50 years ago, June 1976
A section of Rochester Shire only few miles from Echuca has been declared a drought area.
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All the north-west riding of the shire outside the irrigation area was officially declared a drought area last Thursday.
The declared area supports mainly cattle, cereals and some sheep.
Information on the declaration of the drought area came on Friday from the senior district officer of the Agriculture Department stationed at Echuca, Mr Roger O'Farrell.
Moves to have the region declared a drought area came following five months of near record low rainfall levels.
Total rainfall for the five months, measured at Gunbower, which is considered the recording centre for the area, is 37.7mm.
Mr O'Farrell said the average for the area taken over a 51-year period is 131mm.
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A meeting of 28 young people last Thursday night agreed to form an Echuca branch of the Young Farmers’ movement.
The meeting, attended by 28 people, elected GIenda Wallace, 22, as the branch's first president. Secretary will be Peter Scurrah, 19.
Other office bearers elected were: vice president, Deidre Miller, 17; treasurer, Roslyn Russell, 16, and public relations officer, Phillip O'Brien.
Area chairman Mr John Hewlett, of Lockington, welcomed Echuca's mayor, Cr Don Oberin, who chaired the meeting.
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A win by locally owned High Armagh in the Moama Handicap and new track record in the Shorts Handicap highlighted Moama Jockey Club's winter meeting on Saturday.
High Armagh, owned by Mr Harold Ogden and trained at Echuca by Mr Kevin Esmonde, won Saturday's feature event in a photo finish by only half a head.
Under the control of jockey G. Gardner, High Armagh was nearly last out of the stalls and cruised through the early part of the 1600 metre event to enter the home straight nearly last.
With a withering run to the post High Armagh wore down the opposition and pipped Dusty Gold on the line.
Third in the event was favoured local horse Chiefly, trained by Echuca trainer Joe Harrington.
25 years ago, June 2001
The Rodney electorate could soon be known by a different name if sitting member Noel Maughan has his way.
Mr Maughan has put a proposal to the Electoral Boundaries Commission to re-name the electorate Campaspe.
His suggestion comes just days after the announcement of proposed Victorian electoral boundary changes that would see the existing electorate of Rodney expanded south to include Heathcote.
Mr Maughan said while he was aware that Rodney was one of only electorates to have survived electoral re-distribution since the establishment of responsible government in 1856, he believed it was time for a change.
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Echuca's Erin Hokin has returned from the Victorian Rhythmic Gymnastic Championships with a gold and three silver medals.
Sixteen-year-old Erin also placed second overall section in the level 10 section, which is the highest level in the national competition stream.
Her gold medal was in the hoop events, while the silvers were in rope, ball and clubs.
Competing for the first time in level 10, Erin was pleased with how she went.
‘’It's really good,’’ she said. ‘’I was stunned.’’
What made her gold medal win even more special was the fact that the girl she defeated for the medal practises for about 25 hours a week, while Erin can only afford to practise for two and a half hours each week.
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Low water levels in the Murray River could see many of the boats expected at August's Centenary of Federation Source to the Sea Celebrations stranded outside Echuca-Moama.
Organisers hold grave concerns many of the boats expected for the historic voyage will not be able to make it through some of the narrow and shallow sections of the 2589 kilometre-long river.
With the river level currently at 86.10 metres around Echuca-Moama, rain is desperately needed to ensure the larger vessels can reach the port.
However, Campaspe Shire Council tourism and community development manager Frank Ryan said the whole celebration would still go ahead despite the problems.
10 years ago, June 2016
One in four people in Echuca has a disability.
But in Victoria, it is one in five.
People with a disability are more likely to experience discrimination, live in poverty, have poorer health, lower levels of education and be unemployed.
For females with a disability, one in four are victims of family violence, which Community Living and Respite Services chief executive Suzanna Barry said was disturbing and needed to be addressed.
‘‘People with disability generally experience higher levels of vulnerability, and the Victorian Government’s State Disability Plan highlights that,’’ she said.
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Echuca dairy farmer Steven Hawken said farmers were not looking for a band-aid fix.
He said there needed to be some actual thought go into a solution that would benefit the industry for the long term.
‘‘I have a bit of a complicated opinion but I don’t really want to see handouts, quite often they just have a big number out the front to make us feel good and that is about it,’’ Mr Hawken said.
‘‘There is no longevity in the government’s plan and we don’t want a band-aid fix. For some people who are desperate this may help but the government needs to stop treating us like idiots and come up with a more sustainable plan.
‘‘We need a far-sighted solution with slow and steady change that makes processors, marketers and resellers accountable.’’
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The activity of Echuca hospital’s emergency department on a Saturday afternoon is where too much sport is played out.
Torn hamstrings, dislocations, broken bones and blown knees. But while medical staff have to be on top of their game to manage the injured through emergency and on to the necessary department for treatment, one unseen injury remained a constant concern.
Concussion.
And while it can happen in any sport, football seems to be the number one culprit.
Craig Frew heads Echuca's emergency department and said clubs in the region had changed their policies on concussion, requiring players to gain a medical clearance before returning to the field.