Deniliquin Pastoral Times 165th Anniversary Souvenir Edition 1859 ~ 2024

CELEBRATING 165 YEARS OF LOCAL NEWS AND SPORT SOUVENIR EDITION 1859 ~ 2024

First local newspaper outlasts the competition

The Deniliquin Pastoral Times was the first newspaper in the Riverina, and one of the first provincial newspapers in New South Wales.

When its first edition was published on May 26, 1859 there was no newspaper upriver nearer than Albury, and none downriver between here and Adelaide.

Despite having various competitors throughout a history that now spans 165 years, the Pastoral Times remains one of the longest serving newspapers in regional NSW.

These other newspapers included the Deniliquin Chronicle, Riverine Journal, Riverine Advertiser, Deniliquin Independent and Deniliquin Standard.

The Pastoral Times was founded by Dr David Griffith Jones, an Englishman with experience in newspapers who was born in 1816 and came to Deniliquin from the goldfields of Bendigo and Ballarat in 1854.

The first issue of the Pastoral Times was published in a building attached to Chandler’s Store, beyond what became the Federal Hotel. Initially it was published

weekly, on a Saturday, and sold for one shilling per copy.

Six years after the death of Dr Jones in 1876, the Pastoral Times was purchased by Mr Thomas Hunter, who later sold to his editor, Mr J W H Wyse in January 1893, thus starting a dynasty which lasted 59 years.

Mr Wyse held the reins at the PT until his death at 54 in 1900, but the Wyse name continued its ownership of the paper for many more years.

From 1952 the Pastoral Times was operated under the banner of the Deniliquin Publishing Company.

For the next three decades the Pastoral Times was the only newspaper in town, apart from a very short period when a Moama publication tried unsuccessfully to become established.

In 1981 former PT staff established a ‘new’ Deniliquin Independent as a weekly publication.

At the same time a company called Mytho Pty Ltd, which comprised local and regional shareholders, purchased the Pastoral Times from the Deniliquin Publishing Company.

It appointed Garry Baker, a young chief sub-editor of the Shepparton News, as the managing editor and this started his association with the local newspaper industry which spans more than 40 years. However, he did have a break from the Pastoral Times from 1987 until 1995, and in the latter half of this period was instrumental

in establishing the Deniliquin Standard, which published weekly from May 1991 until the end of June 1995.

The Pastoral Times and The Standard merged in July 1995, at which point Mr Baker returned to the PT as managing editor.

At this time a new company was formed – Deniliquin

Newspapers P/L - comprising a mix of shareholders from the Standard and Pastoral Times, and it still publishes the Pastoral Times in 2024, operating as part of the McPherson Media Group with a predominantly local Board of Directors. This continues the newspaper’s unbroken service to the community since 1859.

Pastoral Times stafff Leesa Muir, Sam Wake, Rowan Frazer, Jen Ho and Amber King support Nutrien’s Dolly Day breakfast.

Pastoral Times general manager Leesa Muir presents the 2023 Business of the Year award to John Haig, Neville Purtill and Kacey Dighton from The Depot. Deniliquin Pastoral Times continues to be the major sponsor

the Deniliquin Business Chamber’s

Awards.

Deniliquin Pastoral Times and its members raised

Navember

PT Melbourne Cup Sweep. Pastoral Times general manager Leesa Muir is pictured with Neville Purtill and Skye Hillier from Navorina.

NEWSPAPER EVOLUTION

PT’s proud history as longserving local newspaper

The Deniliquin Pastoral Times is one of the longest serving newspapers in regional NSW.

Since its establishment it has outlasted numerous other competitors.

Some have simply folded while the Pastoral Times continued, and others have merged with it under a variety of arrangements.

Pastoral Times founder Dr David Jones operated two papers at one stage.

Riverine Advertiser

He established the Riverine Advertiser, an offshoot of the Pastoral Times, in the late 1860s.

The Riverine Advertiser was smaller, and cheaper.

It published mid-week, while the Pastoral Times would run at the end of the week, and had changed from the original Thursday publication date to Friday, and then to Saturday.

Dr Jones is reported to have said that local residents had requested two editions a week, because of the many events of great importance which were happening in the town.

Instead of issuing the Pastoral Times as a biweekly, he established a second publication.

One reasoning behind Dr Jones’ decision to publish two weeklies from the same office was believed to have stemmed from the very

real threat of libel action at the time.

If either of Dr Jones’ papers was forced to close because of litigation he could continue to publish the other paper free of hassle.

Southern Courier and Deniliquin Chronicle

An early rival, the Southern Courier, which was printed at the Royal Hotel, was taken over by the Pastoral Times in October 1861.

One opposition paper which had a longer lifespan than the Southern Courier was the Deniliquin Chronicle, which began operation in 1864 under the leadership of Mr Alex Mayger, a former employee of the Pastoral Times.

It continued successfully until April 1936 when it was finally absorbed by the larger Pastoral Times.

Six years after the death of Dr Jones the Pastoral Times was purchased by Mr Thomas Hunter and the Riverine Advertiser ceased publication.

Mr Hunter sold out to his editor, Mr J W H Wyse in January 1893, thus starting a dynasty which was to last 59 years.

Mr Wyse had arrived in Deniliquin from Corowa where he had established the Corowa Free Press. Mr Wyse held the reigns at the PT until his death at 54 in 1900, but the Wyse name was to continue its ownership of the paper for many more years.

His son Mr Murray Wyse became editor after the death of his father and a third generation took over when Miss Audrey Wyse took control after Murray died in 1946. Both the Wyse family and their paper continued to prosper through much of the 1900s.

The Independent

A former employee of the Pastoral Times, Mr A T Jones, established the Deniliquin Independent in 1890.

It remained in publication until February 1947 when it was purchased by its older competitor and incorporated under the Pastoral Times banner.

The Independent had already absorbed another early, but short lived competitor, the Riverine Journal.

For the next three decades the Pastoral Times was the only newspaper in town until 1981 when the ‘‘new’’ Deniliquin Independent began operation as a weekly publication.

In the same year Mytho Pty Ltd, which comprised local and regional shareholders, purchased the Pastoral Times from the Deniliquin Publishing Company.

Five years later, Mytho, trading as Deniliquin Pastoral Times, bought the Independent and both papers continued to run independently for a short time, under

the same ownership.

The two were amalgamated as of January 12, 1988.

Before the first issue was printed, however, the board announced the paper had been sold to the McPherson Newspaper Group (now McPherson Media Group), based in Shepparton.

Deniliquin Standard

Three years later another independent weekly publication, the Deniliquin Standard, was established in competition to the Pastoral Times, which continued to run as a bi-weekly.

The Standard published its first edition in May 1991; it was owned by a syndicate of 17 local business persons.

The Pastoral Times and the Deniliquin Standard merged in July 1995 and the Standard was incorporated under the Pastoral Times banner.

A new company was formed, comprising a mix of shareholders from the Standard and Pastoral Times, and operating as Deniliquin Newspapers P/L.

Now, the Pastoral Times remains not only as one of the oldest regional newspapers in NSW, but one which has given unbroken service since its establishment in 1859.

The Pastoral Times has operated from several locations throughout our long history. These include two buildings in End St, one where Mills Hebbard Moore Solicitors is located today. There have also been two in Cressy St in the past 50 years, including the present location at the corner of Cressy and Edwardes Sts. The other is now occupied by Deni Health Foods & Wellbeing.

Dr Jones creates first local paper

On Thursday, May 26, 1859, the first issue of the Deniliquin Telegraph and Pastoral Times hit the streets.

It was the first newspaper in the Riverina and one of the earliest provincial newspapers in Australia.

Dr David Griffith Jones, an Englishman with experience in the industry in his home country, was the founder and first editor.

Papers had been established in Sydney and Melbourne for several decades but their popularity had not grown to country areas.

Dr Jones was not only a medical man and editor, but a keen organiser with a real sense of community involvement.

Apart from establishing the newspaper, he is credited with being primarily responsible for two major achievements in the Deniliquin area - the extension of the telegraph line to Deniliquin and the establishment of the

Deniliquin and Moama railway line.

Publisher of the Pastoral Times for the first six months was Thomas Strode, a printer of 27 years experience and closely associated with the early Melbourne newspapers.

In November of the first year Mr Strode left and was replaced by Weston James Hatfield.

Dr Jones had control of the paper which was issued weekly and sold for one shilling until his death in December 1876. Grateful for the time he had spent on behalf of Deniliquin and the district, residents of the area presented his widow with a purse of 500 sovereigns.

During his 17 years in the editorial chair Dr Jones had fights, crusades and libel actions like any other lively editor — however, he often escaped with the defence of public interest and truth, in the days before libel laws were tightened.

Pages of the past

Pristine copies of the first volume of the Pastoral Times are hard to come by, but regardless of their condition each edition is kept on file. Copies of the PT dating back to 1859 are on permanent loan at the Deniliquin Historical Society.

The pictured front page is volume one, number one and dated Thursday, May 26, 1859. It cost readers one shilling to buy.

Among the items making news in this first edition was the pending arrival of the Candidate for the Electorate of Deniliquin,

Moama and Moulamein John Hay. He was to visit on Nomination Day (June 27) and hosted at a reception at the Wanderer Inn, North Deniliquin.

Digital copies of the Pastoral Times are also available at the Deniliquin Library. In recent years, thanks to the efforts of the Deniliquin & District Pastoral Times Digitisation Project, volumes of the Pastoral Times from 1859 to 1870 have been digitised and can be accessed online through the renowned history resource Trove.

Founder sets the political tone

In the first edition of the Pastoral Times, David Jones outlined the political path he intended the paper to take.

Unfortunately part of the first edition is missing from the bound copy of the original newspaper, which is still held by the Deniliquin Historical Society on permanent loan from the Pastoral Times.

The same section is also missing from the microfilm records of the newspaper held at the Deniliquin Library.

The missing piece includes some of Dr Jones’ introduction.

However, in what has been preserved he says: ‘‘ . . . while we are conservative in our

views, we will make a very liberal allowance for all changes necessary to the advancement of the colony.

‘‘It will be our duty to guard, as far as our power will admit of it, the pastoral interests; but we shall never resist those reforms necessary for steady progress.

‘‘We accept as a truism, that which we hope our future labours will corroborate, ‘property has its duties as well as its rights’.

‘‘While we hold from the Crown large tracts of country for pastoral purpose, still we hold these in trust in order to sow in the wilderness the germs of civilisation and we expect to reap a reasonable reward for our toil.

‘‘Our readers will thus understand that

while as the name of the journal denotes, our chief efforts will be directed to the steady development and progress of pastoral matters, yet shall we pay every attention to other interests, as they arise in importance.

‘‘We shall treat all with equal fairness. We are not blindly allied to any party, nor shall we attempt to close our eyes to the imperfections of those among who the Pastoral Times may be expected to circulate.

‘‘Were we to do so — were we to exhibit any favouritism or undue indulgence to any person, section or class, we should also be faithless to our mission, and we should at once acknowledge that we had mistaken our calling.

‘‘ . . . We do not hope to escape severe

criticism from all. It cannot be expected that all should think alike.

‘‘A fair amount of opposition, an opposition that would scorn to descend to factiousness, is the most promising sign of the body politic.

‘‘When there is this vigorous circulation, there is but little fear of political gangrene.

‘‘Our efforts, we repeat, shall then be directed towards steady progression.

‘‘We hope to treat all great questions with a becoming sense of the duty we owe, not to the pastoral interests alone, but to the colony generally.

‘‘In local affairs, we shall be equally free and independent. Our columns shall be open at all times, to men of every shade of opinions . . .’’

Dr David Griffith Jones started the Pastoral Times in 1859. It hit the streets with the masthead The Pastoral Times and Deniliquin Telegraph.

The evolution of printing

Take a look at this page, or at any page in the newspaper.

Then imagine putting it together, like a jigsaw puzzle, letter by letter, space by space.

And not only are the letters back to front, they’re also upside down.

When the Pastoral Times first started, creating a page was a matter of carefully taking individual letters from a case containing hundreds of every letter in the alphabet, and setting them within a frame to make words, sentences and paragraphs.

Everything, even the space between the words, had to be set piece by piece to build up the page.

A single page could take a whole day to compile.

The staff responsible for putting the puzzle of the page together were called compositors.

The name has carried through to modern times, although the techniques of creating pages are vastly different today.

James Strode was the printer who brought the Pastoral Times’ first press to Deniliquin, along with the typecases which held hundreds and hundreds of lead letters in a range of sizes.

At that time the letters for headlines were carved from wood — usually cherry wood.

The business also operated as a general printer, as well as a newspaper and advertiser.

Mechanical printing

Until 1908 all printing at the Pastoral Times had been done by hand.

The type which formed each page was inked, paper placed over the top, then a roller was pushed across the page to transfer the ink to the paper — printing the text.

The early editions were four pages, and each page was done separately.

The paper was left to dry then the second page printed, the third, then the fourth.

On January 11, 1908 a Double Royal Wharfdale driven by an Otto gas engine was installed by an engineer from Bell and Valentine of Melbourne, making the actual printing process mechanical.

The Wharfdale had been bought from Mr J Johnstone of The Grazier at Hay. It was delivered to Deniliquin by Mr C Lee of Booroorban, who used a 10 horse team.

In the 1950s this press

was sold to a scrap dealer and another secondhand Wharfdale was installed.

The Wharfdales printed two pages at a time.

When the Pastoral Times purchased a flatbed rotary press it substantially increased the speed of printing, with a capacity to produce 16 pages at a time.

Putting the pages together

Handsetting all type, letter by letter, continued until the Pastoral Times purchased its first Linotype in October 1920. Individual letters were no longer taken from the typecases.

The linotype instead cast its own letters, in lead, making a whole line of text at a time.

At the end of each week the lines of type which had been compiled into the page frames were dumped into a pot and melted, ready for recasting into text for the following week’s papers.

A new model 14 Linotype arrived in 1931.

It took 39 years from 1920 to take the next big step, moving in April 1959 to a Ludlow typecaster, shipped out from America.

The Ludlow could cast type for headlines, as well as for

the text of stories. Until this point the headlines had still been set by hand.

With the Ludlow arrived an English electric melting pot, purchased to dispense with the weekly chore of melting down used type.

The system of typecasting continued until the Pastoral Times entered the age of computerised newspaper production in 1977.

It was a change from hot metal type casting to ‘cold composition’, based on photographic technology, and offset printing.

Computers

The change provided an instant improvement in the quality of photographs.

Parts of pages could be prepared separately and pasted together, making it much easier to incorporate photographs, logos, artwork and text.

It also made it much easier to make alterations, updates or changes to text or advertisements.

The whole image of the page was then photographed, and negatives were used to create plates for use on an offset press.

When the Pastoral Times first moved to cold composition its pages were composed and sent to Griffith for printing.

With changes in ownership it has since been printed at Finley until the late 1980s, and has since been printed at Shepparton.

Computerisation has continued to evolve and the Pastoral Times has kept pace with the changes, moving to a fully digital production system.

CyberPage and Naviga

The onset of computer software packaging to cater for newspaper layout and design has all but made the aforementioned technology obsolete.

For nearly three decades until recent years the Pastoral Times editorial team used a newspaper computer design package called CyberPage.

CyberPage allowed the sub-editor to design the newspaper from start to finish without even leaving the desk, and made the ‘jigsaw’ of newspaper design much easier.

It is hard to imagine a time before CyberPage and the difficulties that were once associated with newspaper deadlines.

Today, our teams have switched from Cyberpage to Naviga when creating content. Page production

is coordinated using a suite of programs available via Amazon Workspaces.

Naviga is a modern, comprehensive and intuitive content creation platform that covers the full content process.

From planning and creation for multiple channels, to storage and production, it streamlines the content lifecycle across its unified solution suite.

The programs also simplify how content is shared via our online and social media channels.

Digital cameras and the internet have also made life easier for country journalists.

Former Pastoral Times managing editor Audrey Wise (1948-56) asked a linotype operator to make changes to the galley of text she had proof read.

Vintage letterpress alphabet.

PT continues to face the challenges

Throughout the 165 year history of the Pastoral Times, each decade has seen various challenges and changes.

However, there has perhaps never been a greater challenge to the newspaper industry than what we have seen in the past 15 years.

Since we published our 150th anniversary edition many sectors of the media have been ‘thrown on their head’.

However, if there is one sector that is most likely to survive the digital challenges that are being faced, it is the local newspaper.

In capital cities and even larger regional centres, residents now have a range of online sources where they can find local news. But in places like Deniliquin and district, the only comprehensive local communication service is the local newspaper.

During the COVID-19 years there were many local communities which lost their local newspaper, in particular those owned by large corporates who saw it as an opportunity to reduce the number of their mastheads.

While we found this a difficult period at the Pastoral Times, with government support we were able to continue publishing throughout COVID.

However, the biggest ongoing challenge is the way technology is changing the world, making it vital that we keep pace with the latest innovations.

With that in mind, in recent years the Pastoral Times has embarked on our biggest technological advancement in the company’s history. Through our partnership with the McPherson Media Group, which is at the forefront of newspaper technology, we now offer our valued readers an experience

that encompasses our traditional hardcopy newspaper, plus a digital edition and additional digital content.

From a regional perspective, it is interesting to note that in the past 10 to 15 years the biggest challenges identified have been climatic and political.

Unfortunately, the climatic challenges continue to be faced, and are coupled with ongoing water policy issues that our Federal Government refuses to appropriately acknowledge and address. Water buybacks may be the easiest way to implement the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, but they are certainly not the best way and have the potential for adverse impact on our region. It is disappointing when governments will not acknowledge this, however we have faced difficult times in the past and survived, and we are confident that will continue to be the case, despite what national leaders throw at us.

On a brighter note, with support from the NSW Government we have seen in recent times unprecedented infrastructure developments which are giving the township of Deniliquin and surrounding rural villages a welcome boost.

At the Pastoral Times, for 165 years we have challenged governments at all levels and advocated strongly for the community we serve. We will continue this fight, even though it may sometimes be unpopular, as we aim to convince Governments to take more notice of our needs.

Although some people - politicians in particular - do not like being held to account, we see it as an important part of our role.

Since our inception back in 1859 the Pastoral Times has always been prepared to fight for the people we represent.

We also have a commitment to continue doing everything in our power to provide you with a vibrant, relevant newspaper that plays its role in developing and informing our region.

In the past we have quoted former professor of journalism John H. Casey and would like to repeat his words: ‘‘Without its newspaper, the country community would be like a school without a teacher, or a church without a pastor. The country newspaper determines more outcomes and asserts a greater influence for constructive community progress than any other medium.’’

His words still ring true.

At the Pastoral Times we have been asserting influence for 165 years and look forward to continuing this important role for many more into the future.

Leesa Muir General Manager

Working together to inform community

Congratulations to the Deni Pastoral Times for reaching this incredible milestone.

In a landscape where print journalism is struggling to compete with online and digital editions, the Deni PT stands tall, informing residents not just of breaking news, but on the issues that affect everyone in the region.

Local rural newspapers play a critical role in ensuring the public are well informed on political issues important to our community by scrutinising our decisions and holding politicians to account.

Rural publications also provide information about programs and initiatives available to the area and keeps the community connected.

