From January to December, the Kyabram community gathered throughout the year to celebrate, commemorate and connect.
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Here are the top moments the Free Press captured in the past 12 months.
January
Yarn bombing creator takes the honour
The Australia Day Awards ceremony at Kyabram Fauna Park on Friday, January 26, had a surprise for Patricia (Trish) Worsfold, who initially thought she was attending to celebrate her friend’s recognition.
To her astonishment, Mrs Worsfold was awarded the prestigious Kyabram Citizen of the Year award.
Mrs Worsfold has been a driving force behind the creation of Kyabram Yarn Bombing, a vibrant community initiative that took shape in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Girgarre Moosic Muster strikes a chord
The Girgarre Moosic Muster was once again a massive hit.
The event, held from January 10 to 14, attracted people from all over Victoria and further afield.
“It’s about joining in. That’s where the joy is,” Girgarre Moosic Muster director Jan Smith said.
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February
Sweet taste of success
Nearly 5000 people filled the main street of Kyabram for the spectacular Tastes and Tunes festival on Saturday night.
Allan St was a sea of smiling faces as attendees gathered in the late afternoon and into the evening to enjoy a delicious array of food and drink from Kyabram cafés, restaurants and local food vans.
Activities such as face painting, a silent disco and a bucking bull kept everyone entertained while musical acts Stumbling North, Baker Boys Band and Indi Gilmore thrilled the crowds with covers of famous songs and tunes of their own.
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Kyabram police host epic pool party
Kyabram police held an amazing Blue Light Disco on Friday, February 9, with over 330 young people enjoying the party at the local pool.
The children played with floaties shaped like footlong subs and hammers (courtesy of Subway and Bunnings) and made the most of the pool obstacle course and a waterslide on the grass that the Kyabram Fire Brigade kept slippery.
“We hope everyone had a great night, young people and parents/guardians alike,” Senior Constable Mitchell Bull said.
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March
Ain’t no horsing about at the Kyabram Rodeo
No ifs, ands or bucks about it — if you weren’t at the Kyabram Rodeo, you missed out.
On Friday, March 8, riders and audience members attended the Kyabram Showgrounds to enjoy a night of rodeo events, good food and drink, and a late-night performance by the Iain Archibald Band.
“It was a massive night, huge crowd,” AH&P Society secretary Janelle McDonald said.
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Kyabram International Women’s Day event carried out to a tea
During high tea, women raised a pinkie and their voices to celebrate women’s achievements.
On Thursday, March 7, about 150 women gathered at Kyabram Parkland Golf Club to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The gathering was organised by EmpowHER, and the local community group aimed to provide a supportive and encouraging oasis for its guests.
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St Patrick’s Day at St Patrick’s Primary School
Green clothing, accessories, hats, glasses and drink bottles covered one Tongala school as students celebrated St Patrick’s Day.
On Monday, March 18, students from St Patrick’s Primary School Tongala enjoyed a sports and activity day while dressed in all shades of green.
From an obstacle course to tug-of-war and a rainbow parachute, there was lots to enjoy.
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April
Veteran car rally roars into town
You could not drive anywhere last weekend without running into at least one slow-chugging, colourful and fascinating classic car.
Motoring enthusiasts were treated to a piece of history with the Victorian Veteran Car Rally taking over the Kyabram area over the weekend in a spectacle of historic mechanically propelled vehicles.
The 29 vehicles, all pre-dating 1919, were displayed across the region, hitting multiple tourist locations and soaking up northern Victoria’s rich history.
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Roaring success: New exhibit at Ky Fauna Park a hit
Tourists and locals have flocked to Kyabram Fauna Park to see the regular animals ... and some from another time.
The park has always been a hit with children during the school holidays, with kangaroos, birds and animals galore; however, I’m dino-sure this popularity has something to do with the new exhibition that opened on March 29.
The ‘Dinos at the Zoo’ exhibit takes visitors on a trail to meet 15 mighty animatronic dinosaurs spread across a newly developed area of parkland.
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Anzac spirit well and truly alive in Kyabram
Kyabram residents, visitors, community groups and veterans gathered in the memorial gardens on the morning of April 25 to pay respects to the Anzacs in a service organised by the Kyabram RSL.
The service began with the thump of drums played by Adrian Miller and Tom Duckworth and a march from Fenaughty St to Allan St under the yellow trees of the memorial walk led by Navy veteran Terry Williams and straddled by flag bearers Bob and Ian Troy.
About 600 people gathered, either sitting in chairs provided by the Kyabram RSL or standing around the park’s edges.
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May
Happy Mother’s Day, Mum!
