Reflections from the past

When completed, the ‘’experiment’’, an arts-activity centre, will have an estimated all-up cost of nearly half a million dollars.

Basically, the plans as roughed out by the architects, Gunn Hayball Pty. Ltd., of Melbourne, call for complete rebuilding inside the building.

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The talents of Robert Owen are something of a rarity in the Echuca Cricket Association.

He is a leg spin bowler — one of the few in the association and one of the fewer successful ones.

Robert amply proved this in the final round of the current competition when he took eight of Echuca South No. 2’s wickets over two innings for the loss of only 25 runs.

Although he is responsible for much of the publicity that the association ‘scores’ throughout the year, Robert is personally publicity-shy.

He refused to reveal his age, and when asked how long he had been playing cricket, Robert replied, “always”.

Robert started out with Nondescripts, a team that withdrew from the association about eight years ago, then joined Echuca East.

25 years ago, March 2001

Rice growers gearing up for a record harvest in the Riverina can expect some delays at receival points when harvesting begins in about a fortnight.

Bunnaloo rice grower Russell Vagg said the potential existed for excellent yields because of the long, warm summer.

But he said the storage capacity for this year’s crop was another question.

Mr Vagg said the Caldwell storage facility had capacity for 36,000 tonnes of paddy rice, but as much as 66,000 tonnes were destined for the Caldwell storage this year.

‘’No doubt there’s plans in place to handle the huge crop,’’ he said.

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Police yesterday scoured an area of the Millewa State Forest five kilometres from where the bodies of three murder victims were found early last year.

A statement on the investigation into the murders of Steven Brooks, Barbara Brooks and Stacey Willoughby is expected to be released on Friday, 12 months to the day since two of the three bodies were found by a bushwalker.

Eight police search squad members yesterday scoured the roadside 200 to 300 metres north of Winter Creek Bridge on the Tocumwal Rd,

A further two officers with sniffer dogs were also involved in the bushland search.

10 years ago, March 2016

Holiday parks from Echuca to Torrumbarry have been advised to cut off any Murray River water that could come into contact with people.

That includes showers, basins and even washing machines, possibly leaving some without a water supply for the long weekend.

Representatives from the Murray Regional Algal Co-ordinating Committee released the warning on Thursday to holiday operators, following a blue-green algae alert extended late last month.

They also encouraged park owners/managers not to discuss the problems with media and instead focus on the activities tourists can still take part in across the long weekend and Easter.

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Echuca is the first in country Victoria to use DNA technology to catch and deter armed robbers and thieves.

The innovative security system was installed at Echuca Workers and Services Club on Friday.

And police believe the Predator Marking system, which sees a DNA ultraviolet spray forensically linking thieves to the scene of the crime, could revolutionise robbery and burglary investigations.

Sergeant Mick Carroll of Echuca police said he supported the use of the spray as an added crime-fighting tool, helping to close the gap between CCTV footage and a conviction.