30 years to 1975:
PAKENHAM-based teams swept the pool at the Victorian State Parachute Titles held in Pakenham. Pakenham team, Sky Jacks, consisted of J Middleton, T Burns, R Foster, N Bryden, C Trezise, A Soukup, S Martin, C Warren, M Grey and B Kenny. Twenty-three jumpers left two Cessna planes simultaneously and the Pakenham team put on a terrific display of aero-acrobatics.
Tynong residents Mr Reg and Mrs Betty Rumble were awarded the first ever Gippsland and Northern Commercial Dairy Herd of the Year award. The couple took home a $500 cash prize and the Supreme Champion sash for their efforts. Reg and Betty maintained a 250 acre property with a 150 jersey cow herd. In a comment to the winners, judge JW Rae of Narre Warren North said it was great to see a working relationship between husband and wife.
20 years to 1985:
GARFIELD Kindergarten children visited a number of emergency services in Pakenham, including the police, ambulance and fire stations. Aniela Sargeant and Nicole Fitzgerald, along with their teddies, were in fire helmets and ready to take on any fiery blaze, along with the help of the Pakenham CFA volunteers.
Pakenham Christmas shoppers were celebrating when the Pakenham Chamber of Commerce announced $1000 of Main Street vouchers would be up for grabs in a Lucky Christmas Shopper competition. Bargain hunters had to make purchases in participating stores to collect entry tickets and be in the running for the shopping spree.
10 years to 1995:
MERRYL Browning of Maryknoll was runner-up in the 1995 Mother of the Year Awards. John Wood of Blue Heelers fame presented her with the award. The awards were an initiation of the Bonnie Babes Foundation, for which Merryl had tirelessly dedicated her time.
Gary Stabb of Berwick was dubbed Mr Basketball for instigating the formation of the Berwick Basketball Club in 1988. Gary rallied the community behind the club which at last count had 30 junior and 10 senior teams, encompassing more than 500 people.
Paul Osborne defeated Greg Menzel in the open men’s singles final in the West Gippsland Tennis Association competition. Both had made it to the finals after winning nail-biting tie-breakers the week before.
Five years to 2000:
FRIENDS of Wilson Botanic Park reported seeing more new species of birds flocking to Berwick’s piece of heaven. Bird Observers Club representative Marc Gottsch led a dawn walk through the park and helped his followers identify the birds seen in the area.
Pakenham Hills Primary School students went Totally Wild when the crew from the Channel 10 wildlife show arrived at their school to film a number of segments for upcoming shows. Students from grade five and six monitored vegetation at the school through soil testing and tree measuring as part of a two-year program.
