Page 6 - The Local Paper - Wednesday, February 17, 2016
Local People A former Yea Catholic priest has passed ★ away at age 93. The Rev. Desmond Howard Cameron died atAngleseaAged Care
He was ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Melbourne in 1950. He served as Assistant Priest in the parishes of Dalyston, Elsternwick, Coburg, Castlemaine, Thornbury, Meredith, Ascot Vale and West Brunswick. In 1962 he was appointed Parish Priest of Yea, followed by Eltham, Werribee, Moonee Ponds, Newport and Spotswood, retiring as Pastor Emeritus in 1998. Amongst the tributes to the late Gitti ★ Bulloch, who died late in December, were those posted on social media by the Royal
Mail Hotel Yea and Lisa Rudd (nee Canning). Lisa recalled good times from the Grangeworth and Henderside era. The RMH post said: “Today we lost a very special friend of ours. Gitti, one of our own, a past member of our close knit team and part of the Royals family. Godspeed Gitti. Our hearts are with Dave, James, Michaela and Gab.”
● The late Gitti Bulloch The Whittlesea Secondary College community has acknowledged the passing of former staff member Michael Bourke. He died on Dec. 19, and was described as a “loved rough diamond and Diamond Creek identity”.He was son of Jack and Colleen (both dec. ), brother and brother-in-law of Colin and Mary, Peter and Mary, Brian (dec. ) and John. The funeral service was held at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Diamond Creek.
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It happened late last year ... but it worth recording. Former Yea newsagent Frank Scully died at the age of 95, and was farewelled by a large congregation at Sacred Heart Church, Sandringham. He was active in ALP and DLP circles in the 1950s, lived in Yea for six yeas, and was active in Knights of the Southern Cross, Rotary, Probus and St Vincent de Paul Society. He was a JP.
Des Bethke of Hunt & Hunt Consult★ ing has been taking applications this month for two executive positions at the City of Whittlesea. The Council advertised for a Corporate Services Director, and a Partnerships and Engagement Director.
They Say . . . That a Melbourne radio station is con★ sidering an ‘outside broadcast’ of its breakfast program from a Yea bakery ... as a
‘make-good’. The Local Paper wonders if they realise Yea has its own radio studio at the Railway Station.
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That refurbishments and renovations have been underway at the Alexandra Masonic Centre. The January 21 meeting of the Albert Edward Lodge was transferred to the Rubicon Hotel/Motel, Thornton for a social evening, says Secretary Stuart Dale. That next year will mark the 75th anni★ versary of Ivanhoe Grammar School evacuating from the Melbourne suburbs to Yea because of World War II. Will there be a reunion at Beaufort Manor?
That the word Callander is a popular ★ and respected family name throughout the Yea district. However, one local school
seems to have trouble with the spelling of the word ‘calendar’ at its website.
That a petition from 63 residents has ★ been lodged with Whittlesea Council requesting a safe pedestrian crossing on Black
Flat Rd, Whittlesea, between Wallan Rd and Church St.A report will be prepared. That a media business lists at an official ★ website that it serves Glendale. Do they actually mean Glenburn?
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Local People
Death of Neil Garlick ■ Friends gathered at the Recreation Reserve on January 20 to farewell a true ‘son of Yea’, Neil Warnock Garlick. For many years, Neil worked at The Yea Chronicle and The Alexandra Standard newspapers. He was a passionate supporter of the Collingwood Football Club, and maintained his interests in Yea football and cricket. ‘Squeaker’ had been an active cricketer for Boundary Creek, and was later an umpire for the Yea District Cricket Association. Neil died on January 15, at the age of 86. He was the son of Charles and Jane; brother of Allan, Douglas and Desmond (all deceased). Neil was father of Sheryl (dec.) and Kerry; grandfather of Ryan and Paige; greatgrandfather of Abby and Lochie.
People Pars
■ Yea-ite, now in Perth, Stephen West, is due to have leg surgery on March 10. We wish him well. ■ Anthony and Jenn Callander, and family, took a brief cruise to Tasmania, before the start of the school year.
Dedicated to Tom Dignam
■ Howard and Bev Purcell, formerly of Boundary Bend, Yea, have returned from a 7-day cruise to Adelaide. The couple now live in Viewbank. Howard is due to have eye surgery in April and May.
John Coonan
● Thomas Michael Dignam OAM ■ This first issue of The Local Paper is dedicated to the memory of Thomas Michael Dignam, who was Yea’s editor from 1936 to 1984. Tom started work at The Yea Chronicle at the age of 12 in 1927 as a printer’s devil. He worked for proprietors including Elizabeth Barbara Purcell, William Henry Tomkins, Elizabeth Jane Goodwin Thorley, George Philip Armstrong and James Vincent Gannon. Tom Dignam, and his brother Edward Leo Dignam purchased the newspaper and printing business in July 1936. Eddie died in July 1968. Prior to him selling the business in 1984, Tom was named Yea Shire’s Citizen of the Year. Thomas Michael Dignam was named as a recipient of the medal of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1989 ‘in recognition of service to the community”. Tom was married to ‘Dorry’ (nee Johnson), and they had nine children.
