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

50 years ago

VICTORIA’S Minister of Housing, Mr. Vance Dickie, yesterday defended the State Government’s stand on the issue of Commonwealth housing finance. Mr. Dickie told the Spectator he was surprised to read an attack on the Government’s stand by Mr. Eddie Lewis (ALP, Dundas). Last week Mr. Lewis attacked the Government for refusing to accept Commonwealth financial assistance to build homes which would be available only for rental. Mr. Dickie said that Mr. Lewis had made it clear he supported his colleagues in the Federal sphere to the fullest. “This means that in future Mr. Lewis supports a policy which says that the Victorian Government shall not build houses for rental which can subsequently be purchased by the tenants.” He said.

THE latest member to join the Hamilton Amateur Athletic Club has become its first champion. Ton Glymn, who transferred to the club less than a fortnight ago, won the javelin title at the Victorian county athletic championships at Geelong on the weekend. It was the first time Glymn has represented Hamilton, and his win will give the recently formed HAAC a much-needed boost. Glymn, a stock inspector with the Department of Agriculture, has been in Hamilton for about two years. An Irishman by birth, he is a former member of the Ballarat Harriers. He was one of seven Hamilton athletes who competed in the country championships at Geelong. He won the javelin title with a throw of 54.14 meters.

25 years ago

CONFUSION is occurring in an area north of Casterton over the declaration of Total Fire Ban days in parts of the state. The border between Glenelg and West Wimmera shires is part of the current border between the CFA’s south west and north west regions for the declaration of Total Fire Ban (TFB) days. Dergholm man, Murray Davis, claims Chetwynd Fire Brigade had to cancel a burn-off last Thursday because it was a total fire ban day in the north west region – but not in the south west region. The same situation occurred on another day in December, he claimed. The change in shire boundaries means areas such as Dergholm, Chetwynd and Poolaijelo are now in the TFB region as Mildura – and the contrast in the weather is huge.

PLAYER numbers in Western Border Football League’s under-18 competition appeared to be sufficient, with clubs indicating at this stage they would be able to field a team this season, league president, Norm Facey, said this week. Although it was still early in the year, clubs seemed to be “on track” in the junior competition, with Millicent, which withdrew its third team in 1997, saying it intended to form an under-18 side in 1998, Mr Facey said. Concerns about lack of numbers in under-18 and reserves competitions were not new in any football league and Western Border delegates had discussed possible solutions and would continue to examine the issue as necessary, he said.