\Strathaven

Camera Club Strathaven Camera Club members attended the club AGM meeting on January 26 where the existing committee members were reappointed and also agreed annual subs are to remain the same at £35 per year. Unfortunately, the planned talk on Infra-red photography on February 2 has had to be cancelled but an alternative event was secured by Elspeth Fear, the club secretary, and club members will visit Paisley Colour Photographic Club in Renfrew to see a presentation from Mark Hamblin, who is based in the Cairngorms National Park, on nature photography. Additionall, the handin date for the year’s final open projected image competition has been extended to this Sunday. Members should email images to Heather Kerr or drop off CDs or memory sticks by this date. The club has an extra night on Monday, February 6, joining in a three-way image competition with Kilmaurs and East Kilbride Camera Clubs at East Kilbride Sports Club in Calder glen Country Park. Members wanting to attend should contact either Heather or Elspeth regarding travel arrangements. This is followed by the normal club night, where the members will view the John Duffy portfolio; a presentation of some the best prints exhibited by clubs across the west of Scotland.

School Quiz Wester Overton Primary will hold a quiz this Saturday at the Scout and Guide Hall at 7.30pm for 8pm. Join the school for a fun quiz night to raise funds for their ‘Great Outdoors Project’. There will be prizes, games, a raffle and a hot buffet. Bring Your Own Bottle and glass! Teams will be kept to a maximum of six people. Tickets are on sale at £10 each and can be bought from Julie LeBlanc Smith, Josephine Tunney and Stacie Bousfield. You can contact the school on Facebook or at the school gate each day. Also, the school office will have some tickets available. One of the top raffle prizes is an overnight stay at the Crutherland House Hotel with breakfast included, as well as an overnight stay at The Popinjay Hotel, with dinner and use of spa facilities. Other prizes during the evening include a Star Wars Collage worth £120, donated by Kris McKinnon Art, a family photo shoot with a framed photo of your choice from Venture Studios Glasgow, package worth £245 donated by Kaizen Designer range Discount Kitchens and Bathrooms Ltd, a child’s bicycle service donated by Ravens Bicycle Services and a horse riding lesson donated by Burnbank Equestrian Centre. There are also prizes to be announced from Hanlon Clark Properties, The Strathaven and Independent Energy, with more to follow. Rissons have donated a three-course meal for two, with a glass of wine each, which will be auctioned during the evening. More information about the evening and about the ‘Great Outdoors Project’ can be found on the school website.

Scouts in Strathaven Scouting in Strathaven supports 180 youth members from the ages of six to 18 through four group sections. Beavers (6-8),Cubs (8-11), Scouts (11-14) and Explorers (14-18). The sections meet on either Thursday or Friday nights in the Scout and Guide hall on Kirk Street. The group is very active and all the members enjoy a balanced programme of activity and adventure. Running and organising this takes time and effort and, as adults, it is up to the group to provide this challenge. Scouting offers many roles which are open to all adults. Within Strathaven we have a few particular roles which require assistance and support and it is these roles which they would be interested in trying to fill. Currently, they are looking for more support in Thursday Cubs, Friday Beavers, Friday Cubs and Friday Scouts. While all of these sections need additional support, Friday Scouts are at a critical stage as the current leadership team want to reduce their involvement which will result in the section having to close in the near future unless a new team can be found. This committee meets to arrange, organise and run fundraising events to support the work of the group. While members pay an annual subscription, the scouts have further expenses which they try and meet through fundraising. The Scout and Guide centre hall management committee convene on a monthly basis. This committee exists to support both the scouting and guiding organisations in running and managing the hall. The hall is crucial to the success of both organisations and this committee ensures that the hall meets all the requirements in areas of maintenance, improvements and legislation. For more information on any of the above roles, get in touch with strathavenscoutsgsl@gmail.com

The John Hastie Museum Trust The Strathaven John Hastie Museum Trust’s current online survey at https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/PLYXK9Y is raising considerable interest and support, along with suggestions from respondents as to future topics, events and activities. The Trust is very grateful to those who have taken a few minutes to take the survey. It’s very important that when the trust applies for funding to take forward its work and its plans for a permanent community museum in Strathaven, that it can demonstrate strong local support. The trust is encouraging folk to become new members (trustees) and friends (individuals and families who are keen to support the trust’s work, to stay in touch and to take part from time to time). It’s hoped that the trust will gather several hundred friends and anyone who wishes to show support

the trust, but doesn’t have online access, is most welcome to drop into Common Greenery, behind Zest for Life, in Townhead Street, to make contact.

W3ST Project The new sports pitches at Whiteshawgate are nearing completion. The project, which is a partnership between Strathaven Rugby Club and Strathaven Dynamo AFC, known as the Whiteshawgate 3G Sports Trust (W3ST), will see a new sports pitch opened at the rugby club. The work involves turning the pitch closest to the rugby club 90 degrees and adding in a full-size rugby ready 3G sports pitch in the created space. The project is in partnership with the Scottish Government’s Cashback for Communities programme, SportScotland, and the Scottish Football Partnership.