New platform in 1974: The old A2 steam locomotive which has stood alongside the Echuca wharf for the past few years, now has a platform taking shape alongside it — the first platform it has stood in since it was taken out of service. The platform is being built voluntarily by members of the Apex Club of Echuca. When it is finished the station building from the old Kotta railway station will be erected on it as an authentic replica of the past.
50 years ago
March 1974
A deputation to the Assistant Director of Secondary Education, Mr J Ford, aimed at acquiring more staff for the Echuca High School was told on Monday that their requests could not be fulfilled at that stage.
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Despite the failure of the deputation to obtain more staff, members described the hour-long hearing as ‘’successful’’.
The deputation comprised the school principal, Mr W B French, PTCA representatives Mr John Edwards and Mr Malcolm Miller, advisory committee representative, Mr Rod Kelvy, and Mothers’ Club representative, Mrs E M Hazeldine.
Although Mr Ford could not promise an English teacher immediately, the deputation did achieve the recognition of the school’s staffing problem and was told that the department would supply another teacher as soon as one became available.
•••
It was up to the conscience of private motorists whether or not they disposed of fruit before entering Victoria from NSW when the Echuca fruit fly roadblock is closed, the senior inspector, Mr W R Hicks, said.
He said that trucks carrying commercial quantities of fruit from NSW could cross legally into Victoria after the blocks were closed at either Echuca or Wodonga.
Arrangements were apparently made for this between carriers and the Department of Agriculture.
Mr Hicks was commenting on reports that interstate transports are bringing in loads of fruit over the border at Tocumwal and Barooga after check points are closed for the night.
•••
A resolution objecting to any further rise in Federal Parliamentary salaries was passed at the Echuca branch meeting of the Australian Labor Party.
Members felt that the salaries compared more than favourably with the general salary scale of the electorate.
It felt that any real attempt to slow down the rate of inflation should first come from the top political levels and this price would have a dampening effect on other organisations pressing for prices and wages above the fair and reasonable norm.
The resolution will be forwarded to the State Administrative Committee and to Federal Politicians.
25 years ago
March 1999
Echuca-Moama district residents are urged to voice their opinion about the location of the proposed new bridge over the Murray River.
Member for Rodney Noel Maughan says work on a new bridge will begin ‘’within the next year or two’’.
Two sites have been suggested. One is the centre of Echuca and Moama townships, close to the existing historic bridge.
The other is downstream, near Wharparilla Drive in Victoria and Merool Lane in New South Wales.
Echuca’s Citizens’ Advisory Group (CAG) wants people to write to The Riverine Herald expressing their views on the location.
•••
Taken: Hercules and warrior princess Xena kidnapped Echuca-Moama town crier Judy Campbell in front of Rotarians at the opening of their district conference on Friday.
It was a bit of a shock to Rotarians attending the opening of the District 9790 annual conference.
Barely had Town Crier Judy Campbell welcomed them to Echuca, when she was kidnapped before their eyes.
Rumors that the Kelly Gang intended to do the dastardly deed were dispelled when warrior princess, Xena, and Hercules grabbed the town crier at sword point and made off with her.
They set the ransom of $1000 before fleeing with their hostage.
Accomplices such as the Mario Brothers, Super Dag, Superman and Supergirl set about collecting the ransom from the Rotarians.
•••
Echuca people wanting the phone connected should have it on within three to five working days, provided the necessary infrastructure existed, according to Telstra’s Customer Service Guarantee.
The guarantee says customers can rely on connection within a specific period, depending on where they are and whether Telstra has the necessary telephone network infrastructure and spare capacity.
The connection time is within three days for ‘’all service sites that have an intact, fully useable in-place connection that can be initiated automatically and requires no customer premises visit’’.
People who live in a community of more than 10,000 — such as Echuca with over 10,500 residents — should expect connection within five working days of application, provided the network infrastructure and spare capacity is available for Telstra to use.
1999 selection: Echuca Football Club junior players (back, from right) Ryan Crawford, Daniel Lucas, Ben Wilson, (front) Leigh Crossman, Ben Welch, Greg Wylie and Daniel Jones are in the Under 15 schoolboys football squad.
10 years ago
March 2014
The Torrumbarry community has proved it is a small town with a big heart, donating $10,000 to Echuca Regional Health’s Make Your Mark campaign this week.
The town, which according to Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2011 census data has a population of 70 families and 283 people, raised money from raffles held throughout the year at the Torrumbarry Hotel and through the annual Torrumbarry Community Club Xtreme Marine Fishing Classic.
Community club president and hotel owner Wayne Williams said he rang Make Your Mark campaign chair Neil Thomas with the good news this week.
‘‘It’s for a good cause. Neil couldn’t believe it when I told him,’’ he said.
Top dollar: Torrumbarry Community Club president Wayne Williams (left) and Make Your Mark campaign chair Neil Thomas outside the Echuca hospital building site.
Photo by
Jayme Lowndes
•••
Murray Shire councillor Gen Campbell has voiced her support for a decrease in councillor numbers.
Speaking during questions without notice at Tuesday’s meeting, Cr Campbell believed at least two of the nine councillor positions could be removed.
She suggested there could be as few as five councillors and believed council would still run efficiently.
‘‘I certainly believe the council could run efficiently with five or seven councillors and I’d like to know what the other councillors think,’’ she said.
•••
Campaspe Regional Library’s efforts to cater for readers with autism has won it statewide recognition.
The library received the Pierre Gorman Award in Melbourne on Tuesday.
The $25,000 biennial Library Board of Victoria award honours service development and delivery to people with a disability.
As part of the award, the library will roll out its planned Being Connected — Libraries and Autism program, designed to help people on the autism and Aspergers spectrum.
