Legend lost
Kyabram lost a true legend with the passing last week of Grahame Watt at Port Macquarie at the grand old age of 97.
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He died on February 5, the same date as the passing of another great Aussie poet, Banjo Paterson, who died on February 5, 1941.
The man with the nickname of Skew Wiff — named after a Wyuna farmer whose house measurements left a fair bit to be desired, which inspired Grahame to write a poem about him — was a gifted and award-winning bush poet and much-loved and respected Kyabram citizen for 76 years.
He was active in community organisations and a founding member of the Kyabram and District Bush Verse Group in his days in the town from 1928 to 2005.
There will be a celebration of life service for Grahame at Ky’s St David’s Church at 10am, Friday, February 27 to be followed by burial at the Ky Cemetery, then a gathering for refreshments at Kyabram Club.
Dribble in the gauge
January’s rainfall of just 1.2mm was the lowest recorded for Kyabram in this month for 61 years.
The previous driest January was in 1965, when no rain was recorded.
But January has historically been a dry month for Kyabram and district.
Since records were first kept in 1887, there have been 10 Januarys in which no rain has been recorded.
But there have been some very wet Januarys.
The record is held by 1941, with a 174mm drenching, followed by 1974 and 2024, both with 137.8mm.
The 1.2mm recorded on January 31 this year was the first rain recorded since December 22, when 25mm was recorded.
Kyabram has received its first rain for February, with 2.6mm being recorded in the early hours of Monday, February 9.
Cup boost
Kyabram’s sporting fraternity, which has produced great ambassadors and publicity for the town over a long period, might have another boast after last weekend.
When Neville Smith, part owner of last year’s Melbourne Cup winner, Half Yours, brought the prized trophy back to Kyabram for a photo shoot last Friday, it was the third time in a decade the famous silverware had made it to Kyabram.
What town in Australia can boast a record like that?
The first Melbourne Cup visit to Kyabram was in 2015 during an annual promotional tour of the cup.
It was back for another visit in 2019 after Kyabram-raised trainer Danny O’Brien won the famous race with Vow And Declare.
In 2020 the cup was due to tour Kyabram again but COVID intervened and the visit was called off.
Then, of course, it was here last Friday again, when its part owner and former Undera footballer Neville Smith did a favour for friends.
But the 2025 Melbourne Cup’s days of travelling are more than likely over.
A very rich part owner of Half Yours has purchased both the Melbourne and Caulfield cups off other syndicate owners, which has probably ended their touring days.
Lake Eyre trip
Kyabram tour operator Rob Asplin is preparing for another busy year of hosting plane trips to Lake Eyre.
Flooding recent rains in the iconic lake’s catchment areas in north-west Queensland are expected to make their way south over the next couple of months and start delivering water into the lake again.
Last year Rob, who runs the business Adventours, made 24 two-day tourist trips to Lake Eyre, and since his first trip there in 1997 has racked up a staggering 188 visits, which he believes could be a record for just one tour operator.
Rob has his first trip this year to Lake Eyre on March 28-29 and still has four seats available for that tour.
Can you help?
Cobram Cemetery Trust and Cobram Barooga RSL sub-branch are seeking to contact families of those with relatives interred in the Cobram Cemetery who enlisted in any wars involving Australia.
Rachel McKay is the person to contact if you can assist and she can be contacted on 0418 306 265 or email admin@cobramcemetey.org.au
150th celebrations
Kyabram is not the only town in northern Victoria celebrating its 150th birthday this year.
Katamatite also reaches the milestone and has March 21-22 pencilled in for its celebrations.
There will be a lot of events to mark the milestone, which will kick off on Friday night March 20, with a meal and no doubt some nostalgic memories at the Boosey Creek Tavern.
Did you know ...
Many years ago in England, pub frequenters had a whistle baked into the rim, or handle, of their ceramic drinking cups.
When they needed a refill, they used the whistle to get service.
“Wet your whistle” is the phrase that was inspired by this practice.
Square dinkum
G’day.
My ex-girlfriend just told me she wants us to get back together again.
“Wow, I can’t believe how lucky I am,” I said.
“I mean, first I win Tattslotto … and now this.’’
Hooroo!