30 years to 1987
Five special awards were made at the Berwick Hospital’s annual meeting, continuing a practice of recognizing outstanding service of committee members. Life membership certificates were presented to Kath Evans, Cyril Molyneux and Stewart Holloway and committee service awards to Bill Campbell and Jim Whiting. “The gesture is an important one,” said committee president Dr Noel Stephenson. “It recognizes in a small way the wonderful work done by these people.” Mr Holloway resigned the previous year, having served on the committee for nearly 30 years. Cr Molyneux had served for 20 years and resigned only recently due to the pressures of his council position. Mrs Evans was recognised for her many years of work as president of the hospital’s ladies auxiliary.
20 years to 1997
Locals were toasting success at the Royal Melbourne Show. Owner of the historic Warrook stud at Monomeith, Andrew Troedel, celebrated the success of Warrook Sir Raduim R9, along with stud manager Bill Carson and handler Fiona Lindsay. The 17-month-old, 700 kilogram Murray Grey bull was crowned junior and grand champion bull and also took out the title of supreme champion Murray Grey exhibit. Pakenham mum Julie Dixon made a stunning debut in the pavilion. Julie entered the Royal Melbourne Show Arts and Crafts Knitting Class for the first time – and came home a winner. Julie’s winning entry was a pink child’s suit knitted from four-ply Heyfield wool purchased in Pakenham. It capped a bit month for Julie, who also played in Nar Nar Goon’s C grade netball premiership.
10 years to 2007
More than 800 people packed into – and spilled out of – the Devon Meadows Football Club rooms to send off local identity Rob ‘Flano’ Flanigan in his own unique style. The larrikin plumber, who hated any fuss and loved all thing rustic, comfortably in a casket ordered by wife Helen and purpose built by a group led by his good mate Rob McNabb. It was one of a kind – with a rusty tap as its centrepiece, old shifters nailed to the side and the word ‘Flano’ woven in copper pipe. Funeral director Ted Bull and his staff had not seen it’s like in their many years of arranging send-offs… and will not again! “It was one of our more unique funerals, both in terms of the casket and the number of people,” Chris Bull said. A wooden sign was erected in the clubrooms at the entrance to what had only ever been known as the back room. The sign read: ‘Flano’s Room’.
