Free Press flashbacks

Community Bank director Vince Curtis said three commercial builders were currently in the running for the job, with tenders having closed on Monday.

He said the Community Bank committee would make a decision in the next few weeks, and that as long as everything went to plan, construction should take 12 to 16 weeks once started.

He also said the bank was one step closer to finding a manager, with the position advertised in the past few months.

‘‘We are narrowing it down to a field of about three for the manager’s position at the moment,’’ he said.

‘‘We would love to have someone on before Christmas so they can get trained and have 2-3 months of uninterrupted selling before they have the added responsibilities of staff management and so forth.’’

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Bandits are off

Kyabram P-12 College once again sent a team of students to Maryborough to take part in the RACV Energy Breakthrough.

The Kyabram Bandits, also known as Tim Noonan, Josh Noonan, James Thomson, Brodie Mulcahy, Chris Walsh, Kyle Kydd, Ryley Cowley and Branden Hobbs from Years 10-12, participated in this year’s event, which included designing an energy-efficient vehicle to compete in a 24-hour race.

Before the race could begin, though, students were required to give an oral presentation to a panel of judges and make their way through a rigorous screening process to be deemed eligible to take part.

While a few issues arose, the team and support crew gained their admission to the race, and according to teacher Myrid Bartlett, raced cleanly and competitively, suffering only one setback when their vehicle flipped late at night and required some urgent repair work.

The team managed to get back on the track quickly, however, and the remainder of the race remained hassle-free.

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Smith joins the Bombers

Kyabram Football Club has pulled off a massive recruiting coup, signing Benalla premiership player Lachie Smith.

New Kyabram coach Paul Newman said Smith had put pen to paper on Monday night, committing to the club for the 2016 season.

“We are rapt to have him on board. He’ll be great for us, and he’ll add to our versatility. He’s just a class act,’’ Newman said.

Newman said he knew the Bombers were in the hunt for Smith, but hadn’t got his hopes too high.

‘‘We were naturally hoping he would come so it’s just great to finally get him.”

1995

Kim’s Miss Goulburn Valley

Is Kim Saddlier the next face of Miss Australia?

She may well be after winning the title of Miss Goulburn Valley last Friday night in the regional awards in Wangaratta.

Twenty-five-year-old Kim, from Stanhope, and her helpful committee, have put in a huge fundraising effort over the last nine months and raised a whopping $31,000.

For raising such a great total, Kim also won the Hamlet award for the Goulburn Valley and Northeast regions for top fundraising in a community with a population of less than 1500.

Kim will now represent the region in Melbourne next weekend, where Miss Victoria will be announced from one of the regional winners who will be judged in the state final.

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Something to sing about

Last night saw the premier performance of Kyabram secondary college’s latest successful production Little Shop of Horrors.

The show is the musical version of the 1960s B-grade horror movie of the same name.

The students have been working on the show for the past six months and their efforts are reflected in the high standards achieved.

Tickets for tonight and tomorrow night’s performance are still available for the school office.

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Girgarre lures Robbie Auld

Tatura premiership player Robie Auld has been lured to KDL club Girgarre as assistant coach.

Auld, 25, will be deputy to veteran Lawrie Casey.

The KDL Kangas have settled all their coaching positions, with Sale Roberts being reappointed to the reserves coaching post and Rod O’Neil taking over from premiership coach Hugh McDonald as thirds coach.

Girgarre Football Club secretary Greg Halls said this week his club was delighted to welcome Auld on board.

“Robbie will bring versatility, experience and plenty of enthusiasm to the job, and we are rapt he has decided to play with us.”

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1975

Hottest day

Last Wednesday’s temperature of 32.7℃ was the highest recorded in November for several years.

The average November maximum temperature over the past 10 years is 24.6℃ and the average minimum 8.65℃.

Kyabram Research Station recorded 4.4mm (17 points) of rain during last week. This brought the November total to 11.5mm (45 points) and the year’s total to 501.2mm (1974 points).

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Girl from the west

An young lady from Western Australia is spending two weeks in Kyabram as a result of winning an award for Young Farmers in their 1975 interstate Exchange Program.

She is Glenda Thompson of Albany, who is the guest of Noelene Heskey of Fenaughty St, during her stay in Kyabram.

Glenda’s parents have a sheep farm at Katanning, and she has been a member of the Young Farmers for two and a half years, being president of the Katanning Club for 12 months.

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Kyabram chalks up cricket win: “No 1”

Kyabram registered its first win in the Kyabram District Cricket Association’s A-grade competition on Saturday when good hands from John Timms and Rob Asplin guided the side to a comfortable first innings win over at Tatura.

Resuming at 3-44, Kyabram was dismissed after Rob Asplin (21), Josh Timms (40), and skipper Bob Ferguson (19) had made sure of victory.

Timms walked to the crease when Kyabram was in some strife at 5-61, Asplin and Ferguson having been dismissed, but he soon took control of the situation, figuring in partnerships with Kyabram’s remaining batsmen and being the last man dismissed.