Reflections from the past

The depositor is issued with a Savings Account passbook and interest is paid on the daily balance at 10 per cent per annum.

Just what is a building society?

It is an institution which borrows from thrifty members of the community to lend to those who wish to buy or build their own homes.

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In an impressive ceremony, District Governor Ray Powles inducted the incoming president, Mr John Hewlett at the recent Lockington Lions Club change over dinner.

The first vice-president is Lion Bill Pittaway; secretary: Lion Dennis Lee and treasurer: Lion Pat Pearson.

Retiring president, Lion R. Dedman in thanking all who had worked for the success of the club in its first year, recalled a few of the club highlights.

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Sponsored by the Rushworth-Colbinabbin Apex Club, Miss Yvonne Hill of Colbinabbin, has entered this year’s Miss Australia Quest.

The daughter of Mr and Mrs Clem Hill, Yvonne works for McNiece Bros. in Bendigo, whose social club is assisting Yvonne with her fund raising.

District residents have offered help and already a successful morning coffee party has been held at the home of Mrs Cynthia Branson, and a singathon has taken place at the home of Yvonne’s parents.

25 years August 1999

Rochester’s Otto Galliker will follow in the tyre tracks of Sir Hubert Opperman when he travels to France to compete in the Paris-Brest-Paris cycling race later this month.

The Paris-Brest-Paris is a 1200km ride from Paris to the town of Brest and then back to Paris, and it puts rider against the clock.

Riders can choose to try to finish the distance in 80, 84 or 90 hours.

Otto, 49, is aiming to complete the ride in 90 hours.

‘’It was actually one of the first road races in the world,’’ he said.

‘’Oppy won it in 1931.’’

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Vicgrain silos in the region have escaped closure in a review of the company’s silo sites.

Attendees at a Vicgrain meeting in Moama were told that 71 of the under utilised silos would no longer form part of Vicgrain’s core grain storage system.

Silos in the Echuca/Southern Riverina area to be closed are Diggora West, Hunter, Katunga, Nagambie, Nathalia, Pine Lodge, Rushworth, Tallygaroopna, Waaia, Wakool and Wunghnu.

Three of these have not operated for a number of years.

Vicgrain chief executive Graeme Watsford said the problem with keeping so many silos open was keeping them up to date.

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Jaime-Lee Hill has Olympic aspirations and her selection in the Victorian Junior Eventing team to compete at the National Pony Club Championships in September has brought that dream closer to reality.

Jaime-Lee, only 16, is one of six junior competitors chosen to represent Victoria against all other states in Werribee at the Final Countdown, a national evening competition held every four years.

‘’I hope I go okay,’’ Jaime-Lee said.

‘’I’ve put in lots of hours of work and am really excited.’’

Eventing involves three disciplines of horsemanship over five gruelling days; dressage, cross country and show jumping, of which Jaime-Lee prefers cross country.

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10 years ago August 2014

Russia’s trade sanctions on Australia will affect the dairy industry, including Murray Goulburn.

Managing director Gary Helou said Russia was an important market for the company, with almost $95 million in business last financial year, particularly in butter.

‘‘The trade sanctions announced by the Russian Government on food exports from Australia will have some impact on our ability to maximise returns as we place this product into other markets,’’ he said.

‘‘Given the importance of Russia as an importer of dairy products, particularly from the European Union, we will monitor the impact of the sanctions on global dairy market settings.’’

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The Red Cross will mark its centenary next month and Ballendella members are preparing for the milestone.

Ballendella Red Cross branch foundation member Dos Hanson will recall her 58 years of volunteering at the centenary lunch on September 11.

After joining in 1958, she is one of the two foundation members left, alongside Mavis James, and has been awarded a wreath in honour of her service.

She remembered the early days of giving blood, bringing cake to the Burnewang War Veterans’ Home and even selling the end of cows’ tails for couch stuffing to raise funds.

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Australian company Emerald Grain hosted 150 growers and customers at Elmore on Thursday to celebrate its $3 million upgrade to the Elmore grain storage site.

The new facility will benefit growers with faster turnaround times and higher grain quality standards.

Emerald Grain supply chain and operations group general manager Ron McCalman said the planned upgrades were in response to feedback from district growers.

‘‘While the site delivered strong competition in the area, it did not allow as efficient truck turnaround times as growers would have liked at harvest,’’ he said.

‘‘We’ve taken the feedback on board and committed to a $3 million upgrade, which will significantly improve turnaround times during busy harvest periods.’’