2015
Bank on it coming
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It’s official: Kyabram has its own Community Bank.
Community Bank steering committee chairman Vince Curtis was beaming with pride yesterday as he announced Kyabram had received approval from Bendigo Bank to open a branch within the town.
And with a new home already found in the Albion Arcade on Allan St, all that is left is to dot the ‘I’s and cross the ‘T’s.
And Mr Curtis said he believed it could all be achieved in only six more months.
“The dominoes are all lined up, we just have to knock them over,” he said.
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Shire move considered
Out of the frying pan and into the fire?
This is the question plaguing Campaspe Shire’s eastern townships as they contemplate the prospect of becoming part of City of Greater Shepparton.
It comes after councillor Adrian Weston proposed that Kyabram, Stanhope, Wyuna, Girgarre and Rushworth should break away from Shire of Campaspe at a special council meeting in Echuca last week.
While Cr Weston was all for the idea, the proposal has received a mixed response from community members.
For Bob Holschier the issue is clear-cut: “It couldn’t be any worse than what we have now,” he said.
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Claudy for roundabout?
Kyabram Harness Racing Club wants reconsideration on the proposed centrepiece feature for the town’s Allan St roundabout.
Five native birds in flight about a small waterfall has been earmarked to feature in the roundabout, but the local trotting club is pushing for a sculpture of Kyabram’s star trotting mare Claudys Princess to be erected in the roundabout.
Long-serving trotting club secretary Ian Purdey said this week that Claudys Princess had helped put Kyabram on the map in the past two years and deserved rightful recognition.
“She has been Australia’s top trotting filly as both a two year and three-year-old and probably still has the best of her racing to come.”
“Nagambie has Black Caviar, Port Lincoln (has) Makybe Diva and Temora has Paleface Adios all featuring in prominent town sculptures – and why couldn’t Ky have Claudys Princess?”
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1995
Gas and Fuel depot is closing
Kyabram’s Gas and Fuel Corporation’s sub-depot has got the chop – just days after a denial from the corporation that the depot was not under immediate threat.
A statement on Friday by the brand manager at Shepparton, Mr Bill Hayward, announced the Kyabram sub-depot would be transferred to Gas and Fuel’s Echuca centre.
(Last Friday week a spokesperson at the Shepparton office said the Kyabram depot was not being closed immediately).
A press release issued on Friday on the closure stated the Echuca centre has recently been established to cater for the growth area and around the district and the relocation of staff and equipment would enable Gas and Fuel to concentrate efforts I these growth areas without affecting the level of service presently provided.
He Kyabram sub-depot has been the base for three employees, who will all be transferred to the new Echuca centre.
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Luke’s fruitful exercises
The humble pumpkin took centre stage at Lancaster Primary School in recent weeks as students battled to grow the biggest fruit in a competition.
Seven-year-old Luke Thomas grew the biggest moon pumpkin which tipped the scales at 55kg – somewhat heavier than Luke’s own body weight.
The grade-two student was quite pleased with his pumpkin and join other children in a special festive Pumpkin Day at school to wrap up the competition.
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$300,000 hospital grant
Kyabram Hospital chief executive Alwin Gallina was ecstatic this week with the news of a $300,000 government grant.
Member for Rodney, Mr Noel Maughan this week advised the Kyabram Hospital Board that the State Government would contribute $300,000 to the hospital’s building project.
The funding will be provided at the rate of $100,000 per year during the next three years.
It follows a visit to the hospital by the Minster for Health Mrs Marie Tehan arranged by Mr Maughan in December.
Mr Maughan said the Minister was most impressed by the positive proactive attitude displayed by both the Board of management and the staff and by the excellent performance of the hospital.
1975
Council to back library protest
A strong protest from the Echuca Regional Library Committee to the Library Council of Victoria, over the minimum $1 contribution to be made by councils before subsidy will be allowed, will be backed by the Kyabram Town Council.
Council received advice from the Library Council of Victoria the minimum Council contribution for which subsidy would be recommended will be $1 per head of population.
The Library Council of Victoria required application for 1975 to 76 subsidies, on this basis, to be lodged by April 21.
Town Clerk, Mr E. T. Cornish, said it was the first time for many years of the Library Council of Victoria has made an arbitrary decision such as this.
He said at the moment the Kyabram Town Council was contributed 80 cents per head of the population.
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Joker Jim is top sportsman
Kyabram’s first international cricketer, Jim Higgs, is Kyabram Apex Club’s first ‘Sportstar of the Year’ winner.
Higgs was announced the outright winner of the award by leading sporting personality Harry Beitzel at a dinner in the Tijuana on Wednesday night.
He beat 13 other finalists for the prestigious award.
Higgs got the judges nod for his performance when playing for Victorian’s Sheffield Shield cricket side this season and his selection in the Australian team to tour England later this year.
Outside Test players he was the biggest wicket taker in first class cricket in Australia this year.
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Sorry Tongala, not this time
Tongala’s selectors should be congratulated on their daring ‘bulk’ infusion of young blood into the team for last Saturday’s opening match.
There is no doubt that if the Dark Blues can hold these young players they will be a good team.
Will be, mind you.
Just at this moment Tongala don’t appear to be up to it to cause an upset and down traditional rivals Kyabram, at Tongala tomorrow.
Funnier things have happened, particularly when these two teams have met in the past, but the Bombers should win this one.
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Cadet Journalist