Rodeo circa 1960 biggest ever?

It was right up there with the biggest crowds — certainly since it became a night rodeo — but some locals with a long memory will still put up 1960 as maybe the measuring stick.

The aerial photo taken that year when the rodeos were held on a Monday of the Labor Day holiday weekend and supplied by Kyabram historian Eileen Sullivan shows how just how big the crowd was.

Taken looking east It shows cars were parked along Lancaster Rd and even in the-then Water Commission land on the eastern side over the showgrounds.

In the centre arena a cross formed by the 143 rodeo riders who competed at the rodeo can be seen to honour Daniel Crotty, who with his horse Silver had became an annual fixture at the rodeo.

Dan was killed in January of that year in a truck accident at Wangaratta.

The Free Press of that year reporting on the rodeo had headlines such as: THE GREATEST, THE FASTEST, THE MOSTEST and IT WAS THE GREATEST.

Who is wrong?

The entire Moira Shire Council was dismissed last week after a damning assessment of its governance and culture.

The upshot is that Moira Council won’t have locally elected councillors for five years and will be run by a state government appointee in this period.

Minister for Local Government Melissa Horne found Moira Council could no long carry outs its responsibilities in accordance with the Local Government Act following a Commission of Inquiry into the council.

But the mayor of the sacked Moira Shire Council, Peter Lawless, has come out fighting and said he disagreed with the Commission of Inquiries findings.

Mr Lawless said he was proud of what his shire had achieved and was achieving, and had serious reservations as to how the government had handled the matter.

Free manure at club

There is not much you can get for nothing these days so this may be your chance.

If you are into gardening and you are looking for some horse manure, the Kyabram Trotting Club training complex has plenty of it — and its free.

Club stalwart Gary Limbrick said the only catch was that you would have to do the loading yourself!

March average ‘on track’

Last Sunday’s rain varied, but Kyabram Weather Station measured 10.4mm to bring the March total to 15.6mm.

Kyabram’s long-term average for March is 31mm.

The wettest March on record was 143mm in 2012 while the driest was 2003 when no rain was recorded.

No Monday blues

Monday morning work blues were quickly eradicated for one northern Victorian resident last week.

A phone call from Lotto officials telling him he was one of four Saturday night division one Lotto winners and had won a cool $1.35 million did the trick.

And he’s first reaction to what he can do with the windfall?

‘‘Wow, I can buy a house and it will be my first home.’’

Water storages open days

Don’t forget Goulburn Murray Water is opening two of its water storages to the public over the next two weeks.

Tatura’s plant in Ross St is opening at 1pm for a light lunch and tour or from 6pm for a barbecue and tour.

The Shepparton plant in Welsford is opening today week (March 23) from 1pm for a light lunch and tour. The evening tour at Tatura will also provide the chance to see the water tower and its art work illuminated.

Tour spots are limited and registrations essential and close this Friday (March 17). For more information visit gvwater.vic.gov.au/community/national-water-week

Mural festival postponed

Rochester’s annual March Mural Festival may be missing this month due to last year’s floods but it has only been postponed.

Organises are now seeking a suitable date preferably in a daylight savings time slot to stage the much loved, supported and well-attended event.

Firewood season open

The autumn firewood collection season commenced on March 1and will conclude on June 1.

Firewood can only be collected from public land and limits are in place — two cubic metres per person per day and a maximum of 16 cubic metres per household per financial year.

Firewood collected from public land cannot be sold.

A Myrtleford man was recently hit with a $43,149 fine from illegally collecting wood from the Stanley State Forest.

Community-minded

Now, she’s a community-minded person.

Up at Tocumwal, 78-year-olld Francis Baldwin wasn’t impressed with the look of the town’s main street so got to work herself one Sunday afternoon. She spent four hours cleaning gutters, footpaths and cobwebs from shop fronts, which got a big tick of approval from the town residents if not the city fathers.

Benalla air show

All is set for the Benalla air show, which takes to the skies this Saturday.

It will feature some unique and rare war planes and some aerobatics from some of Australia’s best pilots.

Back on the terra firma there will be plenty of entertainment and food to keep the throngs contented.

To find our more and to secure a ticket visit Benallaairshow.com.au/