50 years ago May 1976
Fifty-nine Form Five students from Echuca Technical School are now trying a taste of life on the outside.
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They are involved in the school’s work experience program.
Some 44 employers have taken on the students for the week, enabling then to gain experience in fields ranging from motor mechanics to beauty salons, civil engineering to shop assistant work, toolmaking to nursing.
Among students completing work experience were Jeff Smith, 16, of Lockington, who is doing an electrical course as his elective subject at Echuca Technical School and has spent the week working at Roy Vincent’s Electrical Service in Annesley St.
And Jill Bryon, 16, of Leitchville, who was attracted to hairdressing, so completed her week working at Francois Beauty Salon in Hare St.
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Echuca's Lumeah appeal has reached its minimum target of $300,000.
The news was given last night by the appeal committee chairman, Mr. W. E Stokes, at a social function to mark the end of the ‘’intensive’’ phase of the program.
But organisers have stressed that the appeal is far from over and, indeed, regard $350,000 as the necessary target.
Mr Stokes backed this up at last night's function, saying: ‘’Now we must press on and aim for at least another $50,000 to allow for expected increased costs up to the time of completing the building and making it ready for occupancy.’’
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The MLA for Rodney, Mr Eddie Hann, has told State Parliament that farmers may be forced to take militant action to get a fair deal.
Mr Hann said they would have to withdraw their stock from the markets and their milk from the household to try to force the issue and draw the attention of the people of Victoria of their plight.
And in reply to an interjection from the Opposition Leader Mr Holding, Mr Hann said that he supported such action.
‘’They have no other resources and they are being forced out of business,’’ he said.
He also pointed out that if something was not done quickly there would not be enough farmers in the community to feed the people.
25 years ago May 2001
Lifelong resident of Echuca, Daisy May Taylor, is one of 100 ordinary Australians selected to feature in a book marking the centenary of Federation.
One Hundred to One 100:001, An Australian Journey is the work of two young Melbourne women, photographer Kyla-Jane Hunt, born in 1977, and writer Claire Wallace, who was born in Shepparton in 1976.
The glossy, hard-cover coffee table publication comprises a portrait and a few words about 100 Australians, one born each year over the past century. They live in various parts of Australia, metropolitan, rural and remote, and between them cover many aspects of the nation's 20th century history.
Daisy, 88, was born on September 12, 1913.
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Work on a new aged care facility at Echuca hospital could begin in the next four to five weeks.
Echuca Regional Health heard yesterday the Victorian Government has confirmed an allocation of $6.645 million.
Of this, $5.7 million is for construction, and the remaining $945,000 for architectural fees, furniture fittings and a contingency fund.
A Benalla company, Contract Control Constructions, will build the new facility on what is now the car park between Lumeah and Engelbert Lodge, on land near the corner of Service and Haverfield streets.
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Moama bowler Michael Walker has been named in the Victorian under-25 development squad despite only being 17.
His selection tops off a winning run in the Victorian under-18 development squad where he was eligible to play for another 12 months.
A Moama Bowling Club member, Walker is one of just eight Victorian bowlers to gain selection in one of two exclusive teams.
His first interstate match is scheduled for later this month at Taren Point Bowling Club in Sydney when Victoria plays arch-rivals NSW.
Walker was pleased with his selection in the team, all the more sweet because he was accepted straight into the team before trials were even held.
10 years ago May 2016
Home owners in Echuca-Moama are rejoicing after interest rates were cut to a record low last week.
The Reserve Bank of Australia slashed the cash rate to 1.75 per cent on Tuesday, a move which is expected to boost buyer activity in the area and will save money for homeowners on variable rate loans.
Three of the four major banks have passed on the 0.25 per cent rate drop, while ANZ has passed on a lesser decrease of 0.19 per cent.
Echuca homeowner Noel Appleby, 53, recently moved into a two-bedroom home in the area with his partner.
He said the rate cut would not save him a significant amount of money due to the size of the mortgage but it would still be a welcome change in his hip-pocket.
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The woman behind the fight to keep pools open in Campaspe Shire’s smaller towns has called on council to cut the grass in its own backyard first.
Clare Ireland from Colbinabbin is one of several asking council to consider another option following the release of its aquatic services review discussion paper.
One of the options seeks to only deliver aquatic services through Echuca, Rochester, Rushworth and Kyabram.
Pools in Lockington, Colbinabbin, Tongala and Stanhope would close.
‘‘Has council reviewed its internal costs?’’ Mrs Ireland said.
Other options under the plan include maintaining current services and upgrading facilities to ensure they are compliant or upgrading and remodelling pools in Kyabram, Rochester and Rushworth as 25m pools and interactive water play at each location.
Pools at Lockington, Stanhope, Colbinabbin and Tongala would be replaced by interactive water play.
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Echuca-Moama Cycling Club’s All Rivers Enduro mountain bike race is proof that if you build an event, the public and competitors will come.
The 2015 edition was such a success it will be repeated on Sunday, May 15.
The three-hour event on a 6km track around the Five Mile bike trail near Moama will be held from 10am and club committee member — and race director — Paul Oman said it was great to have already struck on a successful formula.
‘‘Number one went very well,’’ he said.
‘‘It was very successful, even to the uninitiated who haven’t experienced mountain racing.’’
The 2015 winner was EMCC’s Shane Roberts, who managed 14 laps (or the equivalent of 84km) in the three-hour time limit.