50 years ago
HAMILTON City Council has been given the all clear for its projected artificial lake scheme. One of the major requirements for the project – approval by the Governor-in-Council of the city’s planning scheme amendment – has been received. This leaves the way clear for land acquisition to begin, and the town clerk, Mr. Tim Neville, said yesterday negotiations would start immediately. Mr. Neville said notice of the approval meant the project was now “right on schedule”. “The council has directed me to raise loan money for the acquisition of land,” he said. “it is estimated 164 acres will have to be acquired at a cost of $150,000. “We will be writing to the owners of the land to be acquired before Christmas.”
HAMILTON’S “Sportsman of the year” will be named during a gala dinner tonight which will bring together the outstanding competitors and officials of district sport. The 12 nominations for the Spectator award – three women and nine men – includes six current Victorian champions. The performances of each of the nominations is a clear reflection of the high standard reached by members of Hamilton sporting organisations during the past year. The yearly award will be chosen by secret ballot by the 80 members of the Hamilton Sportsmen’s Association during the dinner at the Grand Central Hotel. The major award is taken from October, 1972, to September, 1973. This is done so as not to cut across mid-way between summer or winter seasons.
25 years ago
A MAJOR public rally will be held in Hamilton in early January to protest against the $32 waterways tax. Organisers say they will be disappointed if the clubrooms – which can hold between 170 and 200 people – aren’t filled. The rally has been organised by the Hamilton and District Pensioners Association and the Glenelg-Hopkins Levy Action Group. It will be held in the pensioners’ Brown St clubrooms on Thursday, January 7, at 8pm. In other recent developments surrounding the controversial $32 charge: The Glenelg-Hopkins Catchment Management Authority (CMA) claims about 55 per cent of land owners levied have so far paid the tax. The South West Trades and Labor Council has urged residents not to pay the tax.
HAMILTON Rams will rely on its overall depth when it clashes with Ararat in today’s Green Triangle Basketball League semi-final in Mt Gambier, according to coach Neville Brayley. The Rams will start the match as favorites after defeating Ararat on Saturday night in Hamilton by 12 points. Brayley said the Rams’ starting five players, John Philip, Ben Lewis, Justin Brayley, Lachlan Crawford and Justin Perkins, will be important to the team’s chances, but the bench players would be just as crucial. “It’s important to have the depth on the bench because we might need to make changes to upset the balance of the opposition team,” Brayley said yesterday morning. Ararat has a number of tall players in its side and Brayley said this was clearly one of its strengths.
