February 1974, 50 years ago.
MBE honour to woman
A former pupil of the Nanneella Estate School, Mrs Frances Webster, formerly Miss Frances Hughes, has been made an MBE, for her services to the Bush Nursing Association.
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On a cold, wet winter’s night in 1930, Mrs Webster commenced a long career as a bush nurse for Laver’s Hill. She was a familiar and comforting sight in the sparsely populated area, 40 miles south of Colac, as she rode her grey mare along the winding tracks.
For four pounds a week, Mrs Webster was on call 24 hours a day, to provide the only medical aid in the district.
And on New Year’s Day, the “Florence Nightingale of Laver’s Hill” received her MBE.
Reunion Sunday
The annual Rochester-ites re-union is to be held in the Fitzroy Gardens, this coming Sunday.
The organiser, Mr Colin Brough of East Preston expects a record attendance this year, and already 28 have been booked on the chartered bus to run from Rochester. It is expected that a last minute rush for seats will see the bus filled to capacity.
Bookings are being taken at the Campaspe Valley News Office, or with Mr R. Ellis, secretary of the Rochester Senior Citizens’ Club.
The bus will leave from the Campaspe Valley News Office at 9am sharp and travellers will need to take lunch, a drinking vessel and perhaps a folding chair.
Tomato mite
Weather conditions have been favourable for the build up of tomato mite and this pest has already invaded some crops, said Mr P. G. Slotgraaf, Agricultural Officer of the Department of Agriculture, at Rochester.
Tomato mites are too small to be seen, except with the aid of a good lens and their first appearance in the field is often left unnoticed.
The first signs of this pest are the drying of the older leaves and the stem and leaves changing from green to a golden brown.
The pest is controlled by regular sprayings or dustings with sulphur.
Lockington Bowls
The weekly associates event resulted in a win for Mesdames Jean Palmer, Jean Evans and Bettine Finlay.
In the mixed mid week evening event, J. Kirchhofer and Mrs Palmer, took the honours.
There were 112 players from all surrounding clubs, in the 60 and overs men’s tournament last week at Lockington. The winners: Mick Maher, C. Crossman, Bill Harvey and Wattie Beeson. Runners-up: A Richardson, A. Ash, J. Latter and J. Brown.
February 1999, 25 years ago.
It’s showtime in Rochester
He’s got you in his sights - and is the final judge on who has the fastest tennis serve or cricket bowl in the district.
Rochester police sergeant Frank Severino will be on hand with the station’s radar gun on Friday night at Rochester’s Great Northern Show.
All ages are invited to enter the competition, introduced this year to allow sports men and women across the district to measure their speed on the court or the pitch.
More ahead: Fehring
District dairy farmers were urged by United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Max Fehring to consider the opportunities for Victorian farmers, with deregulation of the dairy industry in 2000, at a meeting at Lockington on Thursday evening.
Over 100 dairy farmers listened quietly as Mr Fehring outlined the past 12 months of debate on deregulation then urged them to back the UDV “grabbing the industry and moving ahead with it”.
“You can stay in one place and put up fences or you can move ahead,” Mr Fehring said.
New heritage adviser
Campaspe Shire’s new heritage adviser Ms Halina Eckersley will bring a wealth of experience to the position, according to Echuca Ward councillor Peter Williams.
Ms Eckersley, who began work today in Echuca and will works two days each fortnight, is currently providing heritage advisory services to the City of Greater Bendigo and Mitchell Shire. Her appointment comes after former advisor Andrew Ward decided not to seek another term on his contract.
Mr Ward has been the shire’s heritage advisor for the past five years, completing the Echuca Conservation Study in 1992.
Keen to improve golf game
A great field of 60 players took advantage of the free clinic at Rochester Golf Club on Friday night.
The opportunity to try out the latest golf technology and to videotape the swing proved popular.
Highlight was definitely the pro golfers showing hackers how to change their swings and watching the results later in the clubhouse on tape.
February 2014, 10 years ago.
Fuel service volunteers keep town running
Committee members and Campaspe Shire Mayor Ian Maddison celebrated 10 years of fuel sales in Lockington last week.
Cr Maddison said the fuel outlet, run predominantly on volunteer labour, was an asset to the town.
He said it not only provided Lockington residents with security if fuel ran low but increased the town’s buying power.
Historical handover hangs on paperwork
Campaspe Shire Council will hand over museum buildings to the Rochester Historical and Pioneer Society when a corrected agreement is drafted and renovation funding is secured.
The buildings are currently held in trust by the council but run by the historical society.
Rochester Ward councillor Leigh Wilson said the last contract drawn up by council for the society to sign contained errors in the title transfer.
Ambitious teens to talk for the title
Four Rochester Secondary College students will undergo a Lions Youth of the Year public speaking challenge tomorrow.
Sam Bolitho Beth Andrews, Carli Windridge and Ebony Hooper took part in an interview selection process on Sunday which saw them go through to tomorrow’s Rochester final.
They will face the Rochester Lions Club and a panel of judges and the winner will go through to the regional final to represent Rochester.
Drought breaks
The Rochester women’s bowls Division 2 winners returned from Deniliquin beaming.
Their last time Division 2 won a premiership was in 1971.
Player Marg Harley said she shook when she took the last two bowls because by then it was clear the team had won.
When she took the last bowl she rushed to hug her team mate Rae Ault.
‘‘I’m just so delighted. I never won a lot at sport,’’ she said.