Indigenous Round celebrated: Uncle Rick Ronan performs a smoking ceremony at Kyabram Recreation Reserve before the match between the Bombers and Echuca.
Photo by
Rodney Braithwaite
July
NAIDOC Week kicked off with a bang: While the week officially ran from July 4 to July 11, Kyabram Football Netball Club organised an Indigenous-themed jumper for its senior footballers to wear as part of the GVL’s NAIDOC Week round along with a smoking ceremony prior to the game.
Proud as punch: Isobel Attwood's one-pound lemon grown in her backyard in Kyabram. Her tree delivered "giant lemons" in 2021.
Photo by
Max Stainkamph
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Isobel and the giant lemon: In the corner of Isobel Attwood’s Kyabram backyard is a little lemon tree, but on that little lemon tree grew an absolute whopper of a lemon. The lemons of 2021 almost tripled in size, Ms Attwood said, with the biggest coming in at a whopping 450g or a pound on Ms Attwood’s scale.
New captain takes charge: Kyabram CFA undertook a changing of the guard with new captain Wayne Peterson stepping up to the role. Eleven years servicing Girgarre and another 11 in Kyabram provided Mr Peterson with a wealth of knowledge to take over the role.
Pianist: Fraser Thomas Williams hopes his two albums will leave a historic legacy of the sounds and people of Kyabram's dairy farming community of yesteryear.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Farmer makes a key change: Retired dairy farmer Fraser Thomas Williams turned to his passion for music during the COVID-19 era recording two albums: one a collection of songs and the other instrumental. The first album, Eight Reflections, was praised by The Age’s former chief music critic Clive O’Connell.
August
Vaccine hub is up and running: Kyabram’s vaccine “sub-hub” began operating in the first week of August. The clinic was offering only AstraZeneca to over 60s at the time, with plans to dispense Pfizer at a later date.
Otto is our priceless pup: Lancaster Primary School welcomed another staff member to its ranks, Otto the six-month-old toy poodle. Otto found himself a welcome home among the close to 50 students and half-dozen staff members. Despite being born a leg short, with other costs associated with his condition, Otto is helping students every day.
Locals fight period poverty: One in five Victorians are forced to “improvise” on using period products, but the locals of Kyabram worked together to try to bring change. Share the Dignity’s “regional queen” Debra Ruedin partnered with businesses across Echuca, Kyabram and Rochester to set up donation boxes for period products to be kept in the area for those in need.
September
The magic of a remote Book Week: St Augustine's foundation student Layla Busch channels Harry Potter’s Hermione Granger.
Photo by
Unknown
“We had all been looking forward to a day of fun”: St Augustine’s College failed to let the latest COVID-19 lockdown dampen its junior students’ enthusiasm for the traditional Book Week dress-up. The event was instead staged remotely, teacher and librarian Trish Baker said it showed some of the best costumes to date.
R U OK?: Mason Nunn and Isabella Kelly with the R U OK? Day cookies made by Tongala's Rachael Currey, from Paperbake.
Photo by
Rohan Aldous
Cookies for a cause are OK: Rachael Currey’s Papercake business donated all proceeds made from its “R U OK?” treat boxes and cookies to the organisation. A cause that sits close to her heart, Ms Currey’s creations gained momentum in no time.
Settling in: Kyabram Fauna Park welcomed three new staff members since March. General manager Lachlan Gordon with new team members education co-ordinator Katelyn McIntyre, and front, reptile keepers Ambrose Burcher and Brendan Dixon.
Photo by
Supplied
New faces on the job at Kyabram Fauna Park: Some fresh faces were welcomed to the fauna park in 2021, but they weren’t so furry and could feed themselves. Three new employees joined the ranks in preparation to reopen the facility after lockdowns ended. The new team members included education co-ordinator Katelyn McIntyre and reptile keepers Ambrose Burcher and Brendan Dixon.
Taking no chances: A bomb disposal robot was deployed to reportedly x-ray the device in a rural lane of Kyabram.
Melbourne bomb squad called to Kyabram: What started as a quiet rainy Monday soon ended in a crackling explosion that evening as a bomb squad was called to detonate a device found in a mailbox in a rural lane of Kyabram.
Kyabram Show cancelled: In another year of COVID-19 event casualties, the Kyabram Show was cancelled a month out. Kyabram AH&P Society secretary Janelle McDonald said the financial fallout of the cancellation may be felt for years to come.
October
COVID campers: Five Kyabram families and almost 30 people were forced to isolate after a weekend camping trip in Moama turned into a COVID-19 disaster. The group members were only informed a positive case was among them four days after returning and going about life as normal.
Let them eat cake: An hour and a half was all it took for Tongala Development Group’s cake stall to sell out. The stall was hastily put together in place of the town’s garage sale, an event that had to be delayed after receiving advice from the COVID-19 hotline a week earlier. As a result of the community’s generosity, and love for cakes, the group raised $700.
Jab for joy: Kyabram Regional Clinic’s Amelia Carroll, Leanne James and Jessica Casey.
Clinic passes vax milestone: Kyabram Regional Clinic chalked up a major milestone, administering its 5000th dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Clinic practice manager Amelia Carroll said the clinic had a “great response” and was always booked up, with more wanting to be vaccinated.
School is back again ‒ what a relief!: After countless lockdowns and coming in and out of remote learning, students were welcomed back to their classrooms once again. Girgarre Primary School principal Peter Caldrow said he could not have been more thrilled with the return of the school’s students.
November
Perfection: Noel Wiltshire’s impressive ’tache was an inspiration for all those who took part in Movember.
Movember’s a go: As November rolled around Movember came too, reminding all that with a great mo comes great responsibility. Kyabram’s Noel Wiltshire boasts a moustache of epic proportions but also an important message. Being in remission from prostate cancer, Mr Wiltshire encouraged others to get checked and get behind the cause.
Giant garage sale brings the goods: Tongala’s giant garage sale saw people coming all the way from Geelong to fetch a few bargains and check out the town. The day saw 63 registered garage sales in the town.
Scientific saints: St Augustine’s year 11 students Jordan O’Neill and Riley Wakenshaw created a science research project on the optimal benefits of uranium use in Australia. The project was published in science journal LabTalk.
December
Baled up by Garfield: Tongala Development Committee vice-president Amber Townsend with artist Mitchell Oats in Mangan St.
Baker Mitch’s hay bale artistry really takes the cake: Local baker and artist Mitchell Oats’ hay bale creation of Garfield and his sidekick Odie was brought to life in collaboration with Kirstin Walker. A partnership that went hand in hand according to Mitch, who is colourblind.
“She told me she couldn’t draw but she could paint, and I told her I couldn’t paint but I could draw. It works well,” he said.
Earth moves at the edges: After encountering constant delays and pushbacks, works on Kyabram’s long awaited The Edge Estate started with construction for the first homes expected to commence mid 2022.
Keelee wins Anzac award: St Augustine’s year 11 student Keelee Smith was awarded the Premier’s Spirit of Anzac award for her work in exploring the nation’s war and peacekeeping history. Keelee’s essay featured interviews with several war veterans, showing differing perspectives in honour of mateship, courage and good humour.
Guitar solo: Tatura 12-year-old Harry Cameron in Allan St as part of the entertainment provided by students from Dillmac.
Music to the ears of Kyabramites: Twelve-year-old Harry Cameron took the Free Press’s editor by surprise when playing on the street, playing his favourite song from 1978 by Dire Straits. Harry among others played on Allan St as part of the Dillmac initiative, co-ordinated by Kyabram Tomorrow and the Chamber of Commerce.
