Pictured are Gunbower Bowling Club’s first president, Mrs K. Glen (left), and the first secretary, Mrs Dollie Hancock, pictured cutting the 21st birthday cake.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
50 years ago, April 1976
Echuca appears to be on the verge of what could ultimately be a petrol price war.
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At least two service stations in Echuca have slashed the price of petrol from the bowser by nearly 10c.
This is evident from price boards displayed showing super at 67.9 cents and standard grade petrol at only 64.9 cents.
Before the cuts were made at the two service stations, both Mobil, one in High St and the other in Ogilvie Ave, super grade petrol cost the motorist about 77.8 cents and standard about 74.5 cents.
It is believed the reductions were introduced to compete with petrol depots in Echuca from which petrol is available to private motorists at about 65.9 cents for super and 62.9 for standard.
As yet only two service stations appear to be openly engaged in price cutting.
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Short-term aid announced for the dairy industry will just mean a lingering death for the dairy farmer instead of an immediate need to walk off his land.
That's the opinion of organisers of the mass meeting to be held in Echuca's Hopwood Gardens next Tuesday night to discuss dairy problems.
They say that there must be a plan for the future and hope suggestions will emerge at the meeting, which is under the auspices of Echuca City Council and is being organised by Mr John Tarrant, a retired senior executive of Kraft Ltd.
Mr Tarrant said in Echuca this week that the meeting must concentrate on ways and means of impressing on the Australian Government the need for aid to dairy farmers, and also the drastic effect inflation will have if it is not curtailed.
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Gunbower Bowling Club celebrated its 21st birthday on Wednesday with a cabaret evening at the clubrooms.
One hundred and sixteen members and associates attended the cabaret, with dancing and supper provided.
Cr Jim Hare, of Gunbower, was presented with a life membership of the bowling club.
He was given his badge by Mr B. Stoley, vice-president of the Royal Victorian Bowling Association.
Mr Stoley travelled from Melbourne to join in Gunbower's celebrations.
25 years ago, April 2001
Echuca Central 208 swimming team (from back left) Mitch Pearson, Emillie Harper, Sarah Craft, William Quayle, Toby Gorman; (front) Emily Noske-Turner, Sally Fullard, Ricki Needs and Stuart Quanchi. The students, pictured in 2001, before heading off the the Victorian Primary School Sports Association state swimming championships.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Echuca and Gunbower racing clubs have split from Central Victorian Racing and will share administrative services from the start of the new racing season in August.
Echuca Racing Club chairman Neil Edwards announced the decision earlier this week.
The decision came about due to the demise of CVR, which will cease to exist by the end of the current racing season in July.
The decision to share services means the Echuca Racing Club is searching for a chief executive.
Edwards is looking forward to the split after four years under the CVR banner.
‘’The Echuca Racing Club looks confidently to a future where Echuca is a centre for community-based racing.’’
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Murray Goulburn is playing games with the livelihoods of Bonlac Foods shareholders, a meeting at Kyabram was told on Friday.
Bonlac chairperson Bill Hill told about 400 shareholders at the forum only the New Zealand Dairy Board’s alliance offer provided any certainty. Mr Hill said Murray Goulburn had until Friday to complete its due diligence of Bonlac.
“They must either put up or shut up,” said Mr Hill, who is retiring after 15 years as a director of Bonlac.
“I believe passionately that you (the shareholders) are entitled by April 6 for Murray Goulburn to have put a offer to you that you can consider in comparison with the New Zealand Dairy Board alliance.
“We have done absolutely everything to facilitate the due diligence and every request they've Murray Goulburn) asked us.”
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Three Echuca Triathlon Club members have set themselves for the toughest test of their endurance Australia has to offer.
Nick Lee, 28, Scott Foreman, 30, and David Oman, 35, will all compete in the Australian Ironman Title at Foster in South Gippsland on Sunday.
Scott Foreman, Nick Lees and David Oman will compete in the Australian Ironman title.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
The triathlon is Australia’s longest, comprising a 38km swim, 180km ride and 42km run.
The event is a qualifier for the World Ironman Title in Hawaii. Competing in the Foster Ironman will be uncharted waters for Nick and Scott. David has competed three times before.
10 years ago, April 2016
A huge crowd packed the Port of Echuca in 2016 for the annual Easter sail past and fireworks. The proud old paddlesteamers lined the wharf area before the night sky exploded into colour and kept everyone spellbound for the next 15 minutes.
Photo by
Riverine Herald
Echuca-Moama raised almost $80,000 for the Royal Children’s Hospital as part of the Good Friday Appeal.
Although the figure was down on previous years, Good Friday Appeal area manager and Echuca Lions Club Good Friday Appeal organiser Ken Walter said it was a good result considering the circumstances.
‘‘The drought and the blue green algae meant less traffic coming through the twin towns,’’ he said.
‘‘The rural fire brigade in Moama was down from $4000 last year to $3000 this year.
‘‘It was also a short year for collecting; only 11 months instead of 12.
‘‘Otherwise it went off well.
‘‘I held my breath this year. I didn’t think we’d make this figure.’’
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Too many drivers are being forced to play Russian roulette as they run the gauntlet of roads that at times are covered with kangaroos.
And former Murray Shire mayor Tom Weyrich, a long-time cull campaigner, says it has got so bad he is now considering forming a lobby group to promote it.
He said kangaroo numbers between Moama and Deniliquin (and across the region) were at ‘‘disastrous levels’’ and growing.
And a cull was needed before more lives were lost.
It’s a topic he has been banging on about for years, but he said those higher than him just weren’t listening.
He said it was up to governments to recognise the problem, something Victoria has done relatively well, he said.
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Ridding the Murray-Darling Basin of the so-called “rabbit of the river” with an imported virus would cost millions of dollars, require four legislative approvals and generate a subsequent stinking mess.
But, it would be worth the time and money to kill the fourth most significant vertebrate pest, carp, according to more than 150 commercial and recreational anglers, environmentalists and waterway authorities at a forum in Kerang.
And, many local ‘carp busters’, Landcare and environmental groups would take a leading role in the clean-up process.
The forum, hosted by the North Central Catchment Management Authority, heard about the devastating impact of carp on waterways and options for their management, including the herpes virus, which is finally within reach of Australia and potentially could be released as early as 2017.
European Carp make up 90 per cent of fish species in Australia’s waterways.
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