Landcare awards open
Drouin CWA
Drouin CWA branch celebrated their 78th birthday in March.
Members gathered for lunch at the Warragul Country Club to acknowledge the occasion.
Branch secretary Yvone Tindle, together with nine members, attended the monthly meeting of the Drouin Historical Group. The Power Point presentation was very well received.
Those women who have recently joined the branch found it of great interest. Members are very proud that this CWA Branch has the honour of being the longest serving community organisation in the Drouin area.
Those who attended the annual casserole tea enjoyed an evening of friendship and food with a most interesting and informative talk by Peter Ware on the birds in the Drouin area. It included the 90 birds he has counted and photographed.
CWA Sunday was celebrated at the Drouin Presbyterian Church, which included an outline of the branch’s involvement in the community and the reciting of the CWA Collect.
The Branch has also been very busy with the making and distribution of the June Laurel Chemo Bottle Bags. Forty bags were presented to St. John of God Hospital, Berwick. The staff were most impressed. It was at this hospital where member June first wore one of these bags.
Since the launch of the project in the March magazine, where it was advertised as a 2017 project, it has taken off like the proverbial rocket.
Kits, including a completed bag, plus two partially made bags which demonstrate some of the steps which follow the comprehensive instructions, are mailed to members and groups throughout Victoria.
Recently kits were mailed to two groups in Queensland. A past Chemo bottle patient has instigated this. The branch has been very fortunate in the donation of materials they have received.
The branch are extremely grateful to the Drouin Anglican Opportunity Shop who recently presented to the Branch a cheque for $1000.
This will be used to cover the cost of printing and mailing of the kits.
Members also have been requested to conduct work-shops and are very happy to comply with these.
Four members will be travelling to Shepparton to attend the 89th annual general meeting and state conference.
The conference’s six resolutions to be voted on were discussed so that the opinion of all branch members has been considered.
There are also two positions on the state council which have received more than one nomination.
Four state vice presidents (six nominees) and the chairman of the ACWW/International/ Community Support Commitee (two nominees) are to be elected.
For the first time, all financial members attending this meeting have the right to vote.
The performing arts concert is held the day prior to the conference. The Ecumenical Service takes place the following afternoon before the evening annual meeting. The next two days are taken up with conference sessions.
It is a great opportunity for all attending to learn so much more about the many activities and community events that CWA supports and is involved with.
Drouin Library Book Group
The April meeting was opened by the presentation of “The Welsh Girl” by Peter Ho Davies.
In 1944, a German Jewish refugee working for British Intelligence arrives in Wales to interview Rudolf Hess. Further north, a young German soldier in a POW camp encounters a local girl. As their lives intersect all three will come to question where their loyalties lie.
Arramando Lucas Correa’s novel “The German Girl” is about twelve-year-old Hannah Rosenthal’s harrowing experience fleeing Nazioccupied Germany with her family and best friend, only to discover that the overseas asylum they had been promised is an illusion.
“Mightier Than the Sword” by Jeffrey Archer is the fifth book in a family chronicle, The Clifton Chronicle. This is an intricately structured, entertaining read with plenty of intrigue and surprises.
“Victorian Readers, The Fourth Book” published by the Education Department in 1940 was presented next. This is part of a series of books printed for grades 1-6. Among a variety of reading material, it contains poetry, riddles and short plays.
The State and Territory Landcare Awards are just around the corner, with nominations for nine different categories closing next month.
The Landcare awards celebrate the achievements of the core volunteers around the country who dedicate their valuable time and energy into caring for the land and water that sustain us.
The categories encompass a number of areas, including sustainable farming, Indigenous land management, young Landcare leaders, Coastcare, innovation, and more.
All winners at the state and territory level will go on to be finalists at the 2018 National Landcare Awards.
Landcare Australia chief executive Tessa Jakszewicz encouraged people to nominate deserving Landcarers for an award.
“Recognising our Landcare champions is vital for sustaining Landcare and its future,” she said.
“The opportunity to showcase the accomplishments of individuals and groups enables us to share knowledge, and serves as inspiration for the next generation of Landcarers.
“As a community, Landcare provides vital support to our land and natural resources.
“Many Australians recognise the importance of biodiversity and comprehensive environmental management in production areas, and Landcarers have been leading innovation in many areas.
“The awards are a mechanism to celebrate all that the Landcare community do and can learn from each other.”
Anyone interested in finding out more or submitting a nomination can visit the website landcareaustralia.org.au/landcare-awards.
Nominations for Victoria close on June 23.