gresford news august 2014

TheG resford NewsNews of the communities of the Paterson and Allyn River Valleys

August 2014

The Gresford News is a Gresford Community Group project. Circulation 800 – Donations appreciated and most welcome. Thank you!

Gresford Public School athletics carnival was on Friday 18 July. It was a wintry day but that didn’t stop the young competitors from trying their best while at the same time having heaps

of fun. The winning house was Paterson.

More photos inside.

Athletics Carnival

Year 2 student Hayden Wilson gets some air in the sack race. Photos Julie Hartigan.

Alysha Cowley strides out in the

800m event.

The Gresford News Community DiaryFri 1 Aug Muzza Harton – Bush Poet, Hotel Beatty, East Gresford

Sat 9 Aug Gresford CWA book club, Gresford CWA, 3.00pm

Tues 12 Aug Gresford School of Arts AGM, Gresford School of Arts Hall, East Gresford, 7.30pm

Sun 17 Aug Gresford Community Markets, Therese Doyle Hall, Gresford Rd, East Gresford

Tues 19 Aug CWA International Day, country of study is Botswana

Tues 19 Aug Paterson Allyn Garden Group meet, 10.00am

Thurs 21 Aug Gresford District Agricultural Society Inc AGM, Dining room, Gresford Showground, 7.30pm

Fri-Sat 29-30 Sept Gresford Rodeo and Campdraft, Gresford Showground

Fri 29 Aug ’Mogo’ live band, Gresford Bowlling Club

Fri-Sun 29-31 Sept Dungog Festival – around Dungog, Gresford, Fosterton

Thurs-Sun 28-31 Sept Mini Tractor Trek & Pop-up museum, Fosterton

Fri 5 Sept Gresford Show Auxiliary AGM, Dining Room, Hotel Beatty (NB Change of venue), 4.00pm

Sat 13 Sept Presentation day & AGM, Gresford Vacy Football Club, Gresford Sporting Complex, 2.00pm

Sun 14 Sept Vacy Village Country Carnival, 9.00am

Sun 14 Sept Postie Bikes National Lunch Run visits the Hotel Beatty, East Gresford

Sat-Sun 13-14 Sept Polo, Tabbil Creek Polo Ground, Dungog

Sun 21 Sept Car clubs visit the Gresford Community Markets, Hotel Beatty (change of venue), East Gresford

Sun 21 Sept GAPS’ latest play ‘Frost in Space’, Gresford School of Arts, 1.30pm

Fri 26 Sept, Sat 27 Sept, Fri 3 Oct, Sat 4 Oct GAPS’ latest play ‘Frost in Space’, Gresford School of Arts, all at 6.30pm

Sat 11 Oct Gresford Annual Y.O.T.S Dinner and Art Auction

Tuesdays Spring/summer mixed Tuesday nights tennis, 7.30–9.30pm

Mon/Tues Social ladies tennis starts, Mon or Tues mornings, Gresford Tennis Courts, 9.30–11.00am

Friday afternoons Junior tennis coaching, Gresford Tennis Courts

1st Mon each month Gresford Community Group Meeting, 5.30pm, Hotel Beatty, all welcome! (not Jan)

1st Wed each month Gresford Rural Fire Brigade meeting, station, 7.30pm

1st Thurs each month CWA Gresford Branch Meeting, CWA rooms, East Gresford, 9.30am (not Jan)

2nd Mon each month Gresford Historical Society Meeting, RSL Rooms, 11.00am (not Dec, Jan or June)

2nd & 4th Mon each month Family & Child Health Clinic, Paterson school of Arts Hall, 4932 9768 for appt’s

2nd Tues each month Gresford District Landcare Group Meeting, Hotel Beatty, 7.30pm (not Jan)

2nd Sat each month Book Club, CWA rooms, East Gresford, 3.00pm (not Dec or Jan)

3rd Fri each month Gresford Public School P&C Meeting, school library, 10.00am

3rd Sun each month Gresford Community Market, Therese Doyle Hall, 9 til 2 (not Dec, Christmas Fair 1st Sat)

Last Thurs each month Gresford District Agricultural Society Meeting, Showground Luncheon Pavilion, 7.30pm

Every Wed, Fri & Sun Gresford Bowls Sport & Recreation Club Raffles, from 6.30pm

Every Mon & Fri (school terms) Gresford Pre-School, Gresford Community Hall, 4938 9288, 9.00am

Every Thur Happy hour and free pool and jukebox at the Hotel Beatty

Every Fri Cricket Club Raffles at the Hotel Beatty

Every Fri (school terms) Yoga for active bodies with Donna Cavanough, Therese Doyle Youth Hall, 9.00 – 10.30am

Every Wed Gresford PlayTime, children 0-5 & carers, Gresford Community Hall, 4992 2401, 10.00am

Every Sunday The Gresford Congregational Church welcomes you, 10.30am

To contact Gresford News: email [email protected] or call Brian Doherty on 0412 372 687 or Jane Richens on 0425 339 856. Postal Address: PO Box 73 East Gresford 2311. Deadline for stories and ads 20th of the month.

