50 years ago June 1976
Seventeen district dairy farmers who have registered as unemployed will be employed by the Rochester Shire for 10-week period under unemployment finance made available to municipalities by the state government.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Dairy farmers who are listed with the Commonwealth Employment Office as unemployed will receive $111 per week, if employed under the new scheme.
The shire will receive $44 per week for each dairy farmer employed, to cover administration and other costs, whilst a maximum of $55 is to be used for materials etc.
The total allocation per man per week is $210, which is slightly different to the previous system of $1 for $1, labour versus materials.
***
The unique style of school sports were held at Echuca East Primary School with pupils from Echuca East, Central, South, Rochester and Lockington Primary Schools taking part.
Nearly 800 children took part in a series of standard sports-based on-field events – shot put, sling ball, discus, long jump, high jump and triple jump.
While every child competes in all six events no one winner is announced for any one event, but the outstanding performers in each age group over the six events are awarded first, second and third place ribbons.
This type of sport evolved in an attempt to have all children participating rather than having the best athletes in nearly all events and those not athletically orientated doing nothing for the day of the sports except spectating.
***
Ron Williams, driving Frank Harrison's fibreglass HR Holden, had a successful holiday weekend, gaining a first and second in major events at the Bendigo and Finley speedways.
On Saturday night at Bendigo, Ron drew position 18, in the 25-lap event in which first prize money totalled $700.
Ron's HR was soon carving up the field, but the second and third cars gave him a hard time.
With only two laps to go, the leader Ern Overhall, driving a Torana, had built up too big a lead. Overhall drew the pole position, and went on to win narrowly from Williams.
Driving at Finley on the Sunday, Williams broke the lap record of 23.4. He won his two heats and drew the outside pole position for the final.
Ron, with a faultless drive, kept the lead to win the race.
25 years ago June 2001
Continuing commitment to customer service and a positive and innovative business philosophy have won Major's IGA Everday Supermarket their second prestigious award for this year.
David and Donna Major accepted the Category Two Retail Award at the Campaspe Economic Development Board/Powercor Australia 2001 Business Awards in front of an audience of 280 business owners, employees and sponsors.
The CEDB award comes just four months after the business was named IGA Everyday's Retailer of the Year – an award which followed extensive renovations, extensions and rebuilding of the business premises that not only increased the store's retail area.
Toolleen vineyard Barnadown Run, operated by Andrew Mills, picked up the achievement award in agriculture as well as being named a finalist in the export achievement.
***
The future of Rochester's Hood St playground is again in doubt with Campaspe Shire considering a consultant's report recommending the playground equipment either be removed or replaced as it does not conform to standards.
The playground is situated at the comer of Lindsay and Hood streets opposite the netball courts and recreation reserve.
Playground safety consultants KR and DE Ward do an audit on all shire playgrounds every three months and safety concerns regarding the Hood St playground surface every time, shire infrastructure manager Ralph Kop said.
Mr Kop has written to Rochester Citizens Advisory Group asking them to discuss the playground and present suggestions on its future to the council.
***
The Rochester Tigers reinstated themselves as genuine finals contenders with a triumphant seven-point victory over the Euroa Magpies.
The Tigers were buzzing with excitement for Simon McCarty playing his 250th game, and took their elation onto the ground, working tirelessly in every contest and continually putting their body on the line in the name of the black and gold.
Despite several regular senior players missing from the Tigers line-up, those promoted into the side grasped with both hands the opportunity they were given, and stood tall with some fantastic football.
10 years ago June 2016
Nanneella dairy farmers Janine and Doug Watson could see the writing was on the wall for the dairy industry and they made the decision to stop milking their 100-cow herd six weeks before the milk price collapse.
Although the decision had already been made for the couple, they still have most of their stock to sell, including cows, heifers and calves.
The couple has decided its future now lies in sheep and beef.
‘‘Dairying has been on a slow, slippery slide downwards. I know nothing stays the same but it really is a sorry story,’’ Janine said.
There used to be 14 different dairy farms alongside the Echuca-Nanneella Rd which the couple live along, now there is just two.
***
Akira Tajima has lived an amazing life.
As one of the first Japanese Rotary exchange students to come to Australia only 20 years after World War II, he broke down many barriers during his Rochester stay in 1965.
When he first arrived in our small town, several members of the Rochester community (in particular those who had witnessed too many atrocities) were apprehensive in receiving a young Japanese student into our carefree and peaceful society.
But Akira's carefree, welcoming nature changed a lot of people's attitudes and their outlook on Japan.
He helped heal many hiding scars.
On Saturday, for the first time in years Akira returned to Rochester with his children Kenji and Tomoko to reunite with those he lived so closely with once upon a time.
***
Latest crime figures show dealing, manufacturing and using drugs have leapt a staggering 223 per cent in two years.
The Crime Statistics Agency has found in the two years until March this year, drug use and possession has jumped 283 per cent.
Campaspe police Acting Inspector Dave Rowe said drug crime was a big concern, hence why there had been a lot of investigations into drug activity, not only by Echuca and district police but Shepparton and Bendigo units.
Insp Rowe believed the increase in drug offences was a direct result of being proactive and detecting offences, with the help of more community reporting, thanks to campaigns such as Dob in a Dealer.
In Rochester over two years, drug offences jumped from one to 17, property and deception crimes rose 19 per cent, while crimes against people dropped 30 per cent to 34.