50 years ago, June 1976
Shortage of space — that's the major problem facing schools in Echuca and district.
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Classroom space ... store-room space ... staff accommodation space ... all are lacking.
This was the verdict of three district parliamentarians who were given a guided tour of the area's schools this week.
Senator Tom Tehan, of Kyabram, Mr Bruce Lloyd, MHR for Murray, and Mr Eddie Hann, MLA for Rodney, issued a statement at the end of the day-long trip that said they recognised the schools' needs and problems.
They said they would do their utmost to get assistance for the schools they had seen.
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Echuca City Council is considering increasing its investment in on-site caravans.
Discussion about buying extra on-site vans for council's Victoria Park caravan park arose following a report from park manager Mr David Penn.
Details of Mr Penn's report are not available but it is understood it proposed buying additional vans.
Council now has 30 vans operating in the park, which has a total of about 350 sites.
No exact figure was mentioned at Tuesday’s meeting, but the purchase of 10 vans was suggested during discussion at a possible cost to council of about $25,000.
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A team of four riders from Echuca Pony Club represented the Northern Zone in the state finals flat ride at Werribee.
The riders were Trudi and Sally Merlo, Patrice Millar and Lorraine Christie. The team rode well in the three sections to finish fifth.
The finals were held at the Werribee Park Estate, and friends and other members of the club travelled to Werribee to support the team.
The team gave its thanks to Mr Arch Cowan, its trainer and parents and friends who helped it prepare the horses for the competition.
On Monday the team and other members of the club competed at the Kyabram Pony Club Gymkhana.
The team succeeded in gaining first place in an event similar to the one it competed in at Werribee.
25 years ago, June 2001
Oscar W’s had become an icon for Echuca, according to judges for the Campaspe Economic Development Board/Powercor Australia 2001 Business Achievement awards.
Oscar W’s Wharfside Bar and Grill was named Business of the Year at the awards night dinner at Moama Bowling Club on Wednesday night.
Oscar W’s was selected from the winners of the various business categories in the awards.
It took out the award for Hospitality 2, a section that caters for businesses offering food, entertainment or accommodation who employ an equivalent of more than five full-time staff, including principals.
Around 140 entries for the awards were received this year, up 50 per cent since the awards were first held in 1995.
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Moves to make public drunkenness a health issue rather than a crime have been met with a cautious reaction in Campaspe Shire.
A Victorian Government parliamentary inquiry into public drunkenness has recommended booze bins and sobering-up centres instead of police cells for drunks.
The committee's report suggests St John Ambulance or Salvation Army members could staff the mobile booze buses.
The report says that before public drunkenness is abolished, sobering-up centres should be established across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
It recommends specific training and education for police and new legislation to deal with civil apprehension and detention of drunks.
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Jet boat racer Andrew Medlicott has taken out the restricted 350 class Australian Pointscore Jet Boat circuit with his boat Gone Nutz.
Medlicott's navigator is Marion Bennett, who uses hand signals to direct the boat.
The events are time trial events, where everyone is racing against the clock. Tracks are generally 1.8km in length, with the water around two feet deep.
The driver weaves through a series of islands with the help of their navigator.
‘’There are eight races throughout the season,'’ Medlicott said.
‘’I did not lose a race for the season.’’
10 years ago, June 2016
Nanneella dairy farmers Janine and Doug Watson could see the writing was on the wall for the dairy industry and they made the decision to stop milking their 100-cow herd six weeks before the milk price collapse.
Although the decision had already been made for the couple, they still have most of their stock to sell, including cows, heifers and calves.
The Watsons have decided their future now lies in sheep and beef.
‘‘Dairying has been on a slow, slippery slide downwards. I know nothing stays the same but it really is a sorry story,’’ Janine said.
There used to be 14 different dairy farms alongside the Echuca-Nanneella Rd, which the couple live along, now there are just two.
They blame the demise of dairying in the area largely on water, and as more and more has left the district, so to have the dairy farms.
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Jack Nicklaus has 18 major titles to his name and Tiger Woods has 14, but a veteran golfer at Lockington Golf Club can top both of them.
Annette Brereton won her 20th club championship last week in the latest instalment of a career that started in 1982 and shows every sign of continuing for a while yet.
Brereton won the title with three consistent rounds (90-92-93=275) over three days of golf, the last of which was played on Wednesday last week.
She won her first title in 1992 and enjoyed consecutive titles for 13 years from 1996 to 2008 and another five years from 2010 to 2014.
Brereton, however, is the last to brag about her undoubted talent.
‘‘You need a bit of luck to win 20 championships,’’ she said.
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Cheryl Duffy sees the world largely in black and white — but lately she’s been wearing a lot of purple.
The Echuca-Moama identity has already raised $8000 for this year’s Relay For Life event, funding the Cancer Council and showing support for cancer sufferers and survivors.
But Cheryl’s not one to toe the line.
Rather than joining her team of co-workers from Spot On Dry Cleaners in October’s 18-hour fundraising relay she has decided to go it alone.
All alone. For 500 laps of the Moama oval. She estimates it will take her 20 hours to do — with no break — which means she’ll be starting four hours before everyone else on October 22.