✃Please support your local newsletter and contribute anonymously or use the slip below and place your donations in the boxes provided in Gresford. I would like to make an annual donation to the Gresford News:

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financesThe resford NewsG

Gresford Notices

Dungog ChiropraCtiC

CliniCI treat most musculoskeletal

complaints including back and neck pain, sciatica, headaches, migraines

and limb pain and pins and needles.

HiCaps and eftpos facility is available so patients can claim

direct from their healthfund and just pay the gap.

Located at Dungog Community Hospital on Hospital Road in Dungog

phone no: 4992 3766

Shane Moss B.Sc. M.Chiro.

MIKE DOYLE HORSEMANSHIPHorse Starting (breaking)

Problem Horses

Starting horses on cattle to give them confidence

Low stress and effective cattle handling

LessonsDemonstrations

Clinics

Mike Doyle 0418 503 939

A massive weekend in the shire

Gresford Rodeo & CampdraftAugust 29-30

Campdrafting, bull riding, live entertainment, BBQ & Kiosk

Gresford Showground

Dungog Festival August 28-31

Film, food, fresh air and fun.There’s a ‘Green’ Carpet Gala Film,

Drive-In movies, Kid’s flicks, short film competition, Flickering night markets on the Friday night, farmers markets,

Rodeo at Gresford, Barefoot Lawn Bowls, Wine Tasting, art, craft and

photographic gallery showings, Bingo, Trivia, Devonshire Teas.

Cost: all separately ticketedwww.dungogfestival.com.au

Mini Tractor Trek August 28-31

Mini Tractor Trek & Pop-up museumContribute or see some old machinery,

pop by for a cuppa, Fosterton LoopContact: Bob Lean 4992 1171

NW HitchcockCarpentry &

Tiling ServiceWall & Floor Tiling

Home Maintenance

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PETER EVANS & ASSOCIATES

SOLICITORS

‘Looking after people in business is our business’

Peter Evans is descended from a farming family located in the Gresford area prior to 1840 and is keen to assist

residents, farmers and business in the area with all their legal needs.

We can help you with:

Conveyancing, Subdivisions,

Family Law, Business Law,

Wills, Powers of Attorney,

Probate and more

PHONE: 4926 4788

www.evanslaw.com.au

AGMsGresford District

Agricultural Society Inc will be holding it’s Annual General meeting on Thursday 21st August in

the dining room at the Gresford Showground commencing at 7.30pm.

All are welcome. Further details contact Secretary (AH) 4931 5257 Rosalie Lawrence, Hon Sec GDAS

Gresford Show AuxiliaryAnnual Meeting on Friday, 5th

September, at 4pm, at Dining Room, Hotel Beatty. (NB Change of venue)

Ann Dent

Give Mountain Biking a goSpend a great morning enjoying this healthy, enlivening activity. With its

low hills and scenery, Dungog Shire is a marvellous place to mountain-bike,

and Dungog Common is a great place to try it out.

Bikes and safety gear are provided, but you can bring your own. Sat 23 Aug,

9.30-1 on the Dungog Commonwww.dungogcommunitycollege.org.au

TheG resford News • August 2014, p 6

Once again the weather was against us for our ‘Christmas in July’ market. A thank you goes out to the faithful few who venturd out to support us. Foot tapping, hand clapping entertainment was enjoyed by every one when Dungog Ukelele Group took to the stage. Christmas carols by the group heralded the arrival of Santa. Young and not so young alike enjoyed Santa’s visit especially when Santa decided to join the ukelele singers with a song and a jig. Father Christmas was in top form warming hearts of all on a very cold and bleak day. Stall holders are always welcome. Contact 4938 9505 to book. $10 is all you pay for a site.

Judith Grant

Christmas in July at Gresford Market


August markets - Sunday 17‘Pet Show Day’

Categories:Best dressed

Best behaved,Best groomed

Best vocalMost unusual

CutestTrophies and ribbons presented on the day. Bring the whole family for a fun day out.

BBQ, morning / afternoon teas, stalls galore to browse over.Support your local markets

Judging commences at 10.30 for Pet Show

Cut o

ut a

nd p

ut m

e on

your

frid

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.

Please support your Gresford markets • Contact Judith Grant 4938 9505

November markets - Sunday 16

October markets - Sunday 12 (1 week early)to support Gresford Historical Society’s 25th Anniversary

– more on this at a later date.

September markets - Sunday 21‘Change of venue market’

This market will be held in the grounds of the Hotel Beatty – to coincide with the M.C.M.A Car Rally.

Entertainment by 2 jazz bands ‘Flying High’ and ‘John Ryll Band’. BBQ and Bistro. All the usual stalls and more on mass!!

Enjoy a great day out in the idyllic grounds of the Hotel Beatty.