The Pastoral Times occupies a significant position in our community, reporting on local news, social events, sports and weather. While the journalistic environment has changed over the past 165 years, regional media outlets and publishers are constantly challenged by the ever-changing ways we are able to receive and generate news.

Our community is lucky to be served by the dedicated team at the Pastoral Times who have adapted to the changing environment and continue to deliver engaging content providing a strong and powerful voice for us

in the bush.

In a time when many rural newsrooms and mastheads have been forced out of the industry, the Pastoral Times continues to provide our community with access to media that reflects our local character, culture and community expectations.

I congratulate the Pastoral Times on reaching this amazing milestone, and I look forward to seeing this rural masthead and local icon continue to serve our community for many years to come.

Helen Dalton MP Member for Murray

Congratulations to the Deni PT for 165 years in print

a strong and powerful voice for all of us in the bush

The team behind the Deni PT

The production of a newspaper is a concerted team effort, involving all departments of the Pastoral Times team.

The process starts with the advertising department and administration/classifieds departments, with the number of ads often dictating the size of the next edition.

The production team produces the ads that go on the page and create the ‘book’ to be filled by the editorial team, who gather news and local community content to keep you both informed and entertained.

A source of pride for the Pastoral Times is that many in our team were educated locally, either in Deniliquin or nearby towns.

Our team:

Leesa Muir – General manager

Leesa started with the Pastoral Times as a part-time advertising consultant in 2005.

Her dedication and proficiency saw her elevated to advertising manager in 2010.

After a brief time away from the company, Leesa returned at the start of 2019 as business manager, and is now the general manager of both the PT and Southern Riverina News.

She oversees all departments in the PT team and manages the business as a whole.

Leesa is originally from Daylesford, where she was educated, and made the move to Deniliquin in 2002.

Zoe McMaugh – Content manager

Zoe joined the Pastoral Times team as a cadet journalist in 2004, after graduating with a communications degree at the University of Western Sydney.

Over the next four years she completed a post-graduate degree through Deakin University while working full-time.

Not long after becoming a graded journalist, Zoe became the PT’s senior journalist and took on sub-editing duties. More recently she was promoted to content manager, and oversees the editorial departments of both the PT and Southern Riverina News.

Zoe is a graduate of Deniliquin High School.

Rebecca Flisher – Creative manager

Rebecca’s time with the Pastoral Times started when a trainee graphic design position was advertised one year after she had graduated from Deniliquin High School.

She’s been a valuable member of the production team ever since, and these days is responsible not only for newspaper production, but also commercial printing and social media. Rebecca is also a dab hand with a camera and enjoys taking some of our photos.

When modern technology expanded the range of services the Pastoral Times could

provide, it also expanded Rebecca’s skill set. On any given day she could be working on advertising, features, special publications, book publishing, magazines or social media.

Kayla McAuliffe – Administration manager

Unlike many others in our team, Kayla is a newcomer to the benefits of a rural lifestyle, having been raised in Melbourne’s western suburbs and graduating from Williamstown High School. She had no real intention of building a career in administration, admitting it is something she “fell into” when an opportunity arose to join the PT team three years ago. She took to the role like the proverbial ‘fish to water’ and is a valuable team member, looking after our admin needs, while also having a support admin role at the Southern Riverina News. Kayla lives in Jerilderie.

Amber King – Advertising consultant

Amber knows our region well, having been born and raised in Deniliquin and became the latest in a long line of PT employees who have been educated at Deniliquin High School. She started at the Pastoral Times in 2022, initially as an administration trainee through Murray Mallee Training Company, while completing a Cert. II in Business. Amber transitioned to a sales support role, shared part-time with her admin duties, before becoming a full-time member of our sales team. She also provides admin support when required.

Sam Wake – Advertising consultant

Sam is originally from Daylesford, where she was educated at the local Secondary College, before building a career in retail and sales. She relocated to Deniliquin five years ago, and joined our sales team in 2022. Sam now helps local businesses with the marketing needs, whether this is in the Tuesday or Friday edition of the Pastoral Times, or in one of our many special features and magazines, including Farm Talk and What’s On.

Jennifer Ho – Creative trainee

Jen is another of the many past and present Pastoral Times employees who have been able to start a career doing what they love in their home town. She was born and raised in Deniliquin and is another graduate of Deniliquin High School to join our team, also as a trainee through Murray Mallee Training Company. Jen is completing a Cert. III in Design Fundamentals with TAFE NSW while enjoying ‘hands-on’ experience designing the many advertisements which appear in the Pastoral Times, as well as our many features and special publications.

Rowan Frazer – Cadet journalist

Rowan joined the team at the Pastoral Times in January 2024, making the move from Splitters Creek, near Albury. He is a graduate of Scot’s School in Albury and developed an interest in writing and journalism while undertaking a degree in arts and commerce at Macquarie University. Rowan has a wide range of interests, but is particularly drawn to

sport. While Rowan takes responsibility for a lot of the sport content in the Pastoral Times, he also writes community news, features and general news stories.

Daniel Briggs – Cadet journalist

Daniel is the newest member of the Pastoral Times team, joining the newsroom in June 2024. He grew up in Deniliquin but moved away for his secondary schooling, and is excited to be back working within his home community. Daniel was an avid reader of the PT as a young man, and is proud to now be a member of such a long-standing local publication. Daniel has already made his mark with some interesting stories, and we look forward to him developing a long and successful career as part of our team.

The Pastoral Times management team, Rebecca Flisher, Kayla McAuliffe, Zoe McMaugh and Leesa Muir.

Rowan Frazer. Daniel Briggs. Amber King.

Sam Wake.

Jennifer Ho.

PT PERSONALITIES

Friday laughs with Lordy

Alan Lord could be Australia’s longest serving cartoonist with the one newspaper.

Mr Lord, or Lordy as he is affectionately known, has been the Pastoral Times’ cartoonist for nearly 40 years.

‘‘I’d reckon I’d be close . . . I’ve been with the PT a long time,’’ Lordy said.

What started as a childhood hobby has now developed into more than 10,000 cartoons.

‘‘I used to draw all the time in school.

‘‘I’d make cartoons of the teacher and then get into trouble . . . but I must have been doing something right because they always kept the drawings,’’ he said with a grin.

The popular cartoonist said he has never had any trouble coming up with an idea for his weekly cartoons, which feature in every Friday edition of the Pastoral Times.

‘‘I’ve had a few targets over the years. I don’t

ever set out to hurt or humiliate anyone.

‘‘I usually draw about something that has happened through the week, something that has got everyone talking.’’

With thousands of cartoons tucked away at home, Lordy said it would be too difficult to pick out a favourite.

‘‘They usually only take me half an hour to complete.

‘‘It’s very quick, though sometimes I like to sit down and think about it for a while.

‘‘Being a local and having a strange sense of humour makes it a lot easier,’’ he chuckled.

The long time local said he tries to centre his cartoons around the bush.

‘‘Being born and bred in the bush, I try to maintain a country theme, but sometimes I just draw whatever pops into my head.

‘‘And I’ve got plenty of ideas left.’’

Daisy is Mathoura’s voice

Eileen Day, or Daisy as she is affectionately known, has had an association with the Pastoral Times which has lasted more than 40 years.

As the author of the Mathoura Diary column which appears every Friday, Daisy is the voice of Mathoura for the PT readership.

Daisy said her start as a columnist came about in an unusual way, as she initially went to the Pastoral Times office to complain.

‘‘My daughter Angela was about seven and she won a few gold medals in swimming, but

there was no mention of it,’’ she said.

‘‘I got a bit motherly and went into the office.

‘‘After that, I started putting things down on paper.’’

Daisy, who had worked as a journalist with the Pastoral Times, was already running a news service through her business River River Media, and wrote her Mathoura Diary column for both the Pastoral Times and, for a time, the Deniliquin Standard.

‘‘It’s all about being part of the community,

and helping through the highs and the lows,’’

Daisy said of sticking with the column.

‘‘Raising the profile of Mathoura is my great ambition.

‘‘I will print all sorts of news, about what is going on in the town.

‘‘In recent years I have been able to promote what our Mathoura Events Committee has been doing for our community.

‘‘It’s a great feeling when they come and say, ‘thank you’ for what you’ve written.’’

Thanks to 165

years

of

people who have made it happen

Proud to be involved with and supporting Deniliquin’s only local newspaper – the only widespread community forum for recording and bringing together community and raising and prosecuting the issues important to our community.

(03) 5877 7011

at 286 George St, Deniliquin

Three strong women act for us

We have all come to realise that politics is an ever-changing world, and Deniliquin and district has seen its fair share of changes in recent times.

This has included boundary redistributions, which have occurred at federal and state level.

The federal electorate of Farrer now takes in Hay, Balranald, Griffith, Carrathool, Narrandera and Leeton, and our representative since 2001 has been Sussan Ley, who is now Deputy Leader of the federal Opposition.

However, Deniliquin has not always been in Farrer.

It had a brief time in the Barrier electorate, from 1913 to 1921, then was in the seat of Riverina until a boundary redistribution took effect in 1984.

The seat had been held by Noel Hicks, for the National Party, who went on to win the seat of Riverina-Darling. Riverina was temporarily abolished, but has since returned and is presently held by Michael McCormack, who had previously been editor of the Wagga Daily Advertiser.

When the seat of Farrer was established in 1984, the National Party’s Tim Fischer successfully moved from State Government to Federal Government.

He had previously been our local Member for Murray.

Mr Fischer, representing the National Party, went on to be Deputy Prime Minister.

The Nationals lost the seat to Liberal Sussan Ley when Mr Fischer retired in 2001.

Ms Ley has consistently been returned at each election since then. While her margin was reduced in the May 2019 election after a

strong push from Independent Kevin Mack, it defied national trends with a massive 66 per cent two party preferred victory in 2022.

The 2019 Federal election also delivered Deniliquin its first ever Senator, with Perin Davey elected to represent NSW on behalf of The Nationals.

It took more than a month for the Senate to be confirmed, with Ms Davey officially taking up her position on July 1, 2019.

Senator Davey is one of only two NSW Senators living outside Sydney and has an office in Deniliquin.

At state level, the local area has traditionally been a stronghold for the National Party, but also with representation from the Liberal Party and Independents. It is currently held by an Independent member, Helen Dalton.

From 1932 until 1973, as the seat of Murray, it was held by Joe Lawson who was instrumental in having the Lawson Syphons constructed, and later named in his honour. Mr Lawson was predominantly a Country Party member, though his last five years were as an Independent.

After his death in 1973 his daughter Mary Meillon (nee Lawson) was elected Member for Murray, representing the Liberal Party. It returned to National Party hands in 1980 when Tim Fisher was elected, and he was succeeded by Jim Small in 1984 when Mr Fischer moved to federal politics.

Adrian Piccoli was the National Party member from 1999, at which time Deniliquin was in the seat of Murrumbidgee, following Mr Small’s retirement.

In 2007 our region was pushed into the seat of Murray-Darling and it returned to

The Nationals, represented by John Williams. Another boundary redistribution then saw parts of Murrumbidgee and Murray-Darling joined to make the current seat of Murray in 2015 and it was initially held by Adrian Piccoli.

He retired two years later, at which time Austin Evans won a by-election to become Member for Murray, again for The Nationals. However, his time in parliament was shortlived. At the 2019 state election it was won by Helen Dalton, representing the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. Mrs Dalton retained the seat as an Independent in 2023 when she scored a comfortable win over The Nationals’ candidate, Edward River Mayor Peta Betts.

Sussan Ley.

Perin Davey.

Helen Dalton.

LOCAL COUNCIL

Small beginnings to thriving town

Surveyor Thomas Townsend fixed the site for the future township of Deniliquin on the stock crossing place on the Edward River in July 1848.

The design and layout of the township was the work of surveyors Townsend and Parkinson in 1849. This was gazetted on March 12, 1850.

The survey of the first allotments was made in April 1851, with further measurements in November of that year.

The municipality was gazetted on December 19, 1869, and the first council comprised six aldermen. The first Mayor was James Watson. Other aldermen were Harry Graves, William McKenzie, John Taylor, Henry Mathewson and Laurence Robertson.

The first council meeting took place on February 24, 1869, at the Cressy St Masonic Hall.

In that year there were 213 ratepayers and the total rates collected amounted to £452, six shillings and sixpence from property valued at £104,703.

There were 18 applicants for the position of inaugural town clerk and John Waring was appointed, with John McCulloch as valuer.

Council later leased premises in End St from Edward Burton and held its meetings there.

On June 4, 1870, the Minister for Lands granted allotment seven of section 21, Cressy St as the site for the new town hall.

Council approved construction of the town hall on November 2, 1872, and on February

14, 1876 the design by Mr JH Jones was adopted from 20 competitors.

Tenders were called for the construction on April 4, 1876, and G Anderson’s tender of £2464 was accepted.

The building was financed from a loan of £2000 from the Bank of NSW at an interest rate of eight per cent.

The Governor Sir Hercules Robinson officially opened the town hall on November 26, 1876.

Deniliquin’s population reached 1000 in 1871.

The census figures for that year were: North Deniliquin 167 males and 97 females; South Deniliquin 498 males and 356 females.

By 1881 the population had grown to 2506 but declined to 2500 over the next 10 years.

On March 18, 1881 the council was increased to nine aldermen and has remained at nine ever since, including the new Edward River Council.

Our population today hovers around the 8000 mark. The council administration centre was in Civic Place, at the rear of the town hall, from the 1950s until the advent of Edward River Council, which was formed in May 2016 with the amalgamation of the former Deniliquin and Conargo Shire councils.

The first councillors were elected to Edward River Council in September 2017.

A new purpose built customer service centre was added to the council complex after the merger, containing offices and a

more easily accessible council chambers. In July 2019, Edward River Council announced it would invest $2 million to renovate the adjacent Estates Building to replace this demountable building.

It has also renovated the Town Hall, and this impressive upgrade was officially opened in 2023.

Other changes since the merger have been the amalgamation of each council’s outdoor staff, who are housed together in the former Conargo Shire works depot in north Deniliquin.

Council’s works staff undertake all outdoor activities within the council area. They also operate the water and sewerage facilities and waste management.

The introduction of a new Local Government Act in 1993 saw the term alderman changed to councillor, and town clerks replaced by general managers.

Over the past three decades major issues involving council have included, in addition to the amalgamation, the construction of a levee system to protect the town from flooding.

Construction began in 1995 after many years of debate about the height and alignment of the levees, and the project, costing more than $13 million, was finished in 2011. The levee was required for the first time in 2016, when the Edward River peaked at a ‘moderate’ flood level of 8.62m.

It was tested again in 2022 when flood levels exceeded 9m, but fortunately did not

reach the expected peak of 9.5m.

With the merger of the new councils came more $10 million in infrastructure funding for the council area, with major projects delivered under the ‘Stronger Communities Fund’.

Among the larger funding allocations was more than $2 million for delivering on long term strategic plans including the Deniliquin town centre streetscape and the Deniliquin river front project. Cressy and Napier Sts, in the CBD, have been given an impressive facelift with this funding.

Council is also delivering on projects funded through the Murray-Darling Basin Regional Economic Diversification Programme. The $3 million allocated to Deniliquin will help with development of a Deniliquin Industry Park, improvements at the Peppin Heritage Centre and Deniliquin’s Rotary Park, establishment of a transport heritage museum by Purtills which has become a major local tourist attraction, and upgrades at Navorina Nursing Home.

There has also been an expansion of the Deniliquin Children’s Centre and developing the Edward River Village seniors living precinct.

Other significant funding has come to the community, through council, as a result of the NSW Stronger Country Communities program.

A new council will oversee the next phase of the region’s growth, with local government elections to take place in September 2024.

Rice revival, but risk remains

The Pastoral Times was there when SunRice opened the Deniliquin Rice Mill in 1970, but it wasn’t until March 6, 1981 that the official opening of the mill took place.

It was an auspicious occasion that was held on the lawns of the new mill and attracted dignitaries from around the region among more than 1200 people who attended. At the time Ian Davidge was chairman of directors, Clive Holden deputy chairman, W Rutherford foreman, and Gavin Lowe was mill manager.

Rice would be Deniliquin’s future, and the rise, demise due to drought and rebirth of the industry has had a massive effect on the town’s economy.

Deniliquin’s connection with the rice industry has no equal.

Rice growing began in the Murray Valley as a war time (1936-1945) measure to boost production of food in Australia.

In 1942-43, rice growing trials on experimental blocks were conducted by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission (WC&IC). The rice was grown on Hunter Landale’s property ‘Mundiwa’, four miles from Deniliquin, W Pyle’s farm at Blighty, ER Hollins’ property in the Wakool area and the estate of T Wragge at Tulla.

Mr Edgar Hollins, involved in the plot trials, harvested a five-acre plot which yielded an average of 2.5 tonnes per acre (6.2 tonnes per hectare). The trials were successful and the industry in the Murray Valley began.

The following year, about 5000 acres (over 2000ha) were prepared for rice on Tulla Estate.

Although the land at Tulla Estate required

little or no grading due to its natural gradient for water flow, the WC&IC surveyors and employees worked for six months non-stop designing and constructing the irrigation system.

In addition, men with rice growing experience from the MIA were appointed to manage the growing operation under the operation of the WC&IC.

More than 100 men were employed to prepare the rice fields. Unfortunately it is said that workers supplied by Wartime Manpower Department were not suited to that work. So, in September 1943, 100 Italian Prisoners of War (POWs) were moved to Tullakool.

The Italians were known to be good workers and another 75 followed soon after. They were industrious and worked hard, in 10-hour shifts using horses and an array of machinery to get the crop sown.

A camp was set up to house the workers 14 miles from Wakool and 18 from Barham, with facilities also being provided for Australian Servicemen guarding the POWs.

On October 6 and 7, 1943, the rice channels were filled and the following day irrigation started.

There were many good stories of the POWs at Tullakool. At the camps there were no fences necessary, and they did not require much supervision. One story is that a POW escaped to Barham and after four days he returned. He decided he was better off in than out.

In 1944-45 about 8000 tonnes of rice was harvested in the first season at Tullakool. Fifty-five years later, in 1999, the rice harvest for the rice growing region of NSW was almost 1.4 million tonnes, of which the Murray Valley produced almost half of the

total harvest.

The rice industry continued to grow in the 1950s and 1960s with the mechanisation of harvesting and the transition from carting bags to transporting rice paddy in bulk to delivery sites in the region.

The technical advancement of bulk handling throughout the process, from aerated storage through to milling and packaging continued in the 1960s.

However it is said that Clydesdale horses were still being used to harvest grain out of wet paddocks well into the 1960s. By the 1970s the rice industry was booming, with storage facilities throughout the region in full swing.

In 1970 we saw the opening of the Deniliquin Rice Mill, operating 16 hours a day once workers completed training. It grew to eight hour shifts in a 24 hour operation.

Hogan depot and Blighty depot were constructed during the 1970s, with aerial sowing becoming popular in the mid 1970s.

The rice industry in the Murray Valley had come a long way since its birth in the early 1940s.

As the industry grew, so too did the Deni Mill to cater for increasing demands. Two new A-frame storage sheds were started in 1991, with extensions to storage in Moulamein, Finley and the Hogan shed in Jerilderie in the following years, and further Deniliquin Mill extensions in 1994.

These extensions and developments saw the Deniliquin Rice Mill become the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.

