Tuesday, 26 May, 2026
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A Star News Group Publication
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Happy 50th anniversary On Saturday 16 May, the Lilydale Athenaeum Theatre Company celebrated its 50th anniversary, marking 211 shows and over half a million patrons since 1976. To honour founders Geoffrey Page and Russell Johnson, Mayor Richard Higgins and 50 guests gathered for the unveiling of a commissioned portrait by local artist Lou Primavera. The theatre, originally a Mechanics Institute, preserves the duo’s legacy through Victorian-style decor and time-honoured traditions, including welcoming patrons with programs and interval refreshments, fostering a lasting creative family. Turn to page 9 for more
The Lilydale Theatre board unveils the commissioned portrait of its founders. (Alexandra Carter, Wanderling Photography)
The other Cazaly By Mikayla van Loon The renowned Cazaly name in Victoria holds a deep connection to Australian Rules Football history, but a newly uncovered World War I story has sparked a search for the relatives of Montrose veteran Louis Edgar Cazaly. Lou’s selfless actions on the Western Front in September 1918 inspired his commanding officer, William Hawkins, to later found The Carry On Club, known today as Veterans Housing Aus-
tralia (VHA). After a brutal day of fighting near Peronne, France, a young soldier named Snowy fell asleep in a dugout. Despite having been on duty since dawn, Private Lou Cazaly volunteered to carry messages to the front line himself so his exhausted counterpart could sleep. The story inspired William Hawkins to “never forget these men” and saw him vow to support his fellow veterans through the toughest of times. The extraordinary story was recently discov-
ered in the archives by VHA chief executive officer Rob Miller, who noted that the account had never been published. Research reveals Lou was working as an orchardist in Montrose before enlisting. He was wounded in action on multiple occasions but returned to duty, later serving again in World War II. While his cousin Roy Cazaly became a football legend, inspiring the famous anthem Up There Cazaly, Lou’s post-WWI life was marked by trage-
dy. In 1931, his wife and newborn child died from childbirth complications. Lou died in 1945 after a period of declining health following his return from service in 1943, with his obituary describing him as a “patient sufferer at rest.” To honour his legacy, VHA is searching for his descendants and wants to embed Lou’s story as part of the organisation’s history. To read more about his life, turn to page 5
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