150 Years Stories

Alison Campbell was a woman who liked to keep busy, enjoyed the company of animals, and loved to travel. She was also a leader in her professional field, physiotherapy.

When Currie Park residents put the call out to the local Euroa community to take part in the 150th celebrations on Saturday November 23, they were not expecting the reception they have had. “We have been overwhelmed by the support from the community,” 150th Currie Park coordinator Ellen Doyle said.

Three years ago a group of women from OCAV’s Rushall Park village, armed with a needle and thread, embarked on a project to showcase their beautiful cottages. Marrying photography, painting and embroidery the women created stunning embroidery panels, which are now exhibited in the village’s community centre to mark the 150th anniversary of the organisation.

Peter Johnson, the great great-grandson of George Raymond Johnson (1840-1898), knows a lot about the architect who played such a pivotal role in the early development of the Old Colonists’ Association of Australia. Not only are they related, but also Peter inherited George’s love of building and is himself an architect.

For almost 150 years OCAV has been home to many of Victoria’s most talented artists and musicians. The local talent will exhibit their work at Art on the Verandah as part of Rushall Park village’s 150th celebration Garden Party, which proved to be the hottest ticket in town and has now sold out.

Lyn and Keith Geer moved into one of Leith Park’s new apartments in September and within a few days of unpacking Keith had discovered the men’s shed.

Gillian Allen won’t be at her Euroa unit to welcome visitors when it opens for tours as part of Currie Park’s 150th anniversary celebrations on Saturday November 23. But you can see and hear her at the celebrations. She will be the one playing the glockenspiel with the Euroa Citizen’s Band.

Mona Burke-Kennedy can’t imagine that her story will interest anyone much. She’s wrong. Years down the track when the Braeside Park time capsule is opened people will get a glimpse of the amazing world community that makes up OCAV’s four villages.

A one-year professional development program focusing on wellbeing and mental health will be rolled out by the Old Colonists’ Association of Victoria thanks to support from HESTA.

Haven, security, peace, garden, and love were among the words that stood out on 450 blocks of wood that were placed on the steps of Parliament House on Monday 5 August, the start of Homelessness Week.