Gresford News October 2023

ATTENTION: FARMERS, GRAZIERS AND HOBBY FARMERS

ARE YOU GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR ACREAGE?

Direct Drilling

Cultivating and Discing Fertilizer Spreading

Slashing and Mulching

Tabletop Truck Hire Boomspraying

Gas

Round Baling: Hay and Silage

Small Square Bales

Mowing and Raking

Whatever the job, get it done right and on time by your local bloke!

Your Local Rural Services Specialist. Competitive Rates!

Mt Rivers Ph 02 4931 7125

NEW COMMITTEE ELECTED

The Gresford District Community Group held it's AGM at the Beatty Hotel on 4 September. The following people were elected to the Committee:

President • Jim Doyle

Vice President • Penny O'Meara

Secretary • Myffy Doyle

Treasurer • Bob Doyle Committee:

• James Hall

• Vanessa Barwick

• Noel Brown

• Jane Marulas

VACY CHARITY CUTTING DAY

Looking forward to seeing everyone at the Vacy Charity Cutting Day, Saturday 14 October 2023

Donations welcome for auctions and prizes raising much needed funds for Vacy Public School and Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.

Contact Penny Evans 0437604206 or vacycharitycuttingday@Gmail.com

Gresford News Notices

BOOK YOUR BBQ DATE

A courtesy board has been provided at the barbeque in the community park. If you are planning a function please use this to post the details and avoid clashes. Several functions are already on the board.

AUSSIE BIRD COUNT IS BACK

Australia’s favourite citizen science event, The Aussie Bird Count, will return between 16–22 October. You don’t need to be an expert birder to take part all you need is a little enthusiasm! – find out how at: aussiebirdcount.org.au

REMEMBRANCE DAY

Sat 11 November 10.45 am

The Gresford RSL Sub Branch in conjunction with the Gresford Community Group will be conducting a Remembrance Day Service on the 11th November 2023 commencing at 10.45 am sharp at the Gresford Memorial in front of the School of Arts.

All are invited to attend the Ceremony.

COMMUNITY DINNERS

Fri 17 Nov, 6pm, Gresford Arboretum

The Gresford District Community Group would like to invite all members of our community to the inaugural return of the Community Dinners at the recently completed Arboretum.

Meet the newly formed Committee and other residents of our river valleys. Delight in the beautiful setting of the Arboretum and celebrate the unveiling of the park’s new sculpture.

Join us, on Friday November 17th from 6pm for a free sausage sizzle and get up to date with all the latest happenings in our community and find out about the Committee’s new focus for the future.

Bring your own drinks and chair, be charmed by old friends and new and the Arboretum at twilight. We look forward to seeing you there. Please RSVP for catering purposes to Vanessa via email at gresfordcommunitygroup2311 @outlook.com

PETER EVANS & ASSOCIATES SOLICITORS

‘Looking after people is our business’

Peter Evans is descended from a farming family located in the Gresford area prior to 1840 We are keen to assist you with all your legal needs.

We can help you with:

Conveyancing, Family Law, Business Law, Criminal Law, Wills, Powers of Attorney, Probate and more …

Call us on 02 4926 4788 www.evanslaw.com.au

RICHARD WELLS UPHOLSTERY

Lounges

Automotive

Antique Restoration

French Polishing Canvas Annexes

Horse Rug Repairs

For all your upholstery needs ring Richard on 4938 9324

SERVICE

Pick up and delivery

Contributions

$2 per month or an annual donation of $22 (11 editions) can be made to Gresford Community Group Inc BSB 932000 Acc No 500039698.

If you can sponsor some of our monthly publication expenses contact our Secretary Penny Kater on 0488 371 589 or pennykater@gmail.com

Gresford

News

Community Access Defibrilator

is located outside the East Gresford Police Station. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is one of the leading causes of death in Australia. A defibrillator can make the difference between life and death and can save a life prior to the ambulance arriving.

