Reflections on the past

Fire broke out in the rice drying column at the Ricegrowers’ Co-operative Mills in Annesley St, Echuca on Wednesday night.

Prompt action by volunteer members of the Echuca Urban Fire Brigade under Captain Ira O’Neill kept damage to a minimum.

Manager of the mills, Mr Ron Marks, said after the fire that only slight mechanical damage had resulted in the blaze, which broke out in the drying column about 5.40pm.

A quantity of paddy rice in the column at the time has been put aside for examination to ascertain whether it is still suitable for processing.

$8480 BUTTER THEFT REPORTED AT ROCHESTER

Butter valued at $8480 has been reported stolen from Murray Goulburn Co-operative Company Ltd, in Rochester.

General manager of the Rochester factory, Mr Ian Herbert Coughlan, reported the missing stock on Friday, May 11.

Since then intensive investigations have been made by Detective Sergeant J.P. Barritt, of Echuca CIB.

Missing from coolstores at the Moore St factory are 424 boxes of butter, each weighing 56lb.

In his report, Mr Coughlan said that the butter was missed between March 22 and May 8.

MOTEL TENDERS IN THREE WEEKS

Tenders will be called in three weeks for a new 50-unit motel at Moama.

The new venture, being undertaken by Cr and Mrs Jim Hickey, of Chanter St, Moama, includes restaurant and reception facilities.

To be called Maiden’s Inn Motel, it will be constructed on the site of the original Maiden’s Inn, two columns of which are still standing on the site.

The restaurant will include a bistro, and the formal dining area can be divided to form two smaller areas.

POLICE WILL CLAMP DOWN ON LARRIKINS

Recent behaviour of youths in Echuca will not be tolerated in future by the Echuca Police.

A warning that police will clamp down on the behaviour of youths was issued this week.

Sergeant D. Aylward, of the Echuca station, said that extra patrols will be made throughout the city during the weekend.

“The behaviour of youths in Echuca on recent weekends has been the worst for a long time and it is completely irresponsible,” he said.

Last weekend, 11 locals and district youths were charged with being drunk and disorderly and with offensive behaviour.

Sgt Aylward said that the main problems were drunkenness, bad language and vandalism.

“Many of the youths involved are in the 16 to 20 years age group, who apparently have nothing else to do but wander the streets,” he said.

FUN FACT: Howell’s Real Estate just listed an appealing three-bedroom home. Spacious living area, wall-to-wall carpets throughout, oil heater, air conditioning. Neat garden, concrete paths, driveway, garage. Situated on a fully sealed street in a quiet residential area. Priced to sell at $18,500.

25 YEARS AGO

MONDAY, MAY 25, 1998

DRAFT ENTRANCE PLAN GOES ON DISPLAY

Echuca’s Northern Hwy entrance should be more tourist and dweller friendly, according to the Campaspe Town Entrances draft strategy plan released last week.

A “Welcome to Echuca” sign with symbolic links to the Murray River or historic riverboat trade, a wayside area with tourist information, a seat with a shelter should be provided just south of Fehring Lane and a sealed service road to allow easier access to highway businesses, are some of the plans outlined in the brief.

The consultants also predicted a roundabout will be eventually constructed at the Murray Valley Hwy and Warren St intersection, in line with projected growth and development of residential properties in Echuca West.

MATHOURA’S WHOPPA HOPPA

Tongala has its Golden Cow and Rochy’s got Oppy.

And then there is Mathoura, which is reported to have a giant grasshopper.

A Mathoura resident reported a sighting of a large giant green grasshopper last week — without its head.

“It would have been four inches long, but didn’t have a head,” the resident said.

“It was certainly the biggest grasshopper I have ever seen.”

MURRAY BOMBERS BOUNCE BACK AGAINST MANSFIELD

After losing three successive games, Echuca bounced back to the winning list with a crushing victory over an undermanned Mansfield on Saturday.

Echuca 24.7 (161) defeated Mansfield 1.7 (13).

Echuca was down on full strength for the game, with Mark Heritage, Scott Macumber and Brendan Hogan all unavailable through injury.