✃

Third Sunday of the month

Therese Doyle Hall, Gresford Road, East Gresford


Gresford Post Office StoreHome of the Crossroads Cafe

162 Durham Road Gresford (Cnr Lostock & Durham Road)Phone 4938 9239

Open 7 days from 7.00 am

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What’s on the Shelves?

by Glenda Smith

This novel is a low-key, but sufficiently absorbing exploration of the life of a British Army wife. The main interest is in how women’s expectations have changed, and how this has affected the relationships between soldiers and their spouses. It also covers a spectrum of British social privilege, and demonstrates the price that can be paid for some advantages.

The central character is Alexa Riley, whose ambitious and successful husband has just returned from Afghanistan. The Army families know that there are protocols to be observed in helping their partners to adjust to non-active life and Trollope observes the soldiers’ mind-sets in an intelligent and non-judgemental way, but it is clear that her sympathies lie with the wives, who are expected to cope with the absence and return in a totally supportive way, while meeting the needs of their children. Their own needs run a very poor third.

Alexa grows increasingly frustrated with the inability of her husband Dan to respond to her in a meaningful way. Alexa’s daughter Isabel, an unhappy runaway from boarding-school, seems to be one of the few characters who can penetrate Dan’s single-mindedness about his responsibilities. Trollope delineates the difficulties of a soldier’s life, but also manages to establish that they are operating in a new world, which must also be accommodated. This is an interesting, rather than challenging novel.

The Soldier’s WifeJoanna Trollope

Dungog Festival is ComingLove film? Love a party? The inaugural Dungog Festival happens August 28 – 31. Four days of film, food, fresh air and fun.

Centred around the James Theatre, and extending across to Gresford and up the Fosterton Valley, the festival offers a feast of contemporary Australian and international film, exquisite food and excellent Hunter region wine.

There’s a ‘Green’ Carpet Gala Film, Drive-In movies, Kid’s flicks, short film competition, Flickering night markets, farmers markets, Barefoot Lawn bowls, Cheese Making Workshops, Wine Tasting, art, craft and photographic gallery showings, Bingo, Trivia, Devonshire Teas, and – music!

Dungog will be amping up with music acts peppered throughout the program. Catch a busker at our Friday Night Markets, enter yourself in our Open Mic Night or book your place at our massive Saturday Night Party featuring great new Australian bands.

Then there’s the Rodeo, happening at Gresford, so you can mix a little music and film with a great Sunday at the Rodeo. Or catch the Festival Tractor Trek at Bob Lean’s farm in the Fosterton Valley.

Stay tuned for line-up announcements from now on for all the Dungog Festival gigs and films by going to the website www.dungogfestival.com.au, where you can also book your seats for everything from the Opening film to camp sites to the Rodeo.

Nancy Knudsen


Kel Merriman is certainly a community minded resident of the Gresford area. His dedication and enthusiasm are always evident and he has devoted much of his time to family, friends and community.

His service to the district was recognized in 2011 when he was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Dungog Shire Australia Day Committee. He was nominated for the award by The Gresford Amateur Performing Society (GAPS). Kel has been involved with GAPS for 17 years, both as a popular actor on stage, as well as working hard behind the scenes to ensure the success of GAPS productions.

In their award nomination the GAPS committee also highlighted Kel’s work in his professional capacity and his commitment to the people of the Dungog Shire in health, safety and education. Kel has recently retired after 37 years working for Hunter New England Health. At retirement he held the position of Service Senior Clinical Psychologist in the Lower Hunter Cluster. During his career Kel was involved with many innovative and valued projects. He has served on numerous committees over the years and was instrumental in developments such as the growth of Community Health Services (Maitland) within the Lower Hunter Sector from a team of around 12 staff to a service of

over 70 staff across various sites that delivered a large range of preventative, early intervention and treatment services.

Kel contributed to the development of Mental Health Disaster Response capability, being at the forefront of the Community and Mental Health Disaster Responses to many local incidents such as the Newcastle earthquake, Drayton’s Winery explosion, floods, accidents and fires.

In the Gresford community Kel has shown his devotion to youth by his service as a Scout leader for nine years for the 1st Gresford Scout group, after serving on the committee for several years. Kel was an active member of the Gresford School P & C Association when his children attended primary school as well as being appointed to the Gresford School Council when it was instigated. He was involved with the development for FarmSafe, was Secretary and then President of the Hunter Organic Growers Group and he is currently Secretary of the Gresford School of Arts Committee, recognizing the School of Arts as a valuable public facility to be maintained.

Community feature...by Rowena Dillon

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After visiting for a picnic, Kel and his family were attracted by the beauty of the area and decided to move here. They must have been keen to come because they moved into temporary accommodation with three small children during a period of flooding rain, before they owner built their home over a number of years. When they came they were impressed by the friendly, welcoming people and the variety of activities available in such a small area.

