Although umbrellas were needed at times, a delightful day was spent with Indigo U3A garden appreciation group members in Beechworth on Thursday 28 April.  From a convivial morning tea at the George Kerferd Café, we strolled through the gardens of the former psychiatric hospital then proceeded to the Community Gardens (pictured below), followed by a long lunch at the Hibernian Hotel.   We also we drove through the old May Day Hills precinct and admired the beautiful autumn colours of the trees all over town. ​

Special thanks go to Indigo U3A’s Kathie Higgins for her role in planning such a successful activity, and to Rosemary Ryan and other garden loving members of Indigo U3A for their company on the day. 

Thursday 26th May - Two town gardens in Benalla.   We have been invited to visit Arlene Van DerMerwe’s Garden at 67 Sydney Rd, Benalla.  Arlene’s Garden has been a show garden in its day, with large Camellias, Azaleas, trees and bulbs - now it's a work in progress with Arlene putting her stamp on it.   Arlene and her husband only purchased their home a year ago.   Hopefully we can help with names of plants.    Next, we will visit the garden of Dawn Shaw at 16 Bond Street, Benalla - a lovely garden with many different plants.   Please bring own morning tea.    Lunch will be at Benalla Golf Club.

Thursday 23rd June - Albury Bus Trip.   Meet at Benalla Rose Garden, Royal Hotel end at 8.30am.   We will visit St. Matthews church in Kiewa Street, Albury then to the private home and garden of Father Peter, for our morning tea in the Ballroom and then to view garden.    Lunch will be at Borella Café,  Pearce Nursery, Borella Road, Albury.     Cost Bus and Donation to Church is $22.00 per person, with money to be paid at our May outing. or by arrangement.     Hope you all had a lovely Easter!

​  
Gwen Turner

What a wonderful day we had on 24th March.  The weather was  beautiful for our visit to Shepparton’s Botanical Gardens, which feature Australian Native plants set amongst themed Gardens and bushland. 

We then went on to Billabong Gardens and the Ruby Saltbush Café, a Social Enterprise for work experience and supported employees who help grow plants.   Anthony Putt welcomed us, then gave a very interesting talk on the Complex.   
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On April 28th we will meet at U3A car park at 9.30am to travel to   Beechworth, where we will join the Beechworth U3A Group at The George Kerferd Cafe for morning tea (own cost).  After morning tea, we will drive or walk through the grounds-- hopefully the trees will be in colour! 

We’ll then head back into town to visit Beechworth’s Community Garden. Lunch will be at the Hibernian Hotel, again at own cost.   

​I will need to know if you are attending.   Please ring, email or text me at 0438 627 010. 

Gwen Turner
​March 24 2022

Our first outing for 2022 was fantastic.   Firstly, Sophie’s garden and morning tea, followed by Kerri’s garden and lunch - both amazing.    Thank you and your helpers - what a great day! Our money donation to Palliative care was $ 308.30.  

Welcome to our new members! 
  
We will be visiting two beautiful gardens on Thursday 24 February, meeting at the U3A car park at 9.30 am to carpool.   We’ll first visit Sophie Arendt’s garden, Hagenauer Lane, Benalla.  Sophie has offered to supply morning tea.  We’ll then move off to Kerri Straughen’s Farm Garden at 368 Benalla-Yarrawonga Road (Diane’s Retreat) Benalla, to be followed by a Barbecue Luncheon, the cost a donation to Palliative Care, Benalla.    Our grateful thanks to both Sophie and Kerri. 
   
l need to know if you are attending for Catering numbers as well as being able to cater for any Dietary requirements.  Please ring me on 0438 627 010, or Email me at gwenturner243@gmail.com. 
 
Our next activity will be on Thursday 24 March when we’ll visit Billabong Nursery, Shepparton.  Put this in your diaries - more information will be included in the next newsletter.

​Gwen Turner 

Hello everyone!   Hope you all had a lovely Christmas and New Year.   Our first outing will be on Thursday 24th February.   Two Benalla gardeners, Sophie Arendt and Kerri Straughen, have offered their Beautiful Gardens for us to visit.  Morning tea and lunch details will be provided in the next newsletter. 

I hope to see you at Enrolment Day on Wednesday 12th January.   Stay safe.
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Gwen Turner

How lovely it was to see so many happy people at our last two Beautiful Gardens for the year - many thanks, Corrie and Geraldine.    What a year!  I am looking forward to seeing you all next year - hopefully there will be no more lock downs.  To the people who have been unwell, get well soon!  
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Wishing you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New year.  Stay safe.

