NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER 2005

MARKET REPORT

Despite giving some concerns about the weather, Saturday November 19^th turned out to be ideal market weather. The members swung into the action and on Friday afternoon the Rotunda site is prepared. This involves John Neall, Derek Reid and Jim Trudgeon under the supervision of Dave Clark, get the shade awnings attached to the electric barbeque and the barbeque itself washed clean and ready for use. The additional gazebo that is used to shade the tables and chairs for morning teas was set up to a certain point as it was feared that a high wind in the night might find it somewhere near Welshmans Reef by morning.

The morning of Saturday starts early with signs being set up on approaches to the town and then the trestle tables on loan, arrive and are put into place. By this time, (7 .30 am), the first stall holders are also in position. The table-cloths are spread out, electric extension cords are hooked into the electrical wiring grid, the barbeque starts and the frypans heated up to start frying the onions. The smell of frying onions soon arouses the appetites of passers by, so the bread, homemade colslau and baking items are set out. The Christmas Hamper looking splendid in its cellophane wrapping is set out as are all the ‘white elephant’ goods and books that have been packed away since last market. The urn heats up and the cups and tea and coffee are ready to be served. One good supporter arrives with the bags of sheep manure and another supporter arrives with what is becoming a traditional hand made craft gift that is used for a raffle or as an item to be sold.

The helpers go off to circle the other stalls and buy their share of goods and report back on the bargains and the mood of the day. Our worthy president sets off to collect the $5 fee from the stallholders, gives them a flyer to alert them to the date of the next market. In future he is going to turn off the hearing aid so he won’t hear the traditional complaints about the lack of ‘buyers’! At 11 o’clock, the lucky ticket for the stallholder to win the homemade fruitcake is drawn and it is delivered to a happy recipient who comes and expresses their thanks!

The supply of sausages and hamburgers is running low, the cakes have all gone and there is a last minute call to buy a raffle ticket by our worthy master of ceremonies in the Rotunda who has been enlivening the occasion with suitable music over the PA system. The container of tickets is taken to an independent person to draw the winning ticket and the winner is announced. This year it was again one of our hardworking members – Di Reid.

So it is time to pack up. Everything is returned to boxes and replaced in cars. The money is counted and the market is over till….March 18^th 2006!

The result for this year was an amount of $991 banked with about $100 of expenses to be paid. A big thank you to all members who helped on the day and also to the great response from those who sent money for raffle tickets and donations.

GREAT VICTORIAN BIKE RIDE

This year the riders will be spending the night of Thursday December 1 in Newstead at the Racecourse. It has been decided to open the courthouse in the afternoon from 2 – 5 pm with a gold coin entry. Volunteers will be in attendance to show the collection, explain the workings and help anyone who might have a connection to our district.

PHOTOCOPIER

A photocopier has been donated to the Society from Stewart and Bev Olney, local supporters of ours who are moving from Newstead. It has been accepted with grateful thanks and last Monday found a home in the courthouse.

HOLIDAY ARRANGEMENTS

The courthouse will not be open on Monday 26^th of December but as usual there will be people in attendance on other Monday mornings (and quite often in the afternoons). It might be a chance for our out-of-town members to call in and visit us.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Perhaps there might be interest in a document that clarifies family connections. This is courtesy of Gail Taylor, Alan O’Dea and Margaret Roberts and explains the term “once removed’ etc.

Cousin- “first cousins” are the people in your family who have two of the same grandparents as you. In other words, they are the children of your aunts and uncles.

Second cousin – “second cousins” are the people in your family who have the same great-grandparents as you but not the same grandparents - that is they are the grandchildren of your great-aunts and uncles.

Third, fourth and fifth cousins etc – Your third cousins have the same great-great grandparents, fourth cousins have the same great-great-great grandparents etc and so on.

Removed – When the word “removed” is used to describe a relationship, it indicates that the two people are from different generations. You and your first cousins are in the same generation (two generations younger than your grandparents) so the word “removed” is not used to describe your relationship. The words “once removed” mean there is a difference of one generation. For example, your mother’s first cousin is your first cousin once removed. This is because your mother’s first cousin is one generation younger than your grandparents and you are two generations younger than your grandparents. This one-generation difference equals “once removed”. Twice removed means that there is a two-generation difference. You are two generations younger than a first cousin of your grandmother, so you and your grandmother’s first cousin are first cousins, twice removed.

NEXT MEETING

The next meeting will be on January 16^th 2006 at 1.30 pm at the courthouse.

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