Around The Traps with Gus Underwood

But it did find a familiar vessel to greet it when it got there — a smaller replica of the Emmylou paddle-steamer.

The smaller version of the Emmylou is a tourist attraction on the Thomson River at the outback tourist town and belongs to the Kinnon family, which runs the outback tourism company Outback Pioneers and which purchased the Pride Of The Murray.

Built in 1924, The Pride of the Murray, like many other paddle-wheelers, started out life as a timber logging barge. It was built at Echuca in 1924, and relaunched as a tourist vessel in 1977.

Aussie combo

If you like Vegemite and baked beans this could be your, well … cup of tea.

SPC and Vegemite are combining to produce a baked beans-Vegemite combo, as SPC looks to inject some fun into baked bean aisles in supermarkets and other food outlets.

SPC claims the combo retains the rich SPC baked beans flavour and can be enjoyed for breakfast, dinner or tea.

There’s a doctor in the house

Unlike many in these testing times, Seymour’s Rob Peterson didn’t have to wait for medical help when he suffered a heart attack two days before the recent Federal Election in which he unsuccessfully contested the seat of Nicholls for the United Australia Party.

Mr Peterson is a doctor and made the diagnosis, getting himself into care quickly.

Last week he was awaiting triple bypass heart surgery in Melbourne’s Epworth Hospital.

Lions going strong

At a time when community clubs and organisations are falling by the wayside, there is an exception.

The Mooroopna Lions Club has just chalked up 50 years of service to the community and celebrated the milestone with a function at the Mooroopna Golf Club at the weekend.

Heritage push

Campaspe Shire Council has joined 13 other regional councils pushing to have the Central Victorian Goldfields included on the World Heritage list.

The councils, headed by Greater Bendigo and Ballarat councils, have asked the state government for $500,000 to help support the bid and believe it will deliver enormous benefits in tourism, regional growth and development.

Mall work making progress

Redevelopment of Shepparton’s Maude St Mall is taking shape.

Behind the hoardings there has been a lot of development, particularly with underground infrastructure. But works above ground are now in full swing, with the formation of a new road, pedestrian areas and central plantations.

Stage two at the northern end of the mall is well advanced and set to open in July while stage three at the southern end is expected to open in August.

Work on stage four will commence in July and be ready for an October opening.

Our animal friends

Liked that mention Marnie gave in her weekly Tuesday column in the Shepparton News last week when a friend reminded her that the difference between cats and dogs was quite simple: ‘‘Dogs have owners and cats have staff.’’

Hotel with heart

The Barmah Hotel has been recognised by the Victorian hotel industry.

It has awarded the pub on the Victorian side of the mighty Murray River and on the edge of the iconic Barmah forest with a Heart of Community award.

This award is not handed out freely, but the Barmah watering hole fits the criteria for a small pub in a small town offering a big service.

And hotel owner Mathew Gissing has pointed out the award comes on top of his pub claiming a Triple M award for dishing up Goulburn Valley’s best parmas.

Here comes the rain

Kyabram has experienced below average rain for May, with just 26.2mm being recorded.

On Thursday and Friday of last week, falls of 2.4mm and 0.8mm respectively were recorded.

There was 3.2mm in the gauge at 9am on Monday, and a further 9.6mm fell in the following 24 hours.

The May rainfall average is 42.3mm.

Kyabram has not experienced a day above 20°C since Sunday, May 14 as we head into the winter months, which the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting will produce above average rainfall, starting this week.

Lake walkway under way

Nagambie’s foreshore walking track is under construction.

The 1.6km long and 2.5m wide concrete walkway will stretch along the southern end of Lake Nagambie.

The $3.8 million project will be completed this year.

Square dinkum

G’day.

I once met an eminent mathematician who told me that he was regarded as the world master of fast calculations.

I said to him, ‘‘Wow, that’s impressive. Do you mind if I give you a test?’’

‘‘Not a problem at all,’’ he replied.

So, I asked him, ‘’What is 758 times 642 divided by 15?’’

Quick as a flash he shot back, ‘’27.’’

I laughed and said, ‘’That answer is not correct.’’

He answered, ‘‘I said I was fast, I didn’t say anything about the accuracy.’’

Hooroo!