After a Riverina rice crop of 1.4 million tonnes in 1999, the severe drought of the noughties saw the mill placed into care and

Deniliquin’s SunRice mill.

maintenance in late 2007 after a crop of just 19,000 tonnes.

Ninety locals lost their jobs in the closure, however SunRice assured Deniliquin that the mill would re-open when the rice returned.

They kept their word, announcing the reopening of the mill in 2011 following unprecedented rainfall in 2010.

The 90 jobs were returned to the area, plus another 58 bringing the total to 148, as rice paddies began appearing throughout the countryside once again.

While the town rejoiced at the re-opening of the mill, there was increasing uncertainty over the proposed sale of SunRice to Spanish company Ebro Foods in 2010, which never eventuated due to underwhelming shareholder support.

Since reopening in 2011, SunRice has invested more than $18 million to ensure the Deni Mill has the latest technology and equipment for turning the world’s best paddy into the world’s best rice. Investments have included improving safety and quality

standards, replacing old equipment, improving operating efficiencies, and improving mill flexibility and capability.

Since then, as crop sizes have fluctuated in response to water availability, the Deni Mill has had the flexibility to adjust its capacity to suit.

Unfortunately, at the start of 2019 SunRice was forced to start a staged shut down of its Deniliquin mill, due to a severe shortage in general security allocations impacted on the crop size.

A zero per cent general security allocation in the Murray region for all of the 2018/2019 season resulted in Riverina ricegrowers delivering one of the lowest rice crops in their history.

The 54,000 paddy tonnes of rice harvested represents less than 10 per cent of the previous year’s crop of 623,000. And of the 54,000 tonnes delivered, only 25.7 per cent came from the NSW Murray Valley.

It was in early 2021 the Deniliquin Rice started ramping up again, on the back of an

improved rice season.

SunRice was anticipating 450,000 tonne to be harvested.

And while 2024 delivered record group revenue of $1.88 billion, EBITDA of $143.9 million and a net profit after tax of $68.2 million, water availability continues to be a significant challenge.

When a Labor Federal Government announced the return of water buybacks under the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, a protect rally was held in Deniliquin. At that rally, SunRice workers turned out to express fears their jobs would again be at risk if more water leaves the region.

With a capacity to process 600,000 tonnes of Riverina-grown rice, the mill plays an important role in SunRice’s global business.

New markets were opened in Europe, trading started in Libya and reestablished in Syria.

The acquisition and development of a world class milling and packing facility in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam set a new standard

for Vietnam rice processing and assure SunRice customers that quality standards applied to Australian products can be replicated internationally.

A significant development for SunRice has been its listing on the Australian Securities Exchange, with support from shareholders. It will build the capital needed to implement the growth strategy.

Other significant changes in the last five years include a change in management.

Long-time CEO and managing director Rob Gordon announced his retirement in Decemner 2022, to come into effect from August 2023. He was succeeded by Paul Serra.

More big news came in May 2024 when the NSW Government announced it would be moving a bill to remove rice vesting agreement.

If passed, vesting would cease from July 1, 2025 and the Rice Marketing Board would be abolished a year later.

Members of SunRice, the RGA, and state and federal Coalition members at Deniliquin’s SunRice mill in 2022.

Syphons a remarkable engineering structure

The Lawson Syphons are a remarkable engineering structure diverting irrigation water under the Edward River and delivering it to the agricultural areas west of Deniliquin.

This report on the history of the Deniboota Domestic and Stock Water Supply and Irrigation District, and the Lawson Syphons, was prepared for the NSW Premier John Cahill for the opening ceremony on April 27, 1955.

Before Hume Dam was built it was apparent the uncontrolled flow of the River Murray was not sufficiently reliable to permit large scale irrigation projects being safely undertaken in that valley.

Small pumping schemes, privately developed, were all that could be contemplated. Nevertheless, the demand for major irrigation works in that region had persisted for many years and a great deal of investigation work had been carried out.

When work on Hume Dam commenced it was obvious that large scale irrigation projects would soon follow. However, the problem of markets was to be considered and the Development and Migration Commission, about 1927, recommended that the Governments concerned in the Murray Valley development should call a conference of the Irrigation Commissioners of the states and certain other representatives “to report and recommend with regard to a national policy for the development of these settlements and areas”.

The conference was held in Canberra during February 1928 and, on its recommendation, the River Murray Advisory Committee comprising representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia and of the States of NSW, Victoria and South Australia, was formed to consider the question of development of the River Murray Valley by water which would be made available when the Hume Dam, then under construction, was completed.

After full consideration of all the factors involved, the committee came to the conclusion that the market for products of areas already established for “intensive” irrigation, including rice, wine, citrus and deciduous fruits, and dried vine fruits, did not justify further development on

similar lines, and that a more assured form of development would be the provision of water to existing pastoral holdings, and to mixed farms engaged in wheat growing, sheep raising and/or dairying, for the growth of pastures and fodder crops and also for domestic and stock purposes.

With this end in view the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission of New South Wales drafted an amendment to the Water Act providing for the constitution of Districts for Domestic and Stock Water Supply and Irrigation, which legislation was assented to in May, 1930 and forms Part VI of the Water Act, 1912-19.

Deniboota is the fourth such District established in the Riverina. The three other similar Districts - Wakool, Berriquin and Denimein are already in operation. The total area of Deniboota is slightly more than 304,000 acres and there are some 150 holdings within its boundaries. The proposal for the constitution of the District was published in the Government Gazette on April 1, 1938, and the Provisional District was proclaimed on December 16, 1938.

The works include twin syphons and about 185 miles of channels, together with associated structures, such as bridges, regulators, outlets etc. The syphons, named after Mr J A Lawson MLA, represent the major engineering task associated with the work.

Their function is to carry water of the

Canal under the Edward River and Aljoes Creek to supply the irrigation requirements of Deniboota and to supplement the water supply for Wakool.

The water will flow from Mulwala Canal into a double barrel syphon, each pipe 2,300 feet long and 12 feet in diameter, passing under the Edward River and adjacent lowlying ground; from there it emerges to flow from 3,500 feet through an open channel, then into a second double barrel syphon (each pipe 450 feet long and 12 feet in diameter) passing under Aljoes Creek.

Each pair of pipes has been designed for a flow capacity of 1,000 cubic feet per second or 540 million gallons per day. Construction involved 140,000 cubic yards of excavation and the placing of 31,000 cubic yards of concrete and 1000 tons of reinforcing steel.

The total weight of the syphons and related structures is approximately 57,000 tonsabout 5,000 tons heavier than the steelwork in the Sydney Harbour Bridge, including its approaches.

Preparatory work for construction of the syphons and district work generally was put in hand on June 19, 1939. The first sod was turned by the Hon. A. Mair, Premier, on August 18, 1939.

Good progress was maintained at first but following the outbreak of war in 1939, construction work became increasingly difficult owing to the war requirements for materials having preference.

In February,1942 all work connected with Deniboota had to be suspended so that workmen and plant might be transferred to urgent defence projects.

Representations for the works to be reopened were made on a number of occasions during the war but such a step would have been quite impracticable at the time. One suggestion put forward (late in 1944) was that the farmers in the district be engaged on channel construction.

At this time the Commission was already preparing to re-open the work and in 1945 a Resident Engineer was appointed with headquarters at Deniliquin. Work on the canal recommenced shortly afterwards and during the latter part of 1945-46 preparatory work for the construction of the twin syphons was resumed.

In October 1946 construction of structures on the Deniboota Canal was commenced. Driving of steel sheet piling for No. 1 coffer

dam - for the syphons - was interrupted by floods between July and September 1946, and again between January and May 1947. Progress was also handicapped by the rapidly growing problem of shortages of plant and materials.

During the year ended June 30, 1948, the steel forms for the barrel proper were received. There was also an improvement in the supply position generally, but work was seriously handicapped by a lengthy industrial dispute and by further floods in the Edward River.

During the following year excavation of the Mulwala and Deniboota Canals within the district were practically completed and at June 30, 1949, the major outstanding work in hand was the construction of the twin concrete syphons under the Edward River and Aljoes Creek.

Floods stopped work for a total of three months and difficulty was experienced obtaining suitable labour during the following year. The latter problem, however, was eased by the employment of British migrants.

Further floods and high river flows were experienced in the following years and caused serious interruptions to work on the syphons, however concreting of the Aljoes Creek barrels was substantially completed during 1951-52.

While some works were being temporarily closed down owing to a shortage of loan funds, Deniboota was allotted a high place in the order of priorities of those works which it was thought, in the national interest, should be completed with the least possible delay and a new program of work designed to complete the syphons by mid 1955 was prepared.

Floods continued to cause serious interruptions and for approximately six months in the latter half of 1952, the Edward River section of the syphon was flooded. Again, during the year 1953-54, the Edward River section was flooded for about 2½ months.

However, at that stage all work was well advanced and steps were able to be taken to lessen the effects of flooding.

It was then apparent that a water supply for portion of the Deniboota District would become available during the 1954-55 irrigation season. Plans for the final channel design of the Deniboota system have been completed and work on the channels and structures is well advanced.

By the time of the official opening ceremony in April, 1955, water will be available to approximately 40 holdings in the northern part of the district, for which channel earthworks and structures will be complete and ready for use.

When the Deniboota District was first constituted in 1938 there were within its boundaries 147 holdings and 133 landholders. Some subdivision has taken place since then and there are now 159 holdings and 189 landholders.

With the provision of an assured water supply for irrigation farming, a substantial development may now be anticipated and in the designing of the water supply system, provision for such expansion has been made.

Apart from the Deniboota District there are three other large irrigation works in the Riverina area adjacent to Deniliquin.

Mulwala

Syphon barrels were constructed under the framework as part of this remarkable engineering feat.

The greatest artificial water scheme

The following article, providing information on the construction of the Mulwala Canal and associated irrigation schemes, was published in the Finley Mail on September 19, 1939.

The greatest artificial waterway in Australia is now in course of construction in the Riverina. The Mulwala Canal, as it is known, will, when completed, extend from waters diverted by the Yarrawonga Weir at Mulwala through Berrigan and Finley to Deniliquin, where the water will be syphoned under the Edward River, thence westward for many miles, and thus link up the three great schemes - Berriquin, Wakool and Deniboota which will serve one and a half million acres.

This huge scheme will cost £1,638,000 and is designed to improve the drought resisting capacity of the Riverina and make possible permanent pastures.

The scheme will not be used for intensive cultivation of fruit and vine culture as on the Murrumbidgee area, but for sheep, fat lambs and wheat industries.

The Berriquin Domestic and Stock Water Supply and Irrigation District constitutes one of the major projects to utilise within NSW the state’s portion of the waters of the Murray River conserved at the Hume Reservoir.

Water for domestic and stock purposes and for a limited amount of irrigation is to be supplied to an area of 605,000 acres in the southern Riverina also, by an extension of the works, a supply will be provided to the similar Wakool Irrigation District comprising 560,000 acres to the south-west of Deniliquin.

Diversion from the Murray River is effected by the Yarrawonga weir which has recently been completed and is now diverting water into the Mulwala Canal.

The estimated cost of the Berriquin works is £1,638,000 comprising £1,300,000 for the Mulwala Canal and £438,000 for the subsidiary channel system to serve the individual holdings in the district. Up to the present time £1,050,000 has been spent since commencement of operations in March 1935.

The full interest and sinking fund charges for the work, as well as the working costs for operation and maintenance, are to be covered by the annual payments from ratepayers within the district, in accordance with the proposals approved of by the landowners concerned prior to the constitution of the district. The total area of 605,113 acres is divided into 746 existing holdings.

The irrigation water rights allotted (a water right being the quantity of the water sufficient to cover one acre to a depth of one foot) aggregate 55,750. These range from proportions of about one acre in 20 to one acre in 10, dependent upon the size of holdings.

The maximum annual rates or charges which may be imposed, subject to certain reductions in the first five years following the constitution of the district or the date when water is first made available to any individual holding are as follows: (a) for supply for domestic and stock use, one penny per acre; (b) for supply for irrigation, 10 per water right of one acre foot. To illustrate the maximum annual rating for a holding of 1000 acres with 100 water rights attached would be £50/3/4. On figures quoted above the maximum annual revenue derivable from rating would be £30,396. Payment of rates for attached water rights is obligatory, whether or not

the quantity of water concerned is used; but application may also be made by ratepayers for additional water for irrigation, and subject such being available Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission may charge for it at up to a maximum of 10 shillings per acre foot.

As stated by the Premier of New South Wales (Mr Stevens) when he performed the official ceremony of turning the first sod for the Mulwala Canal excavation in April 1935, Berriquin will not be a district devoted to intensive irrigation, as practised for fruit and vine culture on the Murrumbidgee areas and at Mildura.

In fact express prohibition is made against the supply of water for irrigation of commercial orchards or vineyards or for the irrigation of rice.

The purpose of the scheme is to improve the drought resisting capacity of the land; to make it possible to lay down lucerne and other pastures; and to enable the profitable engagement in such industries as fat lamb raising.

When the water is available and properly utilised the Berriquin District will be one of the most suitable for lambs in New South Wales. The scheme will increase the productivity of the state, and it is anticipated that it will encourage closer settlement to some extent by voluntary subdivision of some of the larger holdings.

It is reproductive in the best sense of the term. Further, during the construction period, useful employment for large numbers of men and horses is provided over several years.

Surveys, design and construction of the Berriquin district works are being carried out by the Water Conservation and Irrigation Commission, with the assistance of an advisory committee, of which three district landholders are members.

The works comprise the excavation of Mulwala canal and an extensive system of smaller distribution channels of various sizes, together with the construction of numerous structures, bridges and culverts for passage of road traffic and farm access, regulators and checks to control water levels, outlets and water measuring devices, subways for the storm water drainage etc.

The Mulwala Canal is to be the greatest artificial waterway in Australia. The bed

width for the first 20 miles of its length is 115 feet, depth of water to be carried is nine feet, side slopes of cut 2 to 1, and on a grade of 9in. per mile the capacity of 2500 cubic feet per second (15,625 gallons); significance of the latter figure is realised more readily by stating that a flow at this rate continuous over 24 hours would cover 5000 acres to a depth of one foot.

Canal capacity is diminished as branch channels are supplied. The section now under construction extending from Mulwala to near Deniliquin will be 75 miles long, and is estimated to require 13,000,000 cubic yards of excavation.

Excavation work on Mulwala canal has now been completed as far as Finley (a distance of 43 miles). The total quantity of earth removed amounts to 8,000,000 cubic yards. Most of the excavation work has been carried out by the huge mechanical plant operated by the Commission.

This plant comprises four 4-cubic yard Bucyrus excavators, two 1-cubic yard Harman excavators (made in Australia) and two 1-yard British Ruston excavators, together with ten diesel tractors, four 3-yard hydraulic scoops, two 11-ton tamping rollers, two road graders and miscellaneous small plant.

Working three shifts daily this plant is capable of excavating up to 50,000 cubic yards per week and with all due allowance for

depreciation and maintenance, it provides the most economical method of excavating a channel of the magnitude of the Mulwala channel.

We are reliably informed that approximate purchase price of this plant would be £200,000.

Similar satisfactory progress has been made with the works for the subsidiary channel system which is to provide the reticulation to supply the individual holdings in the district. The channels thereof range in size from the considerable Berrigan channel of bed width 82 feet and water depth 6 feet to small ditch of bed width 4 feet and water depth 18 inches.

The estimates provide for an aggregate length of 550 miles comprising 5,000,000 cubic yards of excavation, of which completed work up to the present totals 4,770,000 cubic yards of earth.

Practically all this work has been carried out by contractors using horse teams, tractors and scoops.

Structure work has been carried out wholly by day labour, materials such as stone and sand for concrete being obtained within or adjacent to the district by contract.

The extent of operations in this connection, spread over a wide area of country and involving a great number of bridges, regulators etc., of various sizes and types, may be gathered from the following summary of the main items of construction up to the present: Concrete, 30,000 cubic yards: reinforcement steel, 700 tons; structural steelwork, 900 tons; pipes, 21,350 lineal feet. Incidental work which may be mentioned here is in respect of clearing of timber (2,200 acres) and fencing of boundaries of reserves for the Mulwala canal and Berrigan channel, (100 miles).

Landholders have freedom of choice as to the parts of their properties upon which the water supplies for irrigation is to be utilised, and it will be their responsibility to provide such internal ditches as are necessary and grade the land if required.

Also, storage tanks to receive water supplied for stock and domestic purposes are to be provided by them.

Employment of labour: The following figures concerning labour may be of interest: On 22nd September 358 men were engaged on day labour; and 158 on contracts, a total of 524 men.

There were 221 horses being used besides 24 tractors.

NSW Premier Alex Mair officially opens the Finley section of the Berriquin Irrigation District on October 2, 1939.

Almost 30 years of water delivery

The story of water delivery privatisation in the Murray region is one of communities taking control of their destiny.

The first official Board meeting of Murray Irrigation Ltd took place on March 3, 1995, when it was recognised as an unlisted private company with 10 elected board directors.

Today, nearly 30 years on from the day Murray Irrigation was born, there is a lot to understand and appreciate. Firstly, our region should acknowledge all members of the irrigation community who took the brave step to achieve irrigator ownership and control of the Murray Irrigation Area and Districts.

In the 1980s, before privatisation, most landholdings had been extensively developed and the introduction of new laser levelling techniques was improving farm water use efficiency. However, many irrigators felt that not enough of the money being raised locally through the water price was being reinvested in the maintenance and upgrade of their irrigation system.

Irrigators believed there were significant opportunities to improve water supply efficiency and began agitating for local management, separate financial accounting and independence from government.

After considerable discussion and negotiation, in November 1994, Murray Irrigation Management Board Chair Kelvin Baxter, in a letter to irrigators, advised them that: “The Department of Water Resources has resolved to withdraw from the job of water retailing and distribution, and concentrate on its core function – management of dams

and rivers, and regulation. This means that change for irrigators is inevitable – and we must work together to influence and reap the benefits of this change.”

At about the same time, the Minister for Land and Water Conservation George Souris wrote: “I congratulate the Murray Irrigation Management Board for the tireless representation on behalf of irrigators and urge all Murray Irrigators to participate in this important reform, which will see one of the ‘Jewels of the Murray’ in the hands

of the experts – the irrigators.” And so, the foundations for Murray Irrigation Ltd were firmly in place.

The first decade of its existence was a period of consolidation for Murray Irrigation as it set about improving the operation and efficiency of one of the world’s best gravity-fed irrigation systems, allowing the company’s shareholders and customers to do what they do best, which is grow food and fibre for domestic and international consumption. This included implementing the Land and Water Management Plans, a successful program in which the company worked hand-in-hand with shareholders to improve their on-farm efficiencies.

Then we were hit by the Millennium Drought and in the early years of this century our irrigation farmers had to contend with record low water allocations.

But the challenges were not about to stop.

Part of the Federal Government’s response to the drought was the Water Act 2007, and subsequently the modelling and development of the Murray-Darling Basin Plan, with its implementation starting after it was passed by the Australian Parliament in 2012.

This has led to significant reductions in the water that is made available for delivery by Murray Irrigation. In fact, since privatisation in 1995, the company’s average water delivery has reduced by around half from approximately 1,200 gigalitres a year to approximately 600 GL/yr. A large portion of

this is the result of water recovery under the Basin Plan.

