1970
Deakin Shire Council and Kyabram Borough Council were meeting with the aim of setting up a tourist route, off the Murray Valley Hwy, through Kyabram and Tongala, before rejoining the highway.
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Taripta Progress Association was behind the plan, writing a letter suggesting the route would continue from John Allan Rd, along Albion St into Kyabram and then along Graham Rd to Tongala.
The group had gained support from Kyabram Cannery, Tongala Milk Producers and business owners in both towns who expected the concept would increase visitors to the towns.
• Ken Coulson was awarded the General Motors Holdens Master Salesman’s certificate, having been assessed against a points system for the sale of new and used cars.
His sales performance for Brewster and Maddern in the preceding 12 months had earned him the honour, with a beaming Mick Maddern congratulating him on the performance.
• A branch of the Totalizator Agency Board was being installed at Tongala, the branch to operate out of a Mangan St shop front that was previously home to Fashions and Flowers — a ladies wear shop.
The agency was to have four selling windows and $1000 was being spent on renovations to open the TAB outlet.
• One of the reigon’s top sporting administrators, Elden Wade, retired from the presidency of Kyabram District Football League.
An administrator for 20 years, the last eight as president of the KDL, the Lancaster born and bred leader had only just seen the admission of Nagambie and Murchison (from the GVL) into the league.
1980
Streets and gutters in many parts of Kyabram were overflowing as 64.3mm of rain fell in the space of 48 hours.
In extreme storm conditions a bolt of lightning struck a tree and startled a couple having breakfast when a large limb crashed into their window, part of it lodging itself into the roof of their car.
• Tongala cricket captain Geoff Cameron took amazing figures of 6-17 against Kyabram as the team was skittled for 84. Cameron also took two catches in the innings.
Other players to feature in the round of cricket were Lancaster’s Peter Warburton and Vin Sleeth, along with Stanhope’s Ian Haw, who also took six wickets.
• Winner of the Tongala Football Club’s fund raising event, Miss Sun Valley, was back pocket premiership player Lindsay Tomlinson — who had taken on the persons of Lyndell for the event.
The event was to raise funds for Tongala’s Tent Town Charity Queen entrant Kristine Reynard.
Judges for the event were Mr and Mrs Eddie Hann, president of Tongala netball Phyllis Hawker, Rita Warren and Free Press social correspondent Sandra Slappendel.
See if you can recognise any of the contestants from the attached photograph.
• Stanhope brothers Brian and Bruce Sutton scooped the pool in Kyabram’s Great Yabbie competition.
Run by the Kyabram branch of the Field and Game Association, in response to assist with feeding the Colin Mackenzie Sanctuary at Healesville, the brothers were credited with catching almost 2000 yabbies.
Youngsters from all over the Goulburn Valley participated in the contest and peppered the irrigation channels of the district with nets and lines.
• Betty Lyth received her 25-year long service pin and golf watch from the Carnation Milk Company — the first woman to celebrate the milestone with the company in Australia.
Mrs Lyth, along with James Binion and Byron Gerlach, all received inscribed gold watches and a service pin as recognition for their efforts at the Merrigum factory.
John Hoyle, another employee recognised for 25 years service, was absent from the presentation.
Other recipients of service pins were Gordon Black (35 years), John Rowland (15 years) and Paul Zito.
Mrs Lyth is employed in the quality control laboratory and her husband Jack had been working for the company for 27 years.
Carnation managing director David McIntyre made the presentation in front of Merrigum factory manager Bill Dwyer, assistant Don Beacom and Carnation International vice-president Dick Fort.
1990
Nance Dawson was named Deakin Shire Citizen of the Year, recognised for among other things, having rescued a drowning child from a channel near her home in Tongala.
She gave the child mouth to mouth and alongside contributions to Tongala Hospital Committee and Ladies Auxiliary, Red Cross and Tongala RSL Ladies Auxiliary was a worthy recipient.
Shire secretary Greg McKenzie said Mrs Dawson was extremely well deserving and she received the award in front of husband Bob and children — Robert, Kay and Peter.
• Girgarre’s new Country Foods Factory completed its first tomato processing day, with finishing touches still being done on the $11.5 million plant.
Girgarre Country Foods was a division of HJ Heinz Company Australia and the Girgarre plant has been developed to provide additional tomato processing capacity to the Heinz factory at Dandenong.
At its peak, the factory was processing 1200 tonnes of tomatoes a day, with about 50 people employed at peak times.
2000
• Kyabram Plaza Theatre president Ken Wisbey was kicking back on a warm summer’s day after a $250,000 air conditioning system had been installed.
It had not been uncommon for the heat to cause theatre goers to pass out in their seat, but the showing of Gunbarrel Highway Men was in complete comfort.
• Jeff Turpin made headlines throughout the region when he smashed 141 for Tongala, against Girgarre, in a highlight of Kyabram District Cricket Association matches.
Turpin hit 12 fours and two sixes, the all-round sports star continuing to add to an extraordinary sporting record that featured awards from throughout the region.
• Don Anderson was named the new president of Kyabram Returned Services League sub-branch.
He replaced Jack Graves as the group’s leader, having been a behind-the-scenes member for many years.
Mr Graves was planning to continue his 50-year involvement with the group by taking on the vice-presidential role, having been in a leadership position since 1976.
Lesley Troy was named secretary again, a role she had filled for seven years for the group that had 80 members at the time.
2010
Campaspe Shire Council was applying for Regional Development Victoria support for the creation of a bicycle and pedestrian trail in Kyabram.
The plan was to have a 4km path that would link Kyabram Fauna Park, Allan St shops and cafes, the Parkland golf course and the grey box reserve.
Kyabram Landcare Group had been carrying out tree planting projects along the railway line, which was also expected to be included on the route of the new path.
Plans to have trails on disused rail reserve land at Girgarre, Stanhope, Rushworth and Murchison were also in the works.
• Kyabram RSL Women’s Auxiliary disbanded after 70 years, citing shrinking and ageing membership as the reasons.
Member Merle Ayres said it was a sad occasion, ending monthly meetings of the group and work at Anzac Day and Remembrance Day ceremonies.
The group had formed in 1970 under the instigation of Dorothy Baker and she cut the cake at the event.
Kyabram Free Press and Campaspe Valley News editor