50 years ago July 1975

The Australian Government is likely to be asked for financial assistance for irrigators in NSW.

The Minister for Public Works and Ports, Mr Punch, has agreed to the proposal put up by water users earlier this week.

He said in a letter to the Southern Riverina Irrigation Districts’ Council he would ask the Premier, Mr Lewis, to approach the Australian Government for finance to help water users meet their water accounts.

Mr Punch said the approach would be based on information supplied by users and the NSW Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission.

***

Thirty willing helpers and equipment valued at the best part of $12,000 provide the Echuca district with the best equipped rescue team in country Victoria.

Echuca-Moama Search and Rescue Squad has been called up to 150 miles away to recover bodies from rivers and reservoirs.

The Echuca-Moama squad and the Victoria Police Search and Rescue Squad are the only two teams in Victoria that can handle this work.

The squad is equally capable of undertaking a bush search, helping out after a car or train smash, and rescue work where a building catches fire or collapses.

But the squad has a battle to meet the cost of new equipment, maintenance on equipment and operating expenses.

***

Former Echuca sportsman, John Hendry, has been appointed captain-coach of the Melbourne University XI for the 1975-76 district cricket season.

He will replace Victorian opener Len Stillman, who is likely to transfer to Melbourne.

John, son of Mr and Mrs Jack Hendry, of Echuca, attended Echuca High School and played cricket for Echuca East.

John, 27, who is a Bachelor of Commerce, played for University from 1966 to 1970 and scored 208 not-out in 261 minutes against Carlton in October 1967.

25 years ago July 2000

The planned opening in October of Melbourne Museum will have special significance for two Echuca men.

Artist Clive Atkinson has worked over the past two years as co-principal designer of displays for Bunjilaka, the Aboriginal section of the museum.

Busy as well, Clive has recently had a tender accepted to create a welcome desk at the entry to Bunjilaka.

His design involves a modern zinc laminate desk base — complementing the museum architecture — with a redgum desk top.

The redgum will be a huge, complete slab of timber, which has been selected from the Barmah Forest and which will be prepared in Echuca by furniture maker Graham Kelly.

***

The largest flotilla of boats ever assembled for an Olympic torch relay will gather on the Murray River at Echuca-Moama on July 25.

Thirteen boats, including all the district’s paddlesteamers, will travel in front of the PS Pevensey as it carries the torch on its journey from the Victoria Park boat ramp to Moama wharf.

‘’This will be a unique opportunity for this region to promote its tourism appeal on the river,’’ Campaspe Shire tourism and leisure services manager Frank Ryan said.

‘’This will be the largest flotilla anywhere in the world used for an Olympic torch relay,’’ he said.

***

Jenni Watson recently coached the Victorian country women’s under-18 basketball team to a gold medal in the Australian Under-18 Championships.

Held in Sydney, this is Jenni’s second year as head coach for the team.

The team was chosen from two training weekends and the girls trained together for five weekends leading up to the championships.

‘’We played men’s teams for practice as they are harder. Even though they beat us, it was great to play against skilled teams that play together all the time,’’ Jenni said.

‘’We needed to make sure that the girls as a team could preform under pressure as preparation is one of the most important ingredients.’’

The girls from all around country Victoria trained mainly in Ballarat.

10 years ago July 2015

Caitlin and Sam Meyer do not fit the mould.

Unlike many 20-somethings the brother-sister-duo have taken life by the horns and are changing Victorian legislation while they do it.

The Echuca siblings are part of the YMCA’s Youth Parliament program — designed to give young Victorians a chance to be heard at the highest levels of state government on a range of issues relevant to their lives.

And Thursday last week, 21-year-old Caitlin was named Youth Governor for 2016.

She will be the face — and voice — of the program in its 30th year.

It is a big job with more than 800 volunteer hours of work ahead of her, but she is ready.

***

The Committee for Echuca Moama is demanding the Victorian Government step in and build the promised Murray Valley Hwy-Warren St intersection roundabout.

Before, not after, someone is killed.

C4EM chairman Geoff Kelly said the previous Coalition government had agreed to separate the much-needed roundabout from the second river crossing project on safety grounds.

And announced the project would be started in early 2015.

“We are now into July and nothing has happened,” Mr Kelly said.

“We can accept this government needs to deliver on its pre-election promises; however, this project was said to be locked into the budget,” he said.

“How can the money just disappear?”

Mr Kelly said C4EM had also written to the Roads and Road Safety Minister, Luke Donnellan, outlining community concern around the stalling of this important project.

***

Motocross rider Jed Polomka collapsed after he completed the Hattah Desert Race in Mildura last week — and rightly so.

He had just claimed second place, leaving more than 200 other riders eating his dust.

Racing in the 100-150cc two-stroke 13 to 16 boys’ class, Jed completed eight laps of the 17km loop within the two-hour time frame to take home the silver medal.

It was a surprise result for the young rider, having his first crack at an endurance race.

The 16-year-old finished 24th after the prologue time trial and was forced to catch — and pass — more than 20 riders on the sandy riverside course on the main day of the competition.

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