100 years ago
TRAIN – Passengers on the early afternoon train from Mildura to Red Cliffs on Saturday state that a motorist had a very narrow escape from death or serious injury at the Eighth Street crossing. The driver of the train, before the approach to the crossing, sounded the horn but a motor-driver who was approaching the crossing at the same time paid no attention to the train and continued on his way to the crossing. The passengers on the train expected a collision would occur but the car cleared the rails seemingly with no more than four inches to spare. The passenger that reported it to Sunraysia Daily said the driver was completely at fault in ignoring the train’s warning and the sympathy of the passengers was with the train driver in his nerve-racking experience.
MERBEIN – A meeting of the special committee, appointed by the Returned Sailor’s & Soldier’s Imperial League of Australia (RSL), to conduct and co-ordinate evidence to be placed before the Royal Commission of Soldier Settlement was held at Crosbie’s Buildings, the President, Major D Radcliffe occupying the chair. Reports were received from the sub-committee’s appointed to deal with soldier settlements at Birdwoodton and Merbein West. Consideration was also given to the cases of men settled on seepage areas; soldiers who have purchased land under 20 acres and self-repatriated men. The Birdwoodton Post Office on Mena Road, which has been closed for 12 months, will re-open – Mr G L Steege is in charge which will be an Allowance Office under the supervision of the Merbein Post Office.
TRUANCY – Another batch of Truancy cases was dealt with by the Mildura Court. Twenty-two parents were fined amounts ranging from 7/6 to 2 shillings on one or more charges of neglecting to send their children to school a number of times during a certain week.
75 years ago
PLANES – Four fighter planes roaring overhead, bought back memories to the people of Mildura. The planes were Mustang fighters being ferried to Perth from Richmond airstrip in NSW to join the No.25 City of Perth Fighter Squadron. Three of the pilots were members of the Citizen Air Force. The planes circled the city and landed at the aerodrome in pairs. One of them left the runway and was covered in mud as it ran across the grass. The Mustangs were refuelled here with 100 octane spirit – one was fitted with clips to take eight 60lb high explosive rockets, while the others were equipped to take two bombs.
DOG – Bluey, a big dog who lives on a fruit block at Dareton, became a hero yesterday when he left home and returned later with a blind Pekinese who had been missing for two days. Bluey took Midgie on a run then forgot her and returned on his own. Two days later and missing his mate, Bluey went and found her and bought her back home. When the picking season is over Midgie’s off to Melbourne to see an eye specialist and who knows – one day Migdie might be able to do Bluey a good turn.
GUIDES – Sunraysia Guides together with Guides all over the world will observe tomorrow as “Thinking Day”. Australian Chief Commissioner Irene Fairbairn has given this message. “Don’t you think it would be a lovely idea if this ‘Thinking Day’, we in Australia, all joined together? I suggest that at 8 am Eastern Standard Time, we repeat our promises and pray quietly, no matter where we are or what we are doing, for the happiness of all Guides and Scouts in the world. Think also for these few seconds what we can do to be of most use to our movement, I do hope you will like the idea and join me.”
50 years ago
RIDER – Mildura’s champion speedway rider, Phil Crump, 22 is well on his way to the top. He has a string of championship victories to his credit and the big one to go – The World Solo Title. Last year engine failure in the British semi-finals put him out of the running. Failing injury this year he is assured of a place in the final 16 riders at Wembley, England on September 6. He has come a long way since his younger days when he taught himself how to ride a motorcycle in scrubland near his Cardross home.
BOAT – Who said concrete won’t float. Mildura man Peter Turner has proved it can as after 18 months his ferro-cement hull paddle-driven pleasure boat was launched and it floated. It took most of the morning to get the 7-tonne boat from his house in Cureton Avenue to the specially built ramp near the Mildura Wharf – about a mile. Two cranes met with trouble lifting the ‘Florence Annie’ from his front lawn onto a semi-trailer – overhead electricity lines had to be watched, and several attempts were made to reverse the semi-trailer and boat into the water before success was gained.
EVENT – The Big “O” – Roy Orbison – flew into Mildura – about 25 people turned up at the airport to greet Orbison, 38, he was the last of about six people to leave the place. One dedicated fan who has bought every album Orbison has ever made presented him with a ring – other fans had their albums signed. Orbison said the grape vines of Sunraysia were an amazing sight from the air. Last night’s show was held at the Mildura Basketball Stadium attended by 1500 people.
25 years ago
HOSPITAL – Newly appointed Mildura Base Hospital chief Dane Huxley is looking forward to meeting the unique challenges of the role head on. With more than 25 years in hospital management, the career hospital administrator – appointed by Ramsay Health care only two weeks ago – slipped into his new position saying it’s an extremely exciting role to actually be able to commission and open a new hospital – especially one as comprehensive and attractive as this is. There are a lot of challenges to moving a hospital across – setting up the new one with the sort of protocols, policies and procedures needed, staff training, checking on quality and encouraging the community and staff to be involved in its operation.
WAVES – The massive Mildura Waves Aquatic and Leisure Centre opens to the public on Monday February 21 at 6am. The swell of public interest is expected to be matched only by the artificial swell generated by the star attraction, the wave pool. The complex has cost close to $10m, will be opened by Sport and Recreation Minister Justin Madden. Mildura Rural City Council Arts, Leisure and Recreation manger, Ray Lyons said there had been some anxious moments as workmen raced against time to apply the finishing touches.
DOWNPOUR – The weather was the major talking point throughout Sunraysia – as it has been for much of the month. According to the Bureau of Meteorology at Mildura 65.2 millimetres dropped on the city – a record rainfall for a 24-hour period in February – the previous top of 56.9mm was recorded in 1950. The record downpour provided something of a unique experience for the Millewa farming community as falls of 6 over inches were common throughout the region causing roads to flood and sheets of water left lying on properties. The 4000-acre property of the Carter’s at Karawinna South – about 10 kilometres from Werrimull received 153 millimetres of rain during the day leaving lakes of water all over the property.
