Proudly published by ABN: 58 129 541 706 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2011 ISSUE 34 Yackandandah Celebrates 150 Years 150th Anniversary for Township February 18th 2011 is the 150th Anniversary of Brief History Overview - Editor Yackandandah being proclaimed a township. Records show that in 1846 a squatter named That proclamation, in 1861, occurred eight years David Reid was building a flour mill on the banks of after the discovery of gold which gave rise a few months Yackandandah Creek. During the process of building the later to the village of Yackandandah. waterwheel race and using the clay for bricks, some of Reid’s employees noticed a gleam of gold. In an attempt Four years prior to proclamation the first land to discourage them, Reid reportedly stated “There is no sales were held, the township survey having been com- gold in this colony or this part of the world.” pleted during 1856, and in 1857 brick and stone buildings After the first recorded discovery of gold in April began to appear beside wooden ones. 1852, Yack and other smaller surrounding communities boomed. Smaller communities between Beechworth and The Post and Telegraph Office which opened on Yackandandah appeared and grew in population during February 2nd 1861 where the old Post Office building the gold rush. Twist Creek, Yackandandah Junction and stands today, was a little wooden “dog kennel”. Allan’s Flat all had large communities and evidence of these communities and buildings located there are still To much excitement telegraph master Mr. Henry visible today. Salkeld arrived in February 1861, a few days before the Yackandandah Junction, located five kilometres telegraph line from Beechworth transformed Yackandan- south-west of Yack on the then Yackandandah-Stanley dah from township dependant on mail transported by Road had a registered school from 1861 to 1891. At its millennia-old horse and wind-power, to one instantly in peak the community had a estimated population of 500 contact with eastern Australia (and eleven years later with people including a large contingency of Chinese miners. Asia and Europe) through electric communication. Australia’s first Australian-born Governor-general, It seems more than coincidence that these two Sir Isaac Isaacs, was born in Yackandandah in 1855. events occurred almost simultaneously. Although mail had been doing so since the year Yackandandah’s By the time Yackandandah was surveyed in survey, perhaps the telegraph line couldn’t officially go 1856, it had already established itself as a significant nowhere, and on February 28th, ten days after Yack’s settlement, alongside Beechworth and the “Indigo Gold- proclamation, the Electric Telegraph Officer in Melbourne fields” of Rutherglen and Chiltern. Today, the township of was able to announce that telegraph communication had Yackandandah stands as testimony to those early gold been established with Yackandandah and the office was mining days. available to the public. The name Yackandandah is said to have come from two Aboriginal words meaning ‘rock’ and ‘water- by Colin Barnard hole’. Long ago, two rocks sat one on top of the other in what is now known as Yackandandah Creek. Inside this issue.... Community Plan Meeting.......Page 3 “Summer Splash” Yack Pool.......Page 5 Folk Festival News.............................Page 7 Australia Day Award Recipients............Page 7 YBNH History..the story continues.............Page 16 Golf Club Centenary Celebrations..................Page 21 www.uniqueyackandandah.com.au From the Editors Dear readers, welcome to the first issue for 2011. Since the last issue we have received above average rainfalls and extreme temperature variations. Some days it was like winter and other days, in late December and early January, we experienced humid weather not unlike northern New South Wales and south- ern Queensland. Although nothing like the Queensland, Northern New South Wales and Western Victoria floods, many local properties were affected by the December deluge and some houses along local creeks suffered minor flood damage. Check out Reg’s Rain Report to see how much rain fell in the Yackandandah area during 2010. This issue is jammed packed and due to the lower number of articles we have had to squeeze in all the advertisements that were booked in for this issue. REMEMBER: This is your community voice so if you have something to say, share or announce then by all means utilise what is available to you locally. Enjoy the read. Shayne & Jenn Willis Yackandandah Lions Club SPECIAL MEETING YACKITY YAK The Yackandandah Lions Club is calling a Yackity Yak is a free bimonthly publication aimed at providing special meeting for all interested community clubs and news, entertainment and information to the people of the persons to discuss Flood Disaster Relief. Yackandandah area. Monday 31st January Yackity Yak is published by YCDCo (Yackity Yak) Pty Ltd. 7:00 p.m . 1100 copies of Yackity Yak are printed with each release and Senior Citizens Hall, Yackandandah a minimum of 900 copies are distributed free to homes in the Yackandandah and surrounding area via Australia Post. WHAT CAN WE DO AS A COMMUNITY? Editors / Advertising / Printing / Accounts All funds will go to the Lions Club District Go- S. & J. Willis vener Appeal and then go direct to the Queensland Flood Att: Yackity Yak Relief Appeal. 57 Isaacs Ave, Yackandandah, Vic. 3749 Ph: 0260 271119 To kick off the fund raiser the Yackandandah Lions Club E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.uniqueyackandandah.com.au have donated $1000.00 Yackity Yak wishes to advise that the views and or remarks For more information about the meeting or the appeal expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of please contact the Yack Lions Club on 0418122921. Yackity Yak editorial or production staff and no endorsement or service is implied by the listing of advertisers or contributors. We aim to raise as much money as possible and Although every effort is taken in reproducing and printing will be mentioning the meeting every chance we have. advertisements correctly, we take no responsibility for errors. All FUNDS RAISED WILL BE CHANNELED Yackity Yak 2011 THROUGH YOUR LOCAL LIONS CLUB DEADLINE FOR NEXT ISSUE: Editor’s Note: If you didn’t make it to the meeting and you MONDAY 14th March 6:00pm want to help or donate, contact any member of the YLC or drop in and see John Dale at the butchers or phone Please Note: All new advertisements or alterations to current the YLC on the number below. ads must be submitted one business week (5days) before the deadline. As per media law requirements no ads can be printed Phone: 0418 122 921 without a current, completed and signed booking slip. 2 Arts Yackandandah presents the Decision Time Nearing for “OVER THE FENCE“ Yackandandah Community Plan Short Film Festival The Community Plan for Yackandandah is near- Saturday 19th of February ing an exciting phase with a Meeting to finalise priorities Starting 7:30p.m at the Yackandandah Hall this set down for 7pm, Wednesday 9 February at Yackandan- hilarious line up of short films from around the globe are dah Sports Park. guaranteed to give you a good laugh. Indigo Shire Community Strengthening Project Based in Western Australia the “Over The fence” Officers will share the visions gathered since the com- festival exhibits new films and provides an inspiring mencement of the consultation phase of the Yackan- environment for audience and filmmakers. They will bring dandah Community Strengthening Project which began laughter and joy to people. around July 2010. This upcoming meeting is the re- scheduled version of the December meeting that was Tickets will be on sale at the postponed due to wet weather. Yackandandah Newsagency Team Leader Community Strengthening and Recreation Chris Westwood has been very impressed with the quality of suggestions and engagement from the ackandandah local community. Y air “A vast array of ideas and visions have come Htudio through to date from the Yackandandah community, S including better co-ordination of walking and cycling trails around Yackandandah and outlying areas, a Winter Fes- 02-60271955 tival, improved access to tip for disposal of green waste and more social activities for local youth to name just a few,” said Mr Westwood. “We encourage all residents to come along and 9 High St, Yackandandah Vic 3749 have their input into the Yackandandah Community Plan. This will give the Yackandandah community the op- portunity to prioritise the key ideas. Our project officers Scott and Megan will then work alongside project working parties to get them up and running with the view to them Indigo Shire Council becoming self-sustaining.” Township Protection Plan If you are unable to come along on Wednesday Public Comment evening, but would like to have input to the Yackandan- dah Community Plan, contact: Indigo Shire’s Community The Country Fire Authority, in conjunction with Strengthening Project Officers Scott Landells or Megan Council, is preparing Township Protection Plans (TPP) for Randall directly on 6028 1147. various localities within the municipality. Alternatively you can email: Megan - [email protected] These plans are to be developed in 3 parts, Scott - [email protected] Part 1, Community Information, Part 2 Township Planning and Part 3 Fire Prevention. The Draft of Part 1, for Beechworth, Stanley, Chiltern, Yackandandah and Allans Flat is now available of public comment and residents are encouraged to view this and if they wish to make comment they can do so, in writing, to Mark Greene at the Indigo Shire Council. Copies of each plan are available on Council’s web site www.indigoshire.vic.gov.au and at the Shire Of- fice in Beechworth and Yackandandah. Comments will be received, in writing, up to Monday 14th February 2011. Marke Greene Indigo Shire Council 3 Local Teen Has a Running Future Young fifteen year old James Ellis, from Os- borne’s Flat, is building a strong future in athletics.