100 YEARS AGO
PIONEER: The reminiscences of Mr Thomas M Shortt – who, with his wife may be said to be one of the very early settlers seeing that he was the first employee engaged by the Chaffey Brothers – should be of considerable interest. Mr Shortt was closely identified with the beginning of subsequent history of Mildura. In addition to being the first employee of the station. Later this pioneer aided in the establishing of the now well-known Settlers Club.RULES BREACH: During the week, several cases of plants and packages of trees addressed to Red Cliffs settlers have been refused delivery to the consignees. Some of these consignments were denied because they were packed in second hand cases, the admittance of which is definitely prohibited under the board’s regulations. Others were condemned because they were not accompanied by a certificate from the nursery man or consignor as to their freedom from disease.
CLOSE CALL: Two soldier-settlers were seen digging on the channel-bank, near the corner of Koorlong Avenue and Sixteenth Street, on Sunday. They were obtaining grass with which to establish lawns on their blocks at Red Cliffs. If it had not been for the chance arrival of two more experienced blockers, who pointed out that what they were digging up was Johnson and not buffalo grass, there would surely have been introduced into Red Cliffs a grass that is almost impossible to eradicate.
75 YEARS AGO
FAMILIAR ISSUE: There are plenty of jobs available in Sunraysia for the right kind of worker, according to the acting district Employment Officer. At present, greatest demand was for domestics, but there was also a considerable shortage of skilled tradesmen. The old problem of a lack of accommodation in Mildura added to the difficulty of providing sufficient labour for the district need.
FIRE RISK: There was a grave risk of parts of Merbein being wiped out by fire because of the lack of sufficient water pressure, said the Merbein Fire Brigade secretary (Mr J Crosbie) yesterday. He pointed out the urgent necessity of the installation of a minimum 4 inch main instead of the existing 3 inch pipes in Merbein. “There are parts of Merbein today, particularly between the dehydration plant and the school, which are entirely without water pressure,” he said.
FLOWER POWER: Mildura could become the garden city of Victoria, and greater interest in gardening should be taken by residents not only for next spring, but in preparation for the Royal Visit, said Mr Peter Malloch last night. Not sufficient interest was taken in gardening in Mildura, said Mr Malloch, and the homes of those who did take a pride in their gardens contrasted with those who were not so inclined. Ballarat was referred to as the garden city of Victoria, but he pointed out, Mildura could lead, particularly in spring, by reason of its situation and climate. Flowers which would give pleasing spring shows were: Dahlias, zinnias, marigolds, bonfire salvia and petunias, with chrysanthemums for early autumn.
CREEK FLOWING: Water from the Murray River is flowing into Chalka Creek in the Hattah National Park for the first time in two years. The water has filled Lockie Lake and is overflowing along a channel towards the main storage, Lake Hattah. The State Rivers and Water Supply Commission over the past six months has cleared Chalka Creek. It has also built regulators to control the flow of the water. The creek was first cleared three years ago when the Murray River rose following the 1967-8 drought. Floodwaters filled the lakes system in 1970 and again in 1971.
ECHUCA VISIT: Mildura turned out in force yesterday to farewell the PS Pevensey on the start of its 520 mile journey to Echuca. The last job before departure was to load about 30 tons of firewood. Half an hour before her departure, PS Pevensey left her moorings and travelled a few hundred yards upstream to the Rowing Club lawns for the official departure ceremony. After official speeches, hundreds of photographs and a resounding cheer, PS Pevensey left. When she reaches Echuca, it will be her first visit there for nearly 40 years. 50 YEARS AGO
HONEY EXPORT: Samples of Sunraysia’s orange blossom honey will be air-lifted to Japan as soon as citrus trees flower in early October. If accepted, district bee-keepers will be asked to produce more than 1000 metric tons of the honey. Mr Suzuki, a leading importer, visited Sunraysia earlier this year and sampled the honey.
25 YEARS AGO
BOMB FIND: Members of the Army bomb disposal squad were called to Mildura yesterday after the live head of a World War II bomb was unearthed near the Mildura airport. Police cordoned off the area after a maintenance worker at the airport reported finding the shell, which was in good condition, in a vacant paddock beside a runway. Mildura Police Sergeant Danny Saint said a safety pin was still attached to the bomb, however there was still a degree of good fortune that the finder was not injured. The bomb will be transported to Melbourne where it will eventually be detonated.
SCHOOLL FIRE: A major fire at the Robinvale consolidated school over the weekend caused damage estimated at half a million dollars. The blaze was noticed in the early hours of the morning by a Robinvale resident. Ten fire units responded from areas including Manangatang, Euston, Mildura, Boundary Bend, Swan Hill, and Annuello. The fire was brought under control in about an hour. Mildura CIB detectives were in Robinvale yesterday and were awaiting the arrival of an arson chemist from Melbourne. The fire is considered suspicious.
HOSPITAL ANGER: Opponents of the privatisation of the new Mildura Base Hospital yesterday made their objections known by tying a yellow ribbon around the current hospital. The Mildura Base Hospital Action Group which organised the event was joined outside the hospital by other opponents. Action group member Tom Joyce told onlookers yesterday’s ribbon tying was a symbolic gesture to raise the profile of the anti-privatisation lobby and to launch the yellow ribbon as the group’s emblem. The ribbon is a recognised symbol of social justice, Mr Joyce said.