Selectors elected to promote thirds players Steve Martin and Leigh Deledio to the senior team as replacements.

Deledio, playing his debut senior game, provided pace around the forward line in a promising display.

Martin handled the defensive role alongside brother Matthew with aplomb.

The goalkicking spoils were shared by Troy O’Brien and Haydn O’Neale, kicking four and three goals respectively.

It was pleasing to see Greg Edgar, playing his first senior game since his knee reconstruction last season, bob up with two goals.

Jay Norden relished being shifted into the ruck in the second quarter when regular ruckman Silas Laidlaw was forced from the ground under the blood rule.

UP TO HANDLEBARS IN HILLS

Echuca-Moama cyclists Ashley Hall, Steve Henery, Mick Hone and John Nutter were up to their handlebars in hills at Bright last weekend.

The first stage of the four-stage tour was a 9km individual time trial.

The second stage of 110km traversed Tawonga Gap twice — just for fun.

The fun stage on day two started at Bright and travelled to the top of Mt Buffalo.

The tour finished in the afternoon with criteriums, a great way to finish an exhausting tour.

FUN FACT: VicRoads customers could pay their vehicle registration by using BPay, a new system that lets you pay your bills over the phone.

10 YEARS AGO

MONDAY, MAY 27, 2013

LOCAL BOY CATAPULTED TO STARDOM

Scotty Baker may be well known around the Echuca-Moama area for his music, but next month he will be taking his singing to the world stage as he headlines the world’s biggest rockabilly festival in London.

Mr Baker will be the international headline act at the five-day ‘Rockabilly Rave’ from June 13 to 17.

A photo of Mr Baker, taken for his last CD release, is even adorning the festival’s posters, which have been sent worldwide.

‘‘It’s funny because the photo was just taken in the lounge room of my mate’s place,’’ Mr Baker said.

‘‘It’s really catapulted me out there into the rockabilly world — not just having me play, but choosing me for the poster.’’

Mr Baker did not even realise he was going to be on the poster until a friend posted it on his Facebook page.

‘‘All of a sudden I’m getting Facebook requests and emails from Sweden, Finland and England and I’m sending CDs out (to them).’’

FROM WRIGHT TO WARBUCKS ALL IN THE NAME OF ANNIE

It was not without some trepidation that John Wright, or ‘Daddy’ Warbucks as he will soon be known, had his head shaved on Friday.

Mr Wright is taking the lead male role in the Echuca Musical Theatre Company’s production of Annie, which opens next month.

He had enlisted the help of his hairdresser daughter Sarah, who seemed more than happy to help her dad get into character to play the follicly-challenged millionaire, Oliver Warbucks.

CAMPASPE SHIRE REJECTS IDEA

The decision to support an advertising campaign for constitutional recognition of local government at this year’s election was the $18,000 question for Campaspe Shire councillors at last week’s meeting.

Councillors answered in the negative, rejecting a proposal to give $18,055 to a national campaign run by Municipal Association of Victoria and the Australian Local Government Association.

While Echuca Ward councillor Paul Jarman and Rochester Ward councillor Leigh Wilson supported the donation, most councillors, led by Cr Neil Pankhurst, suggested $18,000 could be better spent.

ROARING MURRAY

The Murray Football League roared back into the Victorian Country Football League’s top 10 rankings with an emphatic 64-point win against Bellarine Football League at Tocumwal on Saturday.

Murray controlled the match from the outset, moving the ball from defence with speed and capitalising on its forward entries to win 21.12 (138) to 10.14 (74).

Deniliquin’s Ash Morris starred for Murray, dashing along the wings and kicking two goals to be named best on ground.

The home side dominated the centre clearances early as Echuca United and Murray coach Scott Beattie combined with O’Dwyer medallist Rowan Priest to send the ball forward.

League leading goal-kicker and Moama forward Tyler Jones marked strongly, but it was Finley’s Ryan Bongetti and Priest who would score the opening two goals.

Bellarine seemed star struck in the first 10 minutes, missing simple targets off half-back and coughing up the ball due to Murray’s pressure.

FUN FACT: Brand new models of Asics shoes included the Gel Nimbus and GT-1000.