50 years ago April 1976

Eleven national motorcycle records tumbled in a record breaking spree on the Northern Hwy near Rochester.

Melbourne motorcyclist, Charlie Stewart, took his 125cc streamlined bike through the record for the ‘’quarter-mile two way flying’’ record.

With his run Stewart took three records, the 125, 175 and the 250cc classes.

Bert Flood, the Victorian distributor of Bultaco motorcycles, rode a specially prepared 360 Bultaco and took out four national records, including the unlimited title with a speed of 152.027mph, about 2mph up on the old record.

***

The intrusion of political promises into regional planning has alarmed staff at Rochester High School.

They feel the promises are one of two factors which have diminished chances of the school getting a needed arts and crafts block and improved staff room facilities.

President of the Staff Association, Mr N.S. Bambrook, explained that all decisions relating to building priorities were now made in Bendigo and not in Melbourne as was previously the case.

‘’All previous submissions now have to be re-presented and re-justified in Bendigo," he said.

More alarming to the staff was the intrusion of political promises.

***

About 500 dairy farmers crowded into Echuca’s Hopwood Gardens last week and agreed to press for a new deal for their industry.

They enthusiastically supported proposals by speakers at the open-air protest meeting, called by Echuca City Council.

After seven speakers had addressed the meeting for nearly three hours on the plight of the industry the farmers passed, virtually unanimously, resolutions calling for:

1. Federal Government financial assistance for the industry.

2. Agreement among all dairy interests on an equalisation plan for total milk production.

3. Formation of an industry agreement with the Federal Government.

25 years ago April 2001

Organisers of Elmore's Back-to weekend knew they had a success on their hands when the town hall was packed out for the opening concert on Friday night.

Member for Rodney Noel Maughan performed the official duties and the celebrations and entertainment kicked on.

The crowds continued to flow and on Saturday morning, Elmore's streets were lined with people — faces beamed, greetings were exchanged and then the applause began as more than 40 floats made their way slowly through the streets, starting at the OLSH oval and ending at the primary school.

The corner of Cardwell and Michie streets, outside the former Parson's Store, was five-deep with people.

Noise was the order of the day and fire and police sirens blared accordingly.

***

Hennie and Dennis Tomlinson are used to dealing with cows on their Nanneella dairy farm, but recently Hennie took home a cow that definitely won`t fit in with the rest of the herd.

On a trip to Holland last year to visit family, Hennie visited a pedigree cows dairy exhibition in Utrecht.

Not only were companies promoting products for dairying, Lely International had brought along its collection of Art Cows — sculpted, life-size cows decked out in an array of finishes and colours.

Lely International has adopted the Art Cows to promote the release of its robotic milking system.

The cows appear on the company's 2000 calendar and one of them was put up as a competition prize for the dairy exhibition.

Hennie put her name and address on an entry form, left it in the Lely competition box and promptly forgot all about it — until back home in Nanneella, she received a phone call from Lely Australia and New Zealand manager Tony McCurry.

10 years ago April 2016

Pools will be demolished in Lockington and Colbinabbin — and Rochester’s sliced in half— under a draft proposal in front of Campaspe Shire.

Councillors will vote on the proposal tonight, which would save the shire an expected $4.8 million across the next 15 years.

But the shutdowns would mean swimmers in Lockington and Colbinabbin would be forced to travel more than 20km to access a pool.

Colbinabbin mother Heather Woodman said the pool served as a meeting place for locals and knocking it down would have a widespread impact across the community.

‘‘In our view the value of the asset is in the value of the social aspect it offers the community,’’ she said.

The local primary school’s learn-to-swim program, which relies on the local pool, has also been thrown into doubt.

***

In another place and time Duncan McGauchie would have just been parachuted into one of the safest seats at the coming federal election.

And regardless of how the election went.

At the weekend the 35-year-old former Liberal staffer won party preselection for the seat of Murray, held for the past 20 years by Dr Sharman Stone.

Game, set and match.

Until the Nationals, who had previously owned the seat since its inception, received a nomination from Victorian politician, country boy and champion Geelong footballer Damian Drum.

“Let me say from the outset, like Sharman Stone before me, I absolutely believe that only a Liberal member in a Turnbull government can successfully represent the people in the seat of Murray,” Mr McGauchie said.

***

Rochester V/Line travellers can now buy tickets in their home town again.

After months of being forced to buy tickets online or on the buses and trains after boarding, passengers can now buy their tickets from Rochester Post Office.

Owners Peter and Helen Holzer took on the role at the start of last week after long-time ticket seller Sharon Ross moved to Tasmania to be with her ill mother.

‘‘Sharon actually approached us about it and so we decided to put our hands up,’’ Helen said.

V/Line regional manager Jonathan McKeown said it was important to have a ticketing service based in Rochester.

‘‘It is vital for the community,’’ he said.

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