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St. Margaret’s Travel Club |
Newsletter—September 2008
Monday 20 - Friday 24 OCTOBER 2008
Providence Lodge is set on the shores of Lake Eucumbene in the heart of the Kosciuszko National Park. It is surrounded by nature. Kangaroos, wombats, possums and parrots abound. The sunrises and sunsets over the lake are spectacular. Spring time should be the perfect time to visit. If we have over 35 starters we have the whole Lodge to ourselves, which is important. It's all on one level too. All rooms have private facilities and there are common areas for relaxing and socialising. The dining room offers cooked breakfasts and 3 course dinners. Interesting day trips are taken to different nearby attractions each day. It should be a lovely way to bridge the gap between the end of winter and the beginning of the Christmas season.
This will be our first tour of 2009, so put the date in your diary now. Autumn is a great time of the year for travelling and the date fits neatly between Easter and Anzac Day. We are staying in the same motel in Narrandera for all 4 nights and doing day trips each day, including one day to Griffith in the MIA. We'll take different routes on our way out and our way back to get to know something of the delightful little country towns; so there will be plenty to see and do. Our own, and former Grong Grong personality, Colin and his wife Penny, are helping to plan and organise this tour so we can assure you it will be a good one.
Priscilla & John have spent time in Hawaii and enjoyed it very much. They have suggested it as a possible destination for our Travel Club and have prepared some explanatory notes. Click here to have a read and if you are interested please speak with Lynda, at the church office, or Priscilla and John direct. |
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Office: 02 6248 0282 Email: st_marg_uc_act@bigpond.com Office hours: Tues, Weds, and Fridays, 9.30am to 12.30 |
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2007 ANNUAL REPORT & PLANNING MEETING
The Annual Report and Planning Meeting was held on Friday 9 November 2007 in St Margaret's small hall. These are always enjoyable and good discussions were held on past and future tours and activities. We can summarise outcomes as follows; . Very pleased with the success of the New Zealand tour in April and the Narooma visit in May. . Disappointment at the cancellation of the Little Forest Lodge visit in August, due to storm damage at the Lodge. . Disappointment at the cancellation of the Blue Mountains/Mudgee tour in October, due to insufficient numbers. . Strong desire to reschedule the Blue Mountains/Mudgee tour as soon as possible, hopefully 2009 . Confirm arrangements for 2008 tours; Bright in April and Providence Lodge in October. . Explore possibility of 2008 short, mid-year break (Sydney weekend; Griffith/MIA; Pambula were suggested options) . Suggestions for 2009; Melbourne & the Flower Show (Autumn) ; Blue Mountains/Mudgee (Spring); Hawaii; & others . $10,000 to be deposited with UCIF for contingency purposes. . $1,200 to be donated to Stepping Stones For Life and $300 to Mirinjani from last year's surplus. |
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The St. Margaret’s Travel Club has undertaken over 50 tours since its quiet beginning in 1993. Some have been modest one day visits to places of interest locally, but the vast majority have been to areas much further afield. Think of The Great Ocean Road & the Grampians, the Kimberley, the Flinders Ranges, Western Australia in the wild flower season, the NSW North Coast, the Central West, Norfolk Island, the wine regions of Corowa and Rutherglen, Tasmania, a Murray River Cruise, even New Zealand - twice. We've been to them all, and many more. Some trips have been over two weeks in duration but the most popular ones recently have been those of 4 or 5 days, staying in the same motel each night and doing day trips each day.
The club is conscious of the need to keep costs within the reach of most people. Accommodation is usually 3.5 star and most, if not all, meals are included. It operates on a not-for-profit basis. An initial joining fee of $2.50 or $5 per couple is charged and that gets you onto the mailing list. Usually 3 or 4 Newsletters are circularised (either by post or email) each year to keep members up to date with arrangements for forthcoming tours.
There is no doubt that the most outstanding aspect of the club is the fellowship, the goodwill and the friendliness of all the travellers. Many new friendships have been forged, even one marriage! We've had many wonderfully happy and enjoyable trips. It is a friendship club as much as a travel club. There are no age barriers to membership but seniors clearly predominate. Most members have some connection with a church, but not all. It is a very ecumenical club; usually 3 or 4 and sometimes 5 denominations are represented on a tour.
The Club holds an Annual Report & Planning Meeting, usually in November, and members are encouraged to attend and have an input into the planning process. It is managed by a small Management Committee appointed by, and responsible to, the church council. Day to day administration is carried out from St Margaret's Church Office. Lynda Dyer is the friendly voice you will speak to if you phone 6248 0282. The best time to catch her is Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday, before lunch. New members are always welcome. |
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St Margaret’s Uniting Church Hackett ACT |
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Pictures from our recent trip to Bright and the High Country |
