Metro CWA meets Rural #2 Friday 4 - Sunday 6 April 2025

Whew, yet another huge weekend (that's 3 in a row at Inglewood)

The reason being is that I have organised a Metro meets Rural CWA event (again).  I invited all the Fraser Group members, plus contacted Group Presidents around the broader Inglewood area and asked them to advise their members.  

This time I organised it via Trybooking as this was going to be a modest fund raiser (The first one in 2019 was free).  Basically, I'd decided that we'd charge CWA members $5, (we're always putting our hands in our pockets, so kept it low) and non CWA members $10.

For this they would receive a "light" afternoon tea.  Initially I was thinking that I would just make a few cakes/slices, and could do it all myself.  Well, that was when I had limited the numbers to 40, but due to popular demand I made it 60, and then relented to 64 (not including me).  My Ashburton gals volunteered to bring food also, as did a few gals that I knew from other branches   

As well as the light afternoon tea they could have a 10 minute tour of the main rooms of the house (like at Loddon Arts trail ie hallway, green room downstairs, dining room and hallway with mural)

And a 1/2 hour Q&A with the owner of the house if demand was there ( I didn't let on in the flyer that I was actually the owner, although of course my Ashburton gals knew that)

Naturally, I also tied it in with the  appearance on Restoration Australia  

So, there was a lot of interest....and it literally sold out in days

Given that this was becoming bigger than Ben Hur, I had to be very organised, and so wrote myself a very comprehensive run sheet - to make sure that I wouldn't forget anything 

Anyway, arrived on Friday afternoon - with a chocker full ute

Had got Clancy to assist in tying it down - ie 3 x trestle tables, plus Alex's 2 x Ikea chairs for the "person cave" - plus a whole of other stuff - ie all the sheets/towels/tablecloths that I'd washed from the previous weekend, the cushions from the chairs, Fraser Group tablecloths and pennants etc etc

Arrived in Inglewood around 2pm, and Catherine from Fusspots offered to lend me some cups and saucers for the CWA afternoon tea tomorrow - but said they were a bit dusty so I should wash them - thank goodness for the dishwasher

I had planned to use my own mugs and cups, and also CWA Ashburton's cups and plates - but the CWA Ashburton ones were still in boxes  and way too bulky, so we left them behind.

Given that Catherine had lent (and then actually given me) the cups and saucers I thought it nicer/more refined to have all cups and saucers, not mugs  - so therefore I needed more....

Went to the Op Shop and borrowed some - I didn't have any cash to buy them so they said to borrow them - they know where I live! 

Terry also came to the rescue and brought over a box of cups and saucers and  5 trestle tables that we set up in the garden.  Unfortunately the area where we set them up is rather dusty/ as it has all been dug up - oh well.  It will eventually be grassed 

We finished up late afternoon - so retired to the veranda for a cheeky, yet well deserved bottle of sauvignon blanc (not Justin's favourite, but I like it)

Kerry from Umina arrived around 5.30 or so - and swapped out with Terry.  he went home, and she came up for a drink

Amongst other things she brought me some beautiful dahlias which she grew in her garden

This was the first time that she's been here (inside), she travels around Victoria for work, and we've missed each other on previous occasions

Anyway, had a pleasant time, and then she shouted me a burger and chips from the takeaway which we ate in the rotunda

Had a relatively early night - calm before the storm....  I basically said I was tied and was going to bed, but that she could stay up if she wanted.... 

Woke up 7ish as usual and took some early morning photos when the light is lovely and soft

Shane and his guys had done a great job tidying up the garden, as weeds had sprung up including a particularly persistent deadly nightshade strangling a rose

We were so lucky with the weather - it was a brilliant sunny blue sky day, no wind, and not too warm.  Friday was quite windy, and Sunday was overcast and a bit gloomy - so Saturday was just right 

And I made myself breakfast in bed - Kerry was still in bed, but she came down 8ish and because I had my door open and music on poked her head in and I asked her to take a photo of me 

Next up was into my  trusty coveralls - as there was more work to do

There was something happening across the road at the Town hall - so I went to have a look.  It was the new local councillor having a Q&A session with interested residents 

