WELCOME BACK FOR TERM 2 EVERYBODY !

During term 1 the social club was again very active with a number of successful events being enjoyed by members and their friends.

FEBRUARY "THANK YOU" FRANK and CHRIS our COACH CAPTAINS

We traveled to the Werribee Open Range Zoo for a fabulous RHYTHM OF AFRICA Experience.

The event commenced with an escorted tour of the open range zoo followed by individual walking tours of the other exhibits. Each person saw exactly what they preferred, at their own pace.

We were then treated to some excellent and vibrant African music as well as lots of close interaction between the musicians and the children who were totally enthralled by the tall elegant members of the troupe who demonstrated some native dances.

Quite a number of "bigger mature aged kids" were also totally involved using up the ample amounts of stored energy in their bodies.

While all this was happening, picnic teas, as well as locally produced and inexpensive African meals were being eaten on the expansive lawns.

We were able to enjoy the entire day and evening without any of the threatening weather intervening prior to boarding our coaches at 8.45pm for the return journey to the depot arriving at 10.00pm.

"The only way of finding the limits of the possible is by going beyond them into the impossible." Arthur C. Clarke

DID YOU KNOW ?

That by using your RACV Membership Card you can save on various products, at the following Business Houses.

Beaurepairs; Howards Storage World; Rebel Sport; Collins Book Stores; OPSM; Drummond Golf; Casual Guy Clothing; Beacon Lighting; Rays Outdoors; to name a few.

Twenty four members and friends went to Winchelsea for the Dahlia festival and a visit to the Barwon Park Homestead.

20,000 plants, 1800 very different varieties on display in a live garden during a drought period was something to behold. The market stalls were a very pleasant addition to our total experience at the festival.

Back on board the coach for a short trip saw us at Barwon Park Homestead for an escorted tour of this National Trust managed Homestead.

The refurbishment and restoration is ongoing with some of the original furniture and ornaments being bought back and installed in the homestead of 42 rooms that once housed the Austin family of 11 children and the 26 servants employed to meet their needs.

While being escorted through the homestead we became aware of some very soft pleasant music that we could have been forgiven for thinking it was part of the planned tour.

No ! That was not the case, but a very pleasant addition to our day by our very own JAN PAXTON on an extremely old GRAND PIANO. Thank you JAN.

The would be dancers, one of whom was wearing flip flops added a little frivolity to the occasion.

A special thank you to our navigator extraordinaire KEN LONGFORD for keeping us on course and finding two very suitable locations for us to enjoy our morning and afternoon tea that was part of the $22 package.

FEBRUARY ROBYN PETHERBRIDGE

MARCH VINCE ( LUCKY) LOWDEN (Go the Tigers)

APRIL` HELGA MIKOCZI

What a start to the year. After five rounds Steven Rooney & Ian Poulton are our joint leaders on 26 with Nick Poulton on 25.Ray Fraser and NellieWilkes are on one back on 24. Last years runner up John Dean is a further one back on 23 with a group of eight tipsters a further one back on 22.

Rumor has it that our "FANATICAL" Collingwood supporter ( aren’t they all ) SANDRA has met her match for dedication to a football team. Sandra has already picked Collinwood to win 22 games for the year.

Yes folks, not only will Rod Smith not pick against Geelong, he has put in ALL, yes, I said ALL his tips for TWENTY TWO ROUNDS!

Good luck in 2008 everybody. Go the mighty Blues! "TANKS" EVERYBODY.

"When we look around we find that everything is growing, evolving, progressing.

Progress, evolution, growth are the nature of life." Maharishi Mahesh Yogi

At the time of writing two Five Hundred Coaches and a Rosa are fully booked for what is shaping up to be a very popular event.

The Committee are once again providing Morning Tea on this very reasonably priced event. ANDREW FRITH and ROB DELANEY will be our Coach Captains for this day.

We are going to Marysville with the focus for the day being a visit to BRUNO’S Art and sculpture garden. This will be a different type of day for relaxing and enjoying a very picturesque town and its surrounds.

Again, morning tea is included in the extremely reasonable cost for this day. Frank Galley will be our Coach Captain for the day.

This event will be a BYO lunch or you can eat at any of the local cafes or hotel.

COST $ 60 MEMBERS $65 NON MEMBERS

We have accepted an invitation from the captain and crew of the TITANIC on behalf of 70 Steerage Class members to come on board where we have been guaranteed a DISASTER !

Anticipation will fill the air as we board. A three course dinner is served and roving musicians and performers will make the night even more memorable.

TITANIC guarantee fine food, service and unrivalled hospitality……. After all we will be on board the largest, safest and most luxurious "ship" in the world.

To reserve your berth place you name on the passenger list in the meal room, hand your $30 NON REFUNDABLE deposit to Barbara Moffat or put it in a sealed envelope and place it in the Red Box on the wall in the meal room.

