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While the world’s tragedies, conflicts, wars, political unrest, violence, government commissions and such were going on, Nagambie town’s daily life went on without much interference.
My 2017 and 2018 ended with the Bendigo Bank’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, at the regatta centre beside Lake Nagambie.
2018 in review
Nagambie is known for its ‘leisure, wine, and waterways’ image, so I thought I’d start the year off with some highlights of events which happened in 2018.
There were the small amount of hatches, matches and dispatches, special anniversaries and birthdays during the year with John Sanderson turning 90, Edie Perry topping the birthday list when she turned 102 in September; Ella Burt turned 100 and Denis Lee 80 in August; Dorothy Jory 98 in October and Isobel McGrath 95 just before Christmas. Myself, Marg Hurren, Olivia Newton John, Edna James and Maureen Fowler turned 70.
Sadly, we lost some of our locals and offer our ongoing condolences to their families and friends in their time of grief.
A fourth doctor, Sabah Nazir, joined the Nagambie Medical Centre in late 2017 and she was welcomed by her fellow colleagues. And the community
The two primary schools, preschools, playgroups and local high schools were active all year through and I offer thanks to the staff and volunteers who make the school communities so supportive of our children each year.
Nagambie has more than 110 groups or organisations that are a valuable asset to the community and locals keep themselves occupied supporting them and are valuable volunteers to all these groups.
Sadly, the croquet club folded in the latter part of the year, and we said goodbye to Val Harvey, one of our major croquet and St John’s volunteer workers in town as she moved south.
The Nagambie Lakes Men’s Shed collected thousands of cans and cashed them in for their funds. They also cooked thousands of snags and hamburgers at the monthly markets and outside IGA.
The Nagambie Lakes Community House operated many courses and activities this year and will endeavour to employ a part-time worker for 2019 to establish more ideas being brought into the house’s activities.
On the leisure side, there are always events or activities going on, so do not let anyone tell you there is nothing to do here.
From the weekly rock and roll classes, rifle club, sky diving, angling club activities: monthly community and farmers market, to annual water-based events, to social and sports activities.
Mitchelton Wines and Tahbilk Winery were the two major draw card enterprises for visitors to our region and the river cruise boats, restaurants, cellar doors, wetlands cafe and chocolate cafe and Chocolate Festival enterprises were full on.
The new hotel and day spa are doing well beside their famous tower.
The ‘Go Fish’ competition launched for the coming year and anglers from across the country are expected to take part. Contact Nagambie Angling Club for details.
The Royal Mail Hotel has become the entertainment capital of the town hosting many cabaret style shows and live music and charity events.
Proprietors Paul and Emilia Golding took over the pub at Murchison and are promoting fun events there also each week.
Nagambie Lakes Entertainment Centre Rowing Club, mechanics hall and Mitchelton have been major venues for entertainment through 2018.
The Nagambie Lakes Tourism and Commerce group changed their name to GO Nagambie.
January
The year started with thousands of holidaymakers making Nagambie their holiday destination.
A new footpath was concreted in Prentice St to allow train users easier access to the station.
The Nagambie Take Off Weight Naturally N Club turned one.
The youth of Nagambie were invited to come up with ideas for the young folk of the town. The closed croquet club site looks like it might be a venue for them to start some activities in the future. They need our full support to get it going.
Ken and Sandra Comi tried a community bus to and from Shepparton to replace the cancelled V/Line one, but the service failed due to lack of support.
The Day on the Green at Mitchelton with Bryan Adams and entourage started the year’s entertainment and the Belle Miners performed at the mechanics hall.
Australia Day celebrations were held around our towns and were well supported by Strathbogie Shire representatives, locals and visitors.
February
The month saw excited small local children start playgroup, preschool and prep at St Joseph’s and Nagambie primary schools and new school and house captains started in their new roles.
Nagambie Healthcare won the LASA’s Tristate Excellence in Aged Care services award.
Nagambie Rowing Club held a successful weekend regatta on the lake and the Jayco Herald Sun Bike Tour brought many visitors to the area.
Pam and Merv Shepherd celebrated their 54th anniversary and Lorna Bazeley turned 90.
March
The 11th Nagambie On Water (NOW) Festival was held in glorious sunshine, with the park to pub swim, carnival, quilt fair, water and grape stomping events being a major draw card.
The Nagambie Mechanics hall held the Central Victorian Model show for model enthusiasts; hosted by experienced local model show folk, Nigel and Renee Rowe.
The churches combined for the International World Day of Prayer and gathered bi-monthly for the P.O.U.R (Rain) services and the International Women’s breakfast was held.
The new boomerang bag group is going strong at the information centre, run by Moya Stewart.
