Gresford News May 2024

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COMMUNITY DINNER

Fri 10 May 6pm

Are you new to the area, or been here forever? It doesn't matter!

Join fellow neighbours at the next Community Dinner at The Gresford Bowling Club on Friday 10th May, from 6pm. Please RSVP to Vanessa 0411 409 525

Gresford Rural Fire Brigade AGM

Wed 5 June

The Gresford Rural Fire Brigade, will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 5 June 2024. Elections of all Field Officers and Administration Positions will not be conducted this year.

The Annual General Meeting will commence at 7.30pm at the Station and all members and guests are encouraged to attend.

Gresford School of Arts Committee meeting

7pm Tuesday 11th June 2024 in the Gresford School of Arts Hall

Gresford News Notices

Green Thumb

Have you got a green thumb that’s just itching to get to work?

The Gresford District Community Group is looking for someone to provide some TLC to the gardens that have been voluntarily planted around the Gresford township. Please get in touch with us if you’d like to lend a hand. gresfordcommunitygroup2311@ outlook.com

Anglican

Parish of Gresford

Paterson Ugg & Rug Sunday + Picnic

Winter is on its way and the cooler months bring more challenges for everyone, especially the less fortunate in our community.

Sun 2 June – Margie’s Ugg & Rug Sunday. Rugs, beanies, socks, scarves & gloves can be left at St.Paul’s or St.Anne’s Gresford, also drop off points at the grocery stores in Paterson & Gresford.

Sat 18 May – Parish picnic/sausage sizzle at the Lostock Community Garden with informal worship. Come along and enjoy good company and fellowship.

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SERVICING AREAS BETWEEN

MAITLAND - SINGLETON - GRESFORD - VACY - PATERSON

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PH: 02 4930 9047 FAX: 4930 9046

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ACN: 109 886 419 ABN: 81 109 886 419 Lic No. 167289C

Dungog – Gresford

Land & Beef Group

Thurs 9 May, 6.30pm, Gresford Bowling Club

An evening with Brian Walsh. Local historian and author is to talk about the people and places of the first land grants in the area. To RSVP text or email Nerelle on 0428 964 142 or nerellehand@hotmail.com

Thank you for your contribution to the Gresford News

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.

Gresford News online link

Gresford News is available online at www.issuu.com/gresford-news. Email us to recieve a monthly reminder: gresfordnews@iinet.net.au

After being in the doldrums at the beginning of a new CWA year in September 2023, with the possibility of being forced into a recess which could have led to closure, the Gresford branch is pushing back. Local members are grateful to CWA members from other branches who were supportive of our desire to continue, and new and current members who have helped lead the charge.

Gresford Show Dining Room

Catering Officer, Amorelle Dempster, created a menu of wholesome and delicious food in a calm and inviting atmosphere. The new air-conditioning also helped make the dining room a haven for hungry patrons. Tireless volunteers made a huge difference in enabling the CWA to manage the catering, with our current reduction in numbers. Thanks are also due to members of the Show Committee who were always ready and willing to help with any request.

Easter Stall Following closely on the Show, was the opportunity to do some fund-raising at the Billy Cart Derby, which we appreciated very much. Scones and cakes; haberdashery and bric-a-brac;

CWA news

and plants and books were all browsed over by an open-handed crowd. The CWA also provided lunches for the Derby workers.

Lunch for Volunteers Branch members were so grateful for the unstinting efforts of volunteers at the Show that they decided to thank them with a lunch at the CWA rooms. Those who could come were thanked by President Lyn Tunin for the difference they made, and the gettogether was very convivial. Joining us was Luke Clynch and his partner Jodie. Luke (of Wombat Drains) averted a potential disaster at the hall from an overflowing transpiration area; diagnosed and fixed the problem, and donated his time and hardware. Thank you, all.

PLANT HIRE & EQUIPMENT

Book Club Book club meets on the second Saturday of the month at 3pm in the CWA rooms. They are also caretakers of the CWA library, which is available to the community, and the book exchange at the front fence. The book chosen for May is Fishing in the Styx by Ruth Park, which was earlier reviewed in this Newsletter. New members are always welcome. Anyone interested should ring Glenda Smith on 4938 9456.

French Conversation The French group meets on the first and third Mondays from 10–11.30. As with Book Club, new members are always welcome, and should ring Glenda Smith on the above number for the same reason – sometimes circumstances require changes.

CWA Meetings The next CWA meeting date will be the 1st June. Gresford CWA currently meets on the first Saturday of the month at 2pm. We have some ideas for invigorating our branch which will be rolled out this year, now that the big fundraising events are behind us. Feel free to join us!

Get well wishes and hopes for a speedy recovery go to our President Lyn Tunin.

