A look back at previous editions of the paper 50 and 25 years ago.

50 years ago

HAMILTON High School’s brass band, one of the best in the state, has had its future placed in jeopardy by an Education Department decision to move the band room from the school at the end of the year. But parents, teachers and students at the school have begun a battle to retain the room, the school’s only portable classroom. At a meeting on Tuesday night they decided to launch a petition and to make direct representations to the Minister for Education and Science, Mr. Malcom Fraser, in an effort to save the room. The petition will be presented to the State Education Minister, Mr. Lindsay Thompson. Hamilton City Council will also be asked for its support for the campaign.

PENSHURST Coursing Club has been granted the staging of the 1973 Victorian Coursing Oaks. One of the two prestige events of the Victorian coursing calendar, it is for bitch puppies born between July 1, 1971, and June 30, 1972. A maximum of 64 greyhounds will be able to compete in the classic. The two-day Oaks meeting will be held on Friday and Saturday, May 25 and 26 next year, with total prize money for the meeting in excess of $2000. This is the first time the Penshurst Club will have held the Oaks meeting. It is rotated annually between the State’s 10 coursing clubs. Club secretary, Mr. Joe Ewing, said yesterday that if there was a capacity entry in the Oaks it would mean there would be 63 races run on the Oaks alone.

25 years ago

SOUTHERN Grampians Shire Council expects an 80 per cent boost in the number of tourists visiting Wannon and Nigretta falls – if $320,000 is spent upgrading both scenic areas. However, the fate of the upgrade is in the hands of the National Tourism Development Program, which has been asked to provide $160,000. Currently, around 15,000 to 17,000 people visit the two falls annually, but their run-down condition of the reserves has meant they have fallen far short of their tourism potential. Once the infrastructure improvements have taken place, the shire anticipates an additional 12,000 visitors annually will be attracted to see the two waterfalls.

HAMILTON and Hamilton Imperials Football Clubs have been unable to elect presidents at their respective annual general meetings on Wednesday night. To add to the Western Border Football League trend, Millicent has also been unable to find someone to fill the top job for next season. Imperials secretary Gerard Sheehan, said no one had come forward to replace outgoing president, Peter Franklin, and the two vice-president positions had also not been filled. Mr Sheehan said 13 people were elected to the football club committee, with himself re-elected as secretary and Laurie Cogger taking on the treasurer’s role for another season. The committee would be made up of a further 11 members, including, it was expected, the new president.