January 2 2019

During December 31, we posted a couple of ads from the 1948 Back to Deniliquin programme.

Because we didn’t want to drive everyone nuts with Facebook posts all day and night and leave us in the process, we only posted a couple of the ads that were in the book.

As the book was in bad condition, we had to use an iPad’s scanner to photograph the ads and get that scanned look.

We hope that this collection gives readers an insight into local businesses in 1948 as well as bring memories to those who got to see many of the businesses run for decades.

December 27 2018

On Christmas Eve we received a copy of an 1881 memo that was written by W. H. Allanson.

Unfortunately we don’t know what the message says in its entirety but we can tell you a little about W. H. Allanson.

Mr Allanson owned a saddlery store and came to Deniliquin from Avoca in 1875.

By 1898 he was on the Hospital Committee and he was on the School of Arts Committee having been equal highest vote getter in the 1901 election.

In 1902, two trees were expected to be planted in front of Mr Allanson’s shop in End Street but were not at the time of a council meeting that among other things discussed the issue.

He donated to the Dr Noyes memorial in March 1905 and whilst other Allanson’s are mentioned in The Independent over the next couple of decades, he is not written about again after March 1905.

Can you decipher what Mr Allanson is saying?

December 17 2018

Deniliquin received some rain last week taking the monthly past one third of the long term average amount of rainfall.

There was hopes for a 30mm day but the town had to be satisfied with a total of 11.2mm according to Weatherzone’s 9am to 9am rainfall measuring system.

The monthly total currently stands at 16.2mm with 29mm the long term average.

Unfortunately there is currently no rainfall forecast for between now and December 24 and of course hot conditions does not help matters.

According to Weatherzone, Deniliquin receives an average total of 376.6mm of rain up to December, at this time last year Deniliquin received 341mm of rain but this year Deniliquin has received 176mm.

The town has received 200.6mm less rain than the average up to December, the town has also received 165mm less than this time last year.

The town has had 25.1 less days of rain than the average up to December and when we compare today’s figures to this time last year the gap is 19 days.

The above just shows how important the request for more water resources from the Murray is, surely some water can be diverted from environmental requirements to allow farmers to make up some of the difference in the rainfall shortage?

Visitors to Speak Up 4 Water will see how desperate local farmers want change, farms are at risk, livelihoods are at risk because the less our farmer make is the less they can sell to companies then sell to the people both near and far.

It is reported by Speak Up 4 Water that the MDBP is causing the banks of the Murray to degrade,  causing European Carp to thrive, the death of native fish by hypoxic black-water events and then there is the killing of animals in flooded environmental areas.

We understand that our area will become a political battleground next year because political parties can sense the Liberals and the Nationals are in trouble but nobody cares about left wing, right wing, conservative and all the other groups right now, they only care about right and wrong and decisions made by common sense.

December 6 2018

Earlier this week it was announced that the Rice Mill is in trouble, this means jobs are going to be lost in town and in Leeton in 2019.

The most recent harvest is the second lowest since 2003, some farms in the local area only got to grow a sixth of the usual amount of rice they grow and harvest.

Jobs are a valuable commodity in Deniliquin, many local jobs are dependent on the weather, good rains equals plenty of jobs because there is cattle, sheep and of course food to take care of.

The Murray Darling Basin Plan has been blamed for this crisis, the Murray River is in wonderful shape with plenty of water in it yet the water does not flow on to the farmers with many believing it just goes to corporate irrigators.

Below are six things to think about

No water = No Food
No Food = No Jobs
No Jobs = No income
No Income = Lower Quality of Life
Lower Quality of Life = Depression or health issues
Depression = Possible Death,

There must be a way to strike a balance between environmental needs and farming needs,

Politically this crisis is not good for the LNP or the Nationals, Helen Dalton gave Austin Evans a good run for his money in the last Murray election and she could easily take the seat due to the LNP suffering in State and Federal Politics.

The ALP may even be rubbing their hands in glee that they might be able to work their way into country areas that have been Liberal or National for decades.

Don’t forget that just a couple of weeks ago, dozens of locals stood in high temperatures to send David Littleproud a message as he went through town and if they can stand in the heat they wouldn’t hesitate to send a message via ballot box.

For more thoughts on the water situation, visit Speak Up 4 Water.

November 23 2018

It has been some time since we’ve written about an experience with a local business and so we recently went to Deni Tyre Service and we would like to share our thoughts on the experience with you.

It was nearly 6pm when a tyre needed replacing and so we called into Deni Tyre Service which was still open despite their listed closing time of 5:30pm.

Our tyre was quickly replaced with a new one and the price was good too, they were very nice about us coming in so late in the afternoon and it is always good to see a business working hard either towards the end of business hours or beyond it.

Their Facebook page is really informative, it is amazing how easy various objects can penetrate a tyre from bolts to pieces of wood that struck a tyre at a high velocity.

Overall we had a good experience and if you ever need their help call 5881 2261, they have a 24/7 call-out service and they even do on-site repairs which is handy for especially those on farms.