Enjoying a break in play, Greg Walkley, Lindsay Tomlinson and Ron McCalman relax in the bright sunshine at the Rochester RSL Diggers’ golf day.
50 years ago June 1976
Mr Michael Clarke, former MLC for the Northern Province, will return to legal practice in Rochester as from July 1 as manager of the Rochester practice of Morrison and Sawers, who have been visiting the town from their Kyabram headquarters over the past five years.
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Mr Clarke was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, Harrow School in England and New College, Oxford University.
He holds the degree of B.A. Law (Hons), Bachelor of Civil Law (Hons) and M.A. Law. He is a fully qualified lawyer in both Victoria and England.
During his period of 12 years in parliament, he was a member of the Parliamentary Statue Law Revision and the National Party spokesman for legal bills.
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It was a glorious sunny day for the 28th annual diggers’ golf day conducted by the Rochester sub-branch of the RSL at the Rochester golf course, reported sub-branch secretary Bill Jackson, ‘’but a rather disappointing attendance on Sunday, June 20’’.
Bill went on to say it was a really good day for those who were there. The barbecue presided over by Wilf Hansen and Stewie Walkley provided the usual excellent and tender steaks, and at Johnno’s joint, saveloys kept all fit enough to finish the course.
The winner of the Bill Hutson Memorial Trophy, which had been donated to the sub-branch by one of its past presidents, George Fuller, was presented by president Ted McKee to the winner, Bob Twaddle, who had a nett 64.
25 years ago June 2001
District tomato growers may refuse to enter into contracts with processors until they are confident strategies currently being proposed by Heinz Watties will not undermine their long-term viability.
The Tomato Growers Association recommended to its members that they consider not signing with processors until at least after July 23.
According to the Victorian Farmers Federation, this will give growers the opportunity to consider the Heinz offer and, importantly, the impact the offer would have to the industry as a whole.
Immediate past president VFF tomato section Louis Chirnside said the opening offer from Heinz was significantly lower than last year’s price and it was still to be ascertained if production was viable at this price.
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Rochester's Hood St playground is used all the time with children there in summer more than winter, and overrun with children when netball is on, according to park neighbour George Wright.
Mr Wright’s comments came after Campaspe News reported that playground safety consultants KR and DE Ward’s three-monthly audit suggested that the play equipment at the park had little sign of use.
Regular users of the Hood St park (back from left) Matthew Else, 6, Isaac Oogjes, 3; (front) Ryan Oogjes, 1, and Rachael Else, 4.
Mr Wright’s open-sided backyard faces across to the park and he is adamant the park gets a lot of use.
“It’s the only playground we’ve ever had on this side of the river and it gets used, don't worry about that,” he said.
Mr Wright’s comments are backed by parents and grandparents, mainly from the east side of town, who claim they take children to the park regularly.
10 years ago June 2016
Rochester teenagers have rejected a push to lower the voting age across Australia, even though some of them argue Canberra is ignoring issues which matter to them.
Federal Opposition leader Bill Shorten wants to explore the idea of reducing the voting age to 16, while an online petition supporting the move has attracted 1500 signatures in the past fortnight.
But youths in Rochester are refusing to jump aboard the bandwagon.
Genevieve Foott, 17, said lowering the eligibility criteria could lead to uninformed teenagers casting their vote.
Campaspe Shire youth citizen of the year Annette Waters, 15, agreed it would be a bad move.
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Rochester Secondary College student Callan O’Riley has followed up last year’s Victorian Junior Championship motocross win with a second place in the 2016 event.
Callan, who turns 15 next week, secured the podium finish in C class, with school mate Seth Patience third.
After a recent second at the Victorian Junior Country Motocross Championships, Callan O’Riley will be out to do well at this weekend’s Hattah Desert Race.
Callan’s next assignment will be another crack at the Hattah Desert Race, near Mildura, this weekend.
Callan’s mum Melanie said her son had performed well again in his fifth season of racing.
‘‘It was an extremely high quality field of really good riders (in the state junior championship),’’ she said.
