Community
8 May, 2025
Celebrating Alan Marshall's 123rd birthday
THE Noorat community gathered last Friday to celebrate the birthday of one of the village’s most famous residents.
What would have been the 123rd birthday of prominent Noorat author Alan Marshall was celebrated with cake and the unveiling of a new window display documenting his life and career.
The window display is hosted at The Beehive, the storefront on the corner of Terang-Mortlake Road and Mackinnons Bridge Road.
The store was built in 1900, and just two years later was the birthplace of Mr Marshall.
Organiser Jo Kenna said Mr Marshall’s talent and love for his community had made him a beloved figure worthy of celebration.
“We’re marking the occasion of a new addition to the Noorat streetscape with a commemoration of Alan Marshall, who was born in the residence of the storefront 123 years ago,” she said.
“He was a writer who wrote many fantastic books, the most famous of which was ‘I can jump puddles’ which was made in to a movie about his childhood growing up with polio.
“Things were tough for him growing up but he was a very plucky character, quite a smart lad and good with figures.
“He moved to Melbourne but never lost his love of Noorat, and would come back every year or two and reconnect.
“He would go to the Noorat Primary School, in particular, and Terang High School and tell yarns to us – he was a very engaging speaker, and a character.”
The ribbon to officially unveil the display was lifted by Noorat’s oldest resident, Pam Knight.
“Pam knew Alan personally,” Mrs Kenna said.
“She was a fan of Alan as a person and in his writing, so it was very fitting for Pam to do the honours.”
The occasion drew around 40 people including students from both Noorat Primary School and Mercy Regional College, Corangamite Shire councillors Geraldine Conheady and Jo Beard, and members of the wider community.
Mrs Kenna thanked all those involved, including the Noorat Residents Association and Terang Noorat Arts in the Avenue for supporting the event, in addition to donations from the Terang Community Op Shop and various members of the community.
“Everyone had only three days’ notice to put this all together,” she said.
“We’re really pleased with how it turned out.”
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