You’re never too old ... to go fishing, that is.
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Kyabram anglers Jim Schishka and Peter Dawson banked on the experience of 95-year-old Les Croxford to show them how to catch fish in Waranga Basin last week.
The fishing was quiet early but when Les suggested they try a spot called Les’s Marker things changed dramatically and the result was a nice haul of redfin.
Les is the oldest member of the Kyabram Angling Club and had not fished for about 10 years.
But he said the offer to join Jim and Peter in Peter’s comfortable boat was too good to refuse.
And he is glad he did it because he helped add to the haul of redfin the trio caught, mainly on shrimp.
Les’s day out in the Waranga Basin continued a positive streak of luck he has been enjoying of late.
Recently a 10 cent poker machine he was playing yielded a handsome return of $20,285.
And last Sunday he won the Kyabram Trotting Club raffle.
Time to purchase a Tattslotto ticket, Les!
Brian’s ride down memory lane
Kyabram’s Brian Clements has just returned from his native New Zealand to relive an experience from a lifetime ago.
In 1955 Brian, a daredevil jockey and speedway rider, rode Pinnicle Ridge to victory in the Hawkes Bay Gold Cup at just 15 years of age. He is still the youngest jockey to win the race.
For the past six years the Hawkes Bay Racing Club has invited Brian as a special guest to return to the scene of that triumph to present the cup, which this year was the 151th running of the event and 71 years since he won it.
A galloper called Crouch, trained by Mike Breslin and ridden by Chris Dell, won this year’s cup.
Brian is the father of former top Australian and eight-time Melbourne Cup jockey Brendan Clements, also a Kyabram local these days.
Something to crow about
Being a farmer, our Moulamein mate China Gibson naturally keeps a close eye on the weather.
And another dry spell at the moment has him deeply concerned.
China often looks for bizarre pointers to coming rain, like the latest good luck charm: goat moths taking to the skies.
China reckons normally from his experience it meant he had dead sheep he didn’t know about.
Oldtimers will tell you Kookaburras getting together for a good laugh, the angle of the new moon and lizards sitting on fence posts are other indications of coming rain.
Now there is an addition to this list China wasn’t aware of but is hoping is accurate.
It’s spotting a collection of crows (called a murder), which means rain within two weeks.
But with things again getting serious because of the lack of rain to sow winter crops, China is hoping the old crows tale is spot on and about to deliver.
We have a boat ready for you China if it’s overdone!
And it has been a prolonged break from any serious rain.
On March 2, Kyabram had 64.2mm but since then only 40.6mm has fallen.
The Western Front makes some noise
Omen punters should have cleaned up at Saturday’s races at Flemington.
The galloper that won the first race was called The Western Front, trained by the Hayes brothers from Euroa.
Now that win couldn’t have been more appropriate on Anzac Day, could it?
Warning about charging devices
A e-scooter being charged is believed to be the cause of a recent house fire in Nagambie.
Firefighters took 45 minutes to get the blaze under control and no-one was injured, but the premises suffered severe damage.
The CFA has warned to keep devices and batteries well away from structures when charging.
More information can be obtained at cfa.vic.gov.au/batterysafety
Farrer health pledge
The federal Coalition is dangling a $200 million health commitment carrot to Farrer voters but has not promised a new Deniliquin hospital.
As the by-election date looms, the coalition said it would deliver a “Health Care Built to Last’’ package to secure the future of healthcare in Farrer.
The Farrer by-election takes place on May 9.
Mystery flights
Helicopters that buzzed Kyabram last week created a guessing game, but the popular theory was they were checking out power lines in the district.
If that wasn’t the case, and you know the real reason, tell us and we’ll put all those inquisitive minds to rest.
Square dinkum
G’day.
I went to an Indian restaurant last night and ordered a pelican curry.
It was absolutely delicious … but the bill was enormous.
Hooroo!