116 c December 2022 Merrijig community Newsletter

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Merrijig Community Newsletter
Issue # 116
White’s Bridge
On Mt Buller
‘Pumping’
from the
constant rain
Photo By
Nicola Beautyman
Contents
Quote of the month ............................................................................................................................... 2
December Calendar .............................................................................................................................. 3
Remembrance Day ............................................................................................................................... 4
Hunt Club Hotel New Years Eve ........................................................................................................... 5
Free Playgroup in the Hall..................................................................................................................... 6
Alex’s Dad Jokes. …............................................................................................................................. 8
Nicola Beautyman’s annual calendar .................................................................................................... 9
About Merrijig –..................................................................................................................................... 9
local history since European settlement.................................................................................................... 9
Motor Inn Under New Management .................................................................................................... 11
Great response to defibrillator training session ................................................................................... 12
What’s coming up in December? ........................................................................................................ 13
Hunt Club Christmas Party ..................................................................................................... 13
Final laugh. ......................................................................................................................................... 13
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Quote of the month
Back issues of the newsletters can be viewed on the web at in e-magazine form at
https://www.yumpu.com/... See Facebook Merrijig Newsletter for monthly link
Some articles in this newsletter may be picked up by the Mansfield Courier so consider this if you are
submitting stories you could be sensitive about sharing with the community wider than Merrijig.
If you’re looking for a Justice of the Peace,
Laurie Jacob, Buttercup Rd 0439 280 333
Catherine McNish, Sawmill Settlement 0429 482 309
Merrijig Defibrillators are located at Merrijig Motor Inn
4 Stirling St & McCormack Park
The procedure in case of an emergency where a person is possibly having a heart
attack is to dial Triple Zero. The call takers at Triple Zero have the location of the
Merrijig AED registered and will advise the caller of its location if that is the closest
unit to your location. McCormack Park unit is located in the machinery shed of the
Motorbike Track. Merrijig Hall Alpha St. Merrijig Motor Inn should be contacted by
phone. The Motor Inn phone number is 5777 5702.
For UPPER MERRIJIG at 4 Stirling St.
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December Calendar
◄ November December 2022 January ►
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
2 3
1 Craft group 11am @
Hall
4 5 6 10am Muscle Mob @
Hall
7 Rubbish Bin Night
Play group 10–12 @ Hall
BBQ night at Merrijig
Motor Inn from 5pm
Live music
8 Craft group 11am @
Hall
9 10
Hunt Club Hotel
Christmas Party 6 PM
11 12 13 10am Muscle Mob
@ Hall
14 Bin Night 15 Craft group 11am
Rubbish & Recycling @ Hall
16 17
Play group 10–12 @ Hall
18 19 20 10am Muscle Mob
@ Hall
21 Rubbish Bin
Night
22 Craft group 11am
@ Hall
23 24
Play group 10–12 @ Hall
25 26 27 10am Muscle Mob
@ Hall
28 Bin Night 29 Craft group 11am
Rubbish & Recycling @ Hall
Play group 10–12 @ Hall
30 31
New Year’s
Even Hunt
Club Hotel
Live music
Jan 7 th 10 – 2 Open Day Merrijig Fire Brigade
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Remembrance Day
We will remember them.
A small number of people, including Merrijig School representatives, gathered at the Merrijig War and
Service Memorial - the Five Pines for Remembrance Day just prior to 11 o’clock in the morning.
In giving the Call to Commemoration, Noel Willaton said: “We are here
today as a community that continues to pay tribute to the service of
Australians in wars, conflicts or peacekeeping operations and we
especially recognise the contribution of those from the Merrijig district.
Above all, we pause in prayer to reflect on the sacrifices of the men and
women, brothers and sisters, sons, daughters and mates, whose bright
futures were cut short in combat.”
Noel with an interested local flying in
The Prayers of Remembrance were given by Des Dunn.
In giving the address of Remembrance, Peter Howarth, spoke of the pain
caused by war, and how important it is to remember those who sacrificed
their lives, 103 thousand have lost
their lives while serving, while 185
thousand were injured both
physically and mentally, and those families and friends of those
who served, because no-one comes back unaffected. Everyone
comes back a different person, he concluded.
He added that years ago everything would stop for 11 am on
Remembrance Day. "Not anymore, “he reflected, “So thank you to
those of you who have come today to remember."