The Free Press went to Aussie Kindies and Shine Bright Fenaughty St Kindergarten and asked the children what their favourite thing was about their mums.
Haidee, 4: “She plays with me outside at the park. I love the big slide. I like that she gives me big hugs.”
Flynn, 3: “I love playing with my mum at the big slide and going down and down and down.”
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June
Kyabram community rallies behind Shannon’s cancer fundraising
A cool morning at Kyabram District Health Service didn’t deter hospital staff and visitors from coming together in the courtyard for a morning tea fundraiser to tackle cancer.
Over 50 people gathered in the KDHS courtyard on Tuesday, May 21, to help KDHS staff member Shannon Miller raise money for The Kyabram Gift by purchasing a cupcake, entering themselves into a raffle or estimating how many chocolates were in a jar.
Thirteen years ago, Shannon raised $5000 for The Kyabram Gift, a local cancer charity, and shaved her head; this year, she is looking to do it all again and beat her previous record.
***
Braving the cold for MND
There was only one place in the world where you could see Bluey, Santa and Peter Walsh dressed as Spongebob plunge into an ice bath.
The Kyabram Bombers Junior Football Club held its Big Freeze 10 DIY event at the Kyabram Recreation Reserve on Friday, June 21 to fundraise for Fight MND.
This is the second time the club has raised funds for the charity, which seeks a cure for motor neurone disease, and this year it raised over $4500.
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July
Stanhope community remembers Montevideo Maru tragedy with heartfelt service
On Tuesday, July 2, over 70 Stanhope residents and visitors gathered in the Community Hall for the Commemorative Service of the Montevideo Maru sinking.
All speakers spoke about their personal connection to the soldiers lost on the Montevideo Maru, reminding the audience that although the tragedy was over 80 years ago, the emotions were as raw as ever.
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Jack and Jacqui are taking off like Smokey and The Bandit
Traversing more than 2000km of some of Australia’s most formidable roads is no easy task; especially when the car you’re driving is as old as you are and worth less than the latest iPhone.
But Stanhope locals Jack Graves and Jacqui Ball are planning to take off like Smokey and The Bandit.
Mr Graves and Ms Ball will be participating in the 2024 Spring Shitbox Rally this October and taking on the challenge to raise awareness and fundraise for the Cancer Council.
***
Tangerine turnout: Community Day is an SES-ucess
Local residents of all ages came together on Saturday, July 27, to witness what the Kyabram SES unit had to offer at its Community Day.
Attendees were treated to safety demonstrations, family-friendly activities and a sausage sizzle at the facility on Kuhle Crt.
SES volunteers put their skills on display in live demonstrations, showing attendees what it took to respond to different emergency situations such as road crash rescues and casualty handlings.
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August
“Unwavering dedication”: Aged Care employee recognised
It was Aged Care Employee Day on Wednesday, August 7, with Australia celebrating the workers in the aged care sector.
But at Sheridan Aged Care, there was a diamond among the dozens.
A separate celebration was thrown for a staff member who was specially recognised by the Public Sector Residential Aged Care leadership committee.
Heather Walden, a carer who works in lifestyle, was the belle of the ball on Wednesday where a dedicated morning tea was provided by PSRAC from local café Burnt Butter.
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“We are part of the bridge”: Smoking ceremony blesses imminent housing development lot
A traditional smoking ceremony at Parkland Golf Club’s edge marked the commencement of a landmark housing development project on the club’s boundary.
On Friday, August 30, the wind was not strong enough to keep away the group gathered to watch a smoking ceremony ahead of the commencement of construction of Kyabram Greens Estate.
The ceremony was performed by Yorta Yorta woman Nartarsha Bamblett, who blessed the ground where hundreds of people will soon find solace in warm homes following the construction of the 210-lot development.
Around 20 people gathered at the edge of the golf club to watch the traditional ceremony, including community members and the site’s developers.
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September
For women by women: EmpowHER celebrates Women’s Health Week with live event
A live podcast recording brought over 100 women together to connect and listen to one another about the importance of women’s health.
Over 100 women, and a handful of men, packed into the Kyabram Plaza Theatre on Friday, September 6 for the EmpowHER Women’s Health Week celebration.
EmpowHER is a Kyabram-based not-for-profit organisation that aims to connect women in the community through social events run throughout the year, with Women’s Health Week one of the biggest on its calendar.
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Kyabram students are booked on a feeling
Once upon a time, school students dressed up so grand, for it was Book Week, you see, that took over Kyabram-land.
Students across Australia embraced the magic of Book Week from August 17 to 23, bringing beloved characters to life through creative costumes and engaging in a variety of book-inspired activities.
