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West Pennant Hills and District Probus Club Inc.

Newsletter

Newsletter No. 38  - December 2019/January 2020

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President's Report

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Tony Coote President                                                           

Hi fellow members.

2020 already! A difficult start to the year with the extreme weather and High Fire Danger throughout most of Australia. Our thoughts are with those affected by the fires and the huge band of Firefighters, service organisations and military personnel who are working tirelessly to keep us all safe.

We are getting back to normal operation after the break. Our General Meeting will be a week later than usual (29th January) due to the Cherrybrook Community Centre maintenance programme.  Gardening will be on 16th January and our usual Australia Day Brunch at the Glenorie Bakery on 26th January.

A group are off to Tamworth in a few days for the Music Festival. Hope they have a fabulous trip!


And lastly, please sign up and pay for the Mid-West Adventure in Late April, if you have not already done so. Should be a fun trip and also help inject some cash back into rural NSW, which has suffered so badly through the drought and fires.

Our Annual General Meeting is approaching quickly. As you know, most of the committee members and other club officers will be resigning their positions and not standing for re-election. Please give serious consideration to serving on the committee next year. The effort you put in will be rewarded many times over. Please make your interest known to the committee and submit a nomination form to the Secretary by Tuesday 25th February 2020.

Its all about Fun and Fellowship! Come along as often as you can and enjoy your Probus Club!

Tony


Secretarial

Correspondence In

Received information from PSPL re our fees  for the 2020-2021 annual capitation fees.

Received an email from PSPL Chairman to the committee passing on her thoughts that all Probians would extend their friendship and fellowship to all those affected by the dreadful bushfires we have been experiencing.

Correspondence Out

None

Cathy Turner

Details of the Probus Member Benefit Scheme are at: www.probussouthpacific.org/pages/members_offers_member_benefits_scheme
(click on link)


Treasurer

TREASURER’S REPORT                                                For the Month of December 2019

 
BENDIGO GENERAL ACCOUNT
Opening cash balance 1st December 2019           $1880.01  
Interest                                                                      .08
Transfer funds paid to wrong account                       148.00  
Closing cash balance 31st December 2019    $1732.09  
 
 
BENDIGO ACTIVITIES ACCOUNT
Opening cash balance 1st December 2019           $10641.47  
Interest                                                                     1.21
Deposits                                                             13295.00   Tamworth, Xmas, Mid-West, Les Misérables
Payments                                                            20184.70   Tamworth, Christmas lunch, Honk
Closing cash balance 31st December 2019      $3752.98  
 
The main activity for the month was deposits for Tamworth, Christmas lunch and the Mid-West tour, and Les Misérables.  All individual activities now balance except $8.00 that needs to be refunded to an attendee.
 
The activities that remain open at the end of the month are:
 
Activity                                              Balance                             
Mid-West Tour                                   1847.00
Les Misérables                                   1293.00
Dangar Island                                         8.00
Total                                              $3148.00
 
TERM DEPOSIT
$5,000 is invested in a Term Deposit with Bendigo at 1.85%.  Estimated interest to date is $43.84.
 
INTEREST
For the year to date, we have received $9.26 in interest on the transaction accounts.  Total interest for the year is $53.10 including the estimated interest on the Term Deposit. 
Note:  “Interest received” includes the estimated interest from the Term Deposit.
 
SURPLUS
The activities surplus stands at $576.69 after some money was left over after paying for the bills for Billy Elliott.
 
 
Ian Roberts
Treasurer
1st January 2020

Membership

Please remember to notify the membership officers Lynne Henderson or Kim Nichols if you will be absent for an extended period of time, or if your personal details change.  

For any membership issues please contact Lynne or Kim or please email the Membership Officer at [email protected]

Lynne Henderson & Kim Nichols – Membership Officers


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Guest Speaker At November Meeting -

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Sally Baitch is the Community Music Coordinator at Maxx Music in Rouse Hill.  As part of her role, she has worked with Arthur Ongley from Parramatta and Hills Ukulele Network (PHUN) to create two Seniors Ukulele Groups, who meet weekly in The Session Space which is located at the back of the store in Rouse Hill.  These groups have been meeting for almost 3years now with new members joining and learning to play all the time.  