Ed Adamson played the
Last Post and the Rouse
while Laurie Jacob raised
the flag to full mast.
Photos and story
by Louise Jacob
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Have a great Christmas everyone
\_(ツ)
) )Z
/ \
Hunt Club Hotel New Years Eve –
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - the place to be.
Naturally Kerley have been booked for 12
months following a very successful Hunt Club
New Year’s Eve seeing in 2022. Join the mob
to see in 2023.
They entertain by “Playing the most eclectic array of songs, whether you’re
1 or 101 years old, we’ve got you covered.” Mish said, “In fact I’d be willing
to bet you will easily know around 97% of our songs.”
Great music to dance to as well so come along and book in for dinner before the performance begins.
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Free Playgroup in the Hall
Mansfield Shire has extended its Playgroup Program and is now
running playgroup sessions at Merrijig Public Hall on
Wednesday mornings 10 to 12. There is no cost to families.
For more information phone Bec Munro on 0429703364 or 5775
8624. Email - Rebecca.Munro@mansfield.vic.gov.au
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ˁ(⦿ᴥ⦿)ˀ
The first open day 2014 with sausage sizzle and
appliances on display
The time is
right to come
along and
check out
the new
appliances.
Colour me in kids and bring me along to the
open day.
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Alex’s Dad Jokes. …
I won Powerball and I immediately resigned from the
vacuum factory.
“So long, suckers!”
How does a Hawaiian laugh?
With A Low Ha
I tried to call my doctors today about Tinnitus...
but the phone just kept on ringing and ringing.
The waiter came up and said “do you want a box for the leftovers”
I said “No, but I’ll wrestle you for it”
Most people have heard of Karl Marx,
But few know of his sister, Onya, an Olympic runner.
To the guy that stole my place in the line
I'm after you now.
What is a Japanese Chihuahua called?
A Konnichiuauha
A man with authority walks into a bar..
He orders everyone a round.
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ᨁᨁᨁᨁ
Nicola Beautyman’s annual calendar
Nicola’s annual calendar is full of her remarkable photographs which she generously allows publication of on the
front page of the Newsletter. This production will make a wonderful gift for friends and relatives who are stuck in
the city, interstate or overseas.
Copies can be purchased from Ink Bookshop.
About Merrijig –
local history since European settlement
There are still about 60 copies left; a book About Merrijig will make a wonderful
Christmas gift for any history enthusiast, or friends and relatives of Merrijig
pioneers and long term families. These can be personally autographed for gifts if
you choose.
The author has some on hand or they can be purchased (without autograph) from
the Historical Society at the old Railway station.
A little insight of what the book contains on local families……
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Bill (who arranged a loan in his name for the Merrijig Hall)
and Frances Purcell
Brief extract from About Merrijig
“Winifred Amy Murphy married Richard Purcell in
Melbourne at Pentridge, (which was not a gaol in those days)
in 1865 and a year later they moved to Merrijig in a
covered wagon. For some time they continued to live in
the wagon until a hut was built. Being an enterprising
couple they not only worked a farm, they also established
a guesthouse on the goldfields at Howqua and ran a goods
carrying packhorse business to and from Mansfield and
these fields. Richard went blind resulting from a stock whip accident and leaned
heavily on his young son Bill to be his eyes. Two of their children died in early
childhood both of whom were named Patrick. Amy, as she was known, was vital
in the developing district as the indispensable midwife. Dr Samuel Reynolds,
Mansfield’s first doctor, was heard to have called her “the bravest woman I have
ever known,” when he was referring to how she had ridden her horse across a swollen river in full flood to attend to a woman in need
of her assistance.” Bill was the son of Richard and Amy.
The Lovick family original settlers..
Extracted from About Merrijig.
“William and Catherine (Murphy) Lovick were married in New Zealand but finally settled at the
Merrijig hotel. They first set up a hotel on the gold fields in Howqua, which was not much more
than a roughly built shack yet it served the purpose and apparently gave the young couple some
capital to work with. The next venture was establishing the Hunt Club Hotel; this building was of
better construction and doubled as their home. William, who loved mining, invested in a gold
mining company in the Howqua hills, which sadly did not bring him the wealth he expected, he
also loved fishing and is responsible for the introduction of trout to the local rivers. These
activities William Lovick was involved in, worked toward creating the core on which Merrijig as
a district was established, with such a strong character all of its own. Unfortunately his wife
Catherine died in 1888 from heart failure after delivering a stillborn child.
