Race You back to the Top

Queen Mary Falls

At the Lookout

Off on the Track

Killarney and Queen Mary Falls

An 8am departure from Albany Creek saw us off on a great day tour. Trevor L and Brisbane Bus Lines served us well with a very comfortable 26 seat air conditioned coach, fully equipped with seat belts, leather adjustable seats, a water cooler and a toilet. Just past Amberley Air Force Base we pulled in for morning tea and then headed towards Warwick, turning off to Killarney, an attractive small town 33km south east of Warwick.

Killarney is situated on the uppermost reaches of the Condamine River near the crest of The Great Dividing Range, very close to the NSW/Qld border. Devastated by a cyclone in 1968 the town has been substantially rebuilt.

Queen Mary Falls, in Queen Mary Falls National Park, are on Spring Creek, where the water falls down 40metres off a rocky cliff face in a sheltered rainforest gorge. A half kilometre walk, taking about 10 mins (which most of our group took) leads from the road to the top of the falls. [See photos].

Hoop pines, silky oaks, Sydney Blue Gums and Forest Red Gums predominate and the moist conditions encourage the growth of tree orchids and ferns. Would love some of those moss rocks at home! 100 species of birds have been spotted in the area (although most were absent when we visited) and platypuses and red claw spiny crayfish frequent Spring Creek. They take some spotting. Away from the rainforest the vegetation is open eucalypt forest.

There is a picnic area near the car park where we enjoyed a picnic lunch that appeared from under the coach! Thanks to Coach Captain Laurie for his attention to our every need! A graded circuit walking track took some 40 minutes for those of us who tackled it, encompassing the top and base of the falls and fabulous views of the gorge. [See photos].
We were lucky with the weather – misty (almost foggy at times) for the first hour, then misty rain on and off, but not while we were out of the coach

What's On - July

Thursday 3 - Let’s make it 2pm
Monday 7 - Golf 7am
Healthy 7pm
Thursday 10 - Let’s make it 2pm
Friday 11 - Club Meeting – Guest speaker f rom Newstead House 5.30pm
Supper:Home made soup made by some of our ladies.
Monday 14 - Golf 7am
Tuesday 15 - Computer Club 7pm
Wednesday 16 - Happy Snappers 7pm
Thursday 17 - Let’s make it 2pm


Saturday 19 - Christmas in July
Monday 21 - Golf 7am
Eager Readers 6pm
Thursday 24 - Pink Shockers 10.30am
Let’s make it 2pm
Monday 28 - Golf 7am
Riotous Readers 2pm
Thursday 31 - Let’s make it 2pm

GOLF

Great weather, great company, excellent course and the golf is not bad either.
We were pleased to welcome this month some new players so that we regularly get about 8 playing.Anyone else who would like to join us each Monday will be most welcome.

THE PINK SHOCKERS

On Thursday, April 24, a group of 20 or so Pink Shockers invaded Elfina's Cafe, in Eaton's Hill for their monthly morning tea. The weather was fine and the atmosphere at Elfina's was extremely pleasant. There was no way we could be missed, and anyone passing by would have been impressed by the wall of noise coming from the cafe!!We all enjoyed the welcoming hospitality at Elfina's and I have to say that I have never eaten a better Anzac Slice. Very appropriate considering that the following day was Anzac Day. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly and about half a dozen of us enjoyed it so much that we lingered on and enjoyed a second cup of coffee.This venue is a really excellent venue for our regular morning coffees, and I would like to thank Val Lewis, for her good choice. Sally H

MAY GUEST SPEAKER

Our May Guest Speaker was Dr Mary Daley – one of the most entertaining and informative speakers for some time. Although her address had no title, she spent some 30minutes, without a single note, advising us how to be motivated in our senior ages.

Here are a few note extracts of her main points:
ü If the heart can think it, the mind can achieve it.
ü We are meant to wear out, not rust out.
ü Use it or lose it. (referring to body parts!)
ü You are never too old to do what you want to do.
ü Do something outside your comfort zone.
ü Relate to the younger generation – what was it like?
ü Learn something new, do something different.
ü Find your wild horse and ride it into the sunset.
ü Grow old and believe the best is still to come.Thank you, Mary, for such a thought provoking address!

EARLY ADVICE

Christmas in The Creek.

Make a note in your diary for Saturday, 6 December.
This event, conducted for a number of years in conjunction with other local organisations, is family based for people of Albany Creek and provides family entertainment at a very minimum cost. Your National Seniors Club will be deeply involved as usual and welcomes both your help and your participation.
More details will be published closer to the event.

The Girls Had Fun at A.B.M.T.

Peter and Lois Helped Out

Trevor Shows Sandra How It's Done

AUSTRALIA'S BIGGEST MORNING TEA

The sun shone on 33 people at Trevor and Mary Hudson’s home on 22 May when they hosted another “Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea” held in aid of The Cancer Fund.

A total of $782.45 was raised, including $200 from the “Let’s make it” group, who made 3 prizes. A superb embroidered table cloth was won by Margaret B., 2 colourful cushions by Margaret F. and Gloria S. won 3rd prize – a patchwork bag. Ray S. played auctioneer and quickly cleared a table of ‘bring and buys’ ($192). Watch out :Bargain Hunt”.

Sandra G. ‘guzumped. Sandra G. during the auction with a late bid after the auctioneer’s hammer had fallen!

Tables groaning under the weight of donated food were quickly emptied with the small surplus sold off to add to the coffers.

