50 years ago August 1974
A period of experimental co-operation with the Presbyterian community of Lockington and Bamawm has begun win the Rochester Methodist Circuit as part of preparation for church union, the Rev A. Orton stated.
On May 1 this year, three Christian communions in Australia agreed to form the Uniting Church in Australia, and that decision is to take effect in June 1976.
A greater interchange of ministers and preachers in the various church services of worship will take place, and it is hoped to also find ways in which Methodist and Presbyterian people in this area will get to know one another better and grow together in their understanding of the Christian gospel.
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Several new and replacement water mains are about to be laid by the Rochester Waterworks Trust in a number of Rochester streets.
The water main serving Hopetoun St is to be replaced with a new section to suit the private street construction being carried out by the Shire of Rochester.
Another new main will be laid in Francis St, from the corner of Lindsay St, to serve three new homes.
A fire service will be laid to serve the Neat ’n Trim factory, and water supplies have been allocated to the proposed new factory of the DK Stop Co. in Lowry St.
25 years ago August 1999
Diggora farmer Paul Slatter has vowed to deliver 20-litre buckets of sludge to Campaspe Shire head offices the next time it rains.
The sludge will be from the surface of the dirt section of Diggora Rd which has deteriorated to such an extent that there is no gravel left in the surface, only clay, which becomes treacherous for traffic after any rain, Mr Slatter says.
His resolution stems from frustration that he can’t get Campaspe Shire officers to look at the road when it’s at its worst.
The road was so bad after recent rain that, for the first time in eight years, Marg Shawcross couldn’t deliver the mail to residents on the western end of Diggora Rd.
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The formation of a swimming pool advisory committee in Rochester is under a cloud after poor attendance at a public meeting last Tuesday.
The meeting was called by the Rochester Citizens Advisory Group in conjunction with Campaspe Shire.
It was hoped an advisory committee would provide community input into pool opening hours, activities, programs and other needs working in with the management
The idea of an advisory group grew out of public dissatisfaction expressed during the past two seasons over operating hours and the closure of the pool during hot weather.
10 years ago August 2014
With Australia’s growing aged population, Rochester’s Restdown Retirement Village has expanded its complex with the construction of two one-bedroom units.
Formerly Rochester Old People’s Homes, the village opened in the 1960s when Rochester hospital granted 2ha in Village Drive to develop ‘‘comfortable, affordable accommodation for independent elderly persons’’.
The first five units were completed in 1976 and unveiled as the William Buckland Wing.
A further five units, called the Jack Stewart Wing, were finished in 1982.
The Jessie Speer Wing — another five units — was completed in 1991.
Further development saw two one-bedroom units completed in 2005 and a two-bedroom unit in 2007.
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The Elmore community received welcome news with the announcement a much-needed pedestrian crossing is to become a reality.
Member for Rodney Paul Weller and Liberal candidate for Bendigo East Greg Bickley were in Elmore yesterday to make the announcement.
The construction of a traffic light, push button crossing will begin in the new year and is expected to be completed in 2015.
Residents have actively campaigned for the crossing for almost a decade.
‘‘I welcome the announcement today by the Napthine Coalition Government to invest $315,000 for new pedestrian operated signals to be located at Railway Place, Elmore,’’ Mr Bickley said.
VicRoads will begin planning and design for the pedestrian crossing, including working with electricity providers to make power available.