50 years ago
The Express, August 4, 1976
Flying glass cuts caller
WELL known race commentator Ray Benson suffered a cut over an eye when a pane of glass disintegrated close to his face at Traralgon races on Monday.
Benson was in the broadcast section of the photo finish tower when the incident occurred.
He was attempting to adjust the window when it suddenly exploded like a gunshot.
The framework was ripped out as fragments of glass showered onto a protective cover one story above the members’ enclosure.
Express racing writer Clem Pitt, said he heard the bang and ducked away from the flying fragments as they fell like hailstones onto the cover and bounced onto the concrete section where he was standing a few feet away in front of the tower.
Bryan Marten, broadcasting in a cubicle next to Benson, said he was shocked by the incident.
30 years ago
The Express, August 5, 1996
Rural finance meeting
NATIONAL Party MLA for Gippsland South Peter Ryan will chair a public meeting focusing on the operations of the Rural Finance Corporation and load access for young farmers. The meeting will be held at the Sale Memorial Hall on Thursday at 11am.
Mr Ryan said the meeting would give people the opportunity to ask questions of Rural Finance Corporation representatives including chairman Stuart McDonald, chief executive Ray Hicks and Traralgon regional manager Adrian Smith.
10 years ago
The Express, August 4, 2016
Boost for firefighting aviation fleet
TWO of the world’s biggest firefighting aircraft will be back in Victoria this summer to support firefighters and keep communities safe from bushfires.
The state government has announced $11.1 million to secure two fixed-wing large air tankers, an extra Helitak chopper and a support plane for the coming bushfire season.
The aircraft are in addition to Victoria’s 43-strong firefighting aviation fleet of fixed wing aircraft, helicopters and air cranes.
