Gone are the days of back-breaking strain in the picking of tomatoes in the Rochester district, with the introduction of mechanical harvesters. Pictured in 1975 is the latest Blackwelder Harvester working on Messrs Tamburini’s tomato crop on the Restdown property of Messrs A. and P. Howes. The harvester has a capacity of almost 30 bins an hour, and requires a crew of tomato sorters. The machine costs approximately $50,000 and was being used by the Plumrose company.
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Campaspe News
50 years ago March 1975
The four-day Back to Elmore incorporating the centuries of the Elmore Primary School and the Elmore Methodist Church was a roaring success, with capacity crowds at all functions on the first three days.
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Rain on the last day, Easter Monday, put a dampener on the sports events, where attendances fell below that of the prior three days.
The back to and centenaries were organised by the Elmore Progress Association, in conjunction with the Elmore Light Harness Club, Elmore Primary School and the Elmore Methodist Church.
The task of co-ordinating the various functions fell upon the shoulders of the association’s president, Mr Bill Comer, and the secretary, Mr Bill Edmonston.
The weekend of festivities got under way on Good Friday, with a tour of the Elmore district, with over 100 participants.
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A huge crowd, estimated at 5000, flocked to the new trotting track at Elmore on Easter Sunday for the official opening of the track and the opening gymkhana.
The president of the Elmore Light Harness Club, well known trotting personality Mr Bruce Young, felt sure the large crowd in attendance would have been impressed with the facilities available at the Elmore track.
The club had been formed some three years ago, but it was not until about 14 months ago that work on the track was really commenced.
At this stage his club had about $43 in the bank. In the past 14 months, the club had spent $9000 on the track and there had been countless hours of voluntary labour.
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Mr R. Powles, District Governor of Lions for this area and one third of Victoria, spent four days in Darwin recently.
He went to investigate the situation in Darwin so he and other Lions members could discuss what to do and how to spend their money wisely.
The Lions fund is separate from the central fund for Darwin which means the Lions have a project of their own.
Mr Powles felt the major problem in Darwin was the lack of community facilities, such as entertainment and sporting facilities.
The government is still cleaning up and is planning guidelines for reconstructing the city, such as cyclone-proof houses, Mr Powles said.
25 years ago March 2000
The last of the cabernet sauvignon grapes from season 1999-2000 made their way from the hand-picked vines of Ormonhill vineyard at Corop to the Southcorp crushers last week.
The picking marked a successful end to almost three years of hand work on the property, establishing 200 acres of vines on the undulating country that was previously used as a dry grazing paddock for dairy cows.
Ormonhill vineyard manager Rod Dobson with the last of the cabernet sauvignon grapes to be picked.
Photo by
Campaspe News
Ormonhill is a combination of the three family names — Moon, Orr and Hill — of the vineyard venture.
The property is managed by Rod Dobson, a former dairy farmer himself.
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Children from Ballendella Primary School will carry ‘’the torch’’ along back roads from Ballendella to Rochester.
While their torch bears only a vague resemblance to the true Olympic torch displayed by Nova Peris-Kneebone last week, the spirit of their run is truly Olympic.
Teaghan Bubb and her grade three to six school mates from Ballendella are conducting a special torch relay.
Photo by
Campaspe News
The 15 classmates are running to raise money to help send fellow student Teaghan Bubb to Sydney for the Pacific Games, which run from April 30 to May 7.
Teaghan, 10, and her brother Timothy, 12, have been selected to represent Victoria after both put in outstanding performances at the All Schools State Championships earlier this year.
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Lynette Brown put her hand up to be leader when the Salvation Army Guards and Legions Activities first began in Rochester almost 17 years ago.
This weekend she’s calling it a day, along with fellow leaders Win Ralph, Wendy Grogan and Heather Bastin as the group goes into recession until, perhaps, next year.
SAGALA has catered for girls aged from five to 18 years and still has a dozen regular members.
In peak times, SAGALA has had 25 girls on its books, participating in a range of activities that has won the group the territory shield — meaning Rochester SAGALA has achieved the highest participation rates and badge acquisitions and has numerous activities to its programs.
Rochester Salvation Army captain Carolyn Wright said the group was finishing on a high note.
10 years ago March 2015
District golf club members are seething after being omitted from Campaspe Shire’s list of successful applicants in the Rochester community recreation grants program.
Neither Campaspe nor Rochester golf clubs were named as projects to move forward into the second phase and potentially receive a slice of the $481,883 grant.
The funds were made available through the sale of irrigation water as part of the closure of the Campaspe irrigation system at the Rochester racecourse recreation reserve in 2010.
Council hosted an information workshop in February at which recreation groups were invited and an expression of interest application was presented.
This outlined a number of specific criteria which applicants needed to address to get on the list.
A recurring theme throughout the workshop was an emphasis on how each project would benefit Rochester’s ageing population.
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Residents gathered at Lockington Recreation Reserve for Easter celebrations on Friday.
About 120 children searched far and wide for the 2500 hidden chocolates in an enormous Easter egg hunt as parents and grandparents watched on.
Event organiser Nicole Cunnington said the inaugural fundraiser proved extremely successful and the numbers spoke volumes of the Lockington community.
Cian and Sam Colbert both enjoyed successful Easter egg hunts.
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‘‘The kids had a blast and of course loved the chocolate,’’ Nicole said.
‘‘Face painting was also a big hit and we’ll definitely be going again next year.’’
The day raised more than $1400 for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal.
Rochester volunteers door-knocked for the appeal and together the towns raised $8282.
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Kate Lee spent her Easter with plenty of chocolate, just not the traditional variety.
Eight purebred chocolate Labrador puppies have kept the family busy during the past two months.
‘‘This is the first litter with our family pet Labrador, Lykke,’’ an excited Kate said.
‘‘We arranged to join her with another purebred chocolate Lab and these eight adorable puppies are the result.’’
The puppies were born on February 6 and Kate said while they had been a handful, she described the experience as highly rewarding.
Kate Lee with her eight-week-old purebred chocolate Labradors at her Rochester property.
Photo by
Eamonn Tiernan
‘‘When they’re that cute it’s impossible to get mad at them,’’ Kate said.
The puppies have proved a hit in the neighbourhood with armies of families and children flocking to the Lee backyard for a play.
‘‘They certainly haven’t been short of playmates,’’ Kate said.
‘‘I mean, who doesn’t love a puppy? Then multiply that feeling by eight.’’
