Cannery centenary book
Fifty more copies of the 138-page Kyabram Cannery centenary book The Journey to Here are now on sale after a second print of the book was organised by the centenary celebration committee.
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The book was launched at the opening of an exhibition at Kyabram Town Hall in December last year. The 400 books from the first print run sold out in five months and the 50 books from the second print are now available at the town hall, on the website or via email for $28.
The town hall was the venue for the launch of the celebration, which was planned by a dedicated eight-member committee for more than a year.
Barry Churches, chair of the centenary committee and one of many Kyabram residents with strong links to the cannery’s celebrated history, was a key player in delivering the event.
Six of the eldest living workers from the cannery were special guests at the book launch.
To purchase a book, email kyabramcannerycentenary@gmail.com or visit www.kyaramcannerycentenary.com.au or the committee’s Facebook site.
Info centre closing
Campaspe Shire and Murray Shire’s decision to withdraw its funding for the Echuca-Moama Tourist Information Centre has not been accepted very well.
The decision means there will no physical presence after August to converse with and supply information to tourists in the Campaspe Shire, including Kyabram and its now huge drawcard the Kyabram Fauna Park.
Some $180,000 of the Campaspe Shire annual commitment of $390,000 goes to manning the visitor information centre and, given Echuca-Moama is an Australian tourist hotspot, there are a lot of people who believe the shire has messed up big time with its withdrawal of funding, which means tourists will have to do their own homework to find where and what to visit in the shire.
Echuca’s Riverine Herald editor Gregor McTaggart described the decision as one of the most baffling seen in his journalistic career.
Expensive Ky petrol
Kyabram motorists fuelling up in the town are getting the short straw compared to some regional towns.
In an examination from PetrolSpy of 11 major regional Victorian cities, Shepparton came out on top for unleaded petrol at $1.61 per litre, followed by Ballarat with $1.67.
Echuca’s average is $1.77, but it’s even more money-draining in Kyabram at $1.80 and Rochester at $1.81.
Just over the river from Echuca at Moama, the average is also $1.80.
Striking gold
Gold miners at Costerfield near Bendigo have produced 14,664 ounces for the first half of 2023.
At today’s price of $2921 per ounce, that equates to more than $42 million.
But predictions for the second half of the year have been slashed, with the Canadian-owned operation anticipating a 15 per cent drop in production.
Winter chill
Kyabram shivered through five successive days last week of minimum temperatures which failed to get above 2°C.
The brrrrrr.. weather started on Sunday, July 16, with a low of 1.1°C, followed by -0.9°C the following day, 0.2°C on the Tuesday, -1 on the Wednesday and 1.7°C on the Thursday. It was a little more tolerable on the Friday at 3.6°C.
But last Saturday it slipped back to 1.3°C. Come Sunday it was a more tolerable 5.6°C.
At the weekend, Kyabram’s rainfall for July stood at 14.2mm, which is well below the average for this month of 42mm.
Paddleboat for sale
Former Kyabram man and now Echuca businessman Lou Innacone purchased the paddleboat Cameron 10 years ago with some big plans.
But he hasn’t had the time to do what he hoped he could with the vessel built in 2008-9 and is now looking for a new owner.
The Cameron features a Perkins diesel engine which could be converted to operate as a steam engine.’
Mr Innacone said if money wasn’t an issue, a prospective buyer could have the vessel fully restored and in the water within 12 months and could care for 50 guests in comfort.
Offered for sale earlier this week, the paddlesteamer failed to reach its reserve price, so you still have a chance to buy it.
Embarrassing decision
The Nationals have labelled the regional Commonwealth Games a “con job” after the Victorian Government humiliated regional areas by scrapping the 2026 Games.
“Last week’s announcement is embarrassing for Victorians, and another massive blow for the whole of regional Victoria,” Nationals Member for Euroa Annabelle Cleeland said.
“Just three weeks ago, the premier said the Commonwealth Games would benefit regional Victoria to the tune of $3 billion, but in cancelling the event today he said it was “all cost and no benefit”.
“What are we supposed to believe?”
With the government announcing a vague “package” for the regions in an attempt to appease the ripped off regional communities, Ms Cleeland said it was hard to believe anything it said.
“The premier has offered up a vague package for the regions in what is clearly a pathetic attempt to appease the Victorians who have been ripped off by his government’s financial incompetence,” Ms Cleeland said.
“Housing is a priority for our regional areas and a patch-up commitment to build just 1300 homes will not be enough, nor can we guarantee that it will actually happen.
“How can we believe that this will be anything but another blatant lie, something we’ve seen this government do time and time again?
“With housing wait lists out of control in our communities, and this vague package set to cost $770,000 per home, more needs to be done.”
Jail for car thief
A man who broke into Rochester and Elmore District Health Service and stole a car has been jailed for 18 months.
In Bendigo Magistrates’ Court last week, Dean Noel Blackhall, 36, pleaded guilty to charges which include aggravated burglary, breaching a community corrections order and threats to kill.
Magistrate Russell Kelly said he understood Blackhall had significant mental health issues, including being diagnosed as schizophrenic.
Seymour doctor’s honour
A Seymour and Avenel doctor has been recognised for his long service to the district.
Dr Eliot Jarman was recognised in last month’s rural health awards for 35 years of dedicated service in the Seymour area.
Among his many medical feats since the mid 1980s is delivering more than 1000 babies.
Dr Jarman has spent most of his career in rural areas. Recently-retired Kyabram medicos Robert Brun and Michaell McQueen-Thomson have also been exceptions with their long service to the town and district.
Did you know?
1. Between Port Augusta in South Australia and Kalgoorlie in Western Australia, across the remote Nullarbor Plain, the Trans-Australian Railway (home to the iconic Indian Pacific route) has a 478km (297 mi) stretch of dead straight train tracks — the longest in the world.
2. Aboriginal culture is the oldest on Earth. It is estimated that the continent’s original inhabitants have been in Australia for between 40,000 and 60,000 years.
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