Why Poowong’s history will be history without a grant

NEXT April 20 and 21, the great little town of Poowong will celebrate its 150^th birthday.

And townsfolk would like to republish their history book, first published for the 125^th birthday but now out of print, and clearly, 25 years out of date.

Great events like the World Premiere of Kenny the film, in August 2006, have happened since then and quite appropriately, reticulated sewerage arrived about 10 years later, making it possible for the latest residential subdivision of 107 lots at the Oaks to be opened up.

It’s all happening at Poowong.

But unless they are successful in getting a grant to reproduce an updated history of the town, with everything before 1999 and everything after it, they’ll just have to come out with a 25-year history.

“Not ideal,” according to former local councillor, Jim Forbes, who together with the original author of the history book, Heather Gregg and other volunteers, is researching the last 25 years in the hope a grant will be secured.

“We’ve asked all the community and sporting groups to update their histories and that’s happening, and there will be some other stories in there as well, about what’s happened in Poowong since 1999.

“But we’d also like to add some historic information as well and we’ll need some funding for that.”

But the 150^th celebrations, on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21 next year are going to be big.

And Poowong is exactly the right size of town for everyone whose ever had a connection with the area to want to come back, because everyone knows just about everyone.

There’ll be a 150^th anniversary footy match, church service, history display, lunch, afternoon tea, maybe a deb ball, they'd like to hold a school back-to if the Education Department will allow it and hopefully, a book launch.

Founded on April 17, 1874, when James Scott made the first application for land, upon which the hotel, churches, post office and houses now stand, Poowong is entering the most prosperous time in its history and the events of April next year will be as much a celebration of the past as they will the future, honouring the town’s ancestors and volunteers as much as welcoming the newcomers.

And all that without a train line or public transport, although there was a bus service circa 1948, run by Sinclair’s going from Dandenong to Yarram, via the Main Street in Poowong