Bird expo gets green light
Warragul Garden Club
The March annual general meeting was well attended and the club welcomed several new members.
President, secretary and treasurer remain the same – Ralph, Judy and Lois.
The yearly reports reminded members of what an interesting variety of guest speakers, trips and events they have had.
The audio-visual equipment bought with a Baw Baw Shire grant has been well utilised. Yearly subscriptions remain at $10 and are now due.
Guest speaker was Meredith Van Dongen who spoke on “successful Bonsai growing”.
She explained many aspects including suitable pots, plants, soil, wiring of branches and equipment required to create your own work of art. She demonstrated this as she spoke.
Flower of the month, as judged by Dawn Gough, was won by Robyn Hill. Carol Burns’ entry of Sweet Corn was awarded best exhibit. Door prizes went to Marie Woolan, Margaux Buzza and Marj Blair.
Members and friends enjoyed a wonderful day out at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, travelling by bus. The trip home saw numerous lucky people win bags of bulbs.
The next meeting will be on Monday, April 24 commencing at 9.45am (doors open 9am) at the Senior Citizens Centre, Mason Street, Warragul.
Flower of the month is a container of Chrysanthemums. Guest speaker is Michelle Harrop, talking on her Drouin garden.
New members always welcome. For further details phone Ralph 0411 892 996. or see the website www.warragulgardenclub.com.
Baw Baw Region Arthritis Support Group
It will be a quiet month for the group given the Easter holidays.
The raffle raised a considerable amount of money, which will go towards paying some of the groups running costs.
The group congratulate prize winners Dianne Cocino, Elizabeth Goddard, Lorraine Ferguson, Sue Watts and Lorraine Fairburn, and thanked all who bought tickets for their generous support, wishing them luck for next time.
The group also thanked Coles for giving the group permission to hold their raffle within their premises.
The group also offered its congratulations to its new leaders who now take a swimming class each Wednesday between 4.30pm and 5.30pm at Warragul Leisure Centre’s warm water pool.
Chair based exercise leaders run classes at Uniting Church, Sutton St, Warragul Mondays and Fridays between 12.30pm and 2.30pm with the exception of some public holidays.
For more information phone Bev 0435 554 747 or Madeleine 0410 353 339.
Warragul Stroke Support Group
The group were thrilled to have West Gippsland Hospital and Health Group chief executive Dan Weeks as guest speaker at its latest meeting.
Mr Weeks told members about his career and how he got into his current position. He then went on to tell members how the plans are going for the Hospital. It was a very informative talk and he then answered questions from the members.
The next meeting will be held on next Tuesday. Being Anzac Day, the club have decided to meet at Newmasons at 1pm for coffee and cake.
Warragul Arthritis Self Help Group
The Warragul Arthritis Self Help Group celebrated arthritis awareness week with a community barbecue at Rotary Park, Latrobe St, Warragul.
More than 40 members and partners attended and with fine weather permitting, a pleasant day was had by all.
Mina and Don gave a demonstration of Nordic Walking.
Annette and Mina gave a humorous rendition of “the chicken dance’ with most of the members joining in along the way. Lesley had lots of information sheets on hand for the taking.
The next general meeting will be held in Petit Room 2, West Gippsland Healthcare Group community services, Gladstone St, Warragul on Thursday, May 4.
Guest speaker will be Sue Aberdeen from the Physiotherapy Department at the West Gippsland Hospital. The topic will be care of the hands with arthritis.
The annual Mother’s Day stall will be held on Friday, May 12 at the Palmerston St kiosk from 8.30am to noon.
Members are reminded of the cruise from the Docklands to Williamstown on the Tram Boat on Wednesday, May 17. Some tickets are still available from Betty or Mina.
Warm water exercise classes in the hydrotherapy pool are held at the Warragul Leisure Centre on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
One class is held on Tuesday afternoons from 2pm through to 2.30pm.
Two classes are held on Thursday mornings from 9am through to 9.30am and 9.30am through to 10am.
