Incident at Balaclava mine, early July 1974
While scrambling down the steep southern wall of Balaclava mine, a Melbourne nurse, 21, had slipped. She was hauled out by Sgt. Geoff Durston, Constable Norman Conway, and ambulance drivers Ron and Graham Hawking, using ropes, cradle and stretcher. The nurse had internal injuries and bruising, her male companion a suspected fractured vertebra.
Shire of Waranga
Shire President Cr Len Coyle, J. P., died at Mooroopna Hospital. Details are shown in last fortnight’s ‘Name from the Past column’.
Northern end of High Street was torn up to create what became known as Max’s Maze. Max Richards was Shire engineer. His plans to enter and leave the proposed central carpark had been rather confusing when displayed at design stage, and subsequently it was dubbed ‘Max’s Maze’. The plan was to “divert sullage water from the front of the shops [near the pharmacy] and prevent the smell that sometimes annoys shoppers”.
Trains were still running. The level crossing had been widened and “parking bays will be provided within a new plantation”, but it seemed to be all about drainage and smell.
Crime
Constable Conway prosecuted a local man charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest, after the man pushed him to the floor and tore his shirt while being placed in the cells. The constable had to call Sgt. Durston for support. After gaol sentence of two weeks, the man was given six weeks to pay for a new police shirt.
Schools
Big news from Rushworth Primary came from Preps who reported, with apparent relief, “The school dentists have gone”. Grade 6 had more information. “The dental van has moved to St. Mary’s School”. Grades 2 and 3 were doing skeletons in science. “Robert and Derek collected some very old bones, and Roger brought an x-ray photograph of a spine.”
Grades 3 and 4 played football and netball against St Mary’s, with wins shared. “The boys lost but enjoyed themselves.”
Community
Taking the reins at Stanhope Lions Club was new board of Ross Murray, Don Sefton, Keith Sadlier, Phil Trist, Harvey Crooks, Reg Coulston, Rod Smith, Bob Greenaway and Peter Crow. Members had provided flood relief in Kyabram homes, and saved 2,000 pigs from flooded piggery on Midland Highway. They had also donated a tent to Girgarre Girl Guides.
Debutants, partners and families poured into Shire Hall for High School Deb Ball. The newspaper report went for pages. For example, “Miss Sue Cruz, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Bill Cruz, was partnered by Peter [“Chooka”] Damon. She wore a sweet little dress made of soft crepe material with short puff sleeves and a flared bottom, very pretty”. (Now! Now! The writer, initials probably Mary Beck, was describing the bottom of Sue’s dress!)
There was equivalent detail about dresses of Meredith Heily (partner Geoff Taylor), Judy Meagher (Simon Fraser), Beverley Draper (no partner mentioned!), Linda Taylor (Ronald McGuire), Marion Colliver (James Bell), Karen Oliveiri (Gerard McArdle), Susan Barber (Bruce Young), Catherine Poulson (Ian Cruz), Leayne Hawking (Peter Crothers), Kerryn Beck (Peter Barlow), Margaret Potter (Graeme Jones, “Wally”), and Kim Morrison (Ashley Risstrom).
Stanhope Guides stitching cloth badges onto uniforms were Shirley Brisbane, Helen Linford, Mary-Anne Bell, Meryl Grinter, Meryl Barrett, Leanne Hepburn, Debbie Lavery and Wendy Stokes.
Personal
Twenty-five years of marriage for Ralph and Pat Dent of Stanhope South, matched by Graham and Norma Morgan (nee Raglus), who celebrated in the Methodist church hall, having travelled back to Rushworth from their Geelong home.
Mrs A. Stephenson of Tatura turned 100. One of her great-grandchildren is Neil Robbins, of Waranga Basin.
Kitchen tea was planned at home of Mrs Kerry Barlow for Bronwyn Murphy, ahead of her marriage to Anthony Barlow. Colours: brown and orange. (For the gifts.)
Lost in Gobarup forest area: Five Hereford steers, 18 months old, owner Ian Anderson of Wanalta. (They might still be out there, a bit tough, but worth a little more today!)
Football
At Rushworth against Heathcote, 100-gamer Maurice Clarke was given a guard of honour to enter the arena. Umpire Darren Tait had an honour guard for his 300th turn on the whistle. A minute’s silence was observed in memory of club secretary Len Coyle.
Still out injured were battlers John Lambden, David Perry and Bill Barlow, with Ian “Lanky” Robbins in for his first senior game. Seven goals in second quarter to Rushworth but it was Heathcote 16-17, Rushworth 13-18, after the Tigers stopped when leading in final quarter. Five goals to Mick O’Sullivan, two from Noel Lloyd, both listed as best, with Herb Barlow, Warren McKeown, Ross Williams and Alec Horne.
Seconds top team Heathcote were no match for the young Tigers, 2-6 to 7-10, with mentions to Chip Hageman, Barry Thompson, R. Jackson, Denis Ogden and Neville Clarke.
A depleted Colbo went to Tooborac without McCubbery, Slimmons and Emsley, losing Graeme Reid in first quarter with a sore leg (soft), while tough little brother Ian was carried off in last quarter with a broken leg, wiping out his season. Tooborac 19-4, Colbo 13-11, Pinniger with five goals, Brendan Tuohey shown as best.
Then Colbo kicked 9-12, down to Mounts 11-6. “Colbinabbin’s general field kicking and passing was something woeful and this department will have to improve in future games.” (What did the writer REALLY think?) Buster Hammond and Gerry Brown both got three goals, Ken McMurtrie, Albiston, Paul and Brendan Tuohey, McCormick and Lundberg named best.
Colbo Seconds 6-3, Mounts 5-7. Best for winners were Bryon McIntosh, Les McMurtrie, John Brown, Glen Rathjen, Stuart and David Hill.
John Schneider got five goals as Rushworth 12-15 trounced Elmore 5-11. He was named as best with W. McKeown, D. Perry, D. Roberts, D. Farrer, R. Williams and M. Clarke.
Tiger Seconds won 6-6 to Elmore’s 5-2, despite Gavin O’Sullivan dominating the ruck instead of driving his truck. Alf Raglus reported Geoff Hawking’s four goals, best players given as Trevor Hawking, old stager Ogden, Bill Cruz, Malcolm McLean and Chip Hageman.
Netball
Karen Oliveiri stepped up to replace injured Robyn Lambden in A-Grade. Both Rushworth teams beat Elmore. C-grade won against Heathcote, naming Kathy McArdle, Lyn Merryfull, Denise Jones, Debbie Cruz and Isabel McLean. (Two remaining players not shown may have been cheesed off!)
Carpet Bowls
Winners included George Kolenaty, Mrs Pettifer, Alan Wootton, Bruce Laurie, Mrs Chris Wootton and Craig Beck, (who I calculate to have been about 16!)
Golf
Rushworth Open Golf championship won by Ivor Thompson of Rochester. Local winners in a 4BBB were Colin Barlow and David Heily, over Sam Jessup and Peter Meagher.
Mixed Canadian event (whatever that is) won by Peter and Beryl Home, with Graham Spence nearest the pin. There were mentions to Colin’s father Bob, Doug Poulson, teacher Terry Cogan, Max Richards and Reg McIntosh.
