Loddon Valley Arts Trail - Nimmitabel Garden Party Fri 3 Oct - Sun 5 Oct 2025

Whew, had just finished 4 long but fun days in a row at the Melbourne Royal Show volunteering at the CWA Pavillon

I would have done the Friday also - but because we were having the Garden Party on the Saturday, I just knew that I had more to do for it...

This time I arrived at Inglewood around 12 noon on Friday

Was glad to see that Shane had mowed the turf, and also put down mulch in the steel tree rings like I had asked

My self imposed tasks were to make the chocolate peanut butter tart (2 x batches in lamington tins) for the cast and friends post party dinner tomorrow night - and also to make dinner for tonight for myself, Justin Karen and Tom - easy chicken tortillas

I also had to defrost the frittata and herbed chicken balls which I'd brought up last week, and put the Black Wallaby welcome bubbles in the fridge   

And I made up the cream cheese and sour cream mixture for the watermelon canapes

I also tidied up a bit - moving the silverware and teacups etc from the scullery to the garage and cleaned out the front hallway

I probably did other things also - but can't remember - as it is almost 2 weeks ago

That said I had written up a very comprehensive run sheet ...

As I had mentioned in my last post, I was invited to Michelle's Art opening at the Red door from 5.30pm onwards

The others weren't arriving til after 6pm - so I went, and set an alarm for 6.05pm

I was the first guest there, and had a glass of bubbles or two with her and the other artist - Robyn

They had some nice pieces there, however I ended up buying a silver pendant  with a lovely opal like stone - will recontact Robyn to find out exactly what it is (she did tell me but I forgot - ironstone?)

Left when my alarm went off, but Justin had sneakily just arrived before me - Google maps had made good time for him.

Karen and Tom weren't far behind and we ate our casual dinner in the dining room

On Saturday - "the big day" I got up just before 8am  and took a photo of the back garden - looked lovely.  The weather forecast was perfect - 25 degrees, sunny, not much wind.   We were so lucky as yesterday hadn't been very nice at all - very windy, and Sunday was supposed to be 31 degrees and windy again 

I then got the dinner brisket started - these things always take longer than you think - had to mix up the dry rub, and then make up the accompanying barbecue sauce - and put it all in the big slow cooker 

The others got up around 9am

I went across to the Town Hall with Karen and Tom to organise about the audience chairs with Tenar - and then they went across with Justin to collect them 

I thought we should have about 85 chairs - as we had 65 paying guests, 10 cast/performers, and 7 helpers (me, Justin, Karen, Tom, Carolyn, Terry, Arleen & June)  - all up 82 people

The 3 of them did a magnificent job - putting all 85 chairs on the ute in one lot (when I did the CWA Metro meets rural Afternoon Tea in April we were much less organised and took at least 4 trips or so )

They then arranged the chairs on the lawn in curved rows with a passage down the middle - looked very good 

Justin also organised some tables and chairs in the garage as a Green Room for the Gilbert and Sullivan cast.  We had it looking much nicer than this - but i didn't get a photo of the finished result - oh well

Further things that I did were to put our big bedroom mirror in the garage for the cast and covered the work bench with a nice cloth

Had to set up the trestle table with a table cloth and chair at the front for the welcome glasses of local bubbles 

Also had to set up a table and chair for me at the front to mark guests off as they arrived - and I must say that those purple bearded irises looked gorgeous behind the table

 

Karen wrote up the explanatory white board 

We set up the bollards (that Karen brought yet again) and Rachel's red carpet - we want to make a statement!

Moved both bins to the back

Brought the electric piano down for Pam to play

Put the carver chair in the front hall for Karen to sit on while "supervising" guests

etc etc 

Rachel and Sue arrived around 12- and started setting up - put props - ie flags, bunting, swords etc on the Reo frames on the garage

And the rest of the cast arrived a bit later

Karen, Tom, and I were preparing more food in the kitchen ie I got the pork loin organised, got all the ingredients ready together for the mushroom risotto

Karen had also gone to the IGA and bought an antipasto platter for us to graze on while working.  None of us had an actual sit down lunch

Chopped vegies for the coleslaw, green salad, chopped watermelon, cut the frittata into bite size pieces  etc 

By this stage Carolyn had arrived - I told her and Karen how I wanted the watermelon canapes  and Terry came soon after with his sausage rolls and spring rolls

Jim from Black Wallaby arrived around 2.30, and we set him up in front of the mulberry tree.

