100 years ago
SCHOOL BRANCH: A branch of the State Savings Bank (Penny Bank department) has been opened at the Red Cliffs State School. The purpose of this bank is to encourage thrift among school children, and already its existence seems to have been appreciated by the Red Cliffs scholars. Out of 60 scholars more than 40 have deposits in the bank, and since its opening a fortnight ago about £4 has been credited to the accounts of its depositors.
COLOUR PICTURE: For the first time in Mildura people were offered a picture in color – one that stands out as the herald of a new phase in the motion-picture industry. The management of the Star Theatre are to be congratulated on securing a release of the standard that The Toll of the Sea was, as, in addition to being shown entirely in colors, which were very natural, the plot of the picture was good.
BEE KEEPERS: Owners and keepers of bees are notified by advertisement appearing in this issue that bees must not be kept within five miles of any horticultural block planted with trees and vines unless the hive or hives shall be so covered in as to prevent the bees from leaving. This notice is the outcome of complaints chiefly from Irymple, where bees are causing much annoyance and some damage.
75 years ago
NO CLOSURES: Under no circumstances would the Hospitals and Charities Commission see Tasma Private Hospital at Red Cliffs close, the chairman (Mr CL McVilly) and the deputy chairman (Doctor R Watson) said yesterday. They gave this assurance to a deputation from the provisional committee of Red Cliffs Hospital Annexe, answering a question from the secretary (Mr EC Dawe). Mr Dawe explained that the closing of Tasma would mean a big strain on the already-depleted staff of Mildura Base Hospital. Mr McVilly said it was desirable to keep Tasma hospital open in view of the serious shortage of nursing staff. He said that when it became known to the commission that Tasma’s fees were not high enough to provide a living for its operators, the commission had approached the prices branch with a request for an increase.
CHILDREN’S CAMP: A total of 297 children from Mildura district attended the Lord Mayor’s Holiday Camp at Portsea this summer, the shire secretary (Mr AD Harvey) reported yesterday to council. The district’s quota was 300. Thirty-seven boys left for the camp last Friday – the final allotment for the district. “The total expenditure at the rate of £2/10 per child, in addition to a few incidentals, has been made without any public appeal for funds in any shape or form,” said Mr Harvey. “This has been due to the generosity of those parents who are in a position to pay more than £2/10, the co-operation of the parents in general and the Legacy Club, which met the expenses of all Legacy children participating”.
CURLWAA BLOCKS: Applications for the first 100 blocks for ex-servicemen in the Coomealla area will close at the Curlwaa office of the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission next Thursday at 4pm. It was stated that there had been some misunderstanding among servicemen regarding the necessity to make application for land. Many thought the original application for a qualifying certificate and the notification to the Curlwaa RSL of their desire to acquire land were all that was necessary.
50 years ago
WINTER WARMTH: Sunraysia’s elderly don’t have to dread the onset of winter – because some people care about them. Residents of all ages have already started knitting woollen squares which will be sewn into rugs for the elderly. The rugs will be given to patients at Mildura Base Hospital’s geriatrics ward and distributed through the social worker and district nursing service to those living at home. The woman behind the scheme is Mrs Myra Ryan, who nurses at the geriatrics ward. She is concerned for the elderly people who don’t enjoy the comforts provided at the hospital: who live in old, cold damp houses. Mrs Ryan asked that the squares be knitted six inches by six inches and preferably in eight-ply wool.
THEATRE VISIT: Arthur Miller’s play Death of a Salesman will be the topic under discussion at Mildura Technical School today during the visit of two members of the Melbourne Theatre Company. Actors John Wood and David Clendinning are due at the technical school at 10.30am to talk about the play with the students. This afternoon, St Joseph’s College students will benefit from the company’s week-long “meet the people” efforts.
FATAL CRASH: The Cessna aircraft, missing since last Tuesday with six Melbourne people on board, was found crashed on Wilkurra Station yesterday. Wreckage of the aircraft was scattered over a comparatively small area at the base of a 30-foot-high tree. The bodies of the pilot and the five passengers of the aircraft were close by. The wreckage was four miles due south of the Wilkurra shearing shed, six miles north-east of Mildura and about 40 miles east of the course the Cessna was expected to take. The Cessna, a twin-engined 310H, was on a flight from Broken Hill to Melbourne. It disappeared at a time when thunderstorms were over Wilkurra and other stations between the proposed route of the Cessna’s flight and the crash site. Indications were that the plane had plunged into the ground nose first and at terrific speed. The forward section of the fuselage was destroyed and the cabin was split in two.
25 years ago
TIDY TOWN: National television current affairs program 60 Minutes will be in Red Cliffs when the announcement is made on April 14 of Australia’s tidiest town. Red Cliffs, Victoria’s tidiest town, is right in the running for the National Tidy Town Award. Reporter Charles Wooley will be in the district to cover Red Cliffs’ big day and to attend a formal function. Red Cliffs Rural Pride committee secretary Rose Hoye said national Judge Dick Olesinski would be flying in to Mildura the afternoon before judging day. “A formal civic reception for Dr Olesinski is being organised by the Red Cliffs committee and council and the 60 Minutes crew is expected to attend the event,” Mr Hoye said. She said there was a definite air of anticipation and excitement building within Red Cliffs and surrounds as preparations got under way for judging.
PARK MAP: World renowned for its intricate lakes system and wide variety of flora and fauna, the Hattah-Kulkyne National Park has until now never been shown in detail on a commercially available map. The Hattah-Kulkyne Map Guide fills the breach, providing a wealth of information on the park and its surroundings in an easy-to-read map. Primarily designed for the camper, bushwalker, fisherman, four-wheel-driver or day tripper, the map contains the latest data available and was field checked in November 1998, making it the most current map of the area available. The 1:75,000 park map details the whole park and adjoining Murray-Kulkyne Park.
TIWI TALENT: Sunraysia football will commence on Saturday with Wentworth and Red Cliffs both having three Tiwi Islanders in their teams. The six footballers from Bathurst and Melville islands are in Sunraysia after being recommended by former Richmond champion Maurice Rioli. The Red Cliffs trio flew into Sunraysia yesterday direct from Darwin and upon landing went to football training at Quandong Park where they amazed the locals with their skills. The same has happened at Wentworth where the Roo trio have had three training sessions and are sensational on the track.
