1977
Fauna park funding
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Kyabram Town Council made its largest financial commitment to the Fauna Park since its establishment, committing $28,000 to improvements at the sanctuary.
The funds were earmarked for use in the construction of a fence around the lake and to construct an eagle aviary and other animal enclosures.
Enhancing the water supply and sewer network were also among the big ticket items on the Fauna Park list for work.
The announcement came on the back of a record attendance at the park in the school holidays.
Economic suicide
One Deakin Shire Councillor described the decision of the local government authority to reduce the rate on the previous year.
The vote was won 5-3 and saw a rate of 11 cents in the dollar (based on valuations) settled on, which was 5.5 cents less than the previous year.
While most properties in the Deakin Shire were expected to have increased values the decision was expected to raise less funds for the shire.
Tongala residents were also subject to a $20 sanitary charge and an $8 garbage charge, while Girgarre had a $17 garbage charge.
An entertaining debate saw one councillor described as “brainwashed” and another describe those who voted in favour of the decision as “irresponsible”.
Dawes Road arts centre
Construction started on the $78,000 Dawes Road Primary School art and craft centre, which was the first of its kind for the school.
Contracted builder Frank Findlay said the centre would be specifically built to serve the school into the future, twice the size of any existing classroom and fitted with tiled floor and work benches.
School principal Stuart Sloane said the latest building was part of a three-year project which had been dubbed operation upgrade by the school’s management.
1987
Jean wins a car
Kyabam’s Jean Reid was shocked when she received a phone call informing her she had won Carla Zampatti Limited Edition Ford Laser and $5000 worth of clothes from the designer — all on the back of a fabric softener purchase.
She filled out a coupon on the bottle, describing why she used the Comfort product in less than 25 words.
The full amount of the win was $21,000, with Mrs Reid and her husband Bill taking possession of the car at Peter Lyon Motors in Kyabram.
Neighbourhood Watch for Ky
A meeting to decide on the future of a Neighbourhood Watch scheme in Kyabram attracted 250 people and was given the green light by the community and police.
Prior to the meeting, 100 people had already signed on as “zone leaders’’, following on from several other communities who had implemented the program in its four year operation.
During 1977 and 1984, Victoria had registered an increase in crime of 200 per cent and Kyabram’s crime increase had been 25 per cent in the last 12 months.
That was the equivalent of one crime being committed in Kyabram for every week day of the year.
No Saturday afternoon trading
Kyabram Chamber of Commerce’s Maurie Gorman said Kyabram businesses would not be taking up the option of extended trading hours on Saturday.
He said the cost of the proposal would be prohibitive for most businesses and only the two supermarkets, who had trialled the prorgam in the previous Christmas, would benefit financially.
Kyabram supermarket manager Craig Fitzgerald said his business would be taking up the offer to trade until 5pm only because they had to, saying the trial had not been successful for them at Christmas.
He said because of wage costs and the difficulty in finding staff due to sporting commitments, the decision would mean a rise in product costs.
1997
New high school principal
Lindsay Cooper gave his first address to Kyabram Secondary College as its new principal at the final Year 12 assembly.
His appointment came after he had spent most of fourth term at the school and had a focus on technology in his address to students, staff and parents.
A keen sportsman, Mr Cooper had made his decision to come on board as Kyabram principal after visiting several other schools.
Alma turns 103
Alma Pyke celebrated her 103rd birthday with a meal at the Kyabram Chinese Restaurant’s smorgasbord luncheon with the A.G Hutchison Home staff and later in the day attended a dinner at the Kyabram Club.
Alma told Free Press journalist Gus Underwood that taking up dancing at the age of 86 had given her a new lease on life and she now had the year 2000 in her sights — which would give her the unusual honour of having lived in three centuries.
She came to Kyabam with her late husband when he took on the running of the Kyabram Tarax Bar. Her late son had also been in business in the store, in a clothing store.
2007
Seven is best
Campaspe shire Mayor John Elborough said he considered seven councillors the “best number’’ for representation of the region.
His comments came as another review of electoral boundaries was under way by the Victorian Electoral Commission.
The recommendation from that review was for nine councillors to be named at the next election, with different numbers in the wards to reflect populations.
Cr Elborough said it was disappointing that only six residents of the 35,000 strong population of the shire felt strongly enough about the issue to make a written submission to the panel.
60 yeas of marriage
Hilda and John Burns were the toast of the Kyabram community after they celebrated their 60th year of marriage.
John, 86, and his bride — four years his junior — met when one was best man and the other a bridesmaid in the wedding of friends.
They came to Kyabram after Hilda’s (nee Olle) father offered them the management role of an orchard at Ky Valley, which they ran with her brother Charlie.
Around the Campfire
Kyabram Club hosted the annual event of the Kyabram Bush Verse Group, Haslem Street winning the school entry and St Augustine’s College student Aliesha Boak winning the individual student award.
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