Nerang VIEW Club

At our September meeting, the guest speaker was Amanda Harvey, Business Development Assistant, from Queensland Rail Travel. 

Queensland Rail is celebrating 160 years of rail travel.   From Gold Coast to Cairns on the Spirit of Queensland, Brisbane to Charleville on the Westlander, Rockhampton to Longreach on the Spirit of the Outback, or Townsville to Mount Isa on the Inlander, Queensland Rail Travel have many holiday packages available. There are concessions for holders of Australian State or territory Government Senior cards and QLD Pensioner cards. Did you know that QLD Pensioner Card holders received 4 rail travel entitlements each calendar year?  

Amanda delighted us with tales of rail travel and opportunities for great savings. 

August marked the 37th Birthday for our Club.  Celebrations were held at the Nerang RSL Club with a two-course luncheon. The theme for the birthday luncheon was: What are the colour of sapphires? Come and show us yours. 

A trading table was set up with delicious home-baked treats and home-crafted items.  Colourful potted plants served as table decorations and lucky door prizes. Raffle prizes raised money for The Smith Family and entertainment was provided by Andrea and The Sing Sisters.   A wonderful time was had by all.

As a part of our Club's birthday celebrations, Barbara, who can be seen on the right of the accompanying photo, was presented with her Ten Year Service Pin by Past National Vice President (PNVP) Evelyn Berg. 

Congratulations to Barbara for her ongoing support and commitment to Nerang VIEW Club and The Smith Family

 A big thank you was extended to Ros, Helen, Lyn and Val, who can be seen in the accompanying photo, for their 14 and 15 years of dedicated contributions to the ongoing success of our Club. 

Carolyn (delegate), Val, Marie (president) and Jennifer (newest member) enjoyed celebrating with the Robina VIEW Club members at their 15th birthday celebration in August.  A delicious two-course lunch followed the entertainment from Andrea and The Sing Sisters.

Three of the pictured were lucky enough to win a door or raffle prize. (Sorry Marie.) It was wonderful to catch up with so many members from the south-east Queensland area.   

When Nerang VIEW Club met at the Nerang RSL for its July meeting, the guest speaker was Mike Gilmore from the Queensland Wattle Association.

Most people probably recognise the wattle flower from our gardens.  But Mike opened our eyes to the amazing history, myths and ongoing recognititon of this amazing tree, as well as the Australians responsible. 

DID YOU KNOW:
 * There are more than 1,075 species of Wattle (Acacia), which have adapted to every Australian environment. 
 * There are more species of wattle in Australia than the well-known eucalypts.  
 * They have healed and sustained indigenous and early settler Australians in many fascinating ways.

One of the purposes of the Queensland Wattle Association is to promote public appreciation of wattle varieties, as well as scientific, horticultural, artistic, literary, educational and historical interest, throughout Queensland and wider Australia.  So, think about our Australian Wattle on National Wattle Day, celebrated on 1st September each year across Australia.