Kevin Fitzpatrick, who had been relieving postmaster since Mulqueen’s departure was heading to Numurkah Post Office after serving at Rochester for almost six years.
— Born-and-bred police constable Gail Spence was United Kingdom-bound after her application to join the South Wales Constabulary had been accepted.
She was relocating to be closer to her mother, Florence.
— Rochester was starting a fight to keep its racecourse, the Advance Rochester Association and Rochester Shire Council joining forces to fight a decision by the Racecourse Licensing Board to de-licence the facility at the end of the racing season.
Shire president Alex Fraser had called a public meeting to discuss the situation, suggesting it would be a financial “kick in the guts” for the town if it was to lose the spending power of the racing fraternity.
The meeting unanimously agreed to send a reputation to Victorian Premier Robert Hamer in an effort to regain a licence for he club.
Rochester Jockey Club’s Chas Wood was planing to lead the deputation, with a plan B and C in place, including handing the racecourse over to the shire as a recreation reserve if it became unlicensed and a plan to race in some other form.
— Echuca beat Rochester by two points after a Goulburn Valley League life membership was bestowed on Echuca star Bob Vagg before the match. The former Bendigo league Michelson Medallist was also a Bendigo league life member.
Rochester was third from the bottom of the 11-team competition and Echuca was sixth, but two games outside the top five — eight weeks into the season.
Familiar names like the Watson brothers, Williams and Rob Aitken, who kicked five goals to almost steal the match from Echuca, were in the Tigers’ best players.
— Two Rochester councillors were honoured for their service at a special meeting of the council.
Rob Rankin and Jim Hare were the pair acknowledged, Cr Rankin having 24 years of service behind him (including in 1954 when he received the queen), while Cr Hare had given 22 years of service (including three terms of shire presidency).
1985
Squash champion: In 1985 Sean Lucas was one of the best squash players in the Goulburn Valley.
Seven candidates had been nominated for the six Rochester positions on the new Rochester Water Board, while none had been received for the Lockington position.
The new board was to replace an interim board appointed by the governor-in-council, with four of those nominating for the new board — Mr R.W DIck, Mr R.J Major, Cr L Nelson and Mr C.H Parsons.
— Rochester’s Sean Lucas was representing the Goulburn Valley in the Hopman Cup regional squash competition.
He qualified for the event by beating players from Shepparton, Kyabram and Echuca, having been playing since he was eight years old.
Retired umpire: Former Campaspe News editor Maurie McDonald retired from goal umpiring after spending the best part of 40 years waving the white flags.
— Former Rochester identity Maurie McDonald retired from goal umpiring after 38 years and 735 games, including five in the Bendigo Football League.
Maurie was a former managing editor of the Campaspe News and also spent time with the Rochester Irrigator before moving to the Bendigo Advertiser.
Top shots: Rochester High School students Greg Hann, Leigh Traill, Robert Black, Darren Kay and Steve Traill in 1985.
— Rochester High School’s shooting team of Greg Hann, Leigh Traill, Robert Black, Darren Kay and Steve Traill shot 77 of a possible 100 to win the teams event of the North Eastern Zone at Shepparton Gun Club.
There were 16 shooters in all from the school, with Leigh Traill winning the Over-14 division with 20 of 22 targets. Steve Traill was runner-up in the Under-14 section with 14 of 21.
106-year-old: Walter Robins told the Campaspe News that the secret to his long life was porridge and honey for breakfast.
— Former Rochester identity Walter Robins was celebrating his 106th birthday, despite the fact he had failed a physical when he attempted to enlist in the army for the Boer War.
Home for Mr Robins, for many years, was Rochester and his son Cyril was still living in Lockington.
He said his secret was eating porridge and honey for breakfast since he was 12.
— Moves for the establishment of a Rochester and district child care facility took a turn for the better with the appointment of a steering committee.
Rochester Shire president Graeme Gledhill called the meeting, which was addressed by welfare committee president Lois Powlesland.
On the committee was Sue Clarke, Heather Edwards, Kay Berndt, Helen Wardle, Lyn Vick, Lucy Rodala, Janet Dean and Keith Gorrie.
1995
Rochester Secondary College and primary school was reeling from a water account from Coliban Water for the December quarter.
The school’s bill pre-October was $4244, but it went to $10,583 for the final quarter and college principal John Meyer said the figure would be discussed with Coliban Water.
— Rochester nursing home redevelopment appeal last week received a major boost of $40,000 from Ian Rollo Currie Estate Foundation.
He had died in 1972 with an estate valued at $3.5 million, with the foundation designed to assist with projects that were important to the community.
— Rochester’s Comonwealth Bank was a step closer to gaining an automatic teller machine.
The building was inspected and measured last week, but branch manager Gary Hedington was still uncertain of a date.
— Rochester Chamber of Commerce and Industry took the unprecedented step of going into recess at its annual meeting.
The failure to attract nominations for each of the executive positions left the chamber with no alternative, a report delivered at a meeting attended by 14 business representatives by outgoing president Georgina Roberts.
She said of the 150 businesses in the area only 32 had chosen to join the group.
Anglican debutantes: There were 20 debutantes and their partners involved in the Rochester Anglican Church debutante ball of 1995.
— Rochester Anglican Church held a successful ball and the attached photograph of the debutantes and their partners are, from back left, Samuel Broad, Ben Hodgens, Clancy Flynn, Matt Hyden, Kyle Nichol, Athol Hann, Jake Cotchin, David Park, Brennan Williams, Clinton Robson, Corey Trist, Joshua Brosche-Wallis and Shane Williams. Third row, from left, is Samantha Tyler, Talissa Essex, Casey Anderson, Lynsea Oliver, Jacqueiline Cooke, Megan Wolfe, Michelle Rogan, Melissa Pearce, Naimah Durbridge and Sheree Milne. Second row from left is Katherine Liddicoat, Emma Bacon, Brulie Thompson, Cimara Stringer, Brad Milne, Steven Barkla, Charlie Taylor, Rebecca Kellett, Brader Latter, Grant Weeks, Jaden Houlden and Jessee Wright.