A fabulous morning was had by all, with a very well worth while recipient.
Thanks to Trevor and Mary H for hosting the event.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

NATIONAL SENIORS –
ALBANY CREEK BRANCH Inc.

SEPTEMEBER 12, 2008.

Prior to the AGM, please take a few issues into account.

Ø Check your membership to enable you to vote or stand for election.

Ø Members must be financial.

Ø All committee positions will be declared vacant – some current committee members have advised that they will not accept nomination. Consider nominating yourself or some other willing member.

Ø Committee membership is not as trying as some people consider – in fact it can be very rewarding..

BBQ and Beer what more could you want?

Barry listening to Ray's story

Our Woody Point BBQ

The only thing we like better than looking at beachfront recreational areas is using them.
After a thorough inspection of the new high rise at Woody Point our own self professed Real Estate Experts came back to the barbeque area to discuss the values of the Units and how many they would buy.
Fooey! They were dreaming! At $360,000. A basement one at that!
Not one of our get-togethers seem complete without some silliness
I came late into a conversation about dirty nipples, I checked mine, they were both clean.
Then I found out Walter had been talking about Motor Vehicle Grease Nipples.
I buttoned up my shirt with a silly look on my face.
Some people have issues others have subscriptions!
Ray happened to know how to cook and proceeded to demonstrate how it as done.
Little did he realize I didn’t want to cook anyway, He was so kind eh!
He cooked my dinner for me!
Lovely boy! Is Ray!
My curiosity was aroused when the leaping beetroot story was told.
Gloria was the only one who wore a white shirt.
Glancing around I noticed how beautiful Woody Point really was, and it was great to see everyone having fun at the barbeque that day.
Do you get the picture?
Have we been given all of this as a present? To day is the present.
Denis G

Around a Crows Nest Campfire

The House of 1000 Clocks, Crows Nest

Lois toasts marshmallows at Crows Nest

4 Days at Crows Nest

By crikey we made it up the range. I kept my handbrake on to keep from rolling backwards.
We were met at the park, not by crows, but Trev and a flock of galahs on the roadway.
We were shown our site and wouldn’t you know it, Ray had picked the best spot near a gum tree with genuine Aussie mistletoe. He knew which side his bread was buttered on. Still and all they’re “handicapped”.
After celebrating Dianne’s birthday with a chocolate cake, we had our short nanny nap before tea at the park restaurant. What a bloody beauty bonzer bottler meal!
Tuesday we looked over Crow’s Nest; three cars, four special souls in each. Pies at the Bakery then on to Holland Winery. Cheese platters and three bottles of our selection showed us to be good wine tasters.
Compulsory nanny nap and then we met Lois and Peter at the campfire before heading off to dinner to indulge in another sumptious meal.
Gees the Albany Creek National Seniors get around. On Wednesday they hit Cybrano French Elegance, Cuckoo Clock Centre, Scroll Magic, Jeanelles, The Village Green, Patch Workshop, the Chocolate Factory and two or three others.
The Cuckoo Clock Centre, “home of a thousand clocks, was a real eye opener. Charles and Nell could have spent over twenty grand on a grandfather clock but settled on a few wee gifts for the grandchildren in the lowest price range. Ray S purchased a teddy for a friend.
We finished off the day round the campfire eating left over nibblies, drinking wine and toasting marshmallows.
Thursday walkers with Nev, Chris and Ann heading off in the distance while Charles and Nell, a little distressed, returned for a mini nanny nap. After bushwalking for three hours, further nanny naps were required after lunch in preparation for tea.
And so we say a fond farewell to Crow’s Nest with a grim determination that somebody’s got to do it. You beauty mate! Charles M

SPEAKERS THIS YEAR

August Rescue Helicopter Service
September ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
October Enigma
November Film Group
December Mr Mageka

How Many

Members did it take to assemble a new storage cupboard for National Seniors Albany Creek?
1 Engineer to screw and hammer;
1 Architect to read the plans;
1 Apprentice to sit on the floor and hold the loose pieces in place;
1 Apprentice to sort out the parts, identify and count them;.
1 Supervisor to identify tops from bottoms.
Anyway – the construction project was completed and is still standing!

Dining Out

50,612 people were at Suncorp Stadium watching Broncos (36) beat Cowboys (2); 33,867 at The Gabba saw Lions (96) beat Magpies (94), whilst 28 National Seniors from Albany Creek waited for their dinner. While that provided plenty of time to chat – and chat – when the meal finally arrived, most agreed it was worth waiting for. Even the rain held off until guests had gained their cars for the drive home.

Thanks Nancy for the opportunity to socialise and enjoy each others company. And even though it’s over a month ago, well done to Brisbane’s two favourite footy teams.

Oh! What a night it was –
it really was!!
Keith B

Outings

CHRISTMAS IN JULY - BIRCHES RESTAURANT, MT MEE 19TH July 2008 - $40.00 per person
By popular request, we will again car pool starting at the Hall, drive to Dayboro for a coffee at the Bakery, then on Birches for Christmas Lunch and entertainment. A great day.
AUSSIE OCTOBER FEST - SWEET WATER WINERY -5TH OCTOBER DATE $50.00 Min 20 passengers.
The Sweet Water Hill Winery host an Aussie October Fest for a charity, last year it was Cancer Research. There will be entertainment, bands, singers and country market. A buffet lunch will be included. More details will be released at a later dateFurther details of these outings will be announced nearer the date but please note the group limits due to bus availability and costs.

Meeting Dates for 2008

Why not write these dates in your diary now?


July 1
August 8
September 12
October 10
November 14
December 12