Shame on them
Short-wicked customers have been giving staff in some Kyabram businesses a tough time during these already tough times.
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Late last week one staff assistant at a Kyabram supermarket was in tears after being abused by an obviously self-centred, thoughtless customer.
We are in trying times, but taking it out on staff trying to do their job is just about as low as you can get.
So the message to anyone who has been making things more challenging than they should be is simple: wake up to yourself and be a bit more considerate and patient to those just trying to do their job.
Hot days in Ky
Last week Kyabram experienced its longest sequence of hot days so far this summer.
In the week starting Sunday, January 9 the maximum temperature climbed to above 30°C every day.
The hottest day in this period was Monday, January 10, when the temperature reached 36.6°C.
Minimum temperatures have also been steady around the 17°C mark, with last Friday’s 20.1°C the highest for the summer so far.
History grants
History groups in the area should be aware that grants are available from the Public Record Office of Victoria.
But prompt action is needed because the applications close next Monday, January 24.
Worth up to $15,000 each, the grants are designed to encourage and foster community activities to help stimulate interest in the state’s history.
The grants are open to non-profit groups.
More information can be gained by visiting www.prov.vic.govau/community/grants-and-awar/local-history-grants-program
Toothpaste for bites
It’s doing the rounds but it may be worth keeping in mind, particularly at this time of the year: To help take the irritation out of a mosquito bite, you can reduce the swelling and itching by dabbing some toothpaste over the affected area.
Unwanted visitor
Mooroopna Golf Club had a recent unwanted visitor.
An armed man entered the premises on Thursday, January 6, and demanded cash from the staff. He was given an amount of money by a staff member before leaving.
Staff were shaken but were not harmed physically during the incident.
New COVID-19 facility uproar
Residents in the immediate area are not too happy about the proposed development of a seven-days-a-week COVID-19 testing facility at the former Echuca South Primary School site.
Residents have already presented a petition to Echuca Regional Hospital expressing concerns over the proposal to move the site from Rotary Park to the former school site, with traffic flow a major concern.
Bricklayer’s lucky escape
Echuca bricklayer Matt Pitt is amazed that he is still alive.
It’s not hard to agree with him when you know a tree branch as large as an electricity pole fell on him while he was enjoying a new year break in a holiday park at Deniliquin.
He was catching up with friends around a table under shelter when the branch suddenly fell.
It hit him as he was standing up and with such force that it snapped the rolled steel joists of the shelter in half, bringing down the roof and the tree on him and some other people.
He wasn’t the only person under the shelter at the time. A woman was thrown by the branch and suffered bad bruising, but everyone else, including some children, miraculously escaped serious injury.
Mr Pitt was taken to Deniliquin Hospital before being transferred to the Royal Melbourne Hospital, suffering four fractured ribs, spine and leg fractures, a punctured lung and severe bruising.
He is making slow but steady progress in what will be a long recovery process but is thankful he is still alive to recount his ordeal — which was a timely reminder of the danders of being near large trees in windy conditions.
Ross River virus in Campaspe
Ross River virus has been detected in the Shire of Campaspe and surrounding shires.
Conditions have been favourable for mosquito breeding, and mosquitoes can carry a variety of diseases including the Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses.
There is no vaccine currently available for the Ross River virus, which can produce pain and joint stiffness, fever, headaches, rashes and fatigue.
Anyone with these symptoms should seek medical advice.
Conargo pub re-opening
Resurrection of the iconic Conargo Pub is continuing with a reopening date of June this year mooted.
The renovation of the pub — which was destroyed by fire in 2014 — has reached the lock-up stage, with the pub’s original façade being retained.
The original building, originally known as the Conargo Billabong Hotel, dates back to 1867.
Its first licensee, David Rogers, was the son-in-law of William McKenzie, who had opened the small town’s first pub, the Conargo Inn, in 1858.
The two pubs were only 100 metres apart and in 1917 the licensing board declared the town was too small to sustain two hotels.
Mr Rogers, who owned both buildings, elected to keep the Billabong Hotel as it was in better condition than the Conargo Inn.
Cemetery concerns
Concerns the Seymour Cemetery could be filled within the next two years have resulted in a proposed toilet block at the cemetery being put on hold.
With funding available only twice a year from the Department of Health, there are now fears about when funding for the toilet block will be forthcoming.
Seymour Cemetery Trust is unable to fund projects of its own and the only revenue it receives is from people purchasing burial plots.
Changing of guard
There has been a changing of the guard up at the Deniliquin-based Edward River Council.
Nine new councillors and a new mayor were sworn at last week’s council meeting, the first since the December local government elections in NSW.
Only two incumbents were re-elected but many long-standing councillors did not contest the election.
Cr Petta Betts has taken the mayoral reins from former Mayor Norm Brennan, who died suddenly earlier this month after 20 years in local government.
Square dinkum
G’day!
A young man, home from his university studies, was hired by the local supermarket for the holiday season.
When he reported for his first day of work, the manager greeted him with a smile, gave him a broom, and said, ‘‘Your first job will be to sweep out the storeroom.’’
The young man frowned indignantly and said, ‘’But I’m a college graduate.’’
‘’Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise,’’ replied the manager whilst grabbing the broom. “Here, let me show you how it works.’’
Hooroo!!!
Kyabram Free Press and Campaspe Valley News editor