mmg.com.au

The citizens of Devenish needed no pushing to sing the national anthem at last week’s Australia Day observance.

Some didn’t need the words printed in the program to give voice to their pride.

Although one of the smaller celebrations, the town still manages to turn out about 50 people at Bicentennial Park, compared to its population of about 100.

Many with long memories would have been pleased the hymn God Save the Queen was also on the program.

Standing in the hot Devenish morning sun, with just the occasional breeze to flutter the Australian flag, it reminded me of earlier days when we lined up at primary school in our grey shorts and long socks, suffering through hot summers and freezing winters, to sing the curious tune and repeat our commitment to ‘‘obey our parents, teachers and the law’’.

Speaking of which, the resident policeman turned up to add some official colour to the Devenish crowd, but the only disturbances were from the children playing on the playground while the guest speaker talked about solemn issues.

Keith Lidgerwood is a local who now lives at Cheshire in England and returns to spend the United Kingdom’s winter in northern Victoria.

He drove a magnificent Packard veteran car to the town for his speaking engagement.

Now 76, he can remember as a 10-year-old sitting on the front steps of the Devenish store, hearing a businessman’s car heading towards the town on unmade roads in the clear early morning. The heavy, Straight Eight engine was audible from St James and he could trace its journey into the town and long after it had passed through on its way from Yarrawonga to Melbourne.

‘‘I’d like one of those cars, one day,’’ he thought.

In his speech he talked about the importance of qualities like a fair go, good manners, plain speaking, curiosity and a willingness to be helpful.

He recalled the 1956 Melbourne Olympics when he trained in regulation white athletic clothes to be a torch bearer at nearby Benalla. A mile in six minutes was the goal.

He joked that now, so many years on, he may get a chance to bear the Olympic torch when it passes through Cheshire, but he will only have to accomplish 100 yards in six minutes.

Mr Lidgerwood talked about an idea to establish a rural committee of people to vet prospective members of parliament, but further detail will have to be offered at a different venue, as when he called out to the crowd, ‘‘Am I over-time?’’ a reply came back, ‘‘Well over’’.

Devenish farmer Russell Hooper was chosen to receive the achievement award, and his experience — without taking anything from his contribution — was similar to other district volunteers who built the community.

His commitments have included the sports club, the public hall committee, Devenish Primary School, the football-netball club, CFA, the tennis club, the Community Hotel (remember, Devenish had its own community-owned pub for six years) and the town streetscape committee.

At the close of ceremonies the ladies of the town unveiled a delightful morning tea spread.

Dianne Young made a chocolate cake in the shape of Tasmania, and it was big enough for everyone to take a bite; I ate the top half of the state.