It was a great year for the associates of the Elmore Bowling Club in 1975, having climaxed the season with a premiership in division three of the Bendigo District Ladies’ Bowling Association. Celebrating the win were bowlers (back from left) B. Symes, R. Holmberg, A. Trewick, Miss Demeo, A. Holmberg, D. Niven; (front) T. Parsons, D. Clay, G. Turner, M. Childs (manager), N. Holmberg and B. Williams. One team member was missing (A. Hill) when the photograph was taken.
Photo by
Campaspe News
50 years ago April 1975
More than 1000 people attended the centenary of the Elmore Primary School No. 1515 on Easter Sunday afternoon in the picturesque school grounds.
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To commence centenary celebrations of the school, the president of the school council, Mr Stan Trewick, extended a warm welcome to all past and present teachers, pupils and visitors, with a special welcome to guests, Mr Michael Clarke, MLC, and Mrs Clarke, of Burnewang North; Mr Darryl McClure, MLA, of Bendigo; and Mr Bob McClead, of the Echuca District Inspectorate of the Education Department.
A former pupil of the school, Mr Bill Duncan, acted as master of ceremonies for the celebrations.
After the completion of the roll call of all past pupils and teachers, the two oldest former pupils (a gentleman and a lady), Mr Henry Horsey, who commenced school in 1895, and Mrs Lees (nee Kate Parry) were invited to plant an Australian native tree in the lawn, to commemorate the centenary.
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The newly appointed community development officer for the Loddon Campaspe Regional Council for Social Development, Mr Tom Parsons, of Echuca, was the guest speaker at the April meeting of the Advance Rochester Association, where he was welcomed by the association president, Mr W. Powlesland.
Mr Parsons said the Federal Government had instituted the Australian Assistance Plan so that communities like Rochester could take advantage of specific grants of money that the government was making available on a regional basis.
The main purpose of the Australian Assistance Plan was to encourage people at the community level to engage themselves in social welfare activity.
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Toolleen retained the championship title over newcomer Bamawm after three days of pressurised and nerve-tingling cricket at the Rochester Recreation Reserve.
Toolleen won the toss and the dram started immediately, when Bamawm’s John McMahon skittled veteran Toolleen opener Noel Roulston early in the first over for a duck, and from this stage the bowlers dominated the championship match.
A collection of farmers, with a shearer, a priest, a teacher and a municipal clerk thrown in for good measure, proved just too good for another group of farmers, with a water bailiff or two, an electrician and a teacher.
It was left to shearer and part-time grazier Mike Ryan, who has become a legend in cricketing circles at Toolleen, to defy the Bamawm attackers for a well made 36, which was the top score in the southern team’s 101.
Bamawm was in high spirits. Re-formed at the start of the season and in the final in the inaugural year, it had only 102 runs to get, but it forgot that the pressure of a finals game can change the batting ability of many batsmen.
25 years ago April 2000
Rochester will host the time trial of the VicHealth Herald Sun Tour later this year — the section of the cycling race that can be the most influential on the outcome, according to Sun Tour director John Craven.
Stage 11 of the tour will begin at Sir Herbert Opperman’s statue in Rochester on the morning of Thursday, October 22, with the crucial time trial scheduled for 10am.
Riders will leave at one-minute intervals, riding a 25km circuit that takes in Nanneella and finishes back at the statue.
‘’It’s a very important year as quite a few Olympic riders will stay on for the Sun Tour,’’ Mr Craven said.
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Rochester preschoolers experienced the sights and smells behind the scenes when their visited Phil and Karen Latter’s Rochester Bakery for the making of hot cross buns — and several other bakery delights.
Baker Phil took the children through each stage of the hot cross bun-making process, from rolling the dough to making individual buns, which were then put in the oven.
Rochester preschoolers learnt the art of making hot cross buns — and some other innovative bun shapes — from Phil Latter at Rochester Bakery.
While waiting for the timer to ring, Phil demonstrated how a number of different machines worked in preparing doughs and bread rolls.
Using some rolled dough, he prepared a dinosaur loaf for the children as well as several decorative bread rolls.
After a tour of the rest of the bakery, the children returned to the preschool with warm hot cross buns to enjoy with their lunch.
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Lockington Guide Hannah Wood has achieved the highest honour in Guiding, the Baden Powell Emblem, which was presented to her at the final meeting of the 1st Lockington Guide Company on April 4.
Named in honour of the founder of Guiding, the Baden Powell Emblem is the peak achievement of Guides aged between 11 and 15.
District Guide leader Yvonne Stewart with Baden Powell Emblem winner Hannah Wood and Lockington Guide leader Vicki Gronow.
To earn the emblem, a Guide must complete 11 badges and face many challenges.
At their final meeting, Lockington Guide Company said thank you and farewell to all parents and families involved in Guiding, and to leader Vicki Gronow.
10 years ago April 2015
Former Rochester resident and health worker Nadine Tipping has dedicated her life to caring for those less fortunate.
Ms Tipping divides her time between working as an associate nursing manager in emergency at Bendigo Health and a midwife at St John of God.
But when crisis calls, she steps forward to help out.
Ms Tipping worked with disaster recovery teams in Swaziland and Papua New Guinea and, last month, joined an Australian medical assistance team in Vanuatu after tropical cyclone Pam hit.
‘‘I really enjoy working with those less fortunate than we are here,’’ she said.
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Rochester Mitre 10 owner Russell Anderson stepped aside yesterday after almost 16 years running the hardware store.
Mr Anderson opened the then True Value hardware store with Jim White on July 7, 1999, and the pair ran the business together until 2005.
In 2004, the store became a Mitre 10 and Mr Anderson said while there were not any changes other than a paint job, business improved dramatically.
Rochester Mitre 10 owner Russell Anderson on the job at for the final time last week after almost 16 years in the business.
‘‘People seemed to think we all of a sudden had more stock and better prices but the simple fact was not much changed at all,’’ he said.
Mr Anderson said business had fluctuated through the years, but the past 18 months had been the strongest on record.
However, he had decided he was simply getting too old.
‘‘I’ve been working six or seven day weeks for a long time now and it’s taking its toll,’’ he said.
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Bamawm’s Nathan Bonk has clinched his first national championship in the world of tractor pulling.
And his three-time national champion mother Annette did not do too badly either.
Nathan, 19, took out the overall super mini-modified class, while Annette placed second in the mini-modified class at the final meet of the tractor pull season, held in Quambatook on Easter Saturday.
Nathan Bonk competing at the Australian Tractor Pull Championship at Quambatook. Photo: submitted
Although the Australian Tractor Pull Championship did not go as well as planned, Nathan receiving two thirds and a fourth and Annette two seconds and a third gave Nathan enough points to wrap up the national title.
‘‘I’ve come second twice and third once, so it’s good to finally come first,’’ he said.
He has his mother to thank for much of that success, having learnt a lot from Annette, who has been tractor pull driving for 10 years.
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