Before moving to Australia, Sally was Head of Community Music and Adult Learning at Sage Gateshead in the UK, a music venue with a very successful community music program including The Silver Programme, music making and learning for people over the age of 50yrs.  Prior to that, she had worked as a House Manager at The Barbican and Battersea Arts Centre in London, Nottingham Playhouse and The West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds.



Sally's talk will briefly look at the health benefits of music making and learning, with a particular focus on the benefits for seniors.

Sue Hackett & Toni Smith

Welfare

Being a member of our Probus Club fills a gap for us retirees. It gives us a sense of purpose and community. Please take advantage of your club and its activities. It’s a great opportunity to socialise, and getting out and about will make you feel good.

It is important, as members of Probus that we care for the welfare of one another. Anyone with information about an illness, bereavement, physical disability or hardship affecting a member please advise me, in order for me to make contact and offer companionship and support. I’m available any time for a chat or a coffee.
 
Please be assured that all information provided will remain completely confidential.
 
Terry Ridge is assisting with welfare. He is another point of contact and will be available if I am absent from the club.
 
Marilyn Savic – Welfare Officer


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Lunch After the General Meeting Wednesday 29th January At 1 PM

I have booked West Pennant Hills Sports Club for Lunch after the Probus General Meeting on 29th January at 1pm.  If you would like to join the group, could you please let me know?  I need to let the Club know final numbers by Friday 24th!

Glenda

Important Notice – Attendance at Activities

As a matter of courtesy, please consider the Activity Organiser, and sign up and pay well in advance. It is very difficult for the organiser and the venue if most people have booked and paid well in advance, and a few people decide to turn up at the last minute. Restaurants and venues have often allocated tables, and squeezing extra people in is difficult. It also makes the job of accounting for the payments very confusing.

If you cannot attend a function that you have booked, please notify the Activity Organiser as early as possible so that the venue can be notified.  If you have already paid, your payment will be refunded if the venue agrees to accept the reduction in bookings. This is covered in detail in our Activity Refund Policy.

Because of several recent events, we are forced to change our policy. For pre-paid events, if your money is not in the Activities Account by the organiser’s due date, you will not be able to join the group at the venue.  You are of course free to make your own booking, but those who have paid in advance will have preference for seating, and if no space is available at the booked table you may have to sit separately.

Our Activity Organisers work hard to provide you with great activities. Please help make their job as easy as possible.

Photos From The Meeting On Wednesday 27th November (Peter Stanton)


Christmas Lunch

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Australia Day Brunch January 2020

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This year we plan to have an Australia Day brunch again at Glenorie Bakery Café
Shop 4, 930 Old Northern Road, Glenorie
9.30am on Sunday 26th January 2020.

We cannot reserve seats so some members go early to save enough places for everyone going.

Please let me know if you intend to come so we can count you in and save you a spot.

Happy New Year to you all
Beverley Davison
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Glenhaven Rotary Trivia Night - Saturday 29th February

Glenhaven Rotary are holding a trivia night on Saturday 29th February, 6.30pm for 7.00pm, at the Castle Hill Bowling Club.

Cost is $25 per person, BYO nibbles and purchase drinks from the bar.

Funds raised will go to drought/fire relief.

Get your friends & rellies together and book tables of 8 (up to 10 if you know each other well!).

If you would like to attend as individuals they will place you at a table and you can make new friends.
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New Zealand Cruise 8th to 20th November 2019

The New Zealand cruise photos have been moved to a separate webpage.
To view this webpage please click HERE.

Duty Roster - January Meeting

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Activities & Leaders

As a result of the sign-up sheets at the Foundation Meeting and expressions of interest on application forms we have set up numerous activities and interest groups.

