50 years ago, April 1976
Takings at Echuca Caravan Park so far this year have shown a marked increase on the same period for the previous year.
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Total takings for the first month of the current financial year from all sources amount to $58,309.
This compares with $40,380 for the same period in the 1974-75 year, an increase for the six months trading of just on $18,000.
Caravan park manager Mr David Penn made this information available at Monday night's meeting of Echuca City Council.
He also reported that March was the best month ever with regard to council’s on-site vans, returning a total of $4201.40 for the month.
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Employees at Echuca's SKF factory have contributed $14,000 to Echuca's Lumeah appeal.
Their king-size effort came after they decided to make a ‘’dedicated gift’’ to the $300,000 appeal for a home and hospital for the aged.
They made their contribution through a payroll scheme — and Lumeah organisers hope that other district employees will become involved in such schemes.
The SKF company donated $6000 — and the combined $20,000 gift will be marked by a plaque in a major section of the new hospital.
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Mathoura's only veteran of World War I was again well to the fore when the township marked Anzac Day on Sunday.
Mr George Hudson, born in Mathoura 84 years ago, took part in the march to Mathoura’s soldiers’ gardens with about 30 other people.
His nephew, Mr Bill Hudson, also a returned soldier, came from Albury to join him in the march.
George saw active service in France in 1914-18 with the AIF’s 38th Battalion.
Despite his years, he is still an active and popular member Mathoura's community
25 years ago, April 2001
Kingfisher cruise guide Benita Lamond has joined the ranks of Victorian tour guides certified under the Natural Eco-tourism Accredited Program.
‘’There are around 29 people across Australia with the accreditation and 16 in Victoria,’’ Benita said.
The 22-year-old has been working as a guide for the past 18 months with Kingfisher Wetland Tours.
The NEAP certificate is a two-day course where people are put through a series of simulated tasks.
‘’It is a little like role-playing,’’ Benita said.
‘’You go through various scenarios which may arise as a tour guide.
‘’All tour guides will eventually have to be accredited.’’
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Need to practise your swing? Battling to hole those long putts?
Professional golfer Dean Jacobs can help. Dean has recently been employed at the YMCA Back Nine Golf Course and will provide coaching lessons for juniors, individuals and groups of up to 10.
Originally from Echuca, Dean qualified in 1994 at a private golf course in Melbourne and has spent two years teaching in Singapore.
Dean said there was a demand for a golfing professional’s services at the Back Nine and he hoped to focus on lessons.
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A World War I memorial sign from the Kotta Railway Station that disappeared sometime last century was replaced and unveiled on Anzac Day.
The unveiling was held in conjunction with the opening of the Lockington Landcare group's seed collection site.
‘’We thought it was fitting to open the sign on Anzac Day because that is what the plantation represents,’’ Landcare president Joy Weller said.
The inscription from the original sign was never recorded; however, local Kotta residents Dick Worboys and David Hammond uncovered a picture of the railway station showing the sign in front.
Using magnifying glasses the two read the message so it could be re-written on to a new memorial sign to be located at the site of the trees.
10 years ago, April 2016
After a decade of disappointment, Echuca’s merged school finally has the money to start construction.
The Victorian Government announced $11 million from the 2016-17 budget will go towards the project, which will see Echuca Specialist, Echuca West and Echuca South come together at a site to the west of Murray Valley Hwy.
The three schools agreed to merge in 2007 but the project regularly hit brick walls when it came to funding commitments from Spring St.
Planning continued in spite of the lack of money, and earlier this year the schematic design was completed and signed off.
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Moama Anglican Grammar student Tilly Keenan has captured the ‘Faces of War’ through art.
It is, after all, the theme to her HSC body of work.
The 17-year-old has drawn two portraits of Tongala veteran Fred Rossborough in blue biro and white charcoal and has almost finished an oil of the late Fred Moon, who died recently at the age of 102.
‘‘I saw the photo (of Fred Moon) in the Riv (taken by Sitthixay Ditthavong in November 2015) and thought it was so beautiful,’’ she said.
‘‘Fred’s grandson (Leon Moon) is a teacher here and he was very happy when he saw it.’’
The budding artist said her theme — Faces of War — acknowledged World War II veterans and the sacrifices they made for their country.
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Patient health is expected to suffer if a Federal Government plan to slash bulk-billing incentives for pathologists is given the green light.
The changes, which would come into effect on July 1, could see blood tests, swabs or biopsies costing patients up to $30, which could lead to life-threatening and chronic diseases going undiagnosed and untreated, according to Echuca-Moama medical practice manager Sharon Briscoe.
Ms Briscoe said clients would be more hesitant to have tests done if there was no bulk billing available.
‘‘This will create a delay in clients having tests done, or clients not having tests done at all,’’ she said.
‘‘The effect of this could be delaying in diagnosis of conditions, delay in preventative health care, possibility of increased hospital presentations, or deaths.’’