Farmers Day Bowls Tournament

September 4th. was a beautiful spring day, perfect for the annual Farmers Day Bowls Tournament at Gresford Bowling Club. Thirteen teams from Dungog, Lorn Park and Gresford competed for the trophy. The green, covered in multicoloured bowls and players resplendent in club strip, was a sight to behold. The shouted instructions from skips and #3’s, laughter and cheering made for an exciting atmosphere.

While the day will be remembered for camaraderie and fun, the record books will show that the very useful Dungog team of Stephen Jones (lead), Gary Newman (#2), Paul Robards (#3) and Johnny Middlebrook (skip) were worthy runners up. In normal circumstances they would probably have won but for the star-studded Gresford line-up: Keith Litchfield led with sharp openers; the boiler room men, Danny Ross (#2) and Danny Maudlen (#3), piled on the pressure; and Glynn (with one silent ‘n’) Phillips at skip finished off with precision. This writer can attest having been on the receiving end of a hiding.

After the morning’s bowls we retired to the club house for beverages and a lovely cold meats and salads lunch. Keith

Litchfield delivered the key note address and thanked those who worked hard to make the day such a success. Those thanks are worth repeating here:

Keith and Pat Litchfield, Jenny Maudlen and Kim Bird catered with excellence. Leanne Atkins, at the bar, ensured proper participant hydration. Craig ‘Radar’ Lawrence organised the tournament; a huge task getting the teams together, managing the playing

COMING UP

Sat 14 October

Beatty celebrates Oktoberfest – check facebook for details.

Sun 15 October

Local Band "Sangria" on the deck 2-6pm

Sun 22 October

Dementia day High Tea @ Twin Rivers Cafe – check facebook for details.

Sat 28 October

Haloween with IGNITA Band

8 till late – fancy dress

schedule and compiling the results. Rod Crouch of Gresford Country

Meats generously sponsored the prizes. Thank you all.

And to Gresford’s visitors thank you for your support and may we see you during the year at the various pennant, competition and social events and at Farmers Day Bowls in 2024.

Peter Dreyer September 2023

left to right: Danny Ross, Keith Litchfield, Danny Maudlen and Glynn Phillips.

Landcare Farm Safety Meeting

Gresford

at the Gresford Arboretum on a beautiful spring morning on Saturday 9th September, 2023. We were fortunate to be able to use the tables recently made by Ken Chandler for the gazebo area. This was the last Saturday morning meeting for the year. All subsequent meetings, during daylight savings months, will be held at 5.30pm on the second Monday of each month. The

subject of the meeting was farm safety.

A busload of safety equipment from Safetyquip was on hand for purchase of a great range of equipment.

After a delicious morning tea, Rob Henderson from Land Services –Emergency Management talked on biosecurity, checklists, and the consequences if foot and mouth were to enter this country.

Greg Saunders from NSW SafeWork spoke about farm safety, quad bikes, record keeping, and a smart phone app, Emergency Plus, to get your exact location in an emergency.

Penny Kater gave a short talk on safe use of chainsaws.

A sausage sizzle on the new BBQ after the meeting provided time to discuss further issues.

District Landcare met under the gazebo

COMMUNITY BUILDING PARTNERSHIP APPLY NOW

The NSW Government’s Community Building Partnership program provides $300,000 to the Upper Hunter Electorate for projects that deliver positive social, environmental and recreational outcomes.

Applications close Friday 27 October 2023 at 5pm.

For more information: www.nsw.gov.au/projects/community-building-partnership

Authorised by Dave Layzell MP, 20 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook NSW 2333 Funded using Parliamentary entitlements.

DAVE LAYZELL MP Member for Upper Hunter

Food chat with Fiona...

Happy Spring.

I am in Bukhara at the moment...

Silk Road .... Uzbekistan. The trees are starting to drop their leaves, autumn is coming. Fruit harvests fill the markets with wonderful melons, stone fruit and fresh raspberries by the buckets.

Every salad is a wonder of flavour especially when you have tomatoes like Grandad grew. A chopped salad can be a simple thing but every country makes it new and fresh with local twists.

Standard here, with most meals, is chopped tomato and onion, often with cucumber. Such a simple salad.