Newsletter Copy Deadline


Please provide your contributions for the February Newsletter by Friday 14th February.

Please email to Glenda Coote or Bev Davison for activities or direct to Andrew Little for other articles.

Alternatively place directly into Dropbox under WPHD Probus Activities / Activity Newsletter Contributions / Contributions – 2020 2

​

Activities List

Click on activity to go straight there!
Activity Group    Leaders
Book Challenge Sue Calabrese
Book Club Bev Davison
Bridge David Antonjuk
Cards David Turner, Barbara Taylor 
Cruises Sue Hackett & Donna Fraser
Cycling Bruce Bartle & Tony Coote
Day Trips (Bus/Train/Ferry) Helen Games
Dining Out Douglas Lam, Glenda Coote
Gardening Sue Small, Lorenza Powyer
Golf Tony Coote, Terry Ridge
Investment Group Mike McLeod
Lawn Bowls Morrie Fitzpatrick
Mens Club Rene Beutler
Mixed Social Group Kim Nicholls
Movies Sue Small and Lorenza Powyer
Opal Card Overnight Trips Max Henderson
Overseas Travel Looking For Leader
Photography Rob Clarke
Ten Pin Bowling Douglas Matthews
Tennis Bob Davison
Theatre and Musicals Bruce Bartle
Travel Within Australia Glenda Coote & Tony Coote
Walking Group Bob Carritt
Wine & Cheese Julie Shenstone, Susan Antonjuk
 
For an activity group to start, a member needs to step forward to lead the group
                              

Book Challenge

WPH&D PROBUS BOOK CHALLENGE
 
Well there has been some heavy reading since November in the Spring/Summer Challenge. Another 13 books have brought the total to 25, and the total since the whole challenge began last February to 112 wonderful reads (well there have been a few plodders on the way). The reviews by the readers are very helpful in avoiding some of them.
 
The Spring/Summer Challenge will go until the end of February 2020. If you’d like to join up, take a flyer from the back table at the next meeting, to find out how to do it, or search in Facebook for WPH&D Probus Book Challenge. Let’s see if we can really get into reading!
 
Our Facebook group is a closed group, so that you can only see posts if you are a member of this group. If you want to join the challenge, but don’t want to do so through Facebook, you can still set a challenge and keep me updated via email. You can also unjoin at any time.
 
Hardcopy, ebook, audio book, fiction or non-fiction, substantial children’s books all allowed.

Sue Calabrese

Leader - Sue Calabrese
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Book Club

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December 2019 Report
 
 
We last met on 12th December and received our latest book, My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante.  We will meet again on 20th February at Julie Shenstone’s home.
 
We meet at eight weekly intervals at 7.30pm.  Future dates are: 16th April, 11 June, 6th Aug, 1st Oct, 26th Nov. 


 
If you wish to join us, just me know.

Leader - Bev Davison

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Bridge

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Bridge Group










Leaders - Looking For Leader(s)

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Cards

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Cards Report for December 2019 / January 2020
 
We did not play in December.
 
The next card evening is Friday January 24, 2020.

I will send out a reminder email a week prior with details.

Looking forward to seeing everyone.


David


Leaders - David Turner & Barbara Taylor

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Cycling

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Cycling Group January 2020
 
Our first outing  for 2020 will be Iron Cove Circuit. Starting at Timbrell Park at the intersection of Henley Marine Drive and Mortley Avenue Five Dock. We will circle Iron Cove twice and finish at Livvi’s Café opposite the park. It’s a 14Km ride, so not too strenuous and all on cycle tracks.

We will meet at 9AM at the Cherrybrook Community Centre.  If the weather is forecast to be extremely hot we will re-schedule.


Please confirm your interest to me.

Tony Coote

Leaders - Bruce Bartle & Tony Coote

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Day Trips (Bus/Train/Ferry)

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Cruise Brisbane Waters on the Lady Kendall 2 - Wednesday 12th February 2020
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and that you are enjoying a happy and healthy New Year.

