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Dad died in 1961 aged
53, with the Melba
N u m u r k a h ,
Tocumwal Pictures,
Finley School of Arts
and the Cobram
Melba still running. He
also had plans
underway for the
Yarrawonga Lakeside
Drive-in. Mother
closed Numurkah and
Finley, but continued
running Cobram. My
older brother, Max, ran
Tocumwal. My
Another view of the Melba, Cobram proscenium, showing the ornate husband, Len, built the
panelling around the screen. (Best available image).
Yarrawonga Lakeside
Drive-in, and Max and
There were many girls who worked as my other brother, David, ran it. Later, David
usherettes over the years (myself included). built the Stargazer Drive-in at Lavington,
On opening night, they were Rosie McKenzie, Albury, but eventually sold it.
Roma Harris, Shirley Collie and Dorothy Acknowledgements:
Janetski. The uniform was a long, grey skirt Mother was always known for her large flower
and red velvet top. There were also many displays in the foyer, mostly grown in the Cobram Courier
projectionists, including Vern Wyatt and early times from her own gardens at the front Additional material by Peter O’Reilly
Gunter Lermpio (for 17 years). The opening of the theatre. In later years, two shops were
night saw Dad in the bio-box with Vern built where the lawns and gardens had been. Images:
Wyatt, Pat Millerick in the ticket box, and Mother left photos of her theatre highlights, Pat Tallent
Mum on the door with the four usherettes. when she screened The World Of Susie Wong, Peter O’Reilly
the usherettes being dressed up for the part.
She enjoyed many social theatre luncheon CATHS archive
screenings, especially when Phar Lap was
shown and horse trainer Tommy Woodcock Article compiled by Peter O’Reilly
was there in Cobram. He also tipped the
winner of that year’s Melbourne Cup. Best available images have been used.
Mum retired at the age of 73,
but found it very hard not to
be active. She died aged 78,
having outlived dad who
was 53, and Max who was
46 when he died in 1983.
She found Max’s death the
hardest to come to terms
with.
In 1980, Melida and Gunter
Lempio (the long-term
Melba projectionist) leased
the Melba until its closure
in 1984. The building was
then sold and the flooring
removed. The Melba
became a flat-floored
market in the mid 1980s,
First film to be screened at the new Melba and was then resurrected as
Theatre, Cobram.
the Melba Twin Cinema,
opened on 8 May 1997 by
Many couples will remember their courting
Robert Gemmill and his
days at the theatre. Their favourite seats were family. Cinema 1 had 162
in the back row, called “Lovers Lane”. seats and Cinema 2 had 86
seats. Some of the seating
Dad continued with his building trade in came from the Puckapunyal
Cobram and built our house. Mum valued that
army camp. The Melba
house, as it was the only house they had Twin was a popular venue
owned since the Depression. Dad was a until the tragic fire on
member of the then progressive Chamber of 10 April 2010. Now we only
Commerce and worked on their “Back to have our cherished
Cobram” celebrations in 1950. He was a memories. ¬
foundation member of Rotary in Cobram, a
member of the Hospital Board and a member Right: 1964 advertising for the
of the Cobram Shire Council. Melba, Cobram. Note the cheeky
wording.

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