SECRET ‘BIRD’ BUSINESS Three generations of parody and satire

THERE are closely-guarded secrets of the stage among generations of Wedderburn women.

Insights to country humour that have spawned an entertainment institution over more than six decades.

The local school mothers’ club engaging in satire and parody through the generations, sending up local and national personalities from the stage of the Mechanics’ Institute Hall.

“It’s all very respectful and we even ask the local subjects of our skits if they mind being featured,” said Alex Holt, the middle of three generations to be part of the mothers’ club annual concert. “No one has ever objected.”

Not as though the men would know exactly the lines projected on stage. the concert has always practised Chatham House rules - what the women do stays with them and is never taken back onto the outside streets.

For it’s the night men stay home looking after children and grandchildren and women head off to share their brand of humour, apart from one year when Alex’s son Jarvis was enlisted to operate the new sound equipment.

Perhaps there was another time, too. Ray Tonkin teasingly tells Alex’s mother Wendy Ward, Glenda Hunter, Betty Jackel and Margaret Matthews that he snuck into the ticket box one year.

“We bend the rules to suit,” said Alex who has been part of 22 shows in the event’s 65-year run.

By CHRIS EARL

“It’s lots of fun. It’s nothing serious from start to finish. It’s laughing at life.

“Some of the original cast members are still alive and come along, usually sitting in the front row.

“The ladies are more game on stage and the humour is respectful as we go through skits and some dance.”

Margaret was in the second show back in 1955 and kicked up her heels when joining other former cast members ahead of the 2023 presentation, among them Faye Holt who was compere for a few years and grand-daughter Maddi Postle, now a teacher at the college and the third generation performer following in the footsteps of mum Alex and grandmother Wendy.

“The first concert held in Wedderburn was inspired by the Korong Vale women who ran an annual mothers’ club concert to raise money for the Korong Vale Primary School,” says Alex.

“In 1954, a bus load of Wedderburn women went to Korong Vale and were so impressed that they decided to run a mothers’ club concert themselves the following year.

“The first Wedderburn concert was held at the Methodist Sunday School Hall. It was a minstrel show with Elma Ross on the piano along with women performing individual items.

“Mothers were asked to bring a friend –the result being a packed hall.

“A few familiar faces in the original cast were Vida Matthews, Hilda Kirk and Beth Poole, only 16 years of age, not a parent, but asked to sing nonetheless. Beth’s father was the principal of the Wedderburn Primary School at the time.”

From what is now the Uniting Church and a facade adorned with a bird mural, Alex says that the following year, the concert was a sell-out success held at the Mechanics’ Institute Hall, women paying two shillings and many have had a special trip to the hairdressers for their big night out on the town.

“The concert has always been a really important event,” she said.

“The theme at the second concert was a mock wedding with Joan Nisbet (bride), Reita Bailey (groom), Beatrice Cashen (minister) and Mary Willis (flower girl).

“Mary Willis was the Wedderburn Bush Nursing Hospital’s matron - a robust woman who was a great contributor to the concert. Mary developed a blood nose during the concert so they had to get ice from Winnie Rosewall’s café, situated across the road from the hall, to stop the bleeding.”

Vida Matthews and Glenda Hunter were a long-running duet in the show and at the 50th performance, their swan song, wowed the audience with Eidelweiss, from the Sound of Music.

Alex says one more recent memorable performances saw Annette MacNamara dressed as adventurer Steve Irwin, the Crocodile Hunter, jumping from her boat to wrestle a crocodile and after a hilari- ous struggle, sliding off the stage and into the audience, wrapping a rope around the enormous (inflatable) crocodile’s jaws.

”And we must mention Chris Tonkin who has been the compere of this show for the past 18 years and will go down in history as one of the best joke tellers on the planet!”

What else happens at this iconic event? The women of Wedderburn revert to Chatham House rules and go very coy about the concert’s program.

They do hint and tease that country female humour could struggle to be the basis of a fan appreciation society in the big smoke.

Neither may it be the slickest of shows. Dede Williams says some acts are kept tightly under wraps until the performance. “Some women put together their skit away from everyone else until the night”

The mother’s club concert tomorrow night is the first in almost three years, put on ice by COVID.

“We’d normally do the show in November but everyone wanted the concert back as soon as possible,” said Alex.

“It is a unique, special and enduring part of Wedderburn’s history that we can be proud of.

“Ladies of all ages enjoying each other’s company and having a great laugh together – isn’t that wonderful!”

What happens on stage tomorrow night will be the women’s little secret. And probably a big night for fish and chip orders as dads treat the children.

Death Notices

CATTO, Stanley ‘John’

The Chairman, Board, Management, members of CFA North West Region and District 20 regret the passing of their colleague and offer their deepest sympathy to his family.

CHAPPEL (Harcourt)

Sharon Elizabeth

Suddenly at home.

30-4-1972 – 18-3-2023

Loving wife of Darryl. Loving mother of Bree, Harry, Tom and Campbell.

For Funeral details and Live Streaming see: www.adamsfunerals.com.au

KERR - Freda (nee Mills)

30/5/1929 - 21/3/2023

Passed away peacefully in Shepparton aged 93.

