Reflections from the past

This lasting friendship encouraged the Andersons to make another visit.

During this latest visit, they enjoyed a barbecue at Torrumbarry Lock, visited Echuca and Shepparton cities, inspected the Murray Goulburn factory at Rochester and the Rochester hospital, while Mr Anderson was guest speaker at the annual shire president’s luncheon.

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The 11 clubs of the Goulburn Valley League will receive $600 each in league dividends following the most financially successful season ever recorded by the league in 1975.

The financial bonanza of the league was in no small part due to the immense success of the finals series under the final five format for only the second time which grossed $18,659, over S5000 better than finals receipts for 1974, listed in the league’s last annual report as $13,531.82

The interim statement of income and expenditure for 1975 submitted by GVL secretary Kevin Hodgkinson at the league’s meeting on Wednesday night disclosed that turnover for the year was $20,575.81.

While the finals series was the major item of income, it was also a major item of expenditure, costing the league $7615 to stage, leaving net profit from the six matches of $11,044.

25 years ago November 2000

Each year, the pedal-powered cars get lighter, sleeker and faster as Rochester Secondary College students face the challenge of the annual Energy Breakthrough weekend.

College students, from years 7 to 12, will again enter two cars into the marathon endurance challenge that will see two teams of eight riders take turns to keep the vehicles continually circling the Maryborough track over a 24-hour period.

Teams spokesperson Erin Lawford said it was more than just the bikes that kept the teams going.

‘’It’s a great weekend. It’s something we work towards for most of the year and when it comes around, the whole team — riders, support crew, catering and presentation people — just come together.

‘’You’re really tired at the end but it’s worth it."

***

Peter Angelini, aged 67, was never so glad to see the sign leading into Rochester as he was on Sunday.

Peter was one of the 20 or so Rochester Lions Club members walking from Echuca to Rochester on a "'Walk for an Aussie Kid’’ to raise funds towards the purchase of David Hart Walkers for children with cerebral palsy.

The Hart Walkers enable children who cannot walk to experience the independence of standing upright and moving forward with a walking motion.

Peter said he set out on the walk intending to complete 10km but encouragement from fellow Lions Club members saw him extend the distance to 15km, then 20km.

‘’By then I was nearly there, so I decided I might as well keep going. I feel pretty good except for my legs — they’re a bit wobbly,'' Peter said.

***

Lockington-Bamawm United has announced its new senior coach for the 2001 season, with Brett Armstrong taking on the role as playing coach.

Armstrong can’t wait to take over as LBU’s coach in the club’s first season in the Heathcote and District Football League.

The experienced defender has been very impressed with the club’s professionalism and he said he was ‘’very quietly confident’’ of a good showing next year.

‘’I’m giving myself a two-year period and, realistically, with the players we’ve got and the standard we’ve been playing, we should get into a few grand finals,’’ Armstrong said.

After not playing football in 2000, Armstrong was lured out of semi-retirement to take on the challenge of coaching LBU in Its first season in the HDFL.

10 years ago November 2015

Millions of people around the globe are mourning for Paris following a series of terror attacks across the weekend that killed 132 people and wounded hundreds more.

French president Francois Holland declared three days of national mourning on Saturday, which Rochester will fulfil in honour of Rochester sporting legend Sir Hubert Opperman, who became famous for his victories in 1928 (in the 24-hour Bol D’Or) and two years later the 1265km Paris-Brest-Paris road race.

In 1991, more than 100,000 Parisians turned out to honour Sir Hubert Opperman when he was presented the Gold Medal of the City of Paris in France.

The French Government provided a donation of close to $6000 to help build the bronze life-sized statue of Oppy which now stands in Moore St.

The French flag will fly at half-mast to show solidarity and empathy towards the French people.

***

Matt O’Donoghue is a regular face behind the bar the Shamrock Hotel.

Now he is letting his patrons know — ‘‘I’m U.G.L.Y’’.

Or at least that’s what the T-shirt says.

Close to 300 bartenders across Victoria are taking part in the Leukaemia Foundation’s U.G.L.Y. Bartender of the Year campaign to help regional Australians facing blood cancer.

U.G.L.Y. stands for Understanding Generous Likeable You and is the Leukaemia Foundation’s quirkiest fundraising campaign supporting regional Australians with leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and related blood disorders.

Bartenders host a range of offbeat events to raise money, from Esky races to sumo wrestling in a bid to have fun – but for a serious cause.

***

Rochester United’s Twenty20 captain Adrian Pappin couldn’t have much more go right for him and his team in Goulburn Murray Cricket at present.

Pappin followed Saturday’s 10-wicket haul against Bamawm-Lockington United in an outright two-day win with leading the club into the second round of the Twenty20 Cup.

United has topped the GM premiership ladder in A-grade and is the defending T20 champion. A nice place to be, surely?

‘‘Yeah, it’s going really well,’’ Pappin said yesterday.

‘‘It’s good to get early wins on the board just before Christmas.’’

Pappin wasn’t sure whether his 10-50 from 23.1 overs against BLU was a career-best bowling tally, but would have to be in his top three performances at district level.