Heathcote in the 1990s

Heathcote in the 1990s

The last decade of the twentieth century was a time of both change and progress for Heathcote.

Statewide municipal amalgamations meant the end of the McIvor Shire, while the old Heathcote Hospital was redeveloped to provide an aged care hostel along with modern medical facilities.

A brave Toolleen farmer rescued a local woman and kangaroos were, as always, an ever-present danger on the road.

 

End of an era

Local government became less immediate in the mid-1990s when most of the old McIvor Shire came under the umbrella of the City of Greater Bendigo, and Tooborac residents found themselves living in Mitchell Shire.

The McIvor Times ran multi-page spreads celebrating past achievements while looking to the future.

 

Published 16 November 1994

Council Closes a Chapter in History

At last, the waiting is over.

This is a historic picture of the last McIvor Shire Council at the conclusion of its final meeting.

After months over wrangling, of struggling to find ways to ensure the survival of McIvor, the council finally had to admit defeat and join dozens of others being swallowed up in the State Government’s municipal restructure campaign.

McIvor Shire has a history stretching back about 130 years and the township of Heathcote has been a seat of local government throughout that time.

But for the past few months, the battle to survive has been against increasing odds. And as the end drew nearer, the council’s ability to function and plan the future became more restricted.

And so the final meeting of the shire council in Heathcote last week ended with some sadness, but also some relief.

There were some light moments, some last-minute decisions to make, then the last supper.

For many it was a time to reflect on years of service to the community.

Now they will watch from a distance as local government becomes regional government.

 

Published 2 November 1994

Change is What You Make it (edited extract)

Major change is upon us, we’re told, and local government as we know it is gone.

But stop and think a moment.

Won’t we still go to the Costerfield dance, the Mia Mia kite flying championships and buy milk or bread at the Tooborac store sometimes as we pass through?

Won’t we still visit friends and scenic spots around the district as we always have? Just like in days gone by, when the whole town boarded a train for a day at St Kilda beach, or all turned out for St Patrick’s Day sports in Heathcote.

We will still band together to fight fires, support the hospital and other necessary services, and enjoy special gatherings between the four different church congregations in the area.

Our ability to attract the tourist dollar and improve the district through groups like the Progress Association, Tourism Committee, and Chamber of Commerce will mean we will still have a voice.  Now instead of 12 councillors there will be many more.

Capped off with wonderful events like last weekend’s Gold ‘n’ Grape festival and country show, the sense of community spirit can only grow stronger again.

You may not walk down the street and tell your riding counsellor your concerns anymore, or drop in and speak to the shire engineer about a little problem, but you WILL still live in a wonderful corner of Victoria and it is up to everyone to make the most of it.

 

Improved health provision

A new modern health facility gave Heathcote residents something to celebrate in early 1998.

It was the result of tireless campaigning and fundraising at a community level.

Margaret Israel and Thelma Johnson became the first McIvor Health and Community Services life members in recognition of their efforts.

Published 11th February 1998

It’s Open

It’s open… The Premier of Victoria Jeff Kennett has officially opened the $3.8 million McIvor Health and Community Services redeveloped facilities.

A very large crowd, including other district politicians and civic leaders, watched the Premier do the honours in the grounds of the facility last Thursday.

For those who have used the services of the old Heathcote Hospital over the years, or those who contributed to the appeal for the new nursing home and aged care hostel and the refurbishment of the hospital, the day was significant.

The days of worrying about hospital closure are over and the Heathcote district now has a comprehensive health service offering a large range of services for acute and long-term treatment and care.

The Premier praised the board of management achievement in turning around the fortunes of the Heathcote Hospital and creating “something which is recognised throughout the state as a role model for health services”.

Heathcote District people can take pride in the fact that their town is now so well equipped and that many of them shared in some way in making it possible.

 

First Life Members Set a High Standard

The first two life memberships of the MH&CS were presented to hard working, long-serving board members Margaret Israel and Thelma Johnson.

The presentation was made by the Premier Jeff Kennett as part of the official proceedings last Thursday.

“This is the type of leadership and contribution every community needs,” Jeff Kennett told the two women.

MH&CS board president Peter Turley said the life memberships – the first under the new name – are now awarded for “outstanding service” only.

