Enjoying a moment of relaxation at the Rochester Business and Professional Women’s dinner at the Rochester Hotel in 1975 were Olive Baker, Nancy McDonald and Heather Taylor. Mrs Baker was a visitor to the club, being a guest of Mrs Taylor.
Photo by
Campaspe News
50 years ago
Gail J. Spence, 22, born and educated in Rochester, decided that her future could be further assured in the United Kingdom, and at the same time she could also be near her mother, Florence.
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Her departure was naturally a sad occasion, but at least some comfort was offered by her being accompanied by the family’s personal representative, Mr Bryan McDowell.
Gail applied to join the South Wales Constabulary and was accepted on June 24, 1974.
Gail J. Spence, 22, is stationed in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, South Wales.
Right from the start, it was hard work, but Gail’s determination and drive saw her through her exam with a promising fourth place in a class of 18.
Gail is at present stationed in Pontypridd, Glamorgan, South Wales, within reasonable distance of her parents’ Penarth home.
It was interesting to lean that Gail was sent to investigate and deal with a two-car accident. Although there were no injuries, she was the first policewoman to handle this particular case in eight years.
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A warning has been given by the officer-in-charge of the Rochester Police Station, Sgt Kevin Smith, to all motorists: ‘wear your seatbelts,’ or face prosecution.
The maximum penalty for failing to comply with this law is a fine of $20.
Sgt Smith said the Rochester police were very concerned at the large number of motorists and their passengers in Rochester and the surrounding districts who were breaking the law by failing to wear seatbelts.
He said all offenders detected would be prosecuted.
He said it was also an offence if the seatbelt was not properly adjusted.
25 years ago
Fifty years after buying their Rochester jeweller’s store, Stan and Rose Smith have decided to call it a day.
The introduction of the GST on July 1 has proved the catalyst for the decision to shut the door of the Moore St premises.
‘’We’d been toying with the idea of retirement — at 75, both of us, it’s something we had thought about — but when the GST got the nod, that decided it,’’ Stan said.
Rose and Stan Smith are closing their business after 50 years in Rochester.
‘’And I’m going to write Mr Howard a letter and thank him for it,’’ Rose said with a laugh.
The advertisement in last week’s Campaspe News, announcing their decision, has led to a rush of business.
‘’People have been coming in with old clocks that need repairing — some of them, I reckon, have been meaning to bring them in for years and thought they’d better get to it this time,’’ Stan said.
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After 25 years as secretary of the Elmore and District Machinery Field Days committee, May Mann cannot think of a day when she hasn’t enjoyed her job.
The position, she says, has always been interesting, allowing her to work with ‘’some wonderful people’’ and meet hundreds of others.
‘’I’d like to thank the committee for having me so long,’’ she said.
May 15 was May’s last official day on the job.
For the past few weeks she’s been assisting the new secretary, Corrie Holmberg, to learn the ropes, in preparation for May to step aside and ‘’pick up some threads that have been laying around for a long time,’’ she said of the hobbies and interests she intends to pursue.
10 years ago
Rochester and region businesses might be getting their wish — more police on duty more of the time.
But Campaspe region Acting Inspector Mick Carroll hammered home a key message for Rochester residents — dial 000.
In a forum at the Criterion Hotel, organised on Friday by the Chamber of Commerce, Insp Carroll said the best way to increase police presence in town was to prove it was needed — and this was logged when calls to 000 were made.
‘‘We live in the country — everyone knows everyone and it’s not uncommon for residents to dial their police station directly,’’ he said.
‘‘It seems easier and many people feel like they’re making less of a fuss, but without numbers to prove it, we can’t get more cops down here.’’
The major topic was police presence in the town, with some residents concerned authorities were not around when needed most.
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Lockington resident Travis Fimmel, who stars in the acclaimed television drama Vikings, has been named an ambassador for Irish children’s cancer charity Aoibheann’s Pink Tie.
‘‘The response has been fantastic and we know that Travis will bring a lot more recognition to our charity and help more kids,’’ the charity’s founder Jimmy Norman said.
Travis Fimmel officially opens new Aoibheann’s Pink Tie offices in Dunboyne, Ireland, with Aoibheann Norman’s sister, Roisin.
Fimmel was raised on a farm near Lockington and lives in Ireland when filming Vikings.
He visited the children’s cancer unit St John’s Ward at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Dublin last week with Mr Norman, whose daughter the charity is named after.
Aoibheann died aged seven in April 2010 after being diagnosed with cancer in January 2009.
