General News
21 November, 2025
FLASHBACK: November 20 1975
A middle-aged woman and her brother suffered facial bruising and bleeding noses when five youths forced their way into the woman’s Ouyen home and allegedly assaulted them.
They were Mrs. Wilma Sherwill, of Swan Street, and her brother John Howell, also of Ouyen.
Ouyen police said yesterday the two were watching television about 10.15 p.m. Friday when there was a knock at the door.
Mr Howell opened the door and received a blow to the face from one of the youths standing outside.
Police said the five entered the house, and some of them allegedly used their fists to assault Mrs Sherwill and Mr Howell.
A neighbour, Mrs Judith Daley, heard the scuffle, but was pushed to the ground by one of the youths when she tried to assist.
Mr Howell ran from the house to use another neighbour’s telephone to call police.
All five youths had left the premises before police arrived.
However, they were located some time later and three have been arrested and will be charged with a number of offences.
All five youths are from Melbourne, and aged between 19 and 25.
They will appear before Ouyen Magistrate’s Court on November 21.
Police said Mrs Sherwill was taken to Ouyen Hospital and treated for minor injuries before being allowed to leave.
Her two children, aged 8 and 11, were present in the house at the time of the incident.
Police said all five youths had been drinking before coming to Mrs Sherwill’s home.
Ouyen police assisted by Senior Detective Williamson of Mildura CIB carried out investigations.
Clipper barley is recommended
Clipper barley is now recommended for low rainfall areas of Victoria, which includes the Mallee and Wimmera.
The recommendation that Clipper barley replace the currently grown variety Weeah was endorsed by the inaugural meeting of the Victorian Barley Advisory Committee, held last week.
The committee includes representatives of the Victorian Farmers’ Union, the Victorian Malsters’ Association, the Australian Associated Brewers, the Australian Barley Board and the Department of Agriculture.
Chairman of the Barley Advisory Committee, Mr. R. H. Taylor said that Clipper had consistently outyielded Weeah by about seven percent in a big number of field tests and had advantages in speed of malting and malt quality.
Mr Taylor said that because of differences in malting behavior, it was essential that the change-over period, during which there would be mixed deliveries of Clipper and Weeah, should be kept to a minimum.
The industry aims to complete the changeover within three years of the first substantial deliveries to the Australian Barley Board, which were expected to commence in 1977–78.