Day Trips

AUGUST:

Thursday 29^th August.

We will be visiting the NAB Museum in Melbourne, 122 Lewis Road, Wantirna South 3152

We will be viewing a collection of banking paraphernalia from the NAB collection over many years, with a 1 hour conducted tour. The tour is booked for 10.30am, and we have been requested to arrive by 10.15am.

No cost for the tour, however tour limited to approximately 20 people. Please put your name down on the list if you would like to come along, there are 5-7 spaces available.

I need a final list of attendees by Friday 24^th August at the latest. This has been requested by the Museum. Please bring photo ID (licence) as required by the Museum as this is a secure site.

This is a self-drive tour. Free parking at front and rear on site. Press button at boom gate and show ID at security to get a pass at reception. Bags to be left at security.

The Museum is kept at a constant temperature of 19 degrees, please bring a jacket to wear for the tour, it can feel a little chilly.

Lunch venue will be The Knox Tavern, 1 Capital City Blvd, Wantirna South. Burwood Highway entrance into Knox City Shopping Centre. Lunch is booked from 12 midday. Lunch at own cost.

SEPTEMBER:

Thursday 12^th September.

We will be visiting the Royal Exhibition Dome Promenade, 9 Nicholson Street, Carlton, on

We will be catching the 8.32am train from Ringwood, arriving at Parliament station 9.05am. If catching a different train, please arrive at Flinders Street at the same time. We will meet at the Nicholson Street exit.

Our tour has been booked for 10.00am for 30 people. We will arrive by 9.45am to meet our guide inside the Melbourne foyer (opposite the shop) at the Dome tour meeting point

Cost of the tour is $23.00 (seniors). If you would like to visit the Museum after the tour, there is an additional charge of $10.00 (seniors).

Please put your name down and pay your $23.00 as soon as possible into the Ringwood Clocktower Tours and Activities account, BSB: 633 000 Account Number: 152267175. Please let me know when you have paid.

Payment deadline is 4^th September to the Museum. I cannot guarantee additional tickets after that date.

The first three levels of the building have a lift, the upper dome promenade has around 20 steps to climb. From there, there are additional steps to see the 360 degree view.

If wet on the day, please bring a poncho or raincoat, umbrellas are not safe.

Lunch venue to be advised on the day.

OCTOBER:

This will be a Bus Mystery Tour on Thursday 31^st October.

Please pay for your bus ticket of $24.00, into the Ringwood Clocktower Tours and Activities account, BSB: 633 000 Account Number: 152267175. Please let me know when you have paid.

Any questions on the above day trips – please contact Karalee

Karalee Moore: Convenor Day Tours (see the Club Contact List or Newsletter for contact details)

DAY TRIP REPORTS

APRIL 2021 OUTING

Our visit to Mont De Lancey Historic Homestead on April 29 was enjoyed by 37 Probians. We had a lovely warm and sunny day for our tours around the historical buildings on site. A short video was shown on the history of Mont De Lancey before heading out to view the historical sites with our guides. The 1880’s homestead, chapel, kitchen, laundry, vintage tool shed and extensive museum showed us just how hard it was living day to day in the early days. We also watched a working Blacksmith and Wood Turner. The gardens were also magnificent. Our lunch prepared by Daniel at Two Peas in their Pod Café was delicious, and it was so nice being able to eat outdoors , which most of us did.

Thank you to Jill Sebire and volunteers who looked after us so well on the day.

Panorama Garden Estate :

This was a very pleasant trip to what is the largest private garden in Australia (over 25 acres!) Situated at Red Hill it has taken more than 20 years to create a wonderful mix of native gardens and a wild life sanctuary. Over 20,000 plants have been introduced set amongst 8,000 tons of rock work and there are nineteen separate garden areas surrounded by lakes, streams and waterfalls.
On our guided walk (or minibus for some!) around the property we saw albino kangaroos among a variety of birds and animals with wonderful views of Port Phillip Bay along the way. Lunch at the nearby Pig and Whistle restaurant capped off a great day excellently organised by Jo O’Reilly. Thanks Jo.

