Carols in the park
Cobram’s churches will combine to host Carols in the Park on Saturday, December 10, at Mivo Park, commencing at 6.30pm.
Parishioners from each of the district’s churches and the general public are invited to come along, join in singing some of their favourite carols and get into the spirit of Christmas in a relaxed environment before the hassle of preparation takes over.
A variety of musicians will perform and the sweet voices of the young from individual churches will lead the way with some of your favourite carols.
Entry is free, however people will need to bring a chair and if they wish to make a night of it, perhaps bring along something to eat and drink too.
If you need further information please contact Bev Fisher on 0429 179 639.
Christmas Fair
Don’t miss Cobram Historical Society’s Antique and Collectables Christmas Fair at the Cobram Civic Centre this weekend, December 3 and 4.
This amazing event offers a rare opportunity for people of the district to experience the offerings of 19 stallholders who travel to the event from Melbourne and interstate, bringing the finest antiques, silver, glassware, crockery, jewellery, artwork and much more.
Doors open at 10am on both days and it’s an ideal opportunity for those seeking a special item for their home or a gift for that special someone.
Besides the enticing collection from stallholders, morning tea, brunch and afternoon tea will be served and no doubt will live up to the previous high standards of delicious food provided by members of the historical society.
Come along this Saturday and Sunday.
Carly writes for Country News
Hopefully readers have been following stories on locals involved in agricultural pursuits written by Carly Marriott in the Country News each week.
Carly has a strong knowledge and understanding of the land and environment and her writings make for an interesting read. Well done Carly.
Ice skating in Finley
Ice skating in Finley you say? Impossible!
Well, believe it or not, it’s about to become a reality from January 7-22 when an ice skating rink will be set up at the Finley Showgrounds and bound to be a top attraction for the kids during the summer holidays.
Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter overflowing
The Dutch Thunder Wildlife Shelter at Koonoomo is full to overflowing with hundreds of rescued wildlife now in the care of wildlife warriors Kylee Donkers and James Leonard.
The dedicated couple has been working around the clock and attempting to respond to a barrage of callouts from residents alerting them to injured and stranded animals surrounded by floodwaters, with little or no feed and dying of hunger. They are committed to the task but it is also taking its toll on the couple who have had very little sleep over the past two months.
More animals are being seen on local roads too, having been forced from their natural habitat and isolated from their mob.
Many Kangaroos, koalas, echidna, wombats, snakes, birds and more are in dire need of help at present, and in many cases have nowhere to go, they are literally stranded. Hopefully when found by Kylee and James, treated medically and fed well they will eventually be able to return to their natural habitat. However, for most it will be some time before conditions are back to normal to allow them to once again rejoin their animal family in their natural environment.
Readers may not be aware that a koala can swim through floodwater to move from tree to tree to find feed and a koala swam out of the floodwaters up onto the Cobram Barooga causeway to fortunately be rescued by Kylee and moved to higher ground.
Many residents have been surprised to see kangaroos in their front and back yards. Please contact Kylee if you feel the animal is injured but do not advance towards them, leave it for the professionals. They are wild animals after all.
Dutch Thunder Wildlife Care and Rescue covers a very broad area and offers a 24-hour emergency service and if you should see a distressed animal out on the road in dire need of help, please contact Kylee or James on 0417 560 910.
Correction
A correction on some details from the book launch by historian Margaret E. Fleming of Yarroweyah and Koonoomoo — Soldiers who fought in WWI and WWII.
Margaret grew up on her father’s farming property, one of the original wheat and sheep farms in the district amid farming properties acquired and developed through the Soldier Settlement Scheme.
The booklet written by Margaret gives recognition to local men and women who lived in the district and enlisted in both World War I and World War II.