50 years ago

TAHARA Bridge woman, Mrs. Gaile Arnold, made history at Flemington Racecourse on Monday. She was the first woman jockey to win a horse trial at Flemington. In fact, history was made all-round on Monday. For the first time, people saw women jockeys officially fly down the 1200m straight at Flemington at the women’s race trials. Riding Dual Song, 30-year-old Mrs. Arnold was the winner of the first trial. A housewife and mother of four-year-old Linley, Mrs. Arnold was understandably ecstatic about her win this week. “I have never been to Flemington before – that was a thrill in itself,” said Mrs. Arnold. A proficient horse rider since the tender age of four, does Mrs. Arnold think the trials were met favourably by the Victoria Racing Club Stewards?

WESTERN Border League delegates have thrown out a suggestion for local umpires in all senior games next season, and have decided to retain four VFL and two local officials. The league meeting on Monday night also agreed to have a 12-team Under 18 competition with the juniors playing on the same ground as the seniors and reserves. Millicent has been given 14 days to decide whether it can field an under 18 side. If it cannot, then Monivae College will come into the competition with Millicent as its home ground. The question of local umpires took up the longest debate at a league meeting in recent years. Delegates were told that it would cost the league about $75 to put each VFL umpire on the field next season, and about $35 for a local official.

25 years ago

A KEY move has been made to provide faster and cheaper telecommunications in the Hamilton region with a $550,000 grant to the Greater green Triangle Regional Association (GGTRA). The large grant will primarily fund the establishment of five information exchange and learning centres across the region. The centres will provide information technology, and communication equipment and services to communities across the region. GGTRA executive director, Michael Whitehead, said yesterday the location of the centres hadn’t been decided yet, but together with local government partners, a decision would be made by February. Eventually, 60 centres are hoped to be installed over the next three years.

HAMILTON Weavers will be aiming for its first victory of the 1998 Green Triangle Basketball League season tomorrow when it clashes with Millicent at the Hamilton leisure Centre. And the rams must win both of its matches against Naracoorte tonight and Millicent tomorrow to keep its final chances alive. The weavers have improved as the season has progressed and will be seeking to avenge the three-point loss it suffered against Millicent earlier in the season. Coach of the team, Neville Brayley, said the players were looking forward to the match and were optimistic about their prospects. “The players are very keen to turn the three-point loss around and we have been working on a few things at training that will help the players against the taller Millicent players,” Brayley said yesterday morning.