Here it is adorned with fresh dill, no dressing. In Syria they would dress it with dried crushed mint, lemon juice and olive oil. Morocco would just be a mound of the freshest finely diced veg. In India throw in fresh green chilli slices and a squeeze of lemon juice.

At home I like chopped parsley, corriander and spring onion with homemade vinagrette. Travel the world on a simple salad!

Time to start thinking about growing

your own tomatoes so that your salads will really sing. Find an heirloom variety, why not? A few nights ago in Tashkent

the menu proudly boasted pink tomatoes... like the old Queen Adelaide variety. Yum.

Salad in Samarakand. Photo by Fiona Wright

FARMS FOR SALE

BRECKIN PARK

1443 Gresford Rd, Vacy. 221 acres

13 dams, including reliable spring fed dams. Leaky weirs in gullies. 3 bedroom country home. Colorbond garaging. Machinery shed. Level paddocks with protective escarpment to rear. Currently cattle and very suited to horses.

HILL OF CLOUDS

284 Parks Creek Rd, Bingleburra. 120 acres

Mountain top retreat. Spectacular lifestyle environment. Food forest orchard. Rainforest. Emphasising native vegetation, environment protection and increased Biodiversity with over 2,000 trees planted. 7 vegetation communities have been restored.

OAKLEY

370 Torryburn rd, Torryburn. 137 acres

Luxury 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom country home with panoramic valley views from private location. Heavily grassed paddocks. Very well watered by spring fed dams and seasonal watercourses. Exceptional property. Tree studded paddocks. Currently runs cattle, very suited to horses.

KURRAJONG.

210 Dog trap creek Rd, East Gresford. 218 acres

Pasture with rainforest and timbered hill to the rear. 4 bedroom farmhouse positioned centrally in the property on elevated ridgeline with spectacular views over front and rear paddocks. Spring fed main dams, 10 dams in total. Grazing cattle and horses. Magic valley views.

Pamela will help you get your property ready to sell. Providing free advice on preparing your property. Happy to talk to you. Free market appraisals. With over 25 years of rural sales success Pamela will provide honest and practical advice.

INSPECTION BY PRIOR APPOINTMENT. PHONE EXCLUSIVE AGENT 0427 207542

Gresford School of Arts

The Gresford School of Arts was originally located in Church Street Gresford. The timber frame building was relocated to Park Street at East Gresford and officially opened in December 1928. A brick School of Arts Hall was later constructed adjacent to the other building and officially opened on 20th March 1930. The title of the School of Arts transferred to Dungog Shire Council 22nd October 1970.

The facility consists of the main hall and foyer, cenotaph, kitchen, supper room (preschool) with children’s external play area, meeting room (RSL sub branch), an external storage garage, and the public toilets.

The Gresford School of Arts continues to be the venue for the Hunter Mobile Preschool, the Playtime group, as a polling centre and for wedding receptions and other private functions.

The day to day management of the facility is conducted by local residents constituted as a Section 355 Committee. These residents have volunteered their time and expertise to successfully ensure that the Gresford School of Arts facility remains viable, relevant and in our public hands for the benefit of Gresford.

But now we need your help! It is essential that we have more people to assist by joining the Committee. Come along to the Gresford School of Arts Annual General Meeting to be held at the School of Arts hall at 7.00pm on Tuesday 17th October 2023. Contact Kel Merriman (Secretary) on 0417280851 for more information.

Kel Merriman, Secretary, Gresford School of Arts Management Committee

Paterson Allyn Garden Group

19 September 2023 at “Fosterton” Dungog.

Our meeting this month was held at the lovely garden of Philippa and John Graham on an unusually hot spring day. It is a traditional country garden with a circular gravel driveway, deciduous trees, perennial beds, wisteria, stone walls, vegetables and some fruit trees amongst other plants. Lavender is a feature. The garden is the venue for this year’s biennial “Sculpture on the Farm" exhibition to be held from 29 September to 3 October.

