30 years to 1985
THE first of six local people to be awarded the Telecom Advance Australia Award of Merit, Mrs Elizabeth Porter of Bunyip has put in countless hours of community work in the local district. In recognition of her services she was presented with the award last Thursday by shire president Cr Keith Ewenson who said that he was very pleased to be able to present the award. Despite having only lived in the Bunyip area since returning in 1981, Mrs Porter has put in a tremendous amount of work, especially with the CWA and local Red Cross.
FUTURE patients of the Berwick Bush Nursing Hospital will have reason to be grateful to the Quota Club of Dandenong following the club’s presentation of a new colour television to the hospital. The portable television set was presented to the hospital for use by patients who don’t have one of their own. Also presented were warm knee rugs. Director of Nursing at the hospital, Matron Margaret Easton, said the television would be greatly appreciated by the patients. The Dandenong Quota Club is a member of Quota International Inc, whose membership is open to business, professional and executive women.
20 years to 1995
Katherine Deane, 21, is the second Pakenham Showgirl in recent years to take out the Victorian Country Showgirl title. A thrilled Katherine, from Tonimbuk, was sashed as the winner before a large crowd at Moonee Valley last Friday evening. It’s the second time in the last 12 years that a Pakenham Showgirl has taken out the title, with Mia Rankin (nee Roche) winning in 1983. There are approximately 134 show societies entered in the competition at a grassroots level, with 11 regions represented at the final. Katherine took out the Pakenham Showgirl title in March, the Central and South Gippsland Group title in May then travelled to Melbourne last week for several days of judging as well as an official reception at Government House.
CARDINIA Council is pressing for a complete remodelling of the Princes Highway/McGregor Road intersection to reduce the ever-present risk of a serious accident. Whether that involves the construction of a large roundabout as had been suggested in the past, or the installation of traffic signals, has yet to be considered. Chief Commissioner Bernard Coburn, who had a site inspection with chief executive officer Jim Stevenson last Wednesday afternoon, says the intersection, at the western entrance to the Pakenham township, represents all that is wrong with the allocation of road funds.
10 years to 2005
BERWICK Secondary College in mid-September was the only school team to win a place in the Murray Bridge, South Australia human-powered vehicle (HPV) marathon. Berwick’s senior team competed against 180 schools and 23 adult teams to finish third overall and the only school team in the first six places. The team beat the nearest rival school by a staggering 56 kilometres in the 24-hour race. HPV mentor Terry Trevena said the vehicle travelled 847 kilometres during the race, at an average speed of more than 35km/h, including pit stops. He said Berwick won the same event in four consecutive years and won their last seven events. Two other Berwick teams finished in the top 30.
PREMIERSHIP glory for her beloved Swans was the perfect birthday present for Judy Black. The Kooweerup woman turned 60 on Friday and was able to celebrate by cheering her team to a sensational victory in Saturday’s AFL Grand Final. She was just one of the South Melbourne/Sydney Swans fans in the district whose red and white dreams came true after virtually a lifetime of waiting, wishing and hoping. As a young girl, Judy used to babysit Mark Browning, a future Swans champion whose father, Keith, coached Cora Lynn. Keith had also played for South Melbourne. Looking after two-year-old Mark and following his stellar career in later years entrenched Judy in red and white.
