Club Notes...
Warragul VIEW Club
Another good turn out for the April meeting with members and guests enjoying a very interesting guest speaker, Dawn Cowley.
Dawn travelled overseas with her uncle Perce who had suffered a stroke and was in a wheelchair. This did not limit uncle Perce’s ambitions to not only travel, but to scale the heights of the Parthenon in Athens and a lofty gallery in St Paul’s cathedral, London.
Dawn described the trials and tribulations of this seven week trip, with many locations having flights of stairs and other tourists joining in to make sure uncle Perce had the best time. Dawn has a great sense of humour and she certainly needed this with some of the complex situations she had to navigate with such a determined uncle.
Narelle thanked Dawn on behalf of the club Warragul VIEW Club will celebrate 35 years of women getting together for fun, social and interesting evenings. We always welcome new members so come along and join in the fun. We fundraise for disadvantaged students supported by The Smith Family on Learning for Life Scholarships. This is a long term commitment and research proves that overcoming this inequality caused by poverty, students can thrive and have a hopeful future.
There has been a wonderful response to volunteers for the Bunnings barbeque on Sunday, May 21.
Thank you to members who give so freely of their time. Its also adds lots of fun on the day
Next dinner meeting is Wednesday, May 24, 6pm 6 for 6:30pm at The Black Tie. For bookings - Lyn 0409 022076.
Warragul Garden Club
Guest speaker Merin Butler explained how to collect and germinate native seeds. She showed members samples of many different seeds collected by West Gippsland Seed Bank, a local group of seed gatherers. The usual question and answer session provided many answers and tips on things related to gardening. Winner of the flower of the month (one stem of Chrysanthemum) was Aileen White.
Anzac Day was the theme for the floral arrangement being won by Hilary Height who also took out the award for best exhibit.
Guest speaker at the next meeting is Nigel Beresford who will explain how to take the best photos in our gardens. Flower of the month is one stem of autumn flower, and the arrangement is ‘Mother’s Day’. Morning tea hosts are Marg S, June D. and Carol P. A reminder that yearly memberships are now due. ($20 in a named envelope for current members please).
The club’s new website (arranged by Ralph with assistance from his son) is up and running and has many photos and lots of information. www.warragulgardenclub.org
Next meeting is Monday, May 22 beginning at 9.30am at the Senior Citizens rooms, Mason St, Warragul. Doors open 9am.
Warragul Bonsai Group
At the April meeting Rory talked members through branch development. Using an elm as an example, members firstly looked at the left right, left right, back branch selection where possible.
Let the branch run if a thicker diameter is needed. Then cut right back and if necessary, wire for movement. Leave a very low branch as a sacrifice to thicken the lower trunk. It will be completely removed when the desired trunk size is reached.
Next, select which branches to keep. Remove any from the inside of a trunk curve. Use alternate branches but not those growing exactly opposite (bar branch) as this will produce an unnatural thickening at the junction. The tree’s crown should be pruned to send growth to the lower branches.
Then feed like mad. Grow it, cut it, grow it, cut it, always to two buds. Best carried out in the spring growing season it will reduce the internodes and together with wiring, will direct branch movement. Ramification or finely developed branch structure is one aim of the bonsai enthusiast and most obvious in a deciduous when the tree is bare.
Warragul Bonsai Group meets the third Thursday of each Month. New members are very welcome. The next meeting will be at 7.30pm on May 18 at the back of Community College Gippsland, 71 Korumburra-Warragul Rd, Warragul. For inquiries contact wgbonsai@gmail.com or Carol 0438 877393
Avicultural Society and Cage Bird Society
The two Gippsland branches are about keeping and appreciating birds and meet every third Sunday of the month at different member’s homes.
The clubs are extremely friendly and welcomes new members. The most important thing is that you can keep one bird or many it does not matter.
