Club Notes...
Women on Farms West Gippsland
Honey with onion? What sort of recipe is that?
Jokes aside, this is not a recipe but advice from an experienced amateur apiarist about how to ease a bee sting. Simply, if you are stung, rub a cut onion over the area, once the bee’s stinger is properly removed. The juice of the onion has been proven to ease both the pain of the sting and the subsequent itching. Caution - it is a recognised home remedy but is no preventative of anaphylactic shock if one is severely allergic.
Rosa Wedmore, a WOFWG member, shared this with the gathering of women who listened intently while she demonstrated the extraction of honey. This came from her own hives which she has enthusiastically kept for five plus years.
When she began, Rosa had little knowledge about bees. She had previously kept cattle. While both animals are defined as livestock, the management activities are immeasurably different.
Joining a local bee keeping association and making plenty of helpful contacts have been part of Rosa’s learning. She explained that in her club most members are hobbyists. They share ideas, advice, equipment and encouragement. While Rosa has seven hives currently, one of the members who is a full time apiarist has 100 hives.
As she worked away with the honey extraction process Rosa shared from her learnings about bee management: looking after the queen, the impact of seasonal changes, how to capture swarming bees and more. It was no surprise that members asked about the threat of varroa mite infestation. This parasitic mite attacks and feeds on honey bees, being a most damaging pest. We learned that it is very hard to eradicate and that minimizing its impact puts considerably more demand on apiarists’ management practices.
On a positive note, Rosa is impressed by the ‘intelligence’ and inbuilt GPS systems of the honey bee. Members mused over the lazy lifestyle of the male drones, then bought jars of the sweet product of which Rosa is duly proud.
Any woman is welcome to join Women on Farms. The key criterion is an interest in farming and farming friendships. There is no need to be actively farming to participate. For more information contact secretary Jean Irvine (0429 488156) or go to the website at www.womenonfarms-wg.org.au for the monthly program.
Warragul Garden Club
March has been a very busy month for Warragul Garden Club.
The Well Gardened Mind symposium was a huge success. The international guest, Dr Sue Stuart Smith gave a very interesting talk on the positive mental health benefits of being with nature and gardening.
Sue enjoyed her time in Warragul and the feedback was very positive, with some of those attending flying from Adelaide, Sydney and Tasmania. Other very interesting speakers were Steven Wells and Tanya Bearup, who explained how they put this concept into practice, in a variety of settings. Whether it’s a hospital, an aged care facility, a school or a prison, the presence of an inviting green and safe space has a positive influence on the resident’s mood and behaviour.
Everyone can benefit from being out in the natural world – even after a short time our blood pressure drops, our heartrate slows and over repeated exposure, our levels of stress hormone lower.
Thank you to all the members who gave so generously of their time to make this event successful.
Members were also busy at the Warragul Show. This would not be possible without your ongoing support.
March was the annual general meeting and election of office bearers for the next year. A full committee was achieved, with Joy returning as president - however sharing some of the many tasks, to lighten the load. Again, another thankyou to all those who offered to help and we are looking forward to another great year.
Warragul Garden Club is a group of friendly people who meet on the fourth Monday of each month in the Senior Citizens Centre at 9am. If you are interested to find out more, go along to the next meeting, or visit the website www.warragulgardenclub.org for information on upcoming events.
Next meeting is Monday, April 22 – doors open at 9am for setting up entries on the show bench and the meeting starts at 9.30am.
Guest speaker is Carol Pitman, a club member - who will explain why “Bonsai doesn’t hurt “
Flower of the month is : One stem of chrysanthemum
Arrangement of the month is: ANZAC Day Morning tea roster: Helen Carver, Jan and Kate
Baw Baw Budgerigar Society
Sixteen members attended Monday night’s meeting where a survey was taken of which varieties members may have for the Young Bird State Championship and what they may breed later in the year for the UBC State Championship to be held in October.
There appeared to be a couple of varieties the club needs to fill, with members undertaking the opportunity breed these missing varieties.
There was a great discussion on why birds who have been put down to breed lay infertile eggs, eat their eggs or just don’t lay. The main reason is that the birds just aren’t in condition and those members who have been breeding for years indicated what to look for in both the hen and cock bird to ensure success. These experienced breeders have a wealth of knowledge and novice breeders should lean on this experience to get great results.
There also was a great discussion about the genetics of birds within the breeding regimen. The genetics of the English type budgerigar started from 57 birds from a stud in England after WWII and were later interbred with the Australian budgerigar to create the show birds as we know them today.
Due to the Young Bird State Championship on Sunday May 19, the next meeting will be a selection meeting being held on Monday May 13 at 7pm. Members are asked to have their entries into Darren beforehand, if possible to make the selection process quicker.
If you want to no more about the club, go to Facebook, visit our website https://bawbawbudgerigarsociety.weebly.com or contact Darren Macfarlane on 0418 507379.
