50 years ago, August 1976
A storm appears to be brewing over recent moves by Echuca City Council to buy 10 extra on-site caravans.
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A group of ratepayers who feel they got the ‘’brush off’’ at last week’s meeting of council will continue their opposition to buying the vans.
A letter from the group protesting about the purchase was simply received and noted at last week’s meeting of council without comment.
Last week’s letter was signed by 15 people, mostly in the accommodation industry.
A spokesman yesterday indicated disappointment with council’s handling of their letter.
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Seven young Echuca footballers have been selected for a week of intensive training with Geelong Football Club.
The boys, some of Echuca's most promising footballers, will certainly come under the scrutiny of league talent scouts.
Making the trip to Geelong later this month will be Glen Fawcett, Greg Hazelman, Peter Mitchell, Craig Santilla, Mark Hall, David Allez and Greg Murnane.
Echuca Football Club secretary, Mr Ian McKenzie, who is helping with organisation for the trip, rated it as a ‘’golden opportunity’’ for those involved.
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Building permits for projects worth more than $200,000 were issued in Deakin Shire during July.
Details of permits issued were given at Monday’s meeting of Deakin Shire Council.
According to shire engineer Mr Terry Alford, 10 permits were issued for works with a total value of about $220,000.
Shire secretary Bruce Pearl said that the July figure was one of the biggest Deakin had seen for a long time.
Mr Alford told Monday’s meeting that the value of the permits included the value of any plant installed under the permits issued.
He explained that the figure rose dramatically because of works at the Nestlé company’s Tongala factory.
25 years ago, August 2001
Thousands lined the Echuca wharf and strolled through Murray Esplanade during the weekend as Echuca-Moama once again played its part in the celebration of Australia’s nationhood.
Echuca's Centenary of Federation weekend was part of the two-month Source to Sea celebrations being held along the Murray River, which culminate in Goolwa, South Australia on October 6 and 7.
The festivities began on Friday night with a welcome to visiting boat crews who came upstream from Goolwa and downstream from Albury.
Saturday’s celebrations began with a joint welcome from Campaspe and Murray shires and the people of the Yorta Yorta Nations.
Yorta Yorta Nations Elder Aunty Melva Johnson said she believed the day was appropriate to highlight the partnership between the Yorta Yorta people and the councils.
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Echuca High School has returned home to Echuca after outstanding success at this year's Rock Eisteddfod heats in Melbourne on Friday night.
The school won three awards with its performance of Merlin – The Power of Unity, a tale of six adventurers sent on a quest back in history to discover Merlin’s wand and bring it back to the future to use for good.
The awards were for the students’ efforts on and off stage – Best student achievement, Best School Community and The Performers’ Performer.
Teacher co-ordinator Cheryl Watson said the school’s performance was a credit to the 99 students involved.
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Nearly 100 people attended the Mathoura Football and Netball Club’s public meeting on Thursday night, which was called to discuss the club’s future.
With a number of people on the committee stepping down next year, the meeting was called to gauge the public support for the club next season.
Mathoura president Geoff Allan said the meeting was a success, and the club would plan for next season, with the club’s annual general meeting on September 11.
After a tough season that has yielded only four wins, Mathoura finished the season in fine form on Saturday with an inspired victory over fifth-placed Strathmerton.
10 years ago, August 2016
D-day has arrived for four outdoor swimming pools in Campaspe Shire.
And it is not looking good for the communities hoping to keep their pools open.
Council will meet tomorrow night and decide whether to demolish pools in Lockington, Tongala, Stanhope and Colbinabbin.
On Friday, council officers released the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting, re-affirming their recommendation for councillors to shut the pools.
The issue has been brewing since April after the proposal first came in front of council.
Lockington pool representative Kylie Floyd said it had been an ‘‘intense’’ four months trying to convince council to keep the pool open, but she remained quietly optimistic the pendulum would swing in the town’s favour.
‘‘All of us are really hopeful that what we’ve been doing has had an impact,’’ she said.
‘‘I think council would be surprised by how many people care about the pools, even if they are not high-end users.’’
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Third-generation farmer Warwick Ham has cattle and sheep on his Moama property, and he can’t remember a season as good as this one.
‘‘Five years age we were getting $2.35 live weight and now prices haven’t gone under $3.50kg, it’s just phenomenal,’’ Mr Ham said.
The family business sells around 250 to 280 head of cattle. Due to current market conditions these are being turned out at around 10 months of age instead of the usual 14-month average.
The stock are pasture fed, and at the moment are grazing forage barley, which is thriving under the wet conditions.
‘‘There is feed everywhere. It’s a great season and everything is continuing to grow,’’ Mr Ham said.
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Despite appearances, Echuca’s Seth Blade is one fierce fighter.
The young martial artist has trained in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since he was five, after his dad introduced him to the sport.
He has trained competitively with Matt Wickham at Wickham’s Martial Arts Centre for the past three years.
Seth competed at the Australian titles at Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre on Saturday, taking home a bronze medal against some tough competition.
Also competing from Echuca were Mitchell Wickham, who also collected bronze, and Mason Goulding, who is new to competing and managed to get through his first battle and take home silver.