50 years ago, August 1975

A new type of public telephone, turquoise in colour, will be installed at the Echuca Post Office in early September.

The phones enable the user to obtain local calls, STD calls, trunk calls via an operator, telegrams and service calls.

The new public telephone accepts coins of 5 cent and 20 cent denominations and its big advantage is to enable callers to use the STD system and speak and pay for a defined period and not multiples of three minutes, as is the case with operator-connected calls.

***

Mr Eric Symons, who is stationed at Rochester, travelled to Echuca to test drive the ambulance candy car currently on trial at the Northern District Ambulance Service.

This region is the first country area to use the candy car.

Advantages are bigger engine, natural lighting inside and numerous safety features.

The ambulance is an improved version of the standard ambulance in use.

It is highlighted by stripes on both sides and down the front.

Drivers at Echuca ambulance station said this was a very good safety feature. It let other drivers on the road see the ambulance from a much greater distance than with the old ambulance.

***

At a gala fancy dress ball, held by St Mary’s Mothers’ Club on Monday night as part of the centenary celebrations, Francis Miller and Glen O’Reilly won the prize for most humorous.

A highlight of the evening was the appearance of Mr and Mrs John Hynes’ baby twins in the parade for best advertisement.

Best paper costume — and possibly the most outstanding at the ball — was won by eight-year-old Lucille Miller, who portrayed a vase of flowers.

Rev Fr O’Donnell expressed delight at the success of the night and thanked everyone concerned, especially the judges, Mrs Pat Mueller (who was also the compere), Mrs Nada Prentice and Mrs Cath Dempsey.

25 years ago, August 2000

The public will finally be able to have its say on the proposed second Echuca-Moama bridge early next month.

The VicRoads/Roads and Traffic Authority discussion paper, 80-odd pages in length, will be on public display at the Campaspe Shire office in Echuca and the Murray Shire office at Moama for two weeks.

VicRoads and the RTA will together distribute 8000 information bulletins to Echuca-Moama residents on the three bridge options — the western option and the two central options.

Survey pegs are in place at each of the three sites.

***

Moama coach Brendan Hogan capped off a fine debut season in the Murray football league by taking out the prestigious O’Dwyer Medal on Monday night.

In a thrilling vote-count at Barooga Sports Club, Hogan claimed the league’s best and fairest award by only two votes from Nathalia's Ashley Gemmill.

Hogan led the vote count for most of the night, although he had numerous challengers.

Hogan’s main rival was Gemmill, who stole the lead from the Moama skipper in round 15.

Although both Hogan and Gemmill failed to poll votes in rounds 16 and 17, the Moama skipper polled the maximum three votes in the Magpies’ last-round match against Finley.

Unfortunately, Gemmill failed to get any votes in Nathalia’s last game of the year against Echuca United.

***

A district fuel distributor is sceptical if calls for a full-blown investigation into steep rises in wholesale petrol prices will be heeded.

Alan Tonkin, proprietor of Ampol distributor Tonkin Petroleum, said that an investigation would not occur if ‘’the Federal Government doesn’t want it to happen’’.

He said there was a lot of misinformation and confusion on why unleaded fuel prices in the district had reached levels on the verge of $1 or more.

Mr Tonkin said an investigation would have to be exhaustive and look at every influence on full prices — Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries withholding production, the influence of the Goods and Services Tax, excise and the low value of the Australian dollar.

10 years ago, August 2015

Police on both sides of the river are now gunning for the region’s drug dealers.

Ice manufacturers and traffickers are being targeted as part of Crime Stoppers’ first cross-border Dob in a Dealer campaign, launched in Echuca this week.

Echuca, Moama and Deniliquin police, as well as other police from the Murray River border towns, gathered in Echuca on Wednesday to appeal to the public for help.

‘‘We’re looking for the community to take ownership because ice is a community issue,’’ Campaspe acting Inspector Troy Hargadon said.

‘‘There is no doubt there is an illicit drugs trade active between the border towns and this (Dob in a Dealer) is a vital tool to glean information to assist us in our endeavours and minimise the harm drugs can cause,’’ he said.

***

Callan O’Riley is officially a Victorian Junior Motocross Champion.

Not a bad feat for the 14-year-old from Ballendella.

Racing in the 85/150 BW C class over the four-round series, Callan won nine of his 11 starts, only losing the two due to ‘‘crashing out’’.

Held in Korumburra, Colac, Cobram and then Blue Rock, the prestigious series was a must-win for the youngster, who added nine new plaques to his forever growing trophy cabinet.

Callan completed three races at each stage, which consisted of a 10-minute time trial before they would complete an additional lap.

‘‘I would race against about 30 kids each competition,’’ he said.

‘‘I probably would have had a clean slate if I didn’t crash a couple of times.’’

***

Barmah-based Kingfisher Cruises has been awarded a Green Leader Status for demonstrating its commitment to quality and environmental responsibilities.

Only 104 eco-tourism businesses in Australia have received this recognition, which comes after the company has been eco-certified for 13 years

Owner-operator Benita Cox said Eco-tourism Australia’s ECO certification program had also recently been approved by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council.

“Our business is the only ecological experience in the Barmah/Murray Valley National Parks to gain accreditation under the Nature and Ecotourism Accreditation Program,” Benita said.

Riverine Herald Google News Panels

Friday, 12th December 2025

Your Afternoon Headlines

Select Stories

Publish Panels