50 years ago, July 1976
Four years ago a spur line to the Port of Echuca was torn up — now a suggestion has been made that re-laying the track would be a tremendous financial boost to the port project.
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Local steam enthusiast and historian Mr Stan Hazelman, of High St, is advocating re-laying the line.
He is convinced that the relaying of the spur line — it came from near the railway station right to the port — would give the port a great financial boost and add greatly to the authenticity of the project.
Mr Hazelman suggested that over a weekend such as the one just past, the port coffers could have benefited by about $500 if the spur line had been still in existence and serviceable.
“You could safely say that nearly all those people who came to Echuca on the special steam train on Saturday would be prepared to pay an extra dollar for the privilege of travelling by train from Echuca station to the Port of Echuca,’’ he said.
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Echuca City Council has called for the co-operation of people planning building or development projects within the city.
Council has urged people proposing any type of project to first confer with city office staff.
Through the city officers people can ensure that their proposal complies with regulations, codes and the City of Echuca planning scheme ordnance before it is lodged with council.
Council agreed at its latest meeting that if people took advantage of a brief discussion with its officers before submitting any application much time would be saved.
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An Echuca jockey has outperformed all his rivals in the current season of Deniliquin race meetings, which ended on Saturday.
John Pearson, 20, apprenticed to local trainer Joe Harrington, finished on top of the apprentices’ premiership.
He won the premiership after holding off a strong challenge from two of his nearest rivals at Saturday’s meeting in Deniliquin.
Pearson went to the meeting leading the premiership by the slender margin of half a point from two Berrigan jockeys, Colin Ryan and David Killer, both apprenticed to Mr Bert Honeychurch.
25 years ago, July 2001
The dispute between Nestlé and its Echuca workforce continues, more than three weeks after staff were locked out of the plant without pay.
The case goes before the Industrial Relations Commission again today. Talks between Nestlé and the Australian Manufacturıng Workers’ Union ran all day Tuesday, stretching into the evening, but broke down early on Wednesday.
AMWU assistant secretary Bronwyn Halfpenny said the union went into the talks with an open mind, hoping the matter would be resolved.
But she said Nestlé was being ‘’totally unreasonable and not willing to settle the dispute’’.
Nestlé corporate affairs general manager Peter Kelly said yesterday that after two days of talks ‘’it was down to the hard issues’’.
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Stewart's Bridge, which crosses the Goulburn River east of Echuca, will not close for renovations on Monday as previously planned.
Campaspe and Moira shire councils now hope the work can be carried out next year, with the bridge closing after Easter for about 15 weeks.
The postponement was caused by a delay in the confirmation of a $120,000 additional grant from Heritage Victoria.
The news of the postponed closure of Stewart’s Bridge has been greeted with relief by business people running tourist operations in bushland on the northern side of the river.
lan Harrison from Cape Horn Vineyards and Jan Brodie from River Valley Nudist Resort said having the bridge closed during spring this year, at the start of the tourist season, would have had a major negative effect on their businesses.
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Echuca's Erin Hill and Peter Lonergan will head to Brisbane in September with the Victorian under 16 basketball team.
Hill will be playing in the team, while Lonergan will be the team’s first assistant coach at the championships.
Another Echuca resident, Caitlyn Strachan, has been chosen as the team’s emergency guard, and will do all training with the team.
The girls were among 13 players (including three emergencies) chosen in the team after a four-day state talent camp in Ballarat last week.
It is Hill’s first time in the state team, and will also be Strachan’s first time if she gets the final nod.
This will be Lonergan’s first involvement with the Victorian team.
10 years ago, July 2016
Just 11 Murray River Council residents turned out to the council’s inaugural local representative committee meeting on Thursday night.
A stark comparison to Greater Wakool’s 40-strong gathering.
The meetings were set up to give residents a voice in the newly formed council area — almost 12,000 square kilometres large with 11,250 ratepayers and 162 staff.
The new council spans from Waugorah to Mathoura, Tooleybuc to Moama and Barham to Bunnaloo.
To combat the distance LRCs were created with people from each area to contribute to the new council’s statement of vision, priorities and operational plans, give advice on local views and issues and help engage communities and partners in council planning.
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People in Echuca-Moama are fatter than the average Aussie.
And our above-average diabetes rate is frustrating health professionals.
According to the National Diabetes Services Scheme diabetes map, seven per cent (very high) of Moama’s population and six per cent (high) of Echuca’s population has type 2 diabetes compared to the Australian average of five per cent.
Campaspe Shire’s rate is also considered high, with 6.4 per cent of the population suffering from diabetes.
Because our diabetes rate is higher, Echuca GP and Rural Doctors Association of Victoria president Suzanne Harrison said it would seem likely the predisposing cause was obesity.
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Who is the best player to have worn the number 11 guernsey in the 140-year history of Echuca Football Club?
While there are many contenders given the quality of footballers to have worn the jumper with distinction over the years, there seems to be an overwhelming vote for one standout individual: Noel ‘Kicker’ Wallace.
That’s according to the Murray Bombers’ 2001 premiership player and 2002 premiership coach Ash Byrne, who wore the number 11 in his playing days, and the jumper’s current wearer, Ben Reid.
It’s clear both men hold the 82-year-old Wallace in high regard and it’s no wonder, considering his connection with the club spans just over 50 years.
Kicker Wallace’s hot dog stand is something of an institution at Victoria Park on match days, helping raise vital funds for the running of the club.
Wallace played for Echuca from 1959 to 1974, interrupted only by a three-year coaching stint at Lockington.