| Congratulations to all the organisers |  |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 4:31 PM | |
| Merbein is a buzz - what great memories- The concert was wonderful - what talent has been produced from Merbein - looking forward to the Street Parade and catching up with who ever is going to be thereAnne (Pinniger) Nash | |
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| Lochie Harris and George Clewett | |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 11:51 AM | |
| I was wondering if anyone still has contact with descendants of the Harris and Clewett family. If so please contact Diane Cameron | |
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| Additional re Hassa Mann lunch | |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 11:02 AM | |
| Could not agree more with Sandra Stevens comments re lunch at Kenny Park last Saturday.Blasts from the past that I saw in my travels and apologies to those I miss out were;-Peter Sheridan, David Brighton Phil "Hurricane" Hall, Graeme "Granny" Davis, Ian Gervasoni, John Petty, Kevin Forbes, Gavin Tellefson, Alf Sylvia, David Potts, Don Parker, Noel "Dorrie" Barnes, Ron Bannister, Peter Mitchell, Neil Hurley Charlie and Phil Sedgmen, Neville Ward,Ken Lindsay, Brian "Foxa" Dorman, Ernie Hillier, Golda Ridge (Adams) and her Mum Mrs. Ted Adams. Kevin Chapman,Bill Case, Ted Cox and of course Hassa and Len Mann.Everyone concerned is to be congratulated on a wonder day.Bar Staff even David Liddicoat who did not recognize me and ladies in the kitchen and serving did an outstanding job.Pity I never caught up with the teacher...oh well always this week end.....or the Merbein Footy Club 100 years celebration next year!!Ralph Fletcher | |
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| Congratulations on the Hassa Lunch | |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 10:11 AM | |
| To the Merbein Football and Netball Club, Centenary C'tee, Historical Soc. and the Sacred Heart Ladies(hope I havent left anyone out) Thanks for a memorable day, it was fantastic. I went along to catch up with my neighbours - Len lived next door and Hassa 3 doors down,in River Avenue. I hadnt seen them since I was a child. Hassa's talk was interesting, gave us a great incite into where football is headed. I also sat opposite a gentleman who was a secondary teacher at Merbein Higher Elementary. His memory was amazing and he had many stories to tell. He even spotted some of his ex pupils. Thanks again. The meal was beautilful also. Sandra Lansdell nee Stevens | |
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| Merbein High School 1966- 1971 | |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 10:07 AM | |
| 68 students stated Merbein High School in 1966. For the first time we met pupils of the Lake School and Merbein South. We were divided into 2 forms forms 1A and 1B based alphabetically on our surnames. Frank Demeo was the Principal. We met the luxury of the school canteen and an internal cafeteria with tables and chairs just in the front door. The canteen was staffed by volunteer mothers unlike todays canteens that are let out to contractors. Girls were timetabled to do Domestic Science and Cookery and the boys were timetable to do Woodwork and Metalwork. Very sexist unli ke today when students sample six months of all of the above subjects. We were also divided into the 3 Houses Yakkandi, Wallakarpa and Jungarin for the purposes of sport. Sports uniform was required to participate in sport. By third form we were divided once again by preference into the Professional Stream and the Commercial Stream. Fortunately for me the Professional Stream was allowed to do typing in third form. Something that has turned out to be invaluable in the era of the computer. Commercial students also did shorthand and book keeping. Notably of the time singing was timetabled in with Mr Gittins. The whole school would pack into the multipurpose room sitting at secretarial desks with the writing desk attached. As these were also used for classes me being left handed they were the bane of my life as the desk was attached for the right hander. Russell Gittins belong to the Red Cliffs Players and what ever production they were putting on we were introduced to the musical score. Most of them were Gilbert and Sullivan Productions. Russ played the piano and we learnt all the rousing lyrics of Gilbert and Sullivan something I am word perfect on to this day. I t was really good fun - I doubt teenagers of today would think so! The multipurpose room was also the venue for the annual School Social. Ron Sylvia father of Desley was hired to play the piano. Ron had the style of Winnie Atwell his first job was to strip the front of the piano exposing the strings and the hammers. He would then start to play with such gusto beads of perspiration would soon form on his brow. Shy teenagers would huddle in the corners and the brave would dance the dances we had been taught in dancing classes. At the end of 5th form we were offered to do 6th Form at Merbein . A first for the school as students wishing to do 6th Form had to go into Mildura High School. 13 of us took up the offer and we were given the school bookstore as our room. We took on this offer with enthusiam and the only time we had 13 in the room was for English a compulsory subject. The end of the year was very subdued by todays standards we assembled outside the school to have our photo taken. We then did our exams at the Anglican Hall where we had done our Leaving Exams. This spelt the end of our schooling at Merbein High School. We were very fortunate to have devoted teachers throughout our schooling and I was very proud to attend Merbein High. It was a great 6 years of my life. | |