The challenges that have been faced since privatisation have placed increasing emphasis on the need for Murray Irrigation to operate at the highest possible level of efficiency.

To this end a funding agreement between Murray Irrigation and the Australian Government was signed in 2012 for the modernisation of the water delivery system.

The Private Irrigation Infrastructure Operators Program – or PIIOP, as it became known - was an asset renewal project which involved upgrading ageing infrastructure across the MIL footprint, with a focus on providing customers with infrastructure that would last into the future and support the increased need for efficiency, innovation and resilience.

It was the largest construction program ever undertaken by Murray Irrigation, the largest asset renewal project in the region since the mid-1990s and was described in 2019, on completion, as “an exemplary public and private investment in Australian agriculture”. PIIOP rounds one and two were delivered at a total cost of more than $300 million.

As water availability and allocations decrease, the journey towards maximum efficiency must continue, and this includes ongoing system maintenance to make sure every available drop of water is delivered onfarm.

This is where Murray Irrigation’s winter works program comes to the forefront. Each year, a crew of Murray Irrigation staff and contractors utilise the winter months to conduct planned upgrades, maintenance and life extension works on the system and its infrastructure. The current three-year rolling program introduced in 2019 sees one third of the system drained each year over the threeyear rotation period.

This rotation provides better service to farmers, compared with the previous model where the majority of the system was drained, as their operations are disrupted once every three years, instead of every year. It also promotes water savings, as only a third of the system needs to be re-filled each year. These savings contribute to the water that can be distributed back to farmers through the company’s Resource Management Strategy.

This year, Murray Irrigation is investing $8 million in this program. A sound investment that ensures the Murray Irrigation system will be delivering water efficiently not just in coming years, but for future generations.

The MIL board (from left) Noel Graham, Trish Gorman, Gabrielle Coupland, chair Phil Snowden, Geoff McLeod, deputy chair Lachlan Marshall, Leanne Small and Robert Burbury.

Better equipped for health care

Deniliquin Hospital has been an integral part of the community for more than 165 years, and it has come a long way from its humble beginning’s way back in the 19th Century.

From its origins as a wooden hut to the sprawling building it is today, this iconic Charlotte St health centre has touched the lives of so many townspeople.

Deniliquin Hospital was originally two separate buildings, one on the south side of the river and one on the northern side.

The hospital was once registered as a training school for nurses’ aides in 1971 and facilities were expanded to increase nurse accommodation from 22 to 39 and included a matron’s flat.

The nurse training school was closed in 1982 when training transitioned to universities, and the building now houses the Allied and Community Health Centre.

The health service is also a major employer in Deniliquin. Facility Manager Ginny Lange and Cluster Manager Craig McColm lead a team of dedicated staff with strong connections to the community. Many staff members are local and have grown up in Deniliquin, or raised their families here, and several tree changers have joined the team and are enjoying the lifestyle and community of Deniliquin.

Overseas recruitment has also provided a boost to both the hospital workforce and the community, with 6 families moving to Deniliquin from the UK, South Africa and New Zealand.

Deniliquin Hospital, in partnership with Deniliquin Clinic medical practice, is also providing training opportunities for the next generation of rural doctors, including involvement in the Murrumbidgee Rural Generalist Training Pathway pilot program, and 10 week placements for Junior Medical Officers from the University of NSW Rural Clinical School.

The hospital also welcomes early career registered nurses as part of the Gradstart program, and provides a jump start to a career in health through school-based traineeships in nursing and allied health for local high school students.

Deniliquin Hospital benefits from the generosity of several community groups. Of particular note, the Murray to Moyne Bike Ride Fund and the Naponda Auxiliary have donated their time and spend many hours fundraising for the hospital, with donations in the hundreds of thousands. The donations have provided a range of equipment and comfort aids that improves the experience of patients and carers, and also allows hospital

staff to access to new, modern equipment much sooner than they otherwise might.

The Deniliquin Health Service includes a 49 bed hospital with 28 acute beds, 7 emergency beds, 3 theatre beds, 2 delivery suites, 2 cots, and 7 recovery spaces for day surgery.

There are 9 chairs providing renal dialysis 6 days a week.

The hospital has a range of allied health services and a busy medical imaging and pathology departments.

The 24-hour Accident and Emergency Department is equipped with telehealth cameras to connect the team in Deniliquin with specialists through the Critical Care Advisory Service and the NSW Telestroke Service.

A modern maternity unit offers a midwifery led model of care with local GP obstetricians and provides care 24 hours, seven days.

Deniliquin Health Service is a hub site for surrounding smaller communities and provides a range of outreach services including community health, allied health, and mental health, drug and alcohol services.

Deniliquin Local Health Advisory Committee (LHAC) also strives to maintain the continuity of services that have been delivered at Deniliquin Hospital.

The committee provides an avenue for community to engage with Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network

Recent improvements at Deniliquin Hospital include a $210,000 refurbishment of palliative care facilities, and $4.6 million project of upgrades that included investments of $3.2 million by the NSW Government and $1.4 million by the Federal Government.

The upgrades have resulted in modern, fit for purpose clinical spaces that are bright and welcoming, with improved privacy and security for patients, their families and carers and ensure the local community will continue to receive vital health care close to home.

Works completed as part of the $4.6 million project included:

• upgrade of the day surgery and operating theatre

• upgrade of the emergency department

• relocation of the oncology unit to a purpose built space

• a new Computed Tomography (CT) scanner

The new CT scanner, installed as part of the project, allows staff to perform CT scans faster, with higher quality images. The new CT scanner has also enabled Deniliquin Hospital to join the NSW Telestroke Network, making time critical, life saving stroke treatment available for the people of Deniliquin.

In 2022 Murrumbidgee Local Health District worked with local stakeholders to develop a new Health Services Plan to identify the community’s health needs into

the future.

Deniliquin Health Service is highly regarded by its community with nominations in the Deniliquin Business Excellence Awards and outstanding feedback in the Bureau Health Information Patient Survey results. The 2022 survey indicated more than nine in 10 patients (97 per cent) rated their overall care as ‘very good’ or ‘good’.

Patients were also overwhelmingly positive about the health professionals who treated them. Almost all patients, 97 per cent, said the doctors who treated them were ‘very good’ or ‘good,’ while 98 per cent rated the nurses who treated them as ‘very good’ or ‘good.’

Emergency department performance in the Bureau’s Healthcare Quarterly report notes the timely service provided to consumers. In the most recent report (January to March 2024) Deniliquin Hospital had the best time to treatment results for its peer group of similar sized hospitals for both T4 (semi urgent) and T5 (non urgent), and almost all patients (96.7 per cent) started treatment on time, the second best result for hospitals of a similar size in NSW, and significantly better than the average for comparable hospitals in NSW (78.1 per cent).

Deniliquin Health Service has a strong and positive future and the highly dedicated nursing, medical and support staff are committed to providing high quality health care services for their local community.

(MPHN).

Deniliquin Hospital continues to cater for the regional community’s health needs.

A successful social hub

The RSL was originally established as a support network for returned soldiers from World War I.

As the organisation developed and grew, the Deniliquin RSL Club was established as a separate entity from the Deniliquin RSL Subbranch.

While membership of the club is open to most community members, the Sub-branch remains dedicated to serving the needs of exservice personnel.

The size and success of the club is a testament to the efforts and dedication of those who conceived the original RSL branch and clubrooms, from which the club has grown.

At the first meeting in 1917, returned soldiers, led by the Rev E Jellicoe-Rogers as president, voted to form a branch of the RSL.

As World War I ended and the number of returned servicemen increased, the RSL’s need for clubrooms of its own became urgent.

On Anzac Day in 1918 the appeal for a building fund was launched.

By 1921 enough money had been raised to buy land and a building from James Taylor, opposite the Coach House Hotel, where the Deniliquin Community Centre was later located.

As early as March 1921, alcoholic liquors were sold at the soldiers’ clubrooms and consumed on the premises.

The RSL’s clubrooms were remodelled and refurbished in 1928 to cope with a growing demand and a membership of about 200.

The outbreak of World War II created a renewed interest in the club, and a new batch

of Diggers filled the ranks at the cessation of hostilities in 1945.

The premises were again remodelled in 1957, with work carried out in two stages.

The bowling greens, sports complex, tennis courts and squash courts were added in the late 1970s.

months.

The existing outdoor area was built at a cost of about $350,000 and includes a fixed roof, retractable pergola, monitors for general and race meeting viewing, timber decking, pond and a water feature with fish. Upgrades in 2023 included a new deck and hand rails –not many changes for an 18 year-old space.

In 2011 there was the upgrade of the bistro and the inclusion of the creche which proved very popular with the children.

The creche went into recess during the COVID-19 years, but has since reopened on Friday and Saturday nights. The playground received a makeover in the intervening years.

The renovations completed in 2016 included the Dunlop Room, main kitchen and upstairs toilets at a cost of $750,000. Soon after the wall between the Gallery Restaurant and the sports bar was also removed, and large bi-fold doors installed in their place.

• House pads

• Shed pads

• Kerb & Gutter

• Road Pavement

When the second stage was completed and officially opened in 1961, membership had reached 635. The club now averages 6000 annual members, both local and interstate.

The first major renovations of the Deniliquin RSL Club took place in the mid-1950s after the introduction of poker machines at the club.

A travelling salesman from a gaming company left a couple of machines at the club one weekend, on his way through to Balranald.

The club’s executive at that time had already decided against the machines, but the salesman didn’t want to cart them further west.

There was a rush to play the machines throughout the weekend, and even a fight or two as patience among those waiting their turn wore thin.

When the salesman returned to collect the machines on the Monday, the directors had changed their minds, and they ordered a few more.

From five sixpenny poker machines, the club has now grown to house 101 machines.

The new club facility, at its present location on the corner of Crispe and End Sts, was completed in 1974 and officially opened on April 29.

The club celebrated the 50th anniversary of that move in 2024, with a 1970s themed fancy dress evening.

In 1974, rooms were provided for the administration of the Sub-branch, and the total cost of the project was $1.3 million.

• Pipe Laying • Traffic Control Plans

• 20T & 25T Excavators

• Mini Excavator

• Skidsteer 3 Ton

• Jack Hammer

• Trencher

• Grader

Full renovations of the club were completed in 1987 with the upgrade of the gaming lounge, bistro, restaurant and reception/ entry.

Other upgrades have included renovations to the sports bar and the introduction of a coffee lounge.

The central bar was also remodelled, and a large beer garden was built in 2006. The picturesque beer garden opens off the sports bar, through large bi-fold doors creating an indoor/outdoor atmosphere in the warmer

The RSL Club continues as an integral part of our community and donates significant funds each year to numerous local organisations.

The club has two Life Members - Tony Smith and Marie Cherry – who were bestowed the honour for the many years or service that they have given the club.

The Sub-branch still holds an office on the first floor of the club and if any one is after information on how to join or would like to speak to its members, staff at the club can point you in the right direction.

An organisation built on mateship

On the evening of October 17, 1917, six local men met at the old Deniliquin School of Arts.

The men had all served overseas in the Great War that was still engulfing a large part of the world, and the purpose of the meeting was to form a branch of the newly formed Returned Soldiers and Sailors Imperial League of Australia.

The chairman was Captain Hayes, the area officer of Echuca, and the local men were G Harrison, J Mudie, F Hindley, H Priest, M McCannon and the Rev E Rogers.

The first meeting of the newly formed branch was held on November 29, 1917 and discussion appeared to be mainly about support for the upcoming Reinforcements Referendum.

The Deniliquin Sub-branch received its Charter of Membership of the RS&SILA dated June 23, 1918.

The Great War from 1914 -1918 saw 450 people from the Deniliquin district serve Throughout World War II from 1939 to 1945, 529 people from across the district served.

In 1941, the war came to Deniliquin with the establishment of the RAAF Number 7 Service Flying Training School. More than 2000 pilots were trained in Deniliquin from 1941 -1945.

People from the district served in wars from Korea to Vietnam, through to the more recent conflicts and peacekeeping.

Today the Deniliquin Sub-branch has 80 ex-service members and 25 ancillary members.

Its aims remain the same as they were 100

years ago — to maintain the mateship created by common military service and to work for interests of both serving and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force and their dependents.

For many years the RSL Club was the social club of the Sub-branch but today the two are separate entities.

However the Sub-branch office is still located in the club and the two work closely together.

The Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch meets regularly and continues to support veterans and their families through camaraderie and commemoration.

Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch president John Harris (centre) with Vietnam veterans Russel Brain (left) and Barry Chamberlain.

Steph Rose, Mel Clarke and Stuart Calagaz celebrate RSL’s 50th birthday in its current premises at a groovy 1970s party.

Deniliquin RSL Club.

Deniliquin icon refurbished

Since its official opening in 1876, the Deniliquin Town Hall has been home to community gatherings and ceremonies, performances and celebrations.

Through fire and flood, the Town Hall has endured as an important meeting place for generations of the Edward River community.

The Town Hall revitalisation project was initiated by Edward River Council in 2019 with funding support from the NSW Government Strong Country Communities Fund.

The Municipality of Deniliquin was constituted on December 19, 1868, and by 1870 the Government had granted a block of land in Cressy St designated for a town hall.

A competition was conducted in 1875 for a suitable design and surveyor John McCulloch and architect J.H. Jones won the £25 prize. Construction was completed in 1876 by contractor George Anderson at a cost of £2,823. The Deniliquin Town Hall was officially opened on November 20, 1876.

The Governor of NSW, Sir Hercules Robinson, who conducted the opening said he hoped it would “promote the social prosperity of this rising town and district”.

In 1904, Captain George Landale, son of a pioneering local family, donated a clock to commemorate the reign of Queen Victoria. The clock was commissioned by Melbourne clock maker T. Gaunt & Co and required winding every eight days. The last official clock winder was local jeweller Barry Calnon who diligently tended to the clock from 1982 to 2018.

The 125kg bell was forged in the Whitechapel Bell Foundry in London, where the iconic Liberty Bell and London’s Big

Ben were also forged. The original clock mechanism remains in the tower, but the clock is now automated and continues to serve our community with hourly strikes of the original bell.

Through its history the Town Hall has been the centre of social and civic activity for Deniliquin and the Edward River community.

Council meetings were held at the hall from 1876, and the hall was a registration site for World War I enlistment from 1914 to 1918.

The hall provided a venue for a variety of local organisations to hold meetings including the Deniliquin Hospital, Deniliquin Town

Band, Women’s League and the Deniliquin Railway League. Travelling performers and entertainers were particularly important before television entered homes.

In its life the Town Hall has seen spelling bees, fetes, dances, balls, lectures, political meetings, theatrics, dignitaries, protests, banquets, ballet and school concerts, flower shows, competitions, discos, pageants, and more.

The Town Hall has undergone extensive changes since it was first built in 1876. It was built in the then popular Victorian Italianate style. In 1878 an accidental fire caused by a

kerosene stage lamp resulted in extensive damage to the hall, especially the roof. Repairs took three months to complete.

In 1928 an ambitious renovation designed by architect Mr A.J. Liche extended the length of the hall and filled it with opulent fittings. The central glass dome was added, and an orchestra pit and 100-seat balcony built. Kitchens and supper rooms were also added.

In the 1990s, restoration and repainting was conducted by the Council and the Apex Club as well as participants taking part in the New Work Opportunities program. In 2017 the front façade was stabilised and a commercial kitchen was installed.

The Town Hall revitalisation project began in 2019. The refurbishment was designed by architect Gerard Brandrick and the restoration work was completed by contractor Frank Moretto.

Great care was taken to restore the features of the Town Hall, including remoulding of the intricate ornate decorations that adorn the ceilings. Work included extensions to the stage, improved accessibility, and new retractable seating.

Sound-proof change rooms, music and storage rooms and integrated audio-visual technology enable a broad range of uses.

A new foyer and lobby area provides access from a new civic square, as well as to the refurbished balcony seating. The original clock and bell were also proudly reinstated.

For all enquiries about the hall, please contact Edward River Council’s Customer Service Centre on 03 5898 3000.

Deniliquin Town Hall.

OCTOBER

Record breaking Ute Muster

The Deni community created the Deniliquin Ute Muster in 1999 when the town was struggling with a crippling drought, and the main form of income - rice and sheep farmingwas drying up with it.

The festival was conceived to encourage visitors on the October long weekend — which had traditionally been a quiet tourism period.

The idea was further developed to also include a family camp-out under the stars, with bush poetry and a camp-oven dinner, as well as a country music concert to suit all age groups featuring Lee Kernaghan.

In its first year, the festival attracted 5000 patrons and set a Guinness World Record for the greatest number of legally paraded utes at 2839.

Twenty-five years on, the Deni Ute Muster attracts up to 20,000 people from all corners of the nation to celebrate all things quintessentially Australian.

It is a not-for-profit community event that would not prosper without the input from the Deniliquin community. The festival is organised by a hard-working volunteer board of directors and a team of remunerated staff.

The Deni Ute Muster provides an opportunity for major fundraising to many local organisations, clubs and charities.

Each year it attracts international superstars and legendary Australian artists who take over the stage and entertain tens of thousands of people across two days.

The Muster has attracted artists including Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Carrie Underwood, Keith Urban, Lee Kernaghan, Cold Chisel, Alan Jackson, Ice House, Suzi Quatro, Powderfinger, Eskimo Joe, James Reyne, Mark Seymour, Morgan Evans, The Living End, Shannon Noll, Kelly Clarkson, Kasey Chambers, John Williamson and many more.

Guinness World Records have been broken many times in the event’s history. A Blue

Singlet World Record was introduced in 2004 when the total count was 1328. This record currently stands at 4367 people wearing blue singlets in the one place (record broken in 2023) and the ute count is at 9736.

The Deni Ute Muster also provides patrons with an action-packed weekend of ‘Around the Grounds’ activities including the bullride, whip cracking championships, driving competitions, wood chopping, Show ‘n’ Shine and more.

The festival’s home is on the Conargo Rd where its famed sculptured gates have become a popular photo stop for anyone passing by.

It is believed to be one of the only festivals in Australia that has a museum related to the festival on its site. Just right of the Deni Ute Muster main gates now stands the Deni Ute Muster Museum and Muster Office Complex.

Opened on March 7, 2021 the museum funded by local and state governments is a great leverage off the Deni Ute Muster, extending the story of the festival. It is open to the public all year round displaying the history and stories of more than 25 years.

The goals of the Deni Ute Muster/Office Complex are to increase awareness and to ensure the future sustainability of the Deni Ute Muster, increase economic activity through the multiplier effect: increased employment, increased tourist visitation and increased events and functions creating increased spending at the site as well as through the town and region.

The Deni Ute Muster continues to be held on the NSW Labour Day long weekend, and in 2024 the 26th annual festival (which includes two virtual events) will fall on October 4 and 5. Deni Ute Muster 2024 welcomes US icons Tyler Hubbard, Kip Moore and charttopping Australian artist Amy Shark, along with a stellar line up of Australian stars for an unforgettable fusion of family, music and ute adoration!

All roads lead to the Deni Ute Muster.

The famous Ute Muster gates.

The bullride at the Ute Muster is always a popular attraction.

TCelebrating one of the region’s largest industries

he inaugural Deniliquin Truck Show & Industry Expo was held at Deniliquin’s Memorial Park in September 2015.