Our first Probus day trip for 2020 has been organised for Wednesday 12th February. We will have a lunch time cruise on Brisbane Waters following a tour of Gosford Gallery and the Japanese Gardens.

It would really help me if you would pay money into the account ASAP and let me know of your intension to partcipate.

All details are on the flyer below.

To download the flyer click HERE.
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Leaders - Helen Games, Glenda Coote
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Dining Out

TBA


Leaders - Douglas Lam, Glenda Coote

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Gardening

In the last few months our Gardening Group have had a few activities:
We’ve attended the usual Bunning Garden Group and had an outing to Mt Penang Botanical Gardens (on the Central Coast).
 
Some Photography Group members join us on the day which started with brunch in the gardens cafe before heading off in heatwave conditions to walk around the gardens which sadly aren’t at their best due to the drought.  As we were finishing our lunch, a much-needed storm hit including some light hail which resulted in us all running for the cars to start heading home.

Note From Editor - not my best side!
At the December Bunnings Gardening Group we were shown ways to decorate our homes for Christmas focusing on floral arrangements made from materials, such as PVC pipes, timber off cuts, etc.  As usual we then went to our ‘usual spot’ and enjoyed our coffee and a chat.
Leaders -  Sue Small, Lorenza Powyer
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Golf

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Golf Group December 2019
Our December game was played at Muirfield with 14 members enjoying an Ambrose Format. Our thanks to Max Henderson and Tony Coote as members of Muirfield for making the days possible. Our had a relaxed day of the usual 9 or 18 holes followed by lunch in the clubhouse afterwards. It was quite a hot day so a cold beer went down very well afterwards.

Our next outing and first for the 2020 year will be in February and will be at Asquith Golf Course 07th February, (subject to weather conditions). The format will be an “Alternate Shot Event”, so teams will be selected were equal numbers allow otherwise standard play of 18  or 9 holes will be the order of the day.

This is a new format for us so I expect it should be lots of fun for that participate, there will be prizes for the (2nd) second, (4th) fourth & last place getters.

Our normal booking consists of 3 teams of 4 teeing off around 8:00 am and 2 teams of 4 teeing of around 10:00 am.
Please let Terry or Tony (2T’s) know if you will be playing. Also if you need a cart, and if joining the group for lunch afterwards.

The sign up sheet will be at the General Meeting for the following month which allows the booking of tee off times.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Terry & Tony

Co-Leaders: Terry Ridge & Tony Coote
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Investment Group

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Probus Investment Group - December

Due to the upcoming festive season, the next Investment Group Meeting will now be held on Tuesday 18th February.






Leader - David Antonjuk

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Lawn Bowls

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Bare Foot Bowls December 2019

In December, the Hills club was down to only 1 green, which was fully booked out for the month. So it looks like no bowls will be available until Feb. 2020.



Leader - Morrie Fitzpatrick

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Mens Club

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MEN'S CLUB - December

There will be no Men’s Group activity in January. We will kick off the Men’s Group on Thursday 27th February. Details of upcoming events will be published shortly.







Leader - Rene Beutler

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Mixed Social Group

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Hello Members

Our next Mixed Social Will be Next Monday
27th January

Castle Hill RSL
11.00am
Bistro Area

Hope to See You All There!

Leaders- Kim Nicholls & Sue Cordukes

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Movies

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MOVIE GROUP

In December we all enjoyed “Knives Out” an Agatha Christie style ‘who done it’, followed by lunch and our usual catch up.
 
Our December movie day will be Tuesday, 7 January.   To avoid the school holiday rush at the cinema, we’re starting with brunch at ‘Cosmo’ our ‘usual’ café before heading off to see our preferred movie from the available choices including:
Cats, The Gentlemen, Little Women, Jo Jo Rabbit.
 
