By BEN CAMERON
30 years to 1985:
A NEW Code of Conduct has been introduced at Drouin High School following the government’s call to schools to develop enlightened discipline codes, following the banning of corporal punishment. The code stresses self-discipline and mutual respect. Posters of a summary of the changes have been pinned up in all rooms within the school, but “leaves no doubts as to the consequences of unacceptable behaviour”.
PARENTS of some Beaconhills Christian College students travelling from Berwick to Pakenham each day by bus are worried about the safety of their children. The bus picks up general passengers as well as students from four secondary schools and parents claim it is grossly overloaded. “They have to force the door to close it,” one parent said. Despite complaints, the bus company said it is not willing to spend $30,000 on another bus and students should travel by train.
20 years to 1995:
A 35-year-old man on his first jump was taken to hospital with spinal injuries after a rough landing in Pakenham on Sunday. Command Sky Diving Club chief instructor Colin Holt said the man from Loch suffered a cracked vertebrae after a heavy landing. He was airlifted to Dandenong Hospital and is expected to be released within days. He said conditions for a static jump were excellent and the attempt was good until the man reached the 200 foot mark. “An instructor on the ground was giving information which he did not follow adequately and as a result the man landed incorrectly,” he said.
THE Spruce Goose is to become Berwick’s first smoke-free restaurant. Smoking in the 80-seat restaurant on High Street will be restricted to the outdoor section. Former Berwick councillor Brian Francis, part-owner of the restaurant, said the decision to ban smoking followed requests from patrons. Chef Ajit Bangera said the fine food and cigarette smoke do not mix.
10 years to 2005:
VANDALS raiding Puffing Billy’s Emerald yard released a train bogey down the track which rolled all the way to Cockatoo. The bogey passed through four level crossings during its nine kilometre downhill journey. The vandals gained access to the four-wheel bogey after they broke through chains which were securing it to the railway line. The bogey was found by members of a rail crew on Sunday morning as they checked the track for obstructions before that day’s Puffing Billy train began.
CHRIS and Marie Lucas are bidding “goodbye, goodbye” to their Emerald store. The plant farm couple, famous for their zany advertising jingles and low prices, are closing the retail outlet after wilting sales prompted a pruning of their business empire. They are also closing down their Essendon store to concentrate sales at outlets in Campbellfield and Carrum Downs. The decision to close comes almost ten years after their business first bloomed in the town.