Wife of Arthur

Mother of Cheryl, Pamela (dec.) and Wendy

Kerr (Mills) - Freda Elsie

30/5/1929 - 21/3/2023

At Shepperton, formerly of Pyramid Hill.

Loved daughter of the late Charles Frederick and Leila Priscilla (Banks) Mills of “Wattle Vale” Mincha.

Sister of Marjorie Roach, Leila Bye, twin of Charles (all dec.), Linton and Athol.

Loving wife of Arthur. Loving mother of Cheryl, Pamela (dec) and Wendy. Proud grandmother of 5, great grandmother of 8.

Dearly loved sister of Linton and Valerie.

Loved aunty of Denise, Lynley, Kathryn and their families.

Sadly missed

KIRK - KEN

Passed away 20 March, 2023. Aged 89

Son of Esther and Clarrie Kirk (both dec.) of Wedderburn.

Love brother of Ron (dec.), Pat (dec.), Pam, Marlene, Trevor, Judith and families.

A life well lived

Rest in Peace Ken

Declaration Of Boating Activity Exemption

Loddon Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for Loddon River (at Bridgewater between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane), makes the following declaration under section 203(3) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic). For the purposes of boating activity conducted by the Bridgewater Water Ski Club Inc, persons and vessels involved in the 2023 Victorian Water Ski State Titles are exempt from the following requirements:

State Rules made under the Marine Act 1988

1. Clause 2(a) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of a person in the water.

2. Clause 2(c) – must not exceed 5 knots within 50 metres of another vessel.

Waterway Rules made under the Marine Safety Act 2010 / Marine Act 1988

3. Clause 62.2 of Schedule 62 – 5 knot speed restriction within waters not speci ed as Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Areas between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane.

4. Clause 62.6(a) of Schedule 62 – Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for Slalom and Ski Jumping - modi ed to allow for trick skiing.

5. Clause 62.7(d) of Schedule 62 – Operating times for the Exclusive Use and Special Purpose Area for ‘Water Skiing’.

Marine Safety Regulations 2012

6. Regulation 100(3) – Persons on vessels must wear a PFD of type speci ed at all times when underway on inland waters

7. Regulation 103 – A person being towed must wear a PFD.

8. Regulation 104(1) – Master must ensure all occupants of vessel wear a PFD.

9. Regulation 104(2) – Master of a vessel must not operate the vessel unless persons onboard when underway or being towed wear a PFD.

Subject to the conditions detailed below:

 Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from items 1 & 2 when undertaking rescue responsibilities to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs and deliver them to a place of safety on shore.

 Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from items 3 to 5 for the duration of the events.

 ‘Trick’ skiers being towed are only exempt from items 6 & 7 provided they wear a bright coloured top.

 Masters of participating vessels are only exempt from items 8 & 9 when towing water skiers who are participating in trick events, and when retrieving waters skiers who are participating in trick events and exempt from wearing a PFD.

 All persons on vessels and skiers associated with the event must wear a PFD (unless exempt from item 7 in accordance with these conditions), and vessels must have all prescribed safety equipment, including rescue vessels.

 Should vessels or persons not involved in the event enter the exclusion zone, the event must be stopped until the unauthorised vessel or person has moved outside of the zone.

 The exemptions apply from 7:00am to 7:00pm on 25 – 26 March 2023 within the exclusion zone waters of the Loddon Riverbetween the Calder Highway Bridge and the boat ramp at Sweeneys Lane.

 The exemptions apply provided the stated safety controls and undertakings detailed in the application form and associated documentation are adhered to.

BY ORDER OF LODDON SHIRE COUNCIL

2 March 2023

Notice Of Boating Activity Exclusion Zone

Marine Safety Act 2010

Loddon Shire Council as the declared waterway manager for the Loddon River at Bridgewater between Flour Mill Weir and Sweeneys Lane, hereby gives notice under section 208(2) of the Marine Safety Act 2010 (Vic) that the waters of the Loddon River between the Calder Highway bridge and the boat ramp at Sweeneys Lane are prohibited to all persons and vessels not registered to take part in the 2023 Victorian Water Ski State Titles. The exclusion zone takes e ect between 7:00am and 7:00pm from Saturday 25 to Sunday 26 March 2023.

BY ORDER OF LODDON SHIRE COUNCIL 2 March 2023

The role will suit a candidate with true passion for community sport. You will create unique sporting coverage of events ranging from Auskickers playing their first game to the our local clubs battling for grand final glory. You will engage with our audience via traditional print as well as online and social media.

Apart from exceptional verbal and written skills, the right candidate will possess excellent time management and the ability to work towards tight and competing deadlines.

Inquiries to Chris Earl Managing Editor Loddon Herald Phone 0419549743 email loddonherald@gmail.com

Young Machine spots

YOUNGSTERS looking to be part of a Loddon Valley junior football side would be welcomed at Bridgewater, said co-coach Harry McKinley.

McKinley said the young Mean Machine line-up was keen to bring more juniors into its under 18 line up.

“We have a good core but with the new season a few weeks away would love to welcome more players and be giving them a game every week,” he said.

“Our junior program is about involving them in the club with our senior players supporting their evolution in football.”

McKinley said interested players could contact the club.