Easter celebrated with High Tea
Sands Warragul Support Group
Have you experienced the death of a baby during pregnancy, or shortly after birth?
Are you finding it hard to cope with your feelings of loss and grief?
Would you like to talk to others who have been through a similar experience?
Would you like to be supported through your journey in a relaxed, safe and inclusive environment?
The Sands Warragul Support Group provides an opportunity for parents to talk about their feelings and experiences in a safe, caring and non-judgmental environment.
The group is facilitated by Jo and Chloe, two experienced Sands Parent Supporters, and is open to all – mums, dads, partners, and women who are subsequently pregnant after experiencing a loss.
The group meets on the first Thursday of every month from 7.30 - 9.30pm in a relaxed and comfortable location in central Warragul.
For further details and an initial, informal chat please contact Anne at the Sands Victoria office on 0406 996 356.
Information is also available on the Sands website www.sands.org.au and on the Sands Victoria Facebook page.
Warragul BeefCheque
The March meeting was held at Jaan Enden and Tim Wilson’s property in Labertouche.
It was a combined meeting with the Sustainable Farming Discussion Group joining the BeefCheque Group. Twenty-four people attended the very enjoyable and instructive gathering.
Chris Allenson gave a presentation on the structure, biology, organisms, nutrients and organic matter pertaining to the different soils in the West Gippsland region.
Tim Wilson followed with a presentation on the purpose and strategies associated with productive pasture renovation.
Rob Jackson provided a report on the current price trends in the local and national beef markets. And Peter Link gave an update on the forecast weather patterns for the next three months.
The next meeting will be held on Thursday at 10am, at Peter and Lyn Link’s property in Garfield North. The guest presenters will be Chris Allenson, who will continue his talk on ‘soils’, followed by Peter Ronalds, who will provide details of a field trial on traditional versus alternative fertilisers.
Anyone interested in the group is most welcome to attend as visitors to any meeting.
For enquiries contact Dianne Davey (president) phone 0423 425 742 or email ddavey@dcsi.net.au.
West Gippsland Genealogical Society
This month’s Genealogical Society meeting will be held on Thursday.
Guest speaker Heather Sjoberg from Queensland will present ‘James Neilson and Isabella Gibson: Gippsland pioneers’.
At the March meeting, Ken James presented ‘These walls speak volumes: a history of Mechanics Institutes in Victoria’, winner of the 2016 Victorian Community History award.
Ken gave an interesting presentation and made particular reference of all 39 Mechanics’ Institutes in the Baw Baw Shire region and their importance in the community in past times.
Ken is looking for stamps of local Mechanic Institute books. If you can help, contact WGGS and the information will be passed onto him.
The Society are looking for records or information of where the records may be for JB Grubb Pty Ltd funeral directors, servicing Drouin and Bunyip districts in the 1920s1930s. Contact Fay via the WGGS website if you can help.
Under the auspices of the National Trust Heritage Festival, which is held until May 21, the WGGS will host a pop-up event in the centre of Warragul at the Baw Baw Shire kiosk, highlighting the society’s local records and friendly members.
The event will be held on Thursday, May 18 from 9.30am until 3pm on the corner of Smith and Palmerston Sts, Warragul.
The Family History Writers Circle will meet on Friday at the Warragul Library between 10am and noon. Sue will present ‘how to start writing family history’. All welcome.
The Society meet on the upper floor of the Old Shire Hall, Queen St Warragul at 8pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.
Further details about the Society can be obtained from secretary Barbara, phone 5611 3871 or visit the website www.westgippslandgenealogy.com.
Women on Farms
Catani thoroughbred horse breeding were on the Women on Farms’ calendar for April.
From selecting a stallion, to foaling, the racecourse and race fashions – WOFWG members heard it all from Denise Butler and her daughter, Karlie.
The Butler family bought their Catani farm 12 years ago, having had other horse properties. Prior to their purchasing this land it grew potatoes. They put considerable planning into constructing horse paddocks, shelters and treed shelter belts, and installing horse-safe fencing.
With 13 horses currently on the property, this is a small-scale enterprise, one which gives pleasure and challenges to these horse lovers.
The first foal they bred, from a mare with impressive, winning genes has been followed by another 23. They have no stallion, taking their mares to carefully selected stallions.
Denise explained that not all births are trouble free. Indeed one maternal death and the subsequent foster mother search was a sad and notable experience. There was a happy ending however, with that foal now a strong youngster.
Another foal needed an hernia operation. Clearly one has to anticipate vet bills, on top of the cost of sending young horses to trainers to start their preparation for the race track.
Denise explained the work undertaken from the age of 18 months, to prepare youngsters for their barrier certificate, a vital step towards a racing career.
Race track success is the reward for the costs and upsets. One Butler horse has won the Penshurst Cup and the Woodend Cup. Further wins have been had at Moonee Valley, Yarra Valley and Caulfield.
Yet another winner is Karlie, who, while a competent rider and employee of an equine pharmaceutical company, is also an accomplished, self-taught milliner. She proudly showed off hats and fascinators which have won awards during the fashions-on-the-field component of the Victorian Spring racing carnivals.
From this visit to Karbri Farm, the Women on Farms group got more than they imagined. The Butlers are a talented horse family with a fashion flair as well.
Women of all ages are welcome to join Women on Farms.
The key criterion is an interest in farming and farming women. There is no need to be actively farming to participate.
For more details contact secretary, Jean Irvine, phone 0429 488 156, or visit the website at www.womenonfarms.org for the monthly program.
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
A magnificent Easter High Tea was enjoyed recently by residents at Hillview Bunyip Aged Care to celebrate Easter.
Hillview Activities coordinator Debra Snelten cooked and make just about every imaginable Easter treat that you could think of.
Treats included lovely fresh Hot Cross buns with real butter, a delicious bread dip, a beautifully 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. decorated chocolate house, cream cheese and yoghurt filling with a dob of apricot jam inside, a half shell of a large chocolate Easter egg and cheese cakes, just to name a few.
Following the afternoon tea, Duncan Holman thanked Deb on behalf of the residents for helping to make the residents’ Easter enjoyable.