Reflections from the past

This cheque, which rescued the association from debt, was the result of a hard year’s work by a small and dedicated band of ladies led by Mrs Nellie Lees and Mrs Merle Carr.

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‘’There is no finance for share farmers,’’ said Mr Malcolm Smith, the chief loans officer of the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission, while addressing a meeting of the share farmers and lessees.

Mr Smith said most finance available through the commission was accessible only to those who could offer security, that is to say existing landholders.

The only two exceptions to this are the Rochester/Heytesbury settlement schemes and in instances where a father is willing to offer security for his son or any landholder interested in assisting a young farmer to establish himself.

25 years ago, September 2000

The return of a once-a-week bus service from Lockington to Echuca is a distinct possibility, according to Member for Rodney Noel Maughan.

Mr Maughan said following discussions with two bus operators and the Department of Infrastructure, there was now a ‘’very good chance’’ a service would run one day a week for a trial period of three months.

Chairperson of the Lockington Community Action Group Peter Cameron said the bus service was part of CAG’s 20-year strategy.

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Operating theatre equipment was further modernised through the fundraising efforts of the Rochester Hospital Auxiliary.

The group, which organises and runs many activities, street stalls and functions throughout the year, raised a total of $5500 — money put towards orthopaedic equipment including an arthroscope with a canula and obturator, all used in knee surgery.

The operating theatre of Rochester and Elmore District Health Service is utilised each week by a number of specialist practitioners and the latest purchase means there is only one piece of surgical equipment still to be upgraded, unit manager (theatre) Henni Tomlinson said.

10 years ago, September 2015

Rochester’s Murray Goulburn factory is not only the town’s major employer but is widely recognised as an integral part of one of the nation’s largest dairy producers.

In its latest report, the co-operative indicated its continued growth despite a fickle world economy.

Revenue of $2.87 billion and an after-tax profit of $21.2 million are the highlights of the annual Murray Goulburn Co-operative financial report for the year ended June 2015 released last week.

Shareholders will benefit from a successful year, receiving a fully franked 9c per share dividend while the Farmgate Milk Price of $6.02 per kg of milk solids is the third highest paid to MG suppliers.

Managing director Gary Helou said it had been a dynamic year for the co-operative on multiple fronts.

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The impending closure of the Drummartin Primary School due to low numbers will herald the start of a new journey as students transfer to Elmore’s Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School.

Only six students remain at the Drummartin school and their families have decided they will move to OLSH in the future.

Each Wednesday the Prep to Year 3 Drummartin students have attended the Elmore school as part of a program to ensure a smooth transition.

Last week the two groups celebrated an important milestone in their history with the planting of a Gallipoli oak in the Elmore grounds.

The tree had been provided to the Drummartin school through the 2013 Gallipoli Art Project; however, it was felt the planting at Elmore would symbolise the coming together of the schools in the future.