The McCormack Family’s original selector. Extracted from About Merrijig
“1866 was the year that John McCormack came to Merrijig to take up his selection. With him he
brought his wife Frances and four daughters. They came in a bullock driven covered dray, leading the
milking cows and draughthorses. The trip was a slow one taking two weeks from Woodstock where
they had formally run a hotel. Fanny’s sister Kate had moved to Boorolite with her husband John Hearn
in 1862 and this no doubt is what brought the McCormacks to Merrijig. These two young women were
the McCoy sisters. The Hearn and McCormack families were somewhat better off than most of the
settlers at the time, as the McCoys had been in Australia since 1842, and were well established in
Melbourne. The women’s father owned several properties in Melbourne proper, as well as large
holdings in Kalkallo and Woodstock.”
There is so much more interesting information and stories with chapters entitled
“He’s a cousin of mine” “Characters of Merrijig” “Kids will be kids” “That Darn Inspector” “Men
in court” “The timber industry” and many more.
Copies are $25 each
彡 )( 彡 彡 )( 彡 彡 )( 彡
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Motor Inn Under New Management
You will have seen a few new faces at the Merrijig Motor Inn as Michael and Mandy Aistrope passed
the business to Buller Ski Lifts (BSL) late last month.
“Our priority is to keep the Motor Inn the community hub locals know and love. We are continuing the
traditions of Friday night pizzas and firing the BBQ up on Wednesdays”. Said spokesperson
Stephanie Daniels.
The kitchen offers breakfast and lunch 7 days with dinner Monday through Saturday.
There will soon be hampers available so guests
can order local wine, cheese and nibbles ready to
enjoy out on the lawn, down by the river or while
unwinding in their room.
The BSL hospitality team are hiring for positions
across the suite of venues they operate with
opportunities for candidates to work and gain a
variety of experience in both green and white
seasons.
Get in touch on merrijigmotorinn@activ8.net.au,
03 5777 5702 or drop in as you’re passing!
Photo Left to right: Holly, Aaron, Gayle
The BBQ
night will be
launching on
Wednesday
7 th December
From 5pm -
live music
throughout
the night.
Keep an eye out for drink specials.
We would love to see you all there
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Great response to defibrillator training session
The group of locals who attended the information session are now well prepared for emergency.
Merrijig Hall has had a fantastic response to the free AED/CPR training afternoon On Sunday
November 6 th .
A grant from the Mansfield branch of the Bendigo Community Bank allowed the hall to install an AED
(Automated External Defibrillator) on the outside of the hall which allows 24 hour access to the
device.
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Presenter, Sue Buckman of Sunbury talked
30 people through the procedures to
perform CPR and the use of a defibrillator
(AED). There was an opportunity to practise
on mannequins
supplied.
The consensus
from the day is
that those
present would
be keen to attend a formal first aid training course at the hall to skill them
to respond to a situation, should they be confronted with an emergency.
Stay tuned!
Sue Buckman (Citizen of the Year 2020 Hume City Council) turned
tragedy into hope as the co-founder of Defib for Life with Andrew White.
After losing her 19-year-old son Stephen to a sudden cardiac arrest in
May 2010, she has contributed to the implementation of almost 4,000
defibrillators Australia wide. Many lives are being saved because this lifesaving equipment is now
widely available in the community. Sue’s goal is to save lives and empower communities to do the
same.
Another participant in the session this time by video link was Pathways and Vocational Education
(PAVE) Nursing and Health Technical Officer, Jessica Jacobs. She has received a CFA Chief
Officer’s Commendation award for courage in recognition of her actions in saving the life of a firefighter
during the 2019-2020 bushfire season, also known as the Black Summer bushfires.
She told the group at the hall of her experience saving the life of a complete stranger.
There is a NEW AED which has been registered at 10 Christensen St, Sawmill Settlement.
The AED unit is fixed to the side of the house with clear signage beside a metre box in the driveway.
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What’s coming up in December?
Hunt Club CHRISTMAS PARTY
Hunt Club Hotel is having a Christmas party, management have spoken to the
chef and he’s cooking Christmas dinner for us.
Also engaged is a solo artist to play us some tunes and maybe a carol or two.
Call to book your seat on 57775608
SATURDAY, 10 DECEMBER 2022 AT 6 pm
1870 Mount Buller Rd, Merrijig VIC 3723, Australia
Final laugh.
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