Articles by Craig Wilson
ANZAC Day at Lake Bolac
A large gathering of about 100 people attended the ANZAC Day commemoration activities at Lake Bolac.
Friends of the Lake Bolac RSL President, Gerard Morrissey, welcomed the crowd and conducted a flag ceremony, Last Post and invitation to the community to lay wreaths in respect of those who sacrificed their lives and livelihoods during war.
The group then moved to the unveiling of the new Cowaugh Estate memorial bluestone plaque in honour of the 12 WWI Soldier Settlers of the Lake Bolac district.
Torchlight parade to celebrate Ararat fire station
A once-in-a-lifetime torchlight parade to celebrate the opening of the new Ararat Fire Station will be held next weekend.
On Saturday the 7th of May, Ararat Fire Brigade will be hosting an open day in the morning from 10am – 2pm. It will include a tour of the new facilities, vehicles on display, demonstrations by the Ararat Junior Fire Brigade, a CFA safety session, free barbeque and information for people wanting to volunteer.
The torchlight processions will follow that evening from 6.30pm, starting from Barkly Street near the post office, down to the cinema, then via Queen Street, Moore Street and Tuson Street, finishing at the fire station.
Surrounding streets will be closed off for the procession.
Diamonds all round
THREE remarkable Ararat couples this week celebrated something quite remarkable.
Lawrie And Val Tonkin, Kaye and Mervyn Fox and Joy and Max Cronin all celebrated their 60th (diamond) wedding anniversaries, which Mayor Jo Armstrong said was an event worth celebrating.
“To have one couple celebrate their 60th anniversary is quite special, but three couples in the one week is really quite extraordinary,” Cr Armstrong said.
Kaye and Mervyn Fox and Joy and Max Cronin were married on the 14th of April, 1962, while Lawrie and Val Tonkin married on the 21st of April, 1962.
Strong local support for RCH
Communities across Ararat Rural City have again thrown their support behind the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, raising over $50,000.
In Ararat, CFA volunteers and dozens of local children scoured local streets on Good Friday, collecting $10,102.
A further $4,235 was collected at the traffic lights and more than $1,000 was raised at a concert two weeks ago at the RSL.
Coupled with collection tins (also known as Wellbys), individual fundraisers by groups like Ararat Motorcycle Club and direct pledges to the Good Friday Appeal hotline, Ararat’s grand total was $36,506.
In Willaura, approximately $11,000 has been raised for this year’s appeal.
The Pomonal community raised a staggering $35,000 – mostly from a classic car show.
Horse shooting “senseless”
A Norval couple have spoken of their pain after a loved family horse was shot dead last Friday.
Sheryl and Graeme Cox found the animal dead in the front paddock of their property on Better Route Road.
The horse named Cathy had been shot from close range and appeared to have struggled for several hours before passing away.
Another horse in the paddock was uninjured.
Sheryl Cox said it appears the horse was shot sometime between 8pm Good Friday and early Saturday morning.
Harold’s all class
At 89 years of age, local wool classer Harold Thomas shows no signs of slowing down.
In fact, he’s just renewed his wool classing licence for another three years.
The Ararat Advocate caught up with Harold last week while he was wool classing in the sheds at John McDougall’s property in Tatyoon.
Early voting in Ararat
THE popularity of early voting is expected to grow at next month’s federal election, as more and more people avoid queues on election day. The Australian Electoral Commission told the Ararat Advocate this week early voting centres will open on the 9th of May. But the AEC said they couldn’t confirm if there will be […]
Staley pushes for school refurb
THE Victorian Government is being urged to fund “urgent” refurbishment works at Ararat College.
Ripon MP Louise Staley recently visited to school to discuss maintenance issues with school principal Ellie McDougall.
Ms Staley said the condition of some of the 1960s buildings was a credit to the school, but they are no longer fit for purpose.