50 years ago
August 1975
Wharparilla Primary School has won the award for the most improved primary school in the Echuca inspectorate for 1974.
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The award was judged by district inspector Mr D. McLeod.
A Hans Heyson print was presented to Wharparilla Primary School by the president of the Echuca Australian Natives’ Association, Mr Bill Slattery.
School teacher Mr Darryl Higgins said he concentrated on teaching children basic co-ordination and in sporting skills.
The school’s adventure playground was an important aspect in this development.
On receiving this award, Mr Higgins said awards of this type were an encouragement to children to have pride in their school and surrounds.
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The Murray Shire Ratepayers’ Association ultimatum that rates must not go up could foreshadow a scaling down of shire works until the rural economy improves.
And ratepayer agitation for a go-easy policy at municipal level could spread into Victoria unless councils get more financial help or easier loan terms.
The association in Murray Shire, one of 40 ratepayer groups in NSW, has adopted a policy opposing any future increase in shire rates.
The Murray Shire group wants a complete re-organisation of municipal finances — a policy northern Victorian ratepayers will probably support when their councils hold their budget meetings in about two months.
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Echuca Technical School students have a brand new, $4000 Holden Torana to drive around.
The Torana, a 2850 model with manual gears, is used to teach fourth and fifth form students car control.
‘’The basic aim is to give them some experience before they go on the road,’’ teacher Graeme Harwood said.
‘’We use a track behind Tehan House and aim in giving each student about 60km driving experience.’’
25 years ago
August 2000
Thousands of dairy farmers must take responsibility to ensure they meet the August 17 deadline to apply for the $1.78 billion Dairy Structural Adjustment Program.
United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Max Fehring said that as of yesterday, just 11,500 of a likely national total of 17,000 applications had been received.
My Fehring met with the Dairy Adjustment Authority to be updated on how many applications have been submitted.
“Farmers must not rely on their accountant or advisor to send in their application. They must take responsibility. Don’t leave it to chance.’’
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The big buzz around the Echuca tennis scene is that Lawn Tennis Club has just assigned “Tennis to the Max’’ to implement their incredibly successful coaching program in Echuca.
This company consists of two full-time tennis professionals, Matt Levey and Morgan Young, along with several full-time assistant coaches.
After securing several contracts throughout central Victoria, they have now set their sights on re-establishing the club’s junior development program.
‘’We wish to bring this type of experience to the people of Echuca,’’ Levey said.
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More than 100 people, including two former Australian Olympians, turned out for a tree planting and dedication ceremony at Timmering.
The Nanneella-Timmering Landcare Group has planted 2000 trees at the Timmering Taylor project site on the Kyabram-Rochester Rd, about 2km east of Timmering.
The site was dedicated to former Australian Olympians Faith Leech and Brenda Carr (nee Jones) at a ceremony.
Ms Leech, who lives in Bendigo, won a gold medal in the 4x100m freestyle event and a bronze in the 100m freestyle at the 1956 Olympics.
Mrs Carr, a former Nanneella resident who now lives in Queensland, won a silver medal in the 800m running event at the 1960 Olympics.
It was a homecoming for Mrs Carr and a chance to catch up with people she had known in the days when she lived in the area and attended Nanneella West School where her father was the principal.
10 years ago
August 2015
Port Adelaide midfielder Ollie Wines will sit out the rest of the 2015 AFL season after having reconstructive surgery on his left shoulder on Wednesday in Adelaide.
Wines dislocated his shoulder during last weekend’s match against St Kilda at Adelaide Oval and was treated at the Sports Med South Australia Centre.
Wines’ father Tony said Ollie was discharged from hospital yesterday and was ‘‘in as good a spirits as can be expected’’.
Ollie is likely to spend up to the next six weeks with his left arm in a sling before getting the chance to run on the training track again.
Tony said his son would head back up to Echuca for a fortnight at home with family.
After receiving the initial knock against the Saints, Wines attempted to return to the field multiple times, but was substituted out of the game at the quarter-time break.
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Australians are not cycling enough. But Campaspe residents could be bucking the trend.
Figures from the Bicycle Network's national cycling participation survey reveal only 17 per cent of Australians (four million people) ride a bike each week.
In 2011, the Federal Government set a 2016 target of 36 per cent in a bid to double rider numbers in five years.
In 2015, it looks likely the resolution will be an extraordinary failure.
The survey does not reveal specific area trends, but some Campaspe bike riders say our town could be leading the charge with high participation rates.
‘‘There’s certainly a community of bike riders here,’’ Echuca-Moama Cycle Club spokesperson Kylie Haley said.
‘‘We probably have about 40 members who rise at 6am to cycle every day.
‘‘But there are 10 times more who choose to ride on weekends or socially.’’
For more leisurely rides there is also the Scenic Dve/Wharparilla Flora Reserve route, Campaspe Esplanade and Moama Bush Riverside tracks.
RIV Herald