PEEPS IN THE PAST
December 5-11, 2021
Presented by Mildura & District Historical Society.
Compiled by Sharyn Sturre & Sue Kelly for Mildura Rural City Council Service.
100 YEARS AGO
MILDURA EDUCATION: Mildura’s educational facilities will be greatly increased by the building of the new Adjunct State school in Ninth Street, about three-quarters of a mile west of Deakin Avenue. The walls of the new building are now eight feet high, and are rapidly taking shape. This school will have a separate staff from that of the Central school, but will be under the control of the same headmaster.
FIVE HUNDRED DOZEN: Yesterday 465 dozen eggs had been received at the Mildura hospital in response to the Egg Week appeal. Eggs are still coming in daily, and it is expected that the 500 dozen mark will be left behind before the flow ceases.
MURRAY COD: Yesterday morning the consignments of Murray cod and other fish that left Mildura on the Melbourne passenger train constituted a record. Seventy-three baskets were loaded into a special louvre truck put on the train for the purpose. This load would be greatly increased before it reached Melbourne, as Yatpool, Carwarp, Nowingi and Hattah also export fish in large quantities at this time of the year.
75 YEARS AGO
MILDURA CALLING: When a representative of Sunraysia Daily visited several offices in the city in the course of news gathering, he was shown copies of the book Mildura Calling. In each instance he was asked “Have you seen this?” Every question of the kind showed that the book had been read with relish. Only advance copies of the book have been received, and Alice Lapthorne’s book is assured as popularity here when it becomes available to the public soon.
ROWING CLUB DINNER: A complimentary dinner to the crews which attended Henley-on-the-Yarra and the four which took part in the Dimboola carnival will be tendered by Mildura Rowing Club at the Grand Hotel tonight. It is expected that more than 150 guests will be present.
RAILING OF POULTRY: An official at the Mildura railway station said yesterday that live poultry, day-old chicks excepted, would not be accepted for dispatch by passenger train from Monday next until January 2, both dates inclusive.
50 YEARS AGO
APEX CLUB GIVES HELP: Red Cliffs Apex Club donated $250 to the Red Cliffs District Hospital to help furnish a ward. The club will make its annual journey to Robinvale next weekend with ice-cream and soft drinks for the Aboriginal children’s Christmas treat. Next Saturday night the club will hold its Christmas party at the Red Cliffs Golf Club. About 100 Apexians and their friends are expected to attend.
WINTER BACK IN TOWN: Wintry weather returned to Sunraysia early yesterday and brought rains and strong winds. The Mildura office of the Bureau of Meteorology reported yesterday that wind speeds ranged from 34 to 41 miles an hour when the cold change reached its peak at 2am. Fifty points of rain were recorded at Mildura Airport, but a higher reading of 65 points was recorded in Mildura city. Wentworth received 60 points.
WEED CAN KILL COWS: Heliotrope weed species have been responsible for a number of deaths of young cattle over recent years, the district veterinary officer at Kerang (Mr E.M. Brough) said recently. Mr Brough said that unlike sheep, cattle deaths had been sudden after two to three days of sickness following the first grazing of the week.
25 YEARS AGO
CANOE TREE: A canoe tree removed from the banks of the Murray River last week was yesterday positioned inside the Visitor Information Centre, under construction as part of the Alfred Deakin Centre complex. The tree will form part of the interpretive display inside the complex, which was designed by the Museum of Victoria’s Scienceworks department. Standing at about six metres, the tree will accentuate the architectural features of the building and enhance visitors’ experiences of the 12th Street and Deakin Avenue complex.
TRIATHLON: Matt Stephens from Fulham Gardens in South Australia gave spectators a power-packed display in disciplined swimming, riding and running on Sunday to come from behind and win the Coomealla Triathlon in race record time. Robyn Rooke won the women’s section in 57.54. Conditions for the 200-plus competitors were perfect, the fast flowing current and lack of wind providing an ideal setting. Kenny Southwell and Kevin Tankard were the first Coomealla triathletes home in times of 54.25 and 54.52 respectively.
AIRPORT: Extensions to the Mildura Airport runway made for a trouble-free landing yesterday when Southern Australia Airlines’ latest $20 million acquisition cruised in. The 76-seat BA146 series British Aerospace four-engine jet has been bought by the airline to service its new Launceston operation. Bought direct from England, the jet came to Mildura as part of a trial flight. Airline general manager, Tony Mathews, said there were probably 40 BA146 series aeroplanes in Australia. Joy flights were held yesterday as a way of familiarizing staff and crew with the new flying machine.
