Walking Group: An excellent day for our February walk after the preceeding week of 30 degree days. A balmy 23 degrees and a soft cool breeze from the south may for an joyous walk, and along a new route (for us) from the Jells Park carpark off Ferntree Gully Rd, and onto the Dandenong Valley trail. Walking south, we passed under Ferntree Gully Rd and found ourselves skirting the Mulgrave wetlands and the Dandenong wetlands. Despite the long period of high temperatures, there was still water in the wetlands and some waterfowl. The walking was so pleasant that 80 minutes passed before we even thought of turning back for lunch at Jells Park.

It happened to be Darryl's birthday so there was a reason for a small celebration. Unforunately several of our number, plus one dog, had to leave immediately we turned...they missed out on the cake.

Morning Coffee: The monthly morning coffee group has moved to an excellent coffee shop on the second floor of Forest Hill Chase shopping centre The Moon and Spoon. 

We are also meeting a little later than previously, at 10.30. This makes it easier to get the morning chores done and the dog walked so you feel you actually deserve a good coffee and a sticky bun. Please join us for a catch-up on the third Tuesday of the month.

February Gardening Group: Our first gathering for 2026 at Bunnings Box Hill South. Our Gardening Gure was in great form after the drenching rain of the previous few days. As Peter said "Watering keeps plants alive but rain makes them thrive." Peter emphasised the vital importance of heavy mulching to reduce the evaporative effects of long dry spells such as we have recently experienced. He is particularly enthusiastic about sugar cane mulch. Additionally, there are optimal times for watering - early morning and late in the afternoon but being careful not to overwater.

Peter and Joan had a good year with tomatoes in pots this summer. To defeat the birds and rodents, pick them when they have just a little colour and ripen them on the window sill. Harvest them with a short length of the stem attached. To a question on blossom end rot - this is due to a calcium deficiency and can be corrected with an appropriate tomato fertilizer.

Peter had lots of valuable hints with the arrival of autumn and we hope, continuing rain. That said, Peter is keen on succulents given the drying of our climate. These will do well either in the garden or in pots and they provide a colourful display. Frangipani are another option for a drying climate. These can be grown in pots using an orchid mix.

Lemons in large pots - these are too heavy to lift so refresh the potting mix by removing the top 8-10cm and top up with a good quality potting mix. This needs to be repeated every two years. For patios, dwarf lemons are a good alternative to the Meyer lemon.

March Meeting: March is our Annual General Meeting when all the members of the committee of management step down from their positions and the election of the new committee takes place. This year we thanked Anne who stepped down after a great job as the Welfare Officer and Jim who relinquished the role of Trips and Tours co-ordinator, each of whom were in the roles for several years. We welcomed back Vivienne in the welfare role. As usual, the Past President stepped down from his ex officio role and we welcomed Rob as our new President and Kaye as our new Vice President.

As is usual with the AGM, the invited speakers were two members of our Club who spoke about their life's experience, and fascinating insights they provided to.

March Gardening Group: The usual enthusiastic band of gardeners gathered in Bunnings Box Hill for this month's gardening get together. Peter was enthusiastic as usual, especially so in light of the significant rainfall over the previous week.

Among his other hints Peter recommended a gentle rose prune, taking branches off at an outward facing bud two or three below the old flowers. This will allow a final burst of flowing before the winter hibernation and the hard prune in mid-winter. Also, despite it being autumn that is no reason not to have a colorful display in your garden. Among other suggestions Peter drew our attention to a new variety of cyclamen in purple - cyclamens are great plants in pots that can brighten a room but then need to return to the outdoors. When the flowers stop, plant the pot plant in the garden in a suitable shaded spot and it will grow and bloom for many years.

Walking Group: It was a perfect day to enjoy the outdoors. Unfortunately four of our regulars were unable to attend so we missed out on their company and the company of two dogs as well! Tiffy was very upset not to have her usual play companions.

Sunny with a refreshing breeze, we took the Dandenong Creek walk north from Sheepherds Bush as far as the Bushy Park wetlands. Surrounded by green underfoot and overhead, under blue sky it was a delight just to enjoy the open air. Unfortunately being a public holiday we had the step off the trail regularly due to the cry of "Bike!"

2026 Getaway: Getaway was an outstanding success...many attending rated it the best ever! Thirty-three of us enjoyed five event-filled days in Cowes. We stayed at the excellent Amaroo Holiday park in the centre of Cowes. The first gathering was Happy Hour on Sunday evening at the caravan park followed by the barbecue evening meal. Next day was an early start with our bus trip to Inverloch via the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine museum. We benefitted from an excellent guide who told us all about the history of the mines. They were opened in 1909 to provide black coal for the state's railways and closed in 1968 as diesel engines replaced steam. After lunch at Inverloch we returned via the coast road with photo stops along the way. Then an excellent dinner at the Cowes RSL club.

Tuesday saw us assemble at the National Vietnam Veterans Museum in Newhaven with morning tea provided by the volunteers who staff the museum. The museum has benefitted greatly from donations from war medals and other memorabilia to helicopters, a tank and a personnel carrier from the Australian Army...a fascinating insight into the period. After a free afternoon it was off to tea at Shearwater Restaurant followed by watching the arrival of the little penguins after sunset. A late but fascinating night.

Wednesday morning was bacon and egg breakfast prepared by our in-house cooks at the resort's camp kitchen. A free morning to take in one of the many walks around the island. At 2pm we assembled on the dock for the boat trip to Seal Rocks and the fur seal colony.  Our very able Captain kept the boat 'on station' just metres from the largest colony for over half an hour - plenty of time to watch the seals and their pups at play. 

