Popular Kyabramite John Lilford got a few reminders at his send-off to retirement last week after 15 years as one of the owners and bosses at H&G Real Estate.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Fellow co-owners of the business Brett Andison and Karyn Grealy went to the trouble of highlighting what John didn’t do so well, rather than what he achieved, to add a bit of humour to his farewell.
Here are just a few retirement tips they touched on to help John into this next chapter of life:
• Remember to turn the car off when you get out of it
• Keep an eye on that fuel gauge
• Start using your reversing camera
• Driving through mud? Maybe give that one a miss
• Are you inspecting the wrong property?
• Watch the road on your travels
• Retirement will bring you more time for ‘rabbiting’
Other information that came to light:
• Out inspecting a farm, John got his ute caught on a fence and drove off with part of a fence dragging along behind him
• Tried opening a door in a house but ended up pulling it off its hinges!
John, Brett and Karyn purchased H&G (formerly Hinchliffe & Greed Real Estate) in October 2010.
Sad tunes
Is Kyabram’s Tastes and Tunes Festival done for ever?
Last week it was announced the popular one-night Allan St event would not be held next year, much to the disappointment of the Kyabram community that supported it so well in its first three years.
But one of the organisers, Karyn Grealy, has not conceded it won’t be revived.
But that will depend on fresh blood joining the committee.
Traps will keep you posted.
Far from home?
Barry Maxwell dropped in with a photo of a bird he had never seen before in this area and wondered if anyone could identify it.
He has done a little research himself and believes it may be a green parrot (green rosella), which is native to Tasmania.
Huge farming purchase
An aggregate of farms in the Torrumbarry area is changing hands for a touted $50 million plus.
Queensland farming family McLean Farms has purchased the portfolio totalling 4031 ha from Australian Fresh Milk Holdings.
The Torrumbarry Estate, Warwick Farm, Billabong, Wattle Creek and Pollocks properties change ownership in the deal, which will see McLean Farms expand its grain production.
Keen for rain
Kyabram has received only 0.8mm of rain over the past week (as of Monday night), and crops in the district sown last month are now looking for another drink.
Just 14mm have been recorded for July and rain tipped for yesterday (Tuesday) would be very welcome.
Minimum temperatures have been chilly, but the minus 0.3°C overnight low last Friday has been the only sub-zero reading for the month.
Big win for Echuca dad
The owner of a winning Tatts ticket has come forward.
The winning ticket was purchased from Echuca Lucky Lotto on July 12 and was worth $919,042.03.
An Echuca father, who wishes to remain anonymous, has claimed the windfall and said some of it would used to pay off house mortgages of his children’s homes.
Hall in holding pattern
The century-old Strathallan Hall, saved from demolition earlier this year by locals, is still waiting to be renovated, but has yet to get a positive tick-off by Campaspe Shire Council to start work.
It was proposed in January that the Strathallan community take over its refurbishment before the end of the financial year, but that hasn’t happened.
What happens now is the 64-dollar question, but the locals are still keen to perform the refurbishment work, even if a little late.
Square dinkum
G’day
A lot of women say their husbands never listen to them.
I’m proud to say I’ve never heard my wife say anything like that.
Hooroo!
Sports reporter