From the pages of the McIvor Times

140 years ago

Published 7 November 1884

An extraordinary occurrence

ON Thursday evening, the 23rd inst, as Mr Speed, of Heathcote, was returning from the Show at Tatura, where he had been acting as a judge, two shots in quick succession were fired from a double-barreled gun over his head by a man who jumped from amid a clump of trees on the main road leading to and about one mile and a half distant from Rushworth.

Mr Speed was driving a pair of fiery horses, which became affrighted and bolted.

If the matter chronicled be a joke, then it is of too dangerous a nature to be tolerated, and if an attempted outrage the police should use every endeavour to discover the perpetrator.

Published 28 November 1884

Death of the President of the Legislative Council

Sir William Mitchell died at Barfold, near Kyneton, at 5 o’clock this afternoon.

He had eaten of poisonous fish in Melbourne on Saturday, before leaving for home, and had an acute attack of gastritis on Sunday morning.

Drs Langford and Duncan, from Kyneton, saw him today between 3 and 4 o’clock, and considered him in danger, but had no anticipation of immediate decease.

The cause of death was failure of the heart’s action superventing on acute gastritis. He was seventy-three years of age.

90 years ago

Published 28 November 1934

Hospital garden party

On Friday afternoon next, 30th November, the Hospital Auxiliary will conduct a Garden Fete in the grounds of the Hospital.

The proceeds will be devoted to wiring in the front verandah as a sleep-out for the benefit and comfort of patients.

The ladies have been organising this function for some time, and it being the first of its kind for years a large and appreciative crowd is expected.

A cordial invitation is extended to all who are interested in the welfare of the institution to visit the Hospital on Friday afternoon.

There will be a number of stalls and seasonable delicacies will be procurable.

40 years ago

Published 14 November 1984

As part of the combined Victoria 150th anniversary-Australia day celebrations for 1984/85, a Cobb & Co mail coach is travelling around Victoria collecting letters from schools.

The letters cover two specific topics—”What our town/city and school are like” and “What do we do to celebrate Australia day?”

The letters will be sent to another school somewhere else in Victoria and an exchange of ideas between school students takes place.

When the coach visited Heathcote last week, the McIvor Shire President, Cr Jim Maude and representatives from Heathcote and surrounding schools handed their letter to Ben Hall, the coach driver (direct descendant of the famous or infamous Ben Hall).

All children were then given a short ride in the coach.

Published 21 November 1984

Holy Rosary’s 25th anniversary

The Holy Rosary School Heathcote celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, and to mark the occasion a Silver Jubilee Reunion will be held on next Sunday November 25.

The day begins with a Thanksgiving Mass at 12:30pm and this will be followed by a BYO picnic lunch in the school grounds. Barbecue facilities will be available.

During afternoon the visitors will be able to renew acquaintances or look through the school and see what today’s students are doing.

It is hoped that many former pupils and teachers will join with the present parents, teachers and children to celebrate this special occasion in the history of Holy Rosary School.