Please let Sue know if you’re interested in being added to the Gardening and/or Movie email group lists to be kept up to date of the activities.
Leaders – Lorenza Powyer & Sue Small
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Opal Card Overnight Trips

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OPAL CARD TRIPS

I’m now seeking suggestions for out next trip which will possibly be October next year.

Max Henderson
Leader - Max Henderson
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Photography

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Probus Photography Group Report
December/January
 
Group members met at the Shenstone residence in early December. We discussed flower photos, general photos and results of macro photos in the Castle Hill RSL Club competition. The activities over the year were reviewed and discussed. A number of members attended the Mt Penang field trip and some of the photos were reviewed. A workshop was held in late November, which mainly focussed on Lightroom cataloguing and photo library organisation.
 
It was decided no further planned activities until February because of the Christmas New Year period. We may look at some ad hoc activities in Jan depending on time available.

A theme for this month was not set.
 
Year Activities in Review
In general, the group was happy with the current Wednesday evening format based around photo reviews and discussion with occasional post processing tweaks to see results of changes made.
Happy to continue workshops. Interest is more on post processing techniques, but there is still some interest in continuing development of camera skills. Short video tutorials still a possibility provided are short ie 5-10 min maximum duration.
Happy to continue with Field trips.
 
Program Planning
  • Field Trips
    • Nil currently planned until February.
    • Outings suggested including Ironfest, BMX, Kayaking, Tennis, The Rocks, City/Urban, Homebush Bay
  • Workshops
    • Nil until February
  • Presentations
    • Decided to continue to bring both set subject and “open“ subject photos to discuss
 
This Month’s Photo Project Themes
  • General photos
 
Activities Currently Scheduled – Nil until February
 
Next Planning/Review  Meeting

Date & Time:      Wednesday 5th Feb 2020, 7:30pm
Venue:               Shenstone Residence
Address:            5 de la Salle Place  Castle Hill

Leaders - Bain Shenstone & Rob Clarke

Photos By Members Of The Photography Group

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Ten Pin Bowling

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Ten Pin Bowling Report
 
Ten Pin Bowling took place on Friday 20 December with participants bolstered by Ken’s extended family.

Whilst as we have come to expect David came out on top, there were good scores posted by Ken, Paul & Bob.

The third Friday in January falls in the midst of the school holidays when bowling venues are full of noisy children & music. In light of this our next bowling day will be held on 21 February.

As has been the case in the past, I will send a “sms” to all who have played previously, or expressed an interest in playing, a week out from game day asking for those wishing to play to get back to me by “sms” by Sunday evening so I can book lanes.

If anyone else would like to participate please contact me.

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Leader - Doug Matthews
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Tennis

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Tennis Group Report- December 2019
 
We will be playing on Monday 23rd & 30th December and then every Monday morning at 9.00am at West Pennant Hills Sports Club, a small group but we have fun.
 
We would welcome more players so why not come along and join us. 
 
Your standard of play isn’t important, just come along and give it a go, you might surprise yourself and have fun.



Leader - Bob Davison

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Theatre and Musicals

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Live Theatre January 2020
 
Les Miserables:
 
Tickets are now finalised for our first theatre party for 2020, the multi award winning classic, Les Misérables presented by Packemin at Parramatta Riverside Theatre on Wednesday 26 February 2020 at 7:30pm.
 
We have 29 members and guests attending that evening and we will distribute the tickets at our February meeting (scheduled on the same day as the show performance) or in the theatre foyer if not attending the meeting that day. We will also send out a reminder email to all those whom have already subscribed.
 
Other Shows coming up in 2020:
 We are currently looking at a number of opportunities for the coming year including, Pricilla Queen of the Desert (16-31 May 2020) and Mama Mia (10-25 October) Willoughby Theatre Co., Concourse Theatre Chatswood, Kinky Boots (10-18 July 2020) Sydney Youth Musical Theatre, Hornsby RSL Club.
 We have also reserved 40 seats for the Australian premiere season of Disney’s Frozen at the Capitol Theatre, Wednesday 19 August 2020 at 7:30pm with more details to follow.
 Finally, we will also be looking at any other viable concert/theatre opportunities as they come to hand, we also are happy to hear of any suggestions that you may have.

