Reflections from the past

The land was purchased for the purpose of relocating and expanding some of the manufacturing activities currently carried out in Melbourne by Plumrose.

Plans envisaged two years ago call for manufacturing and maintenance facilities costing in the vicinity of $12 million, which would result in Plumrose becoming one of the largest employers of labour in the district.

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David Phillip probably owns ones of the most unusual cars in Echuca.

David, 29, of Hume St, is involved in motor racing using an English-built Lotus 23 sports car.

He raced last weekend at the Winton circuit near Benalla and will compete again on November 23 in the Australian Sports Car Championships at Phillip Island.

Since he owned the car David has had three outright wins and a string of minor placings.

He bought the car secondhand less a motor and installed the engine from the car which started his racing career.

David first raced about five years ago in a small NSU sedan using the Cortina motor.

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Initial moves calling for a central business planning study costing $10,000 have been made by the Echuca City Council.

A motion implementing the first steps towards the study was passed at Monday’s meeting of council.

Moves came following a report from the finance, staff and general purposes committee of a meeting with representatives of Aston and Wilson, transportation and urban planners.

It is expected that the study would take in the main shopping areas in Hare and High Sts and all immediately adjacent streets filtering into nearby residential areas.

A study such as this could result in a complete revision of the existing town plan that has been in force since 1972.

25 years ago November 2000

The number of pets abandoned in Campaspe Shire in the past year is startling.

In the last financial year, a total of 1207 animals were surrendered to the Goulburn Murray RSPCA shelter.

Of that figure only 117 cats and dogs were reclaimed, 201 adopted, while a staggering 889 animals were euthanased.

The regional figures were announced as the RSPCA released national statistics for its shelters.

‘’The number of animals being left is increasing and that is alarming,’’ Goulburn Murray NSW RSPCA spokesperson Mira Seljak said.

Ms Seljak said the months following Christmas were the busiest period for the dumping of animals.

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Echuca's Hopwood Gardens will be graced by a new rotunda next year.

The rotunda is the first stage of a project to redevelop and landscape the gardens, near Riverboat Dock.

The project was mooted as a Centenary of Federation project two years ago by Echuca-Moama Rotary in recognition of its 50 years of service to the community.

The first stage, with a value of about $40,000 will be funded through the Federal Government's Centenary of Federation Fund ($28,000), with the balance made up by Campaspe Shire and Rotary.

Rotary’s Hopwood Gardens committee chairman Alan James said the final design for the rotunda had been made by the shire’s heritage advisor, Andrew Ward.

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Last Saturday night the Echuca Nestlé Centre hosted the third annual Shank Unlimited Assist for Life Classic Charity Basketball match in aid of Heartkids Victoria.

There were two exciting matches on the night, the first was between the McDonald’s County Victorian under-18 state team and the Moama Bowling Club International All-Star Team.

Team McDonald’s went on to win the match 111-55.

The main match — between Ten Victoria and Echuca Worker’s and Sports Club — began in a very emotional atmosphere as each of the players on the senior team was announced with their adopted ‘heartkid’.

There was also a moment of silence for Remembrance Day, Jacqui Lloyd and the father of Randy Shanklin, Ray Shanklin, whom the game was dedicated to.

10 years ago November 2015

Murray Shire Council is caught between a rock and a hard place when it comes to amalgamations.

With the shire’s future on the line, mayor John Pocklington said next week’s merger submission to the Office of Local Government was the most important decision in this term of council.

‘‘What happens on Wednesday will very much affect the community for years to come; it will change Murray Shire irrevocably,’’ he said.

‘‘If we opt to stand alone, I believe we will be forced to amalgamate, but if we’re not the shire still faces huge changes — part of our original submission for standing alone was agreeing to certain changes and conditions.’’

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It has been 10 years since Peter Green solved Echuca-Moama’s greatest military mystery.

A mystery which took him almost five years, more money than he cares to think about and which was a major factor behind the end of his marriage.

But he never gave up and finally, after it seemed he had dug up half of Echuca, the 77mm artillery piece which once stood proudly as part of the town’s war memorial was rediscovered.

“The famous World War I historian CEW Bean spent nine years after the war rounding up almost 200 guns from battlefields,” Mr Green said.

“Echuca’s was near where McDonald’s is now – with the cenotaph and 22 magnificent palm trees, grown from seeds the soldiers brought home.’’

A canopy which once sheltered the field gun in High St is now located in Echuca cemetery over the Lone Pine memorial.

And the gun? Today it lives at Neil Thomas’ award-winning Great Aussie Beer Shed, and is still incorporated into his tours there.

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Some people just make cricket look easy.

Todd Murphy is one of those people, leading Moama’s run scorers and wicket takers after the opening month of the season as the team tries to go one better than last year’s runner-up finish. And he’s only 14.

The precociously talented St Joseph’s College student made his highest score on Saturday, a stylish 78 against Kyabram Fire Brigade, but he plays down his exploits in the season to date.

‘‘It’s good to be able to contribute to the side,’’ Murphy said.

A man of few words, Murphy prefers to let his blade do the talking.

He now has 194 runs at 48.50 for the season, putting him fifth in the competition.