Reflections from the past

Shire Engineer, Mr W.G. Reid, said three council employees, Messrs J. Crouch, B. Steele and D. Edwards had expressed the desire to attend these camps.

***

There was a new look to the incoming president of the Rochester Shire on Thursday last, at the statutory meeting of the shire, when the new civic leader, Cr Alex Fraser, surprised his fellow councillors and the council officers with an apparent luxuriant growth of hair.

Getting a little thin on top, Cr Fraser fronted up to his installation as president with an elegant hairpiece.

One comment made suggested ‘’the hairpiece may have been part of the presidential regalia.’’

Cr Fraser said the hairpiece enabled him to be photographed more easily, as light from flashlights tended to reflect off his unprotected scalp.

***

Fifteen recommendations submitted by the Central Riding councillors following a meeting with residents and ratepayers of Rochester East, were accepted by the full council on Thursday.

Cr J.R. Hare who chaired the meeting with the ratepayers and residents informed council that he considered one motion put forward at the meeting was facetious, indeed it was outrageous.

He referred to a motion from the ratepayers and residents that $45,000 of the Commonwealth grant of $60,000 be spent in Rochester East.

A letter was received by the council from the Local Government Department acknowledging that the council’s application for a subsidy to undertake drainage works in Rochester East and that a subsidy would be given when available, probably 1977-78, but that an earlier start may be made with departmental approval.

25 years ago September 1999

Time is critical in getting a proposed $40 million development up and running at Rochester’s Murray Goulburn plant.

The expansion would guarantee the future of the Rochester site but require the partial closure of Moore St, according to Rochester factory manager Doug Sims.

Factors leading to the decision to locate the development in Rochester came together last Wednesday, Mr Sims said.

Mr Sims said Murray Goulburn wanted to gauge public support for the project through a public meeting, which, because of the tight timeline, was called for last night (Monday) with Mr Sims apologising for the short notice.

***

Volunteers came out in droves for the annual Elmore Field Days working bee and lunchtime barbecue on Wednesday.

Forty men and women set to work early in the morning to mark, peg out and number the 490 sites for the popular machinery and field days scheduled for October 5 to 7.

The return to the mid-week time slot has proved popular with exhibitors, said volunteer Ged McCormick.

This year’s special feature is Grape Growing: Consideration to Consumption, with a special central tent put on by the Institute of Sustainable Irrigated Agriculture’s wine grapes division.

***

A desert setting of the fabled land of Araby will come alive when Rochester Secondary College’s production of Sheik, Rattle ‘n’ Roll hits the stage of the CVCC.

The lively musical, produced and directed by staff member Lynda Cartwright, involves 45 students on the stage, singing and dancing, with a further 32 students behind the scenes assisting with costume changes, props, sets, make-up, lighting and curtains.

Staff member Bill Barkla said many more students and parents had volunteered as ushers and assistants on the night.

Rehearsals for the show have been under way since March.

10 years ago September 2014

Backs against the wall, come-from-behind win, fourth consecutive premiership — the script wrote itself.

Lockington-Bamawm United’s incredible reign continued on Saturday after defeating North Bendigo by 11 points in the Heathcote and District Football League finale.

The Cats overcame a 26-point deficit in the third quarter to pinch the 13.9 (87) to 11.10 (76) feat, booting eight second half goals to three in a resounding turnaround.

Kahl Oliver, who was a last-minute inclusion, led the revival with four majors, including an unbelievable check side goal, which put the Cats five points up with less than 10 minutes left in the final stanza.

***

Rochester’s Kirby Taylor is already making her mark on the geopolitical and financial stage.

The Rochester Secondary College graduate is taking the world by storm through her involvement in Global Voices.

Global Voices provides opportunities for young Australians to engage with international policy both at home and abroad.

Kirby flies to Washington next month to take part in the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meeting.

She will be a delegation joint co-ordinator of six young leaders from across Australia.

For Kirby, the whole trip is an early shot at the big leagues — the World Bank and IMF dictate fiscal policy around the world.

***

The Pascoe St bridge proposal is gaining momentum within the Rochester community as residents start rallying around the project.

The Committee for Rochester met last week with consultant Sally Hirst to discuss her 14-page strategic plan for the further development of Rochester.

The document included a detailed strategy for the development of the Pascoe St bridge.

‘‘There is an opportunity to further connect the town with another crossing, for pedestrians and cyclist, which not only joins the two sides at a strategic location but acts as another distinctive destination in its own right,’’ Ms Hirst said.

‘‘Physically it will connect the sports precinct to the river trail on the west bank of the river and create links to the Moore St gateway.’’