Kel describes Gresford as an active, vibrant community where people get involved and are prepared to give back to their community. He admires the social connectedness of the Gresford people and the fact that they don’t wait for handouts – they are prepared to get in and have a go to achieve results. Kel believes Gresford has remained proactive and positive by looking outwards, and embracing new members of the community with new ideas that means Gresford is not insular and that new people easily assimilate into the community and projects are always evolving.

Some of the issues that Kel sees in the area obviously revolve around Kel’s

passion for health. He uses the word appalling when talking about the decrease of health services over the years. This began with the loss of the local GP, to the closing of the Community Health Services and now the withdrawal of many of the services available to our residents. This makes it so much harder for families in the area.

He also makes reference to the difficulty residents with no private vehicles have with our limited public transport. They can be very isolated and find it difficult to access normal facilities and services. Kel says that many of the “powers that be” are not even aware that such problems exist in country areas because they have no real knowledge of life outside urban areas.

Kel would like to see some sort of aged care facility for Gresford so that the elderly can stay connected with their homes, families and friends. This could be in the form of hostel accommodation or short term care. He would also like to see Scouts reformed or other activities for the young people instigated. Here Kel sees the young

families in the area being instrumental in becoming involved in organizing and running activities. Kel suggested that while he did not want large scale housing developments for the area, that some limited land release would bring new families and therefore new ideas.

Kel cites limited accommodation for visitors as an area for development. He suggests alternatives such as self-contained accommodation, artists’ retreats and the like to let others experience the beauty of our area while supporting the local businesses. On the topic of local business development, Kel sees the lack of reliable mobile phone and internet connection as holding back home industries and local business. He advocates the development of an effective National Broadband Network to bring more small business to the area.

Kel has contributed much to the Gresford area both in a professional and voluntary capacity. The district is lucky that he and his family came on that picnic all those years ago and decided to make Gresford their home.

TheG resford News2014 contract advertising rates & sizesprices incl gst b/w colour

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Full page $110 $180 267mm (h) x 180mm (w) No bleed edges on full page ads

Inside front or back cover $200 267mm (h) x 180mm (w)

Casual ads add 15% to the above prices

Formats EPS, Jpeg or PDF

Design/ $44/half hour – billed separately

Enquiries Brian Doherty [email protected]


Marie and Barry Gibson with one of the vans used to deliver the local post. Their day started at 2.30am and went through to 6pm.

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Buses in the Blood

Barry Gibson rang Gresford News after he read the History article in the July edition. He has a passion for collecting bus and truck memorabilia and had a newspaper clipping of Darryl Dark and Alex Brown standing next to the hay truck mentioned in the article. Many people would know Barry and Marie Gibson as the local Australia Post mail delivery contractors from 1993 to 2012. But their history with buses goes back to their childhood. Barry’s parents, Arthur and Kit Gibson, had a school bus run around Kyogle from the mid 1940s through to the 1960s and Marie can recall going to school in a Gibson bus. Apart from the school run the buses would be used on other runs like trips to Coolangatta beach on the weekends. In May 2013 Barry tracked down one of the buses, an Austin, his parents bought in 1953. It was found on a cattle station in Hughendon, central Queensland.

Darryl Dark (L) and Alex Brown (R) standing next to the truckload of hay mentioned in the Gresford News July edition history article.

Final resting place of the Austin bus bought by Arthur Gibson in September 1953 - found in 2013 sitting in a paddock in Hughendon Qld.


Arthur Gibson with his first bus, a Morris Commercial, bought in 1946.

The 1953 Austin unloading children at Kyogle Primary School. The High School can be seen across the road in the background.

The Austin bus in the main Street of Kyogle (1950s).

A beach trip in the Gibson’s second bus, a Ford bought in 1948.


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c8929022-9May

On Saturday 12th July the BLOOD Exhibition opened with an appreciative crowd of artists and art lovers at Newcastle Art Space Gallery. The show featured many of our local artists from Gresford to Paterson, exhibiting their personal interpretations of Blood – see photos by Christine Pike.

Congratulations to artist Christine Pike, from Vacy, who has been selected as a Finalist in this years Mosman Art Prize.

Judy Henry – “Reflections Of Life and Landscape”Maitland Regional Art Gallery, 4th July – 14th September 2014“Reflections you see on the surface of the water are more than a mirror image. There is mystery, depth, elusiveness, a constant changing with myriad of colours. I feel as if I need to plunge in, to immerse myself deeper into the reflection, what secrets does it hold? Like life, the more you explore and submerge yourself, the more mystery and magic you find.” - Judy Henry.

Contact Robyn Werkhoven with art news at Email: [email protected]

ART NEWS

Dawn Thompson

Laura Jefferson

Judy and Mal Henry

Helen Brown & Christine Pike Eric Werkhoven Misha Moon


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Gresford Public School Athletics Carnival

Mitch Bellamy leads Jake Hipwell in the senior skipping race.

