100 YEARS AGO
TANKS: Many growers are puzzled as to how to store away and keep in order their drying green hessians. Mr C Hall, of Belar Avenue, Irymple, uses his dip tanks for this purpose as they go out of commission at the dip. The hessian is neatly folded, placed in the tanks and the top on each tank is tightly covered. The hessian keeps in fine order.
PEOPLE: At the present time, all the human derelicts of the town seem to have nowhere to congregate on the lawns in Deakin Avenue, said Sergeant Fleming in the Mildura Court. The arrested man, who said he was on medication, was found drunk and disorderly – using indecent language was fined 10/-.
SHED: On Sunday, some members of the Mildura Rowing Club went to the Murray River in the vicinity of the town pumps to inspect the block of land on the river frontage granted to them. It is in a good central position, only a few hundred yards up from the pumping station and almost opposite Deakin Avenue. The shed is to be built on the top of the bank on a level stretch that is now occupied by the wood heaps of the pumps. There is an excellent slope down to the water’s edge with good boat launching banks. The banks are sandstone and will form an excellent foundation for stagings. The river is from 15 to 20 feet deep and a good swimming hole near the shed.
75 YEARS AGO
FISH: Many a man, unable to satisfactorily explain the lipstick on his lips, or his collar, has stood with his mouth open like a cod. He has been caught red-handed as it were – he has been a party fish. Now we come to an amazing story of a real fish who floundered with his mouth open and like a cod he was well and truly caught because of lipstick. Men and fish have a lot in common. There he was, a 7lb cod, swimming placidly in the Gol Gol creek, on the bank was a girl called Billy who decided to play for the cod baiting the line with lipstick. She waited for 1/2 an hour – then came a tug – the cod was caught – poor fish, right into the frying pan, too.
CAMP: Mildura Tourist Officer Mr W Sherriff commented on the suggestion in Good Morning that something along the lines of a permanent holiday camp should be established at various centres in Sunraysia to be used by pickers during harvest time and converted to tourist service in the remainder of the year – it has been done using an old Air Force Base building. It should be adjacent to the River where tourists could take advantage of the Murray.
OPEN: Tasma Hospital, Red Cliffs, which was to be closed on March 2 because of increasing costs and staff shortages, will now remain open until March 31. It is hoped in the meantime extra staff to help the two sisters, will be obtained and that the authorities will permit an increase in the Fees. Mr Nat Barclay, MLA, is in Melbourne to speak to the Minister for Health.
50 YEARS AGO
FIRM: Andy’s Engineers, Mildura, has just completed a $28,000 tender for the Country Roads’ Board. The contract for five 1000-gallon tanker trailers was completed after three months of designing and manufacturing. Mr E Andriske said the tankers would be used to haul bulk diesel fuel. Each tanker weighs seven tons and will be towed by huge CRB trucks.
PIPES: Fifty thousand dollars a year will be spent over the next six years on replacing channels in the Coomealla Irrigation Area with pipelines. About 15 miles of channel is being considered. It is proposed that this will ease the problems which have been raised by growers in the area and ultimately have a beneficial effect on the cost of maintenance on supply channels in the area.
CRICKETS: Mildura people who don’t like crickets will just have to get used to them as they look like being around for some time yet as it was an excellent breeding season. When there was a wet winter, the eggs from the crickets seem to thrive longer and so bigger numbers. Although security lights are a great deterrent to troublemakers at night, they provide an attraction for thousands of crickets. One employee, Mr Dezdjek, trying to shovel dozens out of a car-pit, but they found their way into his overalls, so he stopped the shovelling.
25 YEARS AGO
NAVAL: The beginning of a new era for the Sunraysia Naval Association this week with the official opening of the inaugural HMAS Mildura Memorial Hall. Association member George Colley said, “Little apples grow and it is hoped this venture will one day result in a bigger and better premises”. Many ex-navy veterans live in Sunraysia and it is hoped that their own club would attract a few to come along, have a drink and natter”.
TOURISM: Sunraysia’s tourism industry is to undergo the most major shake-up in its history following the new Mildura Murray Outback Tourism Marketing Action Plan. The industry takes on a new name, a new chapter, a new structure and a new chief executive. It will see industry growth and an annual increase in tourism revenue of $5.5 million by 2001.
READING: There are many reasons why we adults, parents, carers or teachers should read aloud to children. Advantages exist even when your child has outgrown picture books. Don’t give up because picture books were “quicker”. Read a chapter or two each night instead. Reading aloud exposes the listener to a wider vocabulary. They can assimilate pronunciation of new and unknown words to hear the language spoken, without the worry of trying to pronounce strange words.
