By Callum Ludwig
Warburton has a long and storied history, filled with people of all descriptions, with many holding fond memories of key landmarks like the river, the old train and the Weetbix factory.
Past and present residents of Warburton and the surrounding areas are welcome to come back and reminisce on Sunday 30 April with a reunion set to be held at the Upper Yarra RSL in Yarra Junction.
Organiser Peter Molloy said reunions in years past had slowly increased in numbers, with 125 attendees at last year’s event.
“We also had 45 apologies for those who couldn’t come so it was great to see it reached so many people. I expect we will have about the same number this year,” he said.
“People are coming from everywhere, a lot from Gippsland and also down in Queenscliff, Bendigo, Harvey Bay, Mansfield. Probably about 30 or 40 that I’m expecting have stayed in the valley, some in Warburton and others in Wesburn, Yarra Junction and Woori Yallock.”
There will be plenty of opportunities to mix and mingle throughout the afternoon, with attendees welcome to order their own food and drinks as they wish.
Mr Molloy said there were some nice stories from previous reunions.
“We had two fellows that went to the Millgrove Primary School, sat next to each other and went through school together, and then they went to work at the Sanitarium factory before going their separate ways. They hadn’t seen each other for 35 years until last year’s reunion, there were tears,” he said.
“When I first moved to Warburton in 1961, my coach of the football team was a fellow by the name of Clancy Walker. He has since deceased but his daughter came to the reunion, and this is the sort of thing that happens, people come that you least expect, and other people come that you’ve forgotten all about.”
Attendees are welcome to bring along any photos, artifacts or just memories of their time in and around Warburton to the event, with old school photos popular at past reunions.
To confirm your attendance please contact Peter Molloy 0403 391 612, Jack Musgrove 0413 990 523 or Wayne Herring 0417 537 972.
