50 years ago, December 1975
Fireman Wayne Badson is planning three days of squash.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
At the Rochester Squash Centre on December 21, Wayne will commence playing to raise funds for the local urban fire brigade, of which he is a member.
The standing record for this event is 60 hours and 10 minutes, which was set by Dennis Glennon, at the Ndola Squash Club, Zambia, from December 1 to 4, 1972.
Wayne will be aided by some members of the fire brigade, and also some school friends.
Wayne is confident that he will complete his marathon endurance record to set a new world record and also set an Australian record at the same time.
***
Tourist traffic in the North Central Region had increased considerably following September’s major promotional effort, according to a report prepared by the authority's director, Mr John Moore.
He said tourist business appeared to be up between 10 per cent and 20 per cent compared with the same period last year.
“Two Bendigo motels reported a 30 per cent increase in the number of guests, while the owner of a local caravan park said his figures were up by a larger amount. I have also spoken to motels in country towns who report steep increases in weekend trade,” Mr Moore said.
‘’Mr Rod Birch of the Rochester motel has questioned weekend visitors and found most had been encouraged to visit the region by the advertising campaign.“
25 years ago, December 2000
VCE student Elissa Tobin is dux of Rochester Secondary College after scoring an impressive ENTER core of 99.25.
Elissa learned of her marks and shortly afterwards was stunned to receive a phone call from Melbourne University offering a scholarship to study her first preference choice of a combined engineering/law degree.
‘’I think I said something like — I’d be delighted to accept — or maybe I said ‘wow’. I’m not sure really. It was completely out of the blue,’’ Elissa said.
The 17-year-old led six Rochester students who scored above 90 in their ENTER ranking.
***
The weekend transfer of a hospital patient from Rochester to Echuca has left the patient's brother irate that there is no on-call doctor on weekends when regular doctors aren't available.
Horace Dyer has been a private patient at the Rochester campus since November 28. Last Friday Horace was transferred to Echuca hospital following a bout of gastric illness in the morning.
His brother Keith Dyer said the reason given for the transfer was that no doctor would be available in Rochester from 5pm Friday to early Monday and that Horace would need access to a doctor during this period.
‘’I don’t expect our regular doctors to be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, but surely there should be some provision made for a locum doctor.’’
10 years ago, December 2015
Police have issued a strong warning to anyone playing with fire during the coming months.
‘‘If you cause arson or a reckless fire, it will be investigated, we will find you and you will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law,’’ Inspector Geoff Owen said at the bushfire arson and reckless fire campaign launch in Rochester on Wednesday.
He was at Rochester Fire Station with other representatives in a plea to stamp out deliberately and recklessly lit fires in Rochester and surrounds.
During the 2014-15 bushfire season there were 556 suspicious fires in Victoria, with 39 people charged with intentionally causing a bushfire and seven charged with recklessly causing a bushfire.
***
It is the talk of the town — Hotel Rochester has turned pink.
Yes, the entire pub-front has gone from drab to fab with its bright pink makeover, making it the most dazzling building in the street.
Of course, it is for a good cause; raising money for the McGrath Foundation, which places breast care nurses in communities across the country.
‘‘It’s also to raise awareness,’’ owner Bruce Fisher said.
‘‘Everyone has been touched by breast cancer in some way.’’