Easter saw a successful Good Friday Royal Children’s Hospital appeal thanks to collectors who put in the hard yards and a fundraiser at the Top Pub in April for the RCH.
A dedication service was held at Nagambie cemetery for two fallen police officer. Victorian Police Commissioner Graham Ashton and visiting police personnel and family members joined Nagambie’s five officers for the special occasion.
Cricket ended for the Nagambie teams and the Nagambie football and netball players started a successful season in earnest. The recreation reserve underwent some major upgrades during the year.
The Nagambie Regatta Centre celebrated 20 years at the APS 151st Head of River race on Lake Nagambie.
Michael McNamara was chosen to represent Australia in the 2018 World Rowing Championships in the men’s lightweight squad.
Wally and Coral Cubbin celebrated their 55th anniversary. Gladys and Bruce Parris and Lois and David Keall celebrated 51 years of marriage and Dave and Carol Dickson 55.
April
Nagambie Bowls Club installed Des and Max Fothergill, Keith Holland and Vicki Reidy as life members.
Members of the Anglican Church’s Mother’s Union attended their 14th ‘adopt a granny day’ at Puckapunyal and many real grandparents attended the day and made it special for the children in the Pucka school.
St John’s held a holiday ‘‘kids club’’ day for local children as did Avenel’s Uniting church.
Nagambie Primary School principal Rob French celebrated 10 years as a principal and 30 years of teaching.
An Anzac Day service was held for the Nagambie Healthcare hostel and nursing wing folk. Thanks to the local school children from St Joseph’s and Nagambie primary schools for their contributions.
Locals supported our Nagambie breast cancer fundraiser at the Top Pub.
There was a great crowd at the RSL’s Anzac Day ceremony. Thanks to soldiers from P&EE Graytown and Puckapunyal, local schools, community groups, general public and the Lakeside Larks for supporting the day. The RSL thanked the community for buying Anzac badges for RSL welfare needs.
Rowing activities, lessons, and regattas, water skiing, canoeing, paddle board and other water sports made Lake Nagambie and the swimming pool a hive of activity during the warmer months and some of Nagambie croquet, bowling club members were busy during the seasons.
The Nagambie Petanque Club, golf, table tennis, golf and tennis clubs kept sporting folk happy all year round and the Nagambie Speedway started its Nagambie crash and bash events program. They also did a major upgrade to the track during the winter.
From April 19 to 28, Nagambie Skydive hosted the 2018 World Parachutists Over Phorty (POPS) championships with one of our local teams gaining silver in the competition.
May
Many mother’s enjoyed the lunch at the Royal Mail Hotel, the Nagambie Lakes Entertainment centre and the two schools to celebrate Mother’s Day.
Nagambie Cricket Club joined the Cricket Shepparton League.
Auskick and Net Set Go returned to Nagambie for the winter as well as football and netball at the Nagambie recreation reserve.
The Nagambie library celebrated a big morning tea and Jack Smyth was chosen to represent Australia in the World Triathlon grand final in September.
V/Line re-established a coach bus stop in Vine St which helped locals and travellers easier access to High St. The station one is also operational. No rubbish bins are at the station area yet.
Our senior and junior club rowers entered all the competitions they could this year and did the town proud.
The Nagambie Hostel and the Anglican MU held a fun afternoon at the Nagambie Healthcare facility.
Rosemary and Paul Stevens celebrated their 53rd anniversary.
June
The 12th Biggest Morning Tea in aid of cancer was held at Kirwan’s Bridge
St Malachy’s church was in line for a major facelift and the result is magnificent.
In mid-June, the Anglican Parish of Central Goulburn held a debutante ball for 21 debs and partners in Seymour. More than 400 attended. The deb set came from Nagambie, Avenel and Seymour areas.
Nagambie T.O.W.N Club won some state awards for their first year’s terrific weight loss record.
A small goods van crashed up near the cemetery.
The women’s shed in Seymour, run by the Presbyterian Church, turned two and St Joseph’s P&F held a successful trivia night in the church hall.
The old Harry’s cafe site, the old police building and Nagambie Bargain’s shop were demolished and the building of a new precinct of a pizza restaurant, restored police building and information centre and brewery. It may be completed in February.
The Echuca Steam Rally machines rolled into town and stopped the night in Parris’ hardware store’s backyard.
Nagambie and District Lions Club celebrated 14 years since chartering in 2004. It is still trying to operate with a very small band of members. If anyone can help them out, go along and help them keep going to serve the community.
The hostel folk held a Royal wedding function enjoyed by all and the Historical Society hosted a successful seminar for Victorian Societies.
Kath and Ern Holloway celebrated their 59th anniversary and Maureen and Keith Fowler reached their 52nd.
■July to December in next week’s Seymour Telegraph