Above: Kindergarten student Chase Hoffman in the under-6 boys orange race. Below: Ebony Briggs and Will Thiecke play their part in the junior relay. Photos Julie Hartigan


q Gresford District Historical Society rOf drought and flooding rains ~ the promise of Lostock dam

Hotels tend to anchor country towns, providing not just a venue for social

drinking but often a place for meetings, and community events. On occasion the hotels in Gresford have even been called upon to provide refuge from bushrangers and one periodically became a courtroom.

The Gresford district has always been well served with “watering holes” and in the early 1900’s four establishments operated concurrently. Easily the most enduring of these is the Beatty Hotel founded by John Beatty and still owned and operated by his family. John’s first recorded licence was at the “Half Way House Hotel “at Vacy in 1865. He then transferred to the Junction Inn at East Gresford around 1872. The “Junction Inn” stood where the Beatty car park is now and was a large weather board building which included under the one roof a hotel, pharmacy, saddlery and joinery works.

In 1883 a room in the hotel was leased to serve as a Court of Petty Sessions. The court was to sit every 2 weeks and was considered a great convenience to those who would otherwise have to travel to Paterson. The magistrates however found the inability to provide safe custody for prisoners brought up from Paterson a great inconvenience and this led to work beginning in 1884 on Gresford’s own court house and lockup.

James Boydell meanwhile held a lease on the Junction Inn and as an investment built the present hotel. It is not known exactly when this building was completed but the Maitland Mercury in April 1901 reported that John Beatty had “transferred from his old rambling wooden premises” into the new building named the Victoria Hotel. James Boydell died in 1908

Anglican Parish of Gresford PatersonGlendonbrook Road Gresford NSW 2311

Telephone (02) 4938 [email protected]

August sERVICE tIMEs

sunday Mornings 3 10 17 24 31

St Anne’s, Gresford 7.30 9.30 8.30 St Paul’s, Paterson 9.30 9.30 9 St John’s, Vacy 9.00 St John’s, Lostock 11.30 St James’, Martin’s Ck 8.00 St Mary’s, Allynbrook 10.30 St Paul’s, Eccleston 11.30

Weekday mornings St Anne’s, Gresford at 7.30am

Junction Inn East Gresford

An early photo of the Victoria with the Gresford/Paterson coach at the front

Cross Roads Hotel West Gresford


q “Our Stories” Feature r

without issue and his property commenced to be subdivided and sold. The Beatty family were successful in business and John Beatty (Jnr) was able to buy the freehold of the Victoria. As John (Jnr) had 2 daughters he made the decision in the 1920’s to change the name to “The Beatty” in order to preserve his tradition and family name.

The other hotel in Gresford was at West Gresford at the Crossroads and was known as “The Crossroads”. It was established and operated by J. J. (John). Hancock although it is not known exactly when it was built. Like the Victoria Hotel it was also a haven for local residents during the Governor Bros rampage in September 1900.

On the evening of 17th May 1922, the proprietor and his family were next door at the School of Arts (St Anne’s hall) enjoying a concert when the fire alarm was raised. Willing volunteers rushed to help but despite their best efforts the building was gutted. Arson was suspected and further suspicions were raised about this when a fortnight later Bruce Dark’s general store at East Gresford was also gutted by a late evening fire. No one was ever apprehended.

Although the hotel building was insured John did not rebuild. Rumour has it that John and John Beatty had made an agreement that John (Hancock) would not rebuild the hotel. This rumour overlooks a more reasonable explanation, for John at the time of the fire was already in his early 60’s and not enjoying the best of health. A more likely scenario is that he was not well enough to take on the task of rebuilding. He died only a few years later in 1925.

The fire also hastened the relative decline of West Gresford since East Gresford now had the only hotel, as well as the majority of business and Government buildings.

Ellen Bird’s Allynbrook wine bar

Graeme Ferguson

Registered SurveyorConsultant in surveying,

planning and engineering

* Portion Boundaries Remarked * Identification Survey Reports * House Setouts * Urban and Rural Subdivisions * Engineering Survey and Design * Topographic Surveys * Urban and Rural Road Design * Control Surveys

“Yatta” Torryburn Via Paterson 2421Tel 4938 9448 Fax 4938 9626

Email [email protected]


Apart from these two hotels (Beatty and Crossroads) travellers did not need to venture far from Gresford to find further refreshment. Only 7 kms North of Gresford on the Allyn River Rd. they would come upon Ellen Bird’s Allynbrook wine bar and then just 4kms further on the Cross Keys Hotel.

Travellers always found Allynbrook a difficult place to negotiate usually requiring two stops – one at Ellen Birds and the other at Cross Keys.

Ellen’s wine bar has featured in earlier stories and in its heyday provided meals and board. It was also a focal point for news with messages being left for people who would eventually drop in and even hosted a “bush christening”! The Bird family held the licence for at least 85 years with Ellen being very much in charge for 73 of those years. When she was 95 (in 1966) she transferred the licence and retired, claiming most credibly to be the oldest licensee in Australia. The building dating from 1901 is still in use as a private home.

