50 years ago May 1975

A member of a well-known Toolleen family will leave for Tasmania shortly to compete in the national knitting championships to be held in the city of Launceston.

Miss Mary Conroy, of Toolleen, who is also very well known in Rochester, will compete in the championships on July 2, following her success in the Victorian titles.

Mary first started on the road to knitting fame at the small settlement of Axedale when, in a knitting contest, she defeated a large field of contestants.

Her winning entry was then sent to Melbourne to be judged for the Victorian title, with the result that Mary is now the Victorian knitting champion.

***

A grant has been approved by Mr Lionel Bowen, the Special Minister for State, for the construction of a pre-school centre at Lockington, for which the latest estimate of the cost of the building is $75,000.

The Federal Member for the Murray electorate, Mr Bruce Lloyd, of Timmering, received the advice of the grant from the interim committee for the Children’s Commission.

Lockington was one of a number of projects recommended by the Victorian Health Department for federal assistance under the government’s pre-school program.

***

Last week, the Rochester hospital, like many other hospitals, was placed in an awkward position when the domestic staff walked out on a general strike.

However, local volunteers quickly moved in and very efficiently kept the hospital operating.

The manager of the Rochester hospital, Mr John Campbell, was loud in his praise of the efficiency of the volunteers, and his sentiments were supported by Matron Jean Schneider.

25 years ago May 2000

A proposal to establish a $2 million hay export processing plant in the Elmore area would have the full support of Elmore residents, Elmore Progress Association president Thelma Shearer said.

News of the proposal, put forward by Australia’s largest hay exporter Gilmac, reached the small township late last week.

The company, which operates similar processing plants in Western Australia and South Australia, expects contract supplies with cereal growers as well as the Riverina district of NSW.

Some growers have already been offered pre-seeding contracts.

The Elmore area was ideal, Gilmac director Michael Mackie said.

***

Bon Williams’ 1926 Model T Ford tray truck was again a highlight of the annual Lockington Vintage Tractor Rally on Sunday.

Surrounded by vintage machinery, tractors, motorbikes, stationary engines and cars from around the district, the Model T, with its bright red body, was a drawcard for the crowd of over 300 who enjoyed a robust lunch before watching the tractors in action in the grand parade.

Lindsay Marshall’s 1908 Type A International was another eye-catcher as the oldest tractor, while a Massey Harris 44K, owned by the Holmbergs, of Elmore, won a prize for the best restored.

Inside the Lockington Heritage Complex was a display of a different kind as wedding attire from across the decades was removed from boxes and, once again, taken down the aisle, this time a makeshift catwalk in the Old Garage.

***

When Norma and Bill Ives moved to Rochester more than 25 years ago, they learnt that the area where they had bought a home was known as ‘’the Hart end of town’’, because of the association with the Hart family and its engineering firm on the corner of Elizabeth and Mackay streets.

The expansion of the Murray Goulburn factory and the partial closure of Moore St, which separated the northern end of the street from the rest, set Mrs Ives to pursue an idea she’d had for some time — to somehow acknowledge the Hart family with something of permanence.

With this in mind, Mrs Ives approached each of the residents of the northern end of Moore St to see if they would agree to changing the name of the section of street to Hart St.

All signed a letter of support which was presented to councillors at last week’s Campaspe Shire council meeting.

Councillors agreed to rename the street.

Statutory advertising will take place before the new name is registered with the Geographic Place Names.

10 years ago May 2015

Concerned community groups met with local politicians and stakeholders on Wednesday to discuss the current issues with, and future management of, Lake Cooper.

The empty lake has run dry for the third time in the past 71 years — the other times were in 1944 and for 10 years from 2002 to the drought-breaking year of 2011.

Local farmer Tait Hamilton opened proceedings and emphasised a long-term plan for the lake was imperative.

‘‘I’ve seen the lake run dry twice now and it is time to find a solution for all stakeholders and develop an appropriate management plan for next time it fills,’’ he said.

‘‘We’re not asking for water right now, we just want it managed appropriately when we get water.

‘‘It’s a very important asset to our community.’’

***

Campaspe Shire Mayor and Rochester ward councillor Leigh Wilson has come out swinging against local groups, asking for a slice of the interest accrued on the Rochester Community Recreation Grants.

The $481,883 from the sale of irrigation water as part of the closure of the Campaspe Irrigation System at the Rochester Racecourse Recreation Reserve in 2010 is understood to have accrued more than $100,000 in interest.

Cr Wilson was left fuming at the line of questioning and said they came in the wake of a ‘‘community group failure’’ at a recent meeting with Rochester’s sporting bodies.

***

Rochester’s Annette Waters described attending the centenary Anzac Day service at Gallipoli as ‘‘even better than a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’’.

‘‘It still hasn’t completely sunk in but I feel extremely lucky to have been there and it is something I’ll be telling my grandchildren about,’’ she said.

The 14-year-old entered a competition in the Herald Sun on Anzac Day 2014 and was one of 80 high school students selected to represent Victoria at this year’s Gallipoli service.

In her first trip overseas, Annette took in the sites of Istanbul, including the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia and the Yerebatan Cistern.

They also visited schools in Gelibolu before heading to Gallipoli.

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