Around the traps with Gus Underwood

By Gus Underwood

Apr 15, 2024

Kicking goals: West Coast’s Harley Reid leads his side off after the AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Richmond Tigers at Optus Stadium in Perth. Photo: AAP/Gary Day Photo by AAP Newswire

High-flying Harley

It has taken a young football genius to generate more publicity for the township of Tongala and district than arguably any other person in the town’s history.

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Harley Reid has been the buzz up-and-coming player in Australian Rules football for the past two years on his rise to the AFL ranks and he has let no-one down in his brief time with the West Coast Eagles so far.

When you consider he turns 19 on April 17 it is not hard to see why the media has given him the rave notices and publicity he has received, earned and deserved for what he has already achieved in a short time.

He plays the brand of football which lures crowds, and his commitment to try and help the West Coast Eagles to return as a feared force in the AFL instead of contemplating a move back to his home state when eligible is also endearing him to a lot of extra fans to his already overcrowded supporter base.

Tonny is very proud of you, Harley.

Among other famous Tongalaites are:

Arthur John Seamer: Arthur John Seamer CMG was a notable New Zealand Salvation Army missionary and Methodist minister. He was born in Tongala, Victoria, Australia, in 1878.

Dame Annie McEwen: Born in 1898, Annie McEwen was the daughter of Sarah Mills and John McLeod, a Tongala farmer. She was educated at Girton Church and later married Sir John McEwen, an Australian politician and farmer who served as the 18th Australian Prime Minister from 1967 to 1968 in a caretaker capacity. Sir John was the leader of the Country Party from 1958 to 1971.

Claire Duke: Claire Duke (married name Claire Turley) is an Australian international lawn bowls player. In 2010, she won the silver medal in the triples at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in the women’s triples event. She has won two silver medals at the Asia Pacific Bowls Championships.

Robert James (Bob) Dawson: Robert James Dawson (January 1921-July 2023) was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League. He was known for winning best and fairest medals in the Bendigo, Echuca and Goulburn Valley leagues and lived until he was 102.

Archie Shields: Born in Kyabram, Archie Shields grew up in the grim years of the Great Depression in Tongala. Even so, his family were still able to provide him with a good education. By 1937, he was employed as a teacher with the Victorian Department of Education and was playing eye-catching football each weekend as a key forward for the Teachers Training College after previously playing for Tongala. He was a dangerous and capable half-forward recruited by Carlton in 1937. Following a brief career of 19 senior matches and 19 goals at Princes Park, he volunteered for active service in World War II. He began an auspicious wartime flying career with the RAAF Meteorology Service. At the war’s end, he joined the weather bureau and, in 1972, was awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for his skill and dedication in developing Australia’s cyclone warning system.

New book rushing off the shelves

Alan McLean has been more than happy with the response to his latest book Rushing To Whroo.

He told Traps he had been thrilled to receive calls from people explaining that an ancestor was born at Whroo in the gold period.

The Moora-raised historian and author said sales of the book had been steady, but there were still some available for those who hadn’t secured a copy.

The 230-page book reviews the thriving Whroo settlement in its golden days and some new facts about its peak population.

For a copy of the book, which costs only $25, contact Alan on 0412 143 600 or his agent in Kyabram on 0439 378 902.

Anglers hooked

Murray and Murrumbidgee river anglers have been hit with hefty fines for allegedly being in possession of illegal fish.

Fisheries officers patrolling the Murray downstream from Yarrawonga Weir and in the Cobram-Barooga area allegedly caught five men on two separate occasions in possession of three trout cod and 10 silver perch.

Fisheries officers patrolling the Murrumbidgee River near Darlington Point fined nine anglers for allegedly being in possession of a total of 20 silver perch.

Silver perch are listed as a vulnerable species in NSW waters and can be only taken from stocked inland impoundments.

Any person found in possession of silver perch from inland rivers and streams can face a maximum penalty of $55,000, imprisonment for a year — or both.

Trout cod are also listed an endangered species in NSW waters with a maximum penalty of $220,000 or two years imprisonment or both for anyone found.

Man dies at weir

A duck shooter sadly died at Loch Garry on the opening day of the season on Wednesday of last week.

The 73-year-old from Kialla was found in the weir after failing to return home.

His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Light plane crash

There will be no official Civil Aviation and Safety Authority investigation into an incident last week after a light plane crash near Tocumwal.

The plane came to grief only about 200m after taking off from an air strip on Tuppal Rd Tocumwal.

The sole occupant, the pilot, was transferred to Shepparton and then Melbourne with suspected spinal injuries.

Tocumwal Fire and Rescue NSW service and the Tocumwal Fire Brigade were among the first responders to the mishap.

New leader sought

Strathbogie Shire Council is seeking a new chief executive after Julie Salomon announced her retirement from the position.

Ms Salomon’s last day in the role will be on Thursday, July 4.

Council administrator Peter Stephenson said Ms Salomon’s tenure had been pivotal in leading the council through a transformative period of growth and development.

Mr Stephenson said as its CEO in troubled times Ms Salomon had achieved remarkable results, saving $2 milllion on the Violet Town landfill rehabilitation by successfully lobbying the Environmental Protection Authority to reclassify the site as low risk.