From the Archives: The Advocate

40 years ago

March 12, 1975

St Albans’ controversial community development officer, Mr Rod Gow, has resigned after being “grilled” by the community centre committee. After a dramatic eleventh-hour bid to salvage his reputation as a CDO, he tendered his resignation to a meeting called to vote on a motion that his job be declared vacant. He described the incident as “petty politics” and said working for the people of
St Albans had become impossible.

30 years ago

March 13, 1985

Hundreds of Deer Park residents are furious about a 24-hour “transport city” development planned for neighbouring Melton. Backed by Sunshine council, the residents are seeking a Supreme Court injunction to stop the project from going ahead. If necessary, they are prepared to fight the developers in the Supreme Court. Residents believe they will be forced to put up with light and noise pollution day and night if the transport city is constructed.

20 years ago

March 15, 1995

When Abdullahi Abdi Ibrahim’s 12 children arrived in Sunshine from Africa, he took them to the highest vantage point he could find. Sunshine was spread out before them. “I told them this was their home now, to enjoy this country and take their luck and use it,” Mr Ibrahim said. The amazing tale of how he brought his wife and children to Sunshine from war-ravaged northern Africa is one of courage, optimism and determination.

10 years ago

March 15, 2005

The dominant ALP Unity (Right) faction used its numbers on Thursday night to block discussion of a damning report on branch stacking in the federal electorate of Gorton. In related actions, which drew howls of protest from the Alliance (Left) faction, Unity accepted 118 membership applications from branches whose officials were accused by the authors of the Gorton report of branch stacking and other malpractices.