The Cross Keys hotel on the corner of Cross Keys Rd and Allyn River Rd was built and operated for a time by Robert

Hancock, (Uncle to John Hancock) on land which he had leased from the White family. Again it is not known exactly when it was built. A number of proprietors have been involved, with the Dungog Chronicle of July 8th 1910 reporting that; “Mr Falconer’s hotel at which comfortable beds and good meals beyond the ordinary may be obtained was formerly a wine saloon“. Subsequently the Barling family took over and ran the business as a wine bar with

accommodation and a shop including lollies to pacify the kids while Dad had a glass of wine.

Previous stories from this colum are available as a book, “Gresford Connections Vol 1”, from McDonald Bros. Maitland and local shops in Gresford at $15. Next meeting of the Historical Society is the AGM, 10.30am, Mon 11 August in the RSL hall.

q “Our Stories” Feature r

Cross Keys Hotel Allynbrook

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The Mud Run at GresfordThe Mud Run held at Gresford Show Grounds recently is organised by Tony Webster, Joel Butcher and Stuart Campbell. It is a free ‘by invitation’ event which they hold each year at Gresford. It is designed to be a fun entertaining day where hotrod car and bike enthusiast’s can have races or just beat around the paddock. The direct opposite of the ‘shiney car shows and runs where cars line up for hours and people hang around leaning wherever they can for hours and then go home again! The Flattrakkers a Rockabilly Band were there on Saturday Night giving a world class performance into the darkness. The day is run with the help of a number of sponsors and with money raised from the sale of food and t-shirts. If the main aim was entertainment and fun then it was a great success!


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GRESFORD CWA NEWSInternational/Cultural Day Our International\Cultural Day is Tuesday,August 19 and commences at 10am in St. Anne’s Church Hall, Church Street, Gresford. Our country of study this year is Botswana. There will be Cultural, Ag\Environmental and Handicraft displays, a Trading Table as well as ‘hands on’ handicraft. A delicious three course luncheon with Botswanan flavours will follow. Cost is $12 and includes morning tea. RSVP by August 10 to (Secretary) Valarie Smith on 49389364 or email [email protected]

Next Meeting Our next meeting is Thursday, August 7 at 9.30am. New members are always welcome, just come along, make new friends, get involved in the community, learn new skills, share your skills, make a difference. You will find us at 12 Durham Road, East Gresford (next door to the Police Station). For more information visit our Web Site http://gresfordcwa.wordpress.com

Book Club Our Book Club meets on the second Saturday of each month at 3.00pm in the CWA rooms and the good news is you do not have to be a member of CWA to attend. Our next meeting is Saturday, August 9 and the book for

discussion is Dear Life by Alice Munro. Why not join us for afternoon tea and

lively discussion!

Saying for the month “Even if you’re on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there. Will Rogers”

Jill Hancock

SUMMER SUPER 6’s SOCIAL SOCCERGresford Vacy is planning to conduct a twilight seven-week Soccer Super 6’s starting in late October and concluding before Christmas. The shorter comp. will have greater emphasis on social sport and fun with little importance on who wins. It will be organised into two grades, with Social/Mixed catering for family groups and the less experienced. Social/Competitive will cater for seasoned players. Players must be Year 7 and above. Competition will be on Wednesday nights at the Gresford Sporting Complex between 6:30 and 9:00 pm. and will be played on a one-third size field with 20 minute halves. Teams are made up of five players plus a goalie and you can have four players on the bench for unlimited subs. All game fees and player registration must be paid upfront on-line before the comp. starts.More information can be found on the GVFC website.www.gresfordvacyfc.sportingpulse.net

ALL members & their guests please note 2014 PRESENTATION DAY & AGM

Saturday afternoon/evening, September 13th, 2:00pm start, Gresford sporting complex

All players will receive a trophy.All players, supporters and their families (gran, pop, etc.) are welcome to attend.Dinner will be provided by the club.Families are encouraged to bring a cake/dessert to share.

Free Amusements & music by: Tropo Entertainment from 4:15pm Cactus Kabin Jumping Castle, Sumo Soccer, Tug-o-war. BYO esky, chairs, rug ~ Stay for a picnic with your team.

Gresford Vacy Football Club Inc


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Vacy Village Country Carnival is on Again For 2014.

Bring your jack russell or dachshund to raceNo registration prior to the day. This year cost will be $5/dog/race only – but the dog must wear a muzzle (supplied on the day) and be small enough to fit in the starting boxes.

As in past years the usual attractions will be there. Rides on helicopters, camels and ponies, jumping castle andface painting for the children. Food glorious food will be aplenty with the camp oven lamb sandwiches a real hit, Vacy Red Cross delicious cakes and slices, Rotary steak sandwiches, cappuccino on the oval, Legacy sausage sandwiches. Vegetarians and gluten free will be done by the Donkey Welfare with Heart volunteers.

