50 YEARS AGO
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FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1973
ANTHONY “FEARFUL” OF ALP IN VIC
The Federal Leader of the Country Party Mr Doug Anthony said in Echuca last night he was fearful that a Labor Government in Victoria would complement the Whitlam Government.
“Labor in Federal Government is not in the national interest,” he said.
“If Labor gets in in Victoria in the coming state elections, we could run into a situation where the Whitlam Government could monopolise every area of legislation in Australia.
“That I would not like to see.”
Mr Anthony was speaking at a dinner in St Mary’s Hall, arranged by the Rodney Electorate District Council of the Country Party.
It was attended by about 270 CP supporters.
Among the official guests were the candidate for Rodney, Mr Eddie Hann and Mr Stewart McDonald, MLC, who will be seeking re-election in the state polls this year.
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE OVER FOR FUNDS
Red Cross “callers” will visit every house in Echuca, Echuca Village and Echuca West on Sunday.
Sunday is Red Cross Calling day.
Volunteer callers will canvass every house in the district seeking donations for Red Cross.
Callers will assemble at the National Bank in Hare St, Echuca, at 11am, before setting out to all points of the city.
NEW FACES IN ECHUCA TEAMS
A number of new players will be given trials when Echuca Football Club teams play their first practice games for the 1973 season on Sunday.
The practice games, which are to be played at the Echuca East oval at 12.30pm and 2.30pm, will be against teams from Myrtleford and other matches against Deniliquin, Benalla, South Bendigo and Sandhurst will follow in future weeks.
Three of the players who will make their first appearance with the club on Sunday are Len Drill (ex-Wonthaggi), Jeff Kalms (ex-Golden Square and Rochester) and Glen Thompson (ex-Nathalia).
FUN FACT: A neat three-bedroom home with built-in robes, lounge room, spacious kitchen, bathroom, laundry, sewered. Wall to wall carpet as new throughout, light fittings, drapes, etc. All modern conveniences. Situated in developing area, handy to school. Priced to sell at $10,000. Full deposit $1600.
25 YEARS AGO
MONDAY, MARCH 23, 1998
DRY TIME AHEAD FOR IRRIGATORS
District irrigators face a “tough time” without significant rainfalls soon.
Goulburn-Murray Water on Friday announced its final allocation of water for the 1997/98 season, with no further allocations expected until August.
Based on storages and next season commitments, irrigators have no additional resource available for any increase in sales allocation in the current season.
G-MW chief executive Denis Flett said high releases from the major storages had continued through February to meet strong irrigation demand.
“Since there will be no increase in sales allocation, irrigators who need water should trade,” he said.
SMALL BACKS BRIDGE $ CALL
NSW state Member for Murray Jim Small agrees with Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer that there should be more co-operation between NSW and Victoria concerning the construction of bridges.
Mr Fischer criticised the state’s policy regarding bridges at a meeting with the Murray Crossings Group in Moama on Wednesday.
He said he was frustrated with states taking credit for federally funded projects while neglecting their own obligations.
ECHUCA SETS TARGET
Echuca set Mathoura a target of 291 runs after the first day’s play in Campaspe Cricket Association’s A grade grand final on Saturday.
The reigning premiers scored a competitive 290 at the end of play on Saturday, with the grand final in the balance as The Riv went to press.
Echuca won the toss and elected to bat first on the Echuca South Oval.
Trevor Oborne top-scored for Echuca with a patient knock of 77.
FUN FACT: Monday night’s television featured Friends, Suddenly Susan, Veronica’s Closet and Spin City on WIN, Australia’s Most Wanted and the season return of Talking Footy on Prime, Healthy, Wealthy and Wise on Ten Victoria, Four Corners and Media Watch on the ABC and Ericsson Cup soccer on SBS.
10 YEARS AGO
FRIDAY, MARCH 22, 2013
WATER BLAME GAME
Member for Rodney Paul Weller has labelled Member for Murray Sharman Stone “breathtakingly arrogant’’, following her criticism about the Victorian Government’s decision to offer voluntary water buybacks for irrigators.
Dr Stone had earlier said Mr Weller was misleading Victorian irrigators by suggesting the Federal Government was prepared to pay more than the market value for irrigators in spur channels to sell their water.
She said the Victorian Government had also misled irrigators when it promised its environmental targets had been met.
‘‘In fact, selling more irrigation water to fill the Murray-Darling Basin bucket was the price of their (the Federal Government) $1 billion contribution towards Victoria ‘reconfiguring’ or closing down half of the G-MW system,’’ she said.
‘‘This ‘reconfiguration’ is seen as a way to save the deeply indebted, inefficient and grossly over-staffed Goulburn-Murray Water authority.
‘‘As the Victorian Auditor General regularly reports, G-MW is financially unsustainable.(Water) Minister (Peter) Walsh’s own forecast is a G-MW debt of quarter of a billion dollars by 2014.
‘‘So this is not about our farmers’ survival, or increasing food production.
‘‘This is about securing $1 billion to take more water ‘for the environment’ and to help save a failing water authority by reducing its management task, whatever the consequences.’’
TOWN UNITES TO FEND OFF PHARMACY
Passionate Mathoura residents applauded as Murray Shire Council refused a pharmacy for the town at its meeting on Tuesday.
About 50 residents turned out to the meeting in opposition to the proposed business planned for Livingstone St.
If approved, the new pharmacy would have put the town’s current medicine provider, Mathoura Health and Beauty, out of business.
Mathoura Health and Beauty is not a pharmacy, but currently holds a licence to supply the town with medicinal products.
CREAM OF THE CROP
The Echuca Pacing Cup will headline a jam-packed night of racing at Echuca Harness Racing Club tonight.
The event will be Black Caviar-themed as the famous mare attempts her 24th straight win when she races at Moonee Valley tonight, with EHRC to set up a live broadcast thanks to funding from the Victorian Government.
Black Caviar merchandise will be on sale at the club and spectators are encouraged to dress in salmon and black, with the first 200 people in the colours through the gate to receive free entry.
The $25,000 Echuca Pacing Cup headlines the meet, followed by the $20,000 George Croxford Tribute Final and the time-honoured JA Connelly Crystal Bucket.
Committee member Damian Corken said it should be a spectacular evening.
‘‘The weather’s looking really good for a massive night of racing, which features 12 fields,’’ he said.
‘‘The quality of the race fields is probably the best I’ve seen here at Echuca. It’s a Melton-quality field.’’
FUN FACT: A Good Day To Die Hard was the top movie at Paramount Cinemas in Echuca. Other movies screening were Jack The Giant Slayer, The Croods, The Lion King and Give It A Year.
Gregor Mactaggart is the editor of the Riverine Herald.