HAWTHORN RETURNS TO NHILL

 
A group comprising Hawthorn Rotarians, partners and Maya Dissanayake, made the Club’s second trip to Nhill last weekend.  The country hospitality was again exemplary. It makes you proud to be an Aussie.
 
The main party travelled in convoy, stopping for morning tea at Beaufort. In contrast, others had made a long weekend of it and spent time in Horsham and the surrounds on Friday or as with the Roses, looking fit and tanned, meandered in from Adelaide at the end of their big Australian caravan tour. The initial gathering took place at Mr Le café for Vietnamese lunch. We were welcomed by President Mary Dalgleish, who, with her team, including District 9870 DGN Christine Dufty, had organised a full program.
 
 
 Nhill and Hawthorn Rotarians in the Vintage Shed.
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 Rotary Nhill President Mary Dalgleish
 
 
 
 
After checking into the Zero Motel, we piled into three minibuses and headed off for an afternoon of entertainment. This began with a visit to local identity John Rethus' shed containing his vast, eclectic collection of Aussie memorabilia. We all found something of interest and many things that conjured memories from yesteryear, whether biscuit tins, Golden Fleece oil cans or kerosene heaters. Afternoon tea was provided in the Vintage Shed hosted by other local identities, Clive and Mary Dufty. We then divided into groups, with some doing a town tour and catching up on the town 'goss' with the exuberant Helen Woodhouse-Herrick (aka Helen of Nhill) while others revisited their misspent youth or enjoyed a novel experience at the Pinball Museum, where we played pinball until we were exhausted. It was a load of fun.
 
The now-famous Karen people of Nhill prepared and served the Saturday evening dinner at St Patrick's School Hall. This social event included the obligatory fundraising auction and raffle. Simon O'Donoghue demonstrated that he had yet to lose any of his auctioneering prowess as he extracted bids from members who had no intention of bidding. We were treated to Karen traditional dancing and a film of the Nhill Air show. Peter Faulkner from Disaster Aid provided an update on the implementation of the Skyhydrant water filtration installations worldwide and spoke of this piece of equipment's strengths in providing clean water.
 
The planned breakfast by the lake was relocated back to St Pat's Hall on an unseasonably cold morning. Following breakfast, some went to church; others visited the airport and air museum. A weary bunch of Hawthorn Rotarians then returned to the big smoke.
 
Thanks to Noel Halford for his splendid organisation, and all the Nhill Rotarians for their warmth and generosity. 
                                                  
 
 Our trip leader Noel and Majory at John Rethus' Memorabilia Collection    
There are still places where a Rotary visit makes the local news
President Doug thanks the Rotary Club of Nhill
 
 

Just a few of the many photos taken