The first with the first to open doors
Warragul Probus Club
West Gippsland Hospital chief executive officer Dan Weeks was guest speaker at the October general meeting of Warragul Probus Club.
Mr Weeks spoke about the past, present and future of our local health care facility, and members found it an interesting talk..
Fifteen members joined with other Probians at the District Probus Clubs annual cluster luncheon at the Warragul Country Club.
They had made the effort to add to the sea of red for the event, which highlighted the 40th birthday of the Probus movement in Australia. A pleasing number of 150 attended.
A pleasant surprise was an address by local member of parliament Gary Blackwood, who discussed key issues facing the area as a result of growth pressures.
The mystery tour was a great success. Organised by two members, the tour was indeed a secret. And for that reason no one can say any more about the day, for it must be kept a secret.
Members are reminded of the dine out to be held at the Club Hotel on November 16, commencing at 6.30pm.
The Christmas luncheon will be held at the Black Tie Reception Centre on December 14.
Warragul Ranges Probus
President Pat McPhie inducted Barbara Glasser to the club at the October meeting.
The club welcomed Barbara, who gave a short resume about herself.
On a bright sunny Gippsland day the garden group visited the lovely gardens of Sue and John Curnow and Judy and Max Shearman. The club thank all people who open their gardens for members to visit.
The Phillip Island three-hour boat cruise is Thursday with bookings nearly reaching capacity, with a fish and chip lunch at San Remo.
The Christmas break up is on December 8 at the Warragul Country Club with a two-course meal. Instead of a guest speaker, Peter Myers organised a musical morning melody with Fay Brydon and John Stevens.
Fay sang songs from Summertime, Les Miserables, Cats, Showboat with “Can’t Stop Loving That Man” plus many and varied others.
John gave a piano rendition of “The Nearness of You”.
As a finale Fay sang “Stormy Weather”, “At Last” and “I Won’t Send Roses”.
These songs were a very fitting tribute to a lovely morning’s entertainment.
Members are asked to note that the January meeting is on Wednesday, January 25 due to Australia Day.
The next monthly meeting is on Thursday, November 24 at 10am at the Country Club.
Warragul Municipal Band
After a highly successful day out at Rosehill Farm at the end of last month, the band are busily preparing for its Remembrance Day concert at the Exhibition Hall on Sunday November 13, commencing at 2pm.
This concert will take the audience on a musical and historical journey through songs of the War era.
The annual general meeting will be held in lieu of band rehearsal on Tuesday November 15 at 8pm. You do not need to be a playing member to be part of the executive committee of the band, so please come and show your support to your community band.
Warragul Stroke Support
The next meeting of the group is to be held today at Community House, 138 Normandy St Warragul, from 1pm to 3pm.
All welcome, even if you have not been before, for a cuppa and a chat. Cost is $2.
For more information phone Jean on 0400 342 291.
Strzelecki Bushwalking
Parks Victoria Peatland Protection Program coordinator Monica Hersburgh will be guest speaker at Strzelecki Bushwalking Club’s November meeting.
She will speak about ‘peat bogs’, their importance, their threats and how people can help.
Anyone is welcome at the meeting, held in the Trafalgar Scout hall on November 9 at 7.30pm.
Monica is also holding a workshop on peat bogs at the Erica DELWP office and a field trip to Baragwanath Flat near Mt Baw Baw on Tuesday November 15. It will be great to learn more about this unique vegetation and the ecosystem around it.
A taste of warmer weather allowed the canoeists to make a splash and enjoy their trip around Rotamah Island, where they saw baby swans.
The walkers on the trip from Mt St Gwinear to Mt Baw Baw were also lucky the forecast rain did not eventuate and they had a lovely 18km hike to Muellers Lookout on Mt Baw Baw, seeing drifts of snow and clear views of the surrounding mountains.
In November, the club is looking forward to a two-day bike ride from Mansfield to Tallarook and the combined Gippsland weekend at Rokeby.
This weekend will attract walkers from all four Gippsland clubs and will be a great chance to showcase the delightful walks in our area.
Saturday night will include a dinner and a quiz.
The month also includes two track clearing activities in partnership with Parks Victoria at the Prom, work will take place on the track to Sealers Cove and in the Snowy River National Park, the Silver Mines track will be cleared.
If anyone is interested in joining any of the activities phone Fran Miller on 5623 3093 or visit the website www.sbwc.org for more details.
Gippsland Forest Lodge, the first Masonic Lodge to be formed in Warragul, held the first open installation ceremony to be conducted in the area recently.
Freemasonry has always been viewd by some who are not members with some suspicion, fearing that it is a secret society which exerts influence from behind closed doors.
Open installations are being conducted to inform non-freemasons of the true situation and allow them to participate in a Masonic meeting and view a Masonic ceremony.
The meeting was declared a success with a large attendance. Visitors not only had the opportunity to view a spectacular ceremony, but were also given a clear account of the principles, aims and achievements of the organisation and have questioned answered.
The meeting provided an opportunity for visitors to gain a better understanding of a very old and often misunderstood organisation, to experience an uplifting ceremony and the relaxed good fellowship that distinguishes Masonic meetings.
Gippsland Forest Lodge was formed in 1884 when Warragul was largely a railway and timber town. It has met here each month for more than 130 years and members have been active in community affairs for all that time.
Gippsland Forest Lodge has now been joined in Warragul by other lodges, which have been formed in more recent years.