Reflections from the past

Every day of the week John handles, and on average milks five times a week, some of his 65 tiger snakes.

And the tiger snake is recognised as the most venomous in the world today.

John said anyone who was bitten by the snake would be paralysed within half an hour of being bitten and if they were not treated in the next half an hour they would be dead.

***

The staffing position at Echuca High School was desperate, Mr W. French said yesterday.

The school was already five teachers short, he said.

It would soon be six teachers down because one member of staff would be staying in Echuca for only one month.

However, accommodation at the school was adequate, Mr French said.

Enrolment this year was 816, a drop from last year’s total of 832.

Echuca Technical School’s enrolment increased from 573 to 602.

The acting principal, Mr F. Volant, said staffing was satisfactory, but accommodation was critical, particularly in the workshop areas.

The school had gained a portable classroom for mechanical appreciation, and this had provided some relief to accommodation pressures.

***

Ted Schulz, 15, of Bunnaloo, has won the Victorian junior barefoot water ski championship for the second time.

The championship was held at Nagambie last weekend.

Ted first won the championship in 1973.

In the start methods section, Ted won with a flying beach start, tumbleturn start and a one-foot backwards step-off.

In the wake cross, Ted won the section with 8.5 wake crosses in the 20-second course.

He placed only fourth in the trick section, but it still gave him enough points to take the title.

Ted’s younger brother, Graham, 13, also did well to be placed fifth in the championship.

25 years ago February 2000

The region has sweltered over the past week, with temperatures soaring above 40ºC. The top temperature on Wednesday was 38ºC, Thursday was 40ºC and on Friday the mercury topped at 41ºC.

Power restrictions on Friday in Victoria left homes and businesses feeling the heat even more than usual, with a ban on air-conditioners in most places from 1pm to 7pm.

Many builders and similar workers started their days early in a bid to finish earlier and get out of the heat.

Echuca Regional Health reported no cases of heat stroke admitted on Friday.

Director of medical services Dr Paul Francis said people seemed to be coping well with the heat.

***

A cross-border bussing issue has been resolved, allowing secondary school students from Barmah and Picola to travel to Echuca.

The 18 to 20 secondary school students will be able to make their way to Echuca through NSW on a NSW school bus service.

Member for Rodney Noel Maughan said the problem arose when some of the students attending Echuca schools fell outside Department of Education guidelines.

Under the guidelines, free bus travel is only provided to the nearest government school or, in the case of non-government school students, to the nearest registered school of their appropriate denomination.

Previously the bus service was provided through an ad hoc arrangement between the education department, schools and parents.

***

St Anne’s Perricoota Vineyard is celebrating after taking delivery of the first new tanks for its new wine-making facility at Moama.

The facility, which was started in November, is only three weeks away from pressing the first harvest for the year 2000.

Winemaker Richard McLean said that all major infrastructure for the facility was in place and the remainder of the tanks and wine-making equipment would be arriving in the next few weeks.

‘’We’ve had lots of support from local tradesmen, some of whom worked through the Christmas and new year period in order to help us get up and running,’’ he said.

10 years ago February 2015

The latest RBA rate cut will leave most residents with more money in their pockets.

After the first official rate cut in 18 months, some banks have quickly followed suit with cuts to their standard variable home loan rates.

The RBA’s cash rate of 2.25 per cent is a record low and experts are predicting another rate cut within the next few months.

The rate cut is also likely to have another impact — on the property market.

CommSec chief economist Craig James said the RBA’s decision was risky, as it could push marginal borrowers into buying property and further drive up home prices.

LJ Hooker Echuca-Moama principal Allison Minter said with the lower mortgage repayments, it could result in more people coming into the market ready to buy.

***

Why buy one historic paddlesteamer when you can take ownership of a fleet?

Because there is one on the market and it is one of a kind — anywhere in the world.

The PS Emmylou, PS Canberra and the Pride of the Murray (trading as Murray River Paddlesteamers) could be yours for just $3.8 million.

Put together by Max Vulling and Vern Beasley with the purchase of the Pride of the Murray in 1996, the Emmylou the next year and Canberra in 2001, the business has been a tourist mecca.

Even before the Melbourne duo arrived in town, the Emmylou was an international superstar with its prime billing in the 1980s TV series All The Rivers Run.

Mr Vulling said he believed this fleet of river craft would probably be the last privately owned opportunity to buy a fleet of working paddlesteamers — anywhere.

***

It may sound corny, but Pat Turner is making a real difference in children’s lives.

The Echuca-based family day care educator has been nominated for early childhood educator of the year in this year’s Australian Family Early Education and Care Awards.

Early childhood education is a far cry from where she started out — as a manager for KFC.

‘‘It wasn’t suited to my family, it was night and weekend work,’’ she said.

And her passion for dealing with children meant she soon realised her true calling.

After volunteer work at local day cares and completing study, Pat joined Bambini Children’s Care Services in 2012.

‘‘That’s the great thing about family day care — it’s like an extended family,’’ she said.