Historical society Club Notes...
Members of the Warragul Historical Society viewed a special slide collection at its last meeting.
The slides that had been photographed by the late Andrew Sykes featuring the streets of Warragul in the 1980s. Members were able to see the huge changes in comparison to the retail sector of the town currently.
At the next meeting guest speaker will be Robert Radford talking about his experiences about being a butcher and the development of the abattoir on Skinners Road, Warragul.
The meeting will be held in the Old Shire Hall, 72 Queen Street, Warragul on Monday, May 30 at 7.30pm.
Currently members are working towards having an open week at the museum from Friday June 17 to 24. The artworks on show have historic importance as they are of the very earliest selector's homes and the development of the township of Warragul.
The collection has been regarded as rare and of national significance and are rare examples of early colonial artworks. The two artists that are featured are Neville Henry Cayley and Charles Henry Round. Cayley is known as one of the leading bird artists of the late nineteenth century his works dated as 1879 that were painted here in Warragul are much less known and eagerly sought after by collectors. The other artist featured is C H Round with his works nearly all dated 1876 of early selector's homes.
The 16 paintings have recently been restored, now returned to Warragul and members are excited to have them on show for the public to see.
Genealogical society
The West Gippsland Genealogical Society will hold its next meeting on Thursday, May 26. It will be the annual general meeting so members will be looking for lots of nominations to join the committee.
Speaker will be Claire Johnson, somewhat of an Irish expert, from the Genealogical Society of Victoria. This meeting will also be available via Zoom.
Last month Ken Wilson was guest speaker, discussing his recent publication 'From Baw Baw to Gelibolu' and we received an insight in to what the local lads faced at Gallipoli.
The WGGS library is open Wednesday and Thursday, 10am to 2pm, second Saturday of the month, 10am to 3 pm and fourth Sunday of the month, 2pm to 4 pm. Visitors are welcome.
New members are welcome. Download the application form or call into the library and get help to further your family history research.
The society meet on the upper floor of the Old Shire Hall, Queen Street, Warragul at 7.30pm.
More information about the society can be obtained from president Barbara Clayton, phone 5611 3871 or the website; www.westgipplandgenealogy.com
Final preparations for our annual Stamp and Coin Fair were completed.
If people have a stamp or coin collection, no longer wanted, bring it along to sell it. You may decide to take up the hobby again and can obtain advice about collecting.
The fair will be held on Saturday, June 4 at the Exhibition Hall, Howitt Street, Warragul, from 9am to 3pm. Admission is free and children are welcome. Buy sell and swap: stamps, coins, postcards, militaria and swap cards.
The club meets on the third Monday of the month at the Warragul Community House, 138 Normanby Street, commencing at 7.30pm, except for December and January.
New members are welcome.
Any inquiries to Jeanette on 0409 793 081.
Budgerigar Society
Seventeen members were in attendance for Monday May 16 for the meeting of the Baw Baw Budgerigar Society where the selection of birds to be entered into the state Young Bird Championship took place. The championship was held on Sunday May 22 at Carwatha College Noble Park, results of which will be published in next month's club notes.
A total of 144 young birds (those bred in 2021) were benched for judging across all 28 classes. Baw Baw will be entering three birds in each class with points awarded for successful birds. Points are then totalled to achieve the overall club winner from across the state. Baw Baw is hoping to improve on or at least maintain third place from 2021.
John Rowe was successful on the night with a pied grey which was considered the best bird on the night. Don and Shak from Dreamtime Budgies had the reserve with their normal grey. The judges on the night were pleased with the quality of birds presented and praised the members for the improvements in breeding quality birds.
Bushwalking
Over 45 members and partners from the West Gippsland Bushwalking Club have recently returned from Mallacoota for the autumn week away walks event. Based at a caravan park at Mallacoota a range of day walks were organised to cater for the varying interests and capability of club members.
Walks covered the coastal areas, around the Mallacoota Inlet and the surrounding bush areas including a walk up Genoa Peak. A highlight was seeing water dragons basking on the rocks at the Genoa Falls. Some of the more adventurous members hired a boat to cross the Mallacoota Inlet and then undertake an 18 kilometre return walk to Lake Barracoota, a large fresh water lake on the coast north of Mallacoota.
The devastation from the bush fires is still very evident all around Mallacoota, however everything is a "sea of green" as burnt trees and understory regrowth continue to grow. Club walkers were impressed with the work undertaken by Parks Victoria in rebuilding walking tracks and replacing damaged walking infrastructure and signage.
The club's spring week away event will be based at Daylesford with walks including Mt Macedon and the Lerderderg Gorge.
The West Gippsland Bushwalking Club walks every second Tuesday with three walking groups, Ramblers, Hikers and Trekkers, to provide for different walking capabilities. The Ramblers walk approximately eight kilometres with the Trekkers walking up to 18 kilometres. More information can be found on the club's website – http://wgbwc.clubexpress.com
If you would like to attend club meetings you are most welcome. Meetings are held on a monthly basis in the old tennis club rooms in Burke Street opposite the aquatic centre. Meetings normally commence at 7 pm and last about two hours, usually with a guest speaker. If you would like to know more about breeding, showing or would just like to join the club Attendance at the Warragul Philatelic Society you can make contact via the club's website https://bawbawbudgerigarsociety.weebly.com meeting on Monday May 16, was low, due to members holidaying and illness. We hope or find us via our Facebook page. Our next those on the sick list are soon back to normal. monthly meeting will be on Monday, June 6. Page 42 WARRAGUL AND DROUIN GAZETTE May 24 2022
Bonsai
The May meeting of Warragul Bonsai Group addressed the necessity of fertilising in autumn.
Heavy feeding now, helps the tree store sugars. Pines and deciduous trees are storing strength in branches and trunks ready for strong bud growth in spring. Fertiliser low in nitrogen and higher in potassium is preferred. Blood and bone, Dynamic Lifter, Seamungas are good solids, with Charlie Carp, Powerfeed as liquid.
If it can be avoided, don't place fertiliser directly into the pot as it tends to eventually clog up the free flow in the soil mix. Common practice is to mix 50/50 blood and bone with pelletised fertiliser and spoon into Japanese teabags. Tie or pin the fertiliser rich teabags onto the pot. Liquid feed fortnightly. Another proven method is to mix the dry pellets and Charlie carp into a dry dough, forming balls then skewering them onto the surface of the pot.
Autumn is also time to needle pluck pines to let the air and light in and encourage back budding. We are balancing growth, limiting top growth and encouraging the weaker lower branches. The worst thing you can do with a pine is nothing.
Interested in bonsai? Come along and join the group. Beginner or experienced and everything in between, everyone is welcome.
Warragul Bonsai Group meets the third Thursday of each month Community College Gippsland, 71 Korumburra-Warragul Rd, Warragul. New members are welcome but please first contact wgbonsai@gmail.com or Carol 0438 877393.