Rotary Hawthorn Beechworth Adventure 2025
By Dorothy Gilmour
Our annual adventure, this year to Beechworth was a terrific success with our heartfelt appreciation of Noel Halford’s meticulous planning.
Sunshine, camaraderie, tsunami of laughter (mainly at my expense!), shopping, sightseeing, walking and so much food, wine and coffee.
Our coffee stop at Euroa was rustic charm and time for connecting with our fellow 24 travellers. The noise in that peaceful café was awesome.
Noel’s choice of accommodation at The Grand Oaks Resort was perfect. Set among the peaceful gardens and huge oak trees of the former Mayday Hill’s Asylum, we wandered around with one eye on the old mysterious-looking Asylum standing at the top of the gardens. (I tried not to imagine how life would have been inside when it was functioning.)
We had many different activity choices from a walking tour of Beechworth’s fascinating history or eating ice-cream or shopping, cycling or just chilling.
Our first night’s dinner was spent at the Nicholas Hotel with two of the noisiest tables of Rotarians and I am disappointed to convey most were even talking with mouths full! So much fun and so many stories. My “find” in my room was a story repeated with a different ending each time. Yes, I found on the carpet beside my bed, a pair of men’s spectacles! Yes, I did pick them up and take them to the office, but not before I had got down on my hands and knees in case I found a man under my bed.
Another tale that got out of hand was the size of Terry and Doug’s bed. A mere double! Our members have got enormous imaginations and ability to make an evening’s conversation around the size of a bed.
At our combined Dinner Event with Rotary Beechworth, we were joined with members of Rotary Appin Park Wangaratta and our evening was lively and engaging. Noel as MC and President Ian created a terrific presentation of some of our projects and we provided an invitation to both clubs to join Rotary Lakes Entrance and Rotary Hawthorn in funding another Sky Hydrant to Timor Leste.
Both Beechworth and Appin Park Wangaratta were very interested in these efficient life-saving water purification systems. Noel has suggested that if we visit a Western District Club in 2026, this project could be called “The Quad” as it would include four Rotary Clubs Lakes Entrance, Hawthorn, Beechworth and “watch this space”.
It is quite special and motivating to meet and join with other Rotary Clubs. We look forward to a possible adventure to Portland in 2026. New friendships, interest and connections are made while making a difference in the world together.
Our lunch at Stanley before we drove home was sensational. Blue skies, stunning country garden abundant with colour and texture. We were welcomed by the lovely Maggie Mackenzie who was our guest speaker the previous night and entertained us with her “Seize the Day” model of life changes, seated us outside with a view over the hills. Perfection.
We were served many, too many tasty platters of foods prepared by Maggie’s husband Steven Vandenbergh that were made even tastier with their Jim Jam relishes and sauces which are produced at their farm.
We noticed the jars of Jim Jam Raspberry jam and Cherry Jam sitting unopened on each table. And yes it happened! The coffee and home baked scones and bowls of cream arrived. We literally couldn’t move but somehow we soldiered on and then demolished Maggie’s magical homemade ice creams.
Our club is recognised for its warmth and friendship and we thank Noel and Marjorie for a fantastic three days at Beechworth.
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President Rotary Beechworth Harry Thomas with
Co-Owner Jim Jam Foods Maggie Mackenzie and
President Ian.
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