John Moody

click here for other photos of the Panorama Garden Estate at Red Hill

JUNE we visited Seafarers Mission and Police museum’s. 19 attended and feedback was very positive “was way more interesting than I thought it was going to be”.

JULY – Xmas in July lunch at RACV Healesville was a resounding success, 63 attended and was definitely value for money at a lovely venue.

AUGUST – MCG and National Sports Museum

On a cool and cloudy day 24 of us travelled by train to discover the many and varied exploits and achievements in a myriad of sports our fellow Australians participated down the ages in this wonderful Sports museum. Bev Keeble a NSM volunteer was on hand to help us with audio equipment and hints on the best exhibitions to see. Thanks Bev

We were able to relive the momentous occassions of the many Olympic and Commonwealth Games, the Ashes series, AFL, Rugby, tennis, soccer, swimming, basketball and many more besides. A visit to The Shane Warne theatre was a special treat. As usual there wasnt enough time to see everything here before we were rushed off to have our guided tour behind the scenes of the mighty MCG, our tour guide gave us all many insights to the workings of this national treasure, the highlights for me was visiting the famous Long Room and learning about its history and traditions and seeing the huge 7 metre wide and 2 metre high tapestry that depicts the history of the MCG including the many sporting spectacles to blockbuster concerts and other famous people who held court on the hallowed turf included Billy Graham and Pope John Paul II. A lunch in the Hugh Trumble cafe topped off a most enjoyable day.

PS Some of the group had more interesting trips home on the train than others, from being offloaded onto buses for final part of the journey, to having to negotiate quickly the overpass at Ringwood x2 inorder to catch a train to Lilydale only then for our brave Peter to take on a young , drugged up punk who was abusively attacking a vending machine.

NOVEMBER – The Stokes Collection and Forest Glade Gardens in Mt Macedon

November’s bus trip to The Stokes Collection and Forest Glade Gardens in Mt Macedon was a huge success enjoyed by 49 members and friends. We enjoyed a morning tea on the way with delicious home made slices. Many thanks to Sue McMahon, Nola Petty, Mabel Greer and Nance Neale for the tasty treats.

The porcelain collection was AMAZING! how one man ‘Cyril Stokes’ could amass such an eclectic collection in his lifetime is incredible. The gardens surrounding the museum also reflected Cyril’s eclectic taste in garden styles, chinese garden, a peony walk, fern gully, numerous maples, quirky statues and garden art to name but a few of the attractions. We all enjoyed a picnic lunch together in the gardens. Luckily we were just getting on the bus for the return trip as the heavens opened. Rob the bus driver did a great job in the treacherous conditions and got us all home safely.

DAY TRIP TO CRANBOURNE BOTANIC GARDENS

22 brave souls ventured out Friday 26th rugged up in hats, coats, scarves and umbrellas ready to make the best of Melbourne’s fickle weather to explore the fabulous Australian native botanic gardens in Cranbourne. We were not disappointed,10 of us had the luxury of a covered explorer bus and remainder walked the trails, both groups had very knowledgeable volunteer guides to explain the gardens history and what the layout and the plantings symbolised. At the coastal garden, Rod and Margot even had a chance to soak up a fleeting patch of sun! The size and scale of the gardens was truely amazing. We all learnt so much more about our Australian flora there was not enough time to take it all in before the weather changed again. The group hurriedback to enjoyed the delights of lunch in the Boon Wurrng Cafe. Despite the weather a good day was had by all.

JANUARY – Monday 27th Australia Day Public Holiday Picnic

Australia Day Picnic was again a great day to start the year. 35 members and one visitor (The Abley’s granddaughter – Miss Ruby) we all enjoyed a mild sunny day at Silvan Resevoir there was lots of laughter, food, good company and lamingtons. A number participated in ‘thong’ throwing and ‘Finska’ competitions to the amusement of others.

Col Pask was again the winner of the Thong Throwing but it was close, the tape measure came out to clinch it! Might have had something to do with his action!

I was lucky to be the winner of the Finska despite not have such style with my throwing action as Col!