Local History Stories

By Ivan Skaines, Gresford District

Historical

Society

Sale of the Lennoxton Estate

The Maitland Daily Mercury, Wednesday 16 Oct 1918, page 4

The sub-division sale of Lennoxton Estate, one of the picked spots in the Paters0n district will be held on the property, on the 24th and 25th instants. It will be conducted by Mr. E. W. Sparke and Messrs. Wilson and Keppie in conjunction. The sub-division has been made in such a way as to give each farm its proper proportion of water frontage, cultivation and grass land. The Paterson River gives a permanent supply of water. Following the sale of the property a

general clearing-out sale will also be conducted, when Messrs Henning and Dampney's superior dairy herd of Guernsey milk shorthorn crosses, horses, pigs, farming implements, milking machines, etc., will be auctioned. The Clydesdale stallion “Shamrock”, pure Guernsey bull “Duke of Orleans," and pedigree Berkshire boar will also be offered. The property and live stock will be sold on the Thursday, and farming implements, machinery, furniture, etc on Friday.

Images courtesy Paterson Historical Society and 2,100 other images of the

local area are available online via the Paterson Museum Flickr site – google Paterson Museum flickr.

R

The next meeting of the Gresford District Historical Society has been postponed and a new meeting date will be advised. The Gresford Heritage Museum in the Therese Doyle Hall has closed. If you haven’t done so already, and you are a Facebook member, you are invited to check out the Lost Paterson and Allyn Valleys group Facebook page.

Saturday 21 October Closed from 6.30pm for a Private Function

Sunday 5th November – Kids Disco from 4pm

Sunday 5th November -$1500 Toy Raffle Tickets on sale 5.30

Sunday 5th November – 7.30 Melbourne Cup Calcutta draw

Friday 24th November – Xmas Raffles $1500 Ham & Pork!

Friday 8thDecember - $1500 Pork & Ham Raffle

Friday 22nd December- $1500 Prawn & Oyster Raffle

Friday 22nd December - 8pm Glen Harrison

Friday 26 January – Australia Day at The Bowlo 12pm Free Sausage Sizzle, 1pm Bare Foot Bowls

Lamington Eating Competition & Lots of Fun

4pm Reggie Sinclair

Every Week at the Bowlo!!

Wednesday Night

HAPPY HOUR WEDNESDAY 4.30 - 6.00

Last Wednesday of the month $200.00, Schooner Card Draw 1st Wednesday of the month!

Drawn after the raffles must be here to win!

Friday Night Gift Voucher Raffles

Members Draw going up $50.00 every week, must be here to WIN!

Sunday Night Raffles

What's On the Shelves?

by Glenda Smith

Fishing in the Styx Ruth Park

The Harp in the South, a novel set in the post-war slums of Surry Hills, brought Ruth Park fame, but not necessarily fortune. It created a huge controversy and backlash against her, because as a woman and New Zealander, she had dared to depict the poverty of the suburb she had lived in as a young married woman. Fishing in the Styx is the second part of her autobiography, and deals with her personal life, but also the nature of writing and her social surroundings. Ultimately The Harp in the South led to much clearing of the Surry Hills slums. She later revisited the area in her young adult novel, Playing Beattie Bow

Park married D’Arcy Niland, famous for his novel The Shiralee, which was made into a film starring Peter Finch. They were both indomitable writers, and she makes clear that writers suffered penury at the hands of publishers and film companies. For instance, the film company which made a great deal of money from The Shiralee never paid Niland for the rights to his novel. Park seems to have been the more hard-headed of the two, but she was disadvantaged by her gender at the time. She gives many examples of the discrimination she faced. However, her voice was strong and prolific. For many years she wrote radio scripts such as the much-loved The MuddleHeaded Wombat, and many other books, stories and articles. Her husband died from a heart attack at 49, and the last part of this book is how she dealt with her bereavement, and finally managed to move on. This is a fascinating and absorbing book – a testament to her talent and humanity.

All books reviewed are from the CWA library on a separate shelf in the library so they are easy to find plus the reviews are in a folder. Also have a look in the street library.

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