Gardens open to all
Gardens, plants, quilts and pottery will all be on show at The Tocumwal Optimists’ Club’s big fundraiser on Sunday, April 16.
The featured gardens belong to Sharon Dennis, Geoff and Kerren Edwards, John and Lynne Gradie, Bill and Judy Harvie, Peter and Rosie Webb and Ron and Marg Dixon.
A program containing a map and further details will be available when buying tickets.
The gardens are open from 10am to 4pm.
Tickets (strictly cash only) can only be bought on the day and are $20 a person (allowing entry to all six gardens) and will be available from the Lions Care Centre, 5 Adams St, Tocumwal.
The Tocumwal Lions Club is providing morning tea ($5) and lunch ($10) at the Lions Care Centre for either dine-in or to takeaway.
As well as a plant and produce stall, handmade pottery and quilts there will be raffles, with a Byramine Homestead & Brewery voucher, a garden trolley and contents and a Tupperware package up for grabs.
Proceeds from the event will be distributed by the Tocumwal Optimists to community organisations and causes.
For more information, phone Marg Dixon on 0419 438 887.
Stanhope mural launch
The Stanhope Montevideo Maru mural and storyboards on the wall of Knights Hardware, Birdwood Ave, Stanhope will be officially opened and dedicated on Saturday, April 15 at 11am.
Organisers encourage everyone to attend, particularly relatives of those on board the Montevideo Maru, which was sunk in 1942 with the loss of up to 1000 lives.
Benalla artist Tim Bowtell completed the mural last year but wet weather delayed the positioning of the storyboards until recently.
The day will consist of the dedication service by the Stanhope RSL Sub Branch, guest speaker Salvation Army Australian Museum manager Lindsay Cox, unveiling of the storyboards, which provide a brief outline of the tragedy, and laying of wreaths.
A light lunch will be provided.
Please RSVP to stanhopebc@gmail.com or 0427 539 110 to assist with catering.
Berrigan Shire goes solar
Berrigan Shire Council has partnered with vertical solar provider, PowerStack Energy, to light up key sites.
Via installation of PowerStack’s modular solar poles, now lighting, security cameras and wireless charging stations are powered across key sites including Barooga’s adventure park and botanical gardens, as well as Finley Park.
The fully integrated vertical solar poles can be installed in minutes and provide continuous power with a five-day battery back-up, running purely off harvested sunlight.
This new form of solar removes the need for cabling, trenching and utility supply, saving users tens of thousands of dollars in install and access costs.
Berrigan Shire Mayor Matthew Hannan said the project was part of a staged approach to making the shire safer and that the sites were identified as priorities due to their popularity and/or history of vandalism.
The project comprises 32 poles in total, with the first round of poles installed in early April.
Hidden gem is ready for visitors
A hidden waterfall nestled in the heart of the Upper Murray has emerged from the ashes of the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
Thowgla Falls, on Marginal Rd in the Thowgla Valley, near Corryong, is now more accessible to visitors following the construction of a new walking trail and viewing platform.
The works, which were completed by Forest Fire Management Victoria crews and local contractors, also includes a day visitor area and toilets.
“The fires helped expose this natural site, which was previously inaccessible due to dense forest surrounding the waterfall,” FFMVic Upper Murray district manager Dave Jenson said.
“In addition to Thowgla Falls, several other sites including Walkers Lookout, and historic huts such as Wheelers Creek Hut, Gibsons-Pinnibar Hut and Ski Hut have also been rebuilt following the fires.”
To find more information on places to visit in Victoria, including Thowgla Falls, download the ‘More to Explore’ app or visit: www.ffm.vic.gov.au/visiting-state-forests/more-to-explore-apps-and-maps
Book for Kids to Farms program
Teachers and principals in NSW are being urged to book free classroom experiences early for the final term of the Kids to Farms program.
The program, funded by the Federal Government, aims to give children an understanding of where their food and clothing comes from by bridging the divide between classrooms and farms.
NSW Farmers project manager Georgia Campbell said 5405 students from 84 schools across the state had been through the program over the past two years, and term two was their last chance to get involved.
“A few decades ago most people had a connection to farming, but now our younger generations are less exposed to this vital aspect of Australia’s social and economic fabric,” she said.
For more details on Kids to Farms visit www.kidstofarms.com.au or email kidstofarms@nswfarmers.org.au to register your interest.