50 years ago
ALEX Williamson and his family (pictured) found the economic going in Scotland a little hard to take – and it looked like getting worse. They donned overcoats at their home in Inverness and boarded an aircraft for Australia. The family stayed in Melbourne only long enough to make a quick change into summer clothes before coming to Hamilton. They’re the third Williamson family to move from Scotland to Hamilton – and a fourth is due to arrive later this month. “I owned a couple of lorries in Inverness, but with the oil crisis, it was becoming practically impossible to run the business,” Mr. Williamson said. “There is a standard rate of about $1 a gallon for petrol, if you can get it. Where it would have to cost me about $40 for a lorry tyre, I could get one now on the black market for possibly $100. Things are getting very hard over there so we decided to move.”
FROZEN Section will earn a trip to Sydney if he can win the $2500 Hamilton Gold Cup (2200m) tomorrow, feature event at the two-day carnival. I expect the race to be fought out by the winners of the last two Ballarat Cups – Frozen Section and Zealant, with Lord Monty the one for each-way punters. A half-day holiday has been declared tomorrow for Hamilton and the Dundas Shire. Racegoers to the carnival will see the track in splendid condition. The 18 races are a record with more than $22,000 in stakes. Frozen Section has raced only twice from a spell. While he hasn’t always been my favourite horse, one must respect the combination behind this well-bred stayer.
25 years ago
Country roads in Southern Grampians Shire – and other South West Victorian councils – may fall into disrepair if a consultant’s report is accepted. That’s the concern of the South West Municipalities Group which believes downgrading country roads could be the next rural service to be hit. The Australian Roads Research Board (ARRB) has recommended many current sealed roads effectively be returned to unsealed, because of their low traffic volume. Maintenance funding would only be given on the same basis as for unsealed roads. Eight south west councils, including Southern Grampians Shire, said in a strong submission: “If this philosophy is adopted, a large proportion of the existing local road network across rural Victoria will be discounted.”
VETERAN Mt. Gambier-based jockey, Bill Strigg, 45, looks to hold a strong hand at the Penshurst race meeting on Easter Monday. The popular jockey has six rides on the seven-race program and is in form after winning the Apsley Cup at Edenhope last Sunday on Voodalou. Strigg has been booked to ride Jetway (two-year-old), Miss Pompon (class two), Our Strike Breaker (maiden 1284 metres, Cheques For Free (maiden 1476m), Hot Cut (fillies and mares) and Theban (class one). “On paper it appears that I have some good rides,” Strigg said. “I just hope my horses go faster than my rivals.” Strigg is respected by trainers in Victoria despite being based in South Australia. Three of his six rides are for Victorian trainers.
