Reflections from the past

The Rochester branch, only small in numbers, but capably led by branch governor Ron Wilson and leader Lance Farmers, upset the stronger branches and brought the cup back to the northern deanery after a spell in other parts of the diocese.

Canon Ron Laity Memorial Cup is in memory of the late Canon Ron Laity, of Pyramid Hill, who was the Diocesian Commissioner for the Church of England Boys Society at the time of his death.

***

A welcome revival of the farm allocation plan began last week when applications were called for the first five of 150 farms in the Rochester and Heytesbury areas, which are to be allocated under a five-year plan by the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission.

The holdings in the Rochester divisions vary between 39.25 hectares (97 acres) and 42.49 hectares (105 acres) and each farm is provided with a three bedroom hoe, serviced by a hot water system and a septic tank.

The land is fenced into four main paddocks as a basis for further subdivision.

The Rochester farms, classed as suitable for dairying, are situated west of Rochester and will operate under the Flood Irrigation Scheme from the Campaspe River.

***

Mr Cyril Clymo has been re-elected for his sixth term as president of the Bamawm Football Club. Mr Clymo’s six years as president have been consecutive.

He was re-elected at the club’s annual meeting and Mr Clymo said he would like to see more younger men take their places on the committee.

‘’It takes a lot of organisation to field four teams each Saturday,’’ he added.

***

The Rochester Shire will benefit by a grant of $12,941 from the Federal Government for four projects in Rochester.

The grant will employ six men for nine weeks.

Mr Bruce Lloyd, the Member for Murray in Federal Parliament, was notified of the grant by the Minister for Labor and Immigration, Mr Clyde Cameron.

The Shire of Rochester applied for a grant of $16,812 for the provision of concrete slabs at the Rochester Caravan Park, beautification of the sewerage treatment works at Rochester, cleaning up weeds at the Rochester cemetery and for underground drainage at Rochester.

25 years ago February 2000

An Aussie barbecue capped off a ‘’very happy’’ weekend for several visitors from Campaspe Shire’s sister city Shiroi-Machi on a whirlwind two-day visit.

Hiromi and Shichiro Sano, who were hosted by Rochester couple Steve and Georgina Roberts, and Hiroko and Kazuo Kataoka, hosted by Stewart and Pam McDonald at Ballendella, were guests at the Rochester barbecue on Saturday night.

The two couples were part of a delegation from Japan.

Mr Kataoka said it was a very happy weekend, although the visitors had to adjust from leaving Tokyo’s winter and a temperature of zero degrees and arriving in Melbourne’s almost 40 degrees.

***

Michael Anderson doesn’t know who first gave him the nickname ‘’Tas’’, but the Tassie devil figures that feature on his Ford ute give some clues as to why he earned the tag.

The XF ute, with the Tasmanian Devil cartoon character emblazoned on the tonneau cover and tail gate, is one of the dozens expected to line up in the Beaut Ute competition at the Rochester Show.

Michael’s ute has already won him prizes at Royal Melbourne, Whittlesea and Echuca among other shows, as well as taking him halfway around Australia last year.

But he’ll be up against some solid competition on Friday, and entries have grown every year since the utes were first introduced to the show.

***

‘’I don’t know if it’s apathy, a lack of interest or else we’ve done a reasonable job,’’ was Central Ward councillor Murray McDonald’s reaction to his lack of opposition in next month’s Campaspe Shire council elections.

Cr McDonald said he was pleased to be able to serve a second term as it gave him the opportunity to see through the projects begun during his first term.

Western Ward councillor Greg Toll and Southern Ward’s Marion Riley will also serve a second term as councillors as both were unopposed when nominations closed on Tuesday of last week.

10 years ago February 2015

Rochester Chemmart Pharmacy owner Brett Phillips has thrown down the challenge for men across the district to get a teal MANicure to help fight ovarian cancer.

Several district men have already responded and had their nails painted despite initial reservations.

‘‘I’m certainly outside my comfort zone, but it’s important to raise awareness for such a worthy cause,” football coach and Rochester Motel owner Matt Keating said.

Rochester Sportspower’s Darren Pain was in a similar boat.

‘‘People have been glancing at my nails and giving me strange looks all day, but when I explain it’s in support of ovarian cancer they become a lot less confused,’’ he said.

***

Residents and business owners have been left astounded with the opposition to a proposed Hy-Line chicken hatchery to be built 1km south of Rochester.

Rochester Chamber of Commerce chair Alan Darbyshire said after a rough trot in recent years, an economic shot in the arm was just what Rochester needed and it would be a missed opportunity if the hatchery was not to eventuate.

‘‘After the drought, a collapse of the dairy industry, factory lay-offs and the most destructive flood in the town’s history, we finally have some positive news with Hy-Line coming to town,’’ he said.

‘‘It will provide up to 20 jobs with $600,000 in wages to be injected into the community and the company has already made use of local contractors and suppliers.

‘‘Having surveyed our membership in recent days, the response has been a combination of excitement, hope and disappointment that some non-business individuals will not source factual information before forming a negative view about the development.’’

***

After 25 years of service, Rochester Primary School’s volunteer religious education teacher Vicki Dow has decided to call it a day.

Mrs Dow moved to Rochester in 1988 and was asked by a local pastor if she would be interested in replacing her teaching at the school.

‘‘I had no formal training so I was dropped in head first at the deep end,’’ she said.

Mrs Dow said in her time regulations on teachers had increased dramatically, but told prospective teachers that it was a hurdle worth tackling.

‘‘It’s well worth the trouble,’’ she said.

‘‘I’ll miss being here and the children.’’

Mrs Dow worked under four principals and only one teacher has remained at the school throughout her tenure.