Gem of a show Warragul-Tarago Probus on this weekend
The Warragul and District Lapidary Club will again hold its annual jewellery and gem show, taking place this Saturday and Sunday at Yarragon Public Hall.
On show will be various stones for sale, which includes members own designed and hand crafted jewellery.
There also will be demonstrations on the day, with faceting, wire wrapping, glass bead making and chain mail being created, while a member of the club will also be available to appraise antique silverware and jewellery.
Donna Johnson, a member of the Warragul Lapidary Club said the show was a wonderful place to discover more about stones and fossils.
“It’s a combined show, so everyone comes along to share their knowledge, they all join and show their jewellery and necklaces,” she said.
Mrs Johnson also said it was a chance to show and demonstrate just how much time does often go into the creation and shaping of the gems and stones.
“Some stones can take an hour, but some can take up to 20 hours, it really depends on the stone, but what people sometimes don’t realise is how long it really can take to create the jewellery and the smooth stones,” she said.
With lapidary clubs coming from as far as Bairnsdale, the show is an opportunity to see how jewellery is made and to purchase local hand crafted items.
The combined show will begin at 10am on Saturday.
Seasonally, members have repotted the trees, trimmed, shaped and nurtured. Summer is upon us, bringing the challenges of keeping trees watered well and sheltered from the worst of the hot days.
The first meeting for 2020 will be an opportunity to look at the different styles seen in Bonsai. This ancient art mirrors nature.
The style chosen is a critical decision in how a tree will best imitate its big brother in the real world.
Picture a windswept banksia, twisted and bent to the elements; a cascading pine, hanging precariously to a cliff face, or a majestic elm standing formally upright.
Understanding different styling options and how to achieve them is the first step in shaping the trees to their greatest potential.
Proportion is also an important styling goal. A reduced leaf size that fits with the smaller scale tree is achievable with work.
To compliment the discussion on style types, Jeff will be giving a demonstration on leaf reduction using a fig as an example.
Warragul Bonsai Group meets the third Thursday of each month. The first meeting of the new year is January 17 at 7.30 sharp at the back of Community College Gippsland, 71 Korumburra-Warragul Rd, Warragul. Any enquiries contact wgbonsai@gmail.com or Carol on 0438 877393.
The Warragul-Tarago Probus Club continues to enjoy interesting speakers at its meetings each month.
The club was fortunate to have former Victoria Police chief commissioner Kel Glare as its guest speaker recently. Kel provided a refreshing insight into his young years growing up in the Mallee and his career as a policeman and lawyer.
After 30 years in the force, he was appointed chief commissioner and served the community for five years in this position.
Many members took the opportunity of purchasing his book “The Angry Ant”.
The club’s Christmas function was a great success, with 118 members enjoying a meal at Black Tie with thanks to Andrew and his staff. Members were pleased to be able to donate to the Salvation Army.
Last last year, club members enjoyed a coach trip to the Dandenong Ranges and “Cloudehill Gardens”. They were given a tour of the magnificent heritage garden by Jeremy who explained the history of the property and the origins of many of the plants and trees. The tour was followed by lunch at the Mount Dandenong Hotel.
Club members who attended the Probus Cluster meeting lunch at Pakenham Racing Club in October were impressed by the development and future plans they have. The club congratulate the Bunyip-Garfield Probus Club for organising such a successful event.
The groups within the club continue to be very active. The walking group enjoyed a walk along the old rail line at Noojee followed by lunch at the Neerim South Hotel. A dine-out lunch took place at the Moe Racing Club. The caravan group ventured to Creswick and stayed at the Calembeen Lake Caravan Park to visit the Creswick Woollen Mills, dining at Farmers Arms Hotel and other activities. A highlight of the trip was a visit to Daylesford and a ride on the heritage train, a 1930s motor rail.
Club members have much to look forward to in coming months, starting with a “picnic in the park” on Wednesday, January 22. A coach trip to Phillip Island with a cruise around Cape Woolamai will follow in February. A group of members are also looking forward to a trip to King Island. The next caravan trip is to Merimbula.
These activities take place in addition to the club’s regular activities so there is much to look forward to in 2020.