General News
31 October, 2025
FLASHBACK: October 30 1975
There was an urgent need to expand the availability of low interest loans to assist primary producers, particularly young men, to purchase or extend their properties, the National Party member for North Western Province, Mr Bernie Dunn said yesterday.
Mr Dunn said he was alarmed by the number of young people leaving the farming industries. He said one of the greatest problems facing these people was the lack of adequate long term loans at reasonable rates on interest.
In State Parliament this week he placed a series of questions on the Notice Paper seeking details on the amount of finance available for farm build up through the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission.
“To the best of my knowledge loans for farm build up have been largely expended and due to lower allocations and changing emphasis to other types of loans most applicants cannot be assisted.
“Quite clearly we need a real rural bank. Under the Rural Finance and Settlement Commission we have the administrative capacity for such a bank but the funds made available are grossly inadequate.”
Mr Dunn said the future of Australia’s primary industry was in severe doubt due largely to the lack of assistance and encouragement to young men in the industry.
Premiership coach has his say: “A successful year”
Following is a report from Hopetoun Football Club’s successful coach, Graeme Cook, as submitted to the club’s annual meeting recently.
“Hopetoun Football Club has once again had a very successful year in 1975. To get three teams into the grand final was indeed a great effort from players, committees and coaches.
“I feel that complete unity and co-operation from everyone associated with the club in any way has been our greatest strength this year.
“To my mind there is very little doubt the senior team has improved on last season’s performance in all branches for the club. Firstly the team has shown a great form of permanency in the form of many players. This is one of the great advantages in both the maturity and consistency factor which the side has shown much more dedication and experience in hard training and in general endeavour.
“The second is the steady improvement that is very noticeable in the seconds, showing the total dedication and concentration required to win premierships in this aspect showed out in the grand final.
“I would like to pay a special tribute to those players who played with us during success. Tony Moylan has been a player of wonderful ability and very well respected by everyone. Tony has coached and led the players capably indeed during my absence.
“Again I would like to extend my personal thanks to John Boyle for his excellent leadership of the seconds. John has handled his team and worked in this capacity over a number of years.
“Congratulations to Col Mitchell and his boys for making it also a grand final.
“On behalf of everyone associated with the club I would especially thank Keith Jones and his third eighteen for their wonderful first year.
“The club’s presentation and amount of work done by both has been staggering and certainly they are an inspiration in themselves.
“Special thanks to Norrie Poulton for another year of good work as treasurer.
“For all you men, coaches, groups and co-operative thought, together this year we have achieved a credit to the club that only we ourselves can feel.
“On behalf of the players I would like to especially thank the trainers and Arnold Decker for their devotion to duty. Also to Brownie Decker as chairman of selectors and his co-selectors in Chris Selipool and George Phillips.
“My personal thanks for your co-operation and thoughts throughout the year.
“Once again thanking everybody associated with the club for their assistance during the year and thus making my job so easy.
“To my mind it has been a very successful year.”