50 years ago, October 1975

Light rain on Tuesday, continuous heavy rain throughout Wednesday and the swollen Campaspe River overflowing its banks on Wednesday evening completed the washout of the 1975 Elmore Machinery Field Days.

Over the two days, 52.6 millimetres of rain were recorded at Rochester by the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, and the heavy rain upstream in the catchment area caused the Campaspe River to overflow. It reached a peak of 21ft 6in in the early hours of Friday morning at Rochester.

The light rain on the opening day deterred many spectators from attending, although from reports, there was still a good attendance.

The continuous rain on Wednesday saw few spectators, very few demonstrations, and with the rising of the river, it was a race against time to shift exhibits before the full force of the flood struck.

The field days committee worked hard late on Wednesday to build levy banks along the Campaspe River in an endeavour to keep the floodwaters out.

However, the third and final day of the exhibition, Thursday, had to be cancelled as the river kept rising.

***

Notification has been received by the principal of the Rochester High School, Mr G.F. Sayers, that six members of this year’s senior form have been offered places at the Australian National University in 1976.

The successful students are Lesley Reid, Averil Newman, Peter Weeks, Ashley Stewart, Lee Darroch and James Brooks.

These students have been selected on their past performances at school, and on the school’s recommendation.

Their individual results in the end-of-year examinations for the Higher School Certificate will not affect their selection in any way, as far as the ANU is concerned.

Examinations will be conducted in November for all students in forms 3 and 5.

25 years ago, October 2000

Visiting Washington was the highlight of Scott Mitchell’s recent trip to the United States as a delegate of a political exchange tour.

Mr Mitchell, who hails from Lockington and was recently elected federal president of the Young National Party, was part of an eight-member delegation that visited the US in July.

He was the only National Party member to attend and the only representative who came from outside a capital city.

After a briefing in Canberra on current issues relating to Australia-US relationships, the group left to tour Washington DC, Colorado and Alaska.

Washington provided a valuable overview of the US Federal Government system and covered the key institutions and structures of the capital, Mr Mitchell said.

***

Lockington has again tasted success at the regional Rural Pride — Keep Australia Beautiful Awards.

The town’s Year 2000 Project won an award for Outstanding Beautification and/or Community in the North-East Region while the Heritage Complex won recognition for a Principal Ongoing Project.

The Year 2000 project included a pavilion and mural, a fountain, a town map and direction signs as well as a new bridge over the channel and the completion of a walking track.

It is the fourth year the town has reached the regional winners’ list.

In the first year of entry the Heritage Complex and Channel Project went on to win the State Award and Lockington Consolidated School has also made the regional winners’ list for several years.

Committee member Frank Dullard said the award was for the whole community.

10 years ago, October 2015

It started on one of the hottest October days in years — but nothing could stifle the spirit of those pounding the paddocks at the Elmore Events Centre for the 52nd Elmore Field Days last week.

One of the most successful field days to date, 2015’s event featured tractor parades, celebrity talks, fashion parades, in-paddock and shearing demonstrations and plenty of fun.

The latest and greatest tractors, wheel loaders, hay rakes, paddock rollers, seed graders, sheep handlers, silos and irrigation systems were just some of the products on show for the 40,000 people who walked through the event centre gates across three days.

Always firmly marked in the diaries of farmers and contractors Australia-wide, the agricultural event took a step further this year — using its profile and platform to highlight specific community issues with talks on men’s health and combatting the regional methamphetamine epidemic.

***

Georgia Mundie turned 18 last Thursday.

But it’s not the best thing that’s happened to her this year.

In the past month alone, she has taken on a second term as national youth ambassador for Reining Australia, won a national championship and beaten those twice her age to become reserves champion in the national non-professional classic.

But claiming top honours is all in a day’s work for the overachieving teen.

The Rochester woman is the best reining rider in Australia in her age group (14 to 18 years old).

Along with her champion father, Bruce, and trainer step-mother, Wendy, Georgia travels around Victoria and NSW most weekends competing in the niche sport.

‘‘It’s quite hard to explain,’’ she said. ‘‘But it’s a more rustic version of dressage.’’

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