And Arleen came around 3pm with her arancini balls and crunchy chicken sandwiches

So, our canapes were :-

• herbed chicken balls - with sweet chilli sauce
• vegetable frittata
• watermelon canapes with whipped lemon fetta etc
• mini sausage rolls with tomato sauce
• vegetable spring rolls with soy sauce
• basil arancini balls
• crunchy chicken sandwiches   

A very good selection - I think

We then set up 65 of Jim's glasses at the welcome bubbles table under the front veranda - which Justin was going to man.  And we ascertained how full to fill the glasses so that each person got the right amount from the 10 bottles (was very scientific) 

Below is a photo of Justin at his drinks station

Given that I had been rushing around all morning, I went and had a quick shower and got ready to "receive guests" around 3pm

Went and sat outside at my "station" around 3.25pm - there were already people milling around outside

Opened the gates at 3.30pm - as per advertised

Two women came in and I asked for their names so I could cross them off the list.  they admitted that they hadn't booked, so I had to break it to them that we were booked out.  They were obviously saddened, but took it in their stride.

Then a guy came in, and similarly hadn't booked.  He then said he had come specifically from Melbourne for this - so I (rather kindly I thought) asked how many were in his party.  He said just him, so I thought I would be nice and offer him a spot - for $50 as per what it costs.  He retorted "what a rip off" and stormed off.  I was somewhat flabbergasted, and Justin had also heard and thought the guy was a #$%#@! Thinking about it afterwards, we reckoned that he hadn't really come from Melbourne specifically for it - or if he had - he should have read that it was a ticketed event, and had to be booked and the cost was indeed $50 which provided you with a welcome glass of local bubbles, extensive canapes, the Gilbert and Sullivan performance and a peek into the house.  Not a rip off at all - in fact - a pretty good deal !

Luckily the rest of the guests were much nicer than him, and they were actually on the list.  I did give them all red wrist bands - and at the end ie when most people were leaving there were some young people that I didn't recognise/didn't have a wrist band - but they were just leaving too, and were most apologetic at having walked in 

I then sent them on to Justin at the welcome bubbles station, and he gave them a glass of bubbles and then sent them around into the garden.

Some of them went inside though - where Karen was waiting to supervise/answer questions etc. All went very smoothly.

We closed the front door and gate at 4.10, as the show was going to start at 4.15pm.  I also put a note on the front gate with my phone number - telling them to text me if they came late.  Not everyone had arrived by then.  Although most had

Went and took our seats - we had reserved part of the front row for us.  

Rachel came on as Queen Victoria - and set the scene

It was great, we were also provided with song books to sing along if we felt like it 

I was only texted once to come and let some more people in 

Justin did a cheeky cameo performance as the "judge" in the Judge's song - and he did a terrific job - although he wasn't wearing his real judge's robes, but rather his Silk wig and robes

This Judge's song was the last for this first set, and there was a half hour intermission - where we handed out more food, I guess people went and bought drinks, and we re-opened the house for viewing (main downstairs areas only) 

And Tom - bless his cotton socks had taken on responsibility for the pork loins - as they had to be put in a very hot oven for the crackle, and then a cooler oven for the meat. 

However the AGA can't really be turned up and down like that - so the first 40 minutes in the roasting oven, and then into the simmering oven for a much longer period of time

It all worked out in the end - although I understand that there was some competition for the oven space for some of the canapes 

The show recommenced around 5.15 or so 

 

We literally couldn't have asked for a better day - it was just perfect!   

And the audience really seemed to enjoy it also - had a standing ovation!

