General News
23 October, 2025
FLASHBACK: October 23 1975
The 79th annual Hopetoun A and P Society show proved to be one of the most successful ever held, both financially and exhibition-wise.
Prospects for a good show looked gloomy the previous day when members of the society worked tirelessly to clear the oval and grounds after 73 points of rain fell on Sunday and Monday.
Show president, Mr Bob Burdett, praised the work of the committee for their great efforts in having the area in almost peak condition.
The number and quality of exhibits, and public support all round, generated an atmosphere of excitement that pervaded the day’s events.
Gate receipts were $198 up on the previous year, totalling $691. Members’ subscriptions also increased to $1180.
Many of the old residents of the district agreed that the quality of the show, and the horses in particular, was top-class, and had never been equalled at a Hopetoun Show.
The commercial section also had the greatest number of exhibits ever displayed, and drew a great deal of interest.
The sideshows did a brisk trade and later comments from officials said that they always looked forward to coming to Hopetoun because of the friendly atmosphere and the fact that there is never any fear of vandalism to their equipment.
The trotting track, although doubtful the previous day, firmed up well and received favourable comments from the trotting fraternity who patronised the program.
The main event, the Poulton Motor Stakes, was won by Jack Caldow, driving Tarport Wyn. Prize for this was a trotting sulky.
Cricket a poor spectactle: Poor batting, bad fielding
Play between Hopetoun and Brim Gold resumed with Iain Parry on three and Laurie Poulton on 11.
Parry faced the best of the bowling and was soon out for five when falling to an easy outfield catch. With five wickets falling for only nine runs, perhaps the highlight of the remainder of the innings came when Laurie Poulton withstood a fair amount of stick to make 13.
R. Holland was the last man to go and the innings closed with 38 on the board — a miserable total considering the good batting wickets and conditions.
Brim Gold began their second innings with a deficit of 46, and although the openers Goldner and Osborne showed sound technique, the play degenerated into dull cricket.
Osborne’s dismissal for nine, and Goldner’s for 15, summed up the match — lacking enterprise and flair.
Schier was the pick of the bowlers, maintaining a steady line and length throughout his 10 overs.
Cunningham made his contribution, too, with accurate medium pace, and Holland turned over an economical 7 overs ending with 1 for 7.
Kyte brought some life to proceedings with a sharp catch in the gully, but the match never looked likely to hold much drama.
Once again Greene Puckle proved reliable with the gloves and kept the pace bowlers in line.
Some delightfully sporting moments did occur, but as a spectacle the game disappointed.
Unless both sides lift their standard of play, improvement on the first innings score by batsmen to near double figures in each innings seems a remote effort, and unless potential young cricketers and keen sides are introduced, there’s not much likelihood that Brim and Hopetoun will rekindle their rivalry every week.
Brim Gold’s only modest score, therefore it is fairly easy to predict that the top sides will do [unclear—likely “better”].