JOURNALIST Sandra Godwin looks back at the events and issues from May in The Guardian’s Year in Review series.
Tuesday, May 17
· A Melbourne investor paid $18 million for the 1.66 hectare Swan Hill Bunnings site which was described as a “bulletproof” investment. Previously owned by a retired doctor, it was the first Bunnings to be sold publicly in Victoria in three years.
· The largest Case IH dealer in Australia and New Zealand, O’Connors announced it had bought the Sunrise Ag dealerships in Swan Hill and Ouyen, and the broadacre component of the Mildura outlet. The deal, being finalised this month, takes the company to 15 locations across three states.
Friday, May 20
· After a week in isolation with COVID-19, Member for Mallee Anne Webster was in Swan Hill to hand out flyers ahead of the May 21 election. She said no seat was safe but thought Mallee would benefit more from a Coalition government than a Labor one.
· Management announced popular restaurant Spoons Riverside would be closed from May 23 for an unspecified period because of staff shortages and unavailability. Customers with function bookings were assured they would be honoured. Staff would be offered work at Murray Downs and the Swan Hill Club.