St Augustine’s College Prep to Year 4 students gathered in the Brigidine Centre for a book character parade.
Kyabram P-12 College primary students made their way around their friends, parading their costumes, and flaunting in front of staff and family members.
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October
Fine weather and even finer food and wines in Stanhope
The good weather turned out for the Stanhope Food and Wine Festival on Sunday, October 6, with crowds packing the streets lined with food and wine stalls.
The population of Stanhope ticked up a few hundred people over the weekend, with visitors flocking to the tiny town for an afternoon to celebrate the region’s finest.
Winemakers, treat bakers and goods creators set up shop along the town’s central street, Birdwood Ave, in the early hours of Sunday and were met with about 750 people paying the gold-coin entry fee once the clock chimed 11am.
***
Kyabram Show shines for another year
It turns out that blue skies, a pocket of afternoon sunshine and quality showings of the region’s finest agriculture are enough to make another successful Kyabram Show.
Crowds turned out to the Kyabram Showgrounds from the moment the gates opened at 9am on Saturday, October 18, with kids bounding to the children’s area or eagerly waiting to board one of many rides and attractions on offer.
By noon, you could hear the hustle and bustle of the show from the west end of Allan St, with the street packed with cars and more people wading in through the front gates guarded by the friendly Lions Club members.
It was a stroke of luck that the event was not impeded by the downpour of rain on the previous day.
***
Ky kids boogie at Friday fright night
While it’s true, it takes two to tango, it’s also true that it takes 150 spookily dressed kids to create the scariest event of the year.
Kyabram’s most frighteningly fabulous kids filled the eerily decorated Kyabram P-12 College hall on Friday, November 1 for the annual Bluelight Halloween Disco.
Creeping through the dimly lit dance hall were devils, skeletons, aliens, dinosaurs, superheroes and more, grooving to current pop hits and nostalgic disco classics such as Nutbush City Limits and Macarena.
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November
Businesses reap rewards of Spring Market
The day’s windy and tepid weather was not enough to keep several hundred bargain hunters from wandering down Allan St for Kyabram’s annual Spring Market.
While most Fridays in Kyabram see happy customers wandering through businesses celebrating the looming weekend, on Friday, November 8, crowds were noticeably more excited — and for good reason.
The annual Spring Market, formerly known as the Bush Market, rolled into town once again, with market stalls setting up tents as early as 7am and local businesses already situated along the length of Allan St preparing for another busy year.
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Perfect day for a line dance at the RV Country Music Festival
Even before the main event began, RVs, caravans and cars filled with musos piled through the gates of the Kyabram Showgrounds in pursuit of two things: country music and a good time.
While the weather was tepid and overcast on Saturday, November 9, the atmosphere was anything but, as patrons who days earlier parked their RVs across the field of the showgrounds, made their way to the main stage, set up their chairs and settled in for a weekend of great music.
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Life in Kyabram paused at 11am
As the clock struck the 11th hour on Monday, November 11, Kyabram collectively fell silent in tribute to Australia’s fallen soldiers.
At the Kyabram Memorial Gardens, more than 80 people gathered under the shade of the trees for the annual Remembrance Day service organised by the Kyabram RSL.
Kyabram RSL president Greg O'Connell hosted the event, welcoming veterans, their families and even a few visitors from the Kyabram RV Country Music Festival who had come from the showgrounds to attend the service.
December
A day to show abilities
The rain clouds and wind miraculously cleared away just in time for the festivities to celebrate International Day for People with Disabilities on Tuesday, December 3.
The event, organised by the What We Can Do group, saw over 200 visitors gather on the front lawn of Kyabram District Health Service for a celebration of individual abilities.
The day featured a variety of activities, including smoothie bikes, Jenga, ball tossing, a drum circle and arts and crafts.
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Santa lands in Kyabram
Santa Claus paid a special visit to Kyabram ahead of his official arrival at Santa’s Cave this week.
Santa’s Cave is set to open at the Kyabram Town Hall on Allan St on Saturday, December 14, allowing children to meet the big man himself and tell him what they want for Christmas.
The installation has been a cherished Kyabram Christmas tradition since 2015 when town hall volunteer Vanessa Cross promised children that Santa would be coming to town.
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Stanhope kids in luck, Santa’s in a fire truck
Carols sung on the back of a truck and Santa getting a tow from the fireys made for a special evening at the 2024 Stanhope Christmas Carols.
There was perfect weather, perfect pitch and a fine turnout for the annual event, where over 200 children, parents and visitors filled Memorial Park for a night of carolling.
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Cadet Journalist