“They replace life governorships of the Heathcote District Hospital, which were originally awarded after a financial contribution was made.

“Later this century they became an award for recognition of service.

He added that the two women had been selected after satisfying ” thorough and lengthy the selection criteria”.

“These inaugural life members have set a high standard for the award in the future.”

Margaret Israel has been a board member for 15 years and was a key member of the working party during the trouble years of 1982/83 when the fight began to keep the hospital going.

Thelma Johnson is a former president of the board and appeal chairman for the 1997 fundraising effort which raised $600,000 – $150,000 over Target.

 

Bravery

Local farmer Bernard McCarthy’s heroic effort in rescuing a Toolleen woman during the 1992 floods was formally recognised in late 1994.

 

Published 14 December 1994

Hero Honoured

The heroism of a Toolleen farmer who risked his life to save a woman during floods which devastated the district two years ago has been recognised.

The Royal Humane Society of Australasia presented a bronze medal to Bernard McCarthy, 45, during a special ceremony at Government House last week.

Mr McCarthy earns the award for rescuing the woman who was trapped in her flooded house at Toolleen in December 1992.

The award, among the world’s most prestigious, recognises bravery by those who risk their lives for others.  The presentation was made by the Governor, Mr Richard McGarvie.

Mr McCarthy, a farmer who has lived in the district all his life, said the rescue had happened during a flash flood which hit the Lady’s Pass and Toolleen.

He said the sheet of water which swept through the district had stranded Mrs Jean Carboon in her house.

He said he and his brother Ron and neighbour Richie Keating had been trying to reach the CFA shed when they realised Mrs Carboon was still in her house.

“She was flashing her torch from the veranda and the house was bouncing up and down in the water, jammed against some trees,” he said.

The group of men were joined by another brother Owen McCarthy and neighbour Bruce Hamblin, but the task appeared hopeless at the time.

“You couldn’t hear yourself think because of the roar of the water,” he said.

The men tried it first to get to a nearby Bridge but that proved impossible to start with. They considered using a boat, but they gave that up when Mrs Carboon’s car floated past them in the floodwater.

They tried one of their tractors, but the water moved the eight-and-a-half tonne machine and they quickly gave that away.

“We knew we had a real problem when we saw a dog paddling upstream but being washed down by the current,” he said.

But against the odds, Bernard kept trying, walking sometimes chest deep along the bitumen of the road, facing the current, trying desperately to keep his feet grounded.

It took between two-and-a-half and three hours before he got to the house.

Mrs Carboon had three dogs with her and finally the men were able to take them all to safety.

Typically, Bernard doesn’t see himself as a hero.

” I look at it this way. If it was me, I’d hope someone else would make the effort to get to me,” he said.

 

Driver dangers

Heathcote regularly tops the league tables for car insurance claims relating to kangaroo damage.

Things were no different almost 30 years ago when the McIvor Times ran a front page story about the issue under the heading Kanga-roulette.

 

Published 27 July 1994

Kanga-roulette (edited extract)

Motorists in the Heathcote District are unwilling players in a potentially deadly game of kanga-roulette.

The local version of the infamous Russian roulette is played out every morning and night as motorists travel district roads through kangaroo infested forests.

Like the Russian version, the players here drive in fear of not knowing when or where the next ‘roo will strike.

This includes the major highways, as well as small tracks, as the kangaroos play no favourites.

The exploding kangaroo population means our national symbol is now in plague proportions in many areas.

Many district motorists are afraid of driving at a dawn or dusk for fear of being involved in a crash.

The kangaroo menace is apparently worst on the Heathcote Nagambie and Heathcote Seymour roads.

Mark Weaver, of Weaver’s Automotive and Towing in Heathcote, said kangaroos had caused some bad crashes in the district.

He said most of his work was kangaroo related.

Mr Weaver said the dry where the was encouraging the roos to gather at roadsides where there is some remaining green grass.

“The lethal times for driving are at dawn and dusk,” he said.

“And the main problem areas are where there is bush land on one side of the road and open paddocks on the other. That’s where they will often cross the road,” Mr Weaver said.

Mr Weaver said he believed most locals had hit at least one kangaroo.