Free Press flashbacks

With their VCE exams over, the students relaxed with family, friends and teachers to commemorate the end of their high school life.

At Kyabram P-12, students gathered for their annual Ball last Friday night in the ‘enchanted’ Kuhne Hall.

The night featured presentations from students and teachers, with vice principal Danny Walsh and Term 1-2 principal Stuart Bott in attendance.

Speeches were also made by school captains and vice-captains Riley Hodgkinson, Fiona Besim, Paige Oliver and Josh Berry who acknowledged their role throughout the year and welcomed the 2016 captains.

Councillor resigns after lack of support

Greg Toll announced his shock resignation from council over the weekend.

Mr Toll stepped down after council had chosen to ‘‘not endorse’’ him as Murray-Darling Association’s national president.

And when he did not receive that support from council, Mr Toll said MDA told him to step down as president on Friday.

Mr Toll’s departure marks the third councillor resignation in the shire this term, after Robert Danieli and Rocchina D’Angelo.

‘‘I am very disappointed that council did not support me,’’ he said.

All-round athlete aims to compete in Canada

Rushworth student Matthew Lange-Richards has been going from strength to strength.

Outside of basketball and football commitments, the natural athlete has been training hard and scoring some impressive victories on the Victorian athletics circuit in recent weeks.

Along with four other boys, Matthew, 15, set a new record while with the Bendigo Harriers Athletics Club in the Under-15 boys 400m 4x4 relay.

He can also lay claim to a bronze medal in the under-15 javelin at the recent Hume Sports Region Championships in Albury, as well as a silver in the under-15 1500m.

Matthew has been invited to compete at a track and field tour in Canada in 2016, the same event Kyabram’s own Junior Sport Star of the Year Riley Ironside participated in earlier this year.

1995

Rabbit virus warning

Local veterinarians are warning owners of pet rabbits to safeguard against the likely spread of the deadly calicivirus disease.

The very contagious disease already confirmed as causing rabbit deaths at Yunta and in the Flinders Rangers in South Australia is expected to spread rapidly.

Dr Jill Clapperton, of the Kyabram Veterinarian Clincic, said this week that long-distance transmission of the disease could occur by movement of people and vehicles contaminated by the virus.

Dr Clapperton said people who visit the areas where the disease has been identified were possible carriers of the disease.

It is also possible that the virus may be spread by insects such as flies and mosquitos.

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Students experience politics firsthand

Tongala Primary School Year 6 students recently experienced Australia’s seat of power, Canberra, first-hand when they spent a week in the capital city studying Australia’s Parliamentary system and monitoring Federal politics.

On their first day in Canberra, the students visited the Electoral Education Office, where they learnt about the importance of voting.

Later, they suffered the full brunt of Question Time on a visit to the House of Representatives.

Bruce Lloyd played host to the students, showing them his office and answering questions about his time in parliament.

The eager students debated a bill entitled ‘Should Canteens Sell Junk Food?’ A tied vote resulted.

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Ky’s young tennis aces

It is no secret and a proud point with locals that Kyabram and district sportspeople have excelled down the years.

But there is an exception – women’s tennis.

Two young Kyabram girls may be about to change this.

Sarah Lowe, 14, and Katie Kennon, 13, look the most promising Kyabram produced female players for years.

Sarah and Katie are now eyeing-off the Goulburn Valley championships, which are to be decided over the next two weekends.

1975

Local girls on TV show

Nine young Kyabram girls are expected to appear on the ABC television program Countdown on Sunday night.

They hope to display Kyabram Centenary T-Shirts on the show, which is hosted by former Kyabram resident Ian Meldrum.

The Centenary Committee’s co-ordinator secretary, Mrs Norma Bear, went to Melbourne this week to arrange for the girls to appear on the program.

Taping will be done on Saturday afternoon and the show will be screened at 6pm on Sunday.

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Japan trip for Sue

A Kyabram Rotaract member is one of 25 Rotaractors from District 279 to be selected for a trip to Japan early in the new year.

Miss Sue Sullivan, 18, a receptionist/typist at Goulburn Valley Taxation, will travel to Japan for a 21-day tour in January.

The tour, arranged by Rotary, is the first of its kind and being used as a “pilot scheme”.

If successful, there is a possibility it may be enlarged for the following year.

A total of 25 Japanese Rotaractors will travel to Australia in May or June next year on a return visit.

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Stanhope votes to quit the GVL

Stanhope Football Club’s days in the Goulburn Valley League are over.

The club will seek disaffiliation with the GVL and affiliation with the Heathcote District Football League.

Both decisions were made at the club’s annual meeting, attended by over 70 people in Stanhope on Tuesday night.

Each decision was decisive, but not unanimous.

The general feeling of the meeting was that Stanhope would like to continue in the GVL, but financially, it couldn’t.