Enzo was there, and saw me - and gave me Chris's i-pad holder that he'd left behind at Small Halls festival 

I then went in the garden and cleaned out the cubby house 

I resurrected the sandwich black/white board and wrote down proposed house tours times - ie 2.30pm, 2.45, 3.00 3.15 (didn't take a photo of this)

Meanwhile Kerry was vaccuuming/dusting inside

Next up, Connie and Rhonda arrived, and we went across to the Hall for the chairs - and started setting them up  

Once we had all the chairs - we started dressing the tables ie tablecloths, cup saucers/side plates etc - Sheryl and John had arrived by this stage also

Kerry had brought a whole lot of side plates, and checked tables cloths, and I had brought Fraser Group green tablecloths and some pennants 

 Anne & Joe, Christine & Liz, Jenny D, Trish  & Kaylene, Anastasia & David all came a bit later and helped out also. Setting out the cakes, putting flowers in vases etc 

Jenny brought some lovely flowers - they had been gifted to her, but she was going away so brought them here - they were lovely

Anastasia brought me a gift pineapple

Sheryl and Jon gave me a rather spiffy looking bottle of gin

It was very nice to receive this gifts - totally unnecessary as they were 

We set up the banner

And numerous strands of bunting, in the garden, on the top veranda, out the front etc etc.  Unfortunately I forgot to take photos of all of these - too busy!   

Because our Restoration Australia episode had been screened a couple of days ago on the Thursday

there were a lot of non CWA people who were also hanging around the front, wanting to come in and have a look.  We basically told them that this was a fundraiser for CWA, but that they could come back at 2pm.  As non CWA, and purchasing on the day  we would charge them double ie $20 per head.  

As it was  2 of the non CWA tourists did come back - so we were 63 (one CWA gal didn't come) plus me, plus the 2 others - so 66 all up!

And they were certainly lined up the front waiting to get in - I suggested opening a little early, so as to get through the bottle neck

By this stage I had had a quick shower, and changed into my "Restoration Australia" dress

Sheryl was gatekeeper and crossed their names off, gave them a name badge, and an elephant stamp on their hand

 The afternoon tea was magnificent - cakes, biscuits, slices, sandwiches.  

I have  2 admissions to make - I didn't end up cooking anything for this - I figure I supplied the venue, tea, coffee, milk etc - and I had enough to do....

Second admission, I only had one little morsel - one of Anastasia's little coffee jelly cakes - I just wasn't hungry, was running on adrenaline. And I hardly sat down, felt like I talked to everyone and no one....

They trooped in, sat down, chatted, ate, and drank.  

I had borrowed the urn from the Town Hall, and we easily could have done with 2 - we had to keep refilling it with the electric kettle (oh well next time)

Chris E from the Loddon Herald also came and took a few snaps of myself and Sheryl, and perhaps some other more general ones.  Have asked Connie to save me a copy  

We also had a raffle - which raised more money for us, and 2 x lucky door prizes

Now, part of the event included a house tour.  I know myself, and the fact that I could spend an hour talking to guests showing them around the few main rooms.

So, I dragooned/asked some of my Ashburton gals (and John, Sheryl's husband, an honorary Ashburton gal) to conduct the 10 minute tours on the 1/4 hour.

But first I had to give them a quick run down on what to say, I reassured them by saying that they could just makes things up also if they wanted.

The tours worked seamlessly - although I was told that some of them wanted to see more of the house...

I welcomed everyone around 2.30 or so - told them the purpose of the event ie social get together, have a chat, meet new people, modest fund raiser, and the fact that there were 13 branches represented  ie 

Ashburton, Umina, Boroondara (city branches), Bendigo, Bealiba, Charlton, St Arnaud, Birchip, Wedderburn, Ballarat, Scarsdale, Strathfieldsaye, and Webcona. 