It attracted 50 truck show ‘n’ shine entries, 30 motorbike show ‘n’ shine entries and about 2000 spectators.

Initially held the second Saturday in September, in 2019 the organising committee had decided on a late October event to take advantage of the improving climate leading in to summer.

The move also increased attendance by moving the event away from football finals and a similar truck show held in Echuca on the second weekend in September.

The inaugural event saw the launch of the Deniliquin & District Transport Industry Wall of Fame, with 25 inductees celebrated over the last eight years.

The Wall of Fame dinner is held on the Friday night before the Truck Show, at the Deniliquin RSL Club. The dinner is also a great chance to hear from some of the leaders in the industry.

Wall of Fame inductee to date are:

2016 – David ‘Sherbie Grimison; Alan and Kate Murphy.

2017 – Neil Scott, Victa Lumbar; Allan Watson.

2018 – Keith Purtill; Laurence ‘Curly’ Martin; Gary Plant.

2019- Gerald ‘John’ Beckton, Gary ‘Joe’ Hussey, Phyllis Jones.

2020 – Helen Dann, Peter James Clarke, Seymours Transports.

2021 – Harry & Phillip Meadowcroft, Robert James Pearse, Ronald Charles Brown.

2022 - Edwin Carter, Stanley Gardiner, Kevin Gough.

2023 - Herbert Grimison, Kenneth ‘Tex’ Maher, David ‘Speed’ Mahon.

In 2017 the format of the Deniliquin Truck Show & Industry Expo expanded again.

A memorial wall induction opportunity was offered to members of the industry, with a service held on the Sunday.

A special monument to list both the wall of famers and the memorialised members of the industry was added to the north Deniliquin truck stop on the back of this event.

The three-day format has been a winner for the event committee.

Over the years there’s been only two reasons the event did not proceed, the pandemic and floods, neither of which have left a dent in the local transport industry’s three day weekend.

In 2023 the committee formed a partnership with the Rotary Club of Deniliquin.

The two groups working together has been a pivotal point for the success of the event, which in 2024 will move to the Deniliquin Festival Site – famous for hosting the Deniliquin Ute Muster.

This will allow the Truck Show to grow to its full potential with the extra space available. In 2024 the Deniliquin & District Wall of Fame Dinner will be held Friday, October 25, the Truck Show & Industry Expo at the Deniliquin Festival Site on Saturday, October 26 and the memorial service at the north Deniliquin truck stop in Davidson St on Sunday, October 27.

Saturday’s expo includes trade sites, children’s entertainment, show ‘n’ shine, a monster auction and more.

The truck show was held at the Deniliquin Racing Club in 2023.

The truck show was held at the Memorial park prior to 2023.

March weekend showcases rural lifestyle

The Deniliquin Pastoral & Agricultural Society (P&A) Show has a proud history of community spirit.

The show was founded in 1876, and aside from financial difficulties which forced the 2010 show to be cancelled, only had a break in the war years and several cancellations due to flooding.

The first Deniliquin Show was held in 1877 at the original showgrounds in Hardinge St, now the home of the Deniliquin Rams Football and Netball Club.

The show moved to Memorial Park in 1952, then known as Jubilee Park, and the P&A Society still calls it home today.

The show started as a springtime event, but flooding at Memorial Park in September created some problems.

Rising river levels forced the cancellation of the event two years in a row in the 1950s, and the show society decided to shift the date to the first weekend in March.

When it began, the Deniliquin Show started on Friday afternoon and ended on Saturday night. The Friday and Saturday format was abandoned in the 1980s when the Department of Education revoked a half day holiday for school children to attend.

But the tradition has been rekindled by the show society, and was re-introduced in 2007.

Like any good country show, the focus on agriculture is always a crowd pleaser.

The Deni Show features livestock and wool judging, equestrian and show jumping, Pony Club events, dog trials, poultry, animal nursery, pet parade and much more.

The pavilion with all the home cooking, needlework and school children displays is a must see.

The show society has also introduced the Riverina Shearing Championships which is well represented by many local and visiting

shearers. Its popularity has also led to a quick shear being introduced on show weekend.

Local machinery company and motor vehicle displays add to the atmosphere, along with local music and bands and topped off with a large fireworks display after the Demolition Derby on Saturday evening.

The Deni Yard Dog Association competition has been part of the show weekend program since the early 2000s and in 2023 Deniliquin hosted the National Championship event.

And this year for the first time in over 45 years, a bull ride was the main attraction on the Friday night.

The show has extended over three daysopening at 3.30pm on Friday, featuring an action-packed program from 9am until late on Saturday and finishing on Sunday with horse events.

The Deniliquin Show is famous for its equestrian events and has gone from strength to strength, increasing the number of competitors each year.

In some country towns the annual show has disappeared, but in Deniliquin the enthusiastic Pastoral & Agricultural Society keeps it going from strength to strength.

Chantelle Shevels was president for four years from 2020, leading the organisation through the COVID-19 years and through the challenges of the 2022 flooding of the Murray system and Edward River which engulfed the showgrounds.

Reparation works were thankfully completed in time for the 2023 Deniliquin Show to go ahead.

At the 2024 annual general meeting, Mrs Shevels stepped down as president.

In her 10th year as a member of the P&A Society, Trudy Fanning was elected for her first ever term as president.

Preserving our history

Everyone who is interested in the history of Deniliquin and district depends heavily on the Pastoral Times and the Deniliquin and District Historical Society.

With an unbroken record of publication from 1859, sometimes in competition with rivals — at other times taking them over — the Pastoral Times has provided information on significant events, general news and controversies.

Since its inception in 1958, the Deniliquin and District Historical Society has enjoyed a close association with the Pastoral Times.

The historical society has occupied many different premises, including the former George St School, which members helped to become the Peppin Heritage Centre.

Today, situated in the old police inspector’s residence in Macauley St, the Historical Society consists of around 40 members.

In fact, it was a significant campaign led by the Pastoral Times which led to this residence being saved from demolition.

Like any organisation, the

society relies on the Pastoral Times to publicise activities, from formal meeting notices to news items and photographs.

In recent times, increased interest in family history has sparked a constant stream of questions to the society from all over Australia and overseas, frequently received via email.

The PT newspaper files, which are on loan to the Historical Society from the Pastoral Times, provide a basic resource for these and other queries.

The Historical Society also has a collection of photo prints once archived by the Pastoral Times, to also share with anyone who attends the museum.

Recently the Historical Society has received a bequest of photos, documents and items from the family of Audrey Wyse, who was editor of the Pastoral Times from 1947 to 1952. Audrey followed in the footsteps of her father Murray Wyse and grandfather John Wyse, who were editors of the Pastoral Times from 1882 until 1946. An exhibition of the Wyse history will shortly be available at the Museum.

The Historical Society was also recently involved, in conjunction with the Pastoral Times and Deniliquin Genealogy Society, in fundraising for the purpose of digitising the newspaper on Trove (Australian National Library website).

The demolition derby has been a popular attraction for the past few years.

A display room at the Deniliquin Historical Society.

EDUCATION

The changing face of education

Deniliquin’s first school was built in 1856 on the banks of the river adjacent to the punt crossing, about 30 metres south of the old George St building.

Dr D.G. Jones, a medic from the Goldfields and founder of the Pastoral Times, who had an interest in public affairs, was largely responsible for the move toward the provision of a school which was built with funds raised by public subscription.

The first teacher was a man named Banfather, a graduate of one of the British Universities, who was described as a highly cultured and scholastic gentleman. When he took over the school Banfather was well on in years and in poor health. After about six months he took suddenly ill and died.

The school remained closed for some time after the death of Banfather and the children ran wild again. Some of the older children

tried their hand at teaching, but were unable to cope.

George Butterworth, a tailor by trade, was another who tried, but he too was unable to control the children. He then took up the quieter vocation of policeman.

There followed a long period of idleness for the children, but in the interim the school house was used to conduct Church of England services by Rev. Ralph Barker.

John Taylor, who had three children of school

age, erected a weatherboard school building close to the river, west from where the National Bridge stands.

Taylor became acquainted with a former ship captain named Hills, and through this man’s efforts Deniliquin children received a further two years schooling.

There was another period of no school after Hills’ departure.

In the meantime the town was growing and the population had been augmented by able men keenly interested in the welfare of the children. The Misses Emmett had started a boarding school at North Deniliquin, but this was not successful, nor was the day school they later conducted in a cottage rented from Joseph Simpson on the site now occupied by the Globe Hotel.

The Rev. Ralph Barker, who had arrived in Deniliquin in 1857, began collecting money for the purpose of establishing a National School. He raised 200 pounds, receiving donations from people as far away as Moulamein.

A count of district children of school age showed there were then 15 boys and 79 girls eligible to attend school.

In May 1857, 11 local patrons were elected, and they chose for a school site “a reserve for access to water having a frontage of ten chains to George Street, by a depth of five chains to Napier Street and bounded on the north side by the bank of the Edward River”.

In September 1861 a tender was accepted to build a schoolroom on the land.

The local patrons, impatient at Government delay, set up a temporary National School in the Masonic Hall, which had been erected in 1858 by John Taylor for the members of the Masonic Lodge. It was expected that 30 boys and 40 girls would attend, and that 40 of these would be Anglican, 13 Presbyterian,

12 Catholic and five of other denominations.

The next step was to appoint a teacher. In those days teachers were chosen for their Christian sentiment, calm temper and discretion. All teachers were not imbued with these qualities, however, for between 1873 and 1879, there were 12 teachers charged with assaults on pupils.

It was a common form of punishment to stand recalcitrant pupils against a wall with arms stretched overhead held up by string attached to their thumbs.

The local Board appointed Edwin Johnson, of Paddington National School, as first teacher, and he took up his duties in December 1861. The new Italian style school was opened on April 25, 1862 by local member John Hay. About 60 adults and 100 children attended the opening.

Toward the end of 1862 Johnson was promoted to Inspector of Schools and was succeeded by John Mills. Samuel Miller was the next teacher, and he stayed for 15 years.

A survey taken in 1870 showed that within two miles of Deniliquin 106 children were not attending school; of these 70 were residing within one mile of the township. Miller stated that during an epidemic of measles in 1875 more than 100 pupils were absent on account of the disease.

A further house-to-house canvass in 1878 showed that

of a total of 613 children of school age, only 138 attended the public school, 227 went to private schools or were educated at home, and 248 were receiving no education at all.

Work on a new school building began in January 1879. This was placed on the former playground and the old building was converted into teacher’s residence. A separate Infants Department was also created at this time, under the charge of Miss Mary Hussey as the Infants’ Mistress.

With the introduction of the Education Act of 1880 there was a system under which local School Boards were abolished and the Education Department assumed all responsibility.

Daniel Kennedy replaced Miller in 1879 and soon there was a great improvement in attendances, rising from an average of 142 to 239 daily. School attendances continued to increase with the population. By 1880 the number of pupils had increased to 346, rising to 372 pupils enrolled in 1882. As student numbers grew a school opened at North Deniliquin in 1896. By this stage the education of local children was well established and would continue to progress over the next century and beyond.

■ This is an edited version of an article from the Heritage 150 newspaper published to coincide with Deniliquin’s 150th anniversary in 1992.

The George Street School.

Angela Carmichael Rachael Pitt Jesse Taylor

Leetisha Hillier

A legacy of innovation and dedication

Edward Public School, the newest addition to Deniliquin’s public education system, officially opened its doors on February 9, 1972.

Under the leadership of principal Les Davey and deputy principal Des Lutton, the school embarked on a journey of growth and innovation.

The early years were challenging due to transporting students to and from the George Street School until Edward’s facilities were fully established. Once the second phase of building sufficient classrooms to house the growing Edward student population was completed in 1975, trees were planted, uniforms selected, naming of the sporting houses and establishing school routines were all part of the formative years.

The school has been fortunate to have a dedicated team of teaching, ancillary and support staff, complemented by the unwavering support of parents who have played a vital role in the educational and extracurricular activities of the students.

Notable staff members like Robert Armytage, Wayne Bradley and Des Lutton became iconic figures over three decades, earning respect and admiration for their contributions.

Des Lutton was a regional technological trailblazer, leading Edward to become one of the first schools in NSW to acquire a computer in the early 1980s. Marg Smith, Edward School’s office manager, was the first person in Deniliquin to use an Office Word Processor, which drew the attention of the Deniliquin Council, subsequently adopting similar technology.

In 2011, the school honoured Wayne Bradley by naming the new hall, Bradley Hall, coinciding with his retirement.

The Edward School Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C) has been instrumental in collaborating with the staff to enhance the learning environment and conditions for students. This collaboration has supported numerous pioneering and innovative programs at Edward over the past 50 years. With the help of the P&C, Edward School led the way with the introduction of Smartboards in every classroom in the early 1990s.

Edward School prides itself on continuing to provide quality education and opportunity

to students as they navigate the 21st century.

Technological advancements in the school have seen interactive panels in every classroom, a well resourced computer room, student laptops and 1 to 1 Apple iPad device for every student.

Over the history of the school, Edward School had many programs and activities introduced and developed shaping the culture of the school. In the 1980s, principal Adrian Parker and Wayne Bradley introduced the Royal Australian Life Saving program, ensuring a generation of students learned vital swimming and lifesaving skills.

Other activities include excursion

programs, Ride-a-Thons, special art projects (tile tables), early morning swimming/Royal Lifesaving sessions, the fete and school productions. Edward still upholds some of these long standing traditions and programs today.

A fire in 1996 destroyed many of the school’s records, the community spirit led to a swift reconstruction, with new classrooms opening 18 months later. Recently the school has navigated another fire and the devastating flood that saw the canteen, library and administration buildings undergo a total refurbishment.

Today, Edward Public School serves kindergarten to sixth grade (K-6) and remains committed to delivering quality education and opportunities, guiding students as they navigate the demands and opportunities of the 21st century.

Edward Public School’s legacy of innovation, community spirit, and dedication to student success continues to thrive, ensuring that each new generation of students is well-equipped to achieve their goals and aspirations.

It is the rich tapestry of wonderful kids, the leadership of so many great principals, committed and talented staff and the wonderful supportive parents that have worked collectively and collaboratively to make the school so special – together creating programs and experiences that build the culture and continue to shape the historical fabric of the amazing place that is Edward Public School.

A long history of Catholic education

Catholic education has a great heritage in our local area, with St Michael’s School founded way back in the 1880s.

In 1884 the foundation stone for what was then known as the St Alphonsus Liguori Jubilee Primary School was laid. In a cavity under the stone were placed copies of the Pastoral Times, as well as some silver coins and a scroll recording in Latin the laying of the stone.

The building was designed to accommodate 140 students ranging in age from five to 15 years.

On Sunday, November 10 in 1923 substantial extensions to the school were opened and boarding facilities

for young women established. Before long the old school was unable to cater for the substantial increase in enrolments and it was demolished and replaced by a much larger building.

In May 1951 the Pastoral Times reported: ‘‘Fight against convent fire saves the town from peril. Five nuns had narrow escapes when they fled the fire which destroyed the convent and an adjoining school. Damage is estimated at £100,000.’’

At the request of Mayor Alderman H.G. Campbell, the Pastoral Times began an appeal to rebuild the school. Over half the cost of rebuilding was covered by the Deniliquin community.

In the following decades, the school changed its name and continued to expand, with enrolment figures peaking at 200 students.

Since the departure of all Sisters in the mid-1990s, the convent has been transformed to an administration building, extensive work has been completed on the playgrounds and a new hall was built in 2010.

Several students have gone on to achieve high-profile success, including champion jockey Roy Higgins and former Test cricketer Simon O’Donnell.

Aria Taylor, Miley McCully and Braelie Wesierski return to Edward School after the break from COVID in 2020.

Students from St Michael’s School are involved in the Mini Vinnies initiative.

EDUCATION

North built on old pub site

There are not many schools that can boast they were built on the site of an old pub, but Deniliquin North Public School is one.

More than a century before North School was built, the sandhills overlooking the North Plains were home to the Wanderer Inn.

The Wanderer opened for business in 1847 and was a popular watering hole for 20 years until it was burnt to the ground in 1867.

The site remained vacant until 1955 when it was purchased by the Education Department.

An Australia-wide baby boom, coupled with the country’s immigration policy in the 1950s, meant Deniliquin was facing a shortage of education services.

To alleviate the problem it was decided to build another primary school in Deniliquin and on Thursday, July 11 in 1963 North School was officially opened.

The principal at the time was Mr Bob Whittaker, who had previously taught at the George St School.

Mr Whittaker had a number of run-ins with the P&C committee before the school was opened, but after its completion they all worked tirelessly to upgrade the facilities.

It was Mr Whittaker who organised the first North Mardi Gras (school fete), with the Griffith Police Boys Club Boxing Troupe as

the main attraction.

Times were still tough. The school grounds consisted of a large sandhill covered with bindies.

With the help of parents and citizens the grounds were quickly developed and eight years later a canteen facility was added.

In 2008 the school built a new multipurpose hall and shelter over the playground before a new library was added in 2010.

In the past decade North School has successfully implemented student welfare programs, technological advances such as smartboards, ipads, STEM robotics and has achieved ongoing debating, public speaking and Tournament of Minds successes, all helping to develop our future leaders.

The range of sports on offer through the Primary Schools Sports Association has enabled students to participate and strive to state level.

In recent years, North School has successfully taken part in the Energy Breakthrough Challenge, training up Pushcart Teams and a HPV team. Throughout the process students are being challenged mentally in the classroom program and physically during training and at the main event in Maryborough.

Students walk from George St to new school

Deniliquin South School started in its current Sloane St location in 1956 when its 110 students, who had previously been taught at the George St School, made the historical walk to their new school grounds.

The Sloane St site was originally gazetted for a high school.

A staff of four, including principal for the school’s first 12 years, Mr Arthur Lewis, took charge of the junior classes including kindergarten.

Classes were housed in a number of buildings in the intervening periods, when the enrolments outgrew the accommodation and when the department provided extra space.

These included Mr Cockayne’s hall in 1958, the Buffalo Hall in 1962 and the Presbyterian Hall between 1964 and 1967.

A brick building comprising three classrooms and a new toilet block was constructed in 1968, a portable library was installed in 1977 and the administration block added in 1981, the school’s 25th year.

In 2009, the school received a $2 million grant from the Federal Government to create a new school hall, which was officially opened on Friday, November 26, 2010 and renamed the Danckert Hall in 2019 after former principal Greg Danckert.

Over the years, the school also received

funding for play equipment, IT resources and other additions to its facilities.

South’s students pride themselves on participation within the community and annually attend special events and commemorative occasions, including Harmony Day, NAIDOC celebrations and Anzac Day ceremonies.

South School celebrated its golden anniversary with a huge gala weekend in September 2006, with several students from the original 1956 classes in attendance.

The Pastoral Times regularly features students from South School in its pages, both for their academic and sporting achievements.

The school milestones on the sporting fields are legendary, with the Adam Gilchrist led cricket team being crowned state cricket champions in 1983, and in more recent times the school AFL team has won the Tony Lockett AFL Shield Statewide Knockout competition on three occasions in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Principal Liz Dudley continues to lead a very vibrant and innovative school community, which is committed to delivering excellence within a rich and nurturing environment.

