50 years ago
December 1974
Subject to Department of Health authorisation, a plan to give assistance to the parents of intellectually handicapped people in Echuca will be implemented early in the new year.
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The plan, which was introduced by the Echuca City Welfare Officers, Mrs Norma Currell, will include the training of women to care for intellectually handicapped people in order to give parents assistance in home duties.
At Monday night’s meeting of Echuca City Council, council gave its support to the scheme and agreed ‘in principle’ to the outlines of the scheme.
Arrangements have been made to discuss the plan with the Victorian Department of Health and a meeting has been arranged for January.
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An anaesthetic monitoring machine, valued at $700 and to be used in the operating theatre at the Echuca District Hospital, was presented to the hospital by members of the Echuca District Hospital Past Trainees’ Association.
During the past 12 months the association raised $350 for the machine and the balance was made up by grants.
The association is looking for another item to save for next year.
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Lois Bickley, of Nanneella, equalled the fastest time recorded by a girl athlete for a 3000 metre run in Australia this year when she competed in an invitation race at Olympic Park on Tuesday.
Six of the best girl runners in Victoria competed in the race which was staged during the Victorian High School Boys’ Championships.
Lois won the event in the time of 9.49.4. Her time equalled the previous best by a girl athlete in Australia this year which was recorded by Sue Garretty at Princess Park, Carlton.
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A campaign to reduce the mosquito population in northern Victoria is to be carried out by the Victorian Government during this month.
Advice of the campaign was received by the Echuca health inspector, Mr J. Dawson, from Dr Fisch, of the Victorian Department of Health.
The program will involve the application of Laravacide Abate 5G to breeding grounds around areas where people gather in significant numbers.
25 years ago
December 1999
The Echuca Senior Citizens Club’s latest life member has been involved in the club in some way since it opened its doors in 1974.
Geoff Evens was presented with a life membership of the club at a Christmas party last week.
Ironically, Geoff was the one who, in his role at Echuca City mayor at the time, handed over the Senior Citizens’ room keys to the president of the club in 1974.
‘’It was a very proud day, the day I officially opened it,’’ Geoff said.
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Echuca’s proposed performing arts and cinema complex continues to be delayed as it awaits a financial commitment from the State Government.
The $4.2 million project, a combined enterprise between the Campaspe Shire and developers Southern Star Enterprises, is reliant on a $1.1 million funding input from Arts Victoria.
Council signed the legal agreements with the developers at last week’s council meeting.
Council’s commitment to the project is $1.775 million, a majority of which is expected to come from the Arts Victoria funds.
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There’s no need to be alone on Christmas Day.
Echuca STEPS will be open for a light Christmas lunch from 11.30am to 3pm.
Anyone who would otherwise be without company on the day is invited to go along.
People who know someone who might be interested are asked to spread the word.
The event is free and includes goodies to eat and someone to talk to.
The organisers would greatly appreciate a visit from anyone willing to sing or play a musical entertainment for a while during the lunch.
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A historic bridge which crosses the Goulburn River at the border of the Campaspe and Moira shire will be rehabilitated following a $100,000 grant from Heritage Victoria.
Stewarts bridge, which is classified by the National Trust, was constructed in the late 1880s, and is in very poor conditions, with decaying timber throughout parts of the structure.
Its declining condition has meant that the current 10 tonne limit will be immediately reduced to five tonnes with a 5km an hour speed limit for at least the next several months until works are completed.
10 years ago
December 2014
Echuca has an ice problem.
And make no mistake, we are talking about an incredibly serious problem.
One which impacts us all and which will need a whole-of-community approach if we are to ever overcome it.
It is a dangerous, dirty and insidious cancer which ignores demographics and is reaching into more and more homes.
We cannot pretend it is not our problem simply because there is not an immediate threat in our home or our family.
The ripple effect of ice is picking up speed, not slowing down, and I urge everyone to accept some responsibility in working with your police, your healthcare providers, welfare workers and counsellors on the frontline.
– Paul Margetts, Campaspe Police Area Inspector
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Echuca-Moama unleaded petrol prices may have dropped 2c in the past week — but Melbourne has dropped 3c — resulting in an astronomical 27c price difference.
The Echuca-Moama prices are the second-highest in the state among 30 regional centres monitored by motormouth.com.au at 146.7c a litre.
And it is unlikely to drop any time soon, with Christmas in six days.
A resident yesterday rang to inform others diesel was being sold in Rochester for 134.7c a litre, some 9c cheaper than Heathcote and ‘‘we’re still paying 150 in Echuca’’.
Gas was also an issue, with Echuca-Moama prices almost 35 per cent higher than Melbourne.
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Christmas drinks can have a distinct local flavour this year, with an Echuca brewery now open for business.
The bottling lines at Bandicoot Brewery sprung into life last week, giving life to its new creations – Barbed Wire Blonde and the Rusty Pale Ale.
Owners Tracey and Bruce Cocks will soon have the beer flowing in restaurants and hotels in Echuca-Moama, as well as from their Northern Hwy Brewery.
They have spent time perfecting their recipes and are now preparing kegs and slabs of beer in distinctive aluminium bottles.
Having always had a love for beer, the pair decided to take the plunge from home brew into craft beers, inspired by the desire to create top quality beer.
RIV Herald