Around The Traps

The rebaiting cost is $6 a trap and new traps will be available at a cost of $16.

TANKS VERY MUCH

Those collectors and dealers who have a Furphy Tank end they may be thinking of selling will like this news.

At recent celebrations and an auction in Shepparton to mark Furphy’s 150th birthday, Corowa couple Malcolm and Danielle O’Toole parted with $50,000 to secure a tank end.

The tank end was one of 15 manufactured by the Furphy Foundry for the businesses milestone.

‘‘We were not surprised to see the interest in the auction, but we were thrilled to see the price achieved,’’ foundry managing director Sam Furphy said.

Money raised from the auction will go to the Lift Off Scholarship program in Shepparton that provides scholarships to young people struggling to move into post-secondary education.

The well-attended milestone celebrations also featured 50 collectors parading the iconic Furphy tanks and other memorabilia.

FISH ON THE HIGHWAY

You didn’t even have to have a fishing rod to catch a fish in that recent Deniliquin downpour which dumped up to 150mm (6 inches) on some parts of the town and surrounds.

This was a scene when the floodwaters receded on the Deni-Barham Rd.

A lone European carp didn’t make it back to the safety of a permanent waterhole, which, given their reputation, didn’t concern many people, particularly anglers.

STRATHBOGIE SUSPENSION

Another council bites the dust.

Strathbogie Shire Council has been suspended for the remainder of its term.

An interim administrator has been appointed in response to Municipal Monitor Pete Stephenson’s final report.

The suspension applies to all members of Strathbogie Shire Council and took effect from December 6.

Local Government Minister Melissa Horne said the decision to suspend the council was made after considering the response received from the council and individual councillors.

The response had shown the council had failed to fully appreciate and address the problems which had resulted in the community receiving sub standard service from its elected representative.

Moira Shire Council endured a similar situation last year with the sacking of its council.

COURT HEARING

An 83-year-old Violet Town woman is facing a contested hearing in Shepparton Magistrates’ Court on charges of poisoning birds of prey and animals on her property up to 2019.

Carcasses of 271 dead birds, mainly wedge-tailed eagles, and animals were found after an investigation by the Department of Environment, Land Water and Planning.

Dorothy Sloan is accused of baiting the birds using dead birds she had injected with a pesticide used on crops.

SANTA SKIS THE MURRAY

Echuca and the Murray River get plenty of airing in a new children’s book.

The book titled Santa Skis The Murray has been written by Ballarat-based author Dave O’Neill.

O’Neill is part of a big waterskiing family and wants to share his love of the river with the younger fraternity.

Santa Skis The Murray is illustrated by Isabella Gagliano and is available from Collins Booksellers, Echuca Shop 2/519 High St.

HEARTFELT DONATION

Four Seymour women were surprised when having lunch in Seymour’s Railway Club Hotel when a teary-eyed man threw $200 on their table to pay for their meals because ‘‘they reminded him of his mother’’.

He told them going out to lunch was something his mother loved to do.

The women tried to refuse his donation and are now making a search to try and find the man, who may be a tradie, to thank him for his kind gesture.

BERRIGAN’S AGED CARE CENTRE REMAINING OPEN

After five months in receivership, Berrigan’s Amaroo Aged Care facility has officially been saved from closure.

Negotiations have resulted in Uniting NSW taking on the service which includes the aged care facility, the independent living units and home care services.

STEADY START TO OPENING

Mixed reports from last week’s Murray Cod opening with the biggest surprise for some anglers the quietness of European Carp which have been about the only fish caught in waterways over the last couple of months.

One of the most successful opening stories came from Moulamein where a group of five anglers hauled in 52 Murray Cod, 24 of which were keepers.

But the group returned all their catch back to the Edward River where they were caught upstream from Moulamein.

And, while on fishing, anglers are reminded registrations are now open for the 2024 Tocumwal Fishing Classic.

It is to be held on Saturday, January 27 between 5am and 6pm and will be followed by presentations.

Entry forms are on the Tocumwal Community Development Committee Facebook page or contact the group on 0418 382 295 or via email at tcdc2714@gmail.com

SQUARE DINKUM

G’day

Young Tommy arrived late for school and the teacher asked him why he was late. Tommy answered: ‘’It’s our alarm clock sir, it wakes everyone up except me.’’

The teacher was intrigued: “How could the alarm clock make you the only one not to get up?’’

‘‘Well,’’ said Tommy, ‘‘there are seven of us in the house and the alarm was set for six!’’

Hooroo!!!

DID YOU KNOW………

1. An annoyed camel will spit at a person.

2. The world’s smallest dog is the Chihuahua, which means “tiny dog in the sky.”

3. Pea crabs (the size of a pea) are the smallest crabs in the world.

4. That 75 per cent of wild birds die before they are 6 months old.