Volunteer lunch

What's On the Shelves? by Glenda Smith Go Set a Watchman

– Harper Lee

There was a great deal of controversy when this was first published in 2015. A major aspect of this was whether its author, blind and living in aged care, was bullied into allowing publication. Go Set a Watchman reads as a sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird but in fact was written first and rejected by her chosen publisher. The reasons for this are obvious – the narrative is weighed down by arguments and dissertations on racism, rather than the dynamic exploration seen in Mockingbird. It reads at times as a play with heavy dialogue.

When Jean-Louise Finch (the well-known ‘Scout’ of the second novel) returns to Maycomb on her annual visit home from New York, she reconnects with her father and other family members and her old boyfriend. Her brother Jem has died of the heart condition that killed their mother, and her father Atticus seems to be disturbingly on the side of a racist movement that includes the Ku Klux Klan. Jean-Louise is shocked and angry, as her boyfriend Henry, who works for Atticus, seems to be of the same mind.

Jean-Louise’s Uncle Jack explains that they are simply interested in getting to know the arguments of the other side and want to be able to control events, but there is enough evidence to show that Atticus is not the disinterested crusader that he appears to be in the later novel. Lee’s sympathies are clearly against racism, as she argues through Jean-Louise, and she examines the stultifying social atmosphere from an adult perspective that was not available to Scout. This novel may not have the power of Mockingbird but it brings another valuable perspective on the society that formed Harper Lee.

Paterson Historical Society

The Society held a very successful historic walk around the village on 7 April. It was attended by about 90 people including 76 adults. There was great interest in all aspects of the village’s history Many of those who attended also visited the Rail Motor Society depot.

At the commencement of the walk the Society made a presentation to life member and long serving curator Val Anderson, who has retired from involvement in the Society and museum. Val and her late husband Bill were stalwarts of the Society for decades overseeing the full conservation of the building and developing extensive displays and exhibits.

Val also strongly supported the Society’s publications authoring a number herself and others in collaboration. Her local research of families, sites and objects has been of great benefit to the Society and district. Today the Society has about 50 publications out there for the community to learn more about the village and district.

Val was presented with a framed certificate and flowers to recognise her contribution. In response she said she had many enjoyable times during her involvement with the Society and was pleased to be back at the Museum for the presentation.

Also this month, the Society hosted a visit to the Museum by 25 former Ausgrid employees and their wives. The group spent a pleasant hour at the Museum before having lunch in Paterson. Our Society is always willing to host groups during the week, by prior arrangement.

At the time of writing this report we have heard nothing as to the outcomes from the Martins Creek Quarry Conciliation process. Members remain very concerned as to the future of the village.

Cameron Archer AM, President

GRESFORD DISTRICT LANDCARE

Gresford Landcare group met on Saturday 13th April, 2024 at Vacy and planted 10 advanced citrus trees along the Vacy River Walk. The planting of the trees is intended as a tribute to the original Paterson orange trees which used to be such a feature of the area.

Members of Landcare, Janet Piper and Ron Andrews have worked tirelessly over a number of years removing debris to make the river walk and river bank accessible to members of the public. It is now becoming a beautiful spot to view the confluence of the Allyn and Paterson Rivers but there is much work remaining. The river bank at Vacy restoration work has been included as a project for Gresford Landcare for 2024.

Penny Kater’s tips on caring for citrus are below:

• Autumn is a good time to plant a new citrus tree.

• Choose a healthy well grown tree and plant it in full sun in well drained soil.

• Mulch and water in well. A handful of complete citrus good will give it a good start.

• Watch for leaf miner and spray with Eco oil. Cut off gall wasp swellings if they appear.

• Knock bronze orange bugs into a bowl of soapy water with a stick and wear glasses as they squirt acid

Another Brilliant Billy Cart Derby

It was wonderful to see another large crowd flock to the Park Street race track, with the many visitors and locals alike making the most of the great weather and enjoying our renowned country hospitality.

Committee lead Lex Innerson said it was wonderful to see the community come together to put on another great raceday, raising much needed funds for local causes. “It was really a great day, lots of happy families and some significant monies raised for local groups - we couldn’t have done this without the unwavering support of the Rotary Club of Dungog, who provided huge support behind the scenes, as well as facilitating traffic flow on the day,” said Lex.

“The Gresford Vacy Scorps came out in force on Good Friday to set up and were with us through out the day sorting logistics on Saturday from sun up to sun down. “It’s a credit to our local clubs like the Gresford Cricket Club, Colts Junior Cricket, the Tennis Club and Gresford P&C Association, for having the volunteers to run our barbecue, drinks stand and the gumboot toss and pony pat lotto. They all did an amazing job and raised some great donations for their clubs.”

