50 years ago, December 1974
Echuca CIB is concerned over the increasing number of thefts in the district being reported during the past few weeks and it is believed that the present economic climate in Australia is contributing largely.
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CIB Echuca Det Sgt Jim Barritt said he had no doubt that inflation and rising unemployment had played a significant part in the increasing incidence of cases of larceny.
He said that many of the cases of larceny being reported to the Echuca police were from farms, and farmers should take action to substantially increase the security on their properties.
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A cyclist who has won three world titles and an Olympic gold medal is expected to compete in amateur cycling events at the Echuca and District Athletic Association’s 1974 Boxing Day carnival.
He is Neils Fredborg, 27, of Denmark, who is in Australia under contract with the International Cyclists’ Union to ride at the Brunswick velodrome.
Two other riders in Australian under contract with the International Cyclists’ Union are also expected to compete at the Echuca meeting.
Further strong competition will be offered to the visitors by Andrew Whalebone, who was runner-up in this year’s Australian sprint championship.
Approaches have already been made by the new president of the Echuca and District Athletic Association, Mr Bill Flower, to have all of the riders at this year’s Echuca Boxing Day carnival.
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Ollie Vicary (Echuca) and Nancy Tonkin (Moama) provided an exciting finish when they met in the final of the Campaspe Valley section of the Victorian singles championship for associates at the Echuca greens.
The match lasted for 37 ends with Mrs Vicary finally winning 25-23 after Mrs Tonkin had recovered from trailing 22-17 to level the scores at 22-all and 23-all.
A strong wind tested the ability of the two players, but they handled the conditions well and there were many tight heads.
Mrs Vicary will now go to Melbourne to play against other section winners, and she will be seeking her second Victorian title.
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Roma Pocock was the winner of the first race held for women drivers at an Echuca Trotting Club meeting.
Roma drove Tough Battle to victory in the race and showed good judgment throughout the event.
Two horses fell during the race, but the winner was ahead of them at the time and avoided any interference.
25 years ago, December 1999
The proposed levee bank for Moama will have no flooding repercussions on Echuca Village, according to Murray Shire engineering services director Ian Fisher.
About 30 people gathered outside a stuffy Echuca Village hall to hear how the proposal affects their side of the river.
The meeting was called at the request of Campaspe Shire councillor Neil Repacholi, who expressed concern about the possible flooding impact on Echuca Village.
Mr Fisher was able to quickly sooth those attending by assuring them the Moama levee would not affect Echuca Village at all.
‘’Echuca Village is significantly up stream and not anywhere near any of the works we are doing,’’ he said.
Mr Fisher said the consultant’s report projected only a 10mm rise in the area surrounding the (proposed) levee.
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Members of the Australian Women Pilots’ flew in to Echuca on Saturday for their annual Christmas function.
They were met at the airport by Echuca women pilots to be taken to the home of Aileen Hooper for a luncheon, at which the guest speaker was Marion McCall from South Australia.
Marion is the wife of a bishop with a large diocese and she flies him around rather than him having to drive huge distances to visit parishes around the diocese.
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A group of ladies keen on drinking coffee on Tuesdays will bring smiles to the faces of many children at Christmas.
The Tuesday Coffee Group has raised money over the past year to provide toys and a cheque for $130 for children whose families are in need.
The toys were left at The Riverine Herald for the Echuca-Moama Toy Fund with the message that the ladies collectively wish the recipients a happy Christmas.
It’s a message which Salvation Army lieutenant Paul Beardsley said warmed his heart.
10 years ago, December 2014
Murray Plains MP Peter Walsh has been elected new Nationals leader and was optimistic yesterday despite The Nationals losing its party status almost simultaneously.
The loss of third-party status is a blow, which will deny it of hundreds of thousands of dollars for resources and staffing.
A party must have 11 seats to retain party status — and with yesterday’s confirmation David O’Brien had missed out on the Upper House seat of Western Victoria, it leaves the party with only 10 seats.
It comes after an embarrassing election loss for The Nationals, which has seen the coalition with the Liberals on shaky ground.
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Bronwyn Pignat is thinking outside the box to gauge interest in a community co-op supermarket for Echuca.
The Echuca local envisions the enterprise would be a community development project, run directly by members to inject profits back into the community, provide local jobs and secure the future of district farmers with a transparent distribution process.
Ms Pignat’s passion for the ambitious project has led to research on various community co-op models.
‘‘If we can educate people, we can get them to understand there’s solutions out there. It’s just an enterprise but it’s for the people and it would be democratically owned. It’s about bettering the community,’’ she said.
Ms Pignat estimates 70 to 80 per cent of all dry goods sold in Australia are through supermarket giants Coles and Woolworths.
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The finish line to the inaugural Wharf to Winery Swim will offer a sweet salvation for those daring the depths of the Murray River next month.
Echuca-Moama Triathlon Club, in conjunction with Morrisons Riverview Estate winery, will host an open water swim on January 18 to coincide with the annual Echuca-Moama Triathlon.
The 3km course will run from the Port of Echuca to the lush banks of the Moama winery.
Adding a special touch to what event organiser Andrew MacKenzie hopes will transform the weekend into a ‘‘multisport festival’’, the PS Pevensey will escort competitors to the middle of the river and act as the official start line.
RIV Herald