Blackwood Action Group Inc. WEBSITE: www.blackwoodactiongroup.org.au 2016 Christmas Tree Festival Blackwood Community Centre FACEBOOK: @blackwoodactiongroup Greetings everyone THE year is fast drawing to a close (as if you needed a reminder!) We hope that you have enjoyed a year with more ups than downs! The BAG Committee would like to take this opportunity to wish you all the very best for the Festive Season and we hope that next year will bear many fruits for our great community. The indications are looking positive. PLEASE NOTE: OUR last Public Meeting for 2017 will be held on MONDAY 11 DECEMBER It will be our Annual CHRISTMAS BREAK-UP and this year we will be holding the event at the Blackwood Bowling Club on Simla Parade (behind the Catholic Church) See details on Page 3. There will be NO PUBLIC MEETING in January. BAG s Christmas RED BOWS will be hitting the streets from Sunday 19 th. We encourage you to join in the Christmas spirit by tying a Red Bow or two around your premises. Available at Habitat, NewsXpress or Sam Duluk s Office and the cost is still only $5.00 per pack (makes 2 large bows) th BAG PUBLIC MEETING MONDAY 20 NOV. Blackwood Railway Station former Ticket Office Guest Speaker : David CLEGG commencing 7.00pm TOPIC: The Bridgestone WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE 2017 was the 15 th Event (which is held every two years). David volunteered for the second time and will recount some of his unique experiences. followed by BAG s annual general meeting including: President s 2017 Report (see attached) Treasurer s Financial Report (see attached) Power Point Presentation of BAG activities throughout 2017 Election of BAG Office Bearers for 2018 (Nomination Form attached) ALL WELCOME - a light supper will be served at the conclusion of the Meeting
BAG STUFF... Coming Events LISTED below are a few BAG-related events planned until the end of the year. Please feel free to join us and be part of a vibrant local community group. New Members always welcome. Check out BAG s website or Facebook page for more details. MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER BAG ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING (Nomination Form attached) Guest Speaker: DAVID CLEGG 2017 Bridgestone Solar Challenge: Darwin to Adelaide MONDAY 20 NOVEMBER FUND MY NEIGHBOURHOOD VOTING CLOSES (Refer promo) FRIDAY 1 DECEMBER 6.30 pm BLACKWOOD CHRISTMAS PAGEANT and FAIR (Call at BAG s Barbecue Stall (north-west corner of Reserve) and meet some BAG friends. SATURDAY 2 and SUNDAY 3 DEC. BLACKWOOD CHRISTMAS TREE FESTIVAL in Blackwood Community Centre, Young Street (see details below and attached) SUNDAY 10 DECEMBER BLACKWOOD & COROMANDEL STATION GARDEN VOLUNTEERS END-OF-YEAR BBQ LUNCH at Blackwood Station (further details to be advised) MONDAY 11 DECEMBER BAG s END-OF-YEAR BREAK-UP DINNER Blackwood Bowling Club (see more details below) Diary dates... THE following are COMMUNITY EVENTS planned for the next couple of months which have come to our notice. We encourage you to show your support for these these local activities. SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER 9.00am to 3.00pm BLACKWOOD ROTARY CHRISTMAS FAIR, Karinya Reserve, Shepherds Hill Road, SUNDAY 19 NOVEMBER EDEN HILLS UNITING CHURCH (Willora Road, Eden Hills) celebrates 60 years. 9.30am Morning Tea. Celebration at 10.30am SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER CAROLS BY THE CREEK (Soldiers Memorial Gardens, Belair Road, Hawthorn) from 5.30pm. Community Carols from 6.45 to 9.00pm FRIDAY 1 SUNDAY 3 DECEMBER GLORIOUS CHRISTMAS FLOWERS DISPLAY at Carrick Hill, Springfield CURRENT- until SUNDAY 25 FEBRUARY - ARTHUR STREETON S BLUE AND GOLD EXHIBITION. Carrick Hill, Springfield MONDAY 11 DECEMBER 7.00pm at the Blackwood Bowling Club Simla Parade (behind Catholic Church) Ample parking in Simla Pde & Adey Rd COST? ONLY $12.50 pp ($25 double) includes sumptuous food courtesy of Cafe Montagna. FULL BAR FACILITIES will be available (drinks at own cost) Join us for a fun night of chit-chat and reflections on another successful year for BAG and the community. PLEASE NOTE NUMBERS will be STRICTLY LIMITED. To make sure you are not disappointed it is ESSENTIAL to RSVP to Secretary by MONDAY 4 th DECEMBER (Please see contact details on last page)
