50 years ago
MOST of Hamilton’s 330 school-leavers will have little chance of getting a job in their home town this year. The number of school-leavers is less than last year, but the job opportunities open to them are considerably fewer than in 1973. Employers in Hamilton seem to be playing a waiting game in the hope that economic conditions might take a turn for the better after Christmas. But it is certain that most Hamilton school leavers will have to move to Melbourne or other centres in search of work. The manager of the Hamilton office of the Commonwealth Employment Service, Mr. Gavan Conway, said yesterday prospects for school-leavers were not good. He said employers were adopting a wait and see attitude and might consider adding staff if conditions improved after Christmas.
HAMILTON will be one of 58 Little Athletics’ centres to participate in the State-wide six hour relay-thon on Saturday. A total of 17,650 children will be involved, making this one of the biggest sporting events to the year in Victoria. This will be Hamilton’s first appearance in the event. Its members will run continuously at Melville Oval from 6am to noon, changing the baton at various intervals. It will be a big day for the Hamilton centre on Saturday, as the Victorian Little Athletics’ Association education officer, Mr. Ron Carlton, will be here to conduct a coaching clinic. Ron Carlton is a former Australian javelin and State decathalon champion. He will visit schools in the district tomorrow to talk with children and show films on Little Athletics.
25 years ago
MORE than 30 businesses have already signed to be part of Southern Grampians’ community advantage scheme. However, the scheme, which awards points for shopper loyalty in a bid to curb escape spending from the shire, needs between 60 and 70 businesses on its books before it gets the go-ahead. And organiser, Loyalty Magic, is planning to hold a third information evening in Hamilton on Tuesday as a “last chance for fence sitters”. Director of consulting services for Loyalty Magic, Brian Skirving, said this week that the initial response was very encouraging with more than 30 businesses across a broad spectrum signed up. “We still have a week to go with our one-on-one interviews,” he said.
PORTLAND Coasters may feel the force of a Hamilton Rams team intent on redemption in today’s Green Triangle Basketball League men’s clash in Portland. Hamilton Green Triangle publicity officer, Gus Kuilboer, said yesterday morning that the Hamilton players had been upset by their unexpected four-point loss to Warrnambool on Sunday and sought to improve. “They’re out to take somebody’s blood,” Mr Kuilboer said. He attributed the defeat to a touch of complacency caused by Hamilton’s easy victory over Warrnambool the first time the teams met this season. Today Rams coach, Nathan Manley, would have the players focused for a game they could not afford to lose if the team wished to maintain its high ladder position.