Reservations close on the 30th of April with final payment due by the 23RD of May.

There is a new study out about women and how they feel about their bums. I thought the results were pretty interesting:

85% of women think their bum is too fat…

10% of women think their bum is too skinny…

The other 5% say that they don’t care, they love him,

he’s a good man, and they would have married him anyway.

AUGUST 30TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & DINNER DANCE

YES : THE VENUE HAS BEEN DECIDED !

YES : THE BOOKING HAS BEEN MADE !

YES : WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE !

IS IT SOMEWHERE DIFFERENT AGAIN ?

YES

WHERE ? YOU MAY ASK !

OH ALRIGHT ! I’LL TELL YOU !

We are going to the SKY HIGH RESTAURANT on MOUNT DANDENONG for a Fine Dining Experience, Dancing and Floor Show following our A.G.M.

Again, this will be a club Subsidized Event with members being asked to pay $20 for a fabulous night of entertainment. THE CLUB SUBSIDY will be $48 per member.

FOR OUR PERSONAL $20 OUTLAY WE WILL RECEIVE:-

EXCLUSIVE USE OF THE ENTIRE FINE DINING ROOM

AIR-CONDITIONED TRANSPORT TO AND FROM THE DEPOT

A THREE COURSE FINE DINING EXPERIENCE

MUSIC & DANCING GEOFF ROBERTS (48 LOOKING GREAT) AND HIS THREE PIECE BAND WILL PROVIDE THE MUSIC FOR OUR DANCING AND ENTERTAINMENT.

TWO BOTTLES OF WINE, COLD BEER AND OR SOFT DRINK ON EACH TABLE TO START THE EVENING

DRINKS AT BAR PRICES WILL BE AVAILABLE THROUGHOUT THE EVENING THAT CONCLUDES AT MIDNIGHT

EVERYBODY ATTENDING WILL GO INTO A DRAW TO WIN A $150 VOUCHER TO BE SPENT AT ANY OF THE FABULOUS SKYHIGH FACILITIES.

THE THINKING OF A CHILD ( They think differently to us don’t they)

A little boy was attending his first wedding. After the ceremony, his cousin asked him, "How many women can a man marry?" "Sixteen" the little boy promptly responded.

His cousin was amazed that he had answered quickly and asked, "How do you know that?"

"Easy" the little boy replied. All you have to do is add it up, like the priest said: 4 better, 4 worse, 4 richer, 4 poorer.

SECRETARYS’POSITION

Members may not be aware that our very dedicated Secretary SUE LOWE has left the employment of CROWN COACHES and is unfortunately ineligible for any executive or committee position after this years A.G.M . Sue is continuing in her role until the A.G.M.

SUE, SINCE YOU TOOK ON WHAT WAS A COMPLETELY FOREIGN ROLE BACK IN 2005 YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR POSITIVE ENERGY HAS PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE CONTINUED SUCCESS OF OUR SOCIAL CLUB. YOU ARE GOING TO BE GREATLY MISSED.

We hope Sue and her extended family will remain active members into the future.

ON THE LIGHTER SIDE

Children really brighten up a household – they never turn the lights off.

An accountant is someone who solves a problem you didn’t know you had in a way you don’t understand.

If you are good, you will be assigned all the work. If you are really good, you will get out of it.

Before you try to keep up with the Joneses make sure they are not trying to keep up with you.

AN URGENT REQUEST TO ALL MEMBERS "OUTINGS FOR CHILDREN"

If you have any suggestions for outings suitable for children the committee would love to hear from you. PLEASE PUT YOUR SUGGESTIONS IN THE RED BOX ON THE WALL IN THE MEAL ROOM.

SOME TRIVIA QUESTIONS

1. In geometry, how many degrees are there in a complete circle?

2. How many legs does a sea horse have?

3. Which element is found in bones, shells, and teeth?

4. In which Australian state were women first given the vote?

5. What is butterfly’s proboscis?

6. Where can the answers to the above be found?

SPECIAL MEETINGS

On May the 14th & June the 11th at 10am & 6pm meetings will be held in the staff meal room to explain and gain input and comment on the draft constitution for our social club. (COPIES OF THE PROPOSED CONSTITUTION WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THE NOTICE BOARD IN THE MEAL ROOM FROM THE 1ST OF MAY.

Since our last attempt was sent back from Consumer Affairs for major modifications a lot of work has gone into what should prove to be an acceptable and final copy after members input.

However we do need your input prior to it’s presentation for adoption by members at the August 2008 A.G.M. Following adoption, the constitution will be sent to Consumer Affairs for Ratification.

SPECIAL NOTE If you are a member who does not get to the depot or have the opportunity to see the notice boards please give Michael a ring anytime for information on events or any other matter to do with the social club. Michael can be contacted at the depot.