50 years ago
REGIONAL authorities could eventually supersede local councils, Minhamite Shire councillor, Keith Ball, claimed this week. Cr. Ball was commenting on the regional groupings proposed by the Federal Government which he described as “the thin end of the wedge”. The groupings, which were made public this week, places Hamilton in the South-West region, along with 16 other municipalities. The suggested set of regions have been compiled and issued by the Department of Urban and Regional Development. To qualify for Federal finance through the Grants Commission, councils must form into groups. The commission will only deal with applications formulated on a regional basis. The South-West Region has a population of 96,196.
THE growing plight of a lack of facilities for indoor sports in Hamilton now rests with Hamilton City Council being able to secure a special Treasury grant for its lake. A decision on whether Hamilton Memorial Stadium can be extended to cater for an estimated 2000 individuals each week, will be decided by council before Christmas. Town Clerk, Mr. Tim Neville, said yesterday council was only waiting on the Minister for Local Government to officially approve the re-zoning for the lake, before applying for a special grant to help finance the project. Mr. Neville said that should council fail to obtain such a grant, it would then apply for the sporting complex grant, which officials of indoor sports are hoping will be used for extensions to the present inadequate stadium.
25 years ago
THE sheriff is heading for town next week – and he wants your money. That is, if you are one of the Hamilton residents who collectively possess more than 1042 outstanding warrants for money totalling $243,000. Up to 30 sheriff’s officers are to mount a highly-visible crackdown across the south west, starting Monday. Assistant Sheriff, Robert Cahir, who was in town on Thursday, said a crackdown of this magnitude had never before been undertaken in Hamilton. The three-week operation extends to Warrnambool, Portland and Camperdown. Mr. Cahir said the outstanding money was owed for matters such as speeding, parking fines and open court warrants. “They could go back anything up to five years,” he said.
SOUTH West District Football League’s independent tribunal lifted penalties imposed on Bill Cables and Westerns Football Club at a special meeting in Hamilton on Wednesday night. Cables was suspended for four weeks and Westerns fined $500 for failing to attend a tribunal hearing in Hamilton on September 15. South West District Football League secretary, Keith Wilson, said the league had considered the issue to be closed, but Victorian Country Football League officials stepped in. “The league was advised by the VCFL to reconvene the tribunal to consider the ruling and reason for the penalty,” Mr Wilson said. “The tribunal, after much consideration, decided to lift Cables’ suspension and the fine imposed on the club for their non-attendance at the tribunal hearing,” Mr Wilson said.