Market stalls will be spread throughout the village with many and varied items for sale. Arts and Crafts in the Vacy School of Arts Hall will get you in from spinners and weavers to cakes for sale on the Red Cross stall. On the stage out the front of

the Vacy Farmers Hotel the Vacy School Choir and Dancers will start proceedings and will be followed by the JOHN RYLL BAND with members of SANTANA MAGIC playing hits from Santana and the 70s and 80s. The BIG BAM BOOM drummers will entertain at lunchtime and will be followed by JUMPIN JUKE BOX who will play hits from the past.

NEW FOR 2014 MECHANICAL BULL RIDE IN THE OVALIf your are new to the area and are unsure what this day entails please do not hesitate to contact me on 0417 381 981 or Denis on 0418 678 411. We are always happy to speak to anyone who would like to sponsor the day. All monies raised go back into the Vacy community or community groups.This is a big day for Vacy and the area but we can’t do it without your help. The Vacy Village Country Carnival will take place this year on the 14th September from 9am – 3pm.

Diane Denton Coordinator


Paterson Allyn Garden GroupDear Garden LoversIn all of our meetings I have never seen such enthusiasm for knowledge. It was the ROSE that captured so many members attention and Barbara Horn was the most perfect tutor. She is so well known in the Hunter valley for her judging skills and the three beautiful books she has written over the years. Sheila Gailbraith was the illustrator and her botanical drawings and paintings are exquisite. It was such a pleasure to have both with us at our July walk and talk and Barbara gave us pruning demonstrations on various types of roses. I was bemused to listen to various members describe the way they prune a rose. One said that she whips across the top of them with the chain saw and they flower very well. I have been keeping the heavy grey stems thinking that it is important to do so. However, those thick grey stems just get weaker each year. I came home, sat in the middle of my rose garden and thought about the lesson I had with Barbara. She suggested that you should leave about three young green stems no thicker than your little finger and preferably prune just above an out facing bud. As I have just spent 12 hours in one bed with 25 roses, I’ll tell you my story...

Watered the whole area. Barbara says by all means water the roses from a sprinkler in the early morning. It’s only humidity that brings on black spot so if the leaves dry out early in the day then they should be fine.

Rake up all fallen leaves and burn ( that took me two hours)!

Prune to shape and get rid of any dead wood.

Spray with Lime sulphur. Barbara uses a very heavy dose..6 parts lime sulphur to one part water! Spray soil around rose as well as stems.

Spread horse or cow manure around the rose. Do not add No 17 fertiliser until bud burst. This fertiliser is high in Potassium.

Spread some dolomite but not too close to stem.

I chopped up saved banana skins in blender, added to a bucket of water and spread around roses. Banana skins are full of potassium which roses love and our soils have little of.

After I finished the above and my body ached from head to foot, I opened a bottle of wine and wondered why I don’t just go and buy some good old natives. AH!! The lure of a beautiful ROSE!

Yours perennially, Janie

Fully Licenced Café / Restaurant4938 8305

Barbara Horn with rose lovers


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A Mini Tractor TrekThe people who brought you the best Tractor Trek ever, are at it again. Dungog is doing a Festival. It will be on the last weekend in August, 28–31 of August. And the organising committee have asked the Hunter Valley Vintage Farm Machinery Club to do a reprise of the Tractor Trek of a few months ago. Obviously, the chief organisers will need to be the Dungog members of the HVVFMC. Dungog is generally well known to be up for a party, and the folk on whose shoulders the thing will fall, have said,”What a great idea”.

But, this one will be a bit different. You don’t want to be doing the same thing over and over, do you? So, that fountain of great ideas, Bob Lean, has suggested that the Festival Tractor Trek, be centred on his place, at Fosterton. For those of you who don’t know, Bob’s farm is about 6 or 7 kms. to the north of Dungog in the beautiful Fosterton Valley. There would be plenty of room to camp, and no-one would need to pay camping fees. And, here’s the best part. Bob has a paddock where we can all try out or demonstrate, (as the case may be) our ploughing prowess. This will be a temporary working museum, open to the public. There will probably be a BBQ going, all weekend, and even a cup of tea or coffee. Even, maybe, some of those magnificent slices that gained such acclaim, at the NHMA Trek.

So, there it is. Bring your tractor to Bob’s place. And, look, bring your wife, partner, significant other? He\she will enjoy it too. Oh! And there will be a Street Parade, as part of a Trek, on the Saturday morning. Sounds good, eh? Where else would you want to be. Ring Bob on 49921171, or Gary on 49959252, to let ‘em know you’re going to be there. They will want to know how many snags and pies to get in.

