General News
22 June, 2026
Restoring a piece of history
WHEN Wendy Hopwood learned that 1973 Stawell Gift winner Bernie Moss had lost everything in the Longwood fire, she knew the Stawell Athletic Club had to help. Bernie had lost the medal, sash and memorabilia connected to one of the greatest achievements of his life. Within weeks, the club had organised replacement items, gathered photographs from his winning year and travelled to Yea to present them in person.
Wendy said members of the Yea community contacted the club seeking help after Bernie lost everything in the fire.
“We were contacted by someone from the Yea community, telling us that Bernie had lost everything in the bushfires, and they wanted to know what could be done to replace some of his memorabilia,” she said.
The suppliers who provide the club’s medals and sashes donated replacement items after hearing Bernie’s story.
Wendy said Bernie was reluctant to accept the gesture.
“He felt he celebrated it 53 years ago,” she said.
“He’d already been given it once, so he didn’t think he deserved to be given again.
“He was just a beautiful, beautiful person.”
More than 50 years after his famous Stawell Gift victory, Bernie was presented with a replacement medal, sash and framed photograph during a community gathering attended by family, friends and members of the Stawell Gift community.
The presentation also included a quilt made by the Stawell Quilters after the group learned of Bernie’s circumstances presented by Heather Seaman.
Wendy said, as far as she knew, it was the first time the club had replaced a former winner’s medal and sash.
“Sixty-odd people turned up in the community hall there, and it was lovely,” she said.
“He was so humbled by it.
“He even felt that it was nice that everyone got together because that’s when the town needed a good news story, that it was something positive to come out of.”
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