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Last year - March 21, 2012

On this day, last year, we had a story about the ‘‘Great Wall of Nathalia’’ that had protected the town from floodwaters. The wall was dismantled the day before.

This prompted the question - what happens now to the hundreds of thousands of sandbags?

During the height of the floods, up to 300000 sandbags were used to stop waters from entering the town.

While the steel barriers were to be dismantled, cleaned and stored in a shed in Nathalia to be reused in the future, the sandbags were to be dumped at a site north of Broken Creek.

Moira Shire Council’s roads acting team leader Scott Evans said at the time that children who wanted to make sandcastles and anyone else who wanted sand would be welcome to take it.

■On this day a year ago, we also had a story about students at Mooroopna Park Primary School who had donned bright ribbons, teased their locks and spray-painted their hair bright colours.

The event took place a few days beforehand to raise funds for cystic fibrosis.

Principal Cathy Hair said the Crazy Hair Day was organised by the schools junior Kiwanis Group.

‘‘The kids just love this sort of stuff,’’ she said.

■A year ago, people on The News’ Facebook page were talking about the death of football legend Jim Stynes the previous day.

Readers posted their condolences to family and friends and tributes online.

Melissa said: ‘‘Such a gallant fight from a truly inspirational man. Will be sadly missed by many, sending love to his family’’.

The former Melbourne Demons AFL club president and Brownlow medallist died at home surrounded by family and friends.

Two years ago - March 21, 2011

On this day in March 2011 a hit and run collision was on the front page.

A 35-year-old woman was killed in a hit-run collision outside a party the previous Friday night.

Police said the Shepparton woman was standing on the road outside the party when a blue Holden Commodore allegedly crossed onto the wrong side of the road and hit her before speeding off.

■Also making news was Central Park-St Brendan’s seventh straight Haisman Shield win after a comprehensive defeat of the Mooroopna Cats at Deakin Reserve.

The cats crumbled after a promising start to be all out for 209 in the 86th over in response to the Tigers mammoth 366-run total set on Saturday.

Mooroopnas Matt Knight batted doggedly for 71 overs, 239 minutes and 211 deliveries to post a captains ton and threaten an unlikely victory, only to be dismissed by Brendan Scott two balls later.

The Cats game went downhill from there with much of their lower order going out cheaply to seal Central Park-St Brendan’s victory.

■The fifth annual Waaiai Tractor Pull, held the day before, was also in The News.

There was a total of 42 tractors, mowers and trucks competing.

As part of the event, modified tractors were required to haul different weighted sleighs down a 100m track.

Waaiai Tractor Pull Committee president Ashley Williams said the event had been a success with about 1500 spectators attending.

Tractors and their drivers had travelled from as far away as Naracoorte and Mount Gambier in South Australia and Pambula and Barmedman in NSW. (Pic: 3All fired up: Bare Knuckle with Brad Hewitt of Howlong at the wheel)

Ten years ago - March 21, 2003

■Making front page news was 18-year-old Iraqi-born Shepparton man Mohammad Mosawy who was prepared to fight alongside Australian troops in Iraq after allied forces made their first strick against Saddam Hussein.

Mr Mosawy said he would risk his life to support Australia and America to destroy the Iraqui President’s regime.

■Tragedy also struck the region when an elderly couple from Queensland died after the car they were driving collided with a truck at a notorious Yarroweyah intersection.

The couple was attempting to turn right from the Goulburn Valley Hwy to the Murray Valley Hwy when it and a milk tanker collided.

Thirty-three years ago - March 21, 1980

Plans for Shepparton’s proposed new court house took a step forward on this day in 1980.

The director of court administrationColonel Murphy and Mr J Foley of the Public Works Deparment visited Shepparton with preliminary sketches of the new building.

The visit was organised by State Member for Shepparton Peter Ross-Edwards.

■A shortage of chlorine curtailed the swimming season at many centres in the Goulburn Valley.

Although the strick of chemical workers had been over for nearly a week, the large back-log of orders has resulted in many centres still not getting supplies.

Pools in Shepparton and Kyabram were closed.

Thirty-eight years ago - March 21, 1975

■The front page story was about Member for Murray Bruce Lloyd attacking telephone charges being imposed on country people that he described as ‘‘crippling’’.

Mr Lloyd said country people were people subjected to two additional discriminatory PMG charges to the reduction from 15 miles to five miles in PMG country line policy.

■Also making news was the ‘‘Californian Summer’’ which had turned a predicted shortage of peaches in the Goulburn Valley into a possible surplus.

Total peach crop was expected to be 44000tonnes and possibly 48000tonnes, instead of the 27000 tonnes estimated earlier by growers.

■The beef chain and boning room at the Shepparton abattoir was also closing temporarily.

A further 150 men were also stood down and the closure followed the temporary closure of the mutton chain and the standing down of 130 men.