50 years ago, July 1974
The Huntly Shire Council on Wednesday turned down a proposal that defendants on charges of driving with blood alcohol content exceeding .05 and dangerous driving should be disqualified from holding a licence for two years.
The request came from the Ararat Shire Council, which asked that if the Huntly Shire agreed it should contact the Chief Secretary on the matter.
The magistrate should be responsible for imposing any penalty, said Cr Hay; he should not be bound by a fixed penalty.
Shire president Cr Ken Read said the Ararat Shire Council was nominating the penalty and he did not think this was right.
***
Officials of the Rochester Jockey Club are making an all-out effort to retain racing facilities at Rochester.
Following Saturday’s races, officials of the Rochester Jockey Club, their ladies and guests gathered at the Rochester Golf Tennis Pavilion for drinks and savouries.
Mr Eldred Cox, the president of the Rochester Jockey Club, said the club was trying to carry on.
They wanted money for new buildings, and they wanted more interest in the club.
The Rochester Club owned the land on which the racecourse stood, but before the club could qualify for grants, the land must be handed over to the Crown.
***
The Rochester High School has been recently upgraded and a new position has been created for 1975 by the Teachers’ Tribunal.
The new position, that of Deputy Principal, will be filled by Mr Ken Nelson, who has been on the staff of the Rochester High School for many years.
The Rochester High School has been fortunate in obtaining the appointment of Miss D. King who has commenced duty at the school.
Miss King fills the senior teacher position, which fell vacant on the retirement earlier this year of Mrs E. Sullivan.
Miss King, whose teaching subjects are in the home economics and needlecraft areas, will become senior mistress at the school immediately.
25 years ago, July 1999
Lockington dairy farmer Paul Weller is the new vice-president of the Victorian Farmers Federation.
The role sits well alongside his vice-presidency of the United Dairyfarmers of Victoria.
Mr Weller, whose involvement with the UDV stretches back 10 years, the last two of the executive, was elected unopposed at the VFF annual conference in Melbourne last week.
He takes on the vacancy left by the death of industry stalwart Geoff Gardiner.
Boort tomato grower and grain farmer Peter Walsh was elected unopposed as president of the group.
***
Youngsters at the Sticks and Stones performance on Wednesday learnt how to handle fighting and bullies, turning things around without the use of violence.
The message was portrayed through music, song and dance at the CVCC for Rochester Primary School students from Preps to Year 6.
Two actors from Brainstorm Productions, based at Ballina, NSW, depicted the characters of bully, bullied, parent and teacher, to the fascination of their audience, who booed the bully and cheered when things went right.
The message was that pushing against someone achieves nothing, but working with them doubles the effort and energy to achieve something.
***
Fifteen-year-old Rochester U16 Tigers’ player Shane McCurry has been playing football for just two seasons, but next month he’s off to Canberra to represent Country Victoria in the 69th School Sport Australia National Football Championships.
McCurry was selected last week after three Melbourne practice matches in front of the selectors over a period of weeks.
Earlier this year, he was picked to play for the Bendigo Pioneers in the Smokefree Victorian U15 Schoolboys Football Carnival in Melbourne.
He caught the eye of the selectors to try out for the U15 Vic Country squad, along with Rochester teammate Ashley Watson.
10 years ago, July 2014
A spate of robberies in Rochester in the past month has alarmed businesses and residents.
A break-in and theft of power and hand tools at Fehring Engineering last week follows a similar break-in at Ward’s Underground Offices earlier in the month.
Police also investigated recent burglaries at businesses in Mackay St, the Rochester Opportunity Shop and an attempted break-in at the Campaspe News office.
Of more concern has been the theft of items from the back of utilities parked in the streets.
‘‘These are easy targets for thieves,’’ Sergeant Dale Simm of Rochester police said.
Sgt Simm highlighted the need for businesses to ‘‘beef up’’ security measures.
“The installation of CCTV equipment is important as it is both a deterrent and a valuable tool after an event for investigators,” he said.
***
The desire to return to Australia was the common theme for six Lions exchange students who spent the past three weeks with host families in Rochester and district.
In a first for Rochester Lions, students from India and Turkey were part of the program, with other students from Italy, Belgium and Germany.
‘‘We were thrilled to welcome these young people who shared their culture and geography with us,’’ Lions spokesperson John Prigg said.
The group visited Rochester’s Murray Goulburn factory for a tour of the facility.
Italian Roberto, who hopes to study medicine, enjoyed seeing the Murray River, while Cantugs Sugun from Turkey would like to return to Australia for university studies in the computer field.
***
A new community playgroup has attracted great support in its first week.
The group meets Mondays at St Joseph’s Primary School from 9.30am in the Delany pavilion and is open to all, from the earliest age to pre-school children.
School principal Peter Teggelove was thrilled to see 15 parents with their children at the hall yesterday.
‘‘This is a wonderful way for the Rochester community to socialise in a warm and friendly environment,’’ he said.
‘‘And the children are having a great time together.’’
The playgroup is open to all community members and if the popularity continues it may be extended to another day.
Parent Meagan Keating saw the advertisement for the playgroup in the school newsletter and took her three-year-old, Harvey, along.
‘‘These kids are having a ball today,’’ she said.