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Around the traps with Gus Underwood

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The former Rochester Police Station former site has been demolished. Photos: Emily Donohoe Photo by Emily Donohoe

It’s show time

It’s that time of year again — show time.

First off the rank to stage its show in this region was Finley, which held its 106th version on Sunday.

Kyabram Show Society is gearing up for an historic event when it stages its show on Saturday, October 19.

It’s a milestone show for Kyabram this year, celebrating 100 years since Kyabram’s first show in 1924.

Micro abs welcomed

Small-scale meat producers will soon have access to a new multi species micro abattoir at Barham.

Processing is about to start as rectification works near completion.

The multi-million dollar co-operative owned investment will ensure timely and humane slaughter of animals.

The abattoir will be licensed to process 725 000 kg annually or an estimated 500kg per day of beef, lamb, goats, pigs and poultry.

Money for music

Campaspe Shire will financially support Riverboats Music Festival for the next five years.

Deputy Mayor Tony Marwood said the support underscores the festival’s significant impact on the local economy and its historical importance.

Windy, dry week

It’s been a windy week without much rain.

After a torrential and destructive storm dumped 20mm last Sunday week to boost the total for August to 38mm — only 3mm below the August average — only 0.2m had been recorded since then up to Sunday.

The January to September average rainfall is 331mm, just below the long-term average of 340mm.

Station demolished

The former site of the Rochester Police Station has been demolished, following suffering significant damage in the 2022 floods.

Police officers were unable to work out of the flood damaged station and were relocated to Elmore Police Station before a temporary station was placed at the rear of the damaged site last October.

The demolition means work on a new permanent station can now begin.

Rochester is also gearing up for a return of its spring and summer Town Market on Sunday, September 15, from 9am to 1pm.

Take the pledge

A group of women from Campaspe Shire and Murray River council areas are rallying to form a ‘‘Phone Pledge.’’

The Phone Pledge is a grassroots organisation which will tackle the issue of children receiving smartphones at increasingly younger ages with the latest data showing 35 per cent of children under 12 now owned one.

Leila Campbell, Steph Challis and Hendrika Kirchhofer are hoping other parents will be involved in the Phone Pledge. Photo by Aidan Briggs

Phone Pledge president Stephanie Challis was inspired to form the group after reading a book called The Anxious Generation, written by American psychologist Johnathan Haidt.

Take care on roads

Road accidents in the region have been claiming lives at an alarming rate.

The latest fatal happened on Monday at the Turnbull-Pyke Rd intersection at Ardmona when car left the road and hit a tree. The sole occupant of the care died at the scene.

Last Friday, a 40-year-old Nathalia man lost his life after vehicles collided near Bunbartha on the Shepparton-Barmah Rd.

The tragedies follow a crash two weeks ago on the Goulburn Valley Hwy near Congupna that claimed the life of a 72-year-old Tallygaroopna man.

Last Saturday week, two men died in a crash on Ardmona Rd near the Echuca-Mooroopna Rds intersection when a car left the road and hit an electricity pole.

A 46-year-old Shepparton man and a 37-year-old from Morwell died at the scene.

It could save your life

Ambulance Victoria is urging Victorians to ensure their property numbers are clearly visible from streets and roads to help assist emergency services quickly locating addresses in an emergency.

For more information or to check exact address locations, visit Tinyurl.com/raf6exdf or use Mapshare.

Stadium support

Greater Shepparton City councillors have endorsed a plan for a long-awaited upgrade of the Shepparton basketball stadium.

There was an early estimate of $60 million for the works, however with the current political climate, the feasibility to secure government funding and the need to create a financially responsible project that is fit-for-purpose it was agreed that a staged approach to the upgrade was the most suitable.

Square dinkum

G’day,

I went to a bookstore the other day and found a book titled ‘How to Solve 50 per cent of your problems’ ... I bought two copies.

Hooroo!!!