FRIDAY 1 st DECEMBER commencing 6.30pm from Gulfview Road BLACKWOOD S Christmas Pageant is reputedly the second largest in South Australia - next to the Credit Union Pageant to be held in Adelaide next Saturday. The Blackwood Christmas Parade is organised by Members of the Blackwood Lions Club whilst the Rotary Club of Coromandel Valley conducts the giant Fair held afterwards in Waite Street Reserve. BAG volunteers will again be marching - promoting the Christmas Tree Festival being held in the Community Centre (Young Street) over that weekend. We would love to see you at our BBQ stall after the Parade so come along and say Hi PHOTO: The BAG Team marching in last year s Parade THE ARTISAN CAFE was thrust into the national spotlight last month when it was awarded the 2017 Cafe of the Year. There were celebrations all round when the announcement was made at the 2017 Savour Australia Restaurant & Catering Hostplus National Awards held at The Peninsular in Melbourne s Docklands. Blackwood is indeed privileged to have so many welcoming cafes/coffee shops, and BAG would like to convey its congratulations and best wishes to this friendly local icon. Keep up the good work guys! PHOTO: Husband and wife team, Heather and Jonathon Holmes- Ross are all smiles after receiving the National Award last month
COROMANDEL STATION THE final Working Bee for 2017 was held last SATURDAY. Many thanks to all our dedicated volunteers who put in a huge effort to tidy up the gardens prior to our Christmas break. It has been another productive year for the Coro Station Garden Group and the addition of an improved irrigation system has rejuvenated the struggling plants. After downing tools at 11.00am we held a brief ceremony on TO BOOK: the Contact platform Kerrie to unveil the new sculpture piece (by ANIKA on 82347255 GARDNER) 0r and a commemorative plaque for our dear friend, kerrie@kesab.asn.au MARGARET HAWKE, who was an inspiration in getting the station gardens established. BAG President, BRIAN FERRIS spoke briefly to the gathering (which included Margaret s two daughters, son-in-law and grandchildren). Our thanks to KARAN COOMBE-SMITH for Rail Care s support. PHOTOS: (Top) Members of Margaret s family and BAG volunteers inspect the sculpture and Commemorative plaque and (Bottom) Brian Ferris (BAG Pres.) says a few words to a receptive audience. REMEMBER WHEN? BLACKWOOD STATION BAG Members have been maintaining the gardens around Blackwood Station for over 7 years with monthly Working Bees. Thanks to this small group of volunteers the station surrounds have been transformed. In May 2012 DTEI (now DPTI) granted BAG permission to use the Station Master s shed and rear yard (the photos give some idea of the improvements undertaken). PLEASE NOTE: The date for the last Working Bee at Blackwood Station has been changed to SUNDAY 10 th December (to avoid a clash with the Christmas Tree Festival). Following the usual working bee commencing at 9.00am a Sausage Sizzle will be held in the back yard, commencing 11.00am, to which ALL BAG s garden volunteers Waterers are invited. Please note the date in your diaries now. An official invite will be sent out shortly. Two of BAG s Car Park Planter Boxes get hit for six! Over the past month two of BAG s planter boxes have unfortunately been hit by vehicles, causing considerable damage to the cars and the garden beds! As the photos indicate, the large bed at the entrance to the Foodland Car Park was badly hit (lucky it is a frangible construction!). The box containing a Big Red Geranium outside Fairley s Shoex shop in Woollies car park was hit by a Small Red car last week. How lucky no-one was injured either in the vehicles or passersby! Photos: (L) Planter box in front of Fairley s Drive-In shoe store and (R) Foodland Car Park entrance/exit
Old Farmhouse ruin Trevor Tce. THE official launch of the Maggy Ragless Commemorative tile and general upgrade of this local historical site, was held on Sunday 5th November in the Blackwood Hill Reserve. It was a very pleasant occasion when many old friends of Maggy (including her cousin from Laura), were able to reminisce. BAG President, Brian Ferris, officiated. Our thanks to all who have contributed, especially the City of Mitcham. Kind regards Geoff Bartlett BAG Secretary/Newsletter Editor Contact details: email: geoffrey_bartlett@bigpond.com mob: 0408 117003