Presented by Mildura and District Historical Society and compiled by Judy Hyde for Mildura Rural City Council Libraries.
100 YEARS AGO
NEW POWERHOUSE – The commercial world in these days grows stronger and stronger in by-products, the elimination of waste and it is truly surprising and amazing how little the average man on the street or the layman at large knows of by-products or possibilities. Yet there are men who’s trained minds are more or less running on possibilities, scientific and practical, Councillor A Tait, at present time in the blacksmithing business, is one of these. He has suggested that the exhaust steam, or that which has done a certain amount of work in the engine of the powerhouse could be utilised by supplying heat for a large dehydrator that could be erected near the powerhouse and also for a hot-water service for the township, including houses, hotels, clubs and the public baths.
ROBBERY– At Wentworth on Saturday night or early Sunday morning, the corner window of Mr H Bear’s shop – being partially cut then pushed to, and about £20 worth of watches and jewellery taken along with articles such as alarm clocks and razors. The police took several pieces of glass on which were fingerprints for identification.
BOOK– Through the courtesy of the Red Cliffs Office of the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission, “Sunraysia Daily” has received a copy of a handsome illustrated booklet, that has been distributed by the Victorian Railways Department, as part of propaganda to assist in the development of the primary industries in the State, in particular the dried-fruits industry. Mr Clapp’s Raisin Book has recipes for tarts, puddings, raisin custard, biscuits, rock cakes, pickled raisins, cheese and nut sandwiches, raisin rolls and many more recipes.
75 YEARS AGO
ESTATE– Mr E J Roberts, late of Irymple, governing director, who died on January 26 last, left real estate in Victoria valued to £743 and £108,652 personally to his children and grandchildren after providing for a large number of gifts to relatives and staff. All employees of either the Irymple or Sarnia Packing Company for service not less than 15 years were beneficiaries. The Aurora Packing Company manager and staff who were or still are employed up till the time of his passing were beneficiaries. The residue is to be divided into 5 equal parts.
LAKES– It may be possible to land Catalinas on lakes in Sunraysia after clearing work was carried out by the Civil Aviation Department. Asian Airlines Pty Ltd is negotiating with the Commonwealth Disposals to take over Lake Boga Air Base as a landing area for Catalinas on interstate runs. The department believes that Mildura district lakes as they are now would be too hazardous for any landings of large seaplanes, however if extensive clearing was done there should be little difficulties in setting the planes down here. It would be necessary to have a control launch station at the selected lake to lead any seaplane in. Our plans for air-freighting fruit for Tasmania and returning with fish should be beneficial.
POST OFFICE– Red Cliffs and Irymple Post Offices are to be renovated with Red Cliffs to include rest and amenity rooms for operators – stated the Post Master General, Senator Cameron. An artist’s impression of the new three story post office that will be built on the site of the present post office will be the first of its kind to be built outside the capitol cities.
50 YEARS AGO
SCOUTS– The First Irymple Scout Group has gone into recess indefinitely due to the lack of qualified leaders and the group’s parents committee fears the scouts may have to disband if a leader is not found soon. Most of the scouts in the group are temporarily attached to the First Nichol’s Point group as a separate patrol.
MACHINERY– Mildura Co-operative Fruit Company has received machinery worth thousands of dollars. The machinery will enable more tons of fresh fruit to be squeezed for juice, cutting wastage which included the oil-fired boiler.
AVENUE– “Closing off Deakin Avene centre plantation for most of its entire length, except for major intersections is unnecessary” said Councillor Syd Mills, regarding the opinion of Mildura Chamber of Commerce, after careful study of the traffic plan proposed by the Road Safety and Traffic Authority. Mildura residents have been invited to give the City Council their own views of the plans to changes in the traffic flow. Councillor Mills said the plan looked like a daddy-longlegs spider web and he had to get out his looking glass to see which roads would be closed.
25 YEARS AGO
HONOR– Red Cliffs’ Henry French was awarded a life membership of the Returned Services League of Australia in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Red Cliffs Returned Services League Club. A World War II veteran who was a “rat of Tobruk” said the award shook him up completely, he was lost for words. He is known as Mr-Fix-It, a Jack-of-all-trades and has been a member for 54 years.
JAIL– Restoration and repair work on the Old Wentworth Jail will be completed by the heritage restoration expert Colin Grinter. Over the past eight months he has been doing slate roof repairs, spouting replacement, refurbishment of the inside of the hospital block, painting, strengthening the guard tower walkways and general painting and upgrading electrical work – nearly $120,000 will be spent on the four stage project.
OLIVES– Gianni Grigoletto is a pioneer in what could become Australia’s great horticultural success story of the 21st century: Olives. Varieties best suited to oil or eating, growth rates, climate and soil suitability and harvesting and processing are still the subject of much needed research. The potential for our oil is amazing Giani said – he has been processing small quantities from family-owned olives groves on a machine capable of handling 40 kilograms of fruit at a time which is based at the Sunnycliffs property of his friends Gino and Elina Garreffa.
