50 years ago July 1975

Two district swimming pools, at Rochester and Lockington, sought either works or grants from Thursday’s meeting of the Rochester Shire Council.

The committee of management of the Rochester pool, told the council that it had $4000 available for improvement works and requested a two-for-one grant to undertake repairs.

The engineer, Mr Reid, said there were numerous needs around the Rochester pool, many parts of the concrete paths have moved, the dressing sheds were not in good order and the plumbing facilities are unsatisfactory.

Cr Fraser believed that the $4000 the swimming pool committee has available should have been paid off the committee’s debt to the council and then they should have applied to council for assistance.

The Lockington Swimming Pool Committee requested five items they wanted carried out prior to the 1975-76 season. The work wanted was another shade for the baby pool, shade at the big pool to be repaired, more trees for shade and roughening of the cement around the baby pool and the larger pool.

***

Ten pretty debutantes and their partners were presented to the Anglican Bishop of Bendigo, the Right Rev. Oliver Heyward and Mrs Heyward, and the Rev. Arnold Curnow, at the Milloo Anglican Ball.

With a background of red, the debutantes and their partners entered through a galaxy of glittering stars.

Each of the debs — Jenny Chapman, Debra Bacon, Heather Aird, Janice Butcher, Gaye Weller, Kerry Fullard, Mandy Gordon, Jennifer O’Brien, Susan Kirchhofer and Joanne McClelland — wore a wrist posy of red and white ribbon flowers and long red trailers to match the red backdrop.

Two little flowergirls, Desma Mitchell and Suzanne Pitson, dressed in empire line frocks of red velvet, presented posies to Mrs Heyward and the deb’s chaperone, Mrs Row Harry.

***

A smaller crowd than usual, but a most enjoyable day for the 27th annual Rochester Diggers’ golf day, at the Rochester course which was in excellent condition considering the dry weather.

Some good scores were returned. One visitor was pleased with his first drive, his best ever he claimed, it went out of sight — the fog and a light hook did help a little.

Winners were: Best nett 18 holes J. Nagy (Tongala) on a countback from M. Bourke. Nest RSL members, 18 holes, B. Madill (Tongala) also on a countback from J. Hunter.

The Diggers’ Day trophy for the best ‘’trier’’ was won by G. Jarman of Rochester and, as usual, the barbecue was presided over by Bill Tomlinson. The steaks with thanks to Kevin Walsh and Harry Jenkins, were ideal.

25 years ago July 2000

Fuel prices rose but many grocery items, which previously attracted wholesale sales tax, reduced in price or stayed the same as the GST came into operation on Saturday.

Petrol stations in Rochester displayed signs showing a two-cents-a-litre rise in unleaded petrol, one cent in diesel and three cents in gas compared to the previous day.

Supermarket proprietor David Major said about 40 per cent of the 11,000 grocery lines in the supermarket previously attracted between 12 and 22 per cent wholesale sales tax and these had now either stayed much the same in price or reduced.

Clothing price rises averaged between seven and nine per cent, while Andersons Electrical reported a minimal difference in the price of whitegoods and an average drop of around five per cent in brown goods (TVs, videos etc).

***

Fairy Dell dairy farmers Sue and Dick Walsh could smile again last week, even though their dairy was out of operation and they’d had to dry the cows off three weeks early.

The Walsh’s dairy, as well as their hay shed, calf yards and fences, was hit by the recent tornado.

The freak weather event also partially destroyed neighbours Bryce and Debbie Merrett’s home and a couple of kilometres down the road it brought down dozens of trees and tore part of the roof from Colin and Michelle Godden’s home.

But all three families are overwhelmed at the help they have received from friends, family, neighbours and the general community.

***

Property values across Campaspe Shire rose by an average of 10.63 per cent over the past six years, according to a recent revaluation.

However, while farming properties in the Central Ward, that centres around Rochester, rose by 14.28 per cent, Rochester residential properties rose by only 4.1 per cent.

Farming properties in the Western Ward, that takes in Lockington to Gunbower, rose by 4.6 per cent with residential properties up by 6 per cent.

While the overall rate increase for Campaspe Shire is 7.4 per cent, the revaluation will cause the percentage to fluctuate for individual properties, depending on the movement in the valuation from 1994, shire manager of corporate services Mich Jaensch said.

10 years ago July 2015

Rochester and Elmore have received funding as part of the Victorian Government’s $45.5 million Ice Action Plan.

A government spokesman said Bendigo, Shepparton, Mooroopna — along with Rochester and Elmore — would receive funding.

The money for Rochester and Elmore, which will be managed through the Rochester and Elmore District Health Service is the result of a grassroots campaign to form community action groups to tackle ice issues in the towns.

It is hoped the funding will allow community members to come together for the first time to develop local solutions in the fight against the drug and for other groups to build on existing successful locally-based responses.

REDHS chief executive Anne McEvoy said the grant money would be put towards the education of targeted groups within the Rochester and Elmore district.

***

Colbo headed over the hill to play against Mt Pleasant to compete for the McTaggart-Conroy cup.

The round saw Colbinabbin remember, recognise and celebrate the contribution that Nelly McTaggart had made to their club.

Nelly was one of a few players instrumental in the formation of the Colbinabbin Netball Club; she played in the winning 1962 grand final and was a great supporter and clubwoman throughout the years.

Nelly along with Joan Conroy (Mt Pleasant) sponsored the McTaggart-Conroy cup.

This year, Colbo had a great day on the court, taking many wins and consequently, were once again victorious in taking home the cup for 2015.

***

Forty years is a long time in anyone’s calendar.

But when it’s 40 years of volunteer service, of being called out at all hours, seven days a week, it is above and beyond the call.

Which is why Rochester SES is celebrating this major milestone in its service to the community.

Everyone in Rochester will recall the heroic efforts of the SES during the Campaspe floods, and knows they are there for fire, accident, searches and storms.

There’s no greater relief than having these highly-trained volunteers arrive at your house after storm damage to a roof, rolling out their tarps and saving you from disaster.

Rochester SES opened its doors for business in 1974 and was officially registered in 1975, in response to a call from the Victorian regional office for a locally-based service to be established.

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Wednesday, 30th August 2023

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