Reflections from the past

In Parliament earlier this week in answer to a question from the Member for Rodney, Mr Eddie Hann, the Premier, Mr Hamer, announced the State Government had rejected a request for the increase to be waived.

Instead, irrigators in financial difficulties could apply to the commission for deferment of this year’s rates — not just the increase but the whole of the rate.

Lockington group secretary Mr Ron Byrne said the meeting passed a motion expressing disgust at the government’s decision.

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The Cohuna Court has ordered the removal of 14 illegal buildings from the frontage of the Murray River in the Gunbower area.

The magistrate, Mr Curtain, gave the owners three months in which to remove the shacks.

However, in the case of pensioners, they were given nine months in which to carry out the order.

The proceedings were by way of complaint by the Lands Department under the Land Act.

Mr Curtain ordered the buildings be removed at the cost of the owners and also payment of court costs varying from $66 to $264.

The Minister for Lands, Mr Borthwick, said the cases were the forerunners of proposed similar action over more than 200 illegal structures in the Gunbower and Torrumbarry areas.

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Mobile Oil Australia has agreed to pay $100 compensation for damage of street trees fronting its service station in Ogilvie Ave, Echuca.

Echuca City Council wrote to the company stating it was disturbed that a person who undertook lopping of trees in the vicinity of the service station was aware lopping was not permitted.

The council said that upon receipt of a cheque for $100 compensation, the council would not take any legal action.

25 years ago March 2000

Pen friends for 61 years, Verna McClure from Horsham and Marge Ellis from South Africa, are almost like sisters.

So when they were reunited for the first time in 21 years at the Women’s World Bowls at Moama on Monday, emotions ran high.

Marge, 73, who lives in Natal, is manager of the South Africa team.

She and Verna, 72, still correspond regularly, as they have done since their early teens.

Prior to this week the great mates had laid eyes on each other only once — when Marge visited Verna on her farm near Horsham in 1979.

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The Echuca community is still entrenched in the old ‘’Tech versus High’’ ethos and lacks a shared vision for the future, according to independent consultants.

In a report on the delivery of state school VCE in Echuca, the firm Dwyer Riviere and Associates said any attempt to make a collaborative change would face ‘’adversarial resistance’’.

The consultants noted a ‘’lack of objectivity’’ in the community and said some people would not be satisfied unless they had their way.

‘’Discussions... are being conducted in a vacuum where there is no vision or strategic intent underpinning any change suggested,’’ the report says.

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Former Kyabram Ward councillor Mary Bowman plans to ‘’haunt’’ her former colleagues following her defeat in Saturday’s Campaspe Shire elections.

The poll was officially declared by Victorian Electoral Commission returning officer Rob Cummings at the Campaspe Shire offices on Saturday at 6pm.

In a convincing victory, Kybaram businessman John Elborough won the ward, taking 60.51 per cent of the first preference votes.

Mrs Bowman polled 21.74 per cent while Kyabram businesswoman Carol Howell claimed 17.78 per cent of the vote.

The status quo will reign in the Echuca and Eastern wards with Cathie Halliday, Peter Williams and Neil Repacholi.

10 years ago March 2015

Australian mining magnate Gina Rinehart might be looking to offset her shrinking iron ore revenues by digging for gold on the plains west of Echuca.

Gold Exploration Victoria, a subsidiary of Rinehart’s Hancock Prospecting business, has announced it will sink up to $4.2 million exploring for gold between Mitiamo and Raywood.

The announcement comes six months after a Riverine Herald report, which outlined a $15 million Victorian Government plan to fast-track mining exploration in areas, including the Four Eagles Gold Project.

West Australian business Catalyst will launch the latest hunt for gold with the backing of Rinehart’s company.

Catalyst has explored the country and found gold 100m below cropped paddocks, some of the region’s finest farming country.

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Gunbower’s Ellie Robinson and Echuca’s Sue Neale have very different reasons for taking part in the annual Run for the Kids in Melbourne on Sunday.

However, their motives are just as noble.

A teacher at Echuca Specialist School, Sue will be doing the memorial run to remember former students who had succumbed to illness.

‘‘Students use the Royal Children’s Hospital for many medical issues,’’ he said.

For Ellie, the run is all about recognising the lifesaving work of the RCH medical staff.

Her six-year-old son Jacobi was born with a heart condition and DiGeorge Syndrome.

‘‘They saved Jacobi’s life,’’ she said.

Mrs Robinson said Jacobi, who attends Echuca Specialist School, was now a healthy boy enjoying life, only needing yearly check-ups in Melbourne.

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Finding appropriate skilled and qualified staff to work in the ever-growing aged care sector was one of the biggest issues facing the industry, Leading Age Services Australia Victoria chief executive Trevor Carr said.

Mr Carr was in town on Tuesday for the Loddon Mallee and Hume aged care forum, which saw about 50 aged care providers gather at Rich River Golf Club Resort.

‘‘Aged care is an ever increasing competitive market for employment,’’ he said.

Mr Carr said the growing ageing population would lead to a greater need for health services in the Loddon Mallee and Hume region.

‘‘There are five people for every person aged over 60 and this will be three for every person over 60 in 30 years,’’ he said.

‘‘In Campaspe, the population over the age of 60 is 5.5 per cent, compared to the Victorian average of 4.1 per cent.