50 years ago
June 1974
The president of the Committee of Management of the Rochester War Memorial Hospital, Mr Keith Prigg, expressed pleasure on Sunday at the response of district residents, to the annual radio appeal, which had raised in excess of $4720.
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Mr Prigg was speaking at the annual open day of the hospital, when members of the various auxiliaries and groups hand over their donations to the hospital.
Mr Prigg referred to the absence of the hospital treasurer, Mr Ron Westcott.
He was not far away, said Mr Prigg, only a few feet. Ron was a patient of the hospital.
***
Rochester’s Ray Powles, together with six fellow members of the Rochester Lions Club, and a Lion from Lockington, will fly out of Tullamarine on June 29 on their way to San Francisco for the Lions International Convention.
At the convention, Lion Ray Powles, a past president of the Lions Club of Rochester, will be instilled as Governor of Lions District 201P.
A district which stretches from Melbourne, Rochester, Echuca, Hay, Ouyen and Warracknabeal.
Accompanying Ray as a guard of honour will be Rochester Lions Jack Taylor, John Coughlin, Bill Ward, Keith Oberin, Stuart McDonald and Barney Donovan. Lions Frank Dullard of the Lockington club will also be in the party.
***
A display of ruby glassware was a highlight at the 40th birthday celebrations of the Rochester branch of the Country Women’s Association, where some 160 ladies participated in the afternoon’s celebrations.
The Rochester branch president Miss Dorothy Bodger welcomed visitors from neighbouring CWA branches.
Former members who returned for the day were Mesdames Hunter, Chambers and Woodman from Bendigo, Mrs Flemming from Shepparton, Mrs G. Campbell and Mrs Allen from Melbourne and Mrs Butcher from Echuca.
***
Following an inspection of the Guide Hall, during the June monthly meeting of the Rochester Local Association Guides and Brownies, members were dismayed to see the damage caused by the recent floods.
The damage consisted of subsidence, extensive sagging and cracking of the building, and it is obvious that expensive repairs are urgently needed.
On the brighter side of things the volunteer work, done by Mr Hank Eefting, in constructing shelving in the storage shed was very much appreciated.
25 years ago
June 1999
Rochester Show Society’s search for a secretary is over — at least for 12 months.
At the group’s annual meeting, 20-year-old Rachel Dempsey stepped forward to volunteer for the secretary’s position.
‘’I like being involved in the community and having a say in what goes on,’’ Rachel said.
‘’(President) Barry (Bickley) approached me about helping out on the committee and I thought I’d give it a go — it’s a challenge.’’
Rachel, a Queen’s Scout and former Rochester Venturer, is in her final year of nursing studies in Bendigo, however the structure of her final semester means classes on two days of the week.
***
Pool patrons could be forgiven for thinking the swimming season was off to an early start when the Rochester pool was filled with water last week.
But exploratory work on pipes alongside the pool are being carried out by Campaspe Shire to determine where the massive summer water leakages are occurring and filling the pool was necessary for the process.
Stopping the leakage will save hundreds of dollars on the pool’s water bill each season.
Shire recreation officer Judi Pay said maintenance work was being carried out well before the season begins to ensure a successful start to the swimming months.
***
Red noses make such a difference by raising money for research to help reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The ninth annual Red Nose Day is on Friday and red noses, badges, hats, pens, earrings and cups are for sale in Rochester to raise money to support SIDS research.
Murray Goulburn Store and Shell service station are two outlets with Red Nose Day paraphernalia on sale.
***
The Axedale-Goornong branch of the Coalition of Communities against Open-cut Mining Victoria swelled its numbers on Thursday at a meeting in Strathdale to discuss proposed gold-mining expansions in both towns.
Rochester district irrigators and other water users are becoming increasingly active in opposing the extension proposal, with a petition circulating in the district attracting dozens of signatures within days of its release.
The proposal by Perserverance Corporation to extend its present Fosterville mine to within 100 metres of the Campaspe River at Axedale and over the Campaspe Deep Lead Aquifer in Goornong has angered residents of the towns who will lose valuable agricultural land and has also led to concerns by water users in and beyond the area.
10 years ago
June 2014
Former Rochester Secondary College student Naimah Cameron’s selfless act will see cancer patients with warm heads this winter.
Mrs Cameron shaved her hair and posted it to Peter Mac Foundation to make wigs for patients who have lost their own hair through chemotherapy.
‘‘It weighed just under a kilo, so I think they’ll get two wigs out of it.’’
Mrs Cameron’s next act of bravery is going under the knife for a double mastectomy in September to prevent breast cancer from intruding on her tightly-knit family.
She lost her mother to breast cancer when she was four years old.
Her father raised her four siblings whose ages ranged from 20 months to 17 years.
***
Campaspe Concerned Citizens spokesperson Robert Danieli collected thousands of signatures against council’s rate rise.
The group placed petitions at several businesses in Rochester, Nanneella, Stanhope, Rushworth, Echuca, Gunbower and Kyabram.
Mr Danieli said the group wanted the rate rise to be on par with CPI.
‘‘The rates are unaffordable,’’ he said.
‘‘People on pensions are struggling to pay heating bills,’’ he said.
Rochester Ward councillor Leigh Wilson said the petition would be accepted by council, but felt it would be more beneficial if 1000 people each spent 10 minutes speaking to councillors about the budget.
***
Campaspe Shire is calling for people to represent the shire on its annual visit to Shiroi.
In 1998, the Japanese city signed a friendship agreement with Campaspe Shire and visitors from each location visit host families once a year.
Rochester residents Robyn and Noel Lucas visited the city in 2001 and still keep in contact with their host family.
The Kogures had three teenage daughters when they visited, and the youngest, Mari Kogure, is now friends with Mrs Lucas on Facebook.
Mrs Lucas said the best thing she learned about her foreign friends was that all people were essentially the same.
Campaspe News