Kyabram’s rain gauge
Rain has been a popular the topic of conversation in our area over the past few weeks.
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And a rain gauge belonging to a former Kyabramite who had lot to with the town’s early rainfall recordings has emerged.
The gauge, which belonged to George Clements, has been donated to the Kyabram Historical Society by his grandsons, former Kyabramites Kenneth and Davydd Shaw.
With assistance from Kyabram Historical Society’s Eileen Sullivan they have tracked the history of the rain gauge and recordings of Kyabram’s rainfall dating back to the start of last century.
George Clements joined his brother William in Kyabram about 1895 and initially worked in the Kyabram Newsagency before buying the business around 1900.
As a newsagent, he reported rainfall totals that were published in the daily Melbourne newspapers. He continued this up to 1924.
George Clements, who was born in Hampstead, London, in 1874, was secretary of the Kyabram Waterworks Trust from 1931 until his retirement in 1955 at the age of 81.
He was also district registrar for birth, deaths and marriages in the early 20th century and again from 1947 until 1960.
For many years, official rainfall reports were sent from the Kyabram Post Office.
However, after the Irrigation Research Station was established on Cooma Rd, readings were taken from both the Kyabram Post Office and the research station.
It was reported in the Free Press in June, 1968, that the Kyabram Post Office would soon cease to be the centre for the official rainfall registrations for the area.
There is seldom much of a variation between the post office, research station and private homes.
In September 2002, the Bureau of Meteorology installed an automated weather station in Castlemara Dve, Kyabram, which reported hourly readings, and in 2010 this facility was upgraded to report every minute.
Even in old age George Clements enjoyed the routine of measuring rainfall from his Bradley St home.
Who is your tip for the election?
If the betting agencies have got it right the Nationals will prevail in the seat of Nicholls at Saturday’s Federal election.
Sportsbet has Sam Birrell a $1.75 chance to retain the seat for the Nationals and independent Rob Priestly as his biggest threat at $2.50.
Liberal candidate Steve Brooks at $5 is the only other candidate in the betting.
But as punters can attest, the bookies don’t always get it right.
Meeting about Ky Club’s facilities
A meeting tonight between Kyabram Wilf Cox Complex and Kyabram Recreation Reserve users and Campaspe Shire Council could lead to some rearranging of club bases within the complex.
Kyabram Football Netball Club has been lobbying for years for new dressing room and shower facilities for its and visiting netballers, and is hoping something positive will emerge from the meeting.
Another of the complex users, Kyabram Cricket Club, will be fighting to retain an entertainment facility downstairs if there are plans to revamp the downstairs area of the complex.
Coles out the door?
Rumours that Coles Supermarket, Liquorland and Express on the Mooroopna-Echuca Rd, Mooroopna, will close its doors later this year have been confirmed.
In a statement on the closure, Coles said it was consistently evaluating its network of stores and was working on redeployment of its workers to its two Shepparton outlets.
New roundabout on Murray Valley Hwy
A $3.5 million roundabout is set to built on the Murray Valley Hwy at the Cobram-Koonoomoo Rd intersection.
It is expected to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion and provide a safer environment for the more than 5000 vehicles, including 500 trucks, that pass through the intersection daily.
Another exit will be constructed at the north-east side of the intersection to cater for future development.
The project is being funded by the state and federal governments’ Targeted Road Safety program.
Lowered water levels in Lake Mulwala
Water levels in Lake Mulwala are currently being lowered to control waterweed.
The levels will be dropped five metres to expose Egeria densa weed to the air and winter frosts, which will lead to its demise.
The Murray-Darling Basin Authority and Goulburn-Murray Water are involved in the project.
End of the CWA in Deniliquin
A Deniliquin institution has gone into recess.
The Country Women’s Association of Victoria confirmed recently its Deniliquin branch had closed shop because not enough executive member positions could be filled due to the departure of many long-serving members.
Rain in Ky
After no rain being recorded for the first 10 days of May, Kyabram has received 9.4mm since last Wednesday up to Monday.
Of this total, 8.2mm was recorded last Thursday.
Maximum temperatures over the past week have also been above average, with the mercury topping 20°C on three days and minimums above 10°C on every day apart from Monday when it dropped to 8.7°C.
SQUARE DINKUM
G’day.
After a successful morning’s hunting, two hunters were dragging a deer back to their ute, and they were really making hard work of it. Another hunter came past and said, ‘’I don’t want to tell you blokes how to do things, but if you drag the deer from the other end, it will be much easier because the antlers won’t drag into the dirt.’’
The two hunters decided to try it.
After a short distance, one hunter said, ‘’You know, that bloke was right. This is a lot easier.’’
‘’Yeah,’’ said his mate. ‘’But we’re getting further and further away from the ute.’’
Hooroo!
Sports reporter