Odds and Ends with Gregor Mactaggart

There will also be displays by Flash Fairlane, the great Southern 80 boat Sapphire, children’s activities and pony rides.

The event runs from 1pm to 3.30pm.

Special guests include two-time Melbourne Cup winning jockey John Letts, Echuca trainer Gwenda Johnstone and Uncle Rick Ronnan.

Letts, who won the 1972 Cup aboard Piping Lane and partnered Beldale Ball to victory in the 1980 Cup, is one of racing’s great gentlemen.

When I last interviewed him in Darwin when he was touring with the Melbourne Cup trophy in 2012, we had a good chat for about 20 minutes, and when we finished up, he said “Thanks Ben”.

Well “Ben” is looking forward to catching up again with Lettsy today.

BILLY THE BUFFALO, GREG HALL AND THE MELBOURNE CUP TROPHY

My favourite story surrounding the Melbourne Cup Tour was one I had a very small involvement in.

I started as a sports reporter with the NT News in October 2006, the same day the tour was visiting the Top End.

My first ever assignment was alongside photographer Patrina Malone, who had organised with the tour officials to make an unscheduled pitstop at the Noonamah Tavern.

Now anyone who has been to Darwin would be aware that Noonamah is on the outskirts of the NT capital.

The great Greg Hall, who partnered Subzero to victory in the mud-splattered 1992 Melbourne Cup, jumped in the car with us to make the trip down and regaled us with some terrific stories, most of which were unfortunately not fit to print.

Once we got to Noonamah, we met Billy, the buffalo, who was a local at the pub.

Billy and his owner used to call into the front bar every night for a beer or two, and Billy could put away a schooner like the very best.

Patrina’s plan was to get a shot of Greg, holding the Melbourne Cup aloft as he rode Billy into the pub.

Being the great rider, and sport he was, Greg said “yep no worries” and the photo was the front page of the NT News the next day, accompanied by a few words from yours truly.

My last memory that day was getting ready to leave when a burly looking bloke came up to Greg and said “mate is that the real Melbourne Cup trophy?”.

Greg’s swift reply “nah mate, this is a knock-off one”.

It wasn’t.

THE SIGNS IT IS GRAND FINAL TIME

One of the great traditions in country football and netball at grand final time is the roadside signs.

The trip from Echuca to Shepparton on Sunday for the Goulburn Valley League grand final was highlighted by signs on the Murray Valley Hwy supporting players from each of the six teams in action.

Echuca qualified for all four football competitions — seniors, reserves, thirds and fourths, and two netball divisions — under-17 and under-15.

It was fantastic to see each and every player get a mention, including the Riverine Herald’s own Josh Huntly, who played a number of games for the Murray Bombers in the reserves this season.

Lucky I snapped this shot of the Bombertime sign, because by the time I headed home late on Sunday night, well after Echuca teams won four of their six grand finals, including the drought-breaking flag by the seniors, it was gone.

THE POWER IS BACK ON

A group of Echuca residents were delighted when the power was restored to their homes after an outage of more than 24 hours on Wednesday night.

In all, 18 properties in Adelaide Cres, Clyde Crt and Edwards Crt were affected by the power outage.

SPEAKING OF POWER

Major statewide news was the announcement energy giant AGL will close the coal-fired Loy Yang A power station in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley up to 10 years earlier than originally planned.

The company has targeted the end of the 2035 financial year for the closure of the station, located near Traralgon.

AGL notified the Australian Stock Exchange of the move on Thursday morning.

Loy Yang A was initially set to close in 2048, but in February this year AGL announced it would get out of coal between 2040 and 2045.

The fact the company has brought the date even further forward was confirmed by AGL’s incoming interim chief executive Damien Nicks.

“The targeted earlier closure of Loy Yang A will avoid up to 200 million tonnes of greenhouse gases being emitted, compared to the previous Loy Yang A Power Station closure date,” he said.

Loy Yang A is one of Victoria’s newest coal stations and produces about 30 per cent of the state’s total electricity.

THE FAST FIVE QUIZ

1. Name the two co-coaches who guided Echuca Football Club to its first Goulburn Valley League senior premiership in 20 years?

2. Ken Done is a famous Australian what?

3. A murder-mystery series set in New Zealand is titled The Brokenwood what?

4. In which year was the first iPhone released?

5. True or false — the radius is a bone in your leg?

BLAST FROM THE PAST

This week’s look at the Riverine Herald archives unearthed this list of shows on various television stations in 1972.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, ABC’s fare saw Sesame Street on at 4.30 followed by cartoons, The Cisco Kid and F Troop at 6pm.

BCV-8 in Bendigo featured Glen Campbell in Concert on Tuesday night, the $25,000 Great Temptation on Wednesday night and Matlock Police on Thursday night.

GMV-6 was the home of Columbo on a Tuesday night and Number 96 at 9.50pm on a Thursday.

JOKE OF THE WEEK

What did the pencil say to the other pencil?

“You’re looking sharp.”

TODAY’S FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS

Max Verstappen, Formula 1 World Champion, 30.

Fran Drescher, actress best known for starring in The Nanny, 64.

Kieran Culkin, actor who stars in Succession, 39.

Martina Hingis, former tennis star, 41.

Angie Dickinson, former actress, 90.

Monica Bellucci, model and actress, 57.

Johnny Mathis, singer, 86.

RACING TIP OF THE WEEKEND

Tough result first-up for us with Elliptical running a fast-finishing third (it will pay to follow him over further). This weekend, I’m heading across the border to Adelaide and sticking with a horse who has been very good to me in the past, Alsvior, who resumes (Race 6, No.3).

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THUMBS UP

How can it be to anyone else other than Echuca Football Netball Club which won four Goulburn Valley League premierships on Sunday at Deakin Reserve.

THUMBS DOWN

The recent spate of wet weather.

FAST FIVE QUIZ ANSWERS

1. Simon Maddox and Andrew Walker, 2. Artist, 3. Mysteries, 4. 2007, 5. False (it is in your arm).