Reflections from the past

Mr Taylor was addressing the very large crowd just prior to the grand parade, and in referring to his committeemen, paid tribute to their great work at numerous working bees which had transformed the showgrounds.

There were many trade exhibits to interest the farmer, the housewife, the motorist and the householder.

There were few stands in the sideshow alley, and this was one aspect of the 1975 Rochester Show which proved disappointing.

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The outstanding feature of the horse events at Saturday’s Rochester Show was the presence of many of the state’s top jumps horsemen and their horses, and the competition between these riders and horses was top class.

Top among the riders was internationally famous Art Uytendaal, who manages the Kevin Dennis show jumping team.

Uytendaal, who ranks with the top riders in Australia, rode two of his horses to the first two places in the president’s jump.

The winner of the event was Johnny Walker.

Other top riders included Guy Creighton from Casino in northern NSW; Dianne Dawson, of Sydney, who is shortly to compete overseas; and Peter Tennant, of Stanhope, who, not long back, competed in Japan.

There were also many top district competitors in the jumping event.

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The Rochester Jockey Club will race no more, after the completion of the 1974-75 season, which concludes on Thursday, July 31, following a decision to de-license the club.

The annual meeting of the Racecourses Licences Board in Melbourne on Thursday decided not to renew Rochester’s licence.

Two other racecourses, at Watchem and Cobram, were also not re-licensed.

The Rochester Jockey Club had rejected the board’s offer for it to race on another track of its choice, and the club will now cease to exist.

It will be a sad end for a club which had raced for 100 years and which in December last had one of its best ever meetings to celebrate the centenary of racing at Rochester.

Until now, Rochester had held four meetings a year.

25 years ago March 2000

News that residents would not have to pay an additional drainage levy for the proposed Diggora Road drainage scheme led to an overwhelming vote to proceed with the plan at a meeting held on Tuesday of last week.

The packed hall heard Campaspe Shire Western Ward councillor Greg Toll, who chaired the meeting, open with the words ‘’I have one bit of good news to tell you first and that is that the residents are not going to pay’’.

Campaspe Shire will fund the drainage works, expected to cost in the vicinity of $600,000, out of rate revenue, with submissions to government bodies for grants to assist with the funding.

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A pit full of snakes and a vocal town crier were the hits of Friday night’s program at Rochester Show, which culminated in a colourful fireworks display on the main arena.

Hundreds filed through the gates, taking advantage of the non-stop show put on by the Dangerous Australians display that featured dozens of snakes slithering around a pit, while a handler — in shorts, t-shirt and socks — picked up groups of snakes, including taipans, browns and tigers, to display to the fascinated audience.

Town crier left no-one in doubt as to the many events they could participate in or view, from games on the main arena to the car display, animal nursery and sideshows.

The fun half-hour on the oval saw eggs go flying, groups trying to ski on grass and hay bales and wheelie bins being raced to the finish line.

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Over 70 people walked across the Noel Touhey bridge at Muskerry for the first time yesterday following the renaming of the new structure by Southern Ward councillor Marion Riley.

Noel Touhey, the late Campaspe Shire councillor and Southern Ward representative, was the driving force behind having the former Forest Creek bridge rebuilt after its collapse over 18 months ago.

He argued for the necessity to maintain access for small communities that used the bridge and for its importance to the historic Muskerry church that sits on the hill overlooking the small creek.

Naming the bridge after the late councillor was ‘’a fitting remembrance to the life and hard work of Noel Touhey’’, Cr Riley said.

10 years ago March 2015

The inaugural Rochester Mural Festival is in full swing with hundreds of cars stopping to check out the talent.

Committee chair Graham Robertson said organisers had been blown away by the response from the public.

‘‘We were hoping it would draw a fair crowd, but it’s been incredible how many people have passed through already,’’ he said.

‘‘The feedback from passers-by has been overwhelmingly positive and people are just amazed with the quality of the art.

‘‘We’re off to a flying start, especially for our first year.’’

And the contestants have been as impressed with Rochester as the town has with them.

‘‘It’s such a vibrant town,’’ Queensland artist Kerry Nicholson said.

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It is official — Corop stinks.

Lake Cooper has all but dried up and the rotting fish the evaporated water left behind are causing residents to walk around pinching their nose.

The mainly dead carp have been decomposing for more than a month, but last week’s cold front turned the northerly breeze to a westerly and the stench wafted into town.

‘‘I can’t sleep it’s that bad,’’ resident Hayley Chisholm said.

‘‘I moved away from the beach for a reason.

‘‘It’s enough to make you vomit.’’

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A mother’s heartbreaking story how ice has ruined the lives of two of her children was heard by a sea of concerned parents.

More than 200 attended the drug information night at Rochester Secondary College on Wednesday.

Police and health workers also spoke to the crowd.

One district football coach made attendance mandatory for his junior charges.

Sergeant Dale Simm of Rochester police opened the night, talking about his experience with the drug from a law enforcement perspective.

‘‘It’s a problem gaining traction in today’s society and something we as a community need to get on top of,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s the most violent drug police have ever come across.’’