PRESENTED by Mildura & District Historical Society compiled by Mildura Rural City Council Libraries.
100 YEARS AGO: 1924
PRAISE BE: The jumble fair at the Red Cliffs Presbyterian church this afternoon will be opened by the Reverand Blackwood, of Mildura. The Ladies’ Guild has charge of several stalls. Other stalls include a work stall, produce, sweets, cakes and refreshments stalls and a children’s dip. A shooting gallery is one of the forms of entertainment provided. The fair will open in the evening as well as the afternoon.
ON THE AIR: Last Wednesday evening was the first opportunity that the public of Red Cliffs has had of listening to a Sydney concert broadcasted by wireless. The Methodist building was crowded, and an eagerly expectant audience waited patiently, but the results were somewhat disappointing. At the outset Mr Dalton, the operator who is working in conjunction with Mr R Egge, of Mildura, told the audience that they could not have had worse atmospheric conditions for broadcasting. The day had been sultry, and the air was heavily charged with electricity. As the results of these electric disturbances, only occasionally could the voice of the singer or the choir be clearly heard. Another demonstration will be given, the date of which will be advertised shortly.
FIELDS OF DREAMS: Interviewed on his return from the tour of the Millewa country yesterday, Mr P G Stewart, MP, said that he had been very impressed with the possibilities of the country. He said he thought that the people of Mildura, Merbein and Red Cliffs do not realise yet what a tremendous asset this big tract of country would be when fully developed. Generally speaking, the land was of the highest quality, but it needed proper farming methods to achieve results.
75 YEARS AGO: 1949
TAKE A BREAK: After Councillor Kathleen Richardson had reported that Mildura and District Women’s Rest Room was doing a good job, City Council decided to make a grant of 25 pounds to it. The council received a letter from the rest room asking for a further donation to its funds. The letter suggested that some councillors might inspect the room. Councillor Richardson said she has inspected the room about three months ago. “They are doing a good job – one this Council should be doing,” she said.
PESTS: Mildura Shire Council yesterday received its 1000th fox skin since the bounty of 6/ a skin was fixed about two months ago. Most of the skins are in good condition and have been received by Council in lots from one to 200. State Government will reimburse the Shire 200 pounds of the 300 pounds paid in bounties. Declarations signed by the original owners of the skins stated that all the foxes were killed within Mildura Shire.
ROLLING: Feature of the motorcycle programme to be conducted at Cardross Gymkhana on September 25 will be a stunt by well-known Mildura Motor Cycle Club rider Allen Melville. Providing the ground surface is suitable, Melville will perform a motorcycle “ladder act.” A ladder is mounted on the rear of the machine. The rider then climbs the ladder while the motorcycle is moving, maintaining balance and control at the same time.
50 YEARS AGO: 1974
DRAWCARD: Numbers going through the Wentworth Museum during the holidays have increased considerably since the encephalitis scare. Chairman of the Wentworth rotary sub-committee said this yesterday. The committee is responsible for the museum which has been running in the old Ozone theatre since 1968. Numbers passing through Fotherby Park, where the paddle-steamer Ruby is, were also good.
ALL ABOARD: Last night’s Mildura-Melbourne Vinelander train was one of the biggest ever to leave Mildura. The train had three engines, four sleeper carriages, seven sitting carriages, a guard’s van, a fruit van, three motorail wagons and two perishable goods wagons. Railway employee Mr Alan Walters said last night the train was the longest he had seen in Mildura. He attributed the length of the to the number of people leaving the district at the end of the school holidays. He estimated the number of people travelling to Melbourne at between 300 and 350.
TOO MUCH: Trail bike riding in sections of the Mallee is causing serious damage to the environment in the area, a Land Conservation Council report of the area says. The Minister of Conservation, Mr Borthwick, blames pleasure riders for causing major hazards in the area. “These include destruction of vegetation, soil erosion and noise pollution,” the report says. “Pleasure drivers, whether singularly or in small groups, attempting to travel across country can cause serious damage,” it says. “Control of this type of activity presents a major problem.” The report is the first step in the process of deciding the best uses of the public land in the Mallee.
25 YEARS AGO: 1999
ICONIC: The mallee fowl and the regent parrot are the local winners in a major environmental scheme designed to help save Australia’s threatened species. The habit restoration project at Boundary Bend for the two unique birds was one of a number of community-based plans to receive a boost from the Federal Government’s Threatened Species Community grants scheme. A grant of $35,943 will be directed to the project, which will involve the erection of 20 kilometres of fencing and the reestablishment of 500 hectares of habit links on private lands and transport corridors between conservation reserves.
EFFORT: The Rotary Club of Red Cliffs recently cleaned up a stretch of the Calder Highway – seven kilometres, both sides of the road, from the Werrimull Road to Yatpool tower. Members and their supporters were astonished to find 137 fertiliser bags of rubbish – clear indication that there are many still not getting the “Keep Australia Beautiful” message. The club has adopted that stretch of highway and is obligated to clean it up four times a year.
AGAIN IN 2024?: The mighty Imperials on Saturday secured their sixth Sunraysia Football League premiership of the 90’s, holding on for a two-point win over a gallant Robinvale. A massive crowd packed No 1 Oval to witness one of the best grand finals in years, the result still up for grabs in the dying seconds. It was joint coach Tony Hickey’s eighth flag and sixth as coach.
