50 years ago August 1974
Victorian Railways will run a special excursion train to Echuca on October 20 — the day of the Great Riverboat Race and the annual Rich River Festival pageant.
Hold tight - we’re checking permissions before loading more content
Between 250 and 300 persons are expected to make the trip, which leaves Melbourne in time for arrival in Echuca at lunchtime.
Buses will meet the train and convey passengers to various hotels where they will have lunch before going on a tour of the city, taking in the wharf area and aquatic reserve.
After watching the Great Race between ‘’Etona’’ and ‘’Enterprise’’, passengers will board the train for a 5pm departure for Melbourne.
***
The Riverine Herald has chosen Mr Des O’Reilly, of Wharparilla, as its ‘’father of the year.’’
There are no prizes just the honour of being chosen as a typical father, on the event of Father’s Day this Sunday.
Des, father of three sons and a daughter, was proud that we chose him but felt that there might have been many other dads about Echuca equally worthy of a Father’s Day honour.
He and his wife, Lorraine, came to Echuca 15 years ago when Des set up Echuca Auto Electrics in High St.
He says he has no time for sporting activities but most people know Des is in this third term as president of Echuca Regional Development Society, a member of the Echuca Tourist Co-operative and the Murray Valley Tourist and Steamship Company, which runs the Canberra.
***
Cr Donald Keith Oberin has been elected Mayor of Echuca for 1974-75.
He was elected by a unanimous vote of councillors at Echuca City Council’s annual statutory meeting.
Cr Oberin, proprietor of the Nirebo Motel in Hare St and a farmer, is in his third year as a city councillor.
He was elected in an extraordinary election following the resignation of Cr Jan Talacko, former staff member of UBCO who was transferred to Britain.
Nomination of Cr Oberin for the mayoralty came from Cr Les Garraway who said that Cr Oberin had proved himself as a capable councillor.
25 years ago August 1999
Work will begin within the next two months on a reticulated sewerage service for Wharparilla Drive and Hansen St, Echuca.
Coliban Water announced last week that Bendigo firm Malcolm McClure P/L had won the $5 million contract to provide sewerage and wastewater facilities to the two areas in Echuca and at Huntly/Epsom and Marong.
Coliban chief executive Geoff Mitchell said Wharparilla Drive and Hansen St would be the first areas to undergo the upgrade.
Gunbower, Leitchville and Pyramid Hill would go out to tender in coming weeks.
***
The first move to get the historic Great Australian Wool Trek under way was made on Friday.
The large Bennett wagon being used to transport the wool from the historic sheep stations around Deniliquin and Conargo was taken to Deniliquin in preparation for the trek.
The wagon, made in Sydney by the Bennett brothers some time in the early 1900s, is one of the largest wool wagons made and is owned by Doug and Janine Watson of Nanneella.
The Watsons will also provide 10 Clydesdales to help pull the huge wagon, which weighs around 14 tonnes when loaded.
***
If you want to do this, you can’t do drugs.
That’s the theme being pushed by a young group of skateboarders who say drugs and alcohol are not the way to have fun.
The Skatepark Gang was formed to socialise and make good use of the popular park while promoting an anti-drug and alcohol theme.
The group even printed T-shirts with the help of Murray Shire youth officer Marek Cabala, who initiated the gang.
10 years ago August 2014
Mathoura Football Netball Club will not host this year’s 2014 Picola and District Football Netball League grand final.
The club and league agreed that Yarroweyah would host this year’s grand final in nine days, with the Timbercutters guaranteed to host the 2015 event.
Both parties arrived at Melbourne Magistrates Court hoping to have a magistrate determine whether Mathoura should host the event.
The league and the club have been at loggerheads since late July, mostly over two light poles being too close to the netball playing surface.
However, a lack of magistrates available in the court yesterday meant lawyers and representatives from the club, league and Mathoura Recreation Reserve landlords Murray Shire kept behind closed doors.
***
Fifteen students from the Bendigo-Kangan Institute in Echuca are ready to swap classroom for competition as volunteers at the Special Olympics Australia National Games.
The students, aged between 16-20, are all completing their Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning and nominated to volunteer for the first two days in either basketball, aquatics or athletics at Melbourne’s Albert Park.
Teacher Alison Dunstan said it is a fantastic opportunity for students to work with people with an intellectual disability and is proud at the number of students who volunteered.
‘‘I am just so proud at how many students put their hand up for this event.
***
Jiu Jitsu fighter Nicholas Robinson always dodged the competitive arena.
Sparring with teammates at Wickham’s Martial Arts was what really mattered, until head coach Thiago Stefanutti gave the then 20-year-old an encouraging nudge ahead of the 2013 Pan Pacific Championships.
Robinson, who fights in the 97kg super heavyweight division, overcame pre-fight jitters to claim two gold medals in an impressive debut tournament.
Since then, the star fighter has upgraded from white to blue belt, claimed 10 medals across four competitions and uncovered an inner hunger for competition.
RIV Herald