50 years ago November 1975
One hundred years of voluntary service to the residents of Rochester by members of the Rochester Urban Fire Brigade was celebrated on Saturday.
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Present at the centenary celebration dinner at the Rochester Shire Hall were the chairman of the Country Fire Authority, Brigadier R.T. Eason, and the president of the Victorian Urban Fire Brigades’ Association, Capt. Geoff Evans of Echuca.
Mr Eason... said the Country Fire Authority had come a long way over the past few years.
The Victorian Country Fire Authority was the best of its kind in the world and was based on the volunteer system.
The present system of brigades will exist for many years; the system has been proved, and he could not see it being changed for any other system.
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Rochester Football Club have appointed champion ruck rover and defender Barry Williams assistant coach to Kevin Radley for the 1976 GVL season.
Williams, who has played 60 games with the Tigers, emerged this season as one of the best players in the league and was third behind Bill Sykes and Norm Smith in The News $200 Award with 18 votes for most effective GVL player this season.
He also polled well in the Morrison Medal with 10 votes, but not as well as expected by the Tigers, chiefly for the reason that although he won votes in seven games, bettered again only by Smith and Sykes, he did not poll a single first vote from umpires.
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The council of the Shire of Rochester decided to take no action on a request from the Rochester Senior Citizens’ Club to designate 1975 as the “Year of the Senior Citizen”.
The club had asked that 1975 be proclaimed “1975, Year of the Senior Citizens” and suggested that a plaque be placed in the new clubrooms, and that the town history of 1975 be headlined “The Year of the Senior Citizens”.
The request listed the achievements of senior citizens: Ms Nellie Hall, Queen’s honour; Mr Dan Kellett, Queen’s medal; Mr Reg Ellis, citizen of the year; Mr Harry Tyson, Queen’s fire brigade medal, and Cr Chas Wood, shire president.
The council decided it would morally support the provision of a plaque commemorating these achievements in the new clubrooms.
25 years ago November 2000
Expectant parents who planned to have their babies delivered at Rochester hospital have now made other arrangements after the doctor booked for the delivery informed them he may no longer be delivering babies at the hospital.
A number of expectant parents confirmed last week that Dr Onn Shaw, who has run a private practice in Rochester for more than 25 years, told them of the change at their recent pre-natal visits.
...Dr Shaw is presently on leave and was unavailable for comment.
His surgery staff were unable to confirm or deny that his practice would no longer be practising obstetrics.
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More than 300 paying customers went through the gates at the Rochester Picnic Races on Saturday, but the numbers at the course were probably closer to 450 if children and teenagers were counted.
With superb weather and a picnic-day atmosphere, organisers hailed the event a huge success.
...Behind the scenes, St John Ambulance kept an eye on things as did Clerk of the Course Albert Godden, whose association with the Picnic Race Day goes back to the events' initiation.
Albert has never missed a meeting, and his trusty 20-year-old horse Beau has only missed one.
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Robert and Suzanne Lepertel have been involved with the international cycling fraternity of Audax for the past 32 years, including the organisation of the last eight of the famous Paris-Brest-Paris rides.
The French couple, representing Audax Parisienne, made a visit to Rochester recently to view the statue of their late friend and Audax patron, Sir Hubert Opperman.
After visiting many places in Australia, the couple was adamant that the visit to Victoria was for two reasons - to view the statue and to visit Oppy’s widow Lady Mavys.
“This is not a detour, it is a destination,” they said.
10 years ago November 2015
She might not have lived in Rochester her whole life, but she certainly made an impact on those around her when she did.
Michelle Payne is the most famous jockey in Australia at the moment after making history last Tuesday — sweeping to victory on outsider Prince of Penzance and becoming the first female to win the Melbourne Cup.
In a millisecond, Michelle went from just another jockey on the track to the most sought-after athlete in racing.
It did not take long for people to realise her story was one of heartbreak and hope; of a tight-knit family which had overcome tragedy through love and true grit.
And part of the story belongs in Rochester.
The youngest of 10 children, Michelle moved to Rochester with her siblings and father Paddy — a horse trainer and dairy farmer — when she was in her early teens.
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Bryan Griffiths knows a thing or two about growing a moustache.
He has done so for the past three years.
But this time he’s doing it for a cause — Movember.
The Movember Foundation is a global men’s health charity founded in Victoria which raises funds to deliver breakthrough programs that allow men to live happier, healthier, longer lives.
For 30 days, Mr Griffiths will grow a ‘mo’ to raise awareness and get people talking about men’s health.
‘‘Both physical and mental,’’ he said.
‘‘Whilst giving token support in recent years, including the year Rochester became known as Mochester for the month, I decided this year was the year to not only assist the cause by creating conversation but also registering to help raise much needed funds for men’s health projects like beyondblue and the Prostate Foundation.’’
As a survivor of a major health issue, Mr Griffiths knows the importance of regular check-ups.