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Selected students are completing a weekly home-based research project on an Australian animal and stepping into the fauna park to present their findings as part of a program called Monday Mania.

With guidance each week from fauna park educator Kezia Talbot, they work in groups and explore issues, presenting their findings through a variety of ways.

Caitlyn summed up her experience.

“I learnt how to research and manage my time better. I improved my writing and organisational skills,” she said.

Another student, Kyden, said simply he “loved it because it was fun”.

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Big freeze hits, but days still shining

If you thought it was cold yesterday morning, you weren’t wrong!

Kyabram’s coldest night of the year reached -1.2°C yesterday.

The big freeze was the first time this year that the mercury dipped below freezing, although Sunday’s chilly low was 0.2°C and there were two consecutive mornings — on July 13 and 14 — when the temperature dropped to 0°C.

Paddocks throughout the district turned to ice, windscreens had to be chipped clear and frost hit.

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Still surprised after 90 years

Kyabram resident Sylvia Curtis received quite a shock when confronted by family and friends for a surprise 90th birthday party at the Kyabram Club at the weekend.

Despite insisting she did not need a party, daughters Karen and Michelle were not going to let the milestone pass without celebration and organised the party behind Sylvia’s back.

After 90 years of living in the area, including 68 years of marriage, being a devoted mother of five and having a long career as a music teacher, it’s easy to see why her family wanted to recognise Sylvia’s achievements.

1994

Kyabram’s excellent band

Kyabram Secondary College musicians did themselves and their school proud at a recent festival held in Sydney.

The KSC Senior Concert Band took part in the Sydney Harbour Classic, a festival which showcased some of the best musicians from across the country.

The performance culminated in what KSC music teachers Barry and Natalie Roberts described as an unexpected but pleasant result, in the form of an “excellent” grading from the judges.

For the 41 members of the concert band, the rewards from the experience are many and varied, but most importantly they have received recognition for the time and effort required to perform at top level.

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Chamber pushes for more Stanhope signs

Efforts to have Stanhope’s sign posting improved are being made by the Chamber of Commerce and Scout Group.

Waranga Shire Council received requests from both organisations and decided that riding councillors would meet the groups.

The Scout group wants Scout signs placed on all entry roads into Stanhope, as well as one opposite the football ground.

The chamber sought erection of directional signs in outlying areas from the town and larger signs in outlying areas and on the roads in the town area, indicating the shopping area and facilities in an effort to attract travellers to the town, not just the Bonlac factory.

The chamber also sought permission to erect a large sign on the wayside stop on the Midland Highway. This would advertise the businesses in the Stanhope area, a strategy to encourage people who use the wayside stop to visit the town.

1974

Calf project to finance kitchen

A dairy calf-rearing project has been launched by the Kyabram Rotary Club to raise finance to assist with a kitchen unit at the Kyabram Senior Citizens Club in Lake Rd, Kyabram.

The kitchen, when built, will serve a two-fold purpose.

Its facilities will be used for the preparation of meals for the Rotary Club’s Meals on Wheels scheme and for members of the senior citizens club.

With its calf-rearing project, the Kyabram Rotary Club hopes to raise $3000 to $4000 towards the establishment of the new kitchen.

Farmers will be approached to rear a calf for 12 weeks until such time the animal is ready to be weaned.

It is hoped that some 50 calves or more can be reared in the project.

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Rare duck sighted at fauna park

A rare coloured suck has been sighted at the Kyabram Fauna Park.

The bird has been definitely identified as a black duck ... even though it’s a ginger sandy colour with a white breast.

The duck was sighted by Ray Kightly of the Kyabram branch of the Field and Game association who contacted the Fisheries and Wildlife Department about the discovery.

An officer of the Fisheries and Wildlife Department, Mr Harry Wright, said the duck was extremely rare and was a cross between an albino black duck and black duck.

Members of Kyabram branch of the Field and Game Association have taken a special interest in the rare duck and will try to capture it on film.

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New president for hospital auxiliary

Mrs Jean Reid was elected president of the Kyabram Hospital Auxiliary at the annual meeting held on Friday, July 19.

Mrs Reid took over from Mrs Norma Bear, who has held the office for a term of two years.

Mrs Bear was thanked for her work as president of the auxiliary by Mrs Lesley King and presented with a pot plant on behalf of the members.