Poignant tribute: A collection of friends have installed this roadside tribute for the late John Dettman, killed in a freakish accident in northern New South Wales in 1979.
REMEMBERING A DEAR FRIEND
Friends of a Kyabram man who died in a freakish accident in central western NSW 43 years ago have ensured he will never be forgotten.
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At the weekend they made a round trip of over 1500km from Kyabram in northern Victoria to install a small but permanent reminder of where he lost his life.
John Dettman, a sportsman and bush lover, was motoring on the Oxley Hwy, near Nevertire on one his outback trips in July 1979 when an unattached stock gate on a truck he was following dislodged and slammed through his windscreen, killing him instantly.
It is believed the driver of the vehicle from which the gate fell may never have known what happened that fateful day.
At the weekend Kyabram’s Peter Nelson, Aub Reddrop, Geoff Beamish and Kevin Atkins, all John’s friends, travelled to where the accident occurred to install a small monument to give some closure after all these years.
‘‘We had planned to do it a few years ago but COVID came and we had to put it off till now but we thought it was still well worth doing to pay our respects to a great bloke,’’ organiser Peter Nelson said.
‘‘Detts, as he was known, was a quiet and popular young man who liked his sport and travelling in the outback and this was the least we could do.”
John Dettman was a fine sportsman and played Kyabram Football Club in and won two club reserves best and fairest awards.
He also had a stint with nearby Kyabram League club, Girgarre.
John also played cricket with the Kyabram Fire Brigade Cricket Club and in his primary school days he won a Victorian sprint title.
New recruit: Chloe Newnham has joined the Kyabram Free Press editorial team.
NEW FACE ON THE FREE PRESS TEAM
The editorial department at the Kyabram Free Press has a new face.
Chloe Newnham has joined the McPherson Media Group team and will be based at the Kyabram office.
She has a great handle on the lay of the land in this neck of the woods being from Lancaster.
Chloe is not unfamiliar with new her workplace having completed work experience at the Free Press in the past.
She is looking forward to producing stories of interest and information and will appreciate any news tips.
Chloe can be contacted on 5852 1533 or chloe.newnham@mmg.com.au.
SQUARE DINKUM
G’day
Yesterday I asked the boss, ‘’What do you want me to do with this six metres roll of bubble wrap?’’
He said, ‘’Just pop it in the corner.’’
‘‘Well, it took me five and a half hours but I got it done.’’
Hooroo!!!
DRIER THAN THIS TIME LAST YEAR
Kyabram’s yearly rainfall total stands at 366mm with no rain recorded since October 15 when 2.4mm was registered.
At the same time last year Kyabram had received 615mm.
Kyabram’s yearly average rainfall is 417mm.
The wettest November in Kyabram was experienced in 2010 when 123mm was recorded.
LUCKY NUMBER THREE
If three is your lucky number and you were having a bet on the Leeton trots last week you would have got on a winning streak.
In six successive races starting at race two pacers carrying the number three saddlecloth all saluted.
Four of the winners were odds-on, one even money and another a 15/1 shot.
Number three also finished second in the ninth race to complete the program.
PRODUCTION ERRORS
The gremlins got into this column last week.
There was a plug for the Kyabram Fishing Club’s Come And Try Day which was all over, being held the previous week on October 29 and an overwhelming success.
And a mention of Puckapunyal’s School of Armour parade supposedly to be held last Sunday as well was also a little out of date, being staged at Broadford the previous week.
Hope you didn’t waste your time getting to them and wondering where everyone was.
Good for the planet: The Volvo BLZ model is the new Electric Bus for Seymour.
ELECTRIC TIME IN SEYMOUR
Seymour has become the first regional Victorian town to have a fully electric fleet of buses.
Seymour Passenger Services officially launched the innovation in late October in a partnership with Volvo Bus after a successful trial period and collaboration with many stakeholders.
HALL OF FAME RETURNS
More names have been added to the Deniliquin and district’s Transport Hall of Fame.
Back after three year break due to COVID and floods the recent local Rotary club’s Deniliquin Truck Show and Industry Expo featuring the Hall of Fame inductees was a well attended event.
Those whose names have been added to the Hall Of Fame are Kevin Gough, Stan Gardiner, Edwin Carter, Ken Maher, David McMahon and Herbert Grimison.
ACTING CEO IN MOIRA SHIRE
Moira Shire Council’s new acting chief executive is on the job.
Michael Tudball has had wide experience in local council administration according to council panel of administrators chair, John Tanner.
He will be in the job for six months as a permanent appointee is appointed.
BRIGHT AWARD
Bright has been named Keep Australia Beautiful Victoria Tidy Town award.
For the fifth time.
Respect for Historical remembrance, cultural diversity and initiatives weigh heavily in the judging of this award.
Violet Town was on the short list for the award which was a good effort even though it missed out.
DID YOU KNOW……
1. The Australian Alps regularly receive more snow than Switzerland.
2. 20 per cent of the world’s gambling machines (pokies) can be found in Australia, with more than 80 per cent of Aussie’s participating in some form of gambling (move over, Las Vegas!)
3. Australia’s population (25.49 million) is closest to the population of the Chinese city of Shanghai (25.5 million) despite being 1213 times it’s size!
4. The Great Ocean Road is the largest war memorial in the world, built by and in honour of returning and fallen soldiers from the first world war.
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