Reflections on the past

Campaspe Shire deputy mayor Greg Toll believes the shire’s Regional Rural Land Use Strategy could have as big an impact on the region as the collapse of Banksia Securities Limited.

Cr Toll penned a letter on behalf of Campaspe Shire councillors to Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy asking him to consider the views of the new council, formed after October's local government elections.

The previous council voted on June 26 to amend the Campaspe Planning Scheme to institute the RRLUS.

But he said some new councillors did not support the RRLUS, which sets minimum lot sizes needed to build homes on farming land.

Cr Toll said it was an important issue, as he and several other councillors were voted in on the back of a need for change.

“I had 1800 voters in the Western Ward because they wanted the rules changed,” he said.

Cr Toll said many farm owners in his ward had small farm blocks and homes could not be built on them under the strategy.

RARE MEDAL FOR FOOD DROPS ROLE

Sixty-seven years ago, Ron Pell was involved in dropping food parcels over war-ravaged Holland.

On Wednesday, the Echuca resident finally received a medal from the Dutch government for his efforts.

Mr Pell is now one of only two Australians to receive the ‘Dutch Medal of Remembrance Thank You Liberators’ medal.

His flying crew of seven flew 23 bombing missions over Germany for two or three months from July 1944.

However, they were also involved in five missions to fly over the Netherlands, dropping food parcels to starving citizens.

With one flight to Rotterdam, one to The Hague and three to Juvincourt (in France), his crew joined others from the Royal Air Force Bomber Command with strict instructions of a time to take off and a height to fly at.

While most of their other flights had been high in the sky, Mr Pell said the food drops saw them having to fly about 45m above the ground to ensure their five tonnes of cargo would safely land on the ground, with areas such as fields used to make the drops.

Negotiations had taken place with the Germans to allow the food drops to take place, with a ceasefire of sorts declared for them.

BEIS ONBOARD

A new era at the Moama Echuca Border Raiders has begun with the appointment of Peter Beis as president for 2013.

Beis, who was one of two candidates, will be joined by vice-president Darryl Brown, while David Coward has been re-appointed as the men’s senior coach.

Beis takes over from former president Shirley Tisher and said he was keen to see a change in direction, particularly with youth development.

‘‘We want to make sure the juniors know there’s more to go on to,’’ he said.

‘‘Some of the 16- and 17-year-olds didn’t even know we had a reserves and senior side, and some of them were very handy on the field.’’

FUN FACT: In a curious turn of events, two close friends became joint duces of Moama Anglican Grammar School when yesterday morning they discovered they had achieved exactly the same ATAR score. When results were released around 9am, Brittany Santilla and Jess Naughton, both 18, went online to find they topped their school’s year level results with ATAR scores of 94.15.

25 YEARS AGO

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1997

CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY

Echuca-Moama is set to be quiet on Christmas Day as traders and business people take a well-earned rest after the pre-Christmas rush — and before holiday makers start arriving in earnest from Boxing Day onwards.

The Echuca-Moama Visitor Information Centre has been kept busy finding accommodation for people coming to the area immediately after Christmas.

Many inquiries have been from people travelling with the Mars Murray Marathon, which overnights in Echuca-Moama this Sunday and Monday (December 28 and 29), and those planning to go to the Great Southern Ball at Moama on New Year’s Eve, next Wednesday.

Accommodation is at a premium, with most caravan parks and units fully booked and most motels heavily booked until early January.

Tomorrow is set to be the calm before the storm, with most shops, including the major supermarkets and other stores in the CBD, closed for Christmas Day.

CROWDS ENJOY CAROLS BY CANDLELIGHT

In the lead-up to Christmas, there are many celebrations ... at schools, workplaces and public places.

On Sunday evening, the Aquatic Reserve in Echuca twinkled with the lights from candles held by crowds who had turned out to take part in Carols by Candlelight.

The stage was taken by the Echuca Federal Band and the Echuca Singers, with the Campaspe Youth Choir making appearances throughout the evening.

Community singing was led by Lieutenant Warren Holman of the Salvation Army and part way through the evening Santa paid a visit, courtesy of Echuca Fire Brigade and its tanker, to distribute lollipops to the children.

On Monday evening, the slopes around the Kerrabee Soundshell glowed with hundreds of candles held by those attending the Moama Lions Club’s Carols by Candlelight.

The sixth annual event attracted a record crowd of around 800 people.

MAUREEN BOWS OUT

The recent sale of the Moama Motor Inn has meant the end of an era for former owner Maureen Baker.

It spelt the end of almost a lifetime involvement in the tourism industry.

But while Echuca-Moama has lost a strong worker within its tourism industry, it has not lost Maureen as an advocate.

Maureen’s links to the hospitality industry go back to growing up in Moama, where her parents owned the Border Inn Hotel.

Her husband, John, had been brought up in Melbourne, but his work as a stock and station agent brought him to the country and he “never went back”, Maureen said.

After their marriage, they built the Moama Motor Inn — the first motel in Moama — on land that was originally the cow paddock for the Border Inn.

They started with 26 units and a restaurant, before extending it first with more units — to 50 — and then with conference facilities.

FUN FACT: Rich River Golf Club was preparing for a live concert featuring the great Brian Cadd in the Jade Room. Tickets were $15.

50 YEARS AGO

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1972

500-PLUS ENTRIES FOR TUESDAY’S BIG SPORTS DAY

More than 500 competitors have entered for the Echuca and District Athletic Association’s annual Boxing Day carnival to be held at Victoria Park Oval on Tuesday.

Although this is not a record, the entry list if well within keeping of those from previous carnivals.

Of the entries, 363 are from cyclists for the wheel races and 190 are for the popular pedestrian events.

Among the entries are some of Australia’s top amateurs and professionals in both the foot running and cycling.

Secretary of the Association, Mr George Hussey, said yesterday: “Present indications are that this will be the greatest carnival we have promoted.”

“Entries are of the highest standard and we are expecting some keen competition.”

MORE SEEK COUNTRY PARTY TICKET

Two more men are seeking Country Party pre-selection for the Legislative Assembly seat of Rodney in next year’s state election.

They are Mr Noel Maughan, of Tongala, and Mr Ray Tuhan, of Kyabram South.

Mr Tuhan, 32, runs a dairy farm at Kyabram South. He was born in Kyabram and is married with three children.

Mr Maughan, a former Young Farmer, and successful farmer, is 37, married and has four children.

Other men seeking pre-selection are Mr Eddie Hann, of Lockington, and Mr Graeme Hawker, both farmers.

CAROLS ON SUNDAY

A large crowd is expected to attend Carols by Candlelight in Hopwood Gardens on Sunday night.

The Echuca Federal Band will play selections of light music and carols for people to sing along with.

Guest artists will be local singers Nance Malloy, of Echuca, and John Southwell, of Tongala.

Admission to the gardens will be free and programs will be on sale throughout the night.

Starting time will be 8.15pm and proceeds from the night will go to the Federal Band.

FUN FACT: Those looking to bag a Christmas bargain shopped at SSW, with roasting pork 69c a pound, three pounds of lamb chops for $1.49, Huttons leg ham on sale for $1.20 a pound and turkeys from $2.50.