1970
An anonymous donation of $30,000 was made to Kyabram and District Memorial Hospital to finance a proposed geriatric wing (in 2024, that would be $433,705.84).
The cheque was the largest single donation in the hospital’s history and was handed to manager R.J. Thrussell by a representative of the donor solicitor.
Hospital committee chairman T.J. Tehan described the donation as a shot in the arm for the hospital and said plans were in place to complete the wing’s construction within two and a half years.
The cost of the new ward, which was expected to house 20 beds, was estimated at $110,000, with another $20,000 for furnishings.
• Thirteen new citizens were involved in a naturalisation ceremony in Kyabram.
Among them were Mr and Mrs Refik Emini, Mr and Mrs Michele Masters, Mr and Mrs Dzafer Selimovski, Mrs Florina Abbate, Mrs Giovannina Besim, Mrs Maria Sciacca, Mr Norbert Bay, Mr Bonifacio Bortino, Mr Giuseppe Feriauto and Mrs Francesco Perugini.
At the time, there had been 1.476 million migrants move to Australia since the migration program started in 1946, with 558,000 settling in Victoria.
• Kyabram High School students sat for a total of 377 subjects in the 1969 leaving examination and passed 297 (a 79 per cent return).
It was the highest ever recorded by the school, principal W. Kuhne saying it compared favourably with the state average of 65 per cent.
K. Hindson headed the pass list at the school and was the only student successful in seven subjects.
Passing six subjects were B. Beecroft, R. Buzza, R. Day, K. Dillon, J. Engwerda, R. Fitzgerald, P. Flint, P. James, K. Day, M. Kristensen, R. Mummery, J. Nemeth, H. Scott, R. Smythe, J. Tyson, H. Watson, T. Williamson and S. Smith.
1980
New Commonwealth Bank manager Kevin Roberts and his wife were introduced to the Kyabram community at a gathering of 130 people.
The event doubled as a farewell for previous manager Frank Murphy and his wife.
• Kyabram legal firm Morrison and Sawers welcomed back staff for a 100th anniversary celebration of the firm’s establishment.
The business, which remains a part of modern-day Kyabram, at the time was recognised as one of Victoria’s largest country practices and at the time had 40 personnel based at Kyabram and Rochester sites.
A double-page feature in the Free Press recognised the company when James Lally, a partner in the firm, collaborated with senior partner Tom Tehan and Leo Slattery to retrace the history of the company.
• Within days of Kyabram’s Great Yabby Hunt being launched, collection points had received an extraordinary response.
Ray Kightly’s “yabby depot” was among them, one young hunter offloading 250 at his site.
The organisers of the competition had put up prizes for the yabby hunt, but were forced to encourage entrants to freeze the yabbies in lots of 50 and 100 because of the response to the call to arms.
There were more than $100 in prizes on offer in the competition.
1990
Retired infant welfare sister Catherine Bleasdale was named the 1989 Citizen of the Year for Kyabram and was awarded her prize by Mayor Clive Toms.
She had spent 13 years in the maternal child health nurse role, having four years earlier been awarded the Bill Salter Rotary Vocational Award for her work in the role.
Matt McMaster-Smith was named Junior Citizen of the Year for his cricketing exploits.
• Kyabram’s M&S Computer Services had developed a program expected to be groundbreaking for legal practices.
The Complete Legal System software was expected to be sold Australia-wide, its development having taken almost eight years.
M&S Computer manager John Martin said the software was the most advanced of its kind in the world, with no-one else working on the new IBM platforms.
Also involved in the software development were Ros Donohue and Mark Schumann.
2000
Ivy Sanders was named Kyabram’s 20th Citizen of the Year award recipient, recognised for her work with the Salvation Army at a Wednesday evening Kyabram Fauna Park ceremony.
She had been involved in charity work for 40 years, a familiar face at hostels, hospitals and homes for the elderly throughout her lifetime of service.
Ivy’s two sons, Eric and Alan, had taken their mother to the fauna park under the pretence of looking at the animals. She was also named the Campaspe Shire Citizen of the Year.
Norma Sefton-Rowston was named the Girgarre Citizen of the Year, accepting the award in the company of her husband, Wayne, twin sons, Paul and Mark, and daughter Belinda.
Debbie Baty and Laurene Kirkby, both of Girgarre, nominated Norma for the award and she received the honour from Campaspe Shire Cr Marion Riley.
She had been involved in netball, the pre-school, primary school, recreation reserve, Stanhope Girgarre Corop Citizens Advisory Group, Kyabram Netball Association and Kyabram Sports and Entertainment Complex.
At Tongala, Iris Madill was named Citizen of the Year, with Leisa Glass winning the Young Citizen of the Year award.
Tongala Apex Club received the Community Event of the Year award for its annual citizenship dinner.
2010
For only the second time in the history of Kyabram’s Australia Day awards, joint winners were announced.
Marie Dillon and Liz Spicer jointly took out the top gongs at the Australia Day breakfast, Marie for her 40 years as a member of the St Augustine’s parish and her work with the Kyabram Nursing Home and hospital.
Liz’s work as a chaplain with members of all communities, and of various ages, was the major reason behind her acknowledgment.
Kyabram’s Young Citizen of the Year was Sean McDonell.
The 16-year-old St Augustine’s student raised money for Red Kite, was involved with Dillmac and Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club and was a decorated footballer.
The Junior Sportstar of the Year was Julia Crockett-Grills, who was also a state representative and high performer in several different sports.