Gwen Turner

We had a wonderful outing in late October, commencing with a morning tea at Parklane Nursery.  The staff there were very hospitable, putting tables out so that we could sit down for a leisurely morning tea when we arrived.  Lunch at the BBQ Garden and Providore in Glenrowan was fabulous.  We all felt so relaxed at the end of the day, with good feedback received from everyone.  

Coming up in November - 'Two Beautiful Gardens'
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Meet at the U3A Car Park at 9.30 am on Thursday 25th November from where we will visit two beautiful gardens.

​The first - Corrie Witlox’s garden - 3 Ibis Court, Benalla. B.Y.O morning tea.  The second - Geraldine and Garry McCorkell’s garden - 686 Samaria Rd, Benalla.  Lunch will be catered by Helen Kerekes - $12 pp. 

l hope you can come to our last outing for the year   Please let me know if you are coming and dietary needs.   It’s wonderful that Covid19 restrictions have eased and we can visit private gardens once again!  Stay safe.

Gwen 

On Thursday 28 October we will meet at the U3A Car Park at 9.30am for a car boot morning tea (BYO your own morning tea), before we leave for our visit to Park Lane Nursery, 95 Park Lane, Wangaratta.
   
Lunch will be at The BBQ Garden and Providore, 37 Gladstone Street, Glenrowan - a light lunch of picking platters, local produce, gelato, coffee and tea, etc
.
It was nice to catch up with you at Benalla Gardens on 23rd September.

All arrangements are subject to Covid-19.  

Please let me know if you are coming.  Stay safe.   
​
Gwen Turner
​0438 627 010

The planned trip to Park Lane Nursery, Wangaratta has been deferred owing to Covid Regulations.

We'll meet instead at Benalla's beautiful Botanical Gardens, Art Gallery end, for a BYO morning tea, starting at 10 am.

Gwen

Our Thursday 23rd September trip to the Shepparton Botanical Gardens has been postponed to a later date.

If we come out of lock down by the 23rd, our outing will be to Park Lane Nursery, Wangaratta.  Meet at 9.30am at the U3A Car Park.  Our morning tea and lunch are yet to be arranged.  Please let me know if you are coming.  

If we can’t go to Park Lane in September, we will go there in October. 
 
​Take care and happy gardening!

Gwen 
0438 627 010

With another Lockdown taking place, it was very disappointing to cancel our July outing to Mokoan Hub & Café.  

August - Winter Break.

September – Our outing on Thursday 23 September will be to the Shepparton Botanical Gardens, located at Botanic Garden Avenue, Kialla, off Riverview Drive. Meet at U3A Car Park at 9.30 am.   Please BYO your own morning tea.   Lunch to be arranged.  Stay safe.

Gwen Turner

June - National Trust House Lake View, Chiltern.  Sally our Guide was wonderful, and we all found the history of the family who had lived there very interesting. Lunch at Bird ‘n Bike was delicious, the chocolate fudge brownie with chocolate sauce wowed us all and was definitely ‘4 star’.  The weather was very kind – the sun came out – and all in all we had an enjoyable day. ​

July - Please call me on 0438627010 if you would like to join us on 22nd July for a winter outing to the Mokoan Hub Café at Winton Wetlands, where we will hear a guest speaker from the Hub and have both morning tea and lunch (Own Cost).  We will be leaving the U3A car park at 10.30 am.  

​August – our annual Winter Break!

​Gwen Turner

On Thursday June 24th, we will meet in the U3A Car Park at 9:15 to leave at 9:30am to visit THE NATIONAL TRUST LAKE VIEW, Chiltern..  Please bring your own morning tea.       

The Entry Fee to Lake View House is $5.  

Lunch at the Bird n Bike Restaurant, 7 Main Street, Chiltern will cost $28.00 for a 2 course meal.
Menu: 
Roast turkey with roast vegetables, green beans & gravy,  chocolate fudge brownie with choc sauce berries & cream. 
Tea & coffee tea station, free to enjoy as many cups as you would like.   
Celiacs catered for.
 
Money & Bookings must be made by 10th June as we have to let The National Trust know.

Please ring 0438 627 010 or email gwenturner243@gmail.com 

Gwen

The weather was beautiful, the meal at the 7 Creeks Hotel delicious and the company excellent at our late May visit to the Euroa Arboretum.  A most enjoyable day!  

​On Thursday 24th June we will be going to Chiltern.  Meet at the Seniors Car Park at 9.30 am.

What a lovely day we had at Royal Botanical Gardens Cranbourne in late April.  I was one of those people that did NOT like Native Plants very much.   Boy, were my eyes opened!    The Garden and landscape, beautiful; meal and service, excellent.  I would highly recommend Royal Botanical Gardens, Cranbourne.