English doctor changes his mind in September 1974
English doctor changes his mind in September 1974
Negotiations from March to September with an English doctor to fill the vacancy at Rushworth collapsed. The stated reason for the change of mind was that the doctor’s wife had heard from an Australian migration official in Birmingham that ‘the Rushworth area was a dismal place to live’! (If that was correct, everyone was the poorer, and the Australian official was in the wrong job!)
Shire of Waranga
The Shire called a meeting to elect a committee of management for the Rushworth Wildflower Sanctuary Reserve. (Who has responsibility for the reserve now?)
The Shire protested the design of the single-person flats at Stanhope, finding that the shower over the bath would not be helpful for older residents.
Community
Stanhope Lions Club was up and running, but a Stanhope District Apex Club was created at the Stanhope Motel, the 34 foundation members being Dennis Roberts (President), Stephen Hopley (secretary), Norm Smith (treasurer), Ron Argus, Michael Awadalla, Brian Bourke, Murray Buzza, Gary Clarke, Kelly Cheong, Graham Cross, Uwe de Temple, Barney Enders, Laurie Flanagan, Dennis George, John Hodgins, Geoff Holland, Bill Hageman, Ben Italia, Cliff Kelly, Les Knowles, Ron Luker, Noel Langley, Peter McCraw, Bill Macknamara, Athol McDonald, Ron McQueen, Kevyn Patten, Gavin Poole, John Power, Gary Smith, Bob Tupa, John Trubiano, Rob Waller and Alex Warren.
Stanhope Anglican Ladies (Mrs Jean Cheong President) planned a barn dance in the Stanhope South hall.
Brownies leader Mrs Kolenaty resigned, Mrs Robbins and Mrs Goodwin offering to share the role on a fill-in basis.
Schools
Rushworth Primary School preps reported “most children have clean nails every day”. (Just thought you would like to know!) Grade 6 went to the golf course to do landscape painting with wattle trees to be included.
Personal
Dianne McGrath of Stanhope was engaged to Peter Curran of East Hawthorn.
Les ‘Lurch’ Hoyling and Jenny Muir of Rushworth tied the knot. (Golden wedding anniversary congratulations to you both.)
Jack Perry of Murchison died at Holbrook, leaving widow Alice and children Daphne, Bill, Jack, Keith, Shirley and Gloria, after daughter Jean had pre-deceased him.
Passing at Colbinabbin was Patrick Darrigan, leaving widow Sarah.
Kyabram hospital was busy as Roger and Gwen Barnes (nee Haveckin) welcomed Simon, and Ross and Helen Williams (nОe Farley) added Jason to join big sister Peta, extending thanks to Bev Hitchcock for assistance not specified! Dr. Peter O’Brien’s help was understandably appreciated.
The Rawleigh company was seeking a local representative to replace the retired Ian ‘Tom’ Silva, who could recite a list of all Rawleigh products in a sing-song voice.
Football premierships and awards
Before the Grand Finals at Rushworth, Heathcote League President Sam Cheatley presented his medal for the League’s best and fairest player to J. Walsh of Tooborac, and the goal-kicking award to G. Sevior, also of Tooborac.
The Thirds premiership was won by Rushworth, but there was no match summary. The Tigers also won the Seconds’ flag 14-9 to Heathcote’s 10-11, as Geoff Hawking booted four goals, joined in the best players by other Geoffs, Wall and Cruz, Barry Thompson, Rod Jones, Robert Raglus and skipper Denis Ogden.
In the Seniors, Tooborac with fifteen non-local players won easily, kicking 19-26 to Colbinabbin 14-15. Colbo had eight non-locals. McCubbery kicked another six goals, to match his bag in the preliminary final. Bob Emsley got four, joined in the best by Dave Slimmon, Dennis McCormick, Brian Ellis and Glen McTaggart. (Tooborac was unable to field a team the following season, and without checking for sure, I think that was the end of the club.)
Herb Barlow of Rushworth, with his season sort of over, played for Stanhope in the final round of the Goulburn Valley League season.
At Murchison, a wet ground and high wind for the preliminary final was handled by Ardmona 11-14, downing favourites Girgarre 10-17, after Girgarre had finished on top. In the Seconds Murchison 2-11, yes 2-11, beat Ardmona 1-7, so I guess the wind was blowing across the ground. John Hogan was named as the star.
At Colbinabbin, everybody won a prize. Frank Brown Medal for Best and Fairest: Bob Emsley. Runner-up: Dennis McCormick. Wright and Tuohey award: John McEvoy. Best local player: Alan Hammond. Runner-up: also John McEvoy. Most consistent: Brendan Tuohey. Most courageous: Brian Ellis. Most improved: Ken McMurtrie. Goal-kicking: David Pinniger.
In the Seconds, best and fairest: Bill Johnson. Runner-up: Ken Wilson. Most consistent: John Brown. Most improved: Trevor Cheatley. Best first-year player: Jamie O’Dwyer.
In the Thirds, best and fairest: Phillip McEvoy, later to play with Carlton Reserves team. Runner-up: Colin McTaggart. Most courageous: Ian McTaggart. Most consistent: Tim West, who reads Waranga News. Most improved: Bill Wright.
(At a rough guess, I reckon Colbo paid more for trophies than for new footballs in 1974!)
Golf
After Henry Hay had mown the golf course, the D-grade semi-final of the club championship between Bruce Wootton and Les Hoyling was delayed so that Lurch could complete his honeymoon!
In A-grade the semi-finals resulted in wins to Graham Spence over David Heily, 2-up, and Reg McIntosh over Graham Muir 4-3. Graham won the final over Reg, the B-grade title to Stephen Teasdale over Terry Cogan. C-grade was won by Craig Teasdale, beating Max Richards, while Lurch was the C-grade champ over Alan Curnick.
Nell Jones was Nearest the Pin in an Associates event.
Bowls opening knocked about by grass-hoppers
The season for Rushworth had to commence on the Stanhope green as recovery from attack by grass-hoppers was not complete. Green-keeper there was Bruce Emmett. Life membership was presented to Miss Kath Heath who had been secretary of the Rushworth Associates for twenty years.
Murchison Associates ‘cleared Marj’ to Rushworth, as the clubrooms looked smart with the addition of new dried flower arrangements by Greta Baker and daughter-in-law Gloria.
