General News
10 February, 2026
Heirloom highlights at Natimuk Monster Auction
The saying 'one person's trash is another person's treasure' will ring true at the Natimuk Monster Auction on Saturday, February 14, where items no longer needed by some may be highly valued by others.
There will be no trash in sight, only valuable items generously donated by people from near and far.
Farm machinery and vintage cars, home baking and all sorts of paraphernalia have been donated, and it will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to bag some of these items.
All proceeds will support the Natimuk Showgrounds Master Plan.
Natimuk A & H Society secretary Judith Bysouth encouraged the community to support the event and use it as an opportunity to connect over coffee and conversation.
"The auction is a day to get together, especially for people who have had to move or had their lives directly impacted by recent events," she said.
The day will kick off at 7.30am with a cooked breakfast of bacon and egg wraps, and tea and coffee, while you check out the goods for auction.
To tempt the taste buds, there will be a limited number of sausage rolls available free at 10am in the lead-up to the auction, including more sausage rolls, Christmas puddings, fruit cake, cheese and spinach rolls, meat packs, and more.
High on the sought-after list will be the dining suite donated by the Albrecht family, and the purchaser will be purchasing a piece of history as well as a valuable antique.
"We have been very fortunate to have the donation of some heirloom furniture, donated as well as so many other wonderful items," Ms Bysouth said.
Dianne and Ian Albrecht donated family treasures to the auction and have shared a small snapshot of the history of the dining setting, which has been in their family for four generations.
Ian's grandmother, Antonia Clara Marie Albrecht (Toni), was from Natimuk and attended the Duchembegarra School not far from the Natimuk Lake.
One day at school, she broke her leg, and without ambulances or medical assistance nearby, her classmates carried her home.
She married Fred Albrecht in 1914, and they made their home at Gerung Gerung, where they farmed for the rest of their lives.
The dining table has been the centre-piece for many happy occasions for the four generations it has been in the family.
The family has also experienced loss, including the passing of their son Clarrie, who was killed in action during WWII at Bougainville.
The family has chosen to donate the heirloom to benefit Natimuk, and it will be on display, ready to begin a new chapter with another family.
This is not the first time the family has made a significant bequest to Natimuk.
Toni's first cousin, Otto Spehr, bequeathed most of his 80,000-pound estate to a perpetual trust for the beautification of Natimuk Lake, changing the spelling of his surname from the German spelling of Speher to Spehr.
Many families did this during the war, hoping to avoid drawing attention to their German heritage.
Dianne and Ian have also donated a Chelsea Bird Dinner set, which includes dinner, side, and entrée plates, soup and dessert bowls, a soup tureen, salad bowl, gravy jug, and tea cups with saucers.
Support services and information displays, including Rural Aid, will be available to provide assistance and information in a welcoming environment, particularly for those affected by the January 9 fires.
Tickets for the Rotary Car Raffle will be on sale.
"I just have one message for people; come together and kick a tyre, it's a long time since we had an event like this, so come along and enjoy the time together," she said.
"There'll be food and coffee and bargains; all the makings of a great day out."
For more information or to register items, please call 0447 454 351.