MAKING YOUR MARK
Local couple Penny and Graham Hodgson have been left in awe after floodwaters left their mark on rows and rows of trees — as far as the eye could see.
Graham first discovered the fascinating markings on the trees, while walking his dog around the Echuca Village levees in mid-December.
“Eerie” was the word the pair used to describe how it felt to be surrounded by trees so obviously etched by the floods.
“It was like being surrounded by a fence,” Mr Hodgson said.
The image could almost be split into two entirely different photographs, with the bottom half showing the devastation caused by floods and the top half representing life before the floods.
The juxtaposition between two worlds is a sight that anyone who has been fortunate enough to witness is unlikely to forget.
WHAT A SHOT
VALE TO RENOWNED ACTORS
It’s been a sad week in the world of entertainment with the deaths of Cindy Williams and Lisa Loring.
Williams, best known for playing the bubbly Shirley Feeney on the popular sitcom Laverne & Shirley, died following a short illness on January 26 at the age of 75.
“The passing of our kind, hilarious mother, Cindy Williams, has brought us insurmountable sadness that could never truly be expressed,” said her children Zak and Emily Hudson in a statement.
Williams starred opposite the late Penny Marshall on Laverne & Shirley, a spin-off from Happy Days, which ran from 1976 to 1983.
Happy Days star and film director Ron Howard said that Williams’ “unpretentious intelligence, talent, wit and humanity impacted every character she created and person she worked with,” before going on to say that the pair worked together on six different projects together.
“Lucky me,” he added.
Tributes have poured in for Lisa Loring, who portrayed Wednesday Addams in the original The Addams Family in the 1960s.
Loring was aged six when she won the role of Wednesday in the sitcom, which ran for three seasons in its original run, but continues to be played across parts of the world even today.
Daughter Vanessa Foumberg said her mum died at the age of 64 following complications after a recent stroke.
“She went peacefully with both her daughters holding her hands," Ms Foumberg told The Hollywood Reporter.
Born on the Marshall Islands, Loring was married five times and had a number of acting credits aside from The Addams Family, including a four-year stint on the soap opera As The World Turns.
ECHUCA A FLYING DESTINATION
I received some correspondence from Moz Corrie and Rod Hain, who shared the story of their recent trip to Echuca.
“On a warm, clear summer day a small, single-engined plane left Tyabb bound for Echuca, heading west over Port Phillip Heads, the plane flew over Torquay then headed north.
“Lake Eppalock glimmered in the sun as the plane cruised at 5000 feet, continuing on over the ploughed paddocks of Runnymede and on to land at Echuca Aerodrome.
“Rob, a kind local, offered us, the pilots, a ride into town.
“With so many eateries on offer they enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at Cafe 3564 outside the Old Post Office.
“After a quick and convenient taxi ride back to the aerodrome and with the plane refuelled it was just a quick two-hour flight back to Tyabb.
“Echuca is the perfect spot for a fly in for lunch. We will be back.“
WANT TO BE PART OF THE 2023 MELBOURNE CUP TOUR?
Destinations across the world are invited to share in the magic of the Lexus Melbourne Cup, with applications to host the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour officially open.
Since the tour’s inception in 2003, the three-handled cup has travelled far and wide across Australia, stopping in Echuca and Stanhope last year on its way to Flemington for the first Tuesday in November.
It has travelled more than 900,000km and visited more than 590 destinations.
The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour National Sweep is an important fundraising platform and will return as part of the tour to give 24 rural and regional Cup Tour destinations across Australia the opportunity to be allocated a barrier for the 2023 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
Destination representatives will be flown to Melbourne to watch the Lexus Melbourne Cup live on-track at Flemington, with the town which draws the barrier of the Cup-winning horse presented with a cash prize of $50,000 to put towards a community charity of their choice.
Victoria Racing Club (VRC) chairman Neil Wilson said the tour had become one of the most important community initiatives of the club.
“The Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour gives us a unique opportunity to share the magic of the People’s Cup with communities across Australia and indeed the world,” Mr Wilson said.
Once selected as a tour destination, communities will be supported by the VRC to plan and host a range of memorable community events during the cup’s visit.
A stable of racing legends accompany the cup as tour ambassadors and share their unforgettable Melbourne Cup moments.
Applications can be made online at melbournecuptour.com.au until until Wednesday, April 12.
JOKE OF THE WEEK
Two years ago my doctor told me I was going deaf? I haven’t heard from him since.
FAST FIVE QUIZ
1. Australian Test cricketer Usman Khawaja was born in which country?
2. Which actor played Benjamin Franklin “Hawkeye” Pierce in the television show M*A*S*H?
3. Which Australian prime minister approved the National Gallery of Australia’s purchase of Blue Poles for $1.3 million in 1973? (Note: The painting was recently valued at $500 million).
4. Australian motorcycle racing star Mick Doohan won how many 500cc World Championships during his illustrious career?
5. The rebooted Australian Idol is being broadcast on which television channel?
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
Warwick Davis, actor, 53
Amal Clooney, lawyer, 45
Isla Fisher, actress, 47
Bob Simpson, cricketer, 87
Gretel Killeen, television host, author and comedian, 60
Ed Husic, politician, 53
TIP OF THE WEEKEND
No joy last week with Dane On Tour, who had every possible chance and ran fourth at Moonee Valley. This week we’re headed to Sandown and will hopefully strike early with Inundation in the opening race (Race 1, No.1).
FAST FIVE QUIZ ANSWERS
1. Pakistan, 2. Alan Alda, 3. Gough Whitlam, 4. Five, 5. Channel Seven.