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| Gledhill/Blaby | |
| Posted: Tuesday, 18 August 2009, 9:49 AM | |
| Just back in Melbourne after a wonderful weekend in Merbein with my wife Leonie and Ross and Sharon Gledhill, meeting relations from the Baumann, Blaby, McKeon, Gledhill, Shaw, Chivers and Preisig families and enjoying the street market and community picnic. Special thanks to Tom and the ladies at the RSL for the magnificent photo display and the beautiful scones and tea. It is 46 years since we left Merbein, but on Saturday and Sunday the years peeled away and we were kids again, recalling our time spent at the West school, visiting cousins, riding bikes, learning to swim at the Merbein pool and supporting the mighty magpies at Kenny Park. Congratulations to the organising committee and best wishes for the rest of the Centenary celebrations. Thanks Jude Shaw for organising dinner the Club on Sunday night. It was great to see you all again and we had a great time. I hope Geoff and Ivan got up for work OK on Monday.Peter Gledhill | |
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| More memories of Dr. Walker | |
| Posted: Monday, 17 August 2009, 6:38 PM | |
| Like Diane's family, my family also attended Dr Walker. I remember he used roll his own cigarettes and smoked quite heavily, unlike today's health conscious times. When you entered his surgery, there would be a very heavy cloud of smoke hanging in the air. You would also have to wait while he rolled another smoke before he attended to you. Another memory I have is one day, when I arrived home, mum was sitting at the woodheap (she had been chopping wood) and said "Bill, can you get Dr. Walker. I've cut my foot with the axe." In those days I,together with a large number of cousins then living in Merbein, were looked after by Mrs Thompson (mother of John and Jimmy) both before and after school. Anyway, I was more interested in sharing the spectacle with Mrs Thompson than in getting the doctor and ran to her house. When Mrs T and I arrived, there was mum sitting on a log with a large pool of blood spreading around her foot with Dr Walker calmly stitching her up. To this day I don't know how he found out. There was nobody else there. He must have just known she was in trouble. Bill Dorrington | |
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| To Merbein High Class of '62, from Lindsay C. | |
| Posted: Monday, 17 August 2009, 5:32 PM | |
| Since Friday have seen Joy, Maryanne, Robyn, Elaine, 2 Diannes. Believe Denise & Faye may be in district? Anyone else? Could we all meet? Wednesday & Thursday evenings no good for me. | |
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| GP's of Merbein in the 50's and 60's | |
| Posted: Monday, 17 August 2009, 10:02 AM | |
| In the 1950's and 60's Merbein was serviced by 2 doctors. Dr Spargo in Box St who had delivered my mother in 1923 and Dr Walker in Commercial St. Our family attended Dr Walker, officially Dr Malcolm Curwen Walker but known to all fondly as Dr Walker. Dr Walker was the family GP but the title GP encompassed much more than a modern GP. Dr Walker practiced in his home in Commercial St. Appointments were made with Mrs Walker. The waiting room was on the verandah of the family home. On arrival you would be greeted by the family dog Rusty. In the waiting room Dr Walker had a leather chaise lounge and several chairs. Rarely was there another person waiting. Dr Walker would open the door to the surgery and greet you. Time was no object and a general chat was had regarding the family activities. The examination would follow. Dr Walker would then lean back in his chair and consider the necessary medication or treatment. GP does not adequately cover the services rendered by Dr Walker. He was the emergency department. When my brother John was over at Choppsy Worthingtons one day they were digging a hole in the back yard and as the hole was not making sufficient progress Choppsy grabbed the axe to hasten the process. John stuck his head in the hole to inspect the process and was hit on the head with the axe. He was dutifully taken around to Dr Walkers and had his head stitched up. Home visits were also performed by Dr Walker in his Wolsley. One time my mother a nurse suspected I had Scarlet Fever. Dr Walker was called to confirm this.He was also the pathologist. As kidney damage could result from this Dr Walker wanted specimens to be taken to him daily. He was also a surgeon extracting my brothers and I's tonsils and adenoids. Fees were minimal and it was known that if a person could not afford the fee Dr Walker would perform the service gratis. In later years I learnt that apart from being a GP in Merbein he had also seen service in World War 2. When Dr Walker closed his practice it was the end of an era of the true family GP. Diane Cameron | |
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| merbein the good old days | |
| Posted: Monday, 17 August 2009, 9:25 AM | |
| hello from graham congress,it was great to catch up with some of my old friends on sunday ,russell punton charlie sedgmen,fletcher,the mans ,col oriely,etc. the good old days, | |
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