Town milestone

By Dion Teasdale
THE history of the Halit family has been intertwined with that of the Warburton Highway township of Millgrove for much of the past century.
Winifred Halit, who will turn 90 in November, was born in Millgrove in 1916. Since then she has watched her family grow and expand like the town itself.
Mrs Halit, who has three children, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, said she had always enjoyed living in the area and watching the place change.
“It used to be that you knew everybody, but Millgrove has grown a lot and there are lots of new faces these days,” she said.
She has vivid memories of the town’s post office and railway station, which were both established in 1906.
“The train was very important to the growth of Millgrove’s timber industry and the creation of the town’s timber mill,” she said.
“It was also wonderful having our own post office. Both things helped create a great sense of community here and it was disappointing to see them go.”
The train station was closed in 1966 when services along the Lilydale to Warburton rail line were suspended and the post office was shut in 1994.
The Millgrove Residents Action Group (MRAG) has organised a community celebration later this month to mark the centenary of the arrival of both services in the town.
Mrs Halit said she would be attending the weekend celebrations with her family.
“I think it’s really important to remember the past and to celebrate the community spirit and the optimism alive in Millgrove,” she said.
The centenary celebrations will be held on Sunday, 29 October, when the town will host a range of historical activities, including a timber milling demonstration, a heritage furniture-making workshop and a lecture on how pioneer homes were built.
Historical bus tours will operate, there will be historical photo displays and screenings of old movies, and plans are also underway to stage an old time dance.
The festival will also include an arts and craft market from 9am to 4pm featuring a historical book stall, a sausage sizzle and children’s activities.
Contact MRAG president Maureen Halit on 5966 5806 for more information.