50 years ago September 1974

A long and brilliant career in football spanning a number of decades has come to an end for Rochester’s popular non-playing coach, Jim Clark.

Jim Clark has announced his retirement as coach of Rochester.

Clark took over as the non-playing coach of the Rochester Football Club when they rejoined the Goulburn Valley League after being forced to stand out of football by the Bendigo Football League for the 1972 season.

Jim, who is often referred to as the Prince of Coaches, faced the hardest struggle of his footballing career when he took over the coaching role at Rochester.

Rochester was a football club without a football team.

There were very few players who had any experience, but there were plenty of kids.

***

Two of the top shooters in the Rochester Rifle Club are a father and son combination, Ken and David Lees.

Ken is a former champion of champions, and David is a member of the Victorian team.

Another member of the Lees family, John, just back from a Young Farmers trip to New Zealand was the Rochester club’s top marksman in Saturday’s pennant shoot against Bendigo White.

Rochester won by the narrowest of margins, 756 points to 7555.5. Rochester retains its unbeaten record, having won all three pennant matches.

***

Twelve Rochester Venture Scouts have returned from a camp at Redcastle in the Heathcote Ranges, during the school holidays.

The Scouts were left on their own and arranged the activities of the camp without the assistance of leaders.

The Scouts were taken to the site by Messrs Bob Hodgens and Ron Budge.

Once at the camp, the Scouts divided three groups of four. Each group had a tent, their own fire and a tarp for use as a kitchen.

Some of the boys trapped rabbits, while others used ferrets and nets.

The boys spent most of their time going on hikes, inspecting different plants and wildlife and riding on two small motor bikes.

***

Local Government bodies in northern Victoria should immediately apply to Canberra for unemployment relief money, the Member for Murray, Mr Bruce Lloyd, said.

He was commenting on the long-overdue recognition by the Commonwealth Government that unemployment was the highest in country areas and government assistance was necessary to reduce the acceleration of this unemployment.

25 years ago September 1999

Preschool children in Rochester, Lockington and Echuca districts needing the services of a speech pathologist have little hope of receiving help through state government funded Community Health program as resources are already stretched to the limit, according to director of Echuca Community Health Terry Lazzarotto.

Rochester and Lockington come under the umbrella of Echuca Community Health for the provision of a number of health services.

‘’It (speech pathology) is symptomatic of a number of health areas. It is basically a funding issue ... We are expected to do the same amount of work, or an increased amount, with less money,’’ Mr Lazzarotto said.

***

Dancing the Bus Stop and the Bump were highlights of the Rural Road and Farm Safety Day for some children, while free icypoles, showbags and sausages also rated highly along with the impressive displays of B doubles and semi-trailers, police cars, tractors, farm equipment, motorbikes and emergency service vehicles and equipment.

The day, organised by Rochester Rotary Club, attracted around 1500 school children who were bussed in from as far away as Rushworth.

As children moved from one display to another, drivers and safety specialists demonstrated the use of special vehicles and explained their role in keeping the community safe.

***

Sitting in prime seats, Sydney Swans stalwart Clarrie Mitchell and his grandson Joshua Ryan were among the 72,000 strong crowd for the last game of football at Waverley recently.

Clarrie’s prime seats were courtesy of the club who acknowledged his 70 plus years of support by inviting him to the game as their guest.

‘’I had a ball of a time,’’ Clarrie said.

Just before the game ended, Clarrie and Joshua made their way down to the Swans’ rooms.

‘’There was really tight security and very few people were allowed in the rooms,’’ Clarrie said.

After the players showered and dressed, Clarrie was able to move around personally, meeting the Swans team.

10 years ago September 1999

District business owners believe the shock closure of Greens Lake during the new year holiday period will have a significant impact on their bottom lines.

The lake has been ordered closed at the request of the region’s emergency services, who have raised serious safety concerns.

Goulburn-Murray Water customer service head Geoff Enever said the water corporation made the decision based on strong advice from the region’s police and Corop Fire Brigade.

‘‘This is not a decision that has been made lightly, but the concerns raised with us by emergency services and community members cannot be ignored,’’ Mr Enever said.

‘‘We feel the risk is so serious that closing Greens Lake over New Year’s Eve is the best option.’’

***

Rochester Kyokushin Karate Club students performed strongly in a recent Bendigo tournament, producing some great results.

The students took part in Kumite (sparring) and Kata (forms) events, placing in both across many age groups.

The under-14 girls were the standouts with Rochester’s Olivia Dimovski and Jessica Horkings taking first and second respectively in the Kumite.

Rochester’s Luke Dimovski picked up the most spirited fighter award.

The Rochester Kyokushin Karate Club has been running for the past six years.

Students learn a traditional martial art that provides them with self-confidence, self-discipline, health and fitness, whilst having fun at the same time.

***

Rochester is being pushed back into the dark ages of cyber space.

Any hope of high-speed broadband has been shelved while getting better services to regional and rural areas is once again kicked around the political field.

After the cost-benefit analysis of the National Broadband Network was released Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull was determined to starve regional communities across Australia of high-speed broadband, instead lumping them with an inferior service.

Connect Campaspe Community Leadership Group chair and Campaspe Shire councillor Paul Jarman said the group was ‘‘very much disappointed’’ with the new plan.

‘‘The reduction of fibre to the node roll out, right across regional Victoria, is disappointing for many people, ’’ he said.

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