General News
16 August, 2026
St Arnaud 50 Years Ago: new postmaster and school cross country
What was happening in St Arnaud in 1976.
50 Years Ago
July 1976
Engagements: Colleen Organ and Lyle Andison. Libby Phillips and Gregory Wright. Teresa Kemp and David Esmore.
Births: Angela and Barry Hoye, a son Phillip John.
George and Cheryl Pyers, a son Brendan Scott. Margaret and Ewen McPherson, a son Andrew John. Janice and John Wynn nee Batters, a daughter Rachael Maree. Irene and Ian Tyers nee Young, a daughter Kylie Michelle. Phillip and Denise Swanton nee Chandler, a son Karl Phillip. Carol and Robert Marshall nee Torney a daughter Kelly Joy. Chris and Peter Forbes nee Bray, a daughter Michelle Anne. Rodney and Beverly Harvey nee Dean, a son Robert John. Rosemary and Kevin Martin nee Sherman, a daughter Kelli Dianne. Gayle and Mark Remnant nee Wemyss, a son Jason Brett.
Deaths: Mrs Emma Meagher age 82.
Connie Ella Harvey age 3½ years loved daughter of Trevor and Rhonda Harvey.
New Postmaster: St Arnaud’s new postmaster has commenced work [Mr Gary Shinners, his wife May and daughters Cheryl age 14, Rhonda age 12 and Leanne age 8.]
Huge Auction: Many buyers from all over Australia came to bid for 2,600 lots of antique and historic pieces, horse drawn vehicles and furniture owned by George Smith of the Victoria Hotel plus the hotel, which was passed in at £42,000.
School Cross Country Run: The North Central High School Sports Association held the annual cross country run at Boort, which was won by St Arnaud 648 points, Boort 468, Wedderburn 428, Donald 326 and Charlton 189. Places achieved by some of St Arnaud’s 60 children:
Senior boys - F Scarce 1 st , T Pickthall 2nd, D Gifford 3rd, B Chapman 6th. Senior girls – J May 15th, A Driscoll 21st, W Weekley 22nd, J Macgowan 23rd. Intermediate boys – P Donovan 3rd, D O’Neill 4th, I Smayle 5th, B Swanton 10th.
Intermediate girls – S Burke 2nd, R Plumb 3rd, M Shilton 5 th, R Payne 6th. Junior boys – T McKenny 8th, D Bertalli 9 th , R Freeman 19 th , A Petrie 19th. Junior girls – B South 7th , E Crone 9th, J Donovan 12th, S Griffith 14th.
Football: North Central Best and Fairest Awards.
Seniors – Donald’s coach Hugh Delahunty won the Feeny Medal with 17 votes, followed by Keith Rayner 16 votes and Jeff Harris 14 votes [both from Wedderburn] Garry Robinson 13 votes [Birchip].
St Arnaud players Kev Adams and Barry Michael both 8 votes, G Martin and M Wood 5 each, M McGrath 4, K Ward, A Dyke, P Meagher 3 each, C Pole, R Hufer, D Ley 2 each and J Medlyn, A Coates, L Ezard G Kirk one each.
Second 18’s – Frankie Scarce 1st, John Goode 3rd Rodney Griffith 5th. John Goode also won the goal kicking award, setting a new record of 52 goals for the season. In one match against Birchip John kicked 11 goals 6 behinds.
Under 16’s - Michael Meade 1st, Under 14’s - Ross Potter 1 st , Michael McGrath 3rd. Ross also won the goal kicking with 33 for the season
Rain: July 71 points.
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