Reflections from the past

‘’When it became known recently that land in the south-western portion of the town area was being developed contrary to the existing planning scheme requirements, a renewed interest in the proposal to proceed with the amendment was created.’’

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The annual Rochester High School census was carried out on Friday, August 1. The school population at that date was 431 students, which is an increase of two on the figure at the corresponding time last year.

The census also indicates that the usual number of students leaving school during the first seven months of the remains constant at about 30, the majority of these having taken up jobs either in the local community or on farms.

Estimates for next year’s school population indicate little variation from the 1975 February figure of 460-470 and the school is already using this figure as its base for planning for next year.

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The form of five young Rochester footballers in the game against Shepparton on Saturday gave Rochester supporters something to smile about, and augers well for the future.

Four lads, who have in recent weeks been promoted from the under-18s, Peter Pearson, Andrew Haddow, Roger Kirchhofer and Peter Downes, showed tremendous potential.

Another young player, Jeff Milne, who has just turned 18, was another player to show great potential.

The massive 105-point defeat suffered by Rochester on Saturday could not be blamed on these young players, who never gave up trying, and were an object lesson to many older players who should have been charged fares for they were passengers.

Playing his 50th game for Rochester, Lockington school teacher Rod Mullarvey, the ‘’old reliable’’, was by far Rochester’s best player. He was under tremendous pressure all day but stuck to his task.

25 years ago, August 2000

After years of lobbying, there could be a school crossing on Edward St in Rochester by as early as October.

Campaspe Shire Council approved funding for the school crossing outside Rochester Primary School as part of its capital works program in its current budget.

Shire infrastructure manager Mike Bruty said council had received proposals and submissions about a school crossing for a number of years, which resulted in $22,000 being made available for the project this year.

While it has not been decided whether the crossing will be staffed with a crossing attendant, it will make it safer for the children to cross.

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Rochester Football Club will not be moving to the Bendigo Football League, despite a request from the Bendigo league.

The Bendigo league wrote to Rochester about three weeks ago, inviting it to join the league.

But Rochester president Kevin Wills has said the club would ‘’definitely not’’ be changing leagues.

‘’We’re quite happy where we are,“ Wills said.

‘’We’re not going to uproot everything after establishing ourselves in the Goulburn Valley League to go back to Bendigo.’’

The Bendigo league is believed to have approached a number of other clubs about joining the league if Lockington-Bamawm United leaves at the end of the season.

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Checking the rainfall each day at 9am comes naturally to Colbinabbin’s June Hill.

And it should. Mrs Hill’s family has been taking daily rainfall figures for the Bureau of Meteorology for the past 101 years.

Her uncle, Henry Toedteberg, started the observations in 1899. After his death three months later, Mrs Hill’s father, Chris Toedteberg, started collecting the data.

While Mrs Hill officially took over doing the readings in 1967 when her father died, she had been helping her father with them since she was 15.

Mrs Hill, 79, was recognised for all the hard work her family has done for the Bureau of Meteorology at a ceremony in Colbinabbin recently.

10 years ago, August 2015

Rings, earrings, necklaces, dreadlock rings and more — jewellery pieces can be as individual as the people who wear them.

Yalang a Lang Jewels is an online-based wearable art business formed by 19-year-old Chelsea Macague.

Completing her Duke of Edinburgh Award in 2011, she decided to apply for the Young Business Hustler 2015 competition while studying jewellery and object design at Melbourne Polytechnic.

Although Chelsea did not win, she was a finalist, a feat on its own and a huge step for her business.

Shells, stones and other found objects are key parts of her design work.

Starting the business in 2012, the determined Rochester-raised girl quickly grew a market from North America to Scandinavia.

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A local black spot is set for a much-needed upgrade.

The notorious 3km between Spencer and Bonn School roads near Rochester has been the site of two major crashes in the past five years — one ending with the death of a man.

Campaspe Shire Council will receive Federal Black Spot Funding of $407,000 to go towards fixing the area.

Rochester police Sergeant Dale Simm said anything that assisted with road infrastructure and lowering the road toll was a positive for the community.

Campaspe Shire Mayor Leigh Wilson has welcomed funding and state Member for Murray Sharman Stone said ‘‘there have been run-off-road crashes due to fatigue, driver error, poor delineation and roadside hazard’’.

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Grant Weeks has done it again.

The Colbinabbin star forward kicked 15 goals to help his side flog Elmore by 133 points in round 17 of the Heathcote and District Football League season.

Remarkably, Weeks tripled Elmore’s total score, which was 27 points, in the eventual 23.22 (160) to 4.3 (27) victory.

Weeks’ 15-goal-haul — which was his third lot of double figures in the past four games — brings his tally to 99 with one round remaining.

But it was not like he did not have a chance to kick his 100th, finishing with seven behinds.