At South School, every student has the opportunity to achieve their personal best through engaged, active learning in a safe, respectful and supportive school.

Deniliquin North Public School students participating in a Colour Run in 2024.

Charlotte Haig, Arabella Hayes and Isabella Haig enjoying Crazy Hair Day at South.

Campus set up for quality education

There have been plenty of upgrades to Deniliquin High School in recent years.

The school’s students now benefit from many new and improved facilities including hospitality and science laboratories.

The agricultural plot in Wirraway Drive is still one of the school’s most popular assets.

The Deniliquin High School, on the corner of Wellington and Harfleur Sts and also bounded by Henry and Junction Sts, was officially opened on February 20, 1957, three years after the site was purchased by the NSW Education Department.

Previously the site had been known as the Deniliquin Sports Ground and accommodated a number of local sporting groups.

The first classes were held at the new school in 1954 with J Williams as headmaster and nine other teachers. At this stage, Deniliquin’s secondary classes were separated and the school’s population numbered 135. In 1955 the science block was added but was barely equipped for the purpose.

The school changed in status to a secondary school in 1955 and Mr Williams was succeeded by Bert Farlow.

Two years later, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education Mr R J Heffron officially opened the school and major reconstruction work was carried out on the oval.

In 1958 it became officially classified as a full High School with the addition of a four-room library block and a two-room needlework block.

By 1959, school enrolments had risen to

238 with a staff of 17.

The next major development occurred in 1966 with the addition of a new administration building. A further four classrooms, home science, canteen and toilet buildings were added soon after at a cost of $220,000.

In 1970 a grandstand, which had been part of the original sports ground, was demolished and a science, library, art and music wing was added. The same year the agricultural plot in Wirraway Drive was started and in 1977 further developments at the school took

Training our future workforce for more than 50 years

From its beginnings in a cramped high school classroom, TAFE NSW Deniliquin has evolved to become a key part of the local community.

In the late 1960s, TAFE NSW Deniliquin was established, initially known as Deniliquin Technical College (or colloquially, ‘Deni Tech’).

The facility began by offering classes out of the local high school; but a few years later, in 1971, a purpose-built campus opened on the corner of Poictiers St and Macauley St in Deniliquin, where TAFE NSW Deniliquin remains today.

The initial education offerings were popular with students of that era, with courses like secretarial services, fashion, upholstery, welding, pottery and construction in high demand. Rural studies, which included disciplines such as wool classing, was also a drawcard for students.

The 1980s brought advances in technology, with new equipment, including the personal computer, becoming available - something TAFE NSW adopted early.

Head Teacher of Business Services at TAFE NSW Deniliquin, Jennifer Edwards, said prospective students queued to enrol in computer classes.

“Computer courses were all the rage, and the Apricot brand computers from that time were almost as big as a house,” Ms Edwards said.

As the 1980s ended, computer courses at TAFE NSW Deniliquin continued to surge in popularity. This trend continued into the 1990s, as did a growth in business courses, particularly those focussed on management.

The early 2000s saw the rise of health and community services courses, which remain popular today. Diplomas in aged care,

disability support, nursing and children’s and community services, saw strong enrolment levels. Vocational access courses, which taught basic numeracy and literacy, were also popular early in the new millennium.

Being innovative and ensuring course offerings meet the needs of the community has always been at the heart of TAFE NSW’s mission. That principle continued into the 2010s, with enhanced flexible learning options becoming a focus, including more online and mobile resources, as well as the introduction of TAFE Digital.

TAFE NSW Deniliquin has continued to proudly partner with some of the Riverina’s largest employers to deliver onthe-job training, for example, with local rice processor SunRice.

TAFE NSW Deniliquin continued to evolve in the late 2010s and into the 2020s. In 2018, TAFE NSW opened a state-of-the art Connected Learning Centre in Deniliquin, which provides students and employers with greater choice and better access to worldclass learning opportunities.

The Connected Learning Centre was designed to utilise modern, digital technologies, such as simulations and virtual reality experiences. These enhancements have enabled a wider range of opportunities to be offered, and more accessible, flexible and practical training options for learners. With better access to teachers and support services, students can stay in the Deniliquin community to get the skills they need for the job they want.

TAFE NSW Deniliquin looks forward to continuing to play a key role in meeting the skills needs of industry and communities by training the workforce of the future, locally.

place when a new library, science block and an industrial arts block were opened. During this time enrolments at the school reached record levels of more than 900 students.

At the end of 1989, after years of negotiations, construction of the school’s Multi-Purpose Centre (MPC) was started. The drama building, previously used as the old canteen, was knocked down.

The MPC was officially opened by then NSW Minister for Education Virginia Chadwick on August 20, 1990. It includes an indoor sporting court, stage, toilets, kitchen

and office facilities. The MPC is a major part of the modern school.

An amphitheatre was constructed in 2006. It was built by Year 12 students from the metal and engineering class and there is now an amazing mural celebrating famous Indigenous people which was created by students at the school. The arena-like seating arrangement can hold a capacity crowd of 200 people.

In 2012 the school administration block underwent an upgrade to become more functional and to provide better access for community members.

In 2015 a new shade area was added to the oval side of the music room to provide protection for students and a shed was constructed to house the school’s bus.

Further shade was added in 2023 to the western side of the ovel.

Deni High is also wheelchair accessible with the construction of ramps and an elevator near the science faculty.

The school celebrates diversity and high achievement in the fields of academia, sporting pursuits and cultural enrichment activities. The school is immensely successful in nurturing and educating its students and has consistently achieved outstanding results across all areas, particularly evident in HSC and NAPLAN achievements.

During its time the school has had 12 principals, with Glen Warren the current principal having been at the school since 2016. In 2024 the school has 450 students and employs 87 teachers, support and administration staff.

Driver education committee chair Jenny Fellows and program coordinator Anthony Michael, Deniliquin High School students Cody Smith, Remi Baulch and Ethan Connolly and Truck Show committee president Leesa Muir and vice president John Creenaune.

Creating a vibrant Deniliquin

The Deniliquin Business Chamber, which started as the Deniliquin Traders Association in 1940, has a long and proud history.

It became the Deniliquin Chamber of Commerce in 1943, which was later extended to Deniliquin Chamber of Commerce and Industry before being renamed Deniliquin Business Chamber in 2008.

The final name change was decided in an effort to better represent the variety of members, and was instigated by then president Steve Joy. It was unanimously supported at a meeting in August of that year.

Early documentation from the Traders Association is scarce, but minute books from November 17, 1943 onward are kept in archives by the Chamber and the Deniliquin Historical Society.

The first minute book from the first official Chamber meeting in November 1943 also includes a members’ ledger at the back.

It shows there were 34 registered Chamber members in the 1943-44 financial year, although nine were not financial.

An additional 10 businesses or business people were added to the register a year later, and another four in 1945-46. Among the first members were McFaull Bros, Deniliquin Motor Company, Cables Bakery Pty Ltd, Independent Newspapers, Gillespies and Burchfield Bros.

Over the years droughts, floods and other events have caused Chamber membership to fluctuate, but some things have always stayed the same.

Developing Deniliquin as a tourist destination has almost always been on the Chamber agenda, with the Pastoral Times reporting in 1948 that the topic had been discussed ‘‘at length’’ at a Chamber meeting.

The ‘shop local’ message also continues as a key theme for the business community’s representative body.

More than 25 years ago a meeting partly instigated by the Chamber was held to discuss developing a new event for the town. From this meeting the famous Deni Ute Muster was born, and it has grown into one of the biggest annual festivals in Australia. The Muster is now seen as both a “right of passage” and a “bucket list” event and travellers cannot drive past its iconic front gates without stopping for the obligationary photo snap. The visitation, revenue and promotion the event brings to the region is outstanding.

Chamber helped bring a hang gliding competition to Conargo from 2002 to 2008 and held the Deniliquin Matchmakers

Festival from 2011 to 2013.

In more recent years, the Do It In Deni Street Bazaar has been a hit for chamber and the town, held over the Victorian Labor Day weekend in March as an enticement to draw visitors across the border In 2024 a new date has been chosen being the “Melbourne Cup Long Weekend” in early November.

Other long-term Chamber projects include the Deniliquin Telephone and Business Directory, which has been a major fundraiser for the Chamber for many years.

Currently the two most popular Chamber events are the hotly contested Christmas Lights up Competition, which year inyear out brings much excitement and joy to young and old alike, and the annual Business Excellence Awards (which returned in 2010 after a brief hiatus). The Business Awards are the Edward River Region’s night of nights where we congratulate all of our nominees, acknowledge and thank our partnering sponsors and celebrate our winning individuals, businesses and community groups. 2024 will see some tweaking to the ceremony and additional award categories being introduced in the Agribusiness and Trade and Construction area.

The introduction of the Deni Gift Card has also been an outstanding success. Able to be spent at any chamber member business, the cards can be loaded with any amount of money and used just like a debit card. The Deni Gift Card is also now available digitally which the Chamber believes will increase the appeal of the gift card and ensure it captures even more dollars for local businesses.

In 2024, the Deniliquin Business Chamber’s first ever Tradie Night was an outstanding success and plans are afoot to ensure the Tradie Night will become an annual event.

Another new event which was well received was the A-MAY-zing Weekend/Doggies Day Out held on the last weekend in May 2024. In 2025 we hope to transition this to the RSPCA’s Million Paws Walk which we believe will be a winner for Deni.

Past highlights for the Chamber have included 75th birthday celebrations in 2015, and the chamber being named Local Chamber of the Year at the NSW Business Chamber Awards in 2013 and Riverina-Murray’s Local Chamber of the Year in 2018. Next year (2025) will see our 85th year which we

are looking forward to planning .... and then celebrating.

Only two people have been bestowed life membership of the Deniliquin Business Chamber — Geoff Riley and the late Michael Hussey and the Hussey Family.

In 2019, the Chamber Champions award was introduced. The inaugural recipient was Barry Calnon who championed the phone directory project over many years, with former chamber president Sam Hall inducted a few months later at the 2020 business awards, and since then Pat Barker (2021), Denise Phillips (2022) and Bev Fisher (2023) have also joined the Chamber Champion ranks.

The Norm Brennan Community Award was introduced in 2022 and a most fitting inaugural winner was Mr Geoff Riley, the 2023 winner was Lourene Liebenberg.

Chamber is also now actively supporting the younger generation of business leaders with the Chamber Riggall Fellowship, in partnership with the Riggall family to honour the late Gaye Riggall and in 2024 the inaugural Outstanding Construction/ Trade Apprentice of the Year - Will McKern Scholarship will be awarded to an individual who displays outstanding and inspirational qualities in both their work and personal life.

The inaugural Chamber Riggall fellowship recipient was Jesse Taylor in 2019 and other winners are 2020 Daniel Jordan, 2022 Cody Learmonth, 2023 Ben Purtill.

Menshed a great space to pursue hobbies

Since the Deniliquin Menshed was set up in August 2008 in the shed behind Agspares on the Barham Rd it has continued to supply a venue for older males to relax and pursue hobbies in woodwork, metalwork and computers.

The aim of the shed is to promote mental and physical health.

The blokes meet to take on personal projects and tasks for the community. Thousands of jobs have been completed for the community since opening.

They have included: 10 red gum seats for the Caldwell wetlands, and 80 bird nest boxes of various sizes and design for eight different species of birds for the West Berriquin Irrigators Inc; outdoor table sets for local childcare centres; major rebuild of outdoor furniture for a local business; toy repairs for the toy library; 200 crosses for the Friends of the Cemetery; strip and re-stain 23 tables for a local business; and repair and present items for sale in the Menshed shop.

The shed organised and hosted a men’s health forum in 2011 which was attended by 96 men from across the region from Balranald to Albury and assisted in two health nights held by Intereach.

A variety of grants, including a substantial grant from the formation of the Edward River Council have helped the shed’s equipment expansion, and it now has more excellent wood and metal working equipment, new dust extraction arrangements and one extra modern computer. The Bendigo Community Bank provided funds to set up a demountable as an office and computer room. Other organisations, businesses and clubs have been supportive.

The original sponsor was Vinnies Reconnect, and the former Conargo Shire was a great supporter over the years.

The members believe the most important room is the smoko room with good conversation and expressing personal opinions on most subjects.

Both the Lions and Rotary clubs have held social nights at the shed and been given a tour of the shed facilities including some demonstrations of the equipment. The shed has supported various schools and their projects.

The Deniliquin Menshed is now a member of the Australian Men Shed Association (AMSA) with around 1200 other sheds, of varying sizes and all doing many different projects.

The Deniliquin Menshed opens each Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 4pm. Visitors and prospective members are most welcome; smoko is at 10am and 3pm.

Ian Roberts enjoys refurbishing furniture for the community at the Menshed.

Dean Macdonald, Miller Fitzpatrick, Cameron Robinson, Owen Hansen and Ken Flight at the inaugural Tradie Night in 2024.

Maintaining indigenous culture

Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre Aboriginal Corporation was established in 2003.

Yarkuwa operates through a philosophy of inclusion, respect and collaboration and welcomes visitors to the centre to explore local Aboriginal culture and heritage, discuss Aboriginal issues and celebrate our shared history.

Yarkuwa is located at 394 Hay Rd, Deniliquin. The centre contains family history information, a culture and heritage museum and a changing exhibition space.

Yarkuwa is a foundation member, and current chair, of the NSW Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Arts Association and is proud to be able to contribute to the Denilquin economy through a policy of local procurement and increasing employment opportunities for local Aboriginal people

Over the last 21 years the organisation has won many awards including the Deniliquin Business Award – For Innovative Contribution from the Indigenous Community in 2004 and 2005. In 2005 it also scored the NSW Premier’s Public Sector Awards – Bronze Award. This victory was in the Environment & Natural Resources category for the partnership arrangement between Yarkuwa, the Riverina Institute of TAFE Deniliquin Campus, Forests NSW, and the Department of Natural Resources. The TAFE Gilli Award for Yarkuwa’s industry partnership with Riverina TAFE was also won in 2005.

Yarkuwa received further recognition in 2009, winning the Murray CMA Murray Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations Award, coming third in the NSW Landcare

Awards – Indigenous Award and being nominated for the NSW Regional and Community Awards.

In recent years Yarkuwa has won the 2021 most outstanding community organisation award and the 2023 inclusion and diversity award at the Deniliquin Business Chamber Awards.

Yarkuwa hosts Wamba Wamba/Perrepa Perrepa Cultural Week celebrations each year. This celebration focuses on Wamba Wamba/Perrepa Perrepa culture and history.

The program runs in October to cater for a warmer climate and the growing season when traditional foods, herbs and medicines are abundant in the local area and can be included in the cultural tours.

Yarkuwa is involved in language and arts projects, community wellbeing and safety work as well as maintaining a research section focusing on the impact of government policy on the lives of local families.

Moving to Hay Road in 2023 was a major development as Yarkuwa was able to purchase this building from the NSW Government with a grant from Create NSW. This allows Yarkuwa to invest in its permanent home with gallery, museum and community function spaces. Yarkuwa’s projects now include an Indigenous River Ranger team, a junior ranger project, and a growing local language program (including a Year 7 culture and language project with Denilquin High school).

Yarkuwa employs 16 members of the local community and continues to build its capacity to respond to opportunities that ensure investment continues into the Deniliquin area.

Lions Club celebrates 62nd anniversary

The Lions Club of Deniliquin celebrated the 62nd anniversary of its charter in March this year.

Charter President, Lion Jim Fawns, led the club in its first year, and since that time the club has been involved in many aspects of the town’s development, with assistance to organisations and individuals.

The club’s weekly Bingo sessions, which ceased recently, were its main fundraiser. These funds have been used over the years to help assist many projects in the community, including the purchase and donation of land for the site of Navorina Nursing Home, contributions to assist with the setting up and maintaining of services at Four Post Youth Camp, the public toilet block in Waring Gardens next to the Multi Arts Centre, and countless donations, not only to local community but also to national and international emergency appeals (bushfires, floods, tsunami, earthquakes etc).

One of the important

aspects of the club’s service to the community is youth projects, including sponsorship of local children to attend the Lions Licola Camp. The club also contributes annually to all local and surrounding small schools to assist with presentation night awards.

The Lions Club also takes part in the annual Clean Up Australia Day project and hosts the monthly community market in the Deniliquin Waring Gardens, held the fourth Saturday of each month.

The highest award in Lionism, the Melvin Jones Fellowship, has been awarded to several local recipients over the years.

Lions Cubs are nonpolitical, non-sectarian service organisations composed of serviceminded citizens within a community.

Enquiries are always welcome if you are considering membership of a world wide community service organisation whose motto is “We Serve”.

Yarkuwa chair Jeanette Crew, general manager David Crew, Riley Parsons and Danica Reeves accepted the organisation’s Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion trophy at the 2023 Deniliquin Business Chamber’s Excellence Awards.

Leah Walker, Katherine Smith, Jo Fordyce, Annie Small and Pat Fordyce at a Lions Community Market – the club’s major fundraising activity since Bingo ceased.

Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre is the home of local cultural exhibitions; showcasing historic photographs, family kinship information, stone tools, wood and fibre displays as well as local arts, culture and language material.

Yarkuwa works on a range

supporter of the Pastoral Times.

Rotary Club’s support for the community

Established in July 1950, the Rotary Club of Deniliquin has been a steadfast supporter of its community for nearly 75 years. From its memorable inaugural charter meeting at the Royal Hotel’s balcony, attended by 200 guests and broadcast over 2QN, to its current array of impactful projects and initiatives, the club has left an indelible mark on Deniliquin.

Throughout its history, the club has contributed significantly, donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to local, national, and international causes, alongside volunteering countless hours of community service.

Signature projects include the annual Rotary Easter Art Show, Australia Day celebrations, Carols by Candlelight, and the renowned Deniliquin Ute Muster. Notably, the club spearheaded the creation of Rotary Park, now a hub for local sports, and initiated the installation of the Liberty Swing for disabled use at RSL Park.

Since its involvement from the inaugural Ute Muster in 1999, Rotary are now providing essential services such as feeding attendees during the event. The club’s commitment also extends to organizing major community events which has drawn thousands for entertainment and charitable causes.

In moments of crisis, Deniliquin Rotary

money raised for the Pakistan flood appeal through a rapid fundraising dinner. The club significantly assisted in the establishment of the Hilltop Accommodation Centre in Albury, which aids local and regional patients and their families attending the Border Oncology Centre.

Beyond local endeavours, the club fosters international goodwill through hosting exchange teams and sending youth to leadership conferences.

Recently, it launched the Rotary Salvation Army Community Pantry, a vital resource for struggling families. The club has also entered into a collaboration with the Deniliquin Truck Show and Industry Expo which has proven to be very successful.

Looking ahead, the club is gearing up for significant milestones including the unveiling of the long awaited Rotary Time Capsule in 2025 and the celebration of its 75th Anniversary. Additionally, it remains committed to supporting Rotary International’s global mission to eradicate polio.

As it continues its legacy of community service, the Rotary Club of Deniliquin remains deeply embedded in the fabric of its community, dedicated to enriching lives and advancing causes both locally and globally.

has acted swiftly, raising funds such as the

The 2024/2025 Rotary Club of Deniliquin board members (back, from left) Martin Wilmshurst, Sandra Whyborn, president Iain Goodway, Tony Kew and George Maddison; (front) Di Hand, Leesa Muir and Denise Phillips.

