Kyabram Football Netball Club will toast one of its greatest players on Wednesday, March 1.
Teammates, officials and supporters — male and female — will stage a memorial to salute the late Bernie Harlen, who passed away in late October last year.
Bernie played all his football with the Bombers and a senior career spanning from 1963 to 1975 in which he played 212 games.
He won the club’s best and fairest award in 1967 and 1972 and is a life member of Kyabram and the Goulburn Valley League.
He played in three losing grand final teams with the Bombers and in its premiership year — and his final year as a player — he missed out on playing in Peter Lyon’s drought-breaking side of 1975 due to injury.
In his time with the club the only flag-winning sides he played in were in the seconds (reserves) in 1964 and with the thirds in 1960.
One of the organisers of the evening Peter Nelson said this week it would be a “very informal” get-together and would also take in a Bombers training session between 6pm and 8pm at the Kyabram recreation reserve (Creamery Oval).
‘‘After his passing we ran into a few hurdles getting a suitable night to acknowledge Bernie’s contribution to the club, but we felt it needed to be done,“ Nelson said.
“He was a much respected and one of Kyabram’s greatest ever players and he deserves recognition.”
Nelson said invitations would not be sent out, but anyone who had anything to do with Bernie in his time at the club or outside the club were all invited to attend.
‘‘It is just going to be a ‘thankyou Bernie’ get-together and a time to reflect on his time at the club over a drink or two,’’ Nelson said.
Vale Murray Evans
Local footy lost a stalwart and a bloody good bloke recently with the passing of Murray Evans after a brave and long battle with health problems.
Murray, 65, loved his football and was a loyal supporter of the Kyabram District Football Netball League and the Lancaster Football Netball Club during many years.
He was an executive board member of the league in 1996 and 1997 and again in 2007.
He was also the league’s junior vice-president from 1998 to 2005 and senior vice-president in 2006.
His organisational skills were acknowledged in 1999 when he was named KDL Administrator of the Year. He was also a life member of the league.
Before his time at league level Murray was a stalwart of the Lancaster Football Netball Club.
He served at the club’s secretary from 1995 to 2006, a period in which the Wombats had six presidents.
He was a long-time employee of Goulburn Murray Water as a water bailiff until his retirement about five years ago.
Murray is survived by wife Margaret, sons Mathew and Nathan and grandchildren.
Showdown in May
The date of the GVL versus Ovens and Murray League showdown has been set.
Albury Sports Ground — home of the Albury Tigers — will host the football and netball clashes between the traditional rival on Saturday, May 20.
GVL has a score to settle in the footy losing both the senior and Under-18 games last year at Mooroopna, but the open netball side will be looking for a repeat win.
Last year’s battles were the first between the two leagues since 2017.
Kyabram coach Paul Newman coached the GVL last year, but the league is yet to name this year’s coach.
No Bath at Euroa
Last year’s GVL runner-up Euroa will be without one of its emerging stars this season.
Ben Bath, a key player in Euroa’ rise to the GVL grand final last year, has been awarded a contract by North Melbourne’s VFL side after impressing in the Roos pre-season.
Bath has listed Essendon League club Greenvale as his home club, which means he won’t be pulling on a Euroa jumper this season.
Books still available
If you missed out initially there are still some Girgarre Cricket Club Centenary books available.
The 100 years of cricket at Girgarre publication was launched at the milestone celebrations late last year and some remaining copies can be obtained by contacting David Asquith at Albion Motors, Kyabram.