100 years ago
11 March 1926
Dandenong Band
The Dandenong Band mustered in good strength for a recital in the park on Sunday afternoon, under bandmaster Cooper, and continues to show marked improvement in every way. There was a fair attendance of the public and a satisfactory amount in funds was realised by the collection. The ban will play in the park every alternate Sunday afternoon.
50 years ago
8 March 1976
Ex-councillor praise for engineer
‘A great man of gifted intellect’
In a letter to the Journal, ex-councillor Ted Smith said he had witnessed bitter critics visit Mr Wright’s office “only to come away full of praise for advice and explanation received and relieved of any nervous tension.” Mr Smith said: “The imminent retirement of our Mr Wright calls for some special remarks. He came to Dandenong in 1950 when finances were at a low ebb, with ratepayers’ crying out for council action. We had no machinery or equipment of our own, were heavily committed with loan repayments. In Mr Wright’s first year he saved ratepayers more than his salary in obtaining metal at reduced prices. His time has come to relinquish his onerous duties and leaves us with mixed feelings. To me he represented many things – first of all an example of practical Christianity, a sincere and wise ear to all in need.”
20 years ago
13 March 2006
Flashing pedals close at hand
The mountain bike events at Lysterfield Park will be one of the highlights of the Commonwealth Games. The course was built especially after mountain bikes made an exciting debut at Manchester four years ago. More than 50 competitors from 18 countries are expected to ride the course. The Park was top choice for Parks Victoria, which felt the development would not pose a threat to the environment – part of the park was a former dairy farm. The mountain bike track has taken more than two years to complete, with environmental specialists and local management committees enlisted to help. A spokesman said the $3 million course was “state of the art” and “built to last”.
5 years ago
16 March 2021
Pool ‘bombshell’
“Shocked” and “angered” residents said they had little warning that Doveton’s historic public pool had been slated for destruction. Casey administrators are set to vote on a recommendation to replace the 52-year old Olympic-sized outdoor pool with “public open space.” Doveton and Eumemmerring Residents Association stated that the former democratically elected councillors adopted a strategy in 2019 to invest $24 million into upgrading the pool as a high priority. According to a Casey Council report this month, the Doveton outdoor pool was “an over provision of aquatic services and facilities” which lost $190,000 from July 2019 to March 2020. It recommended a $4m option for free water play equipment in a park and social gathering place. The Doveton Pool in the Park – the only outdoor pool in Casey – is listed as a locally significant heritage site. It was built in 1968 after a spate of drownings in the Eumemmerring Creek.
Compiled by Dandenong & District Historical Society
