1979
The 112-year-old Hazelman’s Cottage was moved to its new home at Kyabram Fauna Park.
Originally located four miles west of Kyabram it was awaiting restoration by the Kyabram and District Historical Society.
The cottage was built by Theodore Hazelman in 1967, who went on to father 13 children (11 who survived to adulthood). The children attended the old Kyabram school and with the help of his sons Mr Hazelman established a chaff cutting venture.
* Ten people were arrested and lodged in the cells of Kyabram police station during a hectic Kyabram rodeo evening.
Violent brawls had marred the event for the past two years and five policemen were on duty for this year’s rodeo. Nine of the people arrested were from Kyabram and one was from Tongala.
One was arrested for assaulting police, resisting arrest and assault by kicking, with all arrests made in and near Kyabram hotels. Panes of glass in a shop front and a hotel were smashed during the wild evening.
* Kyabram’s Sue Beamish sang To Sir With Love on the BCV-8 television hit show National Star Quest.
The 18-year-old had been perfoming since she was just 12 and auditioned at the Bendigo studios of the television station, chosen from 30 performers to go onto the next stage.
Sue had appeared on the GMV-6 show, Star Quest, two years earlier. A member of Kyabram Music Club, she had been extremely busy in the past year.
Not only had she performed in club productions, but she also just returned from a seven week Youth Exchange Study of the United States.
* Kyabram Mayor, Cr Maurie Wood, heaped praise on British Empire Medal recipient Vera Bennett, who was guest of honours at a civic reception.
“She might be 72, but she hasn’t changed for 20 years,” Cr Wood said, acknowledging Vera’s commitment to Red Cross, CWA, Guides, as a Sunday School teacher for 15 years, Mother’s Club, hospital auxiliaries, Blind Institute, tennis club, football club auxiliary and the AH&P society — for periods of between 15 and 50 years.
She later travelled to government house to officially receive her award.
* Kyabram Town Council gave general approval to nude bathing, despite being vehemently opposed by Cr Anne Adams.
Cr Frank Findlay moved council set aside areas for nude bathing, saying he was in favour of the proposal.
Cr Vic Kuhle seconded the motion, suggesting there were a lot of sun lovers in Australia.
The vote and debate ended up being unnecessary as the Department of Youth, Sport and Recreation was simply asking for a opinion and it was later found that Kyabram did not have any suitable locations.
1989
Victorian Premier John Cain was in Kyabram to hand over a $50,000 cheque to council for the renovation of the Plaza Theatre.
He and wife Nancye inspected plans with Mayor, Cr Chris Salter, CEO John Costello and Plaza Theatre management committee chair Kevin Simmonds.
While in Kyabram the Cains visited Kyabram Fauna Park and were presented with a copy of Kyabram Apex Club’s Dinkum Aussie Poetry competition and a set of Kyabram Town Council glasses.
* Demolition works had started on an Allan Street butcher shop to make way for an arcade development featuring a cafe and two small offices.
The town council owned arcade linked to McAnulty Lane and a car park in Fenaughty Street. Council was aiming for a walkway similar to that of the Town Hall walkway on the opposite side of the road.
* Kyabram computer software company TAPS had won two major farm awards at the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales awards.
Managing Director Stuart McPherson came out on top of 70 entries for his entries in the piggery management program and the cash management program.
The company specialised in computer programs for farmers and had exported their expertise to New Zealand and the United States, along with having inquiries from Ireland, Indonesia and China.
* Kyabram Mayor, Cr Chris Salter, was calling for a public meeting over the possibility of having a skate park built for the town.
There were $2000 of grants on offer for the project, but interest from the gymnastics, scouts, youth club and tennis club had council considering the funding of alternate projects.
A recent Free Press article had been critical of council for “dragging its feet” in regard to applying for funds in the skatepark space.
1999
Campaspe Shire’s population increased by 249, taking the total to 35,348 people.
Between 1993 and 1997 the shire had increased by a similar amount, with Kyabram, Echuca and Tongala responsible for the increase.
In the period 1991-96 Kyabram’s population increase by just 198 people, to 5738.
Echuca rose by 576 people to 10,014, while Tongala’s count was at 1064. Declines in the shire were recorded at Rushworth (to 976) and Girgarre (209), while Merrigum (in the Greater Shepparton area) rose by 26 (to 486).
* School captains were recognised throughout the district, with Tongala Primary School appointing Aaron Gillie and Lori Humphreys as captains for 1999.
Other senior roles at the school were filled by Kaitlyn Souter, Karlie Smith and Joshua Walker.
Dawes Road Primary School elected its junior school council, which was made up of 10 students and was responsible for organising student activities.
Kyabram Secondary College leaders for 1999 were Kate Kennon and Jonathan Doolan, heading up a student population of 1000 and accepting badges from Kyabram Legacy.
Student Activity Councillors were Nikki Pell, Rowena Cooke, Sarah Drysdale and Carli Parker.
2009
Former Girgarre resident Doreen Shevlugin celebrated her 100th birthday at Kialla, with five generations of relatives in attendance.
She first moved to Girgarre in 1951 after her first husband, Edgar Walker, purchased a piggery. She ran that piggery in Girgarre (directly across from the state school) and after losing her husband married Fedosy Shevlugin.
They operated several dance schools across the Goulburn Valley. Her children are Lionel (deceased in 2009), Allan, Pat Wheelhouse, Gaye Schneider, Glenn Walker and Anne Rowe.
* Ryan Meeking (who featured as a younger version of himself last week) was making headlines several years later for packing out houses in Melbourne with his band Ryan Meeking and the Few.
He was hoping to pack out the Plaza Theatre when he returned for a Bushfire Relief Concert. His band had been receiving rave reviews and supported headliners Chris Isaac and Kate Cebrano at the Melbourne Zoo.
His band consisted of bassist Simon Rabl and drummer Corey Gaal, along with Brett Scapin.
He was performing alongside another GV product, Brianalee, at the concert after she was a top 10 finalist in the Toyota Starmaker contest at the Tamworth Country Music Festival.
* Six-year-old Stanhope girl Jessica Lawery received a new wheelchair thanks to the Kyabram Blue Light Disco Committee.
The cerebral palsy sufferer, who was also hearing impaired, received a $500 donation from the committee to assist her family in making the purchase.
Senior Constable Rebecca Matthews, from Kyabram police, was in charge of running the disco event and regularly packed out venues with children eager to enjoy the evening of music and dance.