25 February – 2 March 2024
100 YEARS AGO
BILLIARDS FINAL: The billiard match for the championship of Sunraysia, between Messrs W Adams and G Robertson, is to be played tonight at the rooms of Mr T Joy, in Langtree Avenue, Mildura. Admission is 1/ for each person, and an excellent evening is promised, as both of the players are champions. The match is for 350 up, and promises to be a keen contest and will undoubtedly attract a large gathering of followers of the game in Mildura.
FROCK SALE: To bring their present sale to a fitting finale, the house of Bowring is having a Frock Week. All through the present week, a number of up-to-date and well-cut frocks are being sold at half price, and less. The summer is not by any means over. The deceptively cool weather experienced in Mildura recently may turn the thoughts of the feminine portion of the community to autumn frocking, but there are still many weeks of warm weather to be provided for. Also, the wise woman will make sure that, at the end of the season, she has at least one or two frocks with which to face the beginning of the next warm weather period. These dresses in many variations, express the modes of the moment – the low waist; the panels of different designs; the short sleeve; and the straight lines – all conform to the demands of the present, and it would scarcely be possible for a shopper during this week of frocks, to make a disappointed purchase.
DIPPING PLANTS: There are some very unhandy dipping plants in Sunraysia. There are also some very handy ones. One of the neatest and handiest dipping plants the writer has seen lately is on the “Old Homestead” block of Mr Steve Mansell. In neatness and handiness, it could well be an object lesson. The tank is built high, with a big grating platform all around it. This obviates a lot of lifting of buckets, the platform being on a level with the incoming tin-cart or lorry, and also on a level with the tram-trolley running to the racks.
75 YEARS AGO
LIBRARY CLOSURE: Mildura City Council last night adopted a recommendation by the Library Committee that the Carnegie Library be closed for two months, commencing on March 5. Purpose of the closure will be to enable the City Librarian to classify and record the books of the library as expeditiously as possible. In presenting the committee’s report, the Mayor (Councillor G Leigh Pentreath) said that certain recommendations had been received from the new Librarian (Miss Barbara Fettell) which he felt were reasonable. The purchase of fiction, travel and other books to the value of about 600 pounds, and technical books valued at 200 pounds was recommended by the committee. The technical books will include a set of the 1947 edition of Encyclopaedia Britannica, priced at 70 pounds. In its report, the committee recommended that certain furniture and a telephone be installed. The purchase of two overalls per employee was also recommended.
SPEEDING: At its meeting last night, the City Council appointed a deputation to wait on the police at 4pm next Tuesday concerning speeding in Mildura streets. The action was decided on after a discussion on a recommendation from the Works Committee. In its report, the committee expressed concern at the increase of speeding in city streets, particularly on the newly made roads in the city. Motorists were taking the fullest advantage of the better roads and were exceeding the limits of safety.
SCHOOL SITE: A final decision from the Education and Lands Department on a site for the proposed High School at Red Cliffs is expected today by Mr Nat Barclay, MLA. Mr Barclay is now in Melbourne and will make arrangements with the department. A definite decision on the site, said Mr Barclay will enable surveys and plans to go ahead immediately. Plans for enlargement and redesign of Red Cliffs football ground also will be easier to make, once it is known exactly where the High School is to be built.
50 YEARS AGO
DRIVE-IN BAN: Behaviour of children and some teenagers was the main reason why Mildura’s drive-in theatres have banned “walk-ins,” the manager said yesterday. The children had damaged theatre fittings and equipment, had wandered in groups through cars to the annoyance of other patrons, and had defied theatre employees who had tried to control them. In a joint announcement published yesterday, the Cross-Roads and 16th Street Drive-in theatres said that from now on, no tickets will be issued at either drive-in to any person who is not in a motor vehicle. The decision would cover all “walk-ins”, regardless of their age. Damage at the drive-in has included the cutting of speakers from their cords, pulling up of water pipes, holes kicked in fibro-cement walls of buildings and damage from thrown bottles. Staff of the theatres had threatened to resign unless something was done to remedy the situation.
CARAVAN PARK: The Gol Gol Paddle Wheel Hotel will soon be more than just a hotel. Hotel licensee, Mr Ferdie Pretscherer, plans to build a caravan park next to the hotel in the next few months. Work has already begun on levelling the ground for the park. During the 1956 flood, tons of earth from the eigh-acre site which the hotel stands on, was moved to build levee banks. This has left a gaping hole where the park is to be built. Mr Pretscher said he was reasonably sure the park would do well as all the facilities required were available in the area. Another advantage of building a park on the hotel grounds was that the site was right next to the Murray River, which would be an attraction for boating enthusiasts and fishermen who wanted a quiet holiday.
POKIES SEIZURE: Mildura detectives were the first people yesterday to answer an advertisement for a poker machine. The advertisement appeared in the “Wanted to sell” column of Sunraysia Daily and included a Red Cliffs address. The detectives went to the address and impounded the machine, which was standing in the kitchen. Detective Senior Constable Williamson said yesterday it was illegal to possess a poker machine in Victoria. The owner of the machine is believed to have bought it in Sydney and allegedly told detectives he was unaware it was illegal to have the machine in Victoria.
25 YEARS AGO
BANK OPENING: The opening of Wenworth’s community branch of the Bendigo Bank has been brought forward to Thursday, March 18, to allow television personality Ray Martin to officiate. Community bank chairman Cheryl Rix yesterday emphasised the date change. “Because of other commitments, he couldn’t make it that day but Ray said he would be delighted to come on the 18th,” Mrs Rix said. The launch festivities, accompanied by displays and a special theme, will start with the official party arriving at Wentworth Wharf on the Loyalty and proceeding to the bank in Darling Street. Workers have been busy refitting and painting the imposing two-storey building. A capacity crowd and outside media interest is expected and being catered for.
NEW ROLE: The former Meringur Primary School is to remain a central focus of the tiny township as a new community hall. The school closed in 1997 but there have been ongoing discussions aimed at keeping the buildings and land in community hands. The Meringur Community Centre Steering Committee has asked Mildura Rural City Council to call a public meeting seeking expressions of interest to establish a committee of management for the old school. Councillors agreed on Thursday night to establish the committee of management once financial viability of the plan had been determined. After the vote, Mayor Eddie Warhurst commended the community for its determination on the issue and predicted success in its endeavours.
AGENTS VISITS: Sunraysia will be under the microscope this weekend as nine jet-setting Tasmanian travel agents and a journalist from The Examiner newspaper participate in a familiarisation tour. The tour is a Southern Australia Airlines initiative with Mildura’s Visitor Information Centre being a key player in developing the itinerary. The tour will cross into the Wentworth Region of New South Wales. Guests will visit Sunraysia favourites including the Golden River Zoo, the Australian Inland Botanic Gardens, Gol Gol Fisheries, the Old Mildura Homestead and several wineries.