Bob Baldwin Urging Youth to Accept This Challenge

Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin is urging university students in his region to accept the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bronwyn Bishop’s challenge. “We want to get youth engaged with Federal Parliament and what better way to get them involved then by starting an argument with the Speaker?” said Mr Baldwin. For this year’s University Challenge, the Speaker is asking university students to explore the topic: ‘Freedom of speech in a modern day democracy’. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Bronwyn Bishop, has challenged university students to put forward their arguments on what freedom of speech means in Australia’s democracy. Students are being asked to make a three-minute video to present their case on the topic. Entries will be judged against a set of criteria which includes strength of the argument, original ideas and presentation, use of evidence and research, and a well-structured opening, body and conclusion. As well as cash prizes on offer, the top three entrants will be flown to Canberra to join the Speaker for a formal function where the winner will be announced. You could win $500 and a trip to Canberra to meet the Speaker and other MPs at Parliament House. For more information on how to enter, including terms and conditions, visit www.aph.gov.au/unichallenge Entries close on 15 August 2014. Contact: Bob Baldwin MP on 0419 694 620


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Calculating The Cost Of CareThe Paterson electorate has the fourth-highest median age in the country. In Port Stephens alone, they are projecting that the over-65 population is set to almost double in the next 20 years. As a result, many residents in the region may need to budget for aged care services.

With this in mind, Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin has welcomed the Aged Care Fee Estimator which will assist Paterson residents estimate their aged care costs.

“I understand that the Paterson population is ageing and we are also welcoming more retirees to the area, so this tool will be appreciated by those who will soon need more assistance, said Mr Baldwin. “The Fee Estimator will allow people to enter their income and assets, and receive an estimate of the fees they may be asked to pay when they enter residential care or access home care.” The Fee Estimator has been made available as part of the aged care changes that came into effect on 1 July. Residential aged care providers are now required to publish the maximum accommodation prices they will charge, as well as payment options and a

description of key features of each type of accommodation room on offer. People can call My Aged Care on 1800 200 422 to talk to a real person who will help them work through the Fee Estimator, or they can go online and use the Estimator themselves. “Generally we don’t start thinking about, or looking for, aged care services until something happens – such as a fall or adverse health event,” said Mr Baldwin. “But it’s important to start an early conversation about what care options are available to you or a loved one, because this will help ensure older people get the support and care they need to keep them safe and living independently, or to find the residential aged care setting that’s right for them.”

“The most important thing older people and their families can do is learn about the choices available, so they can plan and make the right decision.”

Residents of Paterson who want to find out more about what choices are available for them when it comes to aged care should visit www.myagedcare.gov.au or call 1800 200 422.

Gresford News is available

online – visitwww.gresfordnsw.com.au

An audio version is also available for the visually

impairedPhone

0412 372 687


TD Hall legal issuesMartin said the Historical Society had made suggestions about protections it needed in any legal arrangement it has with the community group. He said he had discussions with a firm prepared to do the legal work without cost, subject to the agreement of the firm’s partners. The agreement would be in the form of a lease, and it would be able to incorporate any protections required.Treasurer’s reportThe hall has been re-valued and the premium had been adjusted accordingly. He advised the billy cart derby committee has made donations to the News and to the TD Hall. Ath News achieved its budget last financial year and Martin remarked the News was doing an exceptional job. The publishing committee were congratulated. Peter also referred to the need to purchase a replacement photocopier, discussed at the June meeting. The publishing committee was authorised to buy an appropriate copier that meets its specifications. The financial reports were adopted.Markets’ reportJudy asked about the status of the banners; Kirby said these were almost

finished. Judy gave quotes for display banners. She also suggested leaflets for distribution to local residents to be produced quarterly as a way of developing greater community involvement in addition to advertising in the News. This would be in place of the newspaper advertising, which is thought to be having little effect. Coming events – Christmas in July; pet show in August; car rally and historical society anniversary in September (in the Beatty grounds). Approved purchase of a 2m banner, three smaller signs, and one ‘flexible’ sign.News reportBrian encouraged contributions from anyone in the community on topics that are of interest or concern to them. Gresford News is a Community Magazine and welcomes community contributions. Noel offered to approach local police for a regular contribution to the News.Secretary/public officer positionPosition being advertised in the News.Skate parkMartin advised he had arranged a meeting on 15 July at the site to discuss shade cloth options for a revised installation protecting half the rink.

Report to August meeting.Fence at TD HallMartin tabled a fencing and gates quotes which were acceptedInsurance for the ANZAC 2015 picnicConfirmation by Elders that the event is covered by the Community Group’s policy.Mould in the TD HallBrian said moisture creating mould appeared to be coming through the ceiling, not rising from below. Brian to contact a builder/roofer to get an opinion on best course of action.Allyn River campingNo further developments. Noel to follow upOrana ParkKirby raised the issue of fencing of Orana Park on the roadside to protect children from running out onto the road.

Gresford Community Group – July meeting

Next General MeetingMon 4 August at 5:30pm Hotel

Beatty ALL WELCOME

ATTENTION: FARMERS, GRAZIERSAND HOBBY FARMERSARE YOU GETTING THE MOST

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Round Baling: Hay and Silage

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Gresford News August Crossword

July 2014 crossword answers

St Helen’s Catholic Parish Gresford

WEEKEND MASS TIMESSt Helen’s GresfordSaturday Vigil 6.30pmLocal contact 4992 1477 Chisholm Region Office

Contact 4933 8918

gresford news august 2014

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