50 YEARS AGO
MONDAY, JANUARY 29, 1973
RIVER ATTRACTS THOUSANDS OF HOLIDAY VISITORS
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Echuca must have been one of the most attractive spots in Victoria for long weekend holidaymakers, judging by the number of campers and day-trippers in town over the past three days.
Whether it was the lure of the water or just simply a nice spot for a weekend break, the Murray River seemed to be the greatest attraction.
For miles up and downstream of Echuca, campers had set up their tents in shaded spots on sandbars on quiet river bends.
Speedboats churned up and down, towing up to three skiers who were either extremely professional or extremely tense with the idea of learning.
ERDS MAN SAYS: “WE SHOULD PLAN FOR YEAR 2000”
Members of the Echuca Regional Development Society have hailed a suggestion that the society call a meeting of all organisations in the city to discuss and plan an environment desired by the year 2000.
At last Thursday night’s monthly meeting of the society, one of its members, Mr Ron Dohnt, proprietor of the Central Ice Works, called upon the society to convene a meeting in the near future.
“We would want all business, industrial, educational, sporting, religious, in fact all organisations, represented at this meeting,” Mr Dohnt said.
He told the meeting the ERDS must live up to its convictions as a development society and do its utmost to draw up a program of suggested development over the next 30 years.
TWO WINS, TWO PLACES FOR BENDIGO JOCKEY
Two winning rides and two other placings by the Bendigo jockey Paul Mallia highlighted the Echuca Racing Club’s Murray Plate meeting on Saturday.
Mallia rode winners in the two-year-old Maiden Handicap and the January Handicap.
His placings, a third and a second, came in the First Improvers Handicap and the Maiden Handicap.
He rode the 7-4 on favourite, Tudor Gleam, to a narrow win in the two-year-old Maiden Handicap and the 7-1 third favourite, Jady Son, to another close win in the January Handicap.
FUN FACT: “We like Echuca, but your weather is far too hot for us.” That was the feeling expressed by Mr and Mrs Tiem Lulofs, who arrived in Echuca in November to visit Mr and Mrs Eddy DeBruyne.
25 YEARS AGO
MONDAY, JANUARY 26, 1998
SHIRE: FINE LINE
Campaspe Shire assets could be sold off to prevent a potential financial crisis.
According to Campaspe Shire’s director of corporate services and acting chief executive officer Mick Jaensch, while the shire was operating “in the black”, it was at a crucial turning point, essential to steer money matters back on track ... and prevent the shire from following the same path as the devastated Moira Shire, which has reported a $17 million deficit.
“But we are not Moira and we are not in the same situation,” Mr Jaensch said.
“At the moment we’re financially sound, but we are on the wire and need to act now to prevent ourselves from becoming the next Moira.”
A combination of amalgamation’s general failure to deliver promised savings, a $2.5 million decrease in rate revenue and a high capital works budget over the past three years contributed to the concerning situation, he said.
He said at the point of restructure in 1994, council owed $4.2 million.
By the time the first council elections were held in March last year, Campaspe Shire faced an $8.52 million debt.
THE FUTURE OF MOTORING
Luxury motoring it isn’t, but the Aurora solar car is certainly an environmentally friendly vehicle.
It glides along almost noiselessly — without fumes — and its power supply is replenished by the sun.
Aurora stopped in Echuca for 45 minutes last Friday to recharge its batteries and satisfy the curiosity of passersby.
It was in Echuca en route to Melbourne while taking part in the CitiPower SunRace, which began in Sydney on January 18 and finished in Melbourne on January 24.
SOUTH BIG WINNERS IN ROUND EIGHT OF CCA
Echuca South was a convincing winner against Rochester Tigers when Round 8 of Campaspe Cricket Association concluded on Saturday.
South held Tigers to 48 in their first innings and 4-132 in the second, to clinch victory by 335 runs.
Mathoura captain Jamie Murphy scored a brilliant 121 not out to give his side an 84-run win against Tongala.
Jake Trevaskis was 59 not out for the Blues.
Rochester United grabbed a 68-run win over Moama.
In the other match, Bunnaloo defeated BLU by 104 runs, with Ted Hartshorn scoring 107.
FUN FACT: You could get the royal treatment at King’s Milk Bar in High St, Echuca. The lunch deal of a pie and can of drink set you back $2.90.
10 YEARS AGO
FRIDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012
10,000 VISITS IN THREE WEEKS
The Echuca Library is proving to be a hot spot this month, with more than 10,000 visits recorded in the past three weeks.
Since reopening on January 2, after a 12-day closure for the Christmas/new year period, an average of 650 people a day have walked through its doors.
Campaspe Regional Library services manager Jenny Mustey said even though a ‘visit’ was measured by an electronic counter at the library’s entrance and did not necessarily mean a long-term visitor, the library had been extremely busy.
‘‘It’s been a mad house,’’ she said.
‘‘We are so busy. It’s fantastic. School holiday programs are being well-attended. We have two craft activities a week and we get anywhere between 30 and 40 children.
‘‘Many tourists also come in to keep cool and they end up using our facilities.’’
SNAKE SIGHTINGS DROP OFF
Despite a bout of hot weather in the region, local snake handler George Calleja said the number of snake sightings had dropped off significantly.
Mr Calleja said the start of the summer had been his busiest in 15 years as a snake handler, but with the mercury soaring above 30°C for days on end and snakes completing their breeding season, sightings had declined.
‘‘It is not unusual for this time of year, with so many consecutive days with temperatures above 30°C,’’ he said.
‘‘Snakes will only venture out into the sun for a short period for energy.’’
Mr Calleja said the start of the summer was a busy time for him as well as his sons, who also work as snake handlers.
‘‘The numbers of snakes we caught would easily be double the amount we would normally catch in a season,’’ he said.
SIDES SEEK GLORY
Goulburn Murray Cricket may be setting an imprint of years to come if its domination at Bendigo Country Week continues in today’s senior and colts final.
The division one side won all four of its qualifying matches throughout the week, finishing with a penultimate-ball victory against Ferntree Gully yesterday, and coach Barry Findlay rated the team’s chances ahead of the final against Ferntree Gully.
‘‘I am (confident),’’ he said.
‘‘We have a good mature group.
‘‘We are pretty lucky that we have (Adam) Ward at 20 and quite a few aged from 22 to 28 and a couple more in their 30s.
‘‘For example today, we had Cam Parker, the captain of Moama, and Ben Docking, the captain of BLU, who were out at the crease when we needed them.’’
After winning the toss and bowling, Goulburn Murray again struck early, with Ward taking the first two wickets.
Save for a 74-run partnership in the middle of the innings, the team took regular wickets as it restricted Ferntree Gully to 201.
Tim Maxfield provided fireworks in Goulburn Murray’s chase in a ‘‘terrific’’ performance, as he scored 74 off 68 deliveries.
‘‘(Brendan) Prendergast batted almost right through and finished with 56 — which was his third score over 50 this week — and then Adam Ward (34) batted well to give us a bit of a push.”
FUN FACT: Bendigo TAFE’s Echuca campus was offering a series of courses including Commercial Cookery, Kitchen Operations, Aged Care and Home and Community Care, Community Services, Children’s Services, Media, VCAL, General Education for Adults, Training and Assessment, Carpentry and Electrotechnology.
Gregor Mactaggart is the editor of the Riverine Herald.