1971
Metric system victim
Kyabram High School’s decision to change its athletic carnival to the metric measuring system came at the expense of dual sprinting records that were ― according to Free Press scribe of 1971 Gus Underwood ― as unlikely to ever be broken.
The 100 yard and 220 yard records belonged to Kyabram sprint king Graham Johnston, who had set the marks in the early 1960s.
Johnston’s extraordinary feat of running 100 yards in a time of 10.1 seconds became history when the school moved to the 100 and 200m events.
In the inter-school competition Johnston was credited with a 10 second flat time and in later years was considered one of the best sprinters in Australia.
Johnston has remained an integral part of the Kyabram community through his Allan St menswear business and ― if not for the introduction of the metric system ― would probably still hold the records that he set more than six decades ago.
Keith’s 100-mile challenge
Talking about the metric system, it was not part of the equation for Kyabram fitness fanatic Keith Marshall.
He was on the verge of attempting to walk 100 miles in 24 hours, making the afternoon of the Kyabram Show his finishing line.
Marshall, if successful, was set to become the first member of an amateur athletic club to achieve the feat, having the backing of Kyabram Rotary Club as his attempt acted as a fundraising mechanism for the development of an athletics arena at the Racecourse Reserve.
To achieve the feat Marshall was required to cover 4.14 miles every hour, but the 141-mile 610 Australian record was also something he had set his sights on before tackling the challenge,.
The 45-year-old’s effort was planned to the last detail, floodlights set up so people could follow his progress and a scoreboard indicating the amount of laps he had completed also available for onlookers.
US golf champ in town
The darling of American golf, Marilyn Smith, was about to land in Australia and had included Kyabram’s Valley View Golf Club on her list of pit-stops around the country.
The fourth highest money winner on the Ladies Professional Golf Association tour was being hosted by club president George Williams and secretary Syd Muir-Smith.
She was planning to play an exhibition round with the winner of Australia’s 1971 Women’s Golf Champoinship Lindy Goggin.
Wallis century
John Wallis handed out the first shock of the new cricket season by smashing 132 against reigning premier Tatura ― before retiring as Cooma replied to Tatura’s 124-run total by scoring 248 runs for the loss of only seven wickets.
His innings included 16 boundaries and he offered only one chance in the innings, supported by Mac Poole and Wayne Thorson.
In other games Barry Linford led Girgarre on a run-scoring feast, scoring 76 and sharing in a partnership with Athol McDonald.
Lancaster fast bowling star John Lilford took six wickets in the first round of the season as Stanhope was all out for 72 in response to Lancaster’s 109 ― schoolboy Peter Matthews top scoring.
Both Tongala and Kyabram had two teams in the competition, which both did battle in the opening round.
Rob Ferguson took 6-16 against Tongala as it was bundled out for 57 and then backed that up with an unbeaten 31 in support of opening batsman Bob McConchie (not out 57).
In the other match, John Salmon top scored for Tongala as his team set Kyabram 97 for victory. John Calley and Peter Hawking took seven wickets between them and then John Bracher top scored for Kyabram with 49. Paul Rowe was the best Tongala bowler.
1981
Lal inaugural winner
Lal Whyte was the inaugural winner of the Kyabram Superules best-and-fairest award, the former Ovens and Murray league footballer scoring 32 votes to win from former Bendigo league star Bob Emery.
Maurie Varcoe and Bob Vagg were equal third in the count, with Whyte telling the crowd at the vote count it was his first best-and-fairest win in 20 years.
Whyte wasn’t the only one to be making headlines from the superules club as English-born Kyabram motor mechanic Chris Preddy was wearing the Big V of Victoria a week later in the state superules team.
Elliott comeback
The return of burly Kyabram school teacher John Elliott to cricket had an immediate impact for Lancaster, the former champion scoring 82 runs and taking seven wickets in his comeback match against last year’s premier Kyabram.
Lancaster won the game by four runs on the back of the effort, his all-round performance overshadowing the arrival of two new A-grade teams ― Fire Brigade and Wyuna ― into the competition.
Fire Brigade was all out for 29 in its match with Tatura, but Lindsay Wickham restored some order by taking three wickets.
Wyuna made a great start to its season with three wickets to Col Thompson and a five-wicket haul to Brad Newman.
2001
Bombers best
David Newman was named the senior football best-and-fairest at Kyabram, while Rob Whitford was the reserve grade winner.
Michael Shaw picked up the under-18 best-and-fairest award. Glen Hodgens was runner-up in the senior award, while Paul Burnett was named best team man, Ricky Hall received the most votes in the Morrison Medal, Andrew Elborough was most consistent and Brad Shepherd won the coach’s award.
Ryan Emmett was the under-18 coach’s award winner, while coach Mick Ryan also recognised Chris Dennis, David Langdon, Matt Finn, Dean Patt and Craig Storer with awards.
2011
Morgan Bombers’ best
Jason Morgan was rewarded for a stellar comeback season with Kyabram Football Club by winning its senior best-and-fairest award.
Morgan returned from VFL club Coburg and polled 283 votes to beat ruckman Chris Kelf and midfielder Simon Seddon.
Skipper David Newman was next, with Nathan Beck, Liam Ogden and Chris Atkins next best.
Rounding out the top 10 were Rhys Clark, Paul Newman, Brad Edwards and Josh Vick.
Morgan won the award in 2006.
Anthony Joel won the reserves best-and-fairest award from Michael Dillon, with Jackson McLay third.
Brad Ryan was the winner of the under-18 award, ahead of Riley Bacon, Luke Morris, James Lovison, Tom Curnow and Ricky Shellie.
Cade’s honour
Kyabram cricketer Cade Mueller became the third Victorian under-12 cricketer from Kyabam when he was selected to contest the national titles at Cobram-Barooga.
His elder brother Kyle had already competed in the Big V colours (as captain), while Liam Barrett was also in the state team three years earlier.
Bendigo cousins Xavier and James Ryan also have a connection to Kyabram as they are cousins of decorated Kyabram sporting brothers Peter, Brendan, Francis, Kevin and Denis Ryan.
Cade and Kyle are sons of Kyabram Cricket Club Team of the Century member Brad and wife Toni.