50 years ago May 1974
The Mayor of Echuca, Cr Geoff Evans, issued a warning late yesterday to all residents in low-lying parts of the city to start preparing immediately for flooding.
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He said that every report coming in on the condition of rivers contributing to Echuca’s expected situation was worse than the previous one.
The Murray at Echuca is expected to reach a peak level on Wednesday, but this will be earlier according to local experts.
Cr Evans said that the rise of the Murray and the Campaspe would be more rapid than last October when Echuca west was flooded.
More than 139mm of rain has fallen in Echuca since the weekend and Echuca’s rainfall so far this year has already exceeded last year’s for the same period by 190mm.
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The Echuca Chamber of Commerce is not interested in the tenancy of the railways’ old locomotive shed in Sturt St.
The chamber advised council of its decision this week, after considering the conditions contained in the lease document made available by the Victorian Railways.
The matter was received and noted by council.
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Echuca City Council Public Works and Services Committee reported to this week’s meeting of Council that it had been shocked by the deterioration of Echuca’s unsealed public roadways.
The committee chairman, Cr D.K. Oberin, reported that his committee had made a thorough examination of unsealed roads following complaints from residents to the previous meeting of council.
‘’We were shocked to observe the deterioration that has followed 15 months of above average rainfall.’’
The committee recommended to council that an application by made to the Government of Victoria for a special grant to cover restorations works estimated to cost $15,000.
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Five Echuca firemen have received notice that they have been awarded the Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medals.
They are Lieut. Don Norris, and Firemen Bart Clyne, Cec O’Neill, Ken Lucas and Norm Armstrong.
25 years ago May 1999
Echuca Regional Health yesterday called on the community to be generous in supporting its $1 million building appeal.
The appeal was officially launched with a kickstart of $350,000 in pledges and donations.
The target of $1 million is to the community contribution, with $15 million provided buy the State Government.
The major contribution announced was $100,000 from the combined licensed clubs.
As well as the clubs’ contribution, Echuca-Moama Apex Club yesterday pledged $20,000, while the Great Southern Ball committee also presented a cheque for $12,500.
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A resolution to support the Tongala and Rushworth communities secure financial services in their towns has been passed by Campaspe Shire Council.
Eastern Ward Councillor Neil Repacholi raised the issue during urgent business.
The move was spurred by the Commonwealth Banks’s announcement on Monday that it plans to close its Tongala and Rushworth branches on July 2.
Citing the recent announcement that the major banks charged $10 billion in fees last year, Cr Repacholi said the bank closures showed the banks had abandoned country towns.
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Echuca-Moama has featured in a national, color, monthly pilots’ magazine as a highly desirable weekend location for four consecutive months.
It’s all part of a build up by the nation’s ‘’Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’’ 100-page magazine, marshalling its constituency to its historic 50th annual general meeting.
The event will be held on site at Echuca aerodrome then proceed onto a weekend’s enjoyment from what Echuca-Moama has to offer.
The AOPA magazine has published a map of centrally located Echuca, supplied from the Tourism Information Office, with a caption, ‘’Echuca is handy central flying from three state capitals, Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney.’’
10 years ago May 2014
A resident passionate about improving the welfare of humans and animals, a young person who helps his community and a fundraising committee dedicated to the health of Campaspe residents have been awarded top accolades in the 2014 Campaspe Community Volunteer Awards.
The awards were presented at a special morning tea yesterday to coincide with National Volunteer Week this week.
Campaspe Shire mayor Ian Maddison presented Echuca’s Sue Portelli with the individual volunteer award, Kyabram’s Marcus Angelino with the young person volunteer award and Make Your Mark committee with the organisation award.
Cr Maddison congratulated them for their tireless and selfless efforts as volunteers.
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Member for Murray Sharman Stone has backed the budget delivered by her government on Tuesday night.
Dr Stone said the budget would lay the foundations for a strong and prosperous economy with less debt.
‘‘The government has made the difficult but necessary decisions to put the budget on a more sustainable footing so that we can all share in prosperity in the future,’’ Dr Stone said.
‘‘We are all playing a part because it’s in sharing the load that we lighten the load.
‘‘Governments, like households, must live within their means.’’
Dr Stone highlighted the requirement for young people who can work to be earning or learning, the stronger incentives for businesses to hire older workers and Australia’s infrastructure program as some of the key inclusions in the Budget.
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The Oak Centre at St Joseph’s College, Echuca is starting to take shape as the school continues its push to have the facility ready by term four.
A gymnasium, music department, allied health facility and three general classrooms will be enclosed in the centre facing Dickson St.
Principal Kate Fogarty said the school community was excited.
‘‘It will provide somewhere to gather as a school. In the past, we’ve been at the mercy of the weather out the front,’’ Ms Fogarty said.
‘‘It’s a contemporary and large space.’’
The music department will boast four soundproof rooms which will be used by music and music industry students.
RIV Herald