Then a bit of housekeeping - ie where the toilet is (powder room accessed via the back door), and then more across the road at the hub, the fact there was a raffle, the tours etc 

Below is one lot of guests trooping off for a tour of the house
   

The raffle was won by the guy who paid $20 for entrance on the day (ie non CWA)

We had the Q&A - and that went quite well

Some people started leaving around 3.30 or so - so I didn't need to remind people that the event finished up at 4pm

Anastasia corralled the remaining members into a group photo in front of the rotunda.  Pity we didn't do it with all of us - oh well

After the non Ashburton members (excluding Kerry from Umina)  had left (and maybe even before - my gals sprang into action, tidying up, washing dishes, organising all the crockery etc.

And that's the thing with CWA, you don't need to tell them what to do, they can see what has to be done, and so do it

It was really marvellous, and I'm so grateful to them

Meanwhile, I was getting the pork ready to go in the oven around 4pm

After this I showed the Ashburton gals around the rest of the house - as they were interested to see it 

Anastasia commented on the "shrine" in the red room - and said not to display photos of dead relatives on it - as that would be bad luck.  She also translated the inscription

However I have forgotten what she said it meant, something like peace, prosperity, health etc.  I just tried translating it myself with google lens, but it didn't work - oh well 

John also took some photos of our  mural aster eggs

And he took some other nice photos around the house and garden

Perhaps around 4.30 or so - a number of us collapsed into the rotunda - and had some well earned bubbles.  Don't think we have any photos of this

Others looked after the vegies - ie potatoes, corn, green beans etc 

We ate around 7pm - by this stage we were down to 10 people myself, Kerry, Sheryl & John, Anne & Joe, Liz,  and Christine who were all staying at the house.  And Connie and Rhonda came back from Bridgewater for dinner.

Had to eat quickly, as once again I had over extended myself, as I had said that I would go up to Kingower for the "1st Saturday" in the month - which also included a rather special screening of Restoration Australia (if technology would play along)  

Of course I'm not a dictator and had previously asked the gals if they would like to come too, or rather stay behind at the house.  They all wanted to come 

We got to Kingower just after 8pm - after having seen 2 large kangaroos by the side of the road, pretty much still in Inglewood

It was a gorgeous evening also - still, bright stars, a little cool, but with a warming fire

Usual suspects were there - and without being too big headed - they were very pleased to see me 

Terry got the show working - but for some reason the sound was very low - ie just coming out of the laptop speakers.  he rectified this by going back home and bringing across some other speaker.

It was really special watching it there - under the stars

 After the show ended David R got up and made an impromptu speech about how glad they were that we had bought the house, and how much they appreciated our friendship.  I was very touched.

Went back to the house soon after - and sat in the dining room

Sheryl suggested that she bring out a cheese/charcuterie platter that she put together.  Most of us protested that we were full enough, however most of us also digged in and enjoyed it. 

I think I went to bed 12ish - but was so wired up still, that it took me ages to get to sleep (not helped by the numerous coffees I had drunk during the day)

And to add insult to injury, I also woke up rather early - too early in fact, as daylight savings had ended at 2am - and I should have had an extra "free" hour to sleep oh well.

So I woke and got up not feeling very refreshed

I did a coffee run with Christine, and used the lovely cutting basket from Jo as a coffee cup carrier

Once everyone was up and had breakfasted, we took the chairs and the urn back to the Town Hall.  With 2 utes (mine and Johns) it was done rather quickly - hoorah

Also showed them around the town hall a little bit

I then took Terry's tables and cups/saucers back to him, and the others had a walk down the street - looking in the shops

On tidying up (and I didn't quite complete it properly as I was on a tight schedule) - I discovered that one of the shoes that I had been wearing yesterday - had disintegrated - the rubber was shot. Pity, as they were good shoes

 

We met up in Bendigo - as we had booked into the Frida Kahlo exhibition at 12 noon

I was pretty exhausted, so kind of sped through the exhibition, as I really just wanted to get home to Melbourne, and have a nap (am planning on going back to the exhibition with my neice Michaela)

As it was, I was getting rather tired on the drive home, and had to pull over at one stage to have a rest - as I didn't want to be a dangerous driver

When I looked at my fit bit, it said I only had 3 hours and 5 minutes sleep - so no wonder I was tired

So, to wrap up it was a very successful event, we made about $700 (admission and raffle takings) - and everyone had a lot of fun.

And we might even do it again next year, (or the year after)