Reflections from the past

Friends and members of the Rochester Senior Citizens’ Club helped ‘’Nurse’’ celebrate the occasion.

***

The prospect of unrest and a possible breakdown of orderly marketing in the tomato processing industry has been averted following amendment of the Tomato Processing Industry Act, passed by the Victorian Parliament last week.

Chairman of the VFU Tomato Section, Mr Sam Alderruccio, described the successful passage of the amendments as a great relief to the whole industry.

‘’There could have been complete chaos and a breakdown of arrangements that the industry has built up over the years,’’ he said.

‘’But now, the industry should be able to look forward to another successful season.’’

Amendments provide for the recognition of the process of negotiation between growers and processors and allow for recourse to arbitration in the event of a breakdown in negotiations.

25 years ago May 2000

The excitement of competing in the inaugural Interschool Equestrian State Championships at Werribee Park recently caused eight-year-old Simone Pearce to remark to her mother, Robyn, that it was ‘’just like a kids’ Olympics’’.

Along with 360 competitors from 110 schools across the state, Simone, representing Lockington school, selected four events from the six on offer, which aimed to show her versatility on her Welsh riding pony Cheraton Star Gazer, or ‘Gaze’ for short, who is also eight years old.

The pair went on to win the individual award in the juniors’ group of grade four and under, accumulating enough points to be awarded the aggregate award, which makes Simone and Gaze the division five state champions.

***

Teaghan Bubb arrived home from the Pacific School Games carrying a silver medal from her performance, a personal best, in the 200m final.

She also ran a personal best in the qualifying heat, finishing with the third-fastest qualifying time.

Teaghan, 10, and her brother Tim, 12, competed in the games, with Tim equalling his personal best of 1.5m in the high jump event where he placed sixth.

10 years ago May 2015

Recreational water for Lake Cooper was raised in parliament last week by Member for Euroa and Nationals deputy leader Steph Ryan.

Ms Ryan invited Environment, Water and Climate Change Minister Lisa Neville to visit Lake Cooper and Gaynor’s Swamp to tour the resources and meet with Corop residents.

‘‘In recent weeks the lake has dried and dust is blowing across Corop,’’ Ms Ryan said.

‘‘Given Labor has recently provided a 5000-megalitre entitlement for Lake Toolondo in western Victoria on the basis of its recreational value, I think this request from the Corop community deserves the government’s thorough consideration.

‘‘The community feels strongly about the lake, which is home to the Victorian Water Ski Club and is frequently used for fishing, sailing and swimming when it has water. It has great recreational value.’’

Corop’s Camp Curumbene owner Ian Clark said the dust storms generated from the dry lakebed were an “absolute nightmare’’ to deal with.

***

Cardwell St in Elmore has been revitalised as businesses are setting up shop again on the town’s former main drag.

Until the railway was built alongside the Northern Hwy in the 1890s, Cardwell St was the thriving epicentre of the Elmore community.

However, when the trains arrived, most business relocated around the corner to capitalise on the passenger trade.

Antiques and Old Wares owner Jill Firman was one of the first to reopen on the street in 2002.

‘‘I was by myself here for a long while, but recently people have been opening stores again,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s fantastic and the street is no longer a shadow of its former self.’’