Peeps into the Past: October 13 to 19

100 YEARS AGO: 1924

CHILLING: An addition to the Red Cliffs business enterprises is the ice works established by Mr G D Jones, the butcher. Mr Jones has installed a 5-ton compressor ice plant and is now making ice daily on his premises. Deliveries of ice will be made to any part of the settlement by Mr Jones.

GET TOGETHER: As the result of negotiations between the members of the Wentworth branch of the Ancient Order of Buffaloes and several enthusiasts in Mildura, it was suggested and finally it was decided to open a branch in Mildura. The Buffalo Lodge does not claim to be a benefit lodge, but its principles are those of conviviality and sociability. The ceremony will be performed by the Grand Lodge officers, who are travelling from Adelaide via Renmark, where they will be joined by a party from Renmark who will continue with the party to Wentworth and then to Mildura. The grand officers will be entertained at dinner at the Grand Hotel.

STEP IT UP: The experimental strip of sawdust concrete footpath which is being laid in Deakin Avenue from the Working man’s club to Ninth Street is being put down in two methods. One half will be laid in a continuous length and reinforced with barbed wire, and the other half will be put down in 6 foot block sections reinforced with wire netting.

75 YEARS AGO: 1949

BIT RUFF: People living in Hunter Street, Mildura, have had to put up with a pack of 14 dogs in the past few days. Mr M W Taylor, of Hunter Street, said he was convinced that there were far too many stray dogs roaming the streets, and that a strong course of action should be taken to rid the streets of this menace. He asked: “Is it fair and right that the people of Hunter Street and other decent living people have to contend with the scenes that have been witnessed…?” Mr Taylor added that on Sunday he has seen a small child bitten by a large dog when she had tried to defend her own dog. The girl had been riding a tricycle, and the dog had “bowled her over and bitten her.” (14.10.24)

LIT: A bright aurora display was seen from Sunraysia last night. The display started early in the evening but did not last long. Later it returned, covering a large part of the southern horizon and sending long yellow streamers high in the sky.

PIONEER: Mr Charles Chambers, of Irymple, who died on Thursday, was a Mildura pioneer who had tried his hand at everything from fruit-classing to block pegging. He spent about 50 years in Mildura district and was one of Mildura Settlers’ Club’s 12 remaining life members. Friends said last night he was best known for his block pegging work when Red Cliffs settlement was being prepared in the early 1920’s. He was a good footballer and in 1910 he became coach of the Rovers in the original Mildura League. Although living in retirement during the past few years, he acted as caretaker of Irymple Football Ground. (15.10.1949)

50 YEARS AGO: 1974

GET OVER IT: The Country Roads Board is examining three sites for a new bridge over the Murray River at Mildura. Deputy Premier of NSW and State Minister for Highways, Sir Charles Cutler said yesterday. The DMR and the CRB had selected three possible sites, and these locations have been considered in detail. Mr Ken Wright, MLC for North-Western province said it essential that the councils involved had a say on the site. (17.10.74)

TINY TRAIN: Running scale models of The Vinelander, Mildura’s own train, and a wheat freight train will form part of the Victorian Railways exhibition at Mildura Show which opens today. The models, 120th the size of the actual trains, are included in a special Victorian Railways caravan which will be railed from Melbourne for its 2000th public appearance. The Railways’ exhibit will be staffed by members of its marketing division, and by a public relations officer. A free journey on The Vinelander will be given away during the show.

DIB DIB: Sunraysia Scouts and Guides will take over two amateur radio stations this weekend for the world-wide 17th annual Jamboree of the Air. For 48 hours beginning early Saturday, they will exchange greetings with some of 60,000 Scouts and Guides in 85 countries. The two amateur Sunraysia stations are operated by Mr Peter Milne, of Cureton Avenue, Billabong, and John Williams, of Morquong. This year’s jamboree of the air is expected to be the biggest ever. The aim of the jamboree is to help Scouts realise the world-wide nature of Scouting. It enables them to make new friends and exchange news as well as open up a new field of interest in electronics.

25 YEARS AGO: 1999

CUTTING: Eleven entrants will line up in the inaugural Mildura Show Ride-On Mower Challenge on Saturday evening. The race is restricted to mowers of 12.5 – 13 horse power and no modifications are permitted. The course will be constructed with chicanes bringing an element of Formula 1 racing to the event. A barrier draw will be officially conducted before the challenge and a caller will describe the race, adding excitement. Prize money of $300 will be awarded to place getters; the first six should at least cover their fuel costs! (14.10.1999)

ON CUE: Jerry Cornell, who dominated Sunraysia billiards and snooker for many years, has shown at the recent Australian Masters Games in Adelaide that he has lost none of his ability. Playing in the over 60’s section, Cornell won gold medals in both snooker and billiards, defeating players from most Australian states. Cornell originally entered the over 70’s age group but that was cancelled due to lack of competitors. Forced to drop back he showed the ’young fellas’ a thing or two going through the snooker undefeated and losing only one game to the billiards gold medal.

EFFORT: An attempt is being made to return Karween-Karawinna to the Millewa Football League. The Tigers, who won their first flag in 1997, went into recess last year due to lack of administrative support. Jim Rogers, president in 1997, said a lot of off-field support was needed to get the Tigers up and running again. Mr Rogers said he had held the position of president on and off for many years, but because he lives 60 kilometres out of Mildura, he found it difficult overseeing the club. “Ideally, we’d like to have some administrators that live in Mildura”, he said. “The club wants a president, secretary and treasurer and nine or 10 committee men.”