50 years ago January 1976
‘’Members of the dairying division of the Victorian Farmers’ Union have been sold out,’’ Dairy Division executive member Mr Bob Lochhead told the quarterly VFU district council meeting at Lockington on Friday night.
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Mr Lochhead launched a bitter attack on what he described as ‘’deliberate attempts to mislead VFU members”as to the forthcoming special general conference of the organisation to be held in Melbourne on February 27.
The district council’s representative on the VFU General Council Gordon Weller, who strongly supported Mr Lochhead, said he could not vote for the proposed new united organisation for dairy farmers, the United Dairyfarmers Organisation, which planned to affiliate with the VFU.
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Then annual Bendigo Country Week will commence on Monday next, January 19 with 18 matches on each of the four days, and the finals of the three sections to be played on Friday, January 23.
Matches will be played each day at Elmore, Goornong and on the two grounds at Rochester, the main oval and the Windridge Oval.
The Rochester Association will field two teams, the ‘’A’’ in ‘’A’’ group, and ‘’B’’ in ‘’B’’ group.
The ‘’A’’ team will have Seymour, Wangaratta, Northern United, Gisborne and Deniliquin in their section, and should again reach the final.
The ‘’B’’ team’s opponents will be Leongatha, Barham, Koondrook, Yea, Dunmunkle, and Echuca, and prospects are not the brightest for the Rochester team.
Rochester's ‘’A’’ team are somewhat fortunate in that the usually strong teams of Geelong, Warrnambool, Shepparton, Donald, Cohuna, and Kyabram, clash in section 2 of ‘’A’’ group with only one team advancing to the final.
25 years ago January 2001
Eleven-year-old Rochester twins Rebecca and Meggan Thompson are getting excited and nervous about International Dairy Week at Tatura.
It will be the first time the girls have stepped into the $2.6 million complex and only their second showring venture into showing cattle.
The twins will lead Sunset Raimon Rose and Sunset Showtime Bridget in the Youth Show, while dad Scott will show Murraybrook Lee Lisa at the Holstein show.
Helping to prepare the cattle and looking on as the cows parade in the showring will be the twin’s little sister Michaela and their mum Sue.
The family, formerly of Merrigum, began their Sunset Holsteins stud only two years ago.
Some exhibitors have never missed an International Dairy Week, which this year celebrates its 10th anniversary, while others will step into the show area for the first time.
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Merilyn Rehe has played Rae Ault in final of the singles the championship at Rochester.
After a few even ends, Merilyn opened up a 14-4 lead.
Both bowlers settled down and played some great pressure bowls, but Merilyn held the upper hand and looked home with the score on 22-10.
Rae then took control to win some ends in a row to bring the deficit back to four before Merilyn picked up a three to clinch the win.
The game was highlighted by some very good draw bowls and congratulations to both Merilyn and Rae.
10 years ago January 2016
Little Billie Ann Watson was in a hurry to be one of the first babies of 2016 born in Victoria, and the first at Echuca hospital, arriving at 12.08am on New Year’s Day.
Her arrival two weeks early meant dad Brendan Watson had to rush home from Albury with only 30 minutes to spare.
Mum, Kirstie Gebbie, had confidently sent him to Albury, believing she had a few more days until her planned caesarean.
‘‘I thought I was having Braxton Hicks during the day, but apparently not,’’ she said.
‘‘The main thing is Brendan made it back. Security was waiting outside for him to rush him in.’’
A New Year’s Day baby did not faze the Rochester resident.
‘‘I would have preferred it over New Year’s Eve,’’ Kirstie laughed.
‘‘And I was happy it wasn’t Christmas Day.’’
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Brian Jones and Peter Stahl played in the final of the Rochester Bowling Club’s championship last Friday.
A crowd of 70 plus turned up to watch the game and were not disappointed.
The green was a perfect pace which allowed both players to play good bowls.
As the game came to an end, Jones picked up two singles to keep the pressure on, and was down 19-21 before Stahl got a couple of rare multiple scores to finish off and win the championship 26-20.
Stahl and women’s champion Marg Knight will now represent Rochester Bowls Club in the champion of champions event at Moama.
Knight won her sixth Rochester Bowling Club championship when she defeated Helen Holzer.
Knight got off to a good start and had a handy lead against Holzer, who seemed to be struggling with nerves.
After being down 2-15 early in the encounter, Holzer settled down in the middle part of the game and was trailing 11-19, before Knight finished strongly to win 25-12.