It finished around 6pm, and guests started trooping off - we had re-opened the house - but I don't think many people went in to have a look then

I should also add that Chris E from the Loddon Herald came and took photos, and the Loddon Shire had also organised for a photograper and videographer to be there.  They seemed to be there for a long time - and took some fab shots as per below

So we were able to start packing up and starting getting ready for the next phase - dinner for 20 - "cast and crew" ie me, Justin, Karen, Tom, Carolyn, Terry, June (Arleen had to go home), David S, his wife, and 2 more, and then 10 of the cast 

Given that we had to set up the dining room ie trestle tables, table cloths, more chairs, place settings/glasses etc - I didn't want guests in there (in the way) - so I ushered them upstairs to the Bee room with some drinks

Meanwhile Karen and Tom were being champions in the kitchen again - getting everything together and ready

I had thought we would bring all the food out ie

• 2 x pork loins and crackle - 2 platters
• 2 x brisket with BBQ sauce 2 platters
• Mushroom risotto - 2 x thermoservers
• Korean potato salad - multiple bowls
• Coleslaw - multiple bowls
• Green salad - multiple bowls

but I bowed to the greater wisdom which was for everyone to come in with their plates and help themselves.  And yes, I think this was a better idea

Then back to the dining room and a fab dinner

Lots of food, wine and good conversation - just how I like it

I think most people left around 11pm - leaving just the 5 of us  - and we were in bed before 12 - it had been a very long day - for me at least

Sunday, and once again Karen and Tom were champions doing the dishes and a general tidy up - the rest of us did too - but they spear headed it 

And also obviously returned all the chairs to the Town Hall - in one shot again 

Then they all left before lunch

As a good citizen of Loddon shire, I wanted to support some of the other events/venues so went to

• St Marys in Kingower - where Terry was supervising, and had a look at the photo display
• Both Banks Winery - more photos/paistings - and saw Mark & Chrissie
• Wedderburn coach house - paintings, jewellery, woodwork

I bought this painting by R Holtham - Wedderburn Rocks 2, and also a wooden bowl

 I tried to go to something else in Wedderburn - but couldn't find it - so went back to Inglewood 

• Eucy Musuem - saw a beautiful embroidered map of Inglewood

• Goods shed - saw some lovely works of magpies and maps etc

•  Town Hall where I saw Emma Gartside's jewellery, upcycled denim exhibition, Greg H's prints etc 

Then back to the house to pack up and go - lots of leftover food that I had to put in cooler bags

And then to Bridgewater

• The shop beside the Nursery - paintings and ceramics
• Bridgewater Memorial Hall - crafts - but they were packing up as by this stage it was after 3.30pm - and they said it was pretty quiet

They did say to have a look at the Railway Station which was "at the end of that road" - except it wasn't.... I asked if I should turn left or right - but they just said the end of the road - so obviously I didn't find it 

Anyway, I just drove home after this - and had an early night

I'd like to include a postscript from a Loddon valley visitor survey that was shared with me 

I just wanted to reach out - I attended the Garden Party in Inglewood - I really wasn't sure what to expect but I had always wanted a glimpse of the house, so I got that which was fantastic - but I have to say - the canapes and the staff handing them out were fantastic - the food was delicious and the staff were super friendly and efficient - I didn't know what to expect with the concert - and never having been to opera, I wasn't really keen but thought I would stay - well, what can I say? It was magnificent and I am now not only a fan of opera but of Gilbert and Sullivan - the players were magnificent and I kept sitting there and thinking - what a brilliant day - the weather was fantastic - the surrounds beautiful and here I was being entertained by some people who made the day one of the best days I have ever attended.

 

It was divine and I was so happy I had decided to go. I get surprised about how well small towns do things but from my past experiences I don't know why I get surprised as they seem to do things so well - and that day was no exception.

 

Thank you for putting on a magnificent event and I had the best afternoon I have had for a very long time.

Wow - high praise indeed!!

We all put in a lot of work - so it was very gratifying to get such positive feedback - and I also shared it with "the staff"

Not sure yet if we'll do something similar next year - but who knows ... 

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