50 years ago November 1975

The image of policewomen can only be enhanced when you meet people such as Echuca’s temporary policewoman Bev Howard.

Bev, aged 25, has been in the police force for four and a half years.

She was born in Kyabram and is stationed at Shepparton.

Talking to her, you can see she is obviously concerned and interested in the people she deals with.

She is bright and chirpy, and not at all the starchy and stern image people associate with policewomen.

***

Despite the many unfortunate things associated with the existing flood situation in Echuca, some things of beauty do result from the encroaching waters.

One of these was the temporary, but effective, waterfall that developed as rising water from the Murray River found its way over the top of the levee bank protecting the aquatic reserve at the rear of the Civic Centre.

***

Volleyball has only been recently introduced to Echuca as an organised sport and has already gained an enthusiastic following.

Regular competition between six teams is played at Bobdubi Barracks in Ogilvie Ave. each Thursday night.

Practice and social matches are also held at the Barracks each Tuesday night and these sessions are also well attended.

Moves are presently afoot to establish a women’s competition, Thursday nights are for men only, and if sufficient numbers can be obtained they will play on the Tuesday night.

***

After travelling hundreds of miles to compete in seven races, a young Echuca motor cyclist has garnered the title of Northern Centre junior moto cross champion.

Gavin Angove, 15, of Fleming St., secured his title when he finished first in the final race of the seven event series at Warracknabeal on Sunday.

A member of the Echuca Motor Cycle Club, Gavin has competed at seven meetings as far apart as Mildura, Bendigo, Undera, Swan Hill and Maryborough.

25 years ago November 2000

“The biggest and best ever” - that’s how Echuca Racing Club vice-president John Moyle described yesterday’s Echuca Melbourne Cup Day Races.

“We continue to get bigger and bigger each year,” Mr Moyle said.

By 2.30pm officials estimated 7250 visitors had passed through the entrance gates.

The fashions on the field competition attracted large numbers of entrants and supporters, with 20 well-dressed hopefuls in the Lady of the Day and 13 in the junior section.

Even off the stage, racegoers of all ages dressed in their best, with flowery wide brimmed hats and bright colours popular among the females while ties and Hawaiian shirts made a comeback among the men.

***

Member for Rodney Noel Maughan believes the National Party would wield more influence if it did not return to government, but remained as a third political party in Victoria.

It was a view within the National Party that as a third party the Nationals could support whatever was in the best interests of country Victoria, Mr Maughan said.

...Mr Maughan said people had short memories, citing the accomplishments of the Coalition Government, including in Echuca; $20 million for Echuca Regional Health, $15 million for the bridge, $3.2 million for TAFE, $4 million for public housing, $1.7 million for Echuca East Primary School and $1.2 million for the Echuca Performing Arts Centre.

***

Steven Calleja returned from the National titles in Brisbane with a gold medal and a silver medal to his name.

Calleja took home a silver medal in the individual shoot in the juniors.

...Calleja shot 125 in the preliminary rounds and 25 in the finals.

“Only the top six shooters made the finals,” Calleja said.

“I shot an overall 114 and the winner shot and overall 116.”

...Calleja now qualifies for the finals round to be held in Sydney.

***

Plans to reconnect the Port of Echuca with the rail line have been given a funding boost.

The Federal Government has announced a grant for $83,050 under the Regional Assistance Program (RAP).

The funds will be used for works needed to alter the port to accommodate the rail connection.

The entire project, reconnecting the rail spur to the port, is expected to be completed by next Easter.

10 years ago November 2015

AFL legend David Parkin rode into town on Wednesday to raise awareness of men’s health as part of the Male Bag Ride charity.

Parkin was one of 25 riders on board postie bikes who were on the fourth day of a weeklong ride around the state to raise funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.

Parkin, a prostate cancer survivor, has been involved in the ride for the past three years.

‘‘A whole lot of blokes decided to ride across Australia to raise money for prostate cancer a few years ago, and they asked me to be the patron,’’ Parkin said.

‘‘So I got my learners and did that ride but had a fall and smashed my thumb so didn’t think I’d ride again. I did support staff last year, but they were a bit short of riders this year so I jumped back in.’’

***

Lockington is fast becoming rodeo central.

Home to riders Cherie O’Donoghue and Lee Kimber, it has recently welcomed Leslie Moore and Terry Evison, who are now running a hay farm there — in between rodeos.

But most importantly, Lockington is now home to a pair of national rodeo champions.

At the recent titles in Warwick, Queensland, O’Donoghue came home as Australian breakaway roping champion and Moore as Australian barrel racing champion.

For O’Donoghue it was a ninth national crown but it was a breakthrough moment for Moore.

And both women did it the hard way — O’Donoghue desperately trying to establish a winning relationship with a new horse and Moore actually riding a borrowed horse to victory.

***

Farmers might be crying out for water, but the region actually faces an increased risk of major flood damage due to aspects of the Murray Darling Basin Plan, a senate select committee was told yesterday during a meeting in Echuca.

Under the MDBP more water is being released for the environment, but the meeting was told no cut-off points had been installed.

Campaspe Shire mayor Leigh Wilson said that could amount to major problems if there was a repeat of the conditions that led to the 2011 floods, when 250 Rochester homes were inundated.

However, the addition of environmental flows in the Murray River shredded his 50 hectares of canola which was only days away from being harvested.

‘‘It’s not worth putting the header in now,’’ he said. ‘‘I will have to turn the sheep into it.’’

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Wednesday, 16th February 2028

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