Musos strip rusty chords

By CHRIS EARL

WHEN Rohan bumped into Hayden at Pyramid Hill’s Victoria Hotel a few months back, they were just a couple of rusty musicians without a band or any gigs in the diary.

The pair had played cover bands for years in Bendigo before drifting away from the live music scene.

Hayden White, a farmer at Tandarra, had his drum kit gathering dust in the shed.

That unplanned reunion with bass guitarist Rohan Eckart struck a chord and the musical juices were flowing faster than a turbo-charged disco beat.

They hit the phones to old band mates to hand-pick a new combo. First to sign up was friend Helen Garchitorena who they knew from her days in Pyramid Hill but now lived in Serpentine.

Ken Richie has moved from Bendigo to Serpentine and was quickly brought into the band by Helen.

The quartet still had one spot to fill. Rohan had been in bands with Axedale’s Sonia Atherton - bingo, the vocalist was in and the Rusty Bearings was formed over some ales at the Dingee Hotel.

Rehearsals started last month in Hayden’s shed. On another visit to his local in Pyramid Hill, Rohan spoke to publican Paul Carter and the first gig later this month was in the diary.

“We’re just warming up,” said Hayden in a break during the band’s second rehearsal putting together repertoire, dusting off the cobwebs and stripping away the rust after a few years of musical suspension.

“We aim to play at gigs about once a month,” said Helen. “When we were putting the band together, I immediately had my new neighbour Ken in mind.”

Ken has long been part of the central Victorian music scene and Bendigo Blues Club. He says forming Rusty Paddocks will be good for music in Loddon towns.

“Pubs are an important meeting place where our music can bring people together,” he said. “The music scene has changed a lot in places like Bendigo. Live music is not as strong unless you are a solo or duo act.

“We don’t want to be playing every week ... that would quickly saturate the scene but it’s great to already have gigs in the diary.”

Hayden, who runs his 350-hectare farm and feedlot, said the diary also included a Mitiamo Football Club function and a wed- ding. “Word has spread pretty fast since we decided to form,” he said.

“We’ve even had my neighbour and Loddon Mayor Dan Straub drop in to hear how we are going.”

As the only non-Loddon performer in the Rusty Bearings line-up, nurse Sonia says she enjoys the trips to Tandarra for rehearsals. And besides, it’s catching up with like-minded musos whose paths were crossed or shared in the days before COVID lockdowns shutdown live music.

For now, Rusty Bearings will play covers at its gigs but Rohan said the quintet will get to work on some originals too.

By the end of the band’s second rehearsal, they weren’t sounding rusty at all as the pencil gets sharpened for more gig entries in the diary and the Loddon’s own rock band takes to new stages.

Scraps and scrapes on incident-filled day

By JULIE PIENING

THE 28th Rheola Charity Carnival of 1898 was not without incident.

There were a few versions of what happened- during a race, one horse galloped into a crowd and collided with several people. One woman was knocked down and received head lacerations, while the boiler attendant received severe scalp wounds and broken ribs.

The other story was that a young man, Foster Dawson, a son of a well-known resident, was riding his horse in an event and it fell and some of Mr Dawson’s teeth were broken.

The following year was reported to be incident free much to the relief of everyone.

In 1903, the attendance was the smallest for many years. owing to the counter attractions at Bealiba, Newbridge and Berrimal. Adults paid sixpence for admission. Gross takings for the day were reported as just over £110 and expenses just over £39.

The 38th carnival on Easter Monday 1908 was held at the recreation reserve for the first time. A committee of management had been granted the area as a reserve. There were 15 events on the program and included footraces, cycle races, horse trots and gallops and a ladies’ driving competition.

While the Sports afternoon was in aid of the Inglewood and Dunolly Hospitals, the evening entertainment was in aid of the

Recreation Reserve Improvement Fund.

The following year, woodchop competitors were to find their own logs. The logs needed to be truly round and solid, 50 inches in girth, green-grey box with bark to be left on for purpose of identification.

The Judges had the power to disqualify any competitor who did not fulfill these instructions.

The 1913 carnival saw the novelty of Mr. C.J. Ansett’s motor car which had been engaged by the committee to run short trips. The privilege of enjoying this means of locomotion was eagerly awaited and the venture proved an exceedingly profitable one for the charity.

