Reflections from the past

‘’You do not need to be reminded that inflation has affected purchasing power of every individual in Australia. It’s also worth mentioning that the Freedom from Hunger campaign has been similarly affected,“ Mr Orton said.

‘’Because your 1964 $1 is now worth only 50 cents, you have to pay twice as much for anything you buy in 1974.

‘’It is for this reason we would like to suggest that, when you make your gift on Sunday, September 29, you remember the slogan – try and give more in ’74.’’

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Mrs A. Wright and Mrs A. Kennedy were two of the many busy stallholders at Thursday’s St Joseph’s fete.

The ladies were kept busy on a number of stalls which were sold out early in the afternoon.

The ladies also served luncheon and afternoon tea.

During the day, a number of competitions were conducted and prizes went to Mrs F. Clark, Duchese set; J Monigatti, biscuits; Mrs Godfrey, sweet set; Mary Shanahan, cake; Fr Jan, trophy; Julie McCormick, pillow cases.

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A cabaret ball held at Lockington on September 11 attracted 116 patrons.

Mr Gib Cunnington was the MC and the music was provided by the Girgarre Organ Band.

Novelty dance winners were Mr and Mrs Gordon, Mrs R. Coutts and Mr R. Fiedler, Mr R. Coutts and A. Dunstan and Mr B. Watts and Mrs R. Perks.

The president, Mr R. Coutts, thanked all who had helped in the success of the evening.

25 years ago September 1999

Grand final fever is reaching boiling point this week in Rochester with the town turning yellow and black in preparation for the Tigers and Tigerettes matches against Shepparton United this Sunday at Deakin Reserve.

Coach David Williams has said his team is in top form, citing the selection of players as the best Rochester has fielded in recent years.

It’s the third year in a row Williams has brought the side to the last game in September.

Over the past decade, the team has consistently finished in the top half of the ladder but has managed to capture the flag only once, in 1992, when it defeated Tatura by two points.

The win marked the first grand final flag for the Tigers since they re-entered the GVFL competition in the early 1970s.

***

Borrowing crutches, walking frames and knee braces from Rochester and Elmore District Health Services could involve paying a bond in the future if there is not a marked improvement in the return rate of borrowed items.

Physiotherapist Louise MacFadyn said currently, patients having surgery or treatment could borrow the good for free.

A loan card is filled out with the borrower’s name, address and phone number and expected return date agreed on.

Unfortunately, many patients aren’t keeping their end of the bargain and are often hard to locate when the due time has lapsed.

What often happens is that the borrowed item ends up out in the shed or somewhere else out of sight and so is forgotten.

***

There will be dancing in the street this New Year’s Eve at the Lockington family street party.

And to mark the new year, fireworks will be set off at midnight and partygoers will be urged to blow horns and sirens to coincide with the display.

A celebration committee set up some months ago is finalising plans for the party which includes activities for children and dancing led by bush band the Bush Larrikins.

Local talent is being sought to busk during the night’s celebrations and the committee plans to award prizes for the most popular items.

Committee member Joy Weller urges people to get a group together and come along to join in the festivities.

10 years ago September 2014

A 1km-long levee will be built to protect Rochester from another disaster as overwhelming as the back-to-back floods of 2010 and 2011.

It will be built on a Northern Hwy property 4.5km south of the town.

Campaspe Shire said a channel on the property would be decommissioned before construction of the levee started.

The levee defence is a strategy devised by Goulburn-Murray Water’s connection project and the Rochester flood study.

A large part of the project had been agreements with local landholders to decommission irrigation channels no longer needed.

***

Rochester’s Dave Williams is a name synonymous with country footy and last week, after years of dedication to the game he loves, he was presented with a GVL life membership.

Williams had an outstanding playing career, notching up 67 games of VFL/AFL for Melbourne Football Club, 260 games for Rochester, two best-and-fairest awards and two premierships.

However, it is his coaching career that has moulded his legacy.

‘Dirty’, as he is widely known, started coaching senior football in 1992 and led the Rochester Tigers to premiership glory against a star-studded Tatura side.

For one of the smallest towns in the Goulburn Valley League, Williams did an incredible job in leading Rochester through a successful decade, where the only year it did not contest finals was 1996.

***

Rochester’s Salvation Army op shop has become a dump.

Far too often useless junk, from broken chairs, rickety tables, ruined mattresses and water damaged cabinets, is abandoned under the cover of darkness.

While Salvation Army minister David Allman said most items received were donated in good faith and good and working condition, some people were using the charity as their own personal tip.

‘‘We just need people to be a bit more aware of the stuff they’re donating and have a think if what they’re giving is actually useable,’’ he said.

***

Rochester’s St Joseph’s Primary School recently held the inaugural Brownlow Gala fundraising night.

The red carpet was rolled out and guests were photographed and interviewed on their way into the school hall.

Each table represented an AFL team and guests were assigned a player from that team.

Votes from the final five rounds of the AFL season were counted and Shane McAsey was crowned the winner with Geelong player Tom Hawkins.

Channel 10 sports reporter and master of ceremonies Brad McEwan presented Shane with his winner’s medal.