The racing itself was highly entertaining with a record number of 10 entries in the ever punishing team relay event where carts are raced downhill and then pulled and pushed back up by team members! There were also some fun feature races including Junior Showgirl Camille Chevalley racing against our Gresford Young Woman Imogen Robertson and a visit from the speedy Easter Bunny who

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0428 746 114

Friday 3rd May – Ritchie 7.30

Sunday 12th May – Mother’s Day FREE RAFFLE

Friday 14 June – Glen Harrison 7.30

Sunday 1st September – Father’s Day FREE RAFFLE

Friday 4 October – Reggie Sinclair

Sunday 3 November - Calcutta Auction

Tuesday 6th November – Melbourne Cup

Sunday 10 November – 4 pm Kids disco 6.30 Toy Raffle

Friday 6 December – Reggie Sinclair From 8pm

Friday 20th December –

$1500 Prawn & Oyster Raffle

Glen Harrison From 8pm

Every Week at the Bowlo!!

Wednesday Night

HAPPY HOUR WEDNESDAY 4.30 - 6.00

Gift Voucher Raffle

Yellow Barrel Draw

Friday Night Gift Voucher Raffles

Members Draw

Sunday Night- Gift Vouchers Raffles

Members Draw

Members

Billy Cart Derby continued

brought some early Easter gifts to share with the children thanks to Oil Man! There were also a few thrills and spills along the way but nothing dinted more than a little pride for some!!

After more than four hours of some fast (and some not so fast racing!!) the finals were run and won with loud cheering from the crowd.

Congratulations to our Junior Champion Lucas Fergie with a time of 19.81 seconds. Our Senior Champion was Gary Panton with a time of 19.40 and in the Champion of Champions race, Gary Panton claimed the win!!

Events like this don’t happen without sponsors! A huge thanks must go to all our sponsors and donors in kind –Brimble, The Hotel Beatty, PremiAir Hire, Fulton Hogan, Gasweld, Nundah Pastoral, Doyle Fabrications, Stockers and Partridge, Redbournberry Clothing Co, Silveradoh Promotions, Balloon Aloft, Boydells, Grahame Chevalley, Kev Kealy, Oil Man, The Lawrence Family and Gresford Gourmet Meat.

Some great hustling saw the auction making more than $9000 as well as

significant donations through our raffle, seeing more than $25,000 raised over the day. Overall the day was raising funds for some new safety signs for Gresford to remind visitors to our town to slow down. These signs will be purchased and installed in coming months. The committee will ensure any additional funds are given to the local community groups who help organise and run the event. New committee members are always welcome! Get in touch via our Facebook page or email gresfordbillycartderby@gmail.com

Otherwise start building and refining those carts to be ready for the pits on Easter Saturday 2025!!

Penny Evans

Bistro

Twin Rivers Cafe

The Hotel Beatty's Emily Lawler presenting Mark Hughes with cheque for $3000. Full story in the next Gresford News...

In April we had a weekend fungi treat –a talk followed by a walk the following day on the Upper Allyn to survey fungi led by mycologist Pam O’Sullivan.

An update on the walk first – the fourth in the series to annually survey fungi at the Peach Tree Park. This year over 70 species were identified with the help of more than 30 pairs of eyes. Interestingly there have been nearly 200 species found at this site over the 4 surveys. Some species are found every year but others are new each time.

A fun(gi) weekend

In the talk in Dungog on the day before Pam outlined the importance of fungi in a range of ecosystems. She reminded us that fungi do not have chlorophyll so they are not plants and, being unable to create organic substances, they are dependent of other organisms for food. Pam’s explanations and illustrations left people well informed and enthusiastic for the Foray on the next day.

Fungi obtain their food in a variety of ways. Saprophytic fungi feed on dead animals, plants and dung and so play an important role in recycling organic material. Mycorrhizal fungi live in a symbiotic relationship with trees. Their thread-like

structures spread huge distances through the soil and form close associations with tree roots. They improve the growth of trees by delivering inorganic nutrients from the soil and in exchange receive organic substances from the tree. They spread so extensively that they contribute to the soil biomass and by binding soil particles and plant litter together they help to reduce erosion. Lichens are also the result of a symbiotic relationship, in this case between fungi and algae. Parasitic fungi live on other living things such as those that live on the larval stages of some insects. In summary, as well decomposing and recycling, fungi deliver nutrients to trees, improve soil structure and help to prevent erosion, provide food for animals and those

that live on insect larvae can help with biological control.

Pam then presented a huge variety of beautiful illustrations of fungi that can be found in the area around the Upper Allyn River. Many are growing on old wood but others grow on organic substances in the soil. Fungus shapes are very varied including the coral shaped fungi and the almost spherical puff balls, and the reproductive spores are produced in many different ways. For example some are on club shaped projections, some on gills and some in cup shaped depressions. Spores vary in colour and some are dusty and some, as in Stinkhorn fungi, are covered in sticky slime.

