50 years ago, November 1974
It was chicken and champagne at dawn for a group of ardent racehorse followers at the Echuca racecourse.
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But it wasn’t a gathering to preview the best chances for the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on Tuesday.
The group — known as the Tara’s Syndicate — had gathered to watch their horse being put through its paces by the boys from the Kevin Esmonde stables.
For most of the 10 syndicate members it was the first time they had seen their horse, Mayora, a two-year-old filly, by Dies out of Arbor Rose.
There was even a rose on the breakfast table to remind them of the background of their fancy, a sister of Rickshaw Lad and Stanawa.
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Plenty of hot days with occasional showers of rain is the type of weather being hoped for by Echuca Golf Club officials during the next few weeks.
The officials believe this mixture of weather will produce a quick recovery of the grass on the front nine holes of their course, which has been flooded for several weeks.
Most of the water has drained or been pumped from the area during the week, but the manager-secretary, Mr Kelvin Quick, said he expected it to be at least three weeks before the nine holes were available for play.
Floodwaters still cover much of the second nine holes and Mr Quick said a substantial drop in the river levels would be necessary before the area would again will available.
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The future of the Echuca sheep and cattle saleyards will be further studied following an onsite meeting by representatives of the Echuca Associated Agents, the Echuca City Engineer, Mr Lloyd Bower, and Mr Stuart McDonald, MLC.
At the Echuca City Council meeting on Monday night, a recommendation from the Public Works and Services Committee that Mr Bower prepare comparative estimates for the repairing and renovation of the existing saleyards and for the establishment of new yards, was adopted.
Sometime previous to Monday’s meeting, Echuca City Council had adopted a policy that the saleyards should be relocated on a 16.187 hectare (40 acre) site immediately south of Echuca Gun Club.
25 years ago, November 1999
The use of the PS Pevensey for part of the Olympic Torch Relay has been approved by Campaspe Shire Council.
The Pevensey will carry the torch from Moama wharf to Echuca port when it visits town next year.
As part of the arrangement with SOCOG, council signed and approved a Transport Supply Deed.
‘’Dealing with SOCOG and the Olympic relay organisers is a trialling and detailed proposition, and this is part of that process,’’ Cr Neil Repacholi said.
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Carers in the region got together in Echuca on Friday as part of Carers Week celebrations.
The party was hosted by Lumeah Nursing Home to get local carers to come together.
Member for Rodney Noel Maughan spoke at the party on the value of carers.
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Murray Valley irrigators have opted to reject the emergency 300Gl release from the Snowy Scheme.
Only about 600 of Murray Irrigation Limited’s 2400 shareholders submitted tenders for the Snowy Water Early Release offer, despite NSW irrigators having only received 17 per cent of their normal allocation.
MIL general manager George Warne said a number of factors had dissuaded irrigators from taking up the offer.
‘’Many irrigators found the risks associated with the ‘worst case’ pay back provision too great; others were opposed to the principle of buying water from the Snowy scheme that they would normally receive without cost,’’ he said.
10 years ago, October 2014
Member for Rodney Paul Weller was getting into the swing of things at Hopwood Gardens yesterday after the Victorian Government allocated $340,000 towards the redevelopment of a children’s playspace.
Mr Weller announced the investment from the Regional Growth Fund, which will see a new and larger playspace built by September.
Echuca and Echuca South primary school students also had a hand in its design, which was ‘‘particularly exciting’’.
Campaspe Shire Mayor Ian Maddison said the project would deliver a bigger playspace, climbing opportunities and interconnecting pathways.
‘‘Relocation of the Allison barge to a new home in the precinct, enhanced landscaping and linking pathways will connect (it) with a proposed riverbank development,“ he said.
‘‘The next generation will be the beneficiary.’’
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A drug forum to help Echuca-Moama’s sporting clubs deal with the growing abuse of drugs, particularly ice, did not score too many goals.
Good Sports, in association with Youth Support and Advocacy Services and backed by the Australian Drug Foundation, promised a discussion aimed at developing policies to combat drug and alcohol related issues.
But by question time, frustrated participants were demanding more detailed information rather than policies and theories.
Sergeants John Trebilcock and David O’Dea of Echuca police provided an informative insight to the impacts of methamphetamines based on their own experiences, and YSAS director Peter Wearne explained what the drug does physically.
ADF policy manager Geoff Monro outlined ways and options available through Good Sports to help clubs deal with internal issues.
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Run, walk, scramble, slip, slide or crawl. It doesn’t matter how you finish, as long as you give it a go, according Billabong Ranch owner/manager Kerri Acquisto.
Tomorrow, the ranch will stage its Brumby Run — a 12km course punctuated by obstacles designed to put you to the ultimate physical test.
Kerri named just a few of the 25 obstacles standing in the way of the starting line and a free beverage.
‘‘We have a slippery dip slide, which is my favourite because anyone can do that one. It’s easy and fun,’’ she said.
If successful, the inaugural Brumby Run may become an annual event.
RIV Herald