Cohuna’s 150 Year Anniversary opened with a packed house at Memorial Hall on Friday night. The walls of the hall were lined with an array of past fashions, hospital history, sporting memorabilia, and historical photos. Through extensive planning and volunteering, the town didn’t disappoint in showcasing key moments in its formation and the rich social, economic, and sporting history.

Ian Robe began Friday night’s event on behalf of the Cohuna and District Progress Association, expressing astonishment at the large turnout and welcoming attendees back to town. He highlighted the array of activities and festivities planned. A major highlight was the street parade scheduled for Saturday’s festivities. Ian praised the collaborative efforts of local businesses, volunteer groups, and organisations.

Gannawarra Shire Council Mayor Garner Smith was welcomed to the stage to officially open the event.

“It’s a significant and proud moment for the community,” expressed Mayor Smith. He reflected on his recent travels back from a timber towns’ forum in Sale, which reminded him of Cohuna’s strengths. He emphasised the town’s great facilities, relaxing lifestyle, green environment, and community spirit, often taken for granted. He pointed to the historical memorabilia in the room as evidence of the area’s rich past, reminiscing about iconic football clashes between Leitchville and Cohuna, with noisy crowds on One Eye Hill.

“We know it’s a wonderful place because of the visitors who come here in the long weekend.

“I live on the highway and I operate a farm at Mount Hope. This is just a great place to be because of the cars and the caravans and all the vehicles that come through every long weekend,” said Mayor Smith.

Part of Friday night’s formalities was the official launch of two books.

Everyone Knows Stan, and the Cohuna and District Historical Society’s latest addition, Cohuna from the Millenium through the Noughties. Book author Colin Archard, Stan’s nephew, spoke about how the book came together. He explained the book’s origin: after Stan’s son Wayne’s tragic motorcycle accident on the Gold Coast, Colin reconnected with Stan, whom he respects deeply despite not being his son.

“Everyone keeps saying that I’m Stan’s son, I am an Archard. You can tell because I’ve got no bloody hair,” said Colin with good humour.

“If you want to find an Archard, look for the bald blokes with hearing aids!”

Stan, retired at 88, and had begun his memoirs using Dragon NaturallySpeaking software. Colin, motivated by his own health scares and desire for family history, offered to help compile it. They drove around properties where Stan worked, with Stan prompting Colin to introduce himself to aid with remembering names.

“I flew down here, and we jumped in a car. Stan said, “Now listen. I’m going to drive around all these properties I used to do work at.”

He said “Get out of the ute as soon as they pull up, introduce yourself. Then they’ll introduce themselves and he said, bingo, I’ll know who they are!”

“That’s why the title of the book is Everybody Knows Stan, because it actually bloody worked! Everyone knew who he was, even though he didn’t know who the hell they were half the time!”

The process of writing the book took three years due to extensive research and information. Colin joked about the vivid stories that didn’t pass the censors. Despite the exclusions, the book praises Stan’s innovative career: from shearing to contracting, building machinery, land leveling, introducing lasers to Australia in the mid-1970s, and switching to poly pipe.

Sheila Joss, Chairperson of the Cohuna and District Historical Society introduced the book Cohuna from the Millenium through the Noughties.

“We have been gathering a lot of information from the Cohuna Farmers Weekly. We’ve gone through from the years 2000 to 2010 and brought out a whole pile of articles relating to changes that have occurred here in Cohuna.”

“It’s been very interesting to go through that and read all those articles and see what’s really changed in our town over that 10 year period. We sometimes sit back and think that doesn’t change much, but it’s quite incredible the changes that have occurred”

“We’ve lost in that period of time about six different sporting clubs. We’ve lost a number of service clubs as well, but we’ve gained about five new residential estates in the town.”

The town turned out in force for Saturday’s Street Parade. The extensive parade included historical vehicles, Mawson’s trucks, Cohuna Consolidated School, Cohuna Bowls Club, Cohuna Golf Club, Cohuna Leitchville RSL and the Cohuna CFA.

Throughout Saturday, attendees were treated to a range of activities. Farm tours led by Max Fehring, the Gannawarra Toy Run Show and Shine, historical displays and even an emergency services display, a simulated crash rescue. Saturday concluded with live music and fantastic food, with attendees rocking the night away at the recreation reserve.

Sunday saw the opening of the town’s time capsule, which had been buried for 20 years. Unfortunately, the capsule had suffered water ingress, and work to salvage the contents continues. A farmers’ market, Cohuna History Hunt, School openings, historical displays and a Cohuna Shire Highlights rounded out a very jampacked 150-year celebration!

See all the pictures from the event in the issue.
This article appeared in The Koondrook and Barham Bridge Newspaper, 6 November 2025.