Spitfire purchase, one of many stories

In 1941, as the Second World War ground on, Drouin residents decided to buy a Spitfire plane to support the war effort.

They raised £6607 14s 4d (roughly equivalent to $530,000 today), out of which the Australian Government paid £5000 for a Spitfire, with change left over.

This was one of the more astonishing stories told at the launch of the second series of Stories of Drouin, a project to record some of Drouin’s oldtimers and others for posterity.

Last year, the project received a $10,500 grant to collect 40 stories, of which 25 have so far been collected and edited.

At Drouin’s Christ Church Anglican Hall last Tuesday, interviewees were each presented with a CD of their edited interview.

They were introduced by Keith Cook, president of the Committee for Drouin, which is auspicing the project.

Co-ordinator and interviewer Judy Farmer said the first-hand accounts were a precious resource for current and future generations.

The interviewees include Graham Kraft (who talked about his father Bill Kraft, the innovative and legendary manager of the Drouin Butter Factory), Dora Scales and Murray Goudie (on their father Alex Goudie, World War 1 soldier, farmer, conservationist and three-time shire president), Iris Maxfield (Drouin Primary School teacher), Pat and Dennis Gleeson (who gave a very funny account of pigs getting drunk on fermented slops), Brian Milner (on Drouin at war behind the scenes), Margaret Jackson (on the Jackson and Bloye families), Keith Pretty (on the Robin Hood Hotel and much else) and Rod McNab (on the Drouin RSL).

Ms Farmer also paid tribute to Lynn Wells for the many hours she has spent editing the audio interviews.

The long-term plan is to put all the edited interviews online for researchers and others to access.

More than $600 worth of frozen foods and energy drinks were stolen from the Longwarry Newsagency early Sunday morning.

Police are investigating the burglary and theft that occurred between 1.50am and 2.40am.

Offenders gained entry to the newsagency in Mackey St through a back gate to the property.

Police said an external video camera was removed.

Police said witnesses reported a white utility was seen leaving the address.

Offenders stole $300 worth of frozen foods and $300 worth of energy drinks.

Anyone with information that may assist investigations should contact Drouin Police.