St Augustine’s College and Kyabram P-12 College recognised its top performers in the VCE exams for 2023 and the Catholic school also officially opened its recently completed Kildcare learning facility for Year 1 to Year 4 students.
Gargarro Gardens hosted its first wedding and the district mourned the loss of two well respected and loved identities. Long-time Kyabram District Health Service board member Dale Denham became the latest to be honoured with Life Governorship of the KDHS when he ended his 10-year association with the organisation.
First wedding at Gargarro
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Gargarro Botanic Garden hosted its first wedding, only months after the official opening of the former factory site, when Kyabram’s Joy Salter and Phil Chalmers were married.
After meeting at the Kyabram Bocce Club several years ago, the couple was excited to tie the knot at the Gargarro Cafe and the Gargarro Botanic Garden.
“From the moment that we decided to get married at this venue, planning became a breeze, and (the new operators of the Gargarro Botanic Gardens Cafe) Joel (Raglus) and Leon (McAsey) took all the worry off our shoulders and they had all bases covered,” Mrs Salter said.
The bride arrived in a beautifully restored 1922 Dodge, driven and owned by Allan Weeks.
Mr Chalmers’ and Mrs Salter’s seven grandchildren played an important role in the wedding ceremony, acting as the flower girls, bridesmaids and groomsmen.
Gargarro Botanic Garden’s old tree in the heart of the park was the site for the ceremony.
“We believe the old tree was left in the middle of the garden as a reminder of the farmland it used to be,” Mrs Salter said.
“So, it felt symbolic to have our ceremony beneath this old tree surrounded by the new growth in the garden and representing our new life together.”
Kildcare opened at St Augustine’s College
State Member for Murray Plains Peter Walsh, Sandhurst Diocese chief executive Paul Desmond, Bishop Shane Mackinlay and other distinguished guests attended the official opening of Kildcare, an innovative learning space for students in Years 1 to 4 at St Augustine’s College.
The new Year 1 to 4 building was named after St Brigid of Kildare, who left a profound legacy.
The name Kildare serves as a reminder of St Brigid’s transformative influence on the community of Kildare, Ireland.
The building has been designed to be a vibrant centre for learning, characterised by its inclusivity and a focus on nurturing intellectual and spiritual growth.
The school says this mirrors its commitment to providing holistic education to the young learners within its care.
Hounds title defence
After scoring more than 300 runs in his previous two Goulburn Murray Cricket innings, Kyabram Fire Brigade batting maestro Paul Newman again produced his best, this time for Hurley’s Hotel Hounds in the GV Bush Bash League.
He started the team’s title defence with a half-century in the second round of the T20 competition.
Opening the innings, Newman top-scored with 52, including six fours and two sixes, as the Hounds reached 8-158 off its 20 overs batting first.
Moama’s Anthony McMahon (40) and Echuca’s Kobyn James (20) helped Hurley’s Hotel reach 8-158 against Jarvis Delahey Crushers at Shepparton’s Deakin Reserve.
In reply, the Hounds held the Crushers to 7-149, with former Tatura spinner Michael Archer turning the game in his team’s favour with a burst of 4-22 off four overs.
GVL great’s life honoured
Paul Rowe lost his battle with cancer, remembered as one of Tongala Football Club’s greatest players, coaches and gentlemen.
He swept through the Goulburn Valley League like a breath of fresh air in the early 1960s.
In 1962, a relative of his at Tongala had approached him to take on the coaching job with the Blues for the following season. He jumped at it and it eventually led to him spending two stints as coach of the Blues in their GVL days.
But at the time he took his first coaching role at Tongala he was suffering a chronic groin injury which had ended his career with VFL (now AFL) side North Melbourne.
Three seasons with North Melbourne, starting as a 17-year-old in 1960, had yielded 15 senior games on a half-back flank.
After he finished his first stint as Tongala coach in 1965, his journey took him to a one-season coaching stint with Hampden league club Cobden and then on an overseas trip which resulted in a whirlwind courtship and marriage to his English wife of 52 years, Patricia.
