The family of former Harcourt Primary School teacher Margaret Ball (nee Wham) are seeking help from the local community to track down school photos from the old Harcourt Primary School 1967-68.
Margaret’s husband Glenn Ball is compiling a photobook on her life and said his late wife was a teacher at the Harcourt Primary School during these two years.”This was her first appointment as a teacher fresh out of her three year stint at Frankston Teacher’s College. We’d love to feature some images from that time and the early days of her career,” he said.
“I have contacted George Milford at the Harcourt Heritage Centre but they have no photographs on record for those two years,” Glenn said.
“Harcourt Valley Primary School is trying to find someone who would have attended the school during those years, without any success, so far, and Castlemaine Historic Society Inc have also been unable to assist,” he said.
‘Maggie’, as she was affectionately called by Glenn, taught at Harcourt but boarded at Castlemaine during the week with a friend and fellow teacher Lucy Capewell of Elmore.
“Maggie drove to and from Castlemaine to the school during the week in my 1930 red and black Chevrolet sedan, which became known as ‘Miss Wham’s Bomb’ (Wham is pronounced ‘Wom’). The school kids all vied for the chance to pile into the Chev and and travel to various sporting events around Harcourt. There was no OH&S in those days,” Glenn said.
“Each Friday afternoon she would drive back to Melbourne and stay with me at my parents’ home in South Oakleigh for the weekend, returning to Harcourt on the following Monday morning,” Glenn says.
“She became quite a popular sight on the Calder Highway, and was, I think, looked after by the police and truck drivers,” he said.
“Margaret and I married in 1969 and she continued teaching around Melbourne until her retirement in 2000.”
Sadly Maggie died of pancreatic and liver cancer on the March 27 this year.
Glenn told the Mail the Eastern Palliative Care facility where Maggie was treated have a volunteer service which works with terminally ill people to write their biography.
“This was completed before Maggie died and I’m in the process of creating a commemorative photobook combining the biography text with many photos of her life. However, the two years in Harcourt have escaped me,” he said.
“I am hoping this photo of Maggie and the Chev might trigger some memories and maybe assist in finding a photograph or two of her time at Harcourt,” he said.
Anyone who may have a class photo from the year’s 1967-68 or any other images from that time are urged to contact Glenn on 0448 583 788 or email glenn@glennballdesigns. com.au
This year marks the 86th anniversary of the beloved annual Past Apex Club of Castlemaine Santa Run which has cemented its place in the hearts and minds of locals over the past eight decades.
Past Apexian Stephen Cooper said they are proud to have kept the long running tradition alive thanks to the dedication of their volunteers and the support of the local community.
“It actually began during the depression in 1937 and saw Apexians handing out apples donated by local orchards and hams from Castlemaine Bacon Company,” Stephen said.
These days the volunteers visit streets and towns across the shire handing out lollies and icy poles to celebrate the festive season. Donations from the community have helped to keep the 86 year tradition alive despite the club disbanding back in 2002.
“Many local families throw us a few dollars as we travel around and this has helped to keep things ticking over to ensure the tradition can be enjoyed by the next generation,” he said.
And of course the run wouldn’t be possible without their wonderful pool of volunteers.
“We have had volunteers come and go over the years but everyone is determined to see the run continue and we always have people prepared to give up their time on Christmas Day to help spread a little Christmas joy,” he said.
The Guildford Grumpies Car Club Inc have once again chipped in a $1500 donation to support the work of the former Apex Club of Castlemaine and its annual Santa Run ensuring they can continue to spread Christmas cheer across an ever growing Castlemaine and surrounding communities.
Guildford Grumpies secretary Steve Cole said many of their members fondly remember the Santa Run from when they were children.
“We are really keen to bring that magic to a new generation and this is one of our major funding contributions each year,” Steve said.
“We hold a number of fundraisers through the year including our annual Peter Turner Memorial Show and Shine in April to enable us to give back to the community and support initiatives such as the Santa Run, and also educational support for students attending Campbells Creek Primary School’s local ‘Guildford Campus’,” Steve said.
“In fact, over the last six years we have raised about $50,000 which we have put back into the local community, including a $6500 contribution to Blaze Aid,” he said.
The Grumpies meet at their headquarters at Guildford’s John Powell Reserve every Tuesday from 10am and also enjoy Friday night Social Club gatherings. In fact, the group is also recognised as a men’s shed and offers friendship and camaraderie.
“New faces are always welcome,” Steve said.
In 2023 Santa and his helpers will undertake five runs across the local region. Volunteers will gather from 6.30am and hit the road from around 7-7.30am on runs throughout Castlemaine and Campbells Creek, out to Chewton and Elphinstone and Guildford. With housing estates across the region growing in size they may be a little later than usual as they get around to everyone. Look for signage in your town for times or listen for the bells, horns and Ho, Ho, Hos!