Leader - Bruce Bartle
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Travel Within Australia

Mid-West NSW Adventure April 2020

Mid-West NSW Adventure 27th April to 1st May, 2020
 
So far we have 40 people interested in the Mid-West of NSW Adventure planned for April 27th to May 1st 2020.
Indicative cost for Mercure Hotel (Based on twin share) and Coach Tours is $460 per head. (Based on 40 people attending). All other costs including breakfast, lunch, dinner and other activities will be covered by the participants separately.
Breakfast is available at the Services Club next door to the hotel.

Please make a deposit of $200 per head to the activities account to secure your booking by 20th January 2020.
Our first draft of the Itinerary below.
Hope to see you there!

Mid-West Adventure Committee
Note: to see caption, hover mouse over photo
Lake Canobolas Orange
Heifer Station Orange
Duntry League Orange
Amusu Theatre Manildra
Monday27th April
Travel to Orange via Blue Mountains. Lunch in Bathurst?  Check in to Mercure Hotel. Dinner at The Orange Services Club at 7PM.

Tuesday 28th April
Free time to explore Orange City in the morning. Coach pickup at 12 Noon for afternoon tour of wineries. Lunch at Heifer Station with tasting, then tasting with platters at Phillip Shaw Winery. Then on to Manildra for dinner at the Royal Hotel at 6PM and at 7.30 PM old time movies at the Amusu theatre and Museum. Coach return to Mercure Hotel Orange.

Wednesday 29th April
Free time in Orange all day for walking, shopping, golf, sight-seeing. Suggestions-
  • Golf at Wentworth G C or Orange Ex Services GC (Pack the golf clubs?)
  • Orange Botanic Gardens, Cook Park
  • Mout Canobolas and Lake Canobolas (Why not bring bicycles?)
  • The Orange Heritage Walking Trail
  • Shopping and Coffee/lunch in the city centre
7PM Dinner at Mr Lim’s Orange. (Upmarket Fusion Cuisine, BYO)

Thursday 30th April
Coach pick up at 8AM at the Mercure Hotel. Travel to Canowindra. Visit Noojee Lea Farm to see a working farm with a beautiful historical homestead and gardens.  Visit Rosnay Wines then Lunch at Montrose House at Canowindra. (BYO) Travel to Forbes- a beautiful gold rush town, with similarities to Ballarat and Bendigo, historic buildings and streetscape, centred around a landscape lake. Return to Mercure Hotel in Orange around 6.00PM. Dinner at Canobolas Hotel at 7PM.

Friday 1st May
Breakfast and more sightseeing. Return to Sydney at Leisure. Visit Mayfield Garden at Oberon on the way home. Lunch at the Gardens Café?

Montrose House Canowindra
Noojee Lea Homestead Canowindra
Mayfield Garden Oberon
Phillip Shaw Winery Orange
Leaders - Tony & Glenda Coote
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Walking Group

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Next Walk

TBA

Leaders - Bob Carritt & Enio Dona
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Wine & Cheese

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Wine and Cheese

December’s Wine & Cheese night was held at Wendy & Bob Carritt’s house. We had a fantastic attendance of over 50 people and everyone got into the Xmas spirit.

January's wine & cheese was on Friday 10th January at the Smith’s residence.  Again, we had a great attendance with around 32 people attending on what was a very hot night.  We all took advantage of the air-conditioning!


Thanks to the Carritts and the Smiths for hosting the wine and cheese nights.

December Wine & Cheese Night At The Carritts

January Wine & Cheese Night At The Smiths

 Leader  Julie Shenstone
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PLEASE NOTE
The Club Newsletter is for the private and confidential use of Club members and is not to be used for any other purpose.  Approval for any form of advertising or promotion not directly related to club activities or general club information must be granted by the club committee.

Newsletter Editor: Andrew Little
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