Around the traps

The steam train that made the original first trip to Deniliquin on July 4, 1876, was the longest in the colonies constructed by private enterprise in the shortest possible time and at the lowest possible cost.

The line was extended over the Murray River from Moama to Echuca in 1923 when its ownership was transferred from the NSW Railways to officially become part of the Victorian Railways system.

Two steam trains arrived at Tocumwal the same weekend as the Deniliquin landmark visit.

Steamrail Victoria ran two trains to the border town for the first time for 25 years.

Clayton’s El Niño

The ‘Clayton’s El Niño’ is continuing.

On Saturday evening, 10mm was recorded at the Kyabram weather station in a violent storm to take the July total to 32mm.

Kyabram’s average for July is 41mm.

The weekend rain takes the yearly total to 361mm, which is well above the average.

In July, minimum temperatures have dipped below freezing for the first time this year, with -0.1°C on Tuesday, July 7, and -0.8°C last Friday (July 10).

Horror road show

There are no prizes for complaining about the state of some — make that most — Victorian roads.

Recent rain has obviously magnified the problem to an extent that many of these roads are just accidents waiting to happen.

State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe has weighed in on the topic of the dangerous state of the roads through her own experience.

On a recent trip from Melbourne, she witnessed at least seven cars pulled over on the Goulburn Valley Hwy, between Nagambie and Shepparton, victims of mainly potholes in unavoidable positions.

And Mooroopna’s Freer’s Panel Works and 24 Hours Towing Service was called to 73 stranded motorists on the Hume Hwy, between Seymour and Avenel, in seven days.

Yes, something needs to be done — and pronto.

Tough time for growers

Bad news for rice growers in the Deniliquin and Moulamein areas.

Under SunRice’s changes, the Deniliquin mill will move from a 24-hour, five-day operation to a single eight-hour shift, five days a week.

At Leeton, both milling and packing operations will transition from a 24-hour, five-day structure to 16 hours a day, five days a week.

This will leave a big hole in these two rice growing districts.

Mural theme chosen

Dates and the theme for the next Rochester Mural Festival have been locked in.

‘Calm Before The Storm’ has been chosen as the theme for the 2027 festival, which will begin on Saturday, March 13 with the popular ‘Meet The Artists Dinner’ at the Rochester Shire Hall.

Artists will begin work on Sunday, March 14, transforming walls across Rochester into vibrant works of art.

Weirs to be replaced

Construction has started on two major water infrastructure upgrades along the Billabong Creek, north and north-east of Deniliquin.

The NSW Government is replacing ageing weirs at Wanganella and Hartwood with modern automated regulators.

Built in the early 20th century, both weirs are in poor condition and limit the official movement of water through the Yanco Creek system and restrict fish movement through the waterways.

The work is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Sad news from Barooga

A body was recovered from the Murray River at Barooga on Sunday, July 5.

The man’s body was discovered in the morning and recovered at 10.15am by SES crews.

Square dinkum

G’day.

I overheard a conversation between two blokes.

The first bloke asked, ‘’So, why was your wife so upset?’’

The second bloke replied, ‘’I asked her when dinner would be ready.’’

The first bloke said, ‘‘What’s wrong with that?’’

‘‘Nothing,’’ replied the second bloke. ‘‘Except… she was mowing the lawn at the time.’’

Hooroo!