Warragul Bridge Club
Another fantastic turn-up at Bridge last week with 24 players making up six full tables. A Mitchell movement was played over six rounds.
Congratulations to the newest member John Gibson who partnered Lindsey Robinson and successfully obtained a grand slam. They also succeeded in breaking the club’s score record with an overall score of 77 per cent.
The following partnerships are also congratulated for achieving minor slams: Dick Powell/Min Weggelaar; Diane Crowther/ Anne George; and Ken Hutchison/Alan Kuipers (two slams).
The top three winners on each side were: North-south: Michael Thorne/Chris Samplawski 144, 60 per cent; Chris Hynd/Howard Woodall 138, 57.5 per cent; Simon Fraser/ Phillip Goode 134, 55.83 per cent.
East-West: John Gibson/Lindsey Robinson 184, 76.67 per cent; Alan Kuipers/Ken Hutchison 140, 58.33 per cent; Dick Powell/ Min Weggelaar 113, 47.08 per cent.
At the end of play, Lindsey Robinson gave a short tutorial on the importance of using a double convention when bidding; explaining how and when to correctly use it. Lindsey will continue to provide a short tutorial at the end of play each week and this was welcomed by
members. Visitors are also welcome to attend the session. Next week’s topic will be transfers.
The Warragul Bridge Club meets again at the Warragul Community House this Wednesday afternoon at 12.45pm for a 1pm start.
The club is a friendly, social group of people who welcome new, learner players. Over the past few weeks, we have had new players join us so, if you are interested in coming along to learn or play Bridge, join on Wednesday afternoon. Visitors are always welcome.
Interested in Learning Bridge? Contact Diane Crowther on 0438 594 283 for more information.
Baw Baw Singers
Baw Baw Singers had a good crowd in attendance to celebrate its 13th birthday.
Everyone enjoyed the evening, singing old favourites like “It Don’t Mean a Thing,” “Imagine” and “Climb Every Mountain.”
A new song, “When Billy Came Back” was introduced. It is a poignant song about a young soldier from World War I and will be sung on Anzac Day when some members of the choir will attend the 10am ceremony in Warragul.
Three newcomers, Fred, Margaret and Angela were welcomed. Newcomers are encouraged to pop in for a sing-a-long. There are no auditions and lyrics can be supplied.
One recent overseas visitor from Germany, Michaela, thought the choir was fantastic and said she was going to set up a choir just like it when she returned to Germany.
Marg Young read a poem, “Bill From Broken Hill.” Thanks to Marg.
One choir member had some exciting news to share. Bethany Allan announced her engagement to Luke Earles. Congratulations to the young couple.
Baw Baw Singers meet on Monday evenings in the Drouin Anglican Church Hall from 7pm to 9pm.
For more information contact Sue on 0439 401 385 or bawbawsingers@weebly.com
Warragul Bonsai Group
The last meeting’s discussion was about bonsai styling. There are many basic rules to learn, with aesthetics being the main objective. This over-rides the horticultural roles which only keep the tree healthy.
Design and style equate to line and form. The trunk or line defines the basic style with form being the bones (branches and leaves). Together they pad out the line.
In theory the front of the tree is decided first, establishing the line where we will have movement
and see as much of the trunk as possible. In an informal upright, the trunk should taper with branches divided into thirds along it’s length.
The longest and heaviest two branches are at the bottom right and left of the tree when facing you. They gently curve towards you in a hug and then the tree rises to the uppermost branch in the canopy which will nod towards you. The subtle triangular shape being the goal.
Cut all branches growing down beneath the branch or growing straight up from above the branch. No two branches should emerge from the trunk at the same level. This bar branching will thicken the truck, create a lump and destroy taper. Branches should not cross or begin in the inside of the trunk curve.
Roots, known as Nebari, should radiate out with none projecting forward. The tap root is cut off to allow the tree to sit in a low pot.
The rules are strict, but be mindful each individual tree will not always have the exacting basics we need. There lies the art of bonsai: to achieve the most naturally looking and aesthetically pleasing tree.
Warragul Bonsai Group meets the third Thursday of each month. New members are welcome.
The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on April 18 at the back of Community College Gippsland, 71 Korumburra-Warragul Rd, Warragul. For more information contact Carol 0438 877393 or Warragulbonsaigroup@ gmail.com
Springsure Hill Landcare
Springsure Hill Landcare Group’s major project this year includes developing some bio-links or corridors for wildlife and native flora.
Everyone is welcome to join the first 2024 planting bee on Saturday, April 20. Members are supporting a local landowner who has set some land aside for revegetation.
The plantings will join up with a beautiful block of remnant bush in Shady Creek.
Planting starts at 9am, and the host will be providing lunch for volunteers. BYO hat, gloves, water and a chair to sit on at lunch time (optional).
For more information and the planting bee address, call Gill Oscar on 0400 996 833, email springsurehilllandcare@gmail.com or join the Facebook group.
Planting native trees is guaranteed to make you feel good, knowing you are helping to create a healthier future for future generations.