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Cressy
in the Australian State of Tasmania, is a rural township located on the Norfolk Plains, under the shadow
of the Great Western Tiers. The township obtained its name from the
Cressy Company, a company formed in England around 1885. This company
was to operate large tracts of agricultural and grazing properties
around Cressy, which at the time was renowned as the best wheat growing
area in Tasmania. Today it shares the run off waters of the Great Lake,
along with many other districts, through the many irrigation channels
that flow through the flat to undulating countryside. As well as cropping
and grazing it also has research farms nearby. Want to a catch trout?
Then go to any of the rivers and streams such as Brumby's Creek, to
name one, and you are sure to get a hook-up.
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Various crops on the Norfolk Plains |
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Our
New Years Rally this year was located on Peter & Veronica's
Property at Cressy. Of course it goes without saying that they will
be our Host's for the weekend and will no doubt make us all most welcome. Peter was to quick to park us up
and you could once again see the social intercourse occurring amongst members,
along with the usual mandatory laughter, plus the togetherness the Chapter is
renowned for. There was a certain amount of chiacking taking place when a few members turned up a day late after misjudging the dates of the Rally. |
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Carol-Anne |
Christine |
Dick |
There were many around the table near the shed and it didn't take long for the woman to get together preparing fascinators for the Longford Cup Horse Races on New Years day. There were all styles being applied to many different types of head wear. Generally speaking the men gathered and chewed the fat. Happy hour arrived and we were to welcome the many visitors from interstate and handed them a certificate to commemorate their visit to our Chapter. Our hosts Peter & Veronica planned an evening sausage sizzle welcomed by all. Two sausages and a hamburger was enjoyed by all with the mandatory onions, the evening was most pleasant with most of us eating out around the shed and near the barbecue. |
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John,Peter & Jim cooking |
Eddie with Bingo prizes |
Bingo players heads down |
After our meal we gathered to play grocery bingo. Heads down with Eddie doing the calling and given the amount of grocery's it meant that the evening was quite long and enjoyable, there was plenty of laughter from time to time. At times the noise was so great that Eddie just started calling to restore normality to the evening. All in all it was an excellent evening that came to a close around 10pm. We then drifted off to our motorhomes with a few electing to have a late happy hour around the fire in the large shed. |
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Members on morning walk |
Avid disc bowlers |
Gazebo used to shelter from sun |
We awoke this morning ( Wednesday) to rather chilly weather which remained for most of the morning, there were plenty of members that went on the early morning walk which took us up the main street of Cressy and then along the the old stock route. We were to walk past the many water channels that supply the crops that abound in the area especially the Poppy's, then onto the newsagents and then back to our rally site. With the Combined Chapters Rally being held in late January our members were out practicing their Disc bowls with the Ladies continuing to decorate the many hats of those going to the horse racing carnival at Longford. Happy hour arrived and Merv & Julie arrived from Queensland happy that the weather was cool, given the heat of their home state, then a special surprise. Sean a guest from Queensland set up his Punch & Judy show called Pelican Puppets and entertained us for well over an hour to much laughter. Many members were to comment on the professional manner that Sean conducted the show and given that we had a couple of small children present they really enjoyed the show also. By acclamation we all thanked Sean for a wonderful show and his time and effort for entertaining us. |
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Sean Puppet Master |
Punch & Judy |
Punch & Croc |
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Punch & Clown |
Happy laughing members |
Pre dinner drinks at bowls club |
We were to wander up to the Bowls Club for our New Years Eve Dinner and what a spread it was. There was plenty of food laid out by our caterers and we were to help ourselves, as the amount of food on the many plates and platters diminished it was replenished. Seconds were the order of the night and then the desserts, well! how do you describe such a sumptuous spread of so many different varieties of desserts. After our meal and a few more drinks we sort of sauntered back to our Rally Site where we mingled and continued on with our happy hour waiting for the the New Year to arrive. Some of the men were playing cards and both men and woman playing that strange Dice game that creates heaps of noise and much laughter. There were a few that elected to go off to bed early though the bulk of us remained and watched the fireworks on television and let off our own poppers as we sang a hearty rendition of Auld lang Syne with the last of us going off to bed a little after 1am. It really was a big day with plenty to do and see. |
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Completing their meal |
Members on the bus |
Under our gazebo's |
We arose on the first day of 2009 (New Years Day) and after our celebrations last night there fewer walkers this morning, the morning was cold and blustery so we were rugged up when starting out. Members dogs also enjoy the walk, though they have to be held onto tightly so as they do not take off after the Hare's in the paddocks, and rather large fat ones at that. On our return it wasn't long before we were to hop into our fancy gear including hats decorated and the ladies wearing very beautiful fascinators in their hair and on their hats. So, before we knew it was on the bus especially hired to take us to the Longford Cup, we filled the bus and we had two gazebo's which we erected on our hosts reserved spots and we quickly moved under them when a couple of rain scuds moved in; though the rain was to stay away for most of the day. We had taken our food and nibbles and a few also bought food at the race course. We had formed a syndicate amongst members to bet on the races appointing Dick and Murray as our punters and in our first race we had a winner which boosted our funds. In the first four races we had winners and in others horses running a place. |
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Approaching Starting post |
We backed this horse |
We also backed this winner |
Every race we all gathered at the fence to witness the races and cheered on the the horse that our punters had selected to win, of course there were many that had a few more refreshments than others and elected to have a snooze in between races, now who were they? |
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Who are these members having a snooze one hiding behind hideous glasses
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The main race was the prestigious Longford Cup the winner being "Dream Pedlar" chosen by our punters and we were at the rails cheering the horse on with much gusto. Some of our members were to have a few bets on their own during the day and happily we can say they were smiling winners. Then "Fashions on the Field" was held and we were to see Julie, Veronica and Carol-Anne enter the woman's section, the first place being worth $2000. Carol-Anne was to make it to the semi finals though had trouble beating the other younger fillies that obviously had modeling experience, however them's the breaks. In the Men's section the judges were looking for the casual country look and both Patrick and our host Peter were to enter, the prize was $1500. They lost to younger stallions |
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Our girls Carol-Anne, Veronica and Julie on the Cat Walk |
Patrick & Peter on the Cat Walk |
Then it was time to pack up our gear and head off for our trip back on the bus to our Rally site at Cressy, there was no disagreement that it had been an excellent day bringing much enjoyment. At our late happy hour Wendy was to present prizes to members who had been judged in different categories by Bob & Karen and they were as follows. Best Woman's hat fascinator won by Christine. Best dressed woman awarded to Carol-Anne. Best male hat awarded to Dick. Best dressed male awarded to Patrick. (what do you think of that Debbie!) There was much acclamation after each award, for members were in accord with the judges. The barbecue's were lit and many cooked their evening meal. At our social hour, by personal choice, it was decided to donate our days winnings and initial pot to the "Relay for Life" project. By affirmation and acclamation we were to thank our hosts Peter & Veronica for such a wonderful Rally and their attention to our comfort and entertainment which was top notch. Well into the evening we were to socialise whilst many of the ladies did craft work and others played cards or watched television before we all drifted of to bed around 11pm. Friday morning arrived and the amount of walkers this morning had diminished dramatically with many opting to have a sleep in even though the sun was shining and the day warming quickly. So it was that we had our last get together and after personally thanking our hosts Peter & Veronica once again we moved off to either home or further travels with our interstate guests going on to travel other areas of our beautiful state. We next come together for the Combined Chapters Rally in Hobart on the 29th of January. |
What a wonderful Rally |
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New
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