and tetanus, if names were registered with new Health Inspector, Jim Hastings. Mr Hastings then resigned, not happy with his access to support staff at the Shire office! With his notice period included, he completed two months with few ratepayers ever meeting him.
The inspector had declared the home of Miss Smith in Moora Road to be unfit for habitation but worthy of preservation for its historical significance. He had found a Wigg Street residence to be rat-infested, asking Council to inforce a previous demolition order by pulling the house down.
Schools
Mr Ross was reading “Paddington Abroad” to Grade 4, as the Grades 1 and 2 combined class made a book about dinosaurs. (Still a very popular primary school topic.) Grade 6 went on a “cycle safari” along the Nine-Mile Road.
Community
Stanhope Senior Citizens invited Rushworth-Colbinabbin Senior Citizens to join a planned bus trip to Maryborough Golden Wattle Festival. (But what about the wattle in the Rushworth forest?)
Saleyards near rail line in Murchison owned by agents Dennys Lascelles were sold for $2700 to Mr Davis. The plan was to demolish the yards to create house blocks on the 1.5 acres.
Miss Australia quest entrant Yvonne Hill planned a “Hayshed Dance” at Mac Hill’s property on the Heathcote-Corop Road.
Stanhope Catholic Ball Matron award went to Mrs Aileen Barrett, while Miss Rhonda Wallace was Belle of the Ball.
Personal
Les Hammond of Murchison died, leaving widow Gladys. Also passing was Mary Guthrie (nee Matheson). A sister was Rushworth’s Mrs Nell Quirk. Music teacher Miss Smith died at Rushworth. She is featured in Name from the Past today.
Peter Stewart died at Rushworth. He was the son of William and Christine Stewart of Moora, brother of Myra Nurse, and uncle of Stewart Nurse and his family.
Melissa Hammond arrived for parents John and Margaret at Murchison.
Marriage of Tony and Bronwyn Barlow of Wanalta was to be followed by their honeymoon in Britain. Assisting on their wedding day were Jeanette and Leonie Murphy, Kevin Ryan and Peter Stewart.
Those attending Jenny Muir’s kitchen tea were invited to bring presents coloured lime green, yellow and brown. Ladies a plate please. (Hope there were scones on some.)
Football
In the final round, Rushworth 21-17 belted Elmore 2-14, as Alec Horne kicked his regular five goals. Bill Barlow and John Schneider got three each, joined in the best by Herb Barlow, Bill Cruz, Maurice Clarke, Ian Williams and teachers Dave Roberts and Warren McKeown. (Do any teachers play footy now?)
Rushworth Seconds’ spearhead Geoff Hawking got three goals in the 6-4 to 2-2 victory over Elmore, who failed to score in the second half. G. Wall, T. Cogan, D. Ogden, C. Potter, R. Jones, G. Cruz and P. Damon got their names in the paper.
Heathcote League Cheatley Medal went to J. Walsh of Tooborac. Bill Johnson of Colbo won the Seconds’ award and Chris Geisler of Rushworth dominated the Thirds’ award with 34 votes.
The finals began at Toolleen after the ground at Tooborac was declared unplayable in its heavy condition. Rushworth 19-15 eliminated Heathcote 15-26, after Schneider got six goals, Lambden 5 and Horne 3. Kevin Mitchell kicked seven for Heathcote. Nine Tigers were named as best: Lambden, Heily, M. Clarke, I. Williams, D. Perry, J. Schneider, D. Farrer, H. Barlow and A. Horne. That left Tooborac, Colbo and Rushworth still in the race.
Goulburn Valley League nominated Ron Risstrom to receive a Victorian Country Football Service Medal. He had been a club delegate from 1935 to 1964, before chairing the League’s independent tribunal from 1965 to 1974.
Netball
Rushworth beat Elmore 55 to 10 in A-grade, 39 to 27 in B-grade but no good players were shown.
Rushworth then advanced to the preliminary final, beating Tooborac by eight goals in the first semi-final, as Leayne Hawking starred in the centre. B-grade also advanced, beating Colbo by 16.
Tennis Club AGM
The AGM was adjourned after just nine showed up to hear that Ted Whitehead was stepping down as president after six seasons. Three attendees declined nomination. (There had been 28 attend the AGM in 1973.)
Golf
There was poor form also at the golf club where players were not replacing their divots! Jack Borger had a win, ahead of Stephen Teasdale, as Norm Geisler got closest to the pin.
On quarter-finals day for the club championship, in C-grade Bruce Wootton beat Bill Barlow, 1-up, but Bill was nearest the pin. Lurch Hoyling defeated Graham Bolden at the 19th hole.
B-grader Norm Geisler beat Bill Cruz, five-up with four to play. In A-grade Graham Spence edged out Mal McLeod 2-1. (The pair had been teammates in Rushworth football and cricket, including in a semi-final in the 1960s when Graham took four catches off Mal’s fast bowling.)
