A look back at previous editions of the paper 50 and 25 years ago.
50 years ago
VICTORIAN Railways officials announced yesterday that plans were being considered for a new railway station at Hamilton. Part of the present station will be demolished and a new section added. The project is only in the planning stage at present and it is not known when work will begin. A spokesman for the railways said yesterday that architects had been looking at the Hamilton station complex. They proposed that existing timber-framed sections of the station be demolished and replaced with a smaller, but more modern, section. It is expected that the new station will require much less maintenance than the present structure. The chairman of the railways commissioners, Mr. G. V. Brown, told the Spectator yesterday that the present building at Hamilton was larger than necessary.
THE 20-year reign of Steve Jenkins as Hamilton’s top tennis player is coming to an end after 14 club singles and 17 club doubles titles. This year’s championships are certain to be his last, and his lack of match play could see the champion struggling to retain his mantle. Last Saturday Jenkins picked up his racquet for only the third time this season – hardly the preparation needed to win the Hamilton championship. But the Hamilton champ, who numbers among his victims the name of Neale Fraser, is still far from a “has been” at 38. Instead of gaining valuable match play in the singles at this weekend’s big ANA tournament, Jenkins will be tournament manager and will play only in one doubles event.
25 years ago
AFTER a 15 month battle and a bill of more than $100,000, Thursday was a time for Hamilton’s garbage contractors, Norm and Judy Kenny, to grin – and walk a little taller. Local Government Minister, Robert Maclellan had given them news they had been waiting so long for – they could go ahead with their planned recycling centre and nursery at the former Dundas Shire depot, opposite the Hamilton aerodrome. Despite the waiting and the cost, they were jubilant. Judy Kenny said they planned to have “a big party” soon at the Hensley Park Rd site and everyone was invited. But the battle has taken a heavy toll. “We have had to put staff off with our recycling (at Pioneer St) because it (appeal) has cost so much,” Mrs Kenny said. “Without family and friends we probably wouldn’t have survived.”
THE final preparations have been made and everything at Hamilton’s Buckley Park raceway is in readiness for the Victorian Open Sprint Kart Championships to be held today, tomorrow and Monday. The land surrounding the track resembles a small tent city as teams prepare karts and equipment in readiness for the titles. Some visiting clubs praised the track’s layout and its surrounds as the drivers practised at the raceway on Thursday and made last minute alterations to their karts before yesterday’s official practice session was due to start. Drew Price Engineering team racing manager, Doc Pearson, said his team was very happy with how the track had been presented. “The track looks very good, it’s nice to drive on, there is heaps of grip and there are lots of opportunities for drivers to pass,” Mr Pearson said.
