Reflections from the past

The committee of the Rochester Jockey Club decided some time ago to make the award to Mr Jack Fitzgerald in recognition of his long and faithful service to the Rochester Jockey Club and the racing fraternity.

It is believed that Mr Fitzgerald’s late father, Mr Patrick Fitzgerald was also a life member of the Rochester Jockey Club.

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The Lockington Memorial Hall was filled to capacity for the presentation of 10 debutants to Rochester Shire President, Cr J Hare, and Mrs Hare, at the Lockington Football Club Ball.

A ceiling of streamers in the blue and white colours of the club decorated the hall, and the debutantes in frosty white individual frocks, made their entrance onto the stage through an archway of flowers to make their curtsies.

They were accompanied by two delightful little flower girls.

The debutantes, and their elegantly dressed partners, were trained by Mr B Moore and Mrs F Bourke and made a graceful picture as they too to the floor for their ‘’coming out’’ waltz.

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Mr Geoff Wilkins who started the Rochester Artificial Breeders’ Society in 1962, and established it as one of Victoria’s top AB societies, is leaving Rochester.

Geoff, who has been the secretary manager of the Rochester Artificial Breeders’ Society since its inception has seen it grow from a very small concern to a vast industry.

He is leaving Rochester to take charge of the New South Wales Dairy Industry Headquarters at Berry, near Nowra, from 100 miles south of Sydney.

Geoff has for the past six years also held the position of secretary and manager of the Rochester Herd Testing Association.

25 years ago May 1999

It’s a story that their mates can hardly believe but for two schoolboys, Jason Cheatley, 14, and Joel Salau, 15, it is an event they’ll remember for years — and probably a tale that will be handed down for a few generations.

Jason and Joel recently walked across Lake Cooper, at Corop, from the Victorian Ski Club boat ramp on the western side to the track visible on the opposite side.

The continuing dry weather and the subsequent evaporation of water out of Lake Cooper — which even when full measures only around three metres deep — has the lake at its lowest level for 16 years, making the boys’ feat possible.

Jason’s father Trevor Cheatley, with his mate Jame O’Dwyer, attempted to walk across the lake in 1983, the last time it was so low, but the pair walked to the middle then retraced their steps to the western bank.

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Campaspe Shire ratepayers face a rate increase of at least five per cent in the next financial year.

A review of the capital works program in preparation for the 1999/2000 budget has revealed the need for the rate increase as foreshadowed when the shire’s financial strategic plan was handed down last year. The increase is expected to be five per cent plus CPI.

Rate capping for councils was lifted by the State Government in 1997 after a 20 per cent reduction on rates in the first years of amalgamation.

Campaspe Shire ratepayers had a 6.84 per cent effective rate rise last financial year.

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When Lockington’s Masonic Temple was built in 1924, the total cost of the building (1870 pounds one shilling and fourpence) took the group to 370 pounds over their overdraft — an almost insurmountable problem in the early years of the group’s growth.

But it overcame the problem with debentures over a three year term, membership grew from 44 in the first year to 60 three years later.

This year Lockington Masonic Lodge celebrates 75 years, and this was celebrated recently along with the installation of the new Lodge Master Keith Jeffreys of Bamawm.

Historical records of the lodge show the official opening and consecration of the Temple taking place on July 9, 1974.

A special train was chartered, at a cost of 31 pounds, to bring 100 Lodge members to Lockington.

10 years ago May 2014

A $510,000 windfall to deliver the first stage of Rochester’s flood mitigation plan will help the town rebuild from the 2010-2011 floods and better prepare for future disasters.

Announcing the funding in Rochester on Saturday, Water Minister Peter Walsh said stage one of the plan included selecting and designing the most effective flood mitigation works and upgrading local flood gauges.

‘‘Rochester was hit by floods three times between November 2010 and February 2011,’’ Mr Walsh said.

‘‘The January 2011 flood affected almost 1000 properties and was the town’s largest flood on record.

‘‘Rochester’s flood management plan funded by the Coalition Government in 2011 identified a range of preliminary options to reduce the impact of floods on the community, including levees, floodways and waterway works and improved flood warning gauges.’’

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Colbinabbin-born filmmaker Rodd Rathjen returned to his home town to shoot his latest film Sweat.

The 10-minute short film shot on the paddocks of Colbinabbin stars Colin Friels and is hoped to hit film festivals next year.

Mr Rathjen said the film was about straw baling and the loss of physicality in modern day farming.

He was unsure when he first came up with the idea but it was a topic close to his heart. Even though he left Colbinabbin 10 years ago, he enjoys spending summers baling hay with his family.

The production received a $70,000 grant from Screen Australia.

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While most people their age are retiring, Rochester’s David and Judy Murray have taken on the challenge of running a milk bar.

The milk bar on the corner of Edward and George streets closed down about 18 months ago.

The couple have re-opened it and renamed it Murray’s Milk Bar.

‘‘It’s something I’ve always wanted to do. It’s on my bucket list,’’ Mrs Murray said.

Mr and Mrs Murray, who are leasing the building, took over from John Wolfe who owned it for several years.

The couple spent about four weeks refurbishing the shop, which was damaged during the January 2011 floods.

‘‘I just wanted to bring that old-fashioned milk bar back,’’ Mrs Murray said.