50 years ago

- The Gazette, April 26, 1973

VALLEY HIGHWAY BYPASS Start in 3 years? - CRB

The Country Roads Board hopes to begin work on a Latrobe Valley freeway to bypass Warragul and Drouin within three years.

Country Roads board planning is directed toward a start within that time.

Divisional engineer at Traralgon, Mr Jacka said this last week.

Central Gippsland councils have been pressing for improvements to sections of the Princes Highway, which last week carried its heaviest-ever volume of Easter traffic.

Warragul Council has repeatedly expressed concern at the section between Warragul and Drouin, and down to Picnic Point, west of Drouin.

The LV bypass, which will be constructed south of Warragul, would greatly improve conditions on the highway.

East of Warragul, highway widening is almost complete at Yarragon, and the CRB expects to begin widening works at Trafalgar in about 4-5 years.

Hospital stay for trots driver

Trots’ driver R. Fenton spent last night in the West Gippsland Hospital after a sensational pile-up in the Beginners’ Handicap

He suffered a head knock, but was fit to leave hospital this morning

Three horses came down in the race - which followed an earlier six horse smash shortly after the start of the second race - the Progressive Handicap.

Only four of the 10 starters completed the course.

In the Trotter’s Handicap, Glenfern’s Victory - which had not won a race since 1965 stormed home to beat top fancies Dictate and Ascot Spring.

B. Missen, driver of Co Direct in the Hallam 2-y-o was suspended for 2 weeks for alleged careless driving.

Drouin driver Alan (“Chick”) Milles, whose trotter Prolight fell in the sixth, was reprimanded and told to use more care, as was the driver of Son of Summer, A. Douglas.

Following race two, Rhine Valley - which fell without interference to set off the series of falls - was banned from qualifying trials until it shows that it can race truly and safely in a field.