50 years ago

ANOTHER two weeks of hot weather would see the Hamilton district at peak fire danger time, Region 5 fire officer for the Country Fire Authority, Mr. Arthur Haynes, said yesterday. Mr. Haynes said Western District fire brigades were fully prepared for what was potentially a bad fire season. And he appealed to the public for a special effort to help prevent major fire outbreaks. Mr. Haynes said CFA Region 5 was rapidly drying out. The bush in northern areas was extremely dry, and in all areas there was a heavy concentration of fuel. CFA men and brigades were on the alert as temperatures soared yesterday, but despite the hot weather and gusty winds this week the record in both Regions 4 and 5 was good.

TOP Hamilton basketball players and officials yesterday welcomed a new rule which will be introduced to the game this season in an effort to prevent undue rough play. The rule, which provides new penalties for accumulated team fouls, has been introduced throughout Victoria. Regional referees’ adviser, Mr. Pat McNamara, of Hamilton, said yesterday the rule was an attempt to “cut out excessive fouling which had crept into the game”. In future, a team which accumulates 10 fouls in a half will have two free shots awarded against it for all subsequent player fouls in that half. However, Mr. McNamara said yesterday “all” in this case did not mean “all”.

25 years ago

A NEAR-PACKED Performing Arts Centre meeting in Hamilton has demanded the Kennett Government scrap catchment management authorities, including the Glenelg-Hopkins, and the $32 tax be returned to people who have already paid. The angry – and at times, fiery meeting – also demanded the Natural Resources and Environment Department (DNRE) be funded sufficiently to carry out tasks undertaken now by catchment authorities. The motion, by 81-year-old Casterton identity George Tibbles, had almost unanimous support with just five of the 400-strong audience opposed. An impassioned Mr Tibbles, a former Glenelg Shire councillor, said there would be no need for CMAs – or the tax – if the $20 million ripped off DNRE last year by the State Government, was restored.

A PERMANENT under-16 Hamilton cricket squad may be established in future seasons as a result of Hamilton’s representative team winning only one match at this week’s Warrnambool Colts Country Week competition. Hamilton coach, Doug Ezard, said the event had been a learning experience for both the players and Hamilton Junior Cricket Association, indicating a different approach may be needed in preparing future under-16 teams. In the past the association had relied on club coaching for the plyers, but perhaps squad coaching was now required, with for example a group of 20 players to train regularly together and receive specialist instruction throughout the season, Ezard said. The players needed that extra level of coaching as a group, which junior cricketers in Warrnambool received, and particularly required more batting experience against fast bowlers, he said.