The lead up to the 1916 Carnival was not without drama. A number of local newspapers reported of a standoff between two committees over the hire of the local hall for the evening of April 24 and where the proceeds of the evening should be allocated.

The Rheola Sports Committee determined that the funds raised from their annual sports carnival would be devoted to the two local hospitals. The proceeds of the bar, concert and ball would be devoted to the fund established for building the local hall.

Mr. A. Lyle, secretary to the Patriotic Committee, considered his fund should have precedence over the local claims and booked the only available hall for Easter Monday night for World War One patriotic purposes and thus prevented the sports committee from carrying out its intentions.

A deputation from the Sports Committee of Messrs, J.J. O’Brien, W. Leach snr. and R. Catto interviewed Mr. Lyle with the view of persuading him to forego his claim on the hall but was unsuccessful. A meeting was held and determined that the committee would forgo the concert and ball for 1916 but the community was in favour of still holding the sports carnival.

Therefore the 1916 Carnival was advertised for Easter Monday April 24, 1916. “A new building has been erected by the trustees of the recreation reserve committee.

“The building is not ready for use at the time of the carnival and as another committee has booked the usual McPherson’s Hall that has been used for the last 45 years, there will be no concert and ball held after the sports meeting this year.

“We look forward to the carnival, concert and ball next year in 1917 in the new hall.”

The Golden Jubilee of the Rheola Charity Carnival saw the unveiling of a painting of two ‘old timers’ meeting after a long absence that has hung over the maintenance in the Rheola Hall since it was painted in 1920 by H. Robinson of Moliagul.

The words read “Back to Rehola We Meet Again” The spelling of Rheola was incorrect.

The painting was redone in 2018 due to the ageing and fragile state of the original. Both are on display in the Rheola Hall now.

NEXT WEEK: A look at the carnival during years of depression and war

Employment

The Rollinson family would like to thank family, friends and the Boort/Fernihurst communities for the sympathy, support and kindness conveyed to us following the passing of our mother, Flo Rollinson.

We also wish to thank the fabulous BDH/Loddon Place staff and Mubarak for the individual care, respect and love provided to Flo.

The Wheelhouse family would like to thank everyone for the cards, flowers and support that has been extended to them following the passing of Cliff. The generosity and kindness of family and friends from far and wide has been a great comfort.

Public Notices

SALES POSITION - FULL TIME

Miller Ag Supplies - Pyramid Hill Miller Ag Supplies is seeking an enthusiastic and energetic person to work in our Pyramid Hill shop.

Miller Ag Supplies is an independent locally owned business, committed to providing great products and service to our customers. This position would suit someone looking to commence or continue their career in Agricultural retail.

This position is full time, and you will be required to work some Saturday mornings on a roster. For a full job description please check our website millerag.com.au/job-opportunities/ Applications close on Monday March 20, 2023.

Audit And Risk Committee Independent Member Vacancy

Loddon Shire Council is seeking expressions of interest from suitably quali ed persons to be appointed as an independent member of its Audit and Risk Committee. The Audit and Risk Committee has been established to support Council in discharging its oversight responsibilities related to nancial and performance reporting, risk management, fraud prevention systems and control, maintenance of a sound internal control environment, assurance activities and Council’s performance with regard to compliance with its policies and legislative and regulatory requirements.

The appointment is for a period of up to four years, with potential for two additional four-year terms.

Ideally, the successful candidate will have experience in nancial management, risk or public sector management, together with a strong community focus.

Further information, including the Audit and Risk Committee Charter and Information Pack can be found on Council’s website, https://www.loddon.vic.gov.au/ Our-Council/Council/Audit-Committeemembership-and-meetings or by contacting Lisa Clue, Manager Governance on 5494 1200.

Applications close at 5.00pm on Wednesday 15 March 2023.

WANTED

Agistment Wanted

Agistment for 100 sheep in exchange for fencing, plumbing or maintenance

Salisbury West area

Phone Neil 0417353929

WANTED TO BUY

The role will suit a candidate with true passion for community sport. You will create unique sporting coverage of events ranging from Auskickers playing their first game to the our local clubs battling for grand final glory. You will engage with our audience via traditional print as well as online and social media.

Apart from exceptional verbal and written skills, the right candidate will possess excellent time management and the ability to work towards tight and competing deadlines.