The clubs’ annual Bird Expo will be held on Sunday, May 28 at Drouin Bellbird Park indoor centre, 270 Settlement Rd.
The trade area “for all your bird needs” will be open from 10 am and the bird expo and sales will run from 11am to 2pm.
This is an opportunity to talk to breeders and learn more about the keeping and welfare of birds. For more information contact the president, David on 0428 518646.
Warragul Camera Club
On Monday, May 1, 30 club members and one guest attended the May general meeting which was held at Warragul RSL and saw the Warragul Camera Club’s members entries for “Speed” - images that convey the impression of movement. A total 79 entries were received.
Competition steward Mike Moore presented the competition images. Des Lowe placed the 15 A-Grade prints for viewing. The club’s website features the monthly competition entries for the public to view.
The images were judged by guest judge Michael Walker. Michael is a member of the Australian Photographic Judges Association. He began his journey of photography when in primary school. Ten years ago, he joined the Doncaster Camera Club. His experience includes many occasions whilst working at motorsport racing circuits, where there were opportunities to photograph a huge variety of vehicles, people and action.
“Speed” competition results:
Prints A grade: 1st Russell Monson, 2nd Mike Moore, 3rd Carol Monson. HC: Geoff Smith, Gary Smith, Mike Moore.
PDI A grade: 1st Phillip Keith, 2nd Robyn Wright, 3rd Bruce Langdon. HC: Cathy Tisdale, Terrie O’Dwyer (2), Robyn Rosenboom, Mike Moore, Phillip Keith, Christina Robinson, Carol Monson.
PDI B grade: 1st and 2nd Helen Cross, 3rd Greg Mitchell. HC: Joan Lobato.
Creative A grade: 1st Phillip Keith, 2nd and 3rd Gary Smith. HC: Paul Robinson.
Creative B grade: HC: Greg Mitchell.
Club vice president Russell Monson welcomed everyone to the meeting. He welcomed the guest judge Michael Walker.
Members were reminded to submit entries for our club to enter the APS Australian Cup competition. Print entries for the annual Gippsland Interclub competition are due at the June meeting. June meeting is also the deadline for the monthly competition “Rural Life”. The VAPS Convention to be held at Colac is a good event for members to attend.
The May club outing to the Redwood Plantation will not go ahead due to 6km of track closed to vehicle access. Mieke Boynton’s Zoom tutorial on Abstract Photography will be on June 14, 7.30pm
Paul Robinson will chair the annual general meeting on June 6. Nominations for all committee positions are open. Jan Bennett will be the collecting officer for nominations. Her email is secretary@warragulcameraclub.org
Following competition judging, member Terrie O’Dwyer’s AV of the club’s recent outing highlighted some wonderful portraits taken on the streets of Warragul.
The AGM will be followed by judging of competition images – available light portraiture.
Club meetings are held the first Monday of each month and visitors are welcome. For membership information visit the club website www.warragulcameraclub.org
Baw Baw Singers
A good crowd of members braved the cold weather on Monday night to attend singing in the Anglican Church Hall in Drouin.
Singers appreciated that Heather McColl stood in for musical director Libby Willems who was unable to attend.
The evening began well with an old favourite “On Top of the World” soon followed by “Shelter,” written by an outstanding lyric writer, Eric Bogle.
Brett played a beautiful flute accompaniment to “Moon River.” Singers are very lucky to also have Bill on bass and Jeremy on keyboard. The three capable, competent musicians add another layer to the enjoyment of singing.
It was stirring to hear the small, but strong male group sing the introductory verse of “The Last Farewell” before the sopranos and altos joined in with the chorus.
Suppertime showcase, “Amazing Grace,” was provided by Cecilia on the zither with Bridget singing. Their efforts were appreciated by all.
Laura Mitchell spoke with great enthusiasm about the Eurovision Singing Contest on television and encouraged members to watch it and vote for Great Britain. Strangely, you are not allowed to vote for your own country. This contest has launched some very famous acts, like ABBA, Celine Dion and Olivia Newton John.