■ We regret to record the passing of John Coonan on December 18, just one week prior to his 90th birthday. He was youngest son of Michael and Margaret Coonan from ‘Tara’, Yea. He was husband of Kathleen; father of Anne, Peter, Tim, Franc, Therese, Paul, Patricia, Catherine and Margaret; grandfather of 29 and great grandfather of five. Requiem Mass was offered at St Joseph's Catholic Church, Benalla, prior to burial at the Benalla Lawn Cemetery.
Pacific cruise ■ Marylyn Christie, formerly of Yea, now at Yarrawonga, has taken some respite after the sad passing of husband Peter. Marylyn and a girlfriend took a cruise which included a Noumea stopover.
Passing of ‘Seymour Telegraph’ owner, 61 ■ One of the owners of the Seymour Telegraph - and other newspapers - has died at the age of 61. Christopher Roy McPherson, who was born at Mooroopna, had an eight-year battle with prostate cancer. Chris had been a former Joint Managing Director of the McPherson Media Group, with his brother Ross. That group also publishes the Shepparton News, Benalla Ensign, Cobram Courier, Southern Riverina News (Finley), The Free Press (Corowa), Deniliquin Pastoral Times, Riverine Herald (Echuca), Yarrawonga Chronicle, The McIvor
Obituaries Brian Malcolm Stevenson
● Chris McPherson, dead at 61
Times (Heathcote), Kyabram Free Press, Tatura Guardian, and Campaspe News (Rochester) . He was a life member and former President of the Victorian Country Press Association. He was remembered at a memorial service last month for his work with the Shepparton Apex Club, Goulburn Ovens Institute ofTAFE and Goulburn Valley Grammar School. He passed away at the Epworth Freemasons Hospital. Chris is survived by wife, Gaye, son James (married to Megan, with son Oliver) and daughter Elizabeth (husband, Alex).
PHOTO: ASH LONG
● Brian Stevenson OAM ■ As a Freemason and Rotarian, Brian Stevenson had been a regular visitor to Yea. Brian Malcolm Stevenson OAM died on November 16 at the Alexandra District Hospital. He leaves wife Noel; children Matthew, Malcolm, Barbara and Jennifer; their partners, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Brian Stevenson was born on October 24, 1935, at Newmerella in Gippsland. He was active in sports and the Salvation Army. He became a Freemason at age 18, joining the Orbost Lodge. Brian worked for the Commercial Bank of Australia; later Australian Motor Industries which became Lanes Motors; Samco Strong, a division of British United Shoe Machinery; then as Dealer Principal for Brighton Star Mercedes-Benz. He met his wife-to-be Noel at the Heidelberg Town Hall dances in 1957. The couple’s home was at Templestowe, and Brian’s community service interests included Apex and Scouts. The couple purchased a property at Taggerty in 1992, and ‘Willowbank’ became an award-winning bed=and-breakfast retreat. Brian Stevenson had been a member of the Rotary Club of Sandringham, and he was inducted into the Rotary Club of Alexandra in 1993, becoming its President in 2001-02. He became a Paul Harris Fellow in 2008-09. After the Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, he was Treasurer of the Bush Fire Committee, in charge of distributing more than $400,000 in fubds. Brian Stevenson was an active Freemason in the region, having been Master of the Albert Victor Lodge, Alexandra, twice, and receiving his 60-year jewel in 2014. He was a visitor to the Duke of Clarence Lodge in Yea, and was present at its final meeting held in October 2014. Brian Stevenson’s other interests included being Treasurer of the Alexandra Racecourse and Recreation Grounds Committee. He received his medal of the Order of Australia on Australia Day 2014 for “service to the community”. His wife said he of good character, high principles and standards.
Irene ‘Girlie’ Wilford ■ Staff at the Yea and District Memorial Hospital were thanked in Herald Sun tribute notices for the late Irene Dorothy (Girlie) Wilford (nee Drew), just prior to Christmas. Mrs Wilford, 92, passed away peacefully on December 12. She was wife of Ron (dec.); mother of Evelyn, John and Robert; motherin-law of John, Helen and Chas; grandmother of Carrie, Stacey, Aiden, Jaymie, Antaria, Koran, Arkaela, Ellian and partners; great grandmother of five. She was sister of Frank and Des Drew (both dec. ). Press tributes also included a notice from the Box Hill RSL where she was a respected member.