50 years ago

GLENELG Shire Water Trust will ask the State Rivers and Water Supply Commission to explain why it has not approved tenders for the Sandford water supply plan. Cr. George Tibbles said if the commission did not give a satisfactory explanation, he would ask the Victorian Ombudsman to hold an inquiry on the commission. The shire water trust held a special meeting on Monday to discuss the need to re-advertise tenders for the Sandford supply. The tenders are for the supply and delivery of pipes and fittings. One of three firms to tender, James Hardie Pty. Ltd., of Melbourne, was recommended by the water trust, but the firm said it wanted its tender accepted within 60 days. The water commission had not approved the tender in this time, Monday’s meeting was told.

“YOU either try and stay with the Mt. Gambier clubs, or you go under and go to a league not as strong.” The speaker was Brian Larkin, Penola Football Club secretary, who was commenting on his club’s decision to pay recruits $50 a senior game this season. “We are advertising for players in the Wimmera, Hampden, Sunraysia and South Australian leagues,” he said. Mr. Larkin said the Kowree-Naracoorte League has invited Penola to leave the Western Border and join its league. “Penola has not given the matter any real consideration – yet,” he said. Last season Penola finished at the bottom of the WBFL ladder. During the past months it has lost several of its most promising youngsters to Adelaide.

25 years ago

HUNDREDS of Casterton district residents are set to benefit from a new Centrelink agency opening at the Casterton Old Courthouse Community Centre next week. The agency will operate from 9am to 4pm on Fridays. The Casterton Old Courthouse Community Centre has been contracted to provide a basic Centrelink service for at least 12 months. Community centre coordinator, Larry Neeson, said yesterday the Casterton agency would deliver a range of basic Centrelink counter services – for instance the receival of forms and provision of information – saving district residents the trouble of having to travel to Hamilton. Mr Neeson said the Casterton agency was not attempting to duplicate any Centrelink office. It would simply provide a basic Centrelink service.

IN January most teenagers spend their time at the beach or at their local swimming pool, but swimming will be the last thing on one Hamilton teenager’s mind today. Michael Pech will be playing in his first ever club championship semi-final at Hamilton’s RSL Bowling Club after winning his way through the preliminary rounds. Today he will be against one of the club’s wily veterans in Geoff Vorwerk, but the youngster is confident he will progress through to the final. “It should be a pretty close match, but I think I should be able to beat him,” Pech said. Despite only taking up the sport in September of 1997, Pech has already played in a final of the under-19 state singles event in Colac.