‘‘I even had to leave her in England for a while to get home for a teaching appointment,’’ Paul laughed.
After a season with VFL club Coburg on his return to Australia in 1969, Tongala officials were on the phone and he spent 1970, 71 and 72 back coaching the Blues and then a season coaching Leitchville and a year playing with Kyabram before the curtain came down on his playing career.
One of his biggest thrills in football was umpiring with his son Corin in his first senior game appointment.
Corin went on to be a top AFL umpire, officiating in 123 games.
Top students honoured for 2023
Year 12 student Katherine Wagner achieved an ATAR of 94.6, making her St Augustine’s dux of 2023.
Katherine is a member of Girl Guides and the Country Women’s Association and had a lead role in the St Augustine’s production Aladdin Jr.
She is planning to pursue further studies in law and global studies.
St Augustine’s had 16 students who sat their exams and wanted to apply to universities. Of those 16, three got an ATAR above 84 and a further four students scored above 70.
Julian Wanless was top of the class at Kyabram P-12 College after achieving an ATAR of 81.8.
He studied specialist maths, maths methods, physics, VET engineering and English language.
“I didn’t think I was going to be dux,” Julian said.
“Mum had 30 exclamation points when I told her.”
Abbey Freemantle had the school’s second-highest score, 73.35.
Greg 'Stumpy' Norris farewelled
Gregory Allan “Stumpy’’ Norris was farewelled the way he wanted, after dying suddenly early in December
Interludes of Slim Dusty hits and not too much fuss in a graveside funeral at the Kyabram Cemetery to celebrate and honour 81 years of a life well lived.
His tearful grandchildren — Jack, Zac and Kasey — delivered eulogies depicting a bubbly, much-loved, charismatic personality who had time for just about everyone.
A ‘Mr Fix Anything Man’, Stumpy immersed himself in his work and community, and social life, with boundless energy and endless enthusiasm.
The Kid from Kyvalley was a master of his trade as a fitter and turner, working at the Kyabram Cannery and Tongala’s Nestlé Factory for most of his working life.
During his time at Nestlé, he was one of the best can-maker technicians in the southern Pacific region.
His skills led him to travel the world. A visit to Switzerland allowed him to bring new technologies back to Australia.
But there was much more to Stumpy than his business acumen.
His portfolios over the years included being a firearm safety officer with Victoria Police for more than 30 years, president and secretary of the Kyabram and Goulburn Valley Anglers Club, Echuca Clay Target Club, Kyabram Field and Game Club and the Victorian Recreational Fishing Club.
He was a life member of the Kyabram Anglers Club, of which he was a founding member, and also the Kyabram Field and Game Club.
Dale KDHS Life Governor
A decade-long stint on the Kyabram District Health Service board, along with contributions on several other fronts to the organisation, was recognised when Dale Denham was made a life governor of the KDHS.
It was due recognition for the man who is also vice-chair of Community Bank Kyabram & District, a long-time Kyabram P-12 council member and recent addition to the Kyabram Parkland Golf Club board.
It follows his 2020 crowning as not only Kyabram’s Citizen of the Year, but also the winner of the award on a shire-wide level — recognising an outstanding list of achievements which, if he were a financial institution, would have him very much on the positive side of the ledger.
Mr Denham said receiving the life governorship was a very humbling experience.
He was bestowed the honour by Jean Courtney and Marg Chalker, two of only 10 living health service life governors.
There have only been 26 life governors named by the health service in its history. Ms Courtney, Maureen Aitkens and Judy Greer were the last people recognised with the honour by an institution which has been serving Kyabram since 1933.
“Jean and Marg are both life governors and Jean was a mentor for me when I first started,” Mr Denham said.
“She guided me through those initial stages of involvement with the health service and I’ve also worked with Marg in her role as the president of the KDHS auxiliary.
Contributor