News

Reflections from the past

By Riverine Herald

Jul 19, 2026

50 years ago, July 1976

Echuca District Hospital has one of the best apprentice chefs in Victoria.

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He is 19-year-old Brian Davie, of Echuca, who is in his final year of his three-year apprenticeship at the hospital.

Brian was one of 10 apprentice chefs to cook off in the final of the apprentice of the year competition earlier this year to find Victoria’s top apprentice chef.

He did not win the top award, but was presented with a certificate of merit, putting him among the best of the finalists.

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A local champion Galloway will compete for Australian Horse of the Year at the Doomben Racecourse, Brisbane, on August 1.

The Galloway named Marburg Tavern is owned by 17-year-old Kaye McNaught of Bamawm, who was invited to compete at Brisbane by the Equestrian Exhibitors’ Association.

Horses from all over Australia will be competing, with invitations having been made to the top 10 horses in each section.

With the help of her parents, Mr and Mrs Neil McNaught, Kaye is busy with preparations for Brisbane.

25 years ago, July 2001

More than 170 people turned out to finalise details of the protest rally against VicRoads and the RTA’s preferred option, the central bridge, in July 2001. The crowd showed their continuing support to oppose the central option. Rally organisers Liz Baxter (above) and Cath Franklin have called on people to show strength at a protest rally to be held on footbridge of the Echuca-Moama bridge to demonstrate their attitude towards the C1 option. Photo by Riverine Herald

Echuca's Jaki Osborne has been named the Leukaemia Foundation’s Victorian Ambassador for 2001.

Jaki organised the ‘World’s Greatest Shave for a Cure Day 2001’ in Echuca on May 11.

The event snowballed, with more than 100 people having their hair shaved or coloured during a marathon event in the Autobarn car park.

A total of $37,969 was raised, well above Jaki's target of $30,000, with businesses, individuals, schools and community groups getting behind the event.

Jaki was named the 2001 Victorian Ambassador in Melbourne after being interviewed by Leukaemia Foundation judges along with others who had organised similar events across the state.

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Local government must become pro-active in developing strategies to tackle salinity “or wait for someone else to do it”.

This was the message from Australian Local Government Association president Cr John Ross at the National Local Government Salinity Summit in Moama.

A total of 317 people are attending the conference.

He said the National Action Plan for Salinity and Water Quality adopted by the Council of Australian Governments in November last year gave local government a unique opportunity to become pro-active in combating salinity.

“I fear councils and our state and local government associations are not being engaged early enough in the process,” he said.

10 years ago, July 2016

Damian Drum has singled out abolishing the feared backpacker tax as his number one priority in Canberra.

The new Federal Member for Murray met with all Nationals members in Canberra last week and said resolving the issue was high on everyone’s agenda.

The tax would see backpackers employed on working holiday visas slugged at a rate of 32.5 per cent from the first dollar they earn.

The Federal Government planned to implement the tax on July 1 but pushed it back six months after a backlash from farmers who claimed they would struggle to find workers.

The proposal is set to be reviewed in the coming months but Mr Drum said that needed to be brought forward.

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St Mary’s Primary School student Corbin Anderson is looking to make his mark in football on the national stage after being selected for the Victorian primary school team to compete at the Australian championships.

Corbin, 12, will play for the School Sport Victoria team 12 years and under in the national championships at Maroochydore in Queensland from July 23 to 30.