FIRST up, many happy returns for Hilda Chandler who celebrates the magnificent milestone of 100 years on the planet this very day. Hilda O’Brien was born at Walcha in 1917 and was raised at Branga Park and a little later in life married Billy Chandler, one of the original owners of the Walcha Carrying Company. A birthday morning tea is planned for Hilda at “Riverview” today with family and friends invited to attend. Hilda joins Poppy McLaren who reached her century a while back while Irene Hoy is set to join the dynamic duo a bit later in the year. Good on ya Hilda, hope you enjoy the day.
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It's either a feast or a famine - two codes of footy here last weekend, none this weekend.
TRAINEE professional golfer and 2016 Walcha Club Champion Andrew Brennan experienced some life-threatening moments late last week when he was overcome with extreme breathing difficulties and had to be placed in an induced coma at Tamworth Base Hospital. Thankfully, A.J. is now on the road to recovery – hopefully a speedy one.
SOMETIMES you don’t know how much someone touches the lives of other people until they are no longer with us. Former “Mayor of Walcha Road” Kenneth Ross Martin (December 22, 1941 - April 7, 2017) was farewelled in Tamworth last week by family members and friends who attended a service of thanksgiving from all points of the compass. A fitting farewell for a real local larrikin.
BACK well and truly before Balmain and Western Suburbs become the Wests Tigers, Ken was a very staunch Magpies supporter and when they played my team Manly, there was plenty of friendly banter. One day around that time I wore my new Sea Eagles cap to footy and while I was playing, “Roady” gained access to my kit bag and found the cap. The day before, Wests beat Manly, so he got a black texta and wrote the score underneath the white brim which I didn’t find all that amusing because every time I looked up, the score would appear. There was mention of causing harm to his person that day, but time heals most things. Let’s just say, I’m glad I knew Kenny Martin.
LAST Saturday, Graham Marshalll celebrated his 50th birthday at the Ingleba Hall with family and friends. He wasn’t the only one blowing out the candles, as Ian Olrich and Abbey Levingston share the same birthday – April 12 – (just a few years apart) and were also presented with a cake each. It didn’t stop there. Denise Walts received a cake as well for her birthday the day after the party. Anyone who missed out on cake at the party must not have wanted any.
AT one stage during the evening, “Gutty” was holding court as only Graham can and when I looked sideways, Bradden Jackson was sitting next to me holding his stomach and snickering like “Precious Pup”. He mentioned to me he had cramps in his belly which was countered with I had gone one better because not only did I have the cramps, there were tears running down both my cheeks. “Jacko” and I both agreed that it has been a while since we had a belly laugh like that. Thanks to “Gutty” and his wife Leanne for a great night.
BIRTHDAY bash M.C Robert Watts had a bit of trouble reading the Apsley Arms menu last week while entertaining one of his Foodworks reps Frank Malloy. At one stage, Bob asked what the “bananas and mash” was like before being informed that would be bangers and mash.
NEWIE barmaid Wendy Starr wasn’t what you would call a happy little camper last week when she selected a long odds race horse “Your Place or Mine” for the Newie syndicate and herself. The two wagers were going to be $5 each way, but Wendy got caught up talking with Jayne Dunn and forgot to register the two bets. “Your Place or Mine” paid over $83 for the win and $12 for the place which equals just under $1000 for a $20 outlay. Wendy did mention karma may have had something to do with it, but that’s another story.
GEE I was happy with myself when, under instruction from my much better half Linda, I managed to punch the phone number of Wayne Breannan into my mobile contact list last week. Only problem was when I then rang that number, Rachael Laurie ended up on the other end of the call. Simple really, I had both their numbers written down on a piece of paper and put Rach’s in under Breanno’s name. If you are aware of my technology skills, nothing would surprise you really.
WHO would have thought former Walcha Presbyterian minister Dave Burge, “Bilbrooke” grazier Angus Kirtin and yours truly would be cooking champions with America’s Cup winner Allan Bond. Well not quite the three of us teamed up with Ben Mingay to win the inaugural “Great Walcha Cook Off” at the 2014 show. Ben of course played Allan Bond on the TV series which went to air earlier in the week, and is the brother of Lisa Kirtin, wife of Gus.
IT’S either a feast or a famine - two codes of footy here last weekend, none this weekend. The Roos and Jillaroos travel to Barraba on Saturday while the Rams have a rest due to the Caldwell Cup Zone bye for the Country Championships at Port Macquarie. The following weekend, Walcha host Kootingal in the league while the Rams travel to Tamworth in the union.