President Fred Allan reminded everyone the annual general meeting will be coming up soon and urged everyone to consider nominating for a position. He also mentioned that concerts at Fairview and Lyrebird were being planned for June, but no firm dates have been set.
Singing takes place every Monday night from 7pm to 9 pm in the Anglican Church Hall, Princes Way, Drouin. No auditions. Lyrics are available in printed form or accessible on your phone, via the website bawbawsingers.weebly.com.
For more information ring Sue on 0439 401385.
Warragul Bridge Club
Four tables were again present for bridge played at the Community Centre last Wednesday.
Table movement was again in place for three of the tables with east/west moving clockwise and the cards moving anti clockwise.
Mother and son combination of Nina and Simon Fraser scored a slam (all 13 tricks) worth 2220 points in one hand, but had to settle for second place in north/south.
Scoring in both divisions was very close with little between place getters.
The best percentage winners were. North/south - Michael Thorne and Chris Samplawski 4970/4660 107 per cent, Nina and Simon 6020/6290 96 per cent, Emilia O’Brien and David Belcher 5720/6750 85 per cent, Joan and Robert Coster 4200/5030 84 per cent.
East/west - Di Crowther and Anne George 5650/4770 118.44 per cent, narrowly from Min Weggelaar and Dick Powell 6750/5720 118 per cent, Alan Kuipers and Ken Hutchison 6230/5800 107 per cent, Heather Cupples and Clive Ayerst 4100/4620 89 per cent.
Bridge returns tomorrow afternoon. Assembly time is 12.45pm for 1pm start.
Beginners and visitors to the area are welcomed.
Baw Baw Budgerigar Society
Members who attended last Monday night’s meeting were informed on the importance of keeping records. Darren Macfarlane presented the various ways in which he keeps records of pairing of birds, eggs laid, hatchings and weaning.
His initial record is that of a nest card which has the ring numbers of the parents and the date they were paired. The date of the first egg laid, which he also marks in the nest using a non-toxic pen. This information is then transferred to an exercise book where each page is numbered for the cage in which the pair have been placed. The babies are given a leg ring at about 10 days old with the number also recorded on the card and in the book.
Darren has many books recording his breeding going back many years and can easily locate which bird came from which cage and from which parents.
He also showed members a computer program he uses to record his breeding. The program allows things like individual, breeding, pedigree, family group and common ancestor records; birds that have been bought or sold along with other pertinent information.
Monday May 22 is selection night for the upcoming State Young Bird Championship on Sunday May 28 and will be followed by the Australian National Budgerigar Council National Show being held in Ballarat the following weekend. Both of these events and including our selection night are great opportunities to see some magnificent Australian parakeets.
For more information about breeding, showing or to join the club, make contact via the club’s website - https://bawbawbudgerigarsociety.weebly.com or via Facebook..
The next monthly meeting will be on Monday May 22 for selection.
Table Tennis
The number of KeenAgers playing table tennis at Bellbird Park Indoor Centre continues to rise as more retirees realise the enormous health benefits of regular exercise and social interaction. Playing table tennis improves reflexes, balance and eye-hand co-ordination. And it’s fun, with lots of laughter ringing through the hall.
Last month there were an average 35 players per session with a very high attendance one day of 44 players.
Last week a group of 15 members travelled to Traralgon KeenAgers Club to enjoy a morning of non-competitive play. Travelling to other clubs and having other clubs visit us adds another dimension to the experience. It enables members to play against unknown players with different styles and techniques. This is valuable experience for those who participate in tournaments and Masters Games.
Newcomers of all abilities are welcome. Equipment is available to use. KeenAgers play from 8.30am to 11.30am on Mondays and Thursdays at Bellbird Park Indoor Centre, 270 Settlement Rd, Drouin.
For more information ring Lois on 0400 185336.