50 years ago June 1976
The Rochester Shire President, Cr C. W. Wood, on behalf of the council, and at the request of individual primary producers and their organisations and the Rochester Stock Agents Association, has convened a public meeting with a view to ensuring the continuance of the Rochester Cattle Sales, in particular fat cattle for Melbourne abattoirs, because of the present proposal to rationalise selling centres in Victoria, which, if implemented, would cancel out a large number of cattle selling centres in the state.
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The importance of this to Rochester and surrounding districts cannot be over-emphasised.
It directly affects primary producers, business people, local stock agents and residents generally.
Cr Wood hopes for a large attendance, which will, in itself, materially strengthen any representations made to the appropriate authorities for the retention and continuance of cattle sales at Rochester at their present standard and strength.
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Mr M. G. Bunker has been appointed manager of the Rochester branch of the Bank of New South Wales as successor to Mr J. G. King, who has been transferred to the Sale management.
Mr Bunker knows the Rochester and Murray Valley area well as he has previously worked in the Albury, Swan Hill and Echuca branches and was manager at Elmore from 1970-73.
He has been manager of Edenhope branch for the past three years.
Both he and his wife are keen golf and bowls players and during their term at Edenhope they have both been committee members of the golf and bowling clubs.
25 years ago June 2001
A study aimed at identifying high value agricultural land outside the existing irrigation district has confirmed what many along the Mount Camel Range already knew.
From Corop to Heathcote, landowners have seen the potential for high-value alternatives like viticulture and in less than a decade have transformed the hillsides from traditional dryland farming ventures of sheep, beef and cropping to row upon row of wine grapes.
While the rich soils lend themselves to high-value agriculture, sourcing water presents a challenge to further development of the area.
A proposal to build an 18km water pipeline from Colbinabbin to Corella will enable an additional 11 high-value agricultural enterprises, including wine grapes and olives, to be established along the eastern side of the range.
Cornella-Colbinabbin Pipeline Inc was formed recently by the 11 stakeholders involved after monitoring surveys and preliminary designs and costings pointed to the viability of providing a water source to the area.
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The independent panel appointed to consider the rezonıng of Pascoe St land has recommended it be re-zoned as low-density residential.
However, its findings have also suggested changes to state planning policies to better define land usage by private utility providers.
The land, which was inadvertently zoned Public Conservation and Resource in 1998, is owned by Powercor and intended to be used for a power sub-station.
The panel considered 21 written submissions, 19 of those from residents, before submitting its findings to Campaspe Shire last week.
The panel report proposes to place the recommendations to council for its meeting on June 12 for the adoption of the amendment and refer it to the Minister for Planning for gazettal.
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Cyclist John Macague pedalled to victory in the 44km Lady Mavys Grand Prix in Rochester on Sunday.
The win followed Macague's fifth placing the day before in the tough 68km contest of the Sir Hubert Opperman Grand Prix,
Macague, who grew up in Rochester and now lives in Bendigo, has also cycled for Rochester's Murray to Moyne team. It’s his first year in veterans events, having just turned 35.
Perfect weather conditions heralded one of the best handicap races seen in recent years, organiser Bill Long said, in reference to Saturday’s event, which was won by southern Victorian cyclist Eddie Pickett.
Pickett, who started on a six-minute handicap, made the break from a 51-strong peleton just out of Corop and about 16km from the finish line.
10 years ago June 2016
John O’Connor was a man with many talents.
He was a keen sportsman and a community man, always lending a hand and pitching in, part of the Apex Club, St Joseph’s parents and friends, social club farm committee and Murray Goulburn joint consultative committee.
And he loved his job as Murray Goulburn farm manager.
‘‘He just loved the river and the animals,’’ wife Judy O’Connor said.
‘‘He did a lot of conservation work.’’
Fourteen years after his passing, that work has flourished more than Joc (as he was affectionately known) could have ever imagined.
The Murray Goulburn farm at the end of Edward St has become a safe haven for endangered squirrel gliders — a species not known to exist in the region until late 2009.
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Rochester’s Joe Atley has been selected to play for Vic Country in this year’s under 18 national carnival on the back of strong form in the TAC Cup for the Bendigo Pioneers.
Atley made his senior debut for Rochester last year and played four games, including Rochester’s finals campaign.
This year he was named the Bendigo Pioneers’ captain and his selection for Vic Country comes under the radar of AFL talent scouts.
Bendigo Pioneers coach Brett Henderson said he thought Atley was tracking well.
‘‘We’ve been really pleased with his progress this year so we expect him to make a good account of himself for Vic Country,’’ he said.
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Campaspe Shire will fund SES units in the 2016-17 budget.
Metropolitan and regional media reported Campaspe as one of eight councils to have confirmed they would no longer continue their practice of matching state government grants to state emergency services.
But council chief executive Jason Russell has denied the claims.
Council has allocated $29,459 to the service in the 2016-17 budget.
After that, council will review the funding.
‘‘Council is aware how important SES is,’’ Mr Russell said.
‘‘But we also recognise state authorities should be funding them and that’s what we intend to advocate on their behalf.
‘‘Council doesn’t fund CFA, ambulance or police.’’