100 YEARS AGO: 1925
SCREENING: At Diggerland tonight two educational films, one dealing with the suppression of venereal diseases and the other with the development of Australian manufactures, will be show under the auspices of the Red Cliffs branch of the Australian Natives’ Association. As the films are available in Red Cliffs for one night only, the attendance will be limited to men, and a charge for admission will be made.
HOTEL: Dunn’s Wentworth Hotel is the oldest established in the district, and the excellent manner in which it has been conducted over a great number of years is responsible for its present-day reputation. The Wentworth Hotel is noted for good accommodation and liquors. The proprietor, Mr H. C. Dunn is one of Wentworth’s most progressive citizens and is the newly elected president of the revived Wentworth Sports Club.
COLLISION: On Saturday evening about 10pm, Mr R. F. Chamberlain was driving his milk cart along Tenth Street, from Langtree Avenue to Deakin Avenue, when a motor lorry approached from the opposite direction and ran right into the milk cart. The driver stopped, spoke to Mr Chamberlain and then drove off again before he had time to take the driver’s name or his number. Both the horse and the driver escaped injury. Mr Chamberlain alleges that the driver of the lorry was under the influence of liquor. The Mildura police are making enquiries.
75 YEARS AGO: 1950
AWARDS: Because riders receiving cash awards would be ineligible to take part in horse events at the Olympic Games, trophies will be presented for these events at the Mildura Show in October. Mr Lem Moebus, the show secretary pointed out last night that this rule applied only to events in which the rider was judged, not the horse.
DOGS: The suggestion to have a whip cracker rid Mildura streets of dogs has had some results. City Council has received a number of letters, some condemning the scheme and other applications for the position of City whip cracker. Two of the letters – one denouncing the ideal as “appalling to all decent-minded Australians” and the other applying for the position – were read at last night’s City Council meeting. Councillor Bowring originally brought the proposal forward, stating that he had heard of considerable success with whip cracking in Horsham.
MARKET: City Council has decided to proceed with plans for a municipal produce market for Mildura. In a report to council on Thursday night, the works committee recommended that plans be prepared for a market designed for economy but capable of being enlarged, and this was agreed to. Chairman of the works committee, councillor R. M. Linton said the work would commence as seen as possible. The market would not be “jerry built,” but would be constructed so that it could be disposed of easily if it did not prove popular.
50 YEARS AGO: 1975
MEETING: The Sunraysia Motor Sports Club will hold its third Auto Cross meeting on Sunday. The meeting will be held at the club’s track behind the Sunraysia Glider Field. Races against the clock will be held over the one-mile circuit. Many difficult corners, a waterhole and a jump are included in the circuit. The waterhole and sand jump are expected to provide spectators with spectacular entertainment. Recent events held by the group have been full of action with drivers demonstrating skilful driving.
HOMESTEAD: Work on the old Mildura Homestead is steadily progressing. City engineer Mr Alex Thompson has told council that progress is being made with the building. Three loads of timber have been obtained, shaped and stored. About 15,000 good bricks have been obtained from the old supper rooms. Mr Thompson said more discussions would be held on the interior layout and design, and when work was able to begin on the woolshed building. Research on roofing was now being carried out, and a visit would be made to Mungo Station as part of this research.
FLOOD: The sewage was flowing fast down the west side of Pearl Avenue, Mildura yesterday. It lay inches thick under at least four homes, seeped into backyards and gardens, ran down a driveway and in one place covered the footpath. A wide, grey offensive smelling stream made its way down along Pearl Avenue gutter to Tenth Street where it eventually reached a stormwater drain. Mrs Aston of Pearl Avenue said the minor flood was caused by a sheet of plastic which blocked the system in Eighth Street. Council officers had told her there was no health hazard, but she could not be happy about “paper and goodness knows what” floating around in sewage at the side of her home.
25 YEARS AGO: 2000
TRAILER: The Sunraysia Area Consultative Committee has given $2000 to enable the Red Cliffs Promotions Group to bring Big Lizzie’s No. 1 trailer back from a farm near Heywood. Dean Lampard of Red Cliffs has provided the transport to bring the huge relic back so it can be restored and hooked up to Big Lizzie again, the first time in many years.
COMMITMENT: Jamie Siddons will play with Mildura Settlers Cricket Club this season. The brilliant right-hand batsman made his decision after speaking with representatives from almost all Sunraysia clubs. Siddons, the Sheffield Shield record run maker, said he would play for Settlers for the next two seasons. He will work part-time at a Mildura sports store and has bought a home in Mildura. His presence is sure to add great interest to the competition.
COMPUTER: The Mildura and District Historical Society will now be able to locate various items stored under its care with greater ease thanks to the gift of a computer and a printer from Member for Mildura Russell Savage. It will be used primarily for cataloguing purposes as the old cataloguing method of an “accession book” which recorded all donated articles in chronological order proved to be time consuming when looking for something specific. The collection owned or looked after by the society ran into “many thousands” of items and includes an incredible range of documents.
