General News
5 January, 2024
Summer reading: Top citizen Howard Rochester
AUSTRALIA 2023 - HOWARD ROCHESTER CTIIZEN OF THE YEAR HOWARD Rochester is the fifth generation of his family to live in the Loddon Shire. It’s where he still finds community, living a life that was routine and connection with community. Happy to...
AUSTRALIA 2023 - HOWARD ROCHESTER CTIIZEN OF THE YEAR
HOWARD Rochester is the fifth generation of his family to live in the Loddon Shire.
It’s where he still finds community, living a life that was routine and connection with community.
Happy to stay in Inglewood and follow passions of life far removed from ancestor Henry Rochester who sailed into Sydney Cove in as a non-paying passenger back in 1870.
Henry had a one-way ticket to Australia, convicted of stealing a handkerchief back in London.
“I think he probably stole a lot more than that one handkerchief,” Howard mused when reflecting on the Loddon Shire honour he will officially receive at Australia Day ceremonies tomorrow.
The connection of his family in local communities - the family arrived in Inglewood from 1859 - saw Howard first become involved in local activities more than 50 years ago.
It was the 1974 back-to Inglewood and his parents were attending organising committee meetings. “So I went along too.”
He had been part of the town’s football club since junior days in the late 1950s and as reserve member of the fire brigade in the 1960s, in the same crew fighting the disastrous and tragic fire in January 1965 as Alan McKean who perished in the inferno.
Howard had followed his father into the brigade, continuing a family tradition.
He played a helping hand to establish the town’s ambulance auxiliary op-shop and holding a bus licence, volunteered countless hours driving residents around town and also for BUPA in Bendigo.
Howard’s award nomination started with the simple but apt line: “Howard loves the Inglewood district”.
It went on to say: “He planted most of the trees in the botanical gardens that today are well established.
“He was a foundation member of the Inglewood Apex club,
member of the Inglewood tourist development committee for over 36 years,
on the Shire of Korong tourism committee for over 10 years,
Loddon Shire century of World War One committee for five years.
“(He was a) volunteer community bus driver for 12 years for the Inglewood hub and neighbourhood house which was a regular
bus route to Bendigo hospital, disability schools and many more drop offs and waiting around Bendigo for the return
trips home for drop offs.”
Those bus driving skills were also put to use with the football club, taking players to away games.
He was senior timekeeper for 16 years and a regular face on the barbecue while also serving four terms as secretary.
A former president and secretary of the historical society, Howard has taken countless groups on tours of the region.
The love of history has extended to giving talks at local schools and compiling local history books. Howard’s love of Inglewood is effusive when talking about the district’s future. “I see Inglewood having a population more like St Arnaud (2000-plus) in a few years and probably one day around 12,000 like it did at some stages of the gold rush.”
Tomorrow, he will look to the future and celebrate the past. “I have always wanted Australia Day. It’s our day, it’s everyone’s day,” Howard said.
Howard’s contribution to communities has stretched way beyond his native Inglewood, an involvement that still puts a smile on his face.