The cost is $5 per class which includes tea/coffee and biscuits afterwards.
A chair based exercise class is held every Monday at Fairview Village Community Centre from 9.30am through to 10.10am. Tea and coffee can be enjoyed afterwards.
A new class (five sessions) to learn Nordic Walking is now being conducted at Warragul Bowling Club on Wednesdays at 10am. Tea or coffee and a chat can be enjoyed at the club house afterwards.For more information about group, library and resources contact Lesley on 5623 6255.
Warragul Camera Club
Twenty members enjoyed an afternoon outing to Ron and Kath Paynter’s farm at Éllinbank.
The main interest was the cows coming up for milking. inspecting the milking shed, and viewing the cows being milked. Plenty of action shots were taken, as well as photos of the young calves.
At the April meeting, 40 members listened to the judging comments by the visiting judge, Vicki Moritz. The subject was “Beyond Sunset”.
Results were: A grade prints: 1st Russell Monson, 2nd Ron Paynter, 3rd and Highly Commended David Barton, HCs to David Woodcock and to Jane Woodcock; B grade prints: 1st and 3rd Cathie Tisdale, 2nd Geoff Smith, HC Andrea McVicar; A grade DPI: 1st and HC David Woodcock, 2nd Ruth Burleigh, 3rd David Barton, HC Jane Woodcock; B grade DPI: 1st Geoff Gillies, 2nd Cathie Tisdale, 3rd Carol Monson, HC Geoff Smith; B grade CREX: 1st and 3rd Linda Keagle, 2nd Ruth Burleigh.
After the judging, Vicki screened a variety of her Australian and oversea photos.
A workshop was held on Portrait photography recently, led by Darren Spargo.
Darren detailed the best way to achieve ideal portraits, including the right lighting, the best pose to flatter the figure and to avoid unwanted features, as well as ensuring the model was at ease, and the best settings for the camera.
The members then divided into five groups to practice under different lighting and background conditions set up by Darren beforehand. A great fun night was had, with members learning a lot. The club thanked Darren.
Work is under way for the club’s 44th annual National Exhibition. Entries have been received, and judging day is on Saturday. The Exhibition will be displayed at the Warragul Downtowner from May 19-22.
Club meetings are held the first Monday each month at the Mawarra worshops, Percy St, Warragul, at 7-30pm. Visitors are welcome. For more information , visit the club website, or phone 0419 525 124.
The Gippsland branch of the Avicultural Society of Australia bird expo and sale will proceed as planned on Sunday.
An exempion from the state government was gazetted last week, meaning all sanctioned clubs can hold their expo’s.
ASA Gippsland branch representative Dean Rowlands said clubs could now exist as they had in the past, with Exotics allowed to be sold on the day.
“As many bird breeders would know, we were in jeopaardy of not being able to hold our sales as we had in the past due to rulings in the due to rulings in the Domestic Animal Act of 1994 that were being heavily enforced,” he said.
Mr Rowlands said he was thankful to the efforts of many who put a lot of time and effort into getting the exemption put into place.
“Just to name a few, David Renshaw, Ron Hicks, the Victorian Avicultural Council and many more people behind the scene.”
The condition of expo’s and sale are set out in the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, the state government’s Code of Practice for Housing of Caged Birds, and the Victorian Avicultural Council’s Code of Practice for Bird Sales.
“These codes of practice will be heavily enforced at all expo’s and sales,” Mr Rowlands said.
The exemption is in place for as long as it takes to write the amendment, which now covers all domestic animals and not just cats and dogs.
“This will take some time and is complex,” Mr Rowlands said. “Possibly up to two years to re-write the bill.” The Gippsland branch of the ASA will hold its expo and sale on Sunday at the Exhibition Hall, Howitt St, Warragul between 11am and 2pm.
For queries regarding site fee and benching time for sellers, phone David Ketchion of the Gippsland branch of ASA on 5635 4214.