Community
24 March, 2026
St Arnaud 50 years ago: Murdoch House and fire brigade demo
What do you remember happening in St Arnaud in 1976?
50 Years Ago
March 1976
Bowls: The St Arnaud Golf Bowls Club held their annual tournament over four days.
Mixed pairs won by John Leonard and Elizabeth Von Horn.
Mixed rinks won by Howard Burrage and Gert Cullen, Issy and Bob Allen.
Fire Brigade Demo: This year the Region 19 Rural Fire Brigade Association held their Demonstration at Rheola, where Kooreh won the aggregate 12, followed by Murphy’s Creek White 6 and Rheola 5.
Events won by Kooreh – Standard Truck Event 36-53, Junior Standard Truck Event 48-61, Knapsack Race [E Wandel] 15-46, Hose, Pump and Rope Climb 30-33.
Junior Cricket: The Koalas won the Grand Final by defeating the Kangas.
Most runs for Koalas P Hamilton 23 and N Phillips 12 and for Kangas M Westcott 67 and M Meade 23.
Trophies for the Season was presented-
Batting average - G Hancock 32-2.
Bowling average – A Petrie 4-3.
Batting aggregate – D Petrie 183 runs.
Bowling aggregate [most wickets] – S Kerr 26.
Most promising cricketer – C Secombe.
Most improved cricketer – T Ginnane.
Best all rounder – M Westcott.
Sports Day: At the Landsborough Labor Day Sports several St Arnaud children competed in the junior sections.
Garry Hamilton, the 13-year-old son of Bev and Bruce Hamilton of Alma st and a pupil at McAuley Collage won the boys under 15 years championship medallion and the under 14 years 70 meters event.
Anthony Arandt age 8 years won both the under 11 years and under 12 years 60 metres plus the under 13 years 70 metres.
Eight year old Kim Hamilton came third in the girls under 10 years, 50 metres race and 7 year old Margaret Arandt came second in the under 8 years 50 metres event.
Murdoch House: The foundations of Murdoch House; St Arnaud’s Centre for the Mentally and Physically Handicapped situated in Long st, are being laid.
The building will be brick veneer and 70 squares in area, with floor coil heating installed in the concrete slab.
During the day hot air will move upwards and outwards from air slots in the eaves through ventilators in the ridge at the top of the roof and at night electric fans in the walls will draw in cool air.
Murdoch House: Supervisor Mrs Lyn Walsh gave the third year report stating at present there were 32 students [17 seniors and 15 juniors in three groups] and when the new building is ready there will be room for 45 students.
This year a new staff member was added; Mr Don Jones who drives the bus from Boort each day bringing two students from Boort, two from Korong Vale and one each from Wedderburn, Glenlyon and Fentons Creek. Don then assists Mr Ken May and Mrs Lorraine Cunnington instructing the students before returning them home each night.
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