A home of sporting champions

Deniliquin’s first managed sports facility came about as a result of a petition to the State Government in 1886 for a block of land on which to establish a community sportsground.

Trustees were elected and with the help of a government grant a sportsground was established on the land now occupied by the Deniliquin High School.

The sportsground, more often referred to as the cricket ground, was officially opened in 1895, by which time local fundraising events had provided sufficient finance for construction of a corrugated iron fence around the whole of the block.

Basic improvements inside the fence had also been carried out, with the laying out of the oval receiving high priority.

The next major move occurred in 1908, when trustees found sufficient funds for construction of a pavilion, or grandstand, adjacent to the western side of the oval.

This gave the complex a much more impressive appearance and other sporting bodies became established within the grounds or made use of the facilities on regular occasions.

In 1908 the Bowling Club set up a green and clubhouse on the Harfleur St and Junction St corner, and courts established in the other Harfleur St corner were used for tennis and netball (then known as basketball).

Pigeon shoots were held on the oval, as were wood-chopping events, but the major sporting activities were cricket, football and, in the late 1940s, bike racing.

A cricket match had been played at the sportsground against a Melbourne team in 1901 and after establishing a turf wicket on the oval in 1934 several matches were arranged with teams from Melbourne and regional towns.

The Deniliquin women’s cricket team played matches at the sportsground against England’s visiting Test teams in 1934 and 1949.

In the latter game Mary Allitt (Loy) top scored for Deniliquin with 51 runs.

For more than 50 years the sportsground was the home ground of the Deniliquin Football Club. It was also the main venue for matches in the Edward River Football Association.

In the immediate years following World War Two, bike racing, both road and track, went through a golden era in Deniliquin.

The dirt track at the sportsground was

considered one of the best in any country town and was a factor in the development of some very talented local riders.

One of these was Billy Young, who in 1946 out-rode Victoria’s junior champion, Ossie Nicholson, on the local track.

At the same meet and on the same track, internationally famous rider, Hubert (later, Sir Hubert) Opperman, shattered his own Australian motor-paced, dirt track record over five miles. He also bettered the Victorian record for three miles.

In 1946 the sportsground was upgraded, with the installation of flood lights over part of the oval, and hot showers in the changerooms beneath the pavilion.

This apparently exceeded the budget of the trustees, who announced in 1948 that they were “stone motherless broke’’.

This was of little consequence as the Bowling Club was then moving to Wick St and the cricket and football clubs were soon to transfer to Memorial Park.

After many false starts the sportsground was taken over by the Education Department early in 1953 as a site for a new high school.

The old grandstand was bought by the High School’s P&C for 350 pounds. It was demolished in 1968 when the site was required for an additional school building.

Numerous other grounds and amenities have been improved or established to make Deniliquin a sporting mecca, helping it build a reputation for having arguably the best sporting facilities of any town its size in Australia.

The Deniliquin golf course is just a stone’s throw from the shopping centre, with its latest major upgrade being in 2001 to accommodate a section of the town’s levee bank.

Horse racing has been a major sport since the district’s early days, with many well known metropolitan gallopers calling Deniliquin ‘home’. Today, with syndications popular, many locals have a small share in racehorses which are in leading metropolitan and regional stables.

Our footballers and netballers have achieved wide acclaim. Deniliquin Rams Football and Netball Club legends Trevor Sutton and Jodie Sefton held Australian records for the most number of goals in a season in their respective sports.

Deniliquin has produced numerous AFL

footballers, the most recent being Sam Lloyd (Richmond and Western Bulldogs) and Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide).

Deniliquin has had bowls champions — most notable being Murray Grimshaw and Keith Plattfuss who were National Pairs Champions in 1980 — and athletics champions including javelin thrower Annabel Thomson who, as a junior, competed among the world’s best.

Shooter Jack Collicoat has also competed successfully against the best and has won national, commonwealth and world titles.

Our town is ‘home’ to national and international sporting stars including one of Australia’s greatest ever jockeys, Roy Higgins, the nation’s greatest ever wicketkeeper/ batsman Adam Gilchrist, international cricketer Simon O’Donnell and Sydney Swans’ AFL star Leo Barry. Who could forget Barry’s match-saving mark in the dying seconds of the 2005 AFL Grand Final, securing victory for the Swans? It has become widely recognised as one of Deniliquin’s proudest sporting moments.

But of all Deniliquin’s sporting heroes, perhaps there is none greater than Cyril Gove — a jockey, VFL footballer, marathon runner and boxer.

He featured in an article in the Melbourne Herald in 1957, highlighting what must

surely be one of the most amazing feats of sporting versatility in Australia’s history.

On a Saturday morning in the Victorian capital, the report tells us Gove won a marathon foot race, then made his way to Moonee Valley and rode a winner. He went from the Valley to play on the wing in a winning Essendon side, and afterwards instead of putting his feet up made his way to the West Melbourne Stadium for a boxing match, in which he knocked out his opponent.

That performance will never be beaten!

Leo Barry played 237 games for the Sydney Swans in the AFL. Here he is running with the ball as Melbourne’s Travis Johnstone looks on during the Sydney Swans v Melbourne Demons AFL round four match in 2006. (AAP Images/Warren Clark).

Former test cricketer Adam Gilchrist has a laugh during the Legends of the Game 20/20 Cricket Picnic Day at Oakes Oval in Lismore, NSW, March, 2023. (AAP Image/ Jason O’Brien).

Todd Marshall of the Power evades Ed Richards of the Bulldogs during the AFL Round 17 match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide, July, 2024. (AAP Image/Matt Turner).

Deniliquin’s Mary Loy (nee Allitt) was one of Australia’s most outstanding female cricketers.

Cyril Gove was an accomplished amateur jockey, VFL footballer, marathon runner and boxer.

Club is a vital sporting and social outlet

The inaugural meeting of Deniliquin Golf Club was held on August 27, 1900.

The original links were established basically on what is now the back six holes of the course.

An 18-hole sand scrape course was in play as early as 1924 and the grass greens were constructed in 1963-64 when an updated course layout was established.

The club apparently went into recess during the First World War and was reformed in 1919. Although it continued to operate throughout most of the Second World War, there was no golf in 1944 due to the drought.

The original clubhouse was built in the early 1920s and moved adjacent the present site in 1946. Extensions were added in 1947 when the club sought registration as a licensed club pursuant to recent amendments to the Liquor Act (1946). The first licence was obtained in 1947 and was held by Jack Smith as Honorary Secretary.

The present clubhouse was built by Danckert Bros. and officially opened in February 1961, with the dining room added in 1978.

The old clubhouse was demolished in 1980 to make way

for the new pro shop and locker room complex, which was officially opened in March 1981. A quantity of bricks were salvaged from the old clubhouse and used to construct a permanent barbecue.

Accommodation units adjacent the clubhouse were installed by Geoff Kitchin on land leased from the club, and the Deniliquin Golf and Leisure Resort was officially opened by Tim Fischer MHR (later to become Deputy Prime Minister) in November 1984.

In 2000, life member and golf club historian Bill Mulham wrote the history of the Deniliquin Golf Club, titled ‘Birdie, Eagle, Albatross … Emu?’

A major change to the Deniliquin golf course came about in 2001 when the town’s new levee system was constructed, leading to a redesign of holes 12 to 17.

The course changes were under the watchful eye of international golf course designers, Thomson, Wolveridge and Perrett. They had fairly basic instructions — design the back six holes to incorporate a levee bank, making the levee as unobtrusive as possible.

The levee stretches along the 12th fairway, which has been totally reconstructed. The 12th hole was

previously a long par four and the toughest on the course. It is now a 445 metre par-five.

Another major upgrade was the construction of a new dam, completed in 2009 and funded by the sale of permanent water which enabled the club to undertake water efficiency projects. The dam is nicely nestled between the 10th and 18th holes.

At the club’s 2010 annual general meeting a bleak financial situation was highlighted, with the large attendance of more than 110 told drastic action was needed to keep the club afloat. This led to the

Board of Directors taking a more active role in running the club and establishing a willing band of volunteers to take on a wide range of duties, from running the Pro Shop, assisting in the clubhouse and administrative tasks.

The volunteerism continues to this day and the club is rejuvenated.

The club’s Board of Directors now hosts ‘thank you days’ to the volunteers who, according to president Tony Kew “keep the course and club running as well as it has done”. The volunteers are often referred to as “the backbone of the club”.

Regular events are held on the Deniliquin golf course for members and visitors. There are medley events on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, various tournaments throughout the year and popular charity days which raise funds for worthy local organisations and national causes. Check the club’s website for details.

In 2022 the golf course was inundated with water when the Edward River and tributaries were in flood, which came at a significant financial cost to the club and it is still recovering.

Hosting functions has become an important revenue source for the club, following extensive clubhouse renovations, but these ceased during the floods when the clubhouse and front 11 holes were inaccessible.

In 2024 the course and clubhouse are back to full capacity, hosting golfers and other events.

Works have continued on the golf course to ensure it remains one of the best courses in the Murray Valley, and a new driving range was built to help golfers perfect their swing.

Deniliquin Golf Club continues to be a vital sporting and social outlet for our region and its visitors.

Bowling for more than a century

Lawn bowls has fuelled the competitive spirits of thousands of local bowlers for more than 100 years.

It has a rich history in Deniliquin with both the Deniliquin and Deniliquin RSL bowling clubs producing a number of quality bowlers.

The Deniliquin Bowling Club was the first club to form in Deniliquin after a meeting at the School of Arts on June 23, 1908.

Locust plagues and high costs made setting up a club difficult but later that year a site was selected on an eastern corner of Harfleur St.

A Bendigo greenkeeper was commissioned to prepare the original greens and less than six months later on December 2, 1908, the bowling green was officially opened by Dr John Hosking.

Initially the club boasted 55 members and it remained in Harfleur St until 1947 when it was relocated to its present position in Wick

St.

The new club was opened on November 13, 1948 when Hector Campbell delivered the first bowl and his wife Maisie Campbell rolled the first kitty. Since then, the Deniliquin Bowling Club has been the home for hundreds of local bowlers.

Murray Grimshaw and Keith Plattfuss combined to win the Australian Pairs Championship in 1980, as well as a number of state titles. They have both represented Victoria at national level, as have Jim Zealley and J Maw.

The ladies have also produced their share of winners, none more so than Betty McCarthy. Apart from being a multiple club singles champion, McCarthy has also represented Victoria at the Australian Championships.

Deniliquin Bowling Club has a proud pennant history, and this continued in the 2023/2024 pennant season. The Division

Three midweek bowlers were runners-up in the final and the Saturday pennant bowlers made it to the finals in both Division One and Two, however did not make it to the grand final.

In 2023/2024 the Open Men’s Singles Champion was Shane Laing and the Ladies Champion was Carly Crothers. Men’s B grade singles was won by Stephen King and the wonderful Ray Anderson Memorial trophy was won by Andrew Holloway. Many other competitions are held throughout the year.

Deniliquin Bowling Club welcomes all new and existing members to join the upcoming season. With a refurbished clubhouse and restaurant and more improvements on the horizon, many new patrons and town citizens are showing their support by frequenting the club. It has a long and distinguished past, and is looking forward to a bright and prosperous future.

Ian Fuller and Ashley Ellerman enjoying the beautiful course.

Deniliquin Bowling Club bowlers Shane Laing and Steve O’Brien.

TDeniliquin RSL Bowling Club ‘Diggers’

he Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club was formed in 1967 with Arthur Wright the club’s first president, Keith McBurnie as secretary and John Mills as treasurer.

The club has been fortunate to have had a number of dedicated administrators over the years – WD (Bill) Jones serving as president for a decade – 1993-2003, Keith McBurnie as secretary for 15 years between 1968-81 and Harry Peers as treasurer for 10 years between 1990-2000.

Current president Tonta Tonta has currently served 7 years at the helm.

The RSL Associates (Ladies) club was also formed in 1967 but went into recess in 2014 due to lack of numbers. Ruby McMillan won an amazing 12 titles during her career and with Dot Mathewson each made outstanding contribution for over a decade as treasurer and secretary respectively.

Like the Deniliquin Bowling Club, the RSL Bowling Club competes in the Campaspe Valley Bowls Division pennant competition. Both male and female bowlers comprise our pennant teams, together with an increasing number of juniors.

Les Luttrell has been the club champion a record six times, while Max Huddle, Jim Zealley and Jim Jennings have won the club’s top individual championship on four occasions.

Jennings claimed the club champion crown back-to-back in 2003-04 and 2004-05, again in 2008-09 and most recently in 2022-23.

He is the only player at the local club to win all four club championships — singles, pairs, triples and fours - in the same year; a feat he recorded in 2003-04.

Remarkedly Jennings is still competing at pennant level at the grand age of 94.

A number of lady bowlers have also made their name at the RSL Bowling Club with Kath Campbell and Ruby McMillan two standouts over the years.

Fifteen men and five ladies have been honoured with Life Membership over the years – the latest in 2022 being Jim Jennings, Brian Clancy and Aileen Daniels.

The club has had success in pennant

Tcompetitions over the years.

The Division Two men were successful in 2000-01, after a number of ‘near misses’, and recorded the club’s first Campaspe Valley pennant bowls flag since 1984.

The locals went on to contest six grand finals within eight years — going down in all six.

RSL’s Division Two side finished runner-up in 2002-03, 2003-04, 2004-05, 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Division Three also went down in the 2008-09 final.

The 2008-09 campaign was a successful season, with both Division Two and Three finishing the home-and-away pennant season on top of their respective ladders.

The club continued to be competitive nominating sides in Division Two, Four and Five, finishing in finals in many of the past six years.

The success of Division Five in 2013-14 saw a long-awaited pennant come to the club.

The 2015/16 season saw the club enter

a Division One team for the first time in 18 years. This was seen as a step to assist in building the club. Division Three and Five were also entered for that season.

The 2015/16 season became the most successful year in the 50 year history of the club, winning Division Three of the midweek competition (combined with Deniliquin BC) and RSL Division Three and Five winning the weekend competition.

In 2018-19 the Division Five side claimed its fourth Campaspe Valley Bowls Division pennant title.

In more recent years the club has tasted further pennant success – claiming a Division 4 flag in 2021/22, Division 5 in 2022/23 and last season 2023/24 were successful in winning both the Division 3 Mid-Week and Division 4 Weekend titles.

The Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club is situated opposite the Deniliquin RSL Club in Duncan St and is part of the Deniliquin RSL Sports Complex.

The club conducts its long running King’s

Birthday triples tournament in June each year – this event attracts a top-class field of bowlers and next year will celebrate its 40th year of competition. Other tournaments are also held regularly during the year.

Current club president Tony Tonta has been the driving force behind efforts to attract and support young bowlers to our club over the past two seasons and has devoted hours to their coaching and encouragement.

We now have a group of promising juniors – four of whom have already tasted success in both pennant and club championship events. Our junior development program is now a vital part of our club.

The Sports Complex, where the bowlers are based, has had various upgrades over the years.

The early major renovations to the club saw the construction of a new viewing deck overlooking the greens. A new office was also built around the same time, with the upgrades funded by the Deniliquin RSL Club.

The Bowls Club contributed to the sheltered walkway plus shelters and seating around the greens. The most recent addition was the completion of a veranda, the full length of the viewing deck and stretching to within two metres of the green.

The club also recently installed reverse cycle air-conditioning to the club room to add to the comfort of bowlers and patrons. Bright club signage has also been erected on Crispe and Duncan Streets.

The RSL Bowling Club is a sub club of the Deniliquin RSL Club and acknowledges the wonderful and continuing support that it has received.

Last season we also revamped our club uniforms to match the corporate colours of the Deniliquin RSL Club and with permission of the Deniliquin RSL Sub-branch adopted the ‘Diggers’ as our club competition name.

Social bowls remain an important part of our operation and are held weekly on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Our club welcomes bowlers at every level and extends a warm welcome to all to join us and enjoy our greens, great facilities and great company.

Guiding the new rugby generation

he Deniliquin Drovers Rugby Union Club has a proud history. The local club was formed in 1985 when, during a social touch football competition, a group of passionate rugby players decided to form a team.

Former Drovers’ president and life member Tim Strong, who has been involved with the club since day one, said the group didn’t even mind if they formed a rugby league or a rugby union team.

‘‘We just wanted to play and we didn’t care if it was league or union,’’ Strong said.

Led by Terry Reed, the small contingent approached the Group 19 rugby league competition.

‘‘They were happy to have Deniliquin join, but we needed a first grade side, a reserve grade, under 18s and $5000. It just wasn’t possible,’’ Strong said.

‘‘So my brother Andrew (Strong) suggested we approach the Riverina Rugby Union competition (which would later become the Southern Inland Rugby Union Competition).

‘‘Riverina was happy to have us in second grade and even subsidised our fees.’’

At the time, Andrew Strong was playing for Wagga Ag College.

The newly formed Deniliquin Drovers made it into the 1985 Riverina second grade

grand final against Wagga Ag.

The Strong brothers started the match as opposing breakaways, with youngest brother Warwick on the bench. Fittingly, the match was a six-all draw which meant the two sides settled as joint premiers.

Deniliquin formed two grades in 1986 and took out both second and third grade Riverina premierships. The club continued to grow in 1987 with three grades.

Deni finished fifth in first grade that year, made the semis in second grade and managed to defend their third grade crown.

The Drovers played their home matches at Memorial Park in their first few seasons before moving out to Conargo, mainly to avoid the hassle of setting up the posts each match.

They played in Conargo for about three seasons before relocating back to Memorial Park. The club shifted to the Hardinge Street Oval a few years later, before moving again, this time to Rotary Park where they have remained since 2014.

Strong said the club has seen a number of talented players ‘‘come and go throughout the years’’.

‘‘One that comes to mind is Dave Mullens around 1989,’’ Strong said.

‘‘Dave represented four respective country

zones and also played with Randwick (in Sydney).

‘‘He mainly played five-eighth or inside centre. The only thing that stopped him playing was family commitments.’’

The Drovers claimed the Riverina League’s McMullen Cup in 1997 and 2001.

The locals went down to Griffith in the semi-final of 2002 and lost successive grand finals to Hay in 2003 and 2004 before joining the Victorian Country Rugby Union (VCRU) competition in 2005.

With playing-coach Glenn Hayes leading the charge, Deniliquin defeated Ballarat University in the 2007 VCRU grand final.

Warwick Strong, who played in the club’s inaugural year, was part of that premiership.

Warwick had his first stint as coach in 2010 and was at the helm when the Drovers returned to the Wagga-based Southern Inland Rugby Union competition in 2012.

They went down to Albury in the 2013 second grade decider — the same year the Drovers fielded a ladies side for the first time in the club’s history.

The Drovers finally claimed another flag in 2017. Coached by Joe Gogarty, the locals beat competition powerhouse Wagga Waratahs 20-17 in the McMullen Cup grand final.

Interestingly, the Drovers have claimed

a premiership on the seventh year of each decade since the club’s inception.

‘‘Since moving to Rotary Park, the club has formed a strong bond with our co-tenants the Deniliquin Wanderers and the Deniliquin & District Soccer Association (junior soccer),’’ former president, and life member, Paul Marshall said.