Pam emphasised the need to be aware of the ease with which fungal spores are spread – being easily attached to shoes and clothing. For example the Orangepeel fungus is an introduced and invasive fungus in the Upper Allyn River area and can only be controlled by cleaning shoes and spraying them with disinfectant or chlorine.

Ruth Dircks for Paterson Allyn Williams Science & Ideas Hub + National Parks Association of NSW (Hunter Region).

The Paterson Allyn Garden Group

The Paterson Allyn Garden Group met at the delightful garden of James and Margaret Hopson on the Williams River at Fosterton, for its April meeting.

We were blessed with a beautiful morning which helped to attract an excellent roll up of 45 members & guests. Fortunately, the property had plenty of room to cater for the volume of cars that arrived.

Liz opened the meeting and provided another interesting insight into times past. None of us were aware that a cucumber straightener was available a long time ago which was a glass tube placed over a cucumber to encourage it to grow straight.

The plant sale at this meeting raised a very pleasing sum, which will go towards our designated project for the year which, we have still not finally determined but, we are continuing to discuss funding with Vacy School as it seems that the members are happy to contribute towards the theme of children’s education.

RICHARD WELLS UPHOLSTERY

Antique Restoration

French Polishing

Canvas Annexes

Horse Rug Repairs

For all your upholstery needs ring Richard on 4938 9324

After the usual Q & A where member’s difficulties in their gardens were explored, Jenny Creal spoke to our host, Margaret about her garden. Margaret reported that she has had most success with camellias and pear trees. A mulberry and a gleditsia are the only trees from the earlier garden and James and Margaret had transplanted a gingko and a maple from their previous garden, both of which have done really well.

The garden sits on 9 hectares of land running down to the river. The house feels almost enclosed by shrubs and trees, sitting within the acres of lawn, located on the top of a hill, the outlook takes your eye to the perimeter of the property & beyond, to the magnificent view.

Margaret has been establishing her garden for the last 15 or so years but it took she and James the first 2 years that they owned the property to eliminate a lot of natives. Due to the heavy clay base, Margaret has had to use a lot of sugarcane mulch, compost and imported soil to improve conditions for the lawns and gardens.

PETER EVANS & ASSOCIATES

SOLICITORS

‘Looking after people is our business’

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

It is a beautiful, obviously loved and well cared for garden which we were fortunate enough to visit. Liz presented Margaret with a small gift in appreciation.

Pip provided an update for our next garden tour in May when we will be visiting ‘Slowdance’ at Wallaringa. It is suggested that car-pooling is advisable.

Pennants Report from the Bowlo

Again a rain affected round on the 20th April. The 5’s should have completed their program but need to wait another week for the final outcome. They have an outside chance of making a play-off for the section but only if Maitland City beat Paxton 10 to nothing.

Go Maitland City!

The 7’s had two washed out games and are half way through their program. A good second half will see Gresford move up the table.

Go Shamrocks!

Pick up and delivery

Level 3/97 Scott Street, Newcastle NSW 2300 reception@evanslaw.com.au

Peter Dreyer

Dungog ChiropraCtiC

I 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.

Anglican Parish of Gresford Paterson

Winter is on its way and the cooler months bring more challenges for everyone, especially the less fortunate in our community.

A date to remember is:

Sunday June 2nd – Margie’s Ugg and Rug Sunday. Rugs, beanies, socks, scarves and gloves can be left at St.Paul’s or St.Anne’s Gresford, also drop off points are at the grocery stores in Paterson and Gresford.

On Saturday 18th May, the Parish is holding a picnic/sausage sizzle at the Lostock Community Garden with informal worship. Come along and enjoy good company and fellowship.

Service dates for May services are: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th –

8.30am St. Paul’s Paterson and 10.30am at St. Anne’s Gresford.

Stay safe and look after each other. Blessings Beverley

Gresford

Congregational Church

30 Durham Rd Gresford

Services Each Sunday 10.30am ALL WELCOME

Catholic Parish of Gresford

Mass at St. Helen's, East Gresford

Saturday – 5:30 pm (except 2nd Sat. of month)

Thursday – 9.30am Mass at Sacred Heart, Summer Hill

Sunday – 11:30 am (2nd Sunday of month)

All enquiries to Fr. Andrew Doohan, Parish Priest, on 4992 1477 or dungog.parish@mn.catholic.org.au

Gresford News May Crossword

Crossword kindly provided by Russel Jessop.

DAVE LAYZELL MP

HOW I CAN HELP YOU

Gloucester

Dungog

Singleton

Muswellbrook

Merriwa

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Gresford

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Vacy

Paterson

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upperhunter@parliament.nsw.gov.au

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