Page 1 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY June 30, 2021 New Ownership For The Clubhouse and Royal Hotel short-term, as he attempts to get a feel for the community in Yass, but did hint that there would be significant changes on the horizon. “We’re just testing the water at the moment to see what it’s like here, but we see there’s a lot of untapped potential at both venues,” he said. One of those significant changes will be a stronger focus on food, both the variety of options and the quality. Head Chef Rory Walker believes that will be the key to reviving the Royal and returning it to its former glory. “Obviously food is a big part of it. We want to do something with the Royal and hopefully get that back to the pub that everyone says it used to be.” “We’d like to get the food and maybe a cafe breakfast, and even do some entertainment there, we haven’t quite figured that out yet,” said Rory. While they promised to make both pubs more family-friendly, they also said that having a strong nightlife has been a consistent theme across their other venues, a theme they’d like to see replicated in Yass. As well as that, Trent believes having a strong community focus is an absolute necessity for running a pub Rory Walker and Hannah Middleton. potential in them both. “Pretty much a place that is just for and hopes to sponsor more sporting The Clubhouse and Royal Hotels of He and his team pride themselves on everyone to come out. Friends, family clubs and community groups in the Yass are under new ownership, with attracting people of all demographics. can catch up for dinners and have a future. Hotel Leeton’s Trent Middleton taking They hope the people of Yass will feel drink and a good time,” she said. over both venues as of Tuesday. welcome within the two venues Max O’Driscoll regardless of age, as said by Hannah Trent suggested there wouldn’t be The two Yass pubs are Trent’s fifth Middleton, who will have a managing many wholesale changes made in the and sixth venues, and he sees great role. Michelle: 0498 017 056 17 Nicholls Drive, Yass 15 Plunkett Street 26 Shearsby Crescent 30 DeMestre Street $679,000 By Negotiation $485,000 $629,000 SOLD UNDER OFFER UNDER OFFER NEW LISTING 422 793sqm block 211 759 block 5.98 hectares 422 600sqm block Be impressed by the spacious open plan living area Calling all Renovators! Great location easy commute to Canberra – or drop with central kitchen. Large undercover entertaining This little gem is waiting for a new transformation. These views are simply amazing. down to the main street. 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Page 2 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY June 30, 2021 A Bygone Era Anyone who's been on the Yass Notice “I grew up in Sydney but I married a Board Facebook group recently Yass girl and then when I got out of the would’ve seen Alf Atkin’s posts about navy, we came back this way because the last trains to run on the old Yass I didn’t want to go back to Sydney.I Tramway. liked Yass so we came back here and started settling in, and I started Saturday the 29th of October 1988 was following what was happening locally the last day the trains ran, a day Alf with the trains,” he said. remembers vividly. According to Alf, the likelihood of the “It was well advertised that they were tramway remains relatively low despite going to come into Yass and do the the result of a railway museum shuttles for the day and then close the feasibility study completed years ago. line down basically.” “The railway museum years ago did a “I couldn’t even estimate how many feasibility study to see if it was worth people were there. There were a lot of reopening and even though the report people around, I know there were came back positive, at the time the people who had come down from railway committee was a Sydney and across from Canberra.” sub-committee of Council and Council wouldn’t support it.” “Steam brings people out like that and especially the Yass Tramway. It was “Everyone says ‘we’d like to see it very well known in its day because it reopened’ but you try to get people to was such an unusual operation,” said volunteer to come and do anything and Alf. because of that I doubt we’ll ever see it reopened.” Alf went on to explain what made the day so special. “The problem also is that since it closed, all the rules and regulations “It was special for a steam [train] to regarding preserved lines have come into town and that was the last changed dramatically. Running a train day of operation (see photo) and no down Dutton Street, you’d have to more trains ran on the tramway after have flag people and things like that.” that.” Whilst it remains improbable that the “They were preserved locos both of tramway would ever be reopened for YVC Operational Plan constructing a dog park close to the those. The 3112 was privately owned use, Alf had a fascinating fact about its equestrian fields at Murrumbateman Rec by a bloke up in Sydney and the 1210 current status in a legal sense. Submissions Continued Grounds. Council declared they are was part of the railway historical looking into other, potentially more From Last Week’s Edition society over in Canberra and they just “The tramway is not actually closed suitable locations for the park and expect it did it as a trip.” because that requires an Act of Yass Valley Council’s Draft 2020/2021 to be a part of the Murrumbateman Rec Operational Plan received 31 submissions Parliament in New South Wales. Ground Plan. after it was made open for public exhibition Concerns regarding illegal dumping of Alf, originally from Sydney, has always Officially services have been in April. had a love of trains, and it’s a love suspended,” he said. ACT fill were responded to by Council, In last week's edition of the Yass Valley who said there would be a meeting with passed down by the generations of Times, we detailed some of the the Chief Minister of the ACT today (June involvement with railways in his family. Until that Act is passed, many of Yass’ submissions and responses from the 30) regarding this issue. So when he moved to Yass, he train enthusiasts will hold out hope that Council. Responses ranged from water The cleanliness of amenities at became a close follower of what was they could one day see a steam train security issues to Sutton Oval Gundaroo Park was an issue raised in one happening with the trains in Yass. return through town. developments and the Bookham Village submission. Council responded by masterplan. revealing the Gundaroo Park Trust had However, many other important topics “Both my grandfathers and a couple of Have any fond memories of the trains recently requested a further $10,000 be came out of the submissions. added to Yass Valley Council’s yearly my uncles worked on the railways up in running through town? Please send One of the submissions proposed that Sydney so the passion was passed them in writing to the contribution of $5000. Council said they the new Murrumbateman Primary School are seeking additional information before down.” [email protected]. development should have traffic lights approving or declining the request. implemented on the Barton Highway. Despite most submissions being critical “I was always going to become a train Max O’Driscoll Council responded by saying road safety of particular elements of the Council’s driver, but then something happened issues are the responsibility of TfNSW to Draft Operational Plan, compliments of the and I joined the navy at 15 instead.” resolve. plan were littered throughout. An issue that received multiple Max O’Driscoll submissions was the plans for Page 3 YASS VALLEY TIMES WEDNESDAY June 30, 2021 Restrictions Return AS Covid Impacts NSW Residents • Dance and gym classes limited to 20 “area of concern” in NSW identified by per class (masks must be worn); ACT Health within the last 14 days, • The one person per four square you are free to travel to and from metre rule will be re-introduced for all Canberra. indoor and outdoor settings, including These erratic changes forced many weddings and funerals; in our communities to put on a face • Outdoor seated, ticketed events will mask for the first time as well as our be limited to 50 per cent seated ca- local businesses to dust off and revisit pacity their Covid safe plan. As long as you haven’t been in an Continued page 4 Covid-19 testing outside the into the afternoon on Monday.