‘‘In 2017, all three clubs jointly invested their capital along with the Edward River Council to install new lights on one of the pitches, giving both codes further opportunity to introduce twilight sport during the summer months.’’

Four-time club best and fairest winner

Mark Thompson took the reins as coach in 2019. The club lost to Griffith 36-17 in the third grade grand final that year.

Deniliquin sat out the 2022 season due to player shortages, before making a triumphant return to SIRU first grade in 2023 under Gogarty (finishing fifth on the ladder and just outside of finals contention).

The Drovers have also launched a junior program with local youngsters attending regional gala days each fortnight.

For more information on the club, visit www.denirugby.com.au or search for ‘Deniliquin Drovers Rugby Union Club’ on Facebook.

The Deniliquin RSL Bowling Club is made up of members of all ages.

Deniliquin Netball Association win gold in 2024

LThe Deniliquin Netball Association is a communitybased organization that provides local netball opportunities for individuals of all ages in the town. They offer a comprehensive program that caters to various age groups, ensuring that everyone can participate and enjoy the sport.

For children from Kindergarten to Year 3, the association offers the Net Set Go program. This program introduces modified rules tailored to their age group, creating a fun and inclusive environment for young players to develop their skills. In Years 4 and 5, the modified rules continue to be implemented to ensure a smooth transition for the players.

As players progress, the association offers junior, intermediate, and open grades, allowing participants to compete at a level suitable

T(Back, from left) Under-15s coach Carissa Bulmer with Emily Taylor, Hannah Jamieson, Milly Hanmer, Alice Circuitt and Phoebe Newman; (front) Sienna Elphick, Brydey Maher, Ava Marshall and Amelie Bulmer after their win at the Regional Netball Championships (Northern) in 2024. It was one of two DNA sides to win gold at the event.

for their age and skill level. This ensures that players can continue their netball journey and further develop their abilities in a competitive setting.

The Deniliquin Netball Association extends its warm welcome to players from surrounding towns, promoting inclusivity

and fostering a sense of community within the sport. This open invitation encourages individuals from neighboring areas to join and participate in the association’s activities, further enriching the netball experience for everyone involved.

Moreover, the association takes immense pride in its

representative teams. These teams have the opportunity to travel to other towns, proudly representing Deniliquin in various age groups. This not only showcases the talent and dedication of the players but also strengthens the connection between Deniliquin and other communities through the sport of netball.

Overall, the Deniliquin Netball Association provides a comprehensive range of netball programs catering to different age groups and skill levels. Their commitment to inclusivity, community engagement, and representative opportunities highlights their dedication to promoting and developing netball in the region.

The Deniliquin Netball Association, established nearly 55 years ago, has encountered various challenges throughout its existence, but none as significant as those faced in recent years. In particular, the

association has struggled to maintain its operations due to a decline in membership and experienced a major setback in 2016 and again in 2022 when its courts and clubrooms were inundated with floodwater. As a result, the committee continued the annual spring competition on other local courts, and allocated extensive resources to repair the clubrooms and playing courts, restoring them to a functional state.

The association demonstrated resilience and perseverance in the face of these obstacles, making a remarkable comeback. They successfully changed their winter competition to Wednesday nights, resulting in a surge in membership numbers. Additionally, the club has achieved success in fielding representative teams, with both of its teams securing victory in the 2024 championships – a truly momentous occasion for the Deniliquin Netball

Association. Furthermore, DNA players have been identified through the Netball Victoria pathways talent program, further highlighting the association’s commitment to nurturing talent.

These accomplishments have not gone unnoticed, as the association was recently acknowledged by Netball Victoria for their outstanding achievements.

The plans to enhance the facilities of the Deniliquin Netball Association has also progressed, as outlined in the Edward River Council’s Memorial Park Master Plan.

Notably, an extension to the DNA Clubhouse has been completed to accommodate the Deniliquin & District Cricket Association, further solidifying the association’s commitment to fostering collaboration and growth within the sporting community.

Lawn courts have an expanded use

ennis has always been one of Deniliquin’s most popular summer sports.

The first reference to a tennis club in Deniliquin can be found in the Deniliquin Pastoral Times of January 10, 1885.

Courts were established on land owned by the Wesleyan Church Trustees fronting Poictiers and Junction Sts (diagonally opposite the site of the existing RSL Park). Later the club moved to land purchased between Edwardes and Wellington Sts.

It has been 80 years since the Deniliquin Lawn Tennis Club made the move from the old tennis grounds in Harfleur St to its current site in Charlotte St, when eight lawn courts were opened at a cost of 687 pounds.

The first tennis match to be played on the Charlotte St courts was on January 21, 1939 when the club boasted 90 players.

The number had increased to more than 400 by 1947, the same year the club hosted its first junior competition.

The first Easter tournament was held in 1939. The Easter Tournament grew in size until in 1954 there were 829 entries.

The tournament is still popular, but entries have started to decrease over time.

In November 2009, a tribute dinner was held to recognise the many years that life members Don Henderson, Terry Maher and Neville Munro ran the Easter Tournament. It was held at Warbreccan homestead with 100 guests.

In more recent years, the collective committee of the Annual Easter Western Riverina Tennis Championship was awarded the Edward River Council 2020 Seniors Sports Award on Australia Day.

The year 1947 also saw the purchase of the Defence Authorities Air School hut from the aerodrome, which was moved to Charlotte St for use as the DLTC clubhouse and is now the groundsman’s residence.

In 1949 a Club Championship was introduced into the DLTC’s calendar of events with Dick Southby and Pat Whitehead emerging as champions. For many years the Club Championship was dominated by the late Neville Munro in the men’s with 17

championships and by Renee Beehag and Kim Clifton in the ladies.

Unfortunately for the DLTC the club’s finances didn’t increase with the number of players and by 1961 it was looking for alternative sources of members and income.

The committee decided against obtaining a liquor licence and instead two squash courts were built at a cost of 4500 pounds and opened in 1962 by World Champion Heather McKay. Squash was very strong having men’s and ladies competitions every week and playing inter-town squash during the winter. Interest in the club again soared.

In fact, the club membership grew so dramatically that the DLTC increased the number of tennis courts from 12 to 16.

At this stage, the DLTC entered teams in the Berriquin Tennis Competition and then Goulburn Valley Tennis Competition and it was not until 1975 that sectional play was held on Saturday afternoons.

At first the idea of sectional play every Saturday was met with scepticism, but the decision was a major turning point in the history of the club. The Saturday competition became the main focus of the club’s activities, both for senior and junior members.

With the DLTC flourishing, another two courts were

added in 1982 bringing the total number of courts at the complex to 18.

In the late 1980s, with the completion of the Deniliquin RSL squash complex, it was decided to renovate the DLTC and turn their squash courts into clubrooms.

A Wednesday night twilight competition over summer was introduced for the first time in April 2018, after the addition of highpowered lights at the courts.

The club first started the project of installing lights in 2015, and in 2017 received a $30,000 grant from Edward River Council to help complete the $72,000 project.

Six towers with eight lights each were erected on the four back courts at the club.

The addition of six synthetic courts in 2021, also with lights, increased the popularity of the twilight competition.

This eventually saw the Saturday afternoon competition vanish, but the

junior players still take to the courts on Saturday mornings in big numbers.

In the 2023/24 season, there were 120 junior players. Some of them have excelled to the degree of playing tournaments in larger regional centres and in Sydney, mainly through school sporting opportunities.

The biggest fundraiser for the club is its annual participating in the Deni Ute Muster, manning the famous Souvlaki Stall.

It is a big undertaking by the club, which relies on volunteers to feed the hungry hoards and inject some much needed funds into the club.

The Deniliquin Croquet Club made the lawn tennis courts its home in 2000 and membership has grown to more than 40 over the years.

The National Golf Croquet Handicap Tournament in singles and doubles has been held at the courts several times.

Deniliquin Community Group president Anthony Michael and Deniliquin Lawn Tennis president Nick Metcalfe with the new tennis nets funded by Deniliquin Community Group.

Deniliquin Rams Football & Netball Club

The Deniliquin Rams Football and Netball Club has a long, proud history littered with success, all of which has been extensively covered by the Pastoral Times.

The Rams are Deniliquin’s most recognised sporting club, punctuated with 17 senior football premierships and nine A grade netball flags.

The club has enjoyed a successful five years since the PT’s 160th commemorative edition, namely the renovations and improvements to the clubrooms and facilities and a stunning A grade netball flag.

Thanks largely to government funding and the club’s fantastic volunteers, supporters and sponsors, the Rams recently unveiled a revamped upstairs viewing area with a

balcony and elevator, a modern undercover external viewing area downstairs, and a children’s playground.

An historic moment also came on Good Friday this year, with the club’s senior footy team playing its first ever ‘real season’ night game after new ground lights were installed in the off-season, along with a new fence bordering the oval – a record crowd filled the arena for the annual grudge match against rival Finley, but sadly the home side lowered their colours.

Without doubt the on-field highlight from the past five years was the A grade netball premiership in 2022, with the side - led by playing-coach Rhiannan Maxwell - capping off an undefeated season by downing Rumbalara in the decider played at Moama, with shooter Maxwell claiming best-oncourt honours.

Looking back at the club’s rich history, the Deniliquin Football Club joined the strong Echuca Football League in 1933.

Captain-coach Norm Sexton led the senior footy side to a premiership in the club’s first year and the team went on to win three consecutive flags. This feat would not be bettered until the turn of the next century.

The Rams joined the Murray Football League in 1949 and quickly carved out a name as one of the competition’s premier clubs. But it took until 1957 for the club to claim its first Murray League flag, when captain-coach Peter O’Donohue led his side to a famous 25-point win over Cobram.

Captain-coach Graham ‘Curly’ Ion’s 1966 line-up was the next to taste glory, defeating Tocumwal by 16 points.

Captain-coach Ray Murphy led the golden era, where his senior side collected four flags from five seasons (1972-73, 1975-76). The 1976 side included a young Greg Danckert, who would go on to lead the club’s two successes in the next decade.

Captain-coach Danckert took the Rams

to back-to-back flags in 1985-86, and nonplaying coach Trevor Morris was in charge when the Rams tasted success in 1996.

However, all these efforts would ultimately be eclipsed by Gary Parsons’ history-making men.

Non-playing coach Parsons led the club to four consecutive flags from 2001-04, which had never been achieved in the MFL at that time.

Parsons would later return for another three separate stints as coach, with one yielding an unexpected flag in 2011 which was the club’s most recent.

The Rams A grade netballers equalled their football counterparts with four consecutive flags from 2002-05, under the guidance of star goal shooter Jodie Sefton.

Sefton, a life member of the club, still holds the Australian record for the most number of goals in one season with 1,276 in 1993.

In fact, the Rams also still hold the Australian record for the most number of goals kicked by an individual in a senior football season. Trevor Sutton wrote his name

into footy folklore after kicking a staggering 249 goals in 1982. Sutton coached the club for two years (1981-82).

The Rams’ most notable AFL product is Leo Barry, who played 235 games for the Sydney Swans and is best remembered for his match-saving ‘screamer’ in the dying seconds of the 2005 Grand Final.

The club’s only current AFL player is Todd Marshall (Port Adelaide), while recently retired AFL footballer Sam Lloyd (Richmond/Western Bulldogs) has returned to the club’s senior side this year. Lloyd was a member of the Rams’ 2011 premiership team before pursuing an AFL career.

The Deniliquin Rams are based at the Hardinge St Oval and have six football sides - recently adding U10s and U12s - and nine netball sides.

The Deniliquin Rams would like to thank the Deniliquin Pastoral Times for its commitment and support of local sport and for being there during the club’s proudest moments, capturing them in print for the generations to come.

Country racing at its best

As one of the oldest clubs in the district the Deniliquin Racing Club, previously known as Deniliquin Jockey Club, has been providing local and surrounding participants and communities with race meetings for more than 150 years.

Over the years some top class horses have had their initiation to racing in Deniliquin, amongst them

being: Craftsman, Paignton, Commission Red, Sir Boom and Leveraction.

The Deniliquin Racing Club is a proud supporter of country racing, which is the backbone of the industry in providing an essential starting point for local owners and trainers to develop horses to race in provincial and city fields.

The Deniliquin race meetings have continued to gain momentum with the

Anzac Day and Caulfield Cup Day meetings considered two of the premium country race meetings in southern NSW.

These meetings are highlights on Deniliquin’s tourism and social calendar and provide an opportunity for town and farming communities to come together and enjoy what’s best about true country race days.

The race days feature the ever popular Peppercorn Entertainment Marquee, private marquees, Fashions on the Field, TAB and metro and local bookmakers, grandstand viewing of the 2000 metre turf racetrack, big blue skies and a great country atmosphere.

Through community support, business sponsorship and the dedication of members and volunteers the club strives to continually improve its racetrack and facilities.

Recent improvements include new toilets and shower facilities, new amenities for the increasing number of female jockeys, new stewards’ towers and

upgrades to the entry road and drainage systems.

The club is seeing increased attendances and marquees at recent events, capacity fields and more trainers and jockeys supporting its race days.

All this is made possible thanks to the support of the community, and the incredibly generous

sponsorship of local and regional businesses.

A significant development which contributed to the club’s improved standing was the transfer of the race date from New Year’s Day to Caulfield Cup Day. Then president Wayne Dunbar was a driving force in this change which has created more opportunity for the club to

grow and improve.

This year’s Everest and Caulfield Cup Day event is on Saturday, October 19 and features the Deniliquin Cup, sponsored by the White Lion Hotel.

The club eagerly looks forward to the opportunity to entertain a large crowd in an exciting and fun filled atmosphere.

The 2023 Deniliquin Caulfield Cup Day races included the presentation of the inaugural Hunter Landale Memorial Trophy. Pictured are Deniliquin Racing Club president Greg Danckert, trophy recipient and Outpour trainer Con Kelly, and Sam and Clive Landale.

Deniliquin Rams A-grade netball team won the Premiership in 2022.

Recently retired AFL footballer Sam Lloyd (Richmond/Western Bulldogs) has returned to the club’s senior side this year. (AAP Image/Michael Dodge).

Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club

It’s been more than 45 years since a second football team was established in Deniliquin.

The Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club has come a long way since its formation in 1977. The club was formed to compensate for an overflowing number of local footballers.

Former Rovers footballer and life member Russel Walker, who remains involved with the club today, remembers when the ‘Roos’ were first formed, playing from their Memorial Park home base.

“It was identified by a few football minded people that we needed another club,’’ he said.

“We had over 100 players missing out on a game of football as there was just the one team in town.

“There were public meetings at the town hall and the Federal Hotel, and after about 12 months of discussion they finally went ahead with it.

“The Rovers were formed and Barry McIntyre was the first president.”

Initially rebuffed by the Echuca Football League, the Rovers found a welcoming home in the Picola League.

Despite starting with players who hadn’t seen football action in years, the Rovers quickly found success, reaching the senior grand final in just their second year, narrowly missing the title, falling two points short of Barooga on the big day.

Throughout its history the Deni Rovers Football Club has suffered plenty of heartbreak, having been involved in five losing senior grand finals.

“There’s been some pretty close calls over the years but we’re still chasing that flag,’’ Walker said.

The Picola League underwent structural changes over the years, including a divisional split in 2009 and subsequent reunification in 2018, with the Rovers consistently proving their mettle against tough competition.

In just their second season in the PDFL, the club’s fourths claimed the 1979 flag. The Roos reserve side also snared a premiership in 1979, making it a historic double for the club.

The Rovers added to their trophy cabinet with grand final wins in both the reserves and thirds in 1981.

The Deni Rovers’ netball

department became part of the club the year after the football teams were formed, in 1978.

Netball was started in a somewhat informal fashion, with those who remember recalling netball court lines being painted on the road near the clubrooms at the time.

The club’s netball department, established in 1978, has grown exponentially, becoming an integral part of the Rovers’ identity. From humble beginnings — where netball lines were painted on the nearby road — the department has flourished, boasting numerous

premierships across all grades, including recent victories in 2018 and 2023 for the A-grade team.

In 2023, the Deniliquin Rovers celebrated significant successes across their football and netball divisions. The senior football team, under the guidance of senior coach Alex Hay, showcased a youthful vigour, with seven under-17 players making impactful contributions throughout the season. Despite their relative youth, the seniors displayed commendable performance, reaching the finals and earning praise for their resilience and team spirit.

All other football and netball sides displayed commendable efforts, making their way to the preliminary finals.

Grand Final day witnessed triumphs for A-grade, C-grade, and C-reserve netballers, while the B-grade girls fought valiantly but fell short in extra time.

The under-17s football side remained undefeated throughout the season, securing a convincing flag.

The club also received the prestigious titles of Champion Football Club and Champion Netball Club from the League once again.

The season also celebrated individual achievements, with league best and fairest winners, high placings in

league best and fairests, and numerous juniors selected in local and state representative squads, emphasizing the commitment to junior development.

Cameron Wills – Under-17

League Best & Fairest

Tyson Willis – Under-17

League Leading Goalkicker

Erika Martin - Association

Championships North East Zone 17 & Under Reserve runners-up

Chrissy Hurst – A-grade

Best & Fairest Lukies

Medalist

Jackie Thorpe – B-grade

Best & Fairest

Tyson Willis - Rising Star

Finalist

Raymond Murphy –

League’s Most Valuable Player runner-up

Beyond on-field success, dedication to the “family club” tradition and fostering a strong social aspect involving all members remains a top priority. Social events also add to the vibrant spirit of the club. The annual Sheep Races has become a local favourite.

In 2023, the Rovers also introduced the juniors to a program with Outside The Locker Room, the leader in sporting club mental health education and support in Australia, and this year the Rovers held a session for the senior players on mental health, leadership and club culture.

Financially stable, the club has reinvested profits into Memorial Park, their home ground, to upgrade facilities.

The clubrooms, which the club owns outright, was built in 1997 with further extensions added in the last 10 years.

Another profitable season in 2023 allowed for further investment in facilities, along with sponsorship revenue and the successful application of various grants.

With support from Edward River Council and the club’s willing band of workers,

a new lighting system has been installed, the netball courts have been repaired following 2022 flood damage, car parking and road traffic improvements were undertaken.

Grass was added to the areas surrounding the clubrooms, netball courts and playground, with new seating to provide a comfortable family environment.

Looking ahead, the Rovers remain dedicated to further enhancing their facilities, with plans underway for a netball grandstand, permanent netball office and expanded trainer facilities.

Under the stewardship of president John Glowrey and a committed executive committee, supported by a dedicated group of general committee members, the club continues to thrive, emphasizing junior development and maintaining a strong presence in local and state competitions.

As they celebrate their achievements, the Deniliquin Rovers Football & Netball Club extends heartfelt thanks to the Deniliquin Pastoral Times for their unwavering support and coverage throughout the years.

With a rich history and a promising future, the Rovers look forward to many more years of success, community spirit, and sporting excellence.

Deniliquin Rovers A-grade netball team won the Premiership in 2023.

Playing coach Alex Hay.

TO THE DENILIQUIN PASTORAL TIMES

The Deniliquin RSL Club proudly congratulates the Deniliquin Pastoral Times on over 165 years of dedicated service to our community. Your commitment to delivering quality journalism is truly commendable.

As we celebrate our own milestone of 50 years in our current premises earlier this year, we look forward to many more years of partnership and community spirit. Here’s to many more years of success!