Thursday morning was off to Churchill Island to see all the history contained in a relatively small space and the restored country retreat built by Samuel Amess in 1872.

That evening was our final night and our Gala Dinner at Ânerie French restaurant on the main strip in Cowes. And French was the dress theme for the evening - something French or chic or both. It was a splendid evening and we would strongly recommend the restaurant for a special event or just for dinner. Wonderful and thanks to the owner, Cryss and her staff.

April Walking Group: Despite a cold, cold wind from the uttermost south, the stalwarts gathered for an interesting, not to say bracing, walk in Nortons Park and beyond. 

This was a new walk, in part, for us. Leaving the carpark we walked across the length of Nortons Park and then joined the Dandenong Creek trail before turning right onto Nortons Lane and reaching the Blind Creek trail. In doing this we skirted the enormous site of what once was a clay pit providing the raw material for Melbourne's bricks and roof tiles. Now a hive of activity, it is where the spoil from the tunnelling for the SRL is being deposited. Eventually it will be made available for housing and a new suburb.

April Morning Coffee: An excellent gathering of 17 members assembled at the Moon and Spoon restaurant, 1st floor, Forest Hill Chase shopping centre for a great get-together for coffee, cake and chat in a very convivial atmosphere. Our organiser Bob, had to order in additional chairs. If this keeps growing in popularity we will need a longer table too. This is a great way to get to meet other members in a small group setting. As always, a very pleasant way to spend an hour or so with friends. And thanks to the lady at an adjacent table for taking the picture.

Theatre Group: Bianca excelled in her selection for the April Theatre booking at The Round theatre with 19 members gathering for morning coffee and cake before an excellent performance of Spirit of the ANZAC with three singers -Chris McKenna, Alison Jones and Roy Best plus an excellent pianist, William Schmitt. 

The program presented songs that epitomised those closely associated with the two World Wars and the Vietnam War. Absolutely excellent, we all agreed. The program ranged from 'Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag' to 'Getting on a Jet Plane' (to Vietnam).

It must have been a popular program - the theatre was full!

May Walking Group: A superb walk beside the Yarra River at Warrandyte. The walk began in thick fog but as is usual, by 10.30 the fog had lifted and our walk was completed in beautiful sunshine with a bracing crisp edge. 

After the recent rains the Yarra was running in fine form. The outward leg finished at an excellent coffee shop with an atmospheric balcony overlooking the fast running river. The leaves on the overhanging exotic trees were just beginning to don their autumnal colours. Then back to the carpark for a well-earned lunch for members and their dogs. Being off-lead, the dogs had a great frolic but were somewhat puzzled by the fast-moving water.

May Dine-out: A select group gathered under the trees outside the Gourmet Girl restaurant in Laburnum. Great food and wine with autumn sunshine to warm us. Another good choice by Dennis and Jill.

June Gardening Group: With the cold weather biting it was not surprising that our convenor, Nellie, received 10 apologies for the garden meeting! 

However, a quorum was in attendance and the meeting went ahead. Our Head Gardiner was in good form extolling the virtues of getting out among the weeds and keeping warm with exercise - the bigger the weed the greater amount of heat you generate extracting it.

Today Peter discussed how easy it is to fashion your own indoor terranium. Purchase an appropriate size glass terranium from Bunnings, or the like, and add a base of charcoal. To this, add spagnum moss that has been soaked overnight and then squeezed out, top with small pebbles and purchase small plants to add to the soil base. The one Peter showed was very encouraging. 

The next item was pruning roses - now is the time and do not forget to spray with anti-fungal mix to thwart next season's black spot. Importantly, also spray the ground around the base of the rose since this where the spores reside waiting to infect the new growth.

He also covered the appropriate vegetables to plant now, including potatoes. These will even grow from the skin of a potato.

July Meeting: Despite a very frosty morning - the temperature in Wheelers Hill was minus 1 Celsius! - 67 members attended the meeting. After the usual agenda, we heard from Robert regarding next year's Getaway to Bendigo. We reserved 41 cabins but as of the meeting they have all been booked. The attendance will be a heart-warming 43 members including Dennis and Jill who are attending in their caravan. There is now a waiting list.

Our invited speaker has the potential to be the Best Speaker of the year. Geoff Bransbury bought a motor bike and rode by himself from Vladivostok to London at the age of 70. Hence the title of his presentation 'Horizons Unlimited'.

Geoff is a born raconteur and his recounting of his problems and the highlights all delivered in a rather deadpan fashion had the audience in stitches. He crossed much of Russia then into the 'Stans' with out any language except English and 800 US dollars. He was met everywhere with hospitality and kindness.

Following the meeting, 28 members enjoyed the Vice President's lunch at the Village Green hotel - a substantial buffet that is always a success.

July Dine Out: A great lunch at the Box Hill RSL club. Twenty-nine members enjoyed outstanding catering at the RSL club. This in an outstanding venue with excellent catering and ambiance. Every-one enjoyed themselves and our co-ordinaters, Dennis and Jill have again been recommended by the dining group to make this an annual venue. It certainly insures an excellent attendance!

Morning Coffee: The morning coffee get-together is proving very popular with the later starting time of 10.30...time to get the morning chores and walking the dog done and out of the way first. And you feel you have done enough to earn a coffee. 

And it was Laurie's birthday - 80+ years. He is making excellent progress after a fall and a fractured hip. While Laurie still has a helper he has already returned to our monthly meetings.

July Gardening Group: A big turnout today because of an invited speaker, Kane Sharp from Richgro. Richgro are an Australian owned company based in Perth who manufacture the full range of garden care products. 

Kane spoke to the entire range and was able to answer questions on when and how to use their products. Every-one found his presentation of value whether it regarded potplants or large fruit trees.