1974
Teacher calls it a day
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A dinner at the Motel Victoria, in Elmore, on Tuesday, marked the retirement of Mrs Ethel Sullivan, who has been the senior mistress at the Rochester High School for many years.
Special guests at the dinner included Mr and Mrs W. Kuhne, from Kyabram, and Mrs A. Dawes, from Camperdown. These three people were lifelong friends of Mrs Sullivan, and they with the staff members of Rochester High School wished Mrs Sullivan a long and happy retirement after an outstanding career as a teacher and an administrator.
Mrs Sullivan left the school on Friday last and will reside in future at her new home in Melbourne.
For the next eight months, Mrs Sullivan will travel the world, visiting such places as Bolivia and Iceland.
$600 gift
At the monthly meeting of the Rochester Old People’s Homes Society on Wednesday, president Neil McMeeken announced with a great deal of pleasure the donation of $632.88 by the ladies’ auxiliary of the disbanded Rochester Band.
Mr McMeeken said it was a most welcome donation, as now the time grows near for the commencement of the project, and more funds are urgently needed.
A slight hitch in the passing of the plans by the local Sewerage Authority has delayed the calling of tenders, but it is hoped this and other difficulties will be overcome by a small subcommittee of the president, secretary, Rev. C. C. Flavel and the treasurer Mr Jackel, who will interview the architect and members of the Hospital and Charities Commission in Melbourne in the near future.
There have been many unfortunate delays in commencing this project and it is to be hoped that the few minor details that are holding the project back will be overcome and building can commence in the near future.
Doorknock
A committee has been formed to conduct the National Heart Foundation Doorknock in the Rochester district. The committee comprises representatives of Rotary, Lions, Apex and Campaspe and Rochester CWA’s.
The chairman of the local doorknock committee, Mr Jack Taylor said team leaders are now being sought. The Rochester Shire is to be divided into suitable areas, so that collectors will not overlap, and guarantee that all districts are fully covered by collectors, and that no house is not called upon.
Appeal envelopes will be delivered to all homes in the shire 10 to 20 days prior to Heart Sunday — April 21.
Lockington Bowls
On February 26, the associate conducted its annual rinks tournament, when 104 players took part.
Visitors came from Rochester, Echuca, Echuca Golf, Moama, Calivil, Gunbower, Dingee and Tongala.
Winners of the day’s play were Mesdames B. Dalton (c), F. Dixon, N. Alexander and O. Newton (Echuca); runners-up: Mesdames M. Elliott (s), P. Else, P. O’Connell and H. Moon of Rochester.
A special competition donated by the president was won by Mrs U. Humbert of Calivil.
1999
All the fun at the fair
Scarecrows, fairies and elves should astound at this year’s Garden Fair in the grounds of the Rochester hospital. Children and adults are invited to dress up, with a range of prizes for fairies and elves, and for either dressing up as or making a scarecrow.
Member for Murray Sharman Stone will officially open the twilight fair at 3pm.
The manicured gardens will be dotted with tents and tables covered in an array of goods, from delicious cakes to lucky dips, trash and treasure, crafts, pancakes, china painting and “fairy things”.
Australian title win
A Bamawm dairy cow has won the title of All Australian Cow, after taking a swag of ribbons at agricultural shows over the past 12 months.
Rockwood Park Slinky Lindy’s owners and dairy farmers Tricia and Ian Phillips said the win in the mature class was the “icing on the cake” for the cow they described as “excellent, with top daughters”.
CAG members meet councillors
Rural roads, council’s budget development and the Rich River Revel were just some of the items on the agenda at the regional Citizens Advisory Group meeting in Rochester last Tuesday.
Interested citizens from across Campaspe Shire discussed issues of concern to ratepayers, with councillors and shire staff present at the meeting.
Shire chief executive Phil Pearce addressed the group about the budget development process and expectations for the coming financial year. The budget is due to be finalised for public comment on May 28.
Rusty golfers return to Rochester
The rusty golfers returned to the fairways of Rochester Golf Club on Saturday.
Thirty-six players competed in the three-ball ambrose event, generously sponsored by Anita’s Milkbar.
The event was a new members’ day and it was pleasing to see a number of new faces enjoying the conditions.
2014
School top of the class
Rochester Secondary College is one of Australia’s best schools for improved numeracy and literacy, according to its NAPLAN results.
The results of the numeracy and literacy test showed students were below the national average in reading and grammar and well below in spelling when they joined the school in year 7.
The students left those titles behind and excelled in reading and numeracy by gaining ‘‘above the national average’’ when they sat the test in year 9.
Spelling was still a little below average but reading and numeracy jumped by about 60-70 points compared to a national rise of 40 points.
Principal Bernie Altmann was thrilled by the news.
Blue ribbon rissoles
Rochester butcher Tim Cottam’s rissoles won first prize in the Australia Meat Industry Council North West competition.
Mr Cottam said he was ‘‘over the moon’’ when he learnt he had the best rissoles in the region.
He put the win down to using good-quality ingredients.
Cottam’s Family Butchers was up against 16 other butchers in a region stretching from Mildura and Horsham to Echuca.
Construction starts
Construction started on the Rochester Men’s Shed extension last week as the first slab was laid.
The shed is on Rochester and Elmore District Health Service grounds.
REDHS chief executive Matt Sharp he said the construction of the walls would begin within the next two weeks and the project should be completed in the next four to five weeks.
Co-ordinator Bob Andrews said the extension would be used as a dust-free space for the men to paint and varnish their work.