30 years to 1992
The Berwick Op Shop was presented with a certificate from the Berwick Fire Brigade in recognition of its ongoing support. Executive members of the shop attended a meeting where they received a certificate of appreciation from brigade captain, Ken Fritzlaff. “We are very grateful for the ongoing support and financial assistance we receive from the Op Shop,” Ken said. “Every year for a number of years, they have made annual donations. In the last 12 months the shop committee has given a substantial sum to the newly formed ambulance group and they still managed to donate to us also.” The captain also stressed the importance of each dollar donated because it is a dollar they don’t need to raise themselves, allowing members to spend more time training and maintaining equipment.
20 years to 2002: Four Pakenham Tennis Club members raised $600 after a charity skydive. Paul Osborne, Emma Gallasch, Leigh McQuillan and Glenn Johnson jumped from a plane at the Pakenham airfield to raise money for the Pat Rafter Cherish the Children Foundation. Paul said much of the money came from children he coached at Upper Beaconsfield and from students at Pakenham Consolidated School, where Leigh was a teacher. Pakenham Tennis Club also donated towards the cause. Paul described his jump as ‘sensational.’ “I definitely want to do it again,” he said. “I want to get my wife to go up next time. You get a rush for the first 30 or 40 seconds then the best view ever.”
10 years to 2012
A Pakenham couple marked their 25th wedding anniversary on Valentine’s Day in 2012. To celebrate, Craig and Leonie Arthur set off on a cruise with their four children and partners to the South Pacific and will be renewing their vows in Port Vila, Vanuatu. “We’ll be in port Vila on the day so we will do it on the beach – we’ve got new wedding rings and a new dress,” Leonie said. The pair met via a mutual friend at a 1983 work Christmas party. “I think it was love at first sight, something clicked. I was really drawn to his eyes